Saying 13
Jesus asked his disciples: "Make a comparison; what am I like?"
Simon Peter replied, "You are like a righteous messenger."
Matthew said to him, "You are like an intelligent lover of wisdom."
Thomas replied, "Teacher, I can not possibly say what you are like."
Jesus said, "I am not your teacher. Because you have drunk from and become intoxicated from the bubbling water that I poured out."
Jesus took Thomas and they withdrew. Jesus said three things to him. When Thomas returned to the other disciples, they asked him, "What did Jesus tell you?"
Thomas said to them, "If I tell you even one of the sayings that he told me, you would pick up stones and throw them at me and fire would come out of those stones and burn you up."
Thomas is coy! Of course I wonder what Jesus said. Why was he able to handle this radical truth when no one else could? Isn't he the doubter of "Doubting Thomas?"
I get intoxicated with spiritual truth fo' sho'...
When do I get really mad? Recently watching "Flight" with Denzel Washington, he is sure he saved all but six souls on that plane and is then told the toxicology report puts him in a position to be held responsible for the crash and for criminal neglect. He is PISSED. The defensiveness is mighty. I know that feeling, how powerful it is, so therefore I suggest Jesus said something to him about where Simon Peter and Matthew were on their journey that they would NOT want to hear from Thomas especially.
But if they retaliate by throwing stones, the very stones would burn them up. "Let him who has no sin throw the first stone." What would have happened to the hypocrites ready to stone the adulteress, had they thrown those stones when they, too, were not without "sin"?
I hear, "There is so much more so don't shut down in your satiation. Stay humble, hungry and keep seeking. More will be revealed and it, too, will deeply agitate, set a fire in your soul, before it heals you and sets you free!!"
Jesus asked his disciples: "Make a comparison; what am I like?"
Simon Peter replied, "You are like a righteous messenger."
Matthew said to him, "You are like an intelligent lover of wisdom."
Thomas replied, "Teacher, I can not possibly say what you are like."
Jesus said, "I am not your teacher. Because you have drunk from and become intoxicated from the bubbling water that I poured out."
Jesus took Thomas and they withdrew. Jesus said three things to him. When Thomas returned to the other disciples, they asked him, "What did Jesus tell you?"
Thomas said to them, "If I tell you even one of the sayings that he told me, you would pick up stones and throw them at me and fire would come out of those stones and burn you up."
Thomas is coy! Of course I wonder what Jesus said. Why was he able to handle this radical truth when no one else could? Isn't he the doubter of "Doubting Thomas?"
I get intoxicated with spiritual truth fo' sho'...
When do I get really mad? Recently watching "Flight" with Denzel Washington, he is sure he saved all but six souls on that plane and is then told the toxicology report puts him in a position to be held responsible for the crash and for criminal neglect. He is PISSED. The defensiveness is mighty. I know that feeling, how powerful it is, so therefore I suggest Jesus said something to him about where Simon Peter and Matthew were on their journey that they would NOT want to hear from Thomas especially.
But if they retaliate by throwing stones, the very stones would burn them up. "Let him who has no sin throw the first stone." What would have happened to the hypocrites ready to stone the adulteress, had they thrown those stones when they, too, were not without "sin"?
I hear, "There is so much more so don't shut down in your satiation. Stay humble, hungry and keep seeking. More will be revealed and it, too, will deeply agitate, set a fire in your soul, before it heals you and sets you free!!"
Saying 14
Jesus said to them: "If you fast, you will bring sin to yourselves, and if you pray you will be condemned, and if you give to charity you will damage your spirits. When you go into a region and walk around in the rural areas, whenever people receive you, eat whatever they provide for you, and heal their sick.
For what goes into your mouth will not defile you, but what comes out of your mouth can defile you.
Jesus has made it clear that "old ideas," legalism, and unexamined beliefs separate us from the truth that will set us and the world on fire. Eat the food offered by the poor, those in need; fasting, prayers, and charity are established, known, "holy" behaviors and therefore wonderful ways to be authoritarian, oblivious to truth, and destructive. Forget about those; break bread with people and in that context, bring the truth that heals the sick. Food just doesn't defile you; rather what you say and how you say it can cause the most harm. Note that it doesn't necessarily cause harm, but it CAN. Words matter that come from a heart of flesh.
Saying 15
Jesus said: "When you see one who was not born of woman, prostrate yourselves on your faces and worship him. That one is your father."
Jesus does not ask us to worship him ("Why do you call me good?"). We know that. Rather, he repeatedly says he wants us to follow him ("Follow me."). Who is "not born of woman?" All of us. Birth takes place within a woman but she does not orchestrate that birth any more than she orchestrates the creation of her liver, heart, kidneys, or lungs... We are to recognize the holiness and sanctity of one another! We are all children of a living, loving Creator.
Jesus said: "When you see one who was not born of woman, prostrate yourselves on your faces and worship him. That one is your father."
Jesus does not ask us to worship him ("Why do you call me good?"). We know that. Rather, he repeatedly says he wants us to follow him ("Follow me."). Who is "not born of woman?" All of us. Birth takes place within a woman but she does not orchestrate that birth any more than she orchestrates the creation of her liver, heart, kidneys, or lungs... We are to recognize the holiness and sanctity of one another! We are all children of a living, loving Creator.
Watching by Alfredo Ramos Martinez