Chapter 7: The Third Question
Before we address the "Third Question," we must recall the first two questions. The first two questions appear in the Gospel: Jesus asked his disciples "Who do people say that I am?" And then, he asked "Who do you say that I am?"
The third question doesn't appear in Scripture, but it's related. "Who does Jesus say that YOU are?
Well, that's a good question. And it's one that no one who knows us here on Earth can answer, because Jesus can see in us what no one else can -- not even ourselves.
Think about that for a minute. It's a little like asking who will be admitted to Heaven, at which point you realize why we are asked not to judge each other: Only God can see into our hearts, and only God can look at all the variables and circumstances in a complete way.
Jesus said we are children of God. Think of how valuable your children are. Most parents would lay down their lives for their offspring, without even thinking about it. That's really valuable. Why? Why do we as parents give so much of our time, our very selves, to our children, give up so much for our children, would even die for them if necessary?
And we are God's children.
And so here's the question:
Do you value yourself anywhere near as much as Jesus values you?
I doubt that I do. I mostly see my failings. I see what I've done wrong, what I've neglected to do, what I should have done, once it's behind me. I don't know what Jesus sees in me that's so valuable. I try to use my abilities and resources for good. But I'm never sure I succeed in that.
And what I am able to do, so are many other people able to do. Maybe it takes many of us doing the same thing to accomplish any good. So are all the parts necessary?
There was an interesting philosophy at the small college where I sent my older son. They kept track of student absences, and they always said that if one student failed to come to class to participate in the discussion, that absent student was depriving all the other students and the tutor (teacher) of his or her insights that day.
Not that the student was missing out by being absent, but that the student was depriving his classmates and teacher of the insights he might have brought to class that day.
And maybe that's it. Maybe that's chipping away at the idea that we are all valuable, that I myself have infinite value. It's not what I am missing, but what I might be providing to others but am not, that is at the root of this question about value.
And I find it comforting to think that Jesus values me, so much that he's willing to wait around patiently until I wake up and try to get with the program.
I hope that my thoughts help someone else, somehow.
Chapter 8: Jesus was a radical.
And what do you think "radical" means? Far out, really, really far out? Extremist? Political in nature?
Not exactly. It means getting to the root of things.
And Jesus was indeed a radical, really in both senses. But when he got into trouble with authorities, mostly it was because he focused on the spirit of the law and not the letter of the law. He said he came not to do away with a single letter of the law, but to fulfill every word of the law.
And he said the Sabbath was made for man, not the other way around. The laws were made for the benefit of man. Man was not, as the religious authorities of his day taught, made for the laws. Radical indeed -- shaking things up, not for the sake of change itself, but because he wanted us to get to the root of the matter.
If someone needed healing, don't allow that person to suffer needlessly for another day if you have the ability to ease his sufferings right now.
Jesus sees the world through a lens of truth -- radical truth. I am not sure we are capable of doing that all the time, not here on Earth. But we must try. It seems strange, because truth always makes us feel better, it simplifies our lives and it allows us to move forward.
Jesus is a radical, God is a radical, Jesus' life on Earth was radical. His teachings were radical. His love is radical enough that it changed the course of history.
The question:
When was the last time you had the courage to seek out the root of an important issue?
I'll go back to this: I am committed now to eradicating homelessness and improving the lives of those afflicted in that way. I started to seek out the truth about them, how they got that way and the nature of their struggles and although it has literally taken years, I am beginning to act on it. I couldn't have done it without a chain of events that could not possibly have been coincidence: I got involved with Relay For Life. I met Jason, who joined my team with his family and who was feeling that same urge to get involved. I had been suppressing my call to help the poor for many,many years. I found a way to begin the journey through him and other friends. I am still struggling a bit with this, but I feel better because I am involved with likeminded people who are all working toward the same goal. I am not a mover or shaker in this endeavor, just committed to it. I look forward to delving deeper and getting more involved. Since then, I've been appointed to the United Way Board of Directors. I have served on a foundation committee at work that works with community grants. And now I see all these pieces beginning to come together.
It is nothing short of amazing, to be honest. Thank you, Jesus, for making this happen and for nudging me until I responded.
Chapter 9: The Greatest Teacher
Who was your favorite teacher when you were in school? Was it someone who taught your favorite subject in high school? Or was it someone who made you feel special, who recognized in you gifts, talents and abilities you had no idea were there?
But the greatest teacher, of course, is Jesus. This chapter suggests reading Scripture in a different way, meditating on them -- pondering them. The Gospels, this chapter points out, contain rare insights into the genius of the mind of God.
This makes me think of a hymn we used to sing in church: Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, what God has ready for those who love him. Spirit of love, come give us the mind of Jesus. Teach us the wisdom of God.
I can hear it in my mind, that hymn. The author says that realizing how the Gospels offer us a glimpse into the mind and genius of God changes the way we read them -- more deeply that just reading them and different from just hearing them proclaimed in church.
Jesus isn't a genius, the author points out, Jesus IS genius. His are the most influential words in history.
The question:
Have you ever really considered Jesus to be your teacher?
Have I? I think so, but probably not as much as I should. Definitely not as much as I should. But it's a deeper thing than just the old questions: What would Jesus do? It's that, but more. Why would he do it? How would he do it? Should I also do it?
The answers to those questions go something like this:
What would Jesus do? He would do the right thing.
Why would he do it? Because he is incapable of doing less. And because he knows better than any of us what the right thing to do actually is.
How would he do it? He would do it in the simplest, most direct way possible. He would want others to recognize and imitate it.
Should I also do it? Yes, because Jesus came to Earth to model for us how to live life. How to treat each other well, how to spread love, how powerful love is. How to be patient and kind, forgiving and merciful, goodness and light to others.
If only it was that easy.
God is simple and pure and good and loving and merciful.
We humans tend to make everything complicated. We impose conditions and expect things in return and micromanage everything. We judge when we should not and forget how fragile we all are. We are impatient and unkind, unforgiving and lacking in mercy, goodness and light.
The 1st century Jews had managed to turn God's simple 10 Commandments into more than 600 laws. There are far more than that today.
And yet God still loves us and is waiting patiently for us to turn back to him.
That's what I try to do every Lent. Why is it so hard?
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