JESUS
First of all, I am neither Jew, Christian or Muslim.
The Jews have different ideas about Jesus. Some say he was a prophet, others he was the Messiah and yet others believe he was a fraud. But the Jews would like you to know that it was the Romans who nailed Jesus to the cross.
The Christians believe Jesus was the Son of God, a third part of God (trinity). God in the flesh visiting us on earth, and they also believe he is the Messiah. Now this can get real technical, churches have broken away from other churches over technicalities of the trinity, it can be a real tricky subject with some people. People have actually been burnt to death intentionally over this and I don’t think this pleased Jesus any.
The Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet, the Messiah and like Christians, believe he will return again, he was born of a virgin, but where they differ is that they don’t believe he died on the cross or that he is the Son of God or the third part of God. God coming to earth in flesh. They don’t believe that.
What do I believe. I question the virgin birth thing, but I wasn’t there, so I can’t say. I would also like to believe in the death of Jesus on the cross, because I happen to believe that I think I understand why he had to die. I find it to be a wonderful example of love for us today, but did it really happen, once again, I wasn’t there. It is even possible that Jesus never even existed, this is slowly becoming a popular belief. To all, even the atheist, I have this to say, “Just read what Jesus spoke in the gospels.” That’s all, just read the words he spoke. The things he spoke was brilliant. He spoke of truths that cannot be found in a telescope or a microscope. Truths that cannot be seen or heard or even touched, but felt in the heart. When you read the things he said, it touches you right in the heart so much so that most people believe in Jesus, they just disagree about the details. Now I know that saying Jesus is a Prophet or Jesus is God in the flesh is a big difference, not a minor thing. But take this to heart, Jesus never said he was a prophet or God in the flesh. So if Jesus didn’t say it, then why should we argue over it. If he thought it was important, he would have told us so. What is important is what he taught us. A truth that can only be felt in the heart and that is the only thing that is important. He taught us a lesson and his death was an example of the lesson he taught. The Romans joked about him being a king of a kingdom because he always spoke of a kingdom in heaven and he taught us to pray that it be on earth as it is in heaven. The Romans called him a dreamer. As of yet it is still just a dream waiting for us to make it come true.
Let it be on earth as it is in heaven.
With Love
Reverend Roger Harkness