Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Jesus...risen...choosing the simple life...

as the newly-resurrected & Ever-Living Messiah,
YaHWeH's Own Son...

Jesus did NOT appear to...

Caiaphas...who'd engineered riots to change the government's mindset re: executing Him

the CROWDS who'd called for His execution only days before

the SOLDIERS who'd executed Him...ironically, His angel appeared to those who guarded the grave... and...THEY fainted from fear rather than face the angel

HOWEVER...

Jesus DID appear to...

those who loved & needed Him...

first to Mary the Magdalene...who needed Him even more than His Own mother did...

then to the others...

Jesus was NOT about using His NEW Eternal Presence to COMPEL ANYTHING from ANYONE...

RATHER His aim was to fan the flame of what was already in the hearts of those who COULD bring themselves to believe-love Him (like what was in Thomas', in Peter's & in Mary's hearts)

SO...living the life of the-resurrected-Jesus-in-me will NOT involve COMPULSION...

it will be a series of "callings"...sometimes even of "calling out"...but ALWAYS of choices offered...not in the "Gentile way", but rather the Jesus-way of saying things like, "IF anyone wishes to follow Me..." or maybe, "May I wash your feet?"

this is a "slow" way of leadership...not the "fast track" syle favored by so many of us...