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Lenten Journey – Day 31
Biblical Scripture: Hebrews 4:14—5:4
Open Invitation to Join Terri from
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23-Mar-12: Hebrews 4:14—5:4
14 Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
“……and you say THE ONE never gets stained but walks right here?”
So did friends, all critters and unfolk alike, climb on and up.
So did all ears and Crookeye and BushNose and clutching hands seek again.
“Heighty-ho, sleightly-mo, on and on we go in dust and bramble to sup.”
“Mighty-wo, fighty-no, on and on we go in root stain and clump drain to strain.”
So did all friends march on under wing of Old Crow and Ugly Bird and Fly.
So did all friends tire and rest and mire and best all bars against their quest.
“Look ye, see ye, there is One all shining and clean pushing you bye and bye”
“What mean ye, Old Caw?” None stays clean here!””Oh , Yes, THE ONE does it best!”
granbee 
Mar 24, 2012 @ 05:55:10
Hey you , hoy you, under my shadow, reach ye out and and showes me your souls to prove we are whiter than whitee with souls withoutseey sin! We approach the one with boldnesses to take courage in store for when we needees it!
Mar 24, 2012 @ 22:30:30
Yes, willowdot, dear sister–we are meant to always approach His Throne with boldness–because we are joint heirs with His Son, royalty we are! Wonderful feedback you give here–so much inspiration for future posts!
Mar 24, 2012 @ 07:20:44
Rose! As a great admirer of Jesus, though, not Christian, I ask with all humility and respect… do you think that sometimes Christians paint Jesus as TOO perfect? What I mean is, in most depictions, you never see him sweat. He is often shown looking like a Swedish tennis pro, but, without the perspiration. If Christians believe that he became like us, to suffer and show the way, why, is the only suffering shown on the cross? What about the rest of his life? I take great comfort in thinking of the times Jesus resisted temptation, got sun burns, banged his thumb on a hammer. It is this image of Christ that gives me strength to know the power of the prophet. Didn’t Christ also get his hands dirty?
Mar 25, 2012 @ 13:30:16
Yes, Christ got his hands dirty and there are some ridiculous depictions of Jesus in artwork. 🙂 My favorite most ridiculous piece is of the Last Supper with a setting of 14th c. French clothing. Just going to show every generation reimagines Jesus in their own image.
A Jesus that spends time in the desert and goes into the wilderness as often as he did, wouldn’t be very spic-and-span. I hope you don’t mind me giving my two cents worth!
Mar 26, 2012 @ 12:53:52
No, please, I will take more than two cents. I’ll take a whole dollar if you got it. You make a great point how society depicts Jesus in their own image. True, that’s why every Jesus coming out of Hollywood looks like a movie star. My question isn’t so much physical. Of course Jesus would walk out of 40 days and nights in the desert with some sand on his sandals. I am more curious of any times Jesus might have gnashed his teeth or bit his tongue.
Mar 26, 2012 @ 15:08:13
If you really read closely the story of Jesus and the Syro-Phoenician woman in Mark or Jesus and the Canaanite woman in Matthew (it is the same story) you will find a curious depiction of Jesus. It all depends on your personal point of view how you read it. I was taught to take the most difficult reading and work with that. If we try to smooth everything out we miss the richness.
Mar 26, 2012 @ 22:30:26
Thanks so much for your scholarly points, Terri! So glad you have jumped in here with Peter, who I treasure so very much for his love of Jesus but his great angst over how so many “good churchfolk” live in the world before him. Take for example all the church folk who just hover over Rush Limbaugh’s ugly talk! No wonder our dear brother Peter feels this way, joining the worthy Gandhi in loving Jesus but not loving Christians!
Mar 27, 2012 @ 01:04:44
Aah, well. There is not one group that is always lovable. I bet Gandhi’s wife had a thing or two to say! 😉
The unfortunate thing is that, as the hymn goes, “They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love…” And our collective failure to love makes this difficult to defend. An even bigger reason to pray for the church universal.
Mar 27, 2012 @ 01:22:59
We ARE all human and full of foibles; yes, we are, Terri! Let us truly be known by our love, as you say! We must just keep loving and seeking more light to show us the way to a greater and greater love than ours.
Mar 29, 2012 @ 22:31:09
Terri, I completely agree with you that huge numbers of church folk are NOT often living out the love of Christ before the world at large! Let us stay on our knees together on this issues, okay?
Mar 27, 2012 @ 12:31:04
Rose! Please, I truly think you misinterpret my questions. It is NOT Christians I have questions for, but, the image of Jesus as paraded in Easter Parades every year past my door. If I could go back in time to one place I would want to meet Jesus and ask him: Are you the ONLY way and light, like the Bible says, or are you A way and light like Buddha said. I have read: Blessed is he who believes without seeing, yet, this smacks like propaganda to me. Jesus was such a light that no matter how much time and darkness we throw at him, he will continue to shine. I just want to get to the truth and know once and for all: is everyone who doesn’t accept Jesus as their personal savior going to pay for it in the Afterlife? It seems like no one had a chance prior 0 A.D. and still to this day, 1 billion Hindus, 1 billion Muslims, not to mention all my Jewish friends are facing serious consequences for failing to swallow the Eucharist.
I thank you, and cloakedmonk for your words and to delve deeper into these all important questions.
