Jesus Our Brother

Jesus Our Brother

            Picture this: There is a rather wild looking man preaching on the banks of the river Jordan. His raiment is camel’s hair, and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Regardless of his strange appearance he has gathered a large crowd, and many were baptized, confessing their sins. He was called John the Baptist and he preached about the ‘one to come.’

            When Jesus came to John to be baptized, John argued with Jesus, “I am not worthy enough. You should baptize me.” Jesus answered to the effect this is what the people understand should be done; so let’s do it. When Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens opened up and the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him, And lo a voice from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

            It was Jesus, our brother who received this praise from our Father-God. There were many brothers and sisters of Jesus being baptized that day. Was God ‘playing favorites,’ when Jesus was singled out to be congratulated? No, God doesn’t have a favorite, but He is fair. That is why He sends the sun to shine and the rain to fall on the just as well as the unjust. Jesus has spent His life in the service of our Father, in study, prayer and righteousness; and the worst was yet to come. He deserved to be recognized!

            I may have shocked you when I called Jesus; ‘our brother.’ He is Son of God! He is Savior of the world! He was also born of a woman the same as we are. The only difference was His mother was a virgin. You think that it is impossible for a virgin to become ‘with child’? Science has explained the process of becoming pregnant and it takes a man and a woman, not a woman alone. Yes, I know the facts of life. Usually science is right. I can understand how your doubt about Mary’s morals might impede your spiritual progress. Many people can’t believe that Mary was pure and untouched when Jesus was conceived What I don’t understand is where this doubt came from and why it is so hard to believe this truth.

            Do you know what conceived means? To be pregnant is the first meaning for sure. It also means: “to form in the mind; to hold as one’s opinion, think, imagine. To understand, to form an idea.” Mary was raised in a convent. She was aware of God’s awesome power. She didn’t consider this a miracle, but divinely natural. Jesus was special but He wasn’t unnatural. All children come from God; belong to God. Without God none of us would be here.

            Before Jesus showed up to be baptized, John told the Pharisees and Sadducees where they were wrong in no uncertain words…And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our Father; for I say unto you, that God is able of those stones to raise up children unto Abraham” In Job the same statement is made.

            Mom and dad aren’t creators of life; they are only caretakers of God’s children. The life within the baby belongs to God. Mary knew God as the Father-Mother-Creator. The One and Only Life of all living things. She held the words the angel gave her in her mind until Jesus was born, the Son of our Father-God. That makes us the brothers and sisters of Jesus. He was like us on the human level. On the spiritual level, he left us far behind; for the simple reason: He was dedicated to learning about God. He knew more about God at twelve years old than the leaders, teachers, and High Priests in the temple.

            Jesus came to teach us the Truth. The kingdom of heaven is not above us; it is within us. Jesus was murdered: not because God sent Him to die for our sins. Men didn’t want to hear about a better way, if they had to give up their prestige and change their ways. So they killed the messenger. We are not living in the world that our Father created for His beloved children. This is a material, physical world, one we see, hear, feel, taste, and touch; full of man’s corruption, fear, superstition, ignorance and false belief that we teach our children and we all suffer. God created spiritual children and a spiritual world

            Jesus taught with authority. He healed freely and completely, by knowing sickness, sin and death hold no Reality. Therefore suffering from them is unnecessary. He made it plain that we should also do all of the things that he did. Because we are God’s children and Jesus’ siblings we have no excuse not to heal the sick; feed the hungry; and show a better way to live by living a spiritual life of harmony. Wouldn’t you like to hear our Father say that He is proud of You?

            839 words    Loretta Ellen Edwards