Sep 11
6
The Hidden Agenda…and much confusion. (Being Jesus Part XIV)
The Hidden Agenda…and much confusion
(Being Jesus Part XIV)
Elijah and Elisha...arguing about who gets the spirit when Elijah is gone.
In the novel, Leapfrog, I lifted a scene from the Bible about two prophets, one well known; the other not as widely recognized …Elijah the former and Elisha the latter.
Elisha had attached himself to the great prophet in annoying fashion, to the point that Elijah kept trying to get rid of him. Elisha just could/would not let himself be extricated from the great man’s presence. Then one day, Elijah couldn’t take any more: “Look kid, just what is it that you want?”
“I want twice the amount of the same spirit in you,” was his response. It is obvious from the narrative that Elisha knew that he didn’t have it in him, naturally, to be what Elijah was or wield the fantastic miracles that he spoke into existence. He recognized that Elijah was special and that he (Elisha) needed to have two times the amount of SPIRIT that Elijah possessed in order to be able to do what he did.
The point I was making is this: Elijah gave him the simple formula by which Elisha could receive what he was asking, even though he told him, “You’ve asked for a hard thing” – he went on, “nevertheless, IF you” …and so on.
The distinction I was making with the comparison is this: Jesus said that each of us, individually, could be and do what he was and did IF we believe enough. He even explained how to get more of God’s own Spirit for the task.
The real "only perfect man".
There’s the rub, most people who call themselves “believers” simply don’t believe enough to even begin to make the comparison.
To me, the reasons for the shortfall are obvious and include, but are not limited to something also possessed by Elisha – a deep desire to be like Elijah and do what he did.
Most Christians have bought into the religious posture of calling Jesus the “only perfect man” and the (to me) preposterous notion that Jesus was all God and all man and thus beyond compare …which flies in the face of what he said.
First of all, let’s clear up why I call this a “preposterous notion.” Because it defies what Jesus said was one of his reasons for showing up on the scene – that is, to be an example of how to overcome the limitations that men have loaded themselves up with the fecal matter of bulls that many religious teachers expound and, indeed, have become deeply held traditions of Christianity – again, defying and contradicting what Jesus calls anyone who has the desire to be and do.
You see, I’m not telling you to be Jesus, I am merely reiterating what he said to be and do. Being Jesus is the result of following a divine command. Why would people argue for their limitation is far more mysterious to me than the mystery of how to become, yes, and BE Jesus.
Just as Elijah provided a simple instruction to Elisha as to how he could get a “double portion” and thus take the prophet’s mantle, when he departed in a whirlwind, so did Jesus. Of course, something Jesus said really stands out at this point against all those who would use religious excuses why it is wrong, even blasphemous, to compare oneself to Jesus let alone take his mantle as did Elisha take that of Elijah:
You, who say you believe in Jesus, listen up: “What is the point of calling me, ‘Lord,’ if you don’t do what I tell you to do?” In the same breath Jesus provided a graphic illustration of total destruction, for those who heard his words and ignored them.
Believe or not believe there is no try.
Get off your pew to be and do!
What Jesus said to be and do is totally foreign to what the religion called Christianity propounds. As believers we need a double dose of reality – and here it is: Beat on your chest and cry out for mercy for being and doing nothing he said to be and do.
That’s the key to the righteousness of God which Jesus provided; a totally upside-down view than the righteousness religious teachers urge.
Now then, will you begin to take what he says seriously? The path to Being Jesus begins with receiving God’s righteousness the rest is simple …certainly not easy, but then what of importance is?