The Epitome of Cool

One of the most famous TV quotes from comedies of the 70’s was “Aaaaayyyy” ..... always spoken by “The Fonz” played by Henry Winkler in the sitcom Happy Days. Fonzie or "The Fonz" was considered “cool” by Richie, Potsie and Ralph along with the rest of America. When one thinks of cool, one might think of James Dean, Marlon Brando, Billy Dee Williams, Sean Connery or Yul Brynner(I love the way Yul says “It is written, so it shall be done in the movie The Ten Commandments.); perhaps Michael Jordan or even Jay-Z, but has anyone ever considered Jesus as cool? Well if you have not……..I have and let me tell you why.
We have just experienced the Lenten season culminating with Resurrection Sunday and it really reaffirmed for me the coolness of Jesus. I’ve always based my opinion of Jesus as cool by the responses he gave in various situations. He always had an answer and it was never the answer or reaction that was expected or anticipated. In many of the biblical scenarios Jesus was being set up by his enemies, detractors and critics who expected him to give an answer that would trap him or contradict who he said he was. The funny and ironic part is his critics and naysayers always had to walk away shaking their heads as their plans were foiled once again. Let’s take a look at some of the scenarios and the response given by Jesus:

Take a look at Matthew 27:11-14 where we see Jesus standing before Pilate being interrogated:

11And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. 12And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.

Check out the answer in John 8……

3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Or Luke 14:5

And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

Or Mark 4

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

And Matthew 4

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.   3And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

In each of these scenarios, Jesus did not lose his cool. he just plainly, calmly, confidently and in a matter of fact manner gave his answers. You could feel the power in his answers, you could feel the coolness. He was very clear, yet his detractors always left perplexed. Even his own disciples questioned what manner of man is this? Jesus was and still is a cool brother.

So the next time you think of the folks who you consider cool, add Jesus to that list. He is the epitome of cool. Something to critically think about and as always I welcome your commentary in the comment section of the blog.