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You are not Jesus

Published May 28, 2010 | By Shawn

Empty sandals

And neither am I. (I figured it was best to get that out of the way immediately.)

The following is from Claudio Oliver’s article titled “Why I Stopped Serving The Poor:”

The only way to remain with the poor is if we discover that we are the miserable ones. We remain with the poor when we recognize ourselves, even if well disguised, in him/her who is right before our eyes. When we can see our own misery and poverty in them, when we realize our own needs and our desperate need to be saved and liberated, then and only then will we meet Jesus and live life according to His agenda.

and…

Jesus calls us to become incarnate and to see ourselves in the other and to place ourselves under him or her as powerless dependents. He calls us to give up in trusting our own capacity to impart goodness and to change our direction in order to encounter and recognize our own wounds, weakness and pain. From there, we discover the power that lies in being less and not more.

It’s impossible for you and I to BE Jesus.

It’s a term I’ve used in the past when serving, and I hear others use it. We need to stop elevating ourselves to His position. His position is unattainable. He is Most High.

It’s time to get low. “Forehead on the ground” low, if necessary. And to share in the sufferings of Christ.

Are you ready?

Posted in jesus | Tagged , , ,
  • Adam

    Hmmm. If people rely on their own capacity to elevate themselves to divine status then I would agree with ya. But I look in the gospel and see examples of people who had simply come to the end of themselves…after healing & cleansing them He told them to get up off the ground and go….in peace. Other examples come to mind are the prodigal son who had come to the realization of how low he had fallen, he came home expecting to wallow in front of his Father and take the place of the servant, we know how the Father treated that young man.

    I think it is important to acknowledge the power of the Holy Spirit at work in His followers. If left to our own capabilities we will always fall short….but relying on His spirit…..what can we not do?

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/shawnw Shawn Wallace

      I'm in agreement with you. But the father saw Jesus in his son, not in himself. We have the holy spirit but that doesn't make us Jesus. Jesus even came to be a servant. It's when we falsely align ourselves with the Word Made Man that our ego gets out of control, and self becomes confused with Jesus.

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/theperkinsblog Michael

    Love this. I am definitely not Jesus.

    I admit, when I first came to Christ I got really frustrated because "I" wanted to save everyone. I have since learned that "I" have nothing to do with it. All I can do is share and demonstrate His love and leave the rest up to Him. Great stuff bro.

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