What if Jesus was human?

      This isn't really a monthly blog. Just something to say or write rather. Today is Friday and in theory Jesus died today, at least according to translation. He was tortured and beaten and ridiculed and nailed down on this very day. All for the sake of mankind? In theory. I think its something worth dwelling on, thinking on, grasping at; well in actuality it is something too worthy and too pure, something we should never be allowed to give any thought to or embrace an idea about---but we are and we can.

"Live as if someone died for you because they did."
 
   Its beyond any awe that can be experienced. What if someone was beaten for you, tortured for you, killed for you, and died for you? And all this happened when they had the given ability, the whole time, to save themselves at any point and when they were consumed with thoughts of you with every blow. I think its painfully inconceivable. When we tend to think of any scenario like this it is manifested of somebody, somewhere, at sometime; someone completely made up and intangible, never capturing any real substance. Since Jesus is so easily always some mystical, far-off, cut-out character lets forget Him for a moment. What if a human being was beaten for you, tortured for you, killed for you, and died for you? Just some other person. What if a human being came to stay with you with such joy and excitement; knowing they were walking into their own death that waited for them a few days later? The same running veins and pumping hearts that you walk by ever day, sit next to, take care of, day dream about, love so much, and live side by side with. What if you watched your best friend hanging dead; yes, your best friend, your child, your mother, your teacher, your student. And what if after they died they never missed a moment of your life; they marveled at your every word and thought because the love they had to die for you was still flowing, still evident, and still as alive as ever. ---You give someone the best gift you could ever imagine, its engrossed with every part of you and all you have to give. Then you wait in great expectation for their reaction, and you unwillingly assume, their gratitude, but that can never be assumed.--- No human being will ever be that or do that, even if they wanted to. But why do I so quickly forget Jesus' humanity? Did his blood not drip from his face the same way mine would? Did around his eyes not puff up when he cried the same way mine does? Did his skin not break and cut and scab over the same way mine does? Did he not have his own bitter sweet memories and screams running through his head like I would? And did he not so desperately want all the pain and torture to stop as soon as it all started just like we would?
     This is the very definition of love; to love because of how He loves. When did Jesus become inhuman? He is a name to laugh at, an overdone over-dramatic story told, a mechanism used to restrict and control us. The problem is that Jesus is so easily always some mystical, far-off, cut-out character that we forget Him for a moment; a moment that becomes every other moment. But what if, today, Jesus was a heartbroken bleeding man, dying on a cross just gently whispering your name hoping to get your attention for just a moment; a moment that would become any other moment.

Jesus is not
rules to live by
some name they made up
the creator of overly judgmental "christians"
the guidelines of man-made religion
a bunch of cliche responses
a small narrow way of thinking
waiting until marriage, saying no to drugs, and being polite
only friends with the "good" ones
everything portrayed through the church

Jesus was unattractive and moving from house to house. He was hardworking and heavy burdened. He was tempted in every way and still perfect. He was simple; teaching to forgive, accept, and love enemies. He was honest; calling people fools when they acted like it. He was intelligent; thinking and speaking in ways people had never heard before. He was funny; confusing authority with jokes and wit. He was ultimate kindness; laying down His own life for us and still waiting for us to realize it. He is worlds beyond our comprehension; fully human and fully God. Only if we would only look at our hearts long enough to see His name already written there.