Nelson Mandela
There is no doubt that Nelson Mandela was a great man, as the thousands queuing this week to pay their last respects bear eloquent witness. For me, two qualities stand out. The first is his courage, typified in the speech at his trial in 1964 when he stated calmly that “a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities … is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” The second is his forgiveness, which was beyond what anyone might have expected. On his release from prison after 27 years he was able to say, “let bygones be bygones”, something which he genuinely seemed to live by. In this he has been compared with Jesus.
Without wishing in any way to denigrate his memory – who could have achieved for South Africa what he did? – there are several ways in which Mr Mandela falls some way short of the Messiah. First, Jesus was totally innocent of any crime and free of all sin, things which cannot be said of Mr Mandela. Second – at the risk of stating the obvious – Jesus is still alive, risen from the dead, while Mr Mandela is not. Third, Jesus the Messiah will achieve everything he planned, nothing short of the renewal of all things, while Mr Mandela had to face the non-fulfilment of his dreams. Yes, it is right that we honour the memory of great men like Nelson Mandela, and learn from their example. But let’s not confuse them with Jesus Messiah, nor forget to honour and learn from him.