Saturday, January 30, 2010

Astonishment!!!!

Matthew 8:10 is one verse that has given me something to think about lately. "When Jesus heard him, he was amazed..." (NRSV). In the NIV it says Jesus was astonished! This may seem like a "yea so?" statement but I think there is something more to it. We as Christians put Jesus on this pedestal and rightfully so... but I know many times that I forget he was fully human. FULLY human. Now this seems like such a trivial thing when we are looking at the life of Jesus but I think it is more mind boggling than first glance. We think that Jesus was perfect, and he was, and I have tended to associate this with thinking he was a conservative, laid back, 'goody two shoes' type person, who did everything right. Now not saying all of this is wrong thinking, but I think that we forget the human form of him. Sure he was perfect and did everything according to his father's (GOD's) plan. Yet, Jesus was astonished. WE forget the emotion and the trivial things that go along with this. It could seem stupid to you, but this is a bigger deal than I think. Jesus walked this earth, he was a real being, even those who don't believe that God is real believe there was a man named Jesus who walked the earth. He had feelings like amazement, anger, sadness, depression?, hurt?, pain, joy, sorrow... I think you get the point. WE think that God understands what we go through, we believe this because he is GOd and he knows all. But I think we should also believe this because he knows what it feels like. He was human he has gone through the emotions and the trials and temptations of our human skin. He understands because he has encountered, and defeated! Not simply because he is God. He needed to eat to replenish his body. He needed to go to the washroom. He cheered on the Calgary Flames despite a 9 game losing streak (ok maybe not quite that far, but maybe). He understands humanity, he empathizes perfectly with humanity because he has felt all these things, he has been FULLY human, and understands ALL that comes with it.
Yes, Jesus came to earth as God in human form, but we also must remember that he was fully human as well and the implications that this means. Once we do I think that it gives us a whole new meaning to who God is. Plus the fact that it is amazing that the God who knows everything came down to earth and was "amazed".

1 comment:

Rhonda said...

I definitely agree -- how could Jesus be fully human and NOT cheer for the Flames?! :)

Nick, thanks for this reminder. Sometimes it feels like God (Jesus as one of the trinity) are just a 'concept' we believe in rather than creator, king, master, friend, ruler, lover, provider, etc. and above all, all knowing and understanding. There is a lot of comfort in knowing that He truly knows and understands our struggles, fears, joys, victories, and sorrows. He isn't some eye in the sky looking to put the hammer down on us when we "fail" Him. He really "gets it". It is hard to be human and to try to please a perfect, omniscient God. Yet He is fully aware of the challenges placed in front of us by the one (Satan) who despises us. I, for one, am grateful to love and serve a God who is in touch. One who cares, knows and forgives my failures, and carries on with me in spite of myself.

Blog on, my boy! You inspire me.

Mom