I AM ABOUT to begin my Jesus Year. Which is to say, I’m one month away from turning 33, the age that many scholars believe Jesus was when he expelled demons, performed miracles, overturned tables and norms, and lived so counter to the expectations of empire that he was crucified for it, therein saving humanity with a radical act of peace and love.
Now, I don’t plan on doing all that. It’s already been done! But I love that Christians have transformed a random age into something significant. Most of the monumental birthdays of youth are behind me: I can already drive (16), I can vote (18), I can drink (21), I can rent a car without paying a surcharge (25), and I can get injured anytime I go for a jog without stretching (32). But 33 is even more special. While I don’t plan on dying, resurrecting, restoring, and ascending, I do have a few goals for my Jesus Year.