May 25, 2020
Good afternoon,
" I am the way, the truth and the life, " John 14
Who is Jesus for you ?
We have come through Good Friday, Easter Resurrection, Ascension Day and this Sunday will be Pentecost celebration. These are some of the great Christian holidays. And now what are we going to do ? Paul's letters from Romans to Thessalonians are written after the above events. Then after another few decades the Gospels are written. They are biographies, with a twist. All four want you to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and they write their stories with this bias in mind. The writers of the Gospels are master storytellers. So, as you think of these Gospels, who is Jesus for you ?
Jesus is a miracle worker and healer. He makes meals out of thin air. Jesus heals people of their long term illnesses. He even raises a few people form the dead. Is this the Jesus that you identify with in your spiritual life ? Do you often pray that healing will come into your life, or the life of your family and friends ?
Jesus is a prophet who confronts injustices. He stands up for that woman who is caught in adultery. He talks about taxes and who you should pay, God or the Emperor. At his trial, he is ordered to be crucified by the political representative, Pilate. He suggests you give up your cloak, give the abuser your other cheek to smack, and walk the extra mile. These are not only good ethics, but political statements. Is this the Jesus for you ?
Jesus is a storyteller, or a parable giver ( although in John, the writer gives no parables to Jesus ). The parables of the Lost Son, the Good Samaritan, the seeds, the weeds, the Pharisee and sinner, or the other 25 or more that are recorded in the first three Gospels . They are about day to day situations that the hearers would understand, and laugh at more than we do. The parables are hard to understand, but that might be Jesus' point. It is in the struggle to learn what they mean, that they become meaningful to us.
Then, there is the suffering Jesus during his last week of his life. Although, he was under threat of death right after his first sermon in his hometown. Is Jesus' suffering most important to you in your faith ? Is Jesus ont eh croos or in teh sky ofr you ?
I believe all of the things that Jesus did, said and experienced are part of him being the Messiah. What do you think ?
Prayer for today
Thank you God, through Jesus of Nazareth
for walking and talking in Palestine,
to children, to women, to people who are sick
to politicians and kings,
to invite them, to see
God,
at work, in the whole world
in our bodies, in our souls, in our minds.
All of us, and in everything.Thank you for being complex, and
simple.
Thank you for the presence through your Holy Spirit
today, tomorrow and forever.
Amen.
Fred
Ponder Anew 