what are some of your first memories associated with the idea of Jesus?

[enemy anemone]

while thinking about the first movie I had seen, another memory from the before-my-brother-was-born era came to mind: my mom reading to me from a red leatherbound volume of The Gospel of John. it had simple sketches of things like Jesus overturning the moneychangers' tables and turning water into wine. earliest impression of Jesus: faceless person who knocks over tables (with things on them, even!) and changes the contents of pots. (the different contents were not pictured but the story said that's what happened and the other people seemed surprised.) also when he goes in the water a bird tries to land on him. the first things I learned about this Jesus character made him seem rather strange, despite other sources' insistence that he loves me. maybe that is why I waited till I was in kindergarten before giving in to "asking him into my heart". who knows what he would do in there. 

[Vlad!]

Interesting topic.

For me, Jesus was sort of like grandpa: I heard stories about him and knew that he existed, but I never saw him (my paternal grandfather died when I was two) and his existence really didn't mean anything to me. For my early life, Jesus was sort of like the ocean, or other countries, or the Starving Kids in Africa (who are the reason I should eat my vegetables), or germs: I knew intellectually that these things existed and may at some point have an effect on me, but there was no real personal relationship or involvement. I first tried praying Jesus into my heart at a very young age, and did so frequently afterwards (in case the first time didn't take). It wasn't until much much later that I truly understood the concept of salvation and was baptized.

[valleycat]

For my early life, Jesus was sort of like the ocean, or other countries, or the Starving Kids in Africa (who are the reason I should eat my vegetables), or germs: I knew intellectually that these things existed and may at some point have an effect on me, but there was no real personal relationship or involvement.

That is similar for me too.  I knew He was there but I did not understand the need for a real relationship until many years later when I had been through more experiences and grew to understand that need. He was just sort of there. 

oh, wait.  there is one specific memory I have associated with Jesus.  When my sunday school teacher described him as a giant heart that said at each beat, "I love you, I love you, forever, forever".  It kind of freaked me out at the time, but now that I recall it, it doesn't seem so bad.

 

[Vlad!]

oh, wait.  there is one specific memory I have associated with Jesus.  When my sunday school teacher described him as a giant heart that said at each beat, "I love you, I love you, forever, forever".  It kind of freaked me out at the time, but now that I recall it, it doesn't seem so bad.

I went to a Sunday school that subscribed to the praying Jesus into your heart idea, and so I pictured Jesus as this little man who lived in my heart. I have a very active imagination, so while I was supposed to be paying attention to whatever the teacher was saying, I instead was imagining a heart-shaped dollhouse with windows and doors and a mini-Jesus going about his daily life inside of it.

I was kind of a strange kid.

[enemy anemone]

I didn't imagine a dollhouse, but I also thought that Jesus was a mini person occupying my heart-house. seemed kind of like a boring place to be, as there was no furniture to sit on or anything to do in there. but I was told that Jesus really wanted to be in there, so, well, okay. 

When my sunday school teacher described him as a giant heart that said at each beat, "I love you, I love you, forever, forever".  It kind of freaked me out at the time, but now that I recall it, it doesn't seem so bad.

I think that sounds kind of weird. does Jesus want to *live* in my heart or *is* he a heart? so confusing.

[NewDimension]

I didn't imagine a dollhouse, but I also thought that Jesus was a mini person occupying my heart-house. seemed kind of like a boring place to be, as there was no furniture to sit on or anything to do in there. but I was told that Jesus really wanted to be in there, so, well, okay. 

When I was a little kid,  I thought of it as "the cabin of my heart." Like my heart was a house... Thing is, I didn't just think of Jesus occupying it. I knew it was either Jesus or sin, that did, and that there was conflict at times between who/what I let inside it. And I imagined, being in a house (cabin, whatever) and hearing knocking on the door. And either it was Jesus, or sin/satan/etc.. and it was my choice who/what I let in. Then I thought, "Let Jesus in, and then lock the door...and let Him answer the door from then on.  And no matter how hard you hear knocking, never answer the door once Jesus is inside." I kinda liked that thought about it...still do. Now I'm reminding myself of "Let You In"...but anyhow, years and years later, I wrote a song about it when I was like 13 or something, cause these little kids kept knocking at my door, and it reminded me of it. Everyday we have the choice to listen to God, or us, our will, sin, and the devil. The door to the cabin of our heart is constantly being pounded on. Who/what will we answer the door to and invite in? Who/what will we ignore and shut out? This reverberates in my mind a lot now: "Knocking, knocking, at my door. Will I answer or ignore?"

[murlough23]

My first memory of Jesus:

"Hey, who's that bearded lady in the robe and sandals? Why's she carrying a sheep?"

Sorry, but you know, the way they tend to paint the guy...