I'm guessing that your closest friend is someone who "gets" you better than anyone else. You know, that person who seems to be able to look right into your brain and understand your thought process. Sometimes this special friend even seems to know you better than you know yourself (a little scary!)
The common stereotype of Jesus is that He isn't that kind of person. Church tradition teaches that He is "fully God in human form" - Creator God in skin; bristling with all the power of the universe. Temptation and sin aren't even remote possibilities. He couldn't possibly begin to relate to your struggles and thoughts.
The historic Jesus is a far cry from the Jesus of church tradition. Note this descriptive picture:
"In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation" (Hebrews 5:7-9)
This human, emotional Savior is appealing. He knew the depths of human emotion and experience that characterize our existence. Through humility and suffering, He was perfected so that He might become a true source of help.
Whatever the depths of our human experience, they are never deeper than what our suffering Savior experienced. For over thirty years, He lived and experienced the full range of human emotion and temptation. And, without once succumbing to their allure or agony. He uniquely got it right, on our behalf.
Who doesn't need a confidante and counselor who truly understands us? We have one, and you don't need an appointment. In fact, you can have an appointment this very minute; right now. His calendar is free, and the door is open. Lay out your life in honesty before Him. He will hear and understand, and bring the full resources of our Father to bear on your need. No need to read another sentence; you've got an important appointment waiting.
©Steve Taylor, 2012
The common stereotype of Jesus is that He isn't that kind of person. Church tradition teaches that He is "fully God in human form" - Creator God in skin; bristling with all the power of the universe. Temptation and sin aren't even remote possibilities. He couldn't possibly begin to relate to your struggles and thoughts.
The historic Jesus is a far cry from the Jesus of church tradition. Note this descriptive picture:
"In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation" (Hebrews 5:7-9)
This human, emotional Savior is appealing. He knew the depths of human emotion and experience that characterize our existence. Through humility and suffering, He was perfected so that He might become a true source of help.
Whatever the depths of our human experience, they are never deeper than what our suffering Savior experienced. For over thirty years, He lived and experienced the full range of human emotion and temptation. And, without once succumbing to their allure or agony. He uniquely got it right, on our behalf.
Who doesn't need a confidante and counselor who truly understands us? We have one, and you don't need an appointment. In fact, you can have an appointment this very minute; right now. His calendar is free, and the door is open. Lay out your life in honesty before Him. He will hear and understand, and bring the full resources of our Father to bear on your need. No need to read another sentence; you've got an important appointment waiting.
©Steve Taylor, 2012
posted by steve @ 9:29 AM
1 Comments:
At 10:03 AM,
Linda McQuinn Carlblom said…
Yes! Love this thought. Especially the last sentences. Praying many are moved to make that appointment.
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