Jesus has 'aura"

Recently walking round St Albans Cathedral with 90 Yr12 students, one student declared “Jesus has aura!”

There was something about the physicality of the Wallingford Screen, St Albans Cathedral’s High Altar Screen, which had completely captured him. I obviously had to have some help understanding what ‘aura’ was, but in short the students began to explain to me that their visit had opened their eyes to Jesus’ sheer ability to fill and influence any space, room, or context. They were struck by the calibre of people he had his impacted throughout history, especially in the area of social justice. Jesus was someone who inspired radical action and compelled respect and admiration. It was fantastic to see him through their eyes in that moment - a moment of worship for a worn-out heart.

Recently Step has been investing more of its time into sixth formers, especially through training them as leaders, upskilling them to address differences and difficulties. We've considering how applying Jesus' (who had so impressed them at the Cathedral) ideas could enrich their lives, like those on the altar screen.

Jesus didn’t inspire the Saints represented on the Wallingford Screen through being comfortable or doing the obvious or even his wise teaching - his leadership was countercultural, offering a new way of living - the kingdom of God. He didn't teach, react or even act how you expect - consider the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, the Persistent Widow and the Vineyard Workers. Jesus’ actions and stories address dangerous subjects -  life altering mistakes, risking your life, reputation and wealth, and unimaginable pay scales.
If he walked our streets now, or probably more likely tweeted on X (though whether he would use social media is a whole other argument) He would be canceled in seconds. If you don’t believe me, imagine Jesus posted some of these parables today - the outrage comments around ‘bad parenting’, ‘it's against his religion’, ‘you can’t nag God’, ‘that’s not fair pay’!

But his way of addressing life - his kingdom, is what we are seeking to introduce the sixth formers in St Albans and Harpenden to. Through three different offers (the Blueprint series, The Difference Course and the Leadership Foundations Course), Step is seeking to enrich the students' lives through following Jesus’ words and deeds in all aspects of life. Our prayer and hope is that the students will recognise Jesus' ‘aura’, his compelling nature, and be drawn to him, adopting his mission and walking it out into our world.