Friday's Thoughts

What got Jesus on the mark to do the work God wanted him to do? He waited 30 years. For thirty years he worked as a carpenter and then for three or four years he sprung into action. What got him going?We find that story of the wilderness event when he was tempted to turn stones into bread, when he was invited to jump down from a high place and let God protect him, and when he was told he could rule over all the world. He rejected those options. Was that a dream or a crisis?I think that's what jump started Jesus. I think something happened in his life that made the wilderness event a pivotal time in his life and I think I know what it was. I think I know what caused Jesus to question his values and who tapped into his bliss. I think I know.

Here's what I think:
You know the story of the Good Samaritan? A man beaten and left to die by the side of the road. A priest walks by on the other side. A Samaritan, who was not highly regarded by Jews, took the man to an Inn. Paid for his rehabilitation and was a "good neighbor" Jesus told the story and it's one of the best parables that we have recorded. My grandfather told me once I shouldn't preach a sermon on that parable until I was ready. It is so profound you really have to have lived some serious life to understand it.

I think Jesus was the man who was beaten and left to die. I think his encounter with the devil was his struggle with his values while he was semi-conscious. When he regained full awareness of things he realized what the Samaritan had done. It was then he realized his purpose in life and it was then he put his values together and was able to begin to live his bliss.

There is no way to prove what I have suggested but there was something very intense about that story. I think Jesus actually told it because so much of the meaning of the story is central to his life and teaching. I also think he lived it.

What do you think?
Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster