I was instantly compelled -- not necessarily to read the article itself because I had an idea of what it would say from an Orthodox or exoteric church viewpoint. I knew it was an article about this current fascination -- stronger than I've ever seen it right now -- with the "historical Jesus." It's all over the place -- the Internet, magazines, and on the History Channel. The Shroud of Turin. The archeological dig at the supposed home of Jesus. The physical appearance of Jesus... and so on and so on.
The magazine article's premise is, of course, that we'll never understand who Jesus was through historical scholarship. I certainly agree with that. But my first reaction -- and what compelled me -- was the thought, "How sad." Sad because I knew what the author of the article was getting at -- and when I picked up the magazine my suspicions were confirmed. He writes, "I can establish that the tomb was empty and that resurrection is the best explanation of the empty tomb. But one thing the historical method cannot prove is that Jesus died for our sins and was raised for our justification." This author writes from faith and I do not criticize him for that. My own faith originated in a strong Christian background. What's sad for me is that the author leaves his article here. For him, faith is all that matters. I'm saddened by the thought that there are those who are given a glimpse of something profoundly more intense and real than even faith itself and, yet, they do not pursue this. They become distracted by the world or their own fears. Now, I know that everyone comes to a greater understanding of Yeshua Messiah or the Christ when they are ready -- whether it is in this lifetime or the ones to come. But this article was a reminder to me that how well we understand Jesus or Yeshua is dependent upon our own awakening, our own consciousness. Historical scholarship is irrelevant to this. And faith is only the start. Faith is a good place to begin and, for many, it's where they'll stay for this lifetime, and many of them will be beautiful examples of just how important this faith can be during their lives here.
But I'm constantly reminded that there's so much more...
Since coming to the Sophian path I have been liberated by a greater understanding that comes -- and continues to come -- with both study and experience. Who was Yeshua and what does that mean for me? A greater understanding of this continues to unfold for me with each new text, each new teaching, each new experience... How well I understand Yeshua comes by knowing the Christ Presence within and how willing I am to adhere to this awareness. Ultimately, how well I understand is reliant upon the Light Power herself helping me to "gnow" and grow. And, from this place, I have a different understanding of what "dying for my sins" and "salvation" or "justification" means.
How I understand Jesus doesn't depend at all on scholarship. It does depend, to a certain degree, on the faith that brought me to the Sophian path rather than, for instance, the Buddhist path. But it is an experience unique to me and for me because it depends on my own unfolding self-awareness and my own release of the ego and klippot. We are all unique manifestations of the Divine I Am and what this means must be discovered within individual hearts and minds.
Contrary to what the article claims, there is no part of Jesus or Yeshua that I cannot know. Ultimately, even as this experience and understanding continues to unfold for me, what I can share is this: You have the potential to understand Yeshua Messiah completely and fully -- within and through yourself.
