ON LOVE; PART CMVI

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GoodWill IS Love in Action

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FIRST IS THE GREAT COMMANDMENTS: “The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).

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WHAT THEN IS LOVE? In a general sense love is benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men. While this IS from an older definition of Charity, which IS rendered in the King James Bible from the same Greek word agape which IS generally rendered as Love, we should amend our own definition here to include the idea that in the reality of Love a man will accord to ALL men ALL things that he would accord to himself and to say that Love IS our thoughts and attitude of the equality of ALL men regardless of their outward nature or appearance…that ALL ARE equally children of Our One God

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PLUS THE EVER IMPORTANT AND HIGH IDEAL TAUGHT TO US BY THE CHRIST: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).

HE IS RISEN is the Christian rallying cry on Easter Sunday as many millions commemorate the resurrection event. In what has become yet another holiday on the calendar we find the Easter Bunny, gifts, cards and lots of candy as well as a stronger motivation by many to attend church services. In ALL of this the deeper meanings of this event, the mysteries surrounding the resurrection of the Master, ARE missed. While this IS a miracle of great proportion, while this IS a sign of the Power of God in this world of men, we should try to see that raising the dead IS NOT such a hidden idea as IS the greater reality of one’s ability to raise Himself as DOES the Master. As we discussed a few posts back, the Master leaves us with the miracle that raised Lazarus after several days in his tomb; in this Jesus recalled the spiritual Presence that IS Lazarus back into his body and with such energy that there IS NO comment from any regarding the missing effects of decay or of rigor mortis, both natural actions in the death of men.

And so it IS with Jesus’ body, that there ARE NO effects of dying spoken of but this IS NOT the point of our words; this IS but a sideline that should show how that that divine energy of Life, the divine energy of the Soul, has control over the body of flesh and that this IS part and parcel of the revelations and the realizations of men, the effect of the Presence of God which, in its fullness, allows men to say with Jesus that “I have overcome the world” (John 10:30). The greater reality in the resurrection of Lazarus and the resurrection of the Master IS found in the example set, in the sign given which shows us that death IS NOT the end but merely a change. While this reality IS grasped in a most nebulous way in the doctrines of men, the deeper meanings ARE missed in the theological assumptions that doctrines make. For 2000 years the words of the apostles and the actions of the Master after He IS risen are ignored for lack of understanding and in a failure to see the deeper Truths that come to men who will keep His words. This IS ALL compounded by the doctrinal assertions that ARE offered with authority by the many denominations and, as we have repeated many times, it IS in the many assertions of Truth that these make that we can see the absence of Truth.

From our view, which IS NOT in any way a full nor a final view, we see a great display of Truth in the Master’s death and resurrection and, as we have shown in the last few posts, this display includes Jesus willing participation in the scripted reality that IS His death on the cross. In our view the idea of the cross is meaningless in relation to the deeper meaning of His willingness to suffer at the hands of the Jews and the Romans and this IS NOT to fulfill the words of the prophets but rather  to exemplify the reality of His own teachings. It IS to show men the deeper ideas found in such words as “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). It IS the body that dies and it IS the spiritual Presence that continues and whether we call this as the Soul or the Spirit DOES NOT matter for as the Father and the Son ARE one, so ARE the Spirit and the Soul; the various divisions that doctrines make are but assumptions based in the parabolic way that these ideas ARE presented by the Master and His apostles.

It DOES NOT matter what names these ideas ARE called by, what DOES matter IS that the Master’s message of the relative unimportance of the body nature IS received; His message that IS the spiritual Presence of the man which IS His Life and it IS this spiritual Presence that continues after death. And there IS NO requirement to believe or to understand the ideas of rebirth or reincarnation as these ARE NOT a direct part of the Master’s teachings; it IS one’s understanding of the reality of the Life of the spiritual Presence that IS of concern. It IS in this view of the Life of a spiritual Presence that quickens the body nature that we find in the several stories of Jesus’ raising others from a state of the death of the body; as He raised the widow’s son, as He raised Jairus’ daughter and as He raised Lazarus from the tomb, we should see the idea that death IS NOT the finality of Life and more; we should see as well that it IS the spiritual Presence which IS recalled in each of these miracles.

