Are you the Messiah?

When Jesus was brought to the temple as an infant, a devout old man named Simeon took him in his arms and essentially pronounced, My eyes have seen the Messiah! (Luke 2:25-32). But what if Simeon said that about every baby brought to the temple? There’s no reason to think he didn’t, except that we know the whole story. We think of Jesus as Messiah in a distinctive way, and that’s appropriate. But Jesus wants us to be like him. That's messianic. 

In his book, The Diary of Jesus Christ, Bill Cain, SJ, has Simeon pray the same Messianic prayer over every child presented in the temple. When Jesus is twelve, Cain imagines Jesus returning to the temple to find Simeon. Jesus asks Simeon many questions, including this: “In the scripture God speaks of Israel as if it were one single person. If that’s true, is it possible—is it possible when the scripture speaks of the Messiah as one person – that he might be many people? Is it possible? Is it possible? (p. 210)

Thinking about this question was a lightbulb moment for me.  We are called to be like Jesus and if Jesus is our deliverer, our means of being whole, healed, saved (all one word in the New Testament), then we are to do the same for each other.  To embody God’s power and love as much as possible so that others can see God through us! (Matthew 5:48).  It sounds impossible, but in fact, it’s not.  It’s essential.  It’s as simple as leaning in on who we truly are, not who we’ve become in our selfishness. 

Here are a few simple steps to practice your partnership in Messiah:

1. Let Go of Control.  Jesus practiced obedience to God a lot. What’s the hardest thing for you to let go of? Take that and give it to God. It will take practice. Relinquish it over and over – even if it’s the most precious person in your life.
2. Choose Love.  Jesus loved even when it sucked. He loved in spite of how he was treated, how tired he was, how annoying his friends were. As the B-52s say, Love baby, that’s where it's at. To choose love requires choosing to nurture your life with God. Otherwise, you run out.
3. Nurture your life with God. It can look like whatever is true for you. Yes, prayer, yes, finding things to pull your hand into God’s hand, your mind into God’s mind. 
4. Sacrifice. Give it up. This is a part of letting go of control, but it’s also about generosity, empathy, and presence. Be present to your world, the people in front of you. See them.  Leave the kingdom of your mind and walk into the wide world of others.

This is not a to-do list, it’s a brochure for the BEST LIFE EVER. Being like Jesus is exactly how we were created to be. Everyone belongs. Love heals. Eternity wins.

Don’t miss out on this fabulous opportunity to be Messiah. It’s possible. Every day, all of us together, walking in love, makes it possible.

-- Pastor Rebecca