He only carries a Bible, a rosary, and a toothbrush. He won't wear sandals or shoes. He walks everywhere, only accepting rides when he feels the Holy Spirit wants him to ride. He's the Jesus Guy.
Around 1999 or 2000 or so, an unusual stranger started showing up in coal mining towns in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. His real name is Carl J. Joseph, but he's mostly known as "The Jesus Guy," or "What's your name?" The latter moniker came from the man's penchant for answering in the way Jesus addressed the demoniac of the Gospels. Last anyone knew of him, he was seen in Alabama. He asked for no money, just a place to stay, or the most basic of physical needs. He's spoken to crowds as large as 2000 people. He's had teenaged boys taunt him with threats of crucifixion. Still, after 10 years of a road ministry as a "Jesus lookalike," he remains a rather enigmatic figure.
Now, obviously, folks know he's not Jesus. yet after roughly 20 years, The Jesus Guy still draws crowds, causes people to come to a dead stop on the highway, and people still claim their lives were changed by his presence. What causes people to see him as "for real," and not simply a variant of an Elvis impersonator?
My theory is a very simple one. I think that the reason the Jesus Guy is mostly well-received, is because many people have an inner desire to "have Jesus live among us." We simply want to hang with Him. The Jesus Guy becomes a living symbol that Jesus can, and does, live among us. He reminds us that we walk in the shadow of the Almighty.
Our desire to be like what The Jesus Guy represents make him bigger than Santa Claus, bigger than a Las Vegas Elvis. That is not only a "good" thing, it's an empowering thing. Thanks be to God!
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9 comments:
What an interesting story. I like your take on it.
In an unrelated note, it reminds me of something I'd forgotten for decades. When I was a child, there was a homeless man in our town who lived by the river and called himself Jesus. I wonder now if he was schizophrenic. And I wonder what ever happened to him.
You can watch an hour long documentary on "The Jesus Guy" at the following URL; http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/the_jesus_guy/
I was recently at a retreat at the Franciscan Center in Tampa and he was there. First I thought, "Great another nutcase. What is he up to?" He sat in on all our sessions and answered a few questions. What a gentle soul! Very humble and very knowledgeable about his faith and the world around him. I wish there were more like him and less of many others!
Have there been any more recent sightings?
I stumbled across the video searching for something to relieve boredom this evening and saw the Jesus Guy documentary.
It piqued my curiosity.
I believe from what I have seen that he has mastered the art of being a blank slate for others to project upon him in many instances.
Haven't checked, lately, Tina. I figure, he sort of shows up when he shows up. Kinda like the guy he emulates!
I think you're right to some degree about the "projection" thing--which is also quite Biblical. "Who do you say that I am?"
I think this guy is going to be bigger than the Beatles.
i remember James, he walked the streets of birmingham a few years back. we invited him into our home for dinner often. i think he had to have knee surgery and stays in tampa now
My sister saw the Jesus Guy walking through the small town in the south she lived in -- he had another guy dressed similarly with him, she said, and they stopped at a church and asked for shelter for the night -- and were refused.
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