|
Prayer
Among the reasons that we in the modern world have difficulty giving credence to the reality of Spirit is the disappearance of the deeper forms of prayer. Mostly we indulge in brief verbal prayer--which really is only the first stage of prayer. Beyond it are deeper levels characterized by internal silence over lengthy periods of time. In this state, one enters into deeper levels of consciousness; ordinary consciousness is stilled and one sits quietly in the presence of God. Called contemplation or meditation, its deepest levels are described as communion or union with God.
The tradition in which Jesus stood knew this mode of prayer. Moses and Elijah spent long periods of time in solitude and communion with God. The gospels portray Jesus as a man of prayer who practiced this form of prayer--now increasingly unknown in the modern world.
The image of Jesus as a Spirit-filled person in the charismatic stream of Judaism is perfectly crystallized in the words with which, according to Luke, Jesus began his public ministry: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Jesus followed up with, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
Thus far we have been speaking about Jesus' internal life; his prayer life, the visions he experienced, his sense of intimacy with God. We also see his connection to the world of Spirit in his public life, in the impression he made on others, his claims to authority, and in the style of his speech.
The impression Jesus made on others: A verse in Mark's gospel (10:32) vividly conveys the impression Jesus made on others: And they were on the road going up to Jerusalem and Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed and those who followed were filled with awe.
Also as a teacher Jesus made a striking impression: They were astonished at his teaching for he taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. (Mark 1:22)
Jesus' own sense of authority: Jesus was aware of the power of the Spirit flowing through him. In the context of 'casting out demons,' he said: "If it is by the power of the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." (Luke 11:20; TUB 138:8.5; 145:2.11; 165:2.10) On another occasion after a woman had touched his garment in order to be healed, he perceived that 'power had gone out of him.' (Mark 5:30; TUB 152:1.2)
The style of Jesus' teaching also showed an awareness of a numinous authority not derived from tradition. It is seen in his emphatic and unusual 'I say unto you' statements. Six of these follow one another in Matthew's gospel: You have heard that it was said…but I say to you. Three of these are accepted by scholars as historical, the whole six are accepted by others. Regardless of which we accept, the language of Jesus indicates an awareness of a tradition-transcending authority, one from the mouth of the Spirit.
Though it was relatively common for a teacher within Judaism to have devoted students, the phenomenon of discipleship is different and uncommon, involving an uprooting and a following after. The stories of the call of Jesus' disciples describe with compact vividness the imperative of Jesus' call, the immediacy of their response, and the radical rupture from their previous lives: "And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw Simon and Andrew casting a net into the sea. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me." And they immediately left their nets and followed him. And going on a little further, he saw James, the son of Zebedee and John, his brother, who were on their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him."
Later, one of them exclaimed: "Lo, we have left everything and followed you." (TUB 163:3.4)
In his own home town of Nazareth, he remarked: "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country." (TUB 150:9.1) And later he said, "It cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem,"--thereby identifying himself with the prophets. Jesus saw himself in the tradition of those who knew God. (TUB 171:4.7)
|
|
