It amazes me that Jesus could have done so much here on earth, yet He didn't. He chose to do few things, say few things.
Those few things He did and said....must be the most important things as far as I'm concerned.
He could have punished the wicked so easily, and righted all wrongs on earth; installed the right kingdoms, ended evil on earth for ever, and brought peace. That would have been so good for this temporal existence and on this merely physical orb, in the time-bound existence the frail little me inhabits. But apparently it was more important to show me that there is a world beyond this world; where the battle between good and evil is unimaginably more cosmic, and unspeakably more eternally pivotal. Winning the war in this cosmic battleground is what is needed; because I belong to this cosmic world, and I would be lost there eternally if not for His victory. Jesus showed up the winning of battles on this temporal orb for what truly they are against the backdrop of our cosmic existence - of no consequence whatever.
He could have ended hunger for ever; and provided food for everyone in this world. But apparently, it was more important to tell me He loves me and HAVE ME KNOW IT; apparently, my most desperate need is not mere physical food, but to be in relationship with God in the eternal cosmos, for all worlds. Apparently, I needed to be loved and shown love far more than I needed my bodily needs met.
He could have brought justice, for each person who had ever been wronged in this world. He could have ended exploitation, oppression and affliction for ever. But apparently it was more important to show me that the courtroom that pronounces judgment on man's cruelty to man is an eternal one; apparently, the crime was more heinous than the most holy and righteous men on earth imagined. And also, apparently, only eternal justice needed to prevail, not merely temporal. Jesus showed me that the cry of the afflicted (even mine) reaches up to the highest throne-room of this universe, and comes up into the ears of the One who can indeed punish eternally; now I know what justice really means!
He could have reversed Original Sin; and taken me back to "Paradisal Man". But apparently it was more beautiful that man would indeed, after many ages and after the death of the very Son of God, choose God out of his own free will, without compulsion. And that this second choice would have far greater good and eternal consequence, than the first sin ever had. Apparently, the most beautiful thing in life here on earth is that I, a human being, can today reverse the original sinful choice a human being had made at the dawn of life on earth. He put the power of choice back in my hands!!!
He could have healed all disease on earth, and given us all life forever. But apparently, it was more important for me to know that God never stops creating!!! He was creating again when Jesus came....a new man. This new man was not a being made for temporal old earth....this new man was made cosmic, born with the very uncreated life of God Himself!!!! And this new man lives forever, forever in relationship with the Prime Mover of time itself.
Jesus could have spent His time here on earth making life here on earth the fullest it could possibly be; but He spent His time here telling me how He could take me to higher worlds, with Him. Apparently, life on earth is merely that - life on earth. But true life is what Jesus came to give me - life beyond earth, beyond the temporal.
Even if all this I've said were not true, Jesus would still be my everything, because He is the only one who knows when I hurt; when I bleed; when I hunger and thirst; when my soul is so parched it needs water. Only He can truly fulfill even my merely earthly needs. Even if it all merely came down to life on little ole earth, Jesus would still be all I have:) But thank God it's more than that!!!
Thank you Jesus:)
I think this is really well thought through and so true - I like it. It has blessed me.
ReplyDeleteIf this were said in a conversation, I would be nodding my head in agreement all through. If this were said on the FB, I would have been clicking like... but that's not the point. It's not about how beautifully written or well-worded it is (which it is). It truly resonates the God we worship, one God yet so personal to each of us. And what strikes a chord in me are these few lines that you've penned -
ReplyDelete*it was more important to tell me He loves me and HAVE ME KNOW IT; ...*
*…Apparently, I needed to be loved and shown love far more than I needed my bodily needs met.*
*Jesus showed me that the cry of the afflicted (even mine) reaches up to the highest throne-room of this universe, and comes up into the ears of the One who can indeed punish eternally; now I know what justice really means!*
* But apparently it was more beautiful that man would indeed, after many ages and after the death of the very Son of God, choose God out of his own free will, without compulsion.*
But in all that you've written, it is your last para that reflects that which is real regardless of our understanding - that Jesus is all.In desolation. In brokeness. In loneliness. In joy. In plenty. In company and In crowd :) I don't think one can word it better than that and add any more meaning that *Jesus would still be my everything* and how it is only out of brokeness we come to draw this conclusion. Of all who I've seen believe in Jesus, I'm yet to see one whose come to the cross out of wholeness. There could be another way. He could do that. It would make us feel better, the journey easier. It could lead us to the same destination. What we cannot fathom may not require being understood. Because we still have what is real.