This man called Jesus: PART FOUR
From a Pizzaonian Perspective - Jesus, the last three years ………..
How did he relate to his immediate family?
I have often wondered how Jesus related to the rest of his family. Again, we have very little to go on and much of what we presume to know is speculation on the part of bible historians. I am going to presume it wasn’t always easy. He had a job to do and this must have caused some strain on those whom he loved and loved him. We always take for granted that once they were aware of his mission, they assumed their God obedient roles and supported him. This may have been the outcome, but what was it like on the way to that final realization.
There also seems to be some discrepancy regarding who his family*was. We know he had brothers since one of them, James, became the head of the Christian community in Jerusalem after the death of Jesus.
Again, we can learn a lot from every situation if we put ourselves in the same place. While it was a different time, imagine how you would feel if someone you loved, came and told you they were going to leave and do God’s will. Furthermore, imagine the strain this would put on everyone if that person was partly responsible for the family’s income and survival. It is unlikely that they all accepted this without hesitation and concern.
Some bible historians suggest that his mission was not fully accepted by some members of his immediate family until after his death and resurrection. It is easy to imagine this was the case since it would be consistent with how many of us would react.
One more consideration of the family’s feelings has to be the fact that during his last days, Jesus was seen by most in Jerusalem as a common criminal facing the worst of all possible executions, crucifixion.
By any standard of any time, this had to be an excruciating time for his family and those who loved him. Add to this that many of his closest followers were ready to abandon him. The full impact of what they were dealing with had to be terrifying.
When did Jesus fully grasp the fullness of his relationship with his heavenly father?
What gets lost in the discussion of when did Jesus know he was the son of God, is that he did know sometime before his death. This is the relevant point. He did know. After that when and how becomes discussion points and little else.
As important as Jesus knowing he was the son of God is that after his death, his apostles considered him as such. The changed attitude of the apostles from a band of weak and disorganized men to martyrs who willing sacrificed their lives for the expansion of the Christian church is considered one of the true miracles of this era.
What was his vision for a Church? **
Where you end up on this one depends on which Christian church you choose to belong. The Roman church clearly believes Jesus created a hierarchical church with authority that starts at the top with the Pope and works its way down.
If you prefer to accept the orthodoxy of Protestant Christianity, Jesus left an invisible church that becomes his presence on earth. These brief explanations are obviously oversimplified, but you get the point.
The question: What is the significant point? What is material is who believes and lives according to the “Way” that Jesus taught and lived by the example of his life. This is not an easy road. What has fascinated people through the ages is the message Jesus left for us to follow.
“Love your God, love your neighbor as you would love yourself” - “Turn the other cheek.” Pray for your enemies and wish them no harm” - and the toughest one of all: Sacrifice for each other, even if it means giving up your life.
This is a hardly what was expected of a Messiah - especially by those living under Roman oppression in Jerusalem. They expected a hero with sword and armies ready to smite once and for all the enemy.
Instead, they got love and sacrifice as the true path to a loving God. The world is still trying to deal with this and obviously not very well.
So Jesus remains the Christian Messiah, mysterious and elusive as ever.
Footnote:
None of what I have shared with you in these four parts is to be considered anything other than my opinions on the subject. I would like to consider this an opening act to the real show – the scholarly works available to those who choose to explore the subject further. If you explore the websites, in our footnotes – the main act – you will find information that will take you deeper into the subject of this extraordinary man called Jesus.
Brother Giovanni