Blog 177 – 12.4.15

I have probably studied the life and teachings of Jesus, the King of the Jews, to a greater depth than many of his disciples. Someone in social media some months back misunderstood one of my attempts at humor and said that they thought I must not like Jesus very much. For the twenty some odd years I tried very hard to be an atheist I still loved Jesus’ story. It is a wonderful love story, of God making the ultimate sacrifice to redeem his beloved children. Judaism and Christianity are very bloody religions with lots of sacrificing of innocent creatures to pay for sin. Lots of guilt and lots of blood.
King David after his great sin with Bathsheba writes, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and contrite heart.” Some even Christian people believe the great Temple will be rebuilt on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and animal sacrifices began again. Wow, how much blood must be spilt before we believe God loves us. Ego’s blood bath must end. Jesus thought his would be the last blood to be spilt for sin. The soldiers in World War I thought theirs was the war to end all wars and that their blood would be the last shed in that hateful enterprise.

Much is said of Jesus work on the cross and of his preaching to the fickled crowds who shouted hosannas on Palm Sunday and just a few days later, “Crucify him.” I think Jesus and we all do our best work one on one. Having once trained for the preaching ministry I understand the lure of the crowd, the desire to be heard and praised, the wish to have a platform and influence a lot of people. But the real work of encouragement, teaching, changing minds is best done one at a time. How many in those large crowds that Jesus spoke to really got his message.

In the nineteen-seventies there was a Rock Opera called Jesus Christ Superstar. And Glenn Campbell even had a popular song, “I Knew Jesus Before He Was A Superstar.” But of all the encounters with Jesus, his private interviews with Nicodemus and the Woman at the Well produced the best most lasting results. And isn’t it that way with us too. Those private one on one moments with a family member, a close friend, even someone you just met stand out in our memory and theirs as life changing and mind changing moments. Words spoken right to your heart have a way of having tremendous import.

As a writer I try to write for the One as if I was sitting across a table from you sharing food and drink. As self assured as I may sometimes come across I really don’t have all the answers. I don’t even know all the questions. But this one thing I know. We are on this journey for a reason and every road however winding leads home, we are not alone. And maybe, just maybe, our real work is to help our brothers enjoy the journey and arrive home safe and sound.

Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White