Mar 27, 2012 @ 23:09:59
Peter, in St. Paul’s letter to the Romans (and in other epistles), we are very clearly told that all those who died before Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose again from the grave on earth will be called “out of the grave” on the final day of judgment and will see that Jesus is Lord. This also applies all who have never heard the full story of Jesus living AFTER His birth and death and resurrection. NOW, I too often have very tiny glimpses of that “parallel universe” where all is spirit and eternal and SEEM to see that Jesus is in the company of other spiritual leaders from different “manifestations”, if you will. Whether these are Buddha and Krishna and Mohammed and Abraham, etc., etc., I cannot say. For most scriptures of all faith systems tell, in one way or another, that “now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face.” For ME, I have no doubt at all that Jesus the Christ is the “way, the truth and the life” FOR ME and for most people I come in contact with. In other words, Peter, IN THE FLESH, my conclusion is that there IS no absolute answer to your question. I totally agree that the Baby Jesus of most Christmas parades and the Risen Lord of most Easter parades if NOT the true Christos! We humans mess us so much; and THAT is why I chose to write these allegorical fairytale journeys featuring critterlyfolk, not true humans. I myself much prefer to hang out with critterly folk. Maybe that is why you and I are such good blogging friends, (tee,hee!)
Mar 29, 2012 @ 12:45:29
Rose! This response may be my favorite of all you have so wonderfully written. I am smiling from ear to shining ear. Thank you for the intense passion, thought and spirit that you have shared.
Mar 29, 2012 @ 22:29:25
Wow, Peter–I am overwhelmed and honored and tickled pink at your reaction to my response here! I honestly do not think I am quite ready to share the response you refer to with very many other folks! I am so very pleased I could share it freely with you! By the way, I am hearing distressing economic news about Toronto, in light of that lay-off of 300 workers from a single company there! What is your “take” on this?
Mar 26, 2012 @ 22:28:05
Peter, don’t you imagine Jesus gnashed his teeth pretty well in driving the money changers out of the temple, and when He called the scribes and pharisees a tribe of hypocrits and mockers, who were like whited sepulchres? He certainly could have said a lot more, if you ask me?
Mar 27, 2012 @ 12:35:09
Rose! True! I mentioned before that the story of Jesus throwing the money changers out of the temple is one my favorites. I am just looking for more examples of the humanity of Jesus. I see so much of the Divine, I want to see the man, too.
Mar 26, 2012 @ 22:26:03
Thanks so much for conversing with Peter on this subject of our silly “images” of Jesus, forgetting all the events told of in Scripture where Jesus walked and talked with all the common folks and joined in all their routine daily activities, getting pretty dusty and smudged, just as we do. I am glad you got to Peter before I did, as I am just SWAMPED with assignments these days!
Mar 26, 2012 @ 22:24:00
Peter, Jesus never got stained INTERNALLY, in his soul, with sin, okay? He certainly got dirty (physically) traveling all about Galilee and Judea on those dusty roads. He certainly got dirty picking corn in order to eat. He certainly got dirty out in those fishing boats. And witness all the humble homes he entered–I don’t think they had professional cleaning services in those, do you? And what about all those years working in Joseph’s carptenter’s shop? Jesus absolutely did share all the common events and dirtiness of daily life with all of his followers!
Mar 25, 2012 @ 08:14:16
The One does all things best, good reason to follow Him yes?
let us all become gripped by grace.
Mar 26, 2012 @ 22:32:22
Gripped by grace–I just LOVE that phrase, Brother Greg! Truly, Our Lord got dirty physically in his days of ministry here on Earth, but remained pure inside! All things best he did to show us The Way, right?
Apr 01, 2012 @ 19:29:35
Finally catching up… 2000 emails must clear my box. 🙂
Apr 03, 2012 @ 02:27:27
And I thought I got behind when I had crazy dealines that kept me away from all my emails! You make me feel so much better, eof! So VERY pleased to have you here!
Apr 02, 2012 @ 00:52:43
“and clutching hands seek again” As we stay connected, loving one another, we anticipate His coming again and approach with boldness~Just reading your comments with Peter and Terri were lessons in themselves and very interesting, Rose! We shouldn’t take these too literally, as you mentioned, Jesus did get dirty physically, but He remains pure inside and that is what we follow…It’s also interesting about the word “Christian” and people who say they’re Christian, but don’t show it in their actions. I often struggle with the thought of Jesus’ coming again and saving those who believe and those who don’t believe will be condemned. I’m not sure if I’m taking this too literally and will admit I’m not an avid Bible reader, but I truly believe and do my best to live how He would want me to…My point is that I know several people who claim not to be believers, but are the best “Christians” I know because of their kind hearts and giving actions…what are your thoughts, Rose? Another long reply and I wish you would write slower! I am far behind! xo
Apr 03, 2012 @ 02:31:51
Lauren, my prayerful response to you is this: those who live out the Christian faith and the teachings of Jesus WILL be given a final chance to come to open faith in the saving power of the blood He shed for us on Calvary’s Tree! We are told this in Romans, for example–somewhere around chapter 6, 7, or 8, it seems to me. Other scriptures speak of the final evangelistic outreaching to everyone. Now, everytime I start to fret over those “condemned” at the final judgement, I remind myself that judging is God’s business, not ours. Ours is to love and live in such a way as to be a living testament to the works of Jesus Our Lord. Everyone is given a free choice, after all. I firmly believe all those who are condemned at the final judgment will have condemned themselves.
Apr 03, 2012 @ 02:33:33
Enjoyed the discussion above…I echo Lauren’s point above…
Apr 03, 2012 @ 02:44:59
Yes, I can see why you and Lauren would feel that loving and compassionate people around you are actually living a better Christian life than many people sitting in those pews on Sunday mornings! This is one of the mysteries belonging to the discretion of our Creator, I think. Glad you enjoyed the discussion.