How Jesus Learned

It is easy to write about all of the things that Jesus did - his compelling methods, his perfect ways or the astonishing miracles. But my focus has been on who Christ is. I learned alot about learning this week. Concerning Jesus, the author writes: 'whose learning is the learning of a pure heart and an enlightened eye and a blameless life.' Jesus was pure. He was the holy. No fault could be found in him. And while he did not spend hour after hour and year after year learning from the scribes in the temple, his knowledge and wisdom surpassed that of those who were around him - even the educated scribes and pharisees. To me, Jesus is the ultimate example. His life was led by purity, not by duty. Today I long to have the same purity as Christ. Purity was not something he owned, or kept, or shared, purity was something he lived. More can be learned from setting your life apart for God than any ammount of books to read or classes to attend. There is a longing in my spirit to learn the way Christ learned, and to live the way Christ loved, so that I can be Christ in this poor, shattered world.

Temple Idea

1 Corinthians 3:16:

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

The temple is a glorious picture. The earth-shattering, life-sustaining presence of God was there. Isaiah saw the Lord, 'The train of his robe filled the temple... and the whole earth is filled with his glory.' Many Christians pray that they would see God's glory manifest in the earth. They hope that Isaiah's vision would take its place in reality - that the whole earth would be filled with his glory. This is a great ambition, yet it is backwards thinking. The glory didn't come from the outside in, it came from the inside out. I am the temple of the living God. His glory is revealed in me and from me God can find his way into the world.

Wade

And when did I find myself here? I was running from fear, running from doubt. Now I'm sinking. It was like the world had just shifted, shifted in such a way that it sucked me in. I fell in that quickly, like I was weightless. Up to my neck. Up to my nose. Over my head. Green and blue light circled around my head. My hair rose about my face, tangled around my straining throat. My eyes were surged with a feeling of whelm. Is this where it led me? I struggled to clasp a source of foundation. Nothing. No sand, no mud, no rocks. I went deeper. Falling as through the sky, yet I could still see the tree branches beyond the surface. They were quivering under rippling waves. I reached my tired hand, hoping to grasp something. I was too deep.
How will I get myself out of this? I was running out of breath. I closed my eyes. How did I get here? All of the running had lead to this unexpected moment. The lion. The wolf. The leopard. Thay had all persued me. One had torn my calf, one had managed to sink its teeth on my side, while the other pounced on my back knocking the wind out of me. I had fled away from them. I had made it past the thorns. I felt invincable. That's when the water caught me off guard. All of that running, fighting, fending, all to drown. If I could only pull myself up, but despite all my attempts to swim towards the surface I only feel deeper. Sinking perpetually, never landing. Voices peirced my ears. Could I be hearing things under water? I looked to my left, my eyes still in shock. There was the lion. The dirty, rabid, uncontrolable lion. Had it only been this morning that it caught me?

Yes, I remember it clearly. I was sitting under an oak tree, contemplating my next move. The breeze was swift and churning. Dark clouds rolled in, threatening the lushious trees behind me. A storm was making its strong aproach. As fast as I could, I ran into the thicker parts of the forrest. It was wrath, it was vengence. It all took me by surprise. Wretched, horrid surprise. Before the first raindrop could descend to the ground, a cunning hunter, the lion, shook its narly mane. Its lip cringed slighty, a quiet rumble came from its teeth. Startled and unsure, I ran. I had hoped it didn't see me, but I knew that hope was gone. At its first clever step the showers began to pour. The chase had begun. My bare feet were plastered with mud, stray branches scratched my arms, all while the steady rain fell. He was gaining on me fast. I stumbled on a rock. The pain was unbarable. I shreiked. I had cut my heel, and twisted my ankle. Limping, I ran on. Sweat dripped onto my hot and tired tongue. My mind was blank, I was surviving on a thrill. I heard him rushing closer, he never seemed to tire. I was slowing down, I couldn't go on much further. That's when he got me. Sharp claws, digging into the flesh of my calf muscle. He stopped. When I looked back I only saw him staring at me. His paw red with blood. I fell on my face. Had he given up? Would he let me go? He would, and he did. That was when I thought my troubles were over.

The storm lifted, and the air became dry. The trees withered, the grass thinned, and sand took its place. A blazing sun blinded my squinting eyes. The hot sand burned my open wounds. Crawling desperately, I looked for water. Everytime I looked at the thirsty forrest I saw the lion, guarding his territory with caution. I saw a tiny town ahead, it was an obvious destination. But I couldn't move. I was weak, tired, wounded. The cold night awoke me, and I heard a ghostly howl echo off the dunes. It was the wolf. The scrawny, black, and hungry wolf. He found me on my back, and waisted no time. Another chase had started. This was much more of a mind game. Time after time I found myself retracing steps previously taken. The wolf had me walking in circles. Although I was in pain, I gathered up enough strength to sprint with speed. I had escaped without a breath, it was surprisingly easy. Too easy. He found me in my weakness, attacked from the side. His jagged jaw bit my hip, and scraped up my ribs. Seemingly satisfied with his work, he did exactly what the lion had. He froze. Still as a stone. I flinched when I tried to move, the sting of his bite was quite harsh. I stood, lost my balance and regained it.
I walked into the empty town, keeping alert. I thought I would find shelter. I found nought but another pretator. The streets were dirt, and all of the buildings were locked, or blocked. I heard panting. It was the leopard. Dust clouded at each breath he took. He was crouched on the rooftop of a little hut, patient. I hid, avoiding the large cat as much as posible. I found my way past most of the town, nearing an exit. It led to a thorny cliff. I looked over my shoulder, and to my left and my right. No leopard to be found. I ventured boldly into the thicket of thorns.

Smack!

I felt uncontious, though I could see. I couldn't move, I couldn't breath. I felt the weight of the heavy beast pounding at my back. How will I escape this? My fingers scraped the ground in a desperate attempt to escape from the clutch of the enemy. Failure. I had made it so far, now I couldn't move. Then, in a sudden moment, I felt like I had lost gravity. The pressure on my back had lifted. I could breath, scarcely. I heard the padded paws walk away, and then I saw the colored cat step lazily away. He seemed careless. His pride enfuriated me. I got to my feet, and stepped carefully around the thorns. Climbing down the cliff.

This was the way to heaven.

Bruised. Torn. Hopeless. This was where I lay. Still I would have no part in believing it. Taking care. Always determined. I had avoided many scrapes and scratches, but the thorns were still intimidating. Many of them managed to poke my thighs, and eventually my head. They swallowed me up. When they became fewer, I felt as though I was quite the victor. How wrong I was. Although I had made it to a safer place, the feild of fruited trees, I was still in danger. The fear clouded my mind again. That is when I found myself here, when the water rose above my head.

What can save me now? I cried. If it is possible to cry while you are drowning. My voice vibrated the entire body of water. I had given up. Or had I? I closed my eyes. At once I was not wet. At once I could breathe again. I opened my eyes again. What I saw surprised me. I was in the sunlight, green trees all around, I was wading in the water. Where had the bottom come from? As far as I could see there were others like me wading in the water, picking ripe fruit off of the bountiful trees.

We have all ran. We have all drowned. Only when we discover our hopelessness, our need, and we lay down our pride, only then will the foundation we need raise us up. And as surely as you put your trust in it, you will wade in the water, and eat of the fruit.