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An Observation From Afar Consider the following: Would Jesus have been even more important if He were just a man?As a man, His works and
examples would mean even more, because it would have meant that His kindness and forgiveness was something that we each could strive to attain. His ability to love His fellow man, and to turn the other cheek,
would mean so much more if He had no "super natural" power to lean on. I have always felt that we limited Christ's importance, and let ourselves off the hook, by making Him divine. You see, if Jesus was a
man, then the accomplishments He achieved would be truly remarkable, and so much more important. It would mean He accomplished what He did in life, with no more than any of us has. It would also mean that we
could achieve many of these same ideals if we were to apply ourselves as Christ did. And His message was to "be as I am". To make it easier, consider the following, based on what we know about our own
dedication and heroics: At the time of Jesus there were no pictures, no TV, no way to know which of the men following Jesus was Jesus, but by being pointed out. They all had long hair, beards, similar clothes,
etc. It seems reasonable that Jesus was greatly loved by His followers, men who had changed their lives because of their love of this very special man, a man they would protect at all costs. What if at the
last supper it was decided that the powers who were after Jesus were about to close in, and a plan was devised to protect their leader? Judas chose the task of betrayer, because they knew that the only
way Rome would believe their plan would be if it appeared to come from within. Why else would one of Jesus' own turn Him in for a little money, but to convince the Romans he had a motive. Judas accepted the
role because it was critical to the plan, knowing that until and unless the truth be known, he would forever be seen as a traitor, forever hated and despised, and not someone who courageously and selflessly
protected His KING. When Jesus said it was the greatest gift a man could give, to give his life for another, He was speaking to them about the sacrifice PETER was going to make on His behalf. And that
would explain why Jesus, disguised as Peter, denied being Christ three times: If His followers were so dedicated to protecting Him, He would do His part. Peter went to the cross for the love of Jesus, something
anyone of us would have done in a heart beat. (Why is it so hard to believe that Peter did this act to protect Jesus, when everyone of us knows someone we'd do the same thing for?)The Romans only had Judas' word for
who was the "King of Kings", and Judas kissed Peter, not Christ, so that Christ might live. Someday we may learn that those great acts attributed to Peter were done by Christ, in memory of the man who died in
His place. Indeed, maybe Jesus became Peter, to honor the love showed to Him by Peter when he went in His place to the cross. |
