The Real Reason Jesus is an Inspiration

Todd takes a fresh look at Jesus as a role model. Even if we can't personally live up to His example, we can be blown away by His commitment and love. Todd takes us through the real meaning of Jesus' actions and shows us the amazing inspiration to be had from contemplating His example.

I can see why mainstream Christianity gets so much inspiration from Jesus: just before we were all going to hell, Jesus stepped in front of His Father and said, “Take me instead.” He stood up to the Almighty for us. That’s inspiring. However, my New Church educated brain knows things did not actually happen that way. Instead a divine human was on earth that straightened out the mess that finite humanity created. That, to me, never was a fair fight. Infinite good versus finite evil? “He could not but conquer” (Arcana Coelestia 1812). Of course hell was going to lose! It never had a chance.

There can be an air of intellectual knowledge about what Jesus went through in the New Church: Jesus was born on earth and by means of the Mary-human He waged combat against the hells and through one temptation after another, He finally claimed salvation for the human race. The way that reads is more like a history text, and can often distance us from the human part of the Divine Human. What this account fails to emphasize is that he fought “from pure love” (Arcana Coelestia 1812).

I wish to rewrite the above so as to include the love and emotional element as well. The story might be like this: a father has had his children grow distant from him. Now he cannot reach the children, they have moved into the inner city slums to live life as petty thugs. What is the father to do? The temptations are many. He could ignore the situation and let the children live their life as they have chosen. He could kill the people who have twisted their minds. He could bring the children home and force them to live under a new, draconian rule. The temptation would have been severe since the stronger a person’s love, “the more fiercely do [evil spirits] wage the combat [against it]” (Arcana Coelestia 1820).

Jesus’ story is about a man, a divine human, who would not abandon His children, His morals, or the order of the world in which He lives. Old Church or New, Jesus is inspiring because He put our happiness ahead of His own. The temptations were “grievous.” Can you imagine the desire to kill those who are killing your children and your spouse? By bringing order to the world He brought happiness not just to the good, but to the evil as well. Everybody now associates with those whom they are most alike.

Where does He get the power to do this? Technically He gets the power from Himself. Where does the motivation come from? In this case, the motivation comes from the desire to make others happy. “In all His combats of temptations the Lord never fought from the love of self, or for Himself, but for all in the universe” (Arcana Coelestia 1812).

So I ask, why do we fail so often in temptation? I put forth the idea that we fail so often because we are trying to resist the temptation for our own good, not somebody else’s. Would you lay down your life for your country? I think most Americans would be proud to do so. Would you give your life for your children? Who wouldn’t! Will you give up eating fast food so you don’t die an early death? Not likely. Think of all the failed New Year’s resolutions that happen every year.

So this is my suggestion: model your life after Jesus. This is nothing new, but specifically, try to restate your personal mission. Do not try to become regenerate. Forget about self improvement. Instead, focus your efforts on trying to make other people happy. Now, you can probably see where this is heading. In order to make other people happy, it would be useful if you were not so [insert personal failing here]. Why will you stop or start doing [insert modified behavior here]? You do it because it makes other people happy. In the process you have actually achieved the goal of self improvement, and are possibly even being regenerated. This is New Church LIFE. Self improvement not for the sake of self and your place in heaven, but self improvement for the sake of others.

Now if you really want to go for it, do it for the sake of the Lord. This is harder, no question about it in my mind. Why? Because if I do something nice for my wife, say, bring home flowers, the feedback is immediate (as long as the child isn’t distracting her!). I get a big smile, a hug, and a wife that is friendlier to my presence than would otherwise be expected. If I shun the wandering lust, or control my temper for the sake of the Lord, there is not that nice, clear, obvious “attaboy.”

Yet, perhaps that is the reason why Arcana Coelestia/Secrets of Heaven deals with the Lord’s childhood and temptations in such great detail. A person’s life – even a Divine person – is not just a collection of facts about where they went and what they did. It is how they came to be that person. What struggles did they endure to achieve what they have in life? This is what is given to us in the Heavenly Doctrines. What the Lord went through on our behalf. He did not do it for His sake. He did it for ours.

When we remember how much our Father did for us, it makes His story all the more inspiring. Which is easier to do? Take a bullet for your family, or live a life of daily perfection, working to get all the little things right just so that your family can be happier? Clearly, taking the bullet is easier. It can even make for an inspiring story. However, I say the harder way, Jesus’ way, the New Church way, is far more inspiring.

Todd Beiswenger

Todd is a second year Theological School student who is happily married with one child. He holds a B.S. in Marketing from Auburn University and an MBA from Temple. Interests include Phillies baseball, fast cars and stock trading.

Comments

[Ropemaker]

Dude.