identity crisis...not

Another interesting thing to me is that Jesus always spoke of the Father. He told the people about God as if God were His God too. 
I wonder if all the while they were traveling, the apostles realized that Jesus was more than the Son of God? Did they know He actually was God?

It was hard enough for the simple people of early Nazareth (and the rest) to see Jesus as a Savior, but had He played the God card, it would have blown their minds. All the signs were there, but tradition had made them expect a different kind of redeemer. The miracles alone were not enough to sway them. 

Jesus spoke with such authority that from youth, the educated listened to Him. He spoke with such passion that His words alone encouraged the people to follow Him. He spoke with such kindness and optimism that He inspired the world, even to this very day, to be like Him. 

So there He goes - speaking, healing and caring. And here we stand, emulating Jesus while knowing He is God. 

Now that we are in the midst of Lent, will we listen like the original 12... or the simple people of Jesus' homeland who knew Him as the son of a carpenter and blessed of God. 
Or will we listen as part of the faithful of all generations and ages, who know that God was really a Man in the body called Jesus, and lived and worked and loved and laughed and suffered and died, so that we all could be saved from our own human foibles. 
I can't figure it out. But that is why I keep writing. Because it is definitely worth the effort to try. 

Magic Man?

When Jesus went out, He performed many miracles with no fanfare. At least not at first.

We all have seen magicians and there is a lot of preparation - much hoopla and fireworks. Did the apostles go and prepare the people for "something never seen before on sand or stage. The one, the only, the great "Christini!" The crowd would go wild wondering what cool trick was going to be exhibited that day.

No - that is not what happened because there was no magic. Jesus didn't get up and plan how many people He would trick, but He went out knowing that there were many He could help.

Magicians use objects and sleight of hand. Look at the right hand - the left hand is holding the cards.
They tell people what they are thinking and predict where they will go, but they don't do anything to the person.
Jesus didn't do anything except ask God to reward the faith of the people and heal them. He didn't do tricks - He performed miracles. He channeled the power of God and used it to show the faithful that they were not forgotten. He didn't do it for a headline or show in Vegas. He did it because He couldn't help it.
Most of Jesus' miracles healed the person. From disease and torment to fear and evil spirits, all He needed to do was tell them they were healed - and to make it sweeter, He forgave their sins so they could be praising God.
Imagine the apostles witnessing the first healing miracle. They had to be as astounded as the rest and they also had to have the greatest relief that following Jesus from their boats or homes or families, was indeed the best choice.

Magic act? No. Tricks that Houdini could duplicate? Never!
 Actions that inspired faith to grow and thrive for generations and centuries? Of course, and that is the biggest miracle.

need a friend?

Jesus was building a reputation with His gentle ways and firm grasp of Scripture.  He had received attention after His Cana miracle and He was inspiring the Jews to get back to their heritage and serve God according to the Bible.

Jesus was ready to begin His mission but He needed help.

Jesus asked 12 special gentlemen to join Him. Jesus didn’t offer them a good time or a salary – just the chance to make a difference. This was back in the day when you looked someone in the eye and spoke to them. There was no text messaging; no email. No emoticons or tweets. Can you imagine?

Jesus texts:  Simon -  🐟 👨??? C-me.   JC    Simon texts back:  👍. S

No – Jesus approached, watched and then spoke to them. Remember that Jesus knew already that the 12 people He would spend the next years with would be the same 12 that loved and protected and denied and betrayed Him. But He asked them anyway. And they accepted. They went to their families and other friends and said goodbye. They saw this was the opportunity of a lifetime.

There are indications in the New Testament that occasionally the 12 would go back to their boats or homes, but that was not a permanent situation and since Jesus' years in ministry are not documented minute by minute, perhaps He needed a breather every now and again too. His travels were extensive but He was still just a guy from Nazareth.

His duty as a man, son of Mary and Joseph, did not totally vanish when He started His ministry as the son of God. There were probably some things He still had to do as part of mortal life. He was a dutiful son and needed to finish many things before He could go off with His friends. 

And when the gang got back together, with Jesus as the lead, it was wonderful. 

I can’t think how moving it would be to be in the group that would be considered Jesus’ Apostles, but even more that the group would be His friends.

The Apostles didn’t know all they were getting into but they knew one thing for sure. When Jesus needed friends, THEY were chosen first.

Teenage years

After all the hoopla and celebration of Jesus’ birth, and an adventure into Egypt, His history pretty much dries up. We know of how He wandered off to be found talking and teaching in the temple. I used to think that His comment to Mary was kind of rude. She was a mother, beside herself in fear that her son was missing (I mean, who wants to be the person who lost the Son of God) and she was understandably upset. When Jesus said, I must be about My Father’s business, it was that snarky kind of comment any young man would make. All teenagers say mean things to test their boundaries, and assert their future independence. And like all young men, I now think He meant it as a statement, not a slap. Jesus may even have been confused that she had concern at all. He assumed she knew His schedule. But as 100 percent human, Mary was not in the loop of all that God had planned.
After years of listening to scholars and preachers, I changed my view. Instead of wondering why Jesus stayed to be with the elders, I wonder why He went back home with the folks.

