What would Jesus do…

part I
knowing that so many of his Master, Teacher, Healer and Martyr brethren – all seekers of, and/or messengers for, The Eternal Spirit (God or what you will) – have been completely disregarded, often disrespected and sometimes down-right hated, by an entire population of people professing Christianity?

Angry…? Me…? You bet! I received an email from a well-meaning and, really, one of the dearest members of my family (see the bold back print below). But it set me off. I know this woman to be a Christian that I think Jesus would find employing his teachings in the best and highest of all possible intent; it's not about her. Somehow, the text reminded me of the missives circulated by folks that go to church on Sunday yet manage to ignore Christ’s many messages of compassion and acceptance the rest of the time. So with great regard for Jesus (as Master, Teacher, Healer and a Holy Man who walked his talk) and his teachings…

Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. (Luke 11)
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them (Matt 7:12)
The Kingdom is inside you and it is outside you (Gnostic – Gospel of Thomas 3)

and my best and highest of all possible intent to honor him, those that came before, seekers of the present and those yet to come– my remarks…

Jesus had no servants (they were called Apostles), yet they called Him Master. Language is fluid and subject to time and place. Many other notables in the history of religion/theosophy have been known by honored one-name titles. For example, Muhammad was called simply the Prophet. He had no servants either – those who would follow and learn from him were named companions.
Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. As was the Buddha. In fact, the Epic Era in India (600 B.C. E.– 200 C.E.) gave us several called Teacher, who began other schools of thought and religions – Read more here
He had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. The prophets Elijah and Elisha were not only Healers but capable of restoring life upon praying to God (I Kings 17:17-24 and II Kings 14:32-37).
Had no army, yet kings feared Him. I am reminded of Ghandi.
He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. Speaking purely in numbers, Christianity is the largest religion in the world (comprised, however, of many differing branches and denominations) yet the practice in Tibet, even suffering under Chinese occupation, is still Tibetan Buddhism and has been for roughly 1,500 years. Past that; define conquer. If we’re speaking in terms of the material world i.e. the physical body – don’t we all transcend the material, reverting to Spirit or Energy when we die? Good works and global recognition? Albert Schweitzer, Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa...
He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was indeed an innocent martyr; worse than that, it was people of his own belief that called for his suffering and death out of fear for their own. Can we not call drafted soldiers the same? And what of citizen casualties of war? Would Christ be pleased that so many innocents have followed that particular path of his, dying in Crusades, jihads and genocides?
He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today! So, according to Hermetics, do all live on after death. Micah was a brick in a wall, saved by Moses and eventually - after a very dicey term in idolatry - became a great Hebrew Prophet; see "The Crime of the Benjamites" here for the full story. But if we’re talking a Spirit and Message premise… just peruse The Sacred Text Archive for a bit.
Feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us! 1) I don’t think Jesus is after having servants – he asks for love and loyalty (In the Bible, Jesus says... "If you deny me before man, I will deny you before my Father in Heaven."). Moreover, if we believe most of Romans III, not one of us is worthy anyway. 2) If it’s true that "… God…gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth…etc" (John 3:16) it could be argued that ultimately Jesus served God in dying for humanity. Would we not be honoring Christ the more if we took to real activity? Developing a relationship with the Divine; living Jesus’ kindness and tolerance towards our brethren to the best of our ability rather than spending so much time merely mouthing his wonder and turning him into a martyred superhero worthy of an action figure complete with miracle kit !

Oh no, I'm not done yet; rant to be Continued.....