The Spirit That Moves Mountains

Jeshua - Chapter 17

"Rabbi, you talk about direct communication with God. But isn't that for our high priest to understand? Not for commoners such as us?"

I was sitting in front of the Temple of Jerusalem, and several others had gathered as John, Thomas, Stephen, Peter, and I were talking. We were lost to the world, discussing the difference between traditional scripture and the new way I was teaching them to follow. There were the typical Sadducee spies milling about, gladly listening in on all of the ways I was blaspheming scripture and breaking Jewish law. They licked their hungry lips at my words, anticipating the pats on the head they would receive when they reported back to the council members.

There were also several men I had never met before who stopped to listen. They all seemed very curious as to what we were discussing.

"My good brother, would a father only want to hear from his eldest or smartest child? Would a mother ignore the wailing of another's child? God is not selective in who He wishes to know. For all are His children, and He patiently awaits all to return."

One of the men turned to his two companions and said, "This is the man I was telling you about. He speaks of God in ways I have never heard before." The other two nodded their heads in agreement. "Rabbi," he began, "tell us more of how you understand God."

"First of all, brother, what is your name?"

"I am Jonas of Lod, Rabbi," he said, stroking his long black-and-gray peppered beard.

"It is a pleasure. Well, Jonas, does not scripture talk often of prayer and communicating with God?"

"Yes, Rabbi. I do pray to God, just like any good Jew would. But there is something different in your words and how you explain praying to God." Jonas's other two friends took a step forward so they could become part of the group.

"Yes. That is why I speak the way I do. Much of what has been taught still creates a distance between you and God. There is still an air of 'I am not worthy for God because I sin.'" I looked around at the men and all were nodding in agreement. "Is that how you feel, Jonas?"

"Well, yes. Sometimes I keep to the commandments, and sometimes I stray from them. I pray that God will forgive me for my transgressions. Is that what you mean?"

"Precisely. The relationship most have with God is one of fear, shame, and guilt. It looks something like this: 'I must follow all of the laws in scripture and what my council of rabbis says or else I will be in big trouble with God, and I will not be able to go to Heaven.' Sound about right?"

Once again, there were several nods. Jonas, however, was not nodding. He was stroking his beard with more fervor and looking me in the eyes. "Please go on, Rabbi."

"What I know in my heart is that this is not the relationship God recognizes in His children. God is a God of love and does not recognize fear, shame, or guilt. And if he does not recognize those things, then you are not communicating with Him properly."

"So God does not want us to fear Him?" Jonas asked, widening his eyes. Thomas and Stephen started to hide smirks by pretending to scratch their noses.

"God does not recognize fear" was my simple reply.

Jonas looked around nervously and then leaned toward me very closely. The others did the same. "Then why is our God in scripture testy and angry in many of the books?"

"God is love. That is the truth. Let the rest sort itself out, if that's what you hold in your mind."

Jonas's two friends gasped at the implication I'd just made.

"I will also say that if you are holding love in your mind and your heart, then Father will see your light. If you have chosen the path of fear, guilt, or shame, your light is completely out, and Father will not see it. Do you want God to see you?"