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Jesus (WOD)

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Jesus of Nazareth, Christ, is a historical figure known as the founder of Christianity of which he is the central figure. Said to be the Son of God, the physical Incarnation of the Holy Spirit, and the threefold part of the Holy Trinity.

In the World of Darkness, he is mentioned frequently as a reoccurring figure with many differing accounts from the perspectives of the supernatural.

Biography[]

For many people on this earth, there’s only one God: the omniscient eternal Father of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, maker of heaven and earth, ruler of all that is seen and unseen. Call Him by his many names, it’s still the same God, at least in the eyes of the faithful. All other “gods” are mere shadows of His Divine Presence. Such immanence, though, is too hard for mortal minds to grasp. And so, God took on flesh and became a man. In the form of the Christ, the Christos (“Anointed One”), the man Yeshua — commonly known as Jesus — walked among humanity to show by teachings and example what God desired and the prophets decreed. This Jesus was exalted, rejected, cast down, and tortured to death as an offering to redeem the sins of the world. According to scripture, he rose again three days later, returned to his disciples, and ascended into heaven to await the Final Judgement. When God destroys the world as we know it, Christ will usher in the world to come. This, to much of the world, is literally the Gospel truth. Jesus Christ is the human personification of God. And although mages experience a world far more complex than that known by most human beings, a fair number of Awakened Ones still believe that Jesus is Lord.

Which Jesus, though, is the real “Only Begotten Son of God?” The compassionate rebel? The doomsday judge? The conservative Jesus of southern evangelists, or the socialist Jesus of their progressive rivals? The rabbi? The prophet? The magician? All of them, or none of them? Was Jesus a man, a myth, a divinity, or perhaps a lot of each? People live and die by those questions, and to posit any answer than the one accepted by a believer is to court blasphemy at the very least. As a god-form, then, there may be many Christs personified, each inspiring or inspired by the disparate visions of a flawed humanity.

As a god, the Christ is transcendent. And yet, believers throughout the last 2,000 years have claimed to walk with Christ, talk to Christ, hear His voice in their hour of need. “With man,” Christ said, “this is impossible. But with God, all things are possible.” The Good Shepherd, then, is a true presence in the hearts of His believers. Whether or not He is what people say He is, Christ’s reality as a godhead is undeniable. This is as true for Pagan mages who don’t accept His divinity as it is for Choristers who do.

The Christ one meets (if indeed, one meets Jesus face-to-face) depends, as usual, on the spirit one expects to see. A devout Saudi Muslim might see the Middle Eastern Jew speaking Aramaic in an ancient accent. A megachurch parishioner from Alabama sees a pale-skinned king with a soft southern drawl. The Jesus whispering to a death row inmate isn’t the same guy who reportedly “hates f@gs.” Even if both figures come from the same book and Holy Spirit, the form they take in the eyes of the beholder reveal more about the person than they do about the god.

In any form, the Christ embodies justice. To some believers, He tempers God’s implacable perfection, while for others He’s the stern judge of righteousness. Because his Gospels pose so many questions, this godhead might be a Prince of Peace or the King of the Apocalypse. Maybe he was just a man who became a myth. Regardless, he speaks across the centuries as a voice for righteousness, bringing compassion to a world desperately in need of it.

And so, the Good Shepherd remains a contested figure, adored by many, despised by some. The enigma at the heart of Christian creeds is a Rorschach test for the human soul. Thus, a mage could encounter a blinding presence that inspires radical conversion, or else hang out with a gentle hippie who really digs good wine. Despite the omniscient nature of the One True God, His godhood, it is said, has a face in the man called Christ, and any mage — believer or not — could have a personal relationship with Him.

Supernatural Perspectives[]

In the World of Darkness, the perspective and understanding of Jesus by the supernatural can range from veneration to ambivalence.

Vampires Perspective[]

Throughout history many vampires are, or were, Christian in their mortal life. Some have even been known to become Christian post-Embrace to stave off the Beast, especially if they seek Golconda. Seeking guidance and salvation from Jesus to help them with their cursed existence, if not relinquish it entirely.

Cappadocians[]

One of the Original Clans, clan Cappadocian, were composed of a large number of Christians during the Dark Ages. In fact, many members of the clan's higher generation were embraced from the Church clergy. This was primarily due to the clan's antediluvian, Cappadocius, who became obsessed with divinity and pushed his progeny to discover a way for him to achieve it.

Lasombra[]

Many Lasombra throughout Spain, France and Italy were Catholic, having deep reverence of Jesus and the Christian faith.

Shapechanger Perspective[]

Most Changing Breeds are ambivalent to most mortal figures in history, especially those of religion, not unless said mortal figure is directly related to them or their culture. But it isn't uncommon for Fera to hold reverence and respect for them if said figure align with their beliefs.

Children of Gaia[]

The Children of Gaia believe that Jesus was influenced greatly by their Totem Spirit Unicorn, although they do not know whether he was God or not. It didn't matter, as he was used as an example for Gaians around the world to live up to.

Glass Walkers[]

In their history the Glass Walkers, then known as the Warders of Men, insinuated themselves into the Church to counter the vampires from pushing them out of their territories. Though, it should be noted that they did not have much belief in the faith of Jesus and used the trappings of Christianity to conceal their pagan worship of Gaia.

Silent Striders[]

The Silent Striders were in Israel when they witnessed a man named Yeshua ben Joseph walk the earth, speaking as though he was the son of God. Although they didn't understand what the man was they knew he had tangible power. In the Umbra he coruscated with energy and they witnessed him preform numerous miracles throughout the Holy Land. However, the Silent Striders' Song of the Godwalker suggests that he didn’t know what effect he had on the spirit landscape as he moved through Israel. Caerns moved around in his wake. Moon Bridges redirected themselves or simply collapsed when he crossed them in the Realm. And although they doubted he was the incarnation of everything good and spiritual in the universe, the Silent Striders will admit that the spirits of the Wyrm wouldn’t come within a mile of him. As he moved around, enterprising Striders were able to track and hunt Wyrm creatures that were driven out of his path against their will.

Magi Perspective[]

Depending upon the Awakened, the ideas of Jesus varies from mage to mage depending upon their perspective of him during their time as a sleeper. Overall however, many view him as an extremely powerful and famous spirit known as a God-Form.

Celestial Chorus[]

The Celestial Chorus has had the single most largest composition of Christians following the crucifixion of Jesus and the spread of Christendom. So much so that the tradition was overtaken by them and became the Messianic Voices in the Dark Ages.

Order of Hermes[]

According to the Order of Hermes, Jesus the Magician was one of their members. Implying he apprenticed under them.

New World Order[]

The N.W.O., like the Celestial Chorus, also has a predominantly Christian majority within their ranks that has been present since the formation of the Cabal of Pure Thought and the Order of Reason. Some notable N.W.O. operatives have even begun to leave the convention, like Simon Pain, due to the Technocracy's growing mistrust of religion and alienation of Christians.

Changeling Perspective[]

To most Changelings, any form of organised religion outside of their control is deeply harmful to them, and religious figures like Jesus are often seen in a very negative or suspicious light.

House Liam[]

To the House Liam, the Christian faith was seen in a somewhat positive light due to the vast amounts of Glamour that were discovered from its believers, thanks to the House's founder, Liam.

Demon: The Fallen[]

Demons hold no strong feeling of the Incarnation of their father, but contempt, though they understand the power in the faith of his mortal children.

Earthbound[]

The Earthbound abhor the very existence of their father, let alone the fact he took on a mortal form to "save" his children on earth.

Trivia[]

  • For more information on Jesus Christ: read here.

References[]

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