December Jot 2007 ~ Immanuel
One of my favorite “Christmas words” is the Hebrew word “Immanuel.” Sometimes used in the Greek form and spelled “Emmanuel,” the word is a prophetic name for Jesus and simply means “God with us.” I say “simply” because as a definition, it is simple and straightforward. However, as a spiritual principle, it is rich with meaning and promise.
This morning, as I was thinking about Christmas being near, I prayerfully asked myself this question: Why was Jesus born? What was his purpose? To my surprise, these words almost immediately spoke themselves into my mind: “He came to show us who God is and who we are.” This is such a satisfying answer for me. It is certainly not a new idea, but it is fresh for me today as I begin to prepare for the celebration of Christmas… the birth of the Christ Child… Immanuel.
What was the portrait of God that Jesus painted for us? If we look patiently and with willing eyes, we see intelligence and wisdom, caring and courage, discipline and surrender, love and strength, generosity and creativity. We see true power, in all its many forms. We see these and more, not as qualities that Jesus had, but as attributes of being… of who he was. Given as we are to creating God in our image and likeness, it is vital that we see what Jesus saw… not a big man in the sky, but the Absolute Source of All Good. Jesus showed us our Oneness with this Unlimited Good. His faith knew no bounds… had no limit… it carried him through all that his purpose held for him.
And so, I ask myself, how is all this a picture of me? The answer comes more quietly, but no less surely. I am all of this in possibility, just as Jesus was. He was lifetimes ahead of me in soul enlightenment, but he was not different from me in kind, only in degree of expression. How lovely it must have been for those who were present to hear him say, “The things that I do, you shall do, and greater than these will you do.” But these words were not just for his listeners then. They are for each one of us now.
But what about sin? Didn’t Jesus come to save us from sin? Yes, he truly did. But we can only understand this if we understand “sin.” In his book “Original Blessing,” Matthew Fox defines sin as “belief in duality… in separation.” If I truly know and believe that I am one with you, with all creation, can I do anything to harm you or the planet we share? Jesus summed up our Oneness in his great commandment: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength… and your neighbor as yourself.” When we get this right, we are saved from sin… from our belief that we are separate. This is what faith is all about. This is what salvation is all about: believing, trusting the Oneness, Immanuel, God with us. Have a blessed Christmas!
jbm
This morning, as I was thinking about Christmas being near, I prayerfully asked myself this question: Why was Jesus born? What was his purpose? To my surprise, these words almost immediately spoke themselves into my mind: “He came to show us who God is and who we are.” This is such a satisfying answer for me. It is certainly not a new idea, but it is fresh for me today as I begin to prepare for the celebration of Christmas… the birth of the Christ Child… Immanuel.
What was the portrait of God that Jesus painted for us? If we look patiently and with willing eyes, we see intelligence and wisdom, caring and courage, discipline and surrender, love and strength, generosity and creativity. We see true power, in all its many forms. We see these and more, not as qualities that Jesus had, but as attributes of being… of who he was. Given as we are to creating God in our image and likeness, it is vital that we see what Jesus saw… not a big man in the sky, but the Absolute Source of All Good. Jesus showed us our Oneness with this Unlimited Good. His faith knew no bounds… had no limit… it carried him through all that his purpose held for him.
And so, I ask myself, how is all this a picture of me? The answer comes more quietly, but no less surely. I am all of this in possibility, just as Jesus was. He was lifetimes ahead of me in soul enlightenment, but he was not different from me in kind, only in degree of expression. How lovely it must have been for those who were present to hear him say, “The things that I do, you shall do, and greater than these will you do.” But these words were not just for his listeners then. They are for each one of us now.
But what about sin? Didn’t Jesus come to save us from sin? Yes, he truly did. But we can only understand this if we understand “sin.” In his book “Original Blessing,” Matthew Fox defines sin as “belief in duality… in separation.” If I truly know and believe that I am one with you, with all creation, can I do anything to harm you or the planet we share? Jesus summed up our Oneness in his great commandment: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, soul, mind and strength… and your neighbor as yourself.” When we get this right, we are saved from sin… from our belief that we are separate. This is what faith is all about. This is what salvation is all about: believing, trusting the Oneness, Immanuel, God with us. Have a blessed Christmas!
jbm
<< Home