(a type of
worship)
It is historically documented. It is intellectual folly to deny that a first
century, Palestinian Jew by the name of
Jesus
was crucified by the Roman government. There is no scholarly debate: Jesus was a
man. Fully, completely, no-way-around-it,
human, male. This man, worshiped over
2,000 years later, could not then, nor ever have been a woman.
As a man, Jesus was a Jew. He was raised in an orthodox Jewish
home. He practiced the Jewish religion
(yep, I said that Jesus was religious.
Which, in the anthropologistic and historical sense implies that he
practiced his religion…, well, religiously).
He followed the Mosaic Law to the letter. Not one iota
was ignored, not one minutia
disobeyed. His lineage was carefully
documented to prove that he was the answer to eons of prophecy. He was educated in the Hebraic traditions and
scriptures; and he observed all the festivals and Sabbaths as one who understood their true purpose. He taught with authority and corrected the
misunderstandings of the mortals he came to save. Of the Israelite leaders, he expected
much. To those on the fringe or outside
the faith, he offered a way in.
Jesus hung out with sinners and outcasts; ate with
them, walked with them, talked and laughed and wept with them. He saved them; he forgave them; he loved
them.
HE WAS NOT
ONE OF THEM.
Jesus was Divine.
Before the universe was formed, before humans drew breath, before time
began and after time ends he will continue to be always and forever
Divine. One with the Father and Holy
Spirit in perfect and complete communion.
Jesus came to earth, while sinners were sinning, to
rescue humans who didn’t know they needed saving. He died in the stead of every sinner who ever
was or ever will be. But only, Only
if the sinner chooses to trade his or her wickedness for Jesus’ all-encompassing righteousness. To trade their own, impending and eternal torment, for his atoning death on the cross. This choice is always in the heart of the sinner. Like a marriage proposal, anyone can accept or reject this love. Unlike a proposal, this love is offered every moment of every life. Until the moment when life is over. Or until that soul grows so hard from scratching out a life in the wilderness of death and constant pain, that Jesus [whom I picture weeping bitterly, as he did over Jerusalem just prior to his crucifixion] says to that sinner, “your will be done.”
To be completely clear, Jesus was everything the Holy
Scriptures say he was. Jesus, the
Promised Savior, the Only Son of the Almighty God, will never be a sinner. He came to save sinners. He died to redeem sinners. He lives to give Love to sinners. If we would but accept it.
He was, in a specific and tangible and documented
portion of linear time, God housed in flesh.
He was Eternity in temporal form.
He is the Healer of the broken, Redeemer of the damned. He is the One who
loves each sinner so much that He would trade his life, his oneness with the
Eternal Almighty LOVE Itself, for the sake of that one sinner to be welcomed
into His Father’s house.
But He is not to be made in our image. He is not a domesticated kitten, upon whom we
may assert our ideals or morals or compunctions. Our culture does not dictate, any more than
the ancient Hebraic or Hellenistic cultures which comprised his earthly
context, his will. Jesus’ will was
always that of the Father. And the
Father’s will does not deviate from scripture.
Regardless of what our favorite authors may tell us. Or how we feel, as one-third-world dwellers.
Jesus the Christ is the Lion of Judah, who will return
not as prophet or pacifist, but as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Robes dipped in blood; Warrior for His Father’s
kingdom, who will reclaim all that evil has stolen. And He will win.
For LOVE, true and honest and just LOVE, wins.
For His glory and Kingdom
and Power are forever.
Amen.
Please leave a comment below if you have any questions
regarding this theology.
I am happy to
supply scripture references (as well as secular and scholarly).
John Mark McMillan's "Death In His Grave"
Enjoying this study? Here's a link to other articles in this series: The Women Who Knew Jesus
