Hero #068: Jesus Christ … (03/27/16)
Born in all probability sometime in or around 5 B.C., Jesus of Nazareth (originally “Yeshua” in Aramaic — commonly known these days as “Jesus Christ”), is regarded by the Christian church and its adherents as the only Son of God. Of course, while anyone with even an ounce of real humility must admit that this belief MIGHT indeed be true, in NO WAY does this belief serve as a justification for Jesus’ being named a “Hero” in this series. Indeed, I think it is easy for believer & non-believer alike to see that there is nothing particularly heroic at all about being forced by one’s very nature to fulfill a predestined set of prophecies while grovelling at the “feet” of a celestial “father” who was more tyrant than teacher; more despot than daddy.*
*(In the Bible, Jesus is see to call God “Abba”, Aramaic for the warmer, more intimate “daddy”.)
No, while it MIGHT indeed be the case that the Christian church got it right with regards to who Jesus was/is and what he came to demand of humanity, within the very texts of the Bible itself there is another equally-valid way to view his teachings — another equally-valid way to interpret his deeds, and another equally-valid way to honor his life and enliven his cause. And, in a most delicious twist of irony, that alternative Way is not only proscribed by Jesus himself, but also more often than not directly contradicts the dogmatic ideology of the very church that worships him today. And it is this other Way — IF it is indeed more akin to the Truth of the man in question — that has Jesus qualifying as a “Hero” in this post.
You see, to be a true Hero, one must either champion Loving Kindness in the face of enmity, or pure Freedom in the face of tyranny. And it is my own humble opinion that Jesus qualifies on both counts.
Feel free to consider the following:
*While the Christian church would have us believe that Jesus must be actively worshiped as an actual Godhead (or a one-third part of one Godhead) in order to avoid eternal damnation (see Romans 3:21-25 & 5:8-9 et al), Jesus himself repeatedly & sternly denied this claim throughout his ministry — actively refusing to be made king in John 6:15, and very clearly stating that his person was NOT to be worshiped at all (see Mark 10:18, John 5:41, John 12:44, et al). This abdication of adoration & power evidenced a level of humility that was truly heroic.
*While the Christian church would have us believe that Jesus performed miracles and was therefore “above” or better than us “mere humans”, Jesus himself preached with a very different tone; reminding us all that we too are Sons & Daughters of the Divine — that we too can Love just as he Loved, that we too can serve just as he served, that we too can fight injustice just as he fought injustice (John 15:12 & John 14:12 et al). And he also repeatedly relayed that his “miracles” did not come from him at all, but rather were born from the sincere faith of the ones who had been healed (Matthew 9:22, Mark 5:34, Mark 10:52, Luke 17:19 et al). This championing of the still-quite-unpopular concept of self-emancipation evidenced a courage that was equally heroic.
*While the Christian church would have us believe that Jesus was betrayed by Judas, condemned unjustly by Pontius Pilate, and then crucified according to the will of God, there is another interpretation of the scriptures that gives FAR more honor to Jesus. Indeed, IF it is important to read the Gospels in a way that erases all apparent hypocrisies & contradictions, there IS a way to do so — and this way blossoms to the fore and becomes beautifully clear as soon as we choose to realize that in all probability Jesus — with the help of Judas, Joseph of Arimathea, Pontius Pilate and a few others — purposefully planned, organized and fulfilled his own crucifixion, and that he did so as an act of pure, selfless Love for all of humanity. He did so to set aside the eloquent words that had up to that point been either ignored or misinterpreted. He did so to finally fully “walk his talk” and simply show through his actions the Way of Joy-full self-sacrifice he was trying (up to that point without success) to relay. It is possibly for this reason, that he called out loudly “Father, why have you forsaken me?” from the cross. You see, this utterance is actually a quoting of the very first verse of the 22nd Psalm — a psalm that everyone attending his crucifixion would have known quite well — a Psalm that is not a lament or a bemoaning of tortured fate at all, but is rather a loud and triumphant call of gratitude; an unabashed professing of an unconditional Love of God no matter how hard things get. Indeed, if we read the 22nd Psalm in its entirety, we can all clearly see that it in many ways it mirrors the crucifixion that took place that very day. And when we realzie as well that Jesus knew that Psalm by heart well before that dramatic day, we can begin to understand that his “end” was anything but random, that it was anything but a betrayal, and that it had very little to do with “God’s will”. Indeed, it begins to become clear that Jesus was so committed to showing humanity The Way of Selfless Love that he arranged his own crucifixion to prove his point. And it was this willing taking on of such immense pain — this conscious confrontation with the greatest of all human fears — this pre-planned and self-orchestrated submission to brutality — that embodied the very heart of heroism.
*Finally (for now), while the Christian church would have us believe that worshiping Jesus as our “personal Lord & Savior” will grant those doing so admission into an eternal paradise after we die, Jesus made it exceedingly clear that HIS “Good News” had absolutely nothing to do wit such a self-centered reward. Instead, Jesus taught that A) HIS “Kingdom of Heaven” was always right here & now — in this very present moment — available to every sentient being in every minute of his or her or its life (Luke 17:20-21) … and that B) our “entrance” into this state of perfect Bliss was accomplished only by having the humility and the courage to actively Care either for those we least wished to give our Love, or those who “least deserved” the same (Matthew 10:7 + Matthew 24:12-14 + every single one of Jesus’ Biblical parables).
I ask you, what greater tyranny could he have crushed — reminding us all that Heaven is already “at hand” in every moment of our precious lives?
And I ask you, what greater freedom could he have provided — by (ironically) denouncing the very religious dogma that still shackles the Love & Decency of so many believers today?
Indeed … in-deed … what greater Hero could any of us ever hope to be?
“You received without payment; Give without payment … But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is Doing, let your alms be Done in secret … Whoever becomes humble like a child IS the greatest in the Kingdom” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:8 & 6:3-4 & 18:4)
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be Children of your Father in Heaven; for He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the Good, and sends rain on the Righteous and on the unrighteous … You judge by human standards. I judge no one” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:44-47 & John 8:15)
“Blessed are the Peacemakers … I have said these things to you that my Joy may be In You, and that your Joy may be complete.” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:9 & John 15:11)
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