The Phenomenal

January 24, 2024

To me, it is phenomenal that one person who lived only thirty-three years had such a profound message that it gave rise to the world's largest religion. The law of statistics would agree that a person who lived two thousand years ago, with no wealth, a dubious birth, and no large following, would not have a current following of 2.4 billion people.

Something phenomenal must have occurred for Jesus to be considered the son of God. Maybe it was his miracles that made people believe in him. However, one thing is sure: people were so profoundly affected by and believed in what he did and said that many were willing to die for their beliefs. Christ’s ministry so transformed the eyewitness believers that his ministry continues today.

The central power of Christ’s life is attested to by our personal application of the truths he told. What intrinsic power of his message makes people take second notice and adopt the life he called us to?

Jesus addressed people's suffering. But the intrinsic power of the message is not in becoming more powerful than your problems or enemies. Instead, the personal application of vulnerability, compassion, and forgiveness belief are facets of the greatest power in the universe: love.

Rembrandt’s face of Jesus

When someone applies his teaching, and it supernaturally transforms them to the point that their suffering is diminished, transcended, or completely healed, it's not easily forgotten. And when thousands of people apply it and are transformed, the news spreads, people teach their children, and groups grow.

The simple message can be distorted and added to, creeds arise, and eventually, human-made institutions supersede the humble origins of such profound wisdom. Those religious institutions can evolve to be antithetical to the original message, to the extreme of waging war and even killing innocents.

The core of the original message remains: "Love one another." And despite how humankind twists the humble message, it heals us individually and collectively when it is applied in its undistorted form. This is life-giving. This is miraculous. This is phenomenal.

Inquiry: What is the original message to you?

Dear God,

The truth you told us is phenomenal. I pray for that truth to enter my body, mind, and heart. Amen

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