In Jesus words saying “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down , and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:17-18), we have a KEY to greater understanding. And when we can see this through the Truth of His other words on “greater works” and on the Presence of God in one’s Life, we can then understand that this same reality can come to everyman who IS willing to pay the price in the fullness of keeping His words. There ARE likely many in the history of men who have achieved such fullness of the Presence of God and we should understand here that this achievement IS NOT a thing that IS generally broadcast; it IS rather a deeply spiritual reality that IS ONLY evidenced in one’s Life according to the Truth of His words. In this sense the Master’s display of this Power of God IS just that, a display that IS intended to support the reality of His teaching and His example of the nature of Life and the reality of the Kingdom of God.

While the True meaning of His death IS far broader that whatever men can today imagine, the True meaning of His resurrection can be seen in the more narrow sense and in a clearer understanding of the Truth that “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing“. We have often posted the ideas from Luke’s Gospel that show us the idea that it IS NOT the body of Jesus that IS resurrected but it IS the Spirit that is Jesus Inner man, His Soul if you will, that takes on form and walks again on this Earth. This IS shown to us in his story and in the other words of the apostles who go out of their way to show us that the Master IS at times unrecognizable even to those who were closest to Him before His death. In this sense we DO NOT KNOW what happened to the body of Jesus that had lain in the tomb and while we can speculate that the spiritual Presence that IS the Master used the matter of Jesus form to make His appearances, this would be merely speculation. That He was able to appear and to disappear; that He was able to move though walls to enter closed rooms; and that He was able to appear as a different person; these ARE the realities that should show us the disassociation between the Spirt and the form and that this IS a message to be taken from the resurrection of the Master.

And ALL of these things ARE rather clearly depicted in the words of the apostles as they describe the happenings of that day and the succeeding days where He came among them to finish His teaching to them from the new perspective of the Risen Lord. Most ALL of this goes unseen and in the explanations of the commentators we find such ideas as that those who DID NOT recognize the Lord, that their eyes: were held downwards ⁸ as John Gill tells us. In this interpretation of Luke’s words saying that their eyes were holden that they should not know him (Luke 24:16) we see a rather illogical conclusion; here, while some translations show that “Although they saw him, they didn’t recognize him” (God’s Word Translation) in a rather straightforward way, others tend towards Mr. Gills idea rendering this as “They were prevented from recognizing him” (Common English Bible). In the reality that this IS the Master and that these disciples DO NOT KNOW Him to be the Master for quite some time as they walked and talked, we should see our idea above regarding His appearance to the world. And when we combine this with Mark’s words saying “After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked , and went into the country” (Mark 16:12), we should be able to see past the doctrinal assertions that ARE based ONLY in a failure to see the Truth or even the possibility of the Truth as it IS against their own preconceived ideas.

Similarly we have the words of the Apostle John who tells us of Mary, that “She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master” (John 20:15-16). Regarding this and the words from Mark’s Gospel above Mr Gill tells us: it seems to have been the form, or habit of a gardener that he appeared in to Mary; since she thought him to be one, and to be the gardener that belonged to the garden, in which the sepulchre was: but now it was in another form, or habit, that he appeared; very likely in the habit of a Scribe, or doctor; since he took upon him to expound the Scriptures to the persons he appeared to…..This is not to be understood of any change in the shape of his body, or the features of his face; for as soon as their eyes were opened, which had been before held, they knew him perfectly well: whereas, if there had been such an alteration made in him, that he could not have been known for the same, there would have been no need of holding their eyes, that they should not know him ⁸. In this view much of the Truth IS lost because of the preconceptions of men and we should try to see here how that it IS these very preconceptions that the Master IS trying to replace by His show of Truth.

And there ARE other points of reference for us in the way that the Master DID appear and vanish and, when we read Luke’s words saying of the two disciples that “their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight” we should be able to see a greater reality than Mr. Gill admits and which IS generally accepted by doctrines which gloss over these most profound ideas. In this idea of vanishing we read Mr. Gills presumptive words saying: “not that he vanished as a spectre, or as smoke vanishes into air; but agility being a property of his risen body, he very suddenly, and swiftly, and in a moment, withdrew himself from them” and it IS this same and most illogical idea that he carries forward into such saying as “as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them” (Luke 24:36) and “when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst” (John 20:19).

It IS in the volume of stories and sayings from the apostles that we should see the deeper Truths that the Master IS trying to convey in a parabolic show of the relationship between His spiritual Presence and whatsoever form that He would choose and, in the reality of His ability to appear and disappear we should try to see the that the very nature of His forms IS in His complete control. While these ideas may NOT be according to current scientific, neither was atomic energy not too long ago nor was the phenomenon of electricity until it was discovered. And when we consider the flow of communications, voice and data, radio and television, that surround us as we move about the Earth, that fill the heavens if you will, we can perhaps see how that there IS much more to this existence than we KNOW, much more than just the physical world that we see and feel. In the simplicity of Einsteins equation that E=mc², we should try to see the unfolding realities as we await scientific discovery of ever more subtle realms of energy.

