If Jesus Were Here

How would you react to Jesus if he were here today? Of course you would recognize him, love him, adore him, and follow him without reservation! But are you sure about that? This is a question that we should want to answer with absolute honesty, because if the real answer is other than what we would like to think, it’s for sure we want to do what is needed in order to change that answer. Really we can find the answer in the scriptures and in the total honesty of our hearts, if we care to. First of all it must be understood that nothing ever changes, ever. Especially in the case of human history, “there is no new thing under the sun" (Eccl. 1:9). So what was it that caused God’s covenant people to reject Jesus when he was here? "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life" (Jn. 5:39,40). If your view and perception of Jesus is based on what you think, or what Christianity teaches, about the scriptures; rather than by your own personal experience with the love, and power, and holiness of God’s Spirit; then you would not recognize or acknowledge Jesus for who he really is, even as the people that Jesus addressed here did not: "How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only" (Jn. 5:44)? If you are concerned about the acceptance and respect of your fellow ‘Christians,’ more than you are willing to be rejected by them for his truth and holiness sake; then you would reject him, even as those whom he addressed there did. Where was the exchange of this mutual system of personal respect and honor which caused the Jews to reject Jesus, embodied? "But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? … But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men" (Mat. 15:3,9).

These people were bound together in their sin of honoring one another above God, through their mutual respect for the traditions and doctrines that they had added to God’s law. But God’s law had been polluted and perverted for so long that very few people realized that these traditions and doctrines that were upheld by their religious leaders were NOT the law of God. Jesus however knew, and he called them out on it time and again: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity" (Mat. 23:27,28). Sadly, most of the people followed the lead of their leaders, rather than the lead of their conscience. When Pilate wanted to release Jesus, the religious leaders persuaded the multitude of God’s people to demand the murderer Barabbas to be released, and to crucify Jesus (Mat. 27:20). Everything is the same today my friend. Modern Christianity is even more contrary to God than the traditions and doctrines of the Jews could have ever hoped to be. The baptism of the holy Ghost is the fulfillment of God’s law, but Christianity has added so much religious goop to that pure holiness, power, and love that Jesus died for us to have, that the simplicity and wholeness of this blessed experience has been confused, disesteemed and gravely diminished in those who have received it. We are told that "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Rom. 5:5). That love is enough to take us to eternal life, if we walk in it daily and follow after it (Rom. 8:14). If that is the objective and priority of our hearts, we will recognize Jesus wherever,however, and through whomever he makes himself manifest. If that holy love and power is not enough for us, then we will follow the lead of those who uphold the seeming and apparent righteous traditions and doctrines of Christianity, and reject those who follow only the holy love of Jesus by his Spirit (II Tim. 3:5). Amen.