Jesus is probably the manliness man you will ever know. He inherited the strength of will of his Father and the compassion of the Holy Spirit and became something that we just don't see enough of in this age: Stoicism. Jesus was the very definition of a stoic. It shows in everything he said and did.
Jesus was also a very independent person. All the choices in the world belonged to him, and there was one point where he could have done anything at all--even become a very evil man. Very few people in history have been given that opportunity: the absolute ability to choose. And what did he choose? He chose us.
Some might say that it wasn't a very good choice. By choosing us, he allowed himself to be killed by the same people who would give him anything he wanted. But then, he was fine with that. In quiet repose, he made his decision and accepted the consequences. And what makes this even stranger... is that he actually wanted to do the opposite.
It all comes down to the part of the story where he was tempted in the wilderness. He was tempted. There is no mistaking that language. Jesus wanted to sate his own desires. He wanted to give everything up to be happy. Jesus was a man who liked all the same things most hedonists and pagans did. They were tempting and lovely to think about. But like I said... he had a choice... and what he chose was to give that same choice to every human on the planet.
Jesus is the way. It was his way to choose, and so the same choice falls upon us. There was no need for the ways of the Old Testament anymore. There was no need for the temple after the curtain was ripped. All that was left were human beings... with a choice--follow the ways of an independent and stoic man, or just continue in the way it had always been: following a crowd, searching for your own happiness at the expense of others, ultimately just conforming to the great nothing that has been the human race.
And to think all you had to do was just try something a little different.
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I had difficulty reading this because I became teary-eyed. Everything he wanted was his for the taking... yet he GAVE rather than take. Those who are doomed have doomed themselves. Those who make something of themselves shall sit at his table as FRIENDS, not servants. Jesus GAVE everyone a PERSONAL choice all their own. I would curse all who curse him... but I can't when he asks for their forgiveness. I shall not take from this man who gave everything. I shall give him EVERYTHING.
ReplyDeleteHe is the new way. And the new way belongs to us. We get a choice.
DeleteJesus does not ask for forgiveness. I fretted wording what I wrote wrong. I still do. The letter kills. The SPIRIT makes alive. I know neither the Father nor the Son fret my petty concern. I won't either when I grow up.
ReplyDeleteHey, there's no sin in being wrong. Don't fret so much about it. Most people are stupid so swift corrections often don't matter anyways.
DeleteIn becoming a man, Jesus took on all the burdens thereof. He could have given in to the temptation and then all would be lost. Instead, he proved better and showed us the way.
ReplyDeleteTrue.
DeleteJesus is The Way, by his choice he gave up all worldly desires and laid down his life for his Friend. He is the one to follow, Jesus is the role model of all. He could have had anything he wanted but instead took upon himself the responsibility of the whole world. The stoic put his own needs last to do what he must in the name of Friendship and Compassion.
ReplyDeleteHe really could have had everything. He would have turned into a massive symbol for hedonism.
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