Saturday, March 25, 2017
THE LORD JESUS!
3/25/2017
Hello, Everyone!
I sure did not expect to write an Easter religious column for our local paper, The Laramie Boomerang, but as it happened, I was asked to write one by our editor. Well, actually, that is only partly true. The religious column editor sent out an email to all of us who write for that Sunday column asking for an article for this Sunday's issue because she did not have one at hand. She was not asking for an "Easter" theme column as such, but I decided to offer one anyway. Many will not consider my offering to be very "Easter like," but for what it is, I am sharing it with you today. OK? See it below if you like.
It's a little early, but Nancy & I wish you all a HAPPY EASTER! I am still working on my current book - JESUS - ACCORDING TO THOMAS & MARY - AND ME. Looks like I won't finish it now before May, but that's alright. I do not mind working "overtime" to try and get a friend like Jesus right, know what I mean?
Be in touch!
Gently,
Francis William Bessler (Sonny, Frank, Will)
THE LORD JESUS!
By
Francis William Bessler
Laramie, Wyoming
3/24/2017
Was Jesus really a "lord" - or should he be considered more a "friend" than a "lord"? To each, his or her own, but I consider Jesus to be my "friend" and "brother," but not a lord. Why? Because I do not think that Jesus saw himself as a "lord" - and he certainly did not act like he was; and as he was, in all probability, he is now and will be later. The key to knowing Jesus, I think, is to see him as he saw himself - not as others may have seen him.
Let me explain. I simply do not see a "Lord Jesus" in any so called scriptures that deal with a "living Jesus." Let me challenge you - all of you who believe that Jesus ever considered himself a "lord" while he lived. Show me one instance where he ever claimed to be a lord. Look at the stories of the "living Jesus" - and from that you may know what any Jesus might be like in an after life.
But Peter said ...... But Paul said ..... But John said ..... Never mind what Peter said or Paul said or John said - about Jesus, especially after he died. Pay attention only to what they might have said before he died; and then take that Jesus with you because in all likelihood, that Jesus will be the only Jesus in whom you can depend - and it is probably the ONLY JESUS who will ever be.
Let me put it this way. Look at me - Francis William Bessler. If you know me, you know that I would never claim to be "Lord Francis." Can anyone who knows me even pretend that I have ever treated myself as a lord - or master of anyone? Now if someone were to call me a lord, in the words of my dear long departed father, I would say "Go chase yourself!" That is what Dad would say when someone would claim some outrageous notion with which he disbelieved. "Go chase yourself!" And then he would turn and walk away.
Sorry, Friend, even if you were to call me "Lord Francis," I would ignore you and tell you to get on with making your own life. I am not saying that if you needed a hand, I would not lend you a hand; but my lending you a hand would not make me a "lord." Would it?
What a wonderful "Friend" we have in Jesus - but not a "Lord Jesus." I think that Peter and Paul and John simply got Jesus wrong when they chose to call him by the title of "Lord Jesus." But just because someone calls someone a lord does not make him such. Does it? Again, should anyone dare to call me a "lord," never in a thousand lifetimes would I comply. I have never been a lord. I am not a lord; and I will never be a lord. Likewise, Jesus was never a lord in his lifetime. He is probably not now a lord; and he will probably never be a lord - no matter how much anyone tries to make him one.
The sad thing about Jesus, I think, is that many who wrote about him made him into someone they wanted him to be - and simply ignored what he was. How sad it is that John of the last book of the BIBLE - The Book of Revelation - dared to describe Jesus as some lord who will judge others at some end of time event when in life, Jesus never judged a single one. Show me one instance - even in the regular gospels - where Jesus ever judged another in terms of having commanded some punishment upon him - or her. Where is the evidence of that?
A few years ago I wrote a book I called EXPLORING THE SOUL - AND BROTHER JESUS. Yes, I dared to look upon Jesus as being only a "brother" and not a "lord." Why? Because there is no evidence in any gospel I have ever read about Jesus that would declare him to act as a lord. That's why! If there was such evidence, I might believe - but look as I might - I have never been able to find such evidence. If you think there is such evidence of Jesus acting like some lord who will take me and throttle me if I do not do as he says, SHOW ME!
In a few weeks, we will be celebrating the claimed "Resurrection of Jesus!" I will be right there in front in that celebration, but I will not be looking for a lord who lived on after he died. I will be looking for a "friend" and "brother" who lived on after he died. Just because someone dies does not make him something different after he died than before he died. I will not change after I die; and like Jesus, I, too, will live on as a soul - just as everyone will live on as a soul. That is the Real Story of the Resurrection for me.
Even in the stories told about Jesus after he died and rose again, show me one instance where he changed and became a lord and began to threaten others to believe in him - or else. What did the "risen Jesus" do? He simply appeared to his friends for a few days - and then he left. Right? Did he walk over to Pilot - who commanded his execution - and sneer at Pilot and threaten Pilot with some terrible judgment? Well, did he? What did he do? He ate with a few friends - and then just disappeared without raising one hand against another. Is that not right? And as the "living Jesus" and the "risen Jesus" did do, we all should do.
Or so, I Believe!