We should try to see how that the spiritual reality of Life will become ever more apparent to men in this world and while the churches and their doctrines may rail against the Truths as they unfold, this will NOT stop the forward progress of Truth. Our greater realization as individuals however IS ever tied to His words; in this view we should try to see that even when science IS able to identify that more rarefied energy that IS thought and emotion or the yet more rarefied energy that IS the Souls of men, it IS only those who have True spiritual realization who will understand the spiritual Truths that ARE revealed. And this IS according to the law, not the physical laws, not the those that cover the lives of men in this world; nor Is this the laws as we understand them as commandments. This IS the natural law of existence which IS the Power and the Plan of God. It IS in this view that we understand the reality of the reciprocal action that comes in right living and right focus, the quid pro quo that comes in expressing the Life of the Spirt through our body of flesh; it IS this that brings the Presence of God into one’s Life and it IS in this Presence that we find that quality of KNOWING that allows one to move the mountain….that quality of KNOWING that allows one to overcome the world.

This IS Jesus Easter message, a message that IS lost in the theology of religion and in the doctrines of men. It IS these ideas that we should see in His death and His resurrection and it IS in ALL of this finality that we should see the ultimate reality that He presents to us. This IS that reality that comes to men as their reward, their wages, for using that great KEY of Love which IS the deeper Truth of keeping His words. As we read His words on the Presence of God again in the Spirit of the Easter Season, we should understand that His intent IS that we NO LONGER see His words in the way of the man whose focus us upon himself but as one whose focus IS upon the things of God. And we should understand here the timelessness of the Master’s words as He shows us the timelessness of the Prophet’s words; we read Jesus words: “Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:6-7). It IS in this reality that we should understand His words saying:

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me” (John 14:21-24).

We will continue with our thoughts in the next post.

HAPPY EASTER

Aspect of God	Potency	Aspect of Man	In Relation to the Great Invocation	In relation to the Christ
GOD, The Father	Will or Power	Spirit or Life	Center where the Will of God IS KNOWN	Life
Son, The Christ	Love and Wisdom	Soul or Christ Within	Heart of God	Truth
Holy Spirit	Light or Activity	Life Within	Mind of God	Way

Note on the Quote of the Day

This daily blog also has a Quote of the Day which may not be in any way related to the essay. Many of these will be from the Bible and some just prayers or meditations that may have an influence on you and are in line with the subject matter of this blog. As the quote will change daily and will not store with the post, it is repeated in this section with the book reference and comment.

Live in joy, in love, even among those who hate.
Live in joy, in health, even among the afflicted.
Live in joy, in peace, even among the troubled.
Live in joy, without possessions.
Like the shining ones.

The winner sows hatred because the loser suffers.
Let go of winning and losing and find joy.
There is no fire like passion, no crime like hatred,
No sorrow like separation, no sickness like hunger,
And no joy like the joy of freedom.

Today’s Quote of the Day is from the Dhammapada (on JOY)⁵; a collection of the sayings of the Buddha. These words and ideas ARE much the same as those we discuss in our In the Words of Jesus essays. And what is this freedom but the release of our hearts and minds from loving this life in this world and attaining the Presence of God. This word Joy has many meanings as DOES the idea of Love, but in the context that it IS used here we should see the idea that Joy IS Love, Joy IS health, Joy IS peace and that Joy IS without the burdens placed on a man by the illusion and the glamour of the ways of the world. We should try to see that it IS the antithesis of these ideas in hate, in affliction and in troubles that ARE among the possessions of the carnal man, that ARE among the “evil treasure of his heart” (Luke 6:45) according to the Master.

And it IS in the second stanza above that we see the basic psychic ideas that can eliminate the harm caused by such “evil treasure” as a man looks past himself and at the welfare of others which IS the greater reality of Love as the Master teaches us. It IS in losing such possessions, losing such carnal thoughts and attitudes, that one can truly find the “joy of freedom“….this IS the Truth of deliverance.

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts

• ⁵ The Dhammapada Translated by Thomas Byrom
• ⁸ Bible commentaries on BibleStudyTools.com