Christ and Jesus

Christ and Jesus
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To understand many of the words and teachings of Jesus Christ, you must use some discernment. There is a difference between Jesus the historical man, and the Christ, the Holy Spirit (God) who still lives in your heart and mine.

Here is one good example: Christ said, "I and the Father are one." (Jn. 10:30) And Jesus also said, "The Father is greater than I." (Jn. 14:28)

Now, logically, both statements cannot be true of the same being. So, they must originate with two beings. And they do. The first statement is from the everlasting Christ-spirit, and the second from the human and historical Jesus.

In many early Christian documents, writers made this careful distinction. That we all are part of the Christ (Holy Spirit; God) is implied, for example, in the gnostic Gospel of Phillip, where the early Christian author writes that, when converted to the faith, we do not become simply "Christians, but Christs." To the unaccustomed ear, it might well sound strange to speak of "Julia Christ," or "Kevin Christ." But, the truth is, we are all called to follow Christ within as the Way. For He said, through Jesus, "I am... the Way." (Jn. 14:6(

We cannot now "follow" Jesus, for he is no longer alive on earth. But Christ still lives, and never died. He is a "model" for us, the Scriptures say. Jesus predicted, "The things I do, you also will do; and you will do even greater things."

No one is as advanced, as complete, a being as Jesus Christ. For he is, in Western culture, the very archetype (symbol) of a completed and enlightened man. But that does not make us less than Jesus, as a species.

For he was truly "man," born of woman, although he was also as truly God. He was, in short, Love in incarnation. It is not blasphemy to declare that Jesus is a model, as the Scriptures say, "for you to follow his footsteps closely." Indeed, the true "blasphemy" would be to ignore this lovely specimen of God.

So, when people teach that "Jesus saves," it is the realization of the deeply interior Love-nature that saves. It becomes conscious (aware) to your conscious mind. And from what does Jesus Christ save? He saves, by grace, from the nightmare of ignorance, with its hatreds, fears, and assorted miseries. He also saves us from terrible slavery to our lower humanimal nature-- slavery to abject cruelty, loveless sexuality, greed, and similar abominations. By grace, we are liberated from a legion of interior "demons," who lose all their power in the Presence of Christ(Love).
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"Powerful or Weak"?

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Before incarnating on earth as a physical body -- while still in the "pre-incarnational" Soul-world -- I gathered with my trusted, beloved advisors. We were discussing my coming incarnation.

They offered me two scenarios of the life to come:

They, sharing comments one at a time, said, in effect, that:

In the coming life on earth, I could choose a body of enormous, impressive strength and power. With this body would come certain mind-changes. Self-confidence (in the ego) would likely be over-developed. Arrogance was a real possibility. Pride also came with this package. Self-reliance and independence from others would be a "must," and it would be insisted. Spirituality, which requires realistic humility, would be a rather distant vision, and not an immediate goal. Physically, this would be a greatly, vastly exciting life! But spiritually, it would be one of utter poverty; little karmic progress would be made during this life. Growth would be incredibly slow to non-existent.

The other kind of body that I could choose, as a Soul, was the "weak" body, more vulnerable. With this kind of body would come, naturally, a greatly increased and enhanced sense of empathy, sympathy, and compassion. The spiritual treasure of humility would be so much more easily developed within an imperfect, humble, and vulnerable body. The sense of utter dependence on God (Love) would be maximized. There would also be a highly increased sense of healthy dependence upon the Love of
others. Simple kindness, towards people and all living creatures, would be made stronger. Spiritual growth would leap ahead by allegorical lightyears; more spiritual and mental growth could occur during this one life than during the past five thousand years!

I considered the two options; each had its "good points," its "temptations." In the end, vulnerability and healthy dependence was chosen over ego-inflating superindependence.
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