Jump to one of the next Jesus stories that we are aware of. The wedding at Cana.
So we have adult Jesus at a party. All goes well and then the wine runs low. So Mary let’s Him know and  cuts her down again. He is asking “what do you want Me to do about it?” But He means that her concern about wine will be addressed at the right time. He doesn’t mean to be dismissive but knows she needs patience. She gets it and just tells the wait staff to keep an open mind, cuz something great is about to occur.
Now this is the time some people question why Jesus made more wine when He could have made juice and delivered a sermon on the evils of alcohol. Yes, someone did mention that once to which I replied...keep it in context. Remember place and time and era and it isn’t a promotion of alcoholism. It was a courtesy and a real gift to the hosts.
So Jesus saves the day at the wedding and a simple miracle becomes the turning point. The two stories intertwine now, because Jesus is truly going into the Father’s business.

I don’t know about you, but for me the story is about to get real interesting.

Baby Jesus

disclaimer...this is not Bible study. This is how I feel about Jesus and what I may know...or not.

I remember knowing Jesus as a baby. He was the Son of God, born in a manger. I had no idea as a child what this meant.
In the Bible you see a baby, and then an adult. There was no awkward teen years... no school crushes... no boys playing ball outside. But that had to happen.
Jesus had to eat and poop and spit up on Mary when He was an infant. He had to play ball with His friends and hide and go seek; he must have  watched that cute girl from down the road walk to the well... maybe even tease His buddies when they did that boy thing to get her attention.
Jesus had to do all those things because He was not just God, but a man as well.
God didn’t have the angels announce Jesus to shepherds because they won the blue ribbons at the
Fair. God didn’t steer the astronomer kings because they brought good gifts. God announced Jesus to the lowliest of the low and the highest of the highs because Jesus is everyone’s Savior.
The shepherds walked to the stable and the kings rode camels. The shepherds had a short distance and the kings a long one. But each faction went to where Jesus was, because Jesus was there.
I saw a promise fulfilled... a search ended... a desire satisfied.
In this way, we too must find Jesus from our own place and in our own way. So now you know that as a child, I started my search and finally realize that the person I found is the same one the rich, smart and beautiful people found. He is all there is for all we are.
And that is why I want to tell you what happened to me next.

Break time

Today is Ash Wednesday.
To some this is a time to reflect and pray.
To some, this is time to fast or give something up.
To me? Well, I don’t know.
If I give up a treat or food, it is nothing I haven’t done before to lose weight.
If I try to pray each day, it is nothing I am not doing every day already. It is.just that I think about it being Lent and not about the prayers
If I decide to do something nice or be kind or be considerate, it would be sad that that is a sacrifice for me.
I decided to meet Jesus.
Lent is the in between time. It is the time we lose Jesus the Man and see Jesus as God. It is a time of revelation.
I know as a child I knew about Jesus, but it is time to really know Him. I am old enough now to see what I missed all those years when I felt Jesus was an untouchable deity. So as I go through 40 days of Lent, I will make my own reflection on Jesus. This will be my admission that I know nothing about what I know.

really...who cares

My high school life was peppered with moments of greatness, sadness, frustration and success.

I would like to say that I found myself, but that is stupid. I wasn’t lost. I did however discover some hidden talents I had – from my scholastic abilities to my musical and dramatic talents. As a student, I was smart and had a great memory. I took copious notes and remembered so much detail that I didn’t usually have to study. I was happy to get B’s, thrilled to get A’s, rarely got anything lower and did it all with minimum effort. Valedictorian or top achiever? NO. Honor roll? Yes.

As a performer, I wanted to be in the musicals and plays but I discovered that I was mediocre at best. I was happy to be girl #7 in the third line or the nonspeaking shepherd in the Christmas shadow diorama. Star? Soloist? NO! Stage hand or nameless artist? You betcha!

I had all the credits to go to college and opted to get a summer job after senior year, at which time I discovered I could learn and earn money at the same time. I took a few night courses but my dreams of college died. I started with college English and then took cake decorating & party foods, needlepoint, gourmet cooking and a few computer courses. After a few years working, I saw that I should get more accounting experience so took a few accounting courses. I learned by reading books and looking things up. When people started the home computer craze, I was in my element. I could learn millions of things without having to go to the library or buy an encyclopedia. An encyclopedia was a series of books that were arranged alphabetically and you could actually pull a volume out and get info…. The better ones took up multiple shelves to accommodate all the info. (in case you are too young to remember them.)

I have officially condensed my high school years to a few entries. I could mention my individual successes but that is in the past. I will not be advanced today because I was able to take college classes during high school – or get elected to class office – or win a kite flying contest. I will not be more accepted by my peers because I learned certain things better than everyone else. It is that these successes and achievements shaped the person I am today. If I was good before…I had better be best now. If not, whatever good I did or was is not worth mentioning.