“Blessed are those who have not Seen and yet have come to Believe.” ~ Jesus (John 20:29)

 

As with any quote where certain terms have been unusually capitalized, there are multiple meanings at play in this verse.  On the one hand, it superficially means what most Paulinist “Christians” believe it to mean – namely, that those who have a mental faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ (&/or profess a verbal belief in the same) will receive a reward for said subservient allegiance.  Of course, this interpretation directly violates most if not all of the primary teachings of Jesus in the Gospels – those about himself (see Mark 10:18), those pertaining to his “Kingdom of Heaven” (see Luke 17:20-21), as well as those that explain how we can attain entrance to that Kingdom’s “salvation” (see John 13:15-17) …

And hence, the capitalizations of the words “Seen” and “Believe” herein – reminders A) that it is not enough (indeed that it is essentially irrelevant) to tangibly perceive the miracles that do ensue from deeds of selfless Love – that we must only See the True Self of the other beneath their behaviors to easily choose to “Love the enemy” therein, and B) that it is not enough (indeed that it is just as irrelevant) for us to mentally believe in the supposed divinity of Jesus or even the ultimate awesomeness of his heavenly Father – that we must only Believe in Love to attain his Salvation — and that to Believe in Love we must have the courage to enliven the same; especially when we least wish to do so, and especially for those deemed by others to be least deserving of the same.

And it is this latter reminder that illuminates the far deeper Meaning herein – namely, that we are truly blessed when we bless others, and that we most potently bless others when we actively Love them (i.e. when we actively Believe in Jesus’ Way), even without recognizing them as the innately perfect beings they are (i.e. humbly – and thereby accurately — Seeing them).

 

Filed under: My Favorite Verses by Scaughdt