2023-03-03 A Meditation on the Good News
“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”” (Mk 1:14–15 ESV)
It’s called the good news because it leaves the light on for us. Jesus invests in us. Jesus weathers the storm of our fickle nature. Jesus proves Himself unfazed and beauteous to love us. Jesus receives from us the lashes and the mockery, because He wished simply for a hearing. That we would hear something of God’s Truth. That we would come to the end of our rope, and learn to accept and trust Him. Who gave us certitude and proof: our gumption was loved, not hated, even if we in secret do doubt and hate parts of ourselves. We do think ourselves unlovable, or get exasperated when someone tries to lift us from the dregs.
Therefore it is an open field of opportunity, that we the soldier endeavor to honor. We the soldier are post nativity, in our hearts the nativity of that Good News, where we become one mind and one flesh with a wider body, which had gone to the Cross. We went alongside Him. We filled up in our flesh what was lacking in His sacrifice (Col 1:24). We saw plain-spoken genius, and then no longer feared to make of ourselves a living sacrifice. We did all things according to necessity, only then to do the last thing: give. To give of our lives and ourselves in service. To give it all over to our Friend on High, our Lord, our trailblazer of might. To credit Him, For He was might and genius over and beyond all explaining sociology or evolutionary obviousness. It is not obvious that society spirals upwards towards discovering Christianity. It is not obvious that social networks revolve around Christ-figures as found “in nature”, “in the wild”. Yet six degrees of separation becomes even sharper, even fewer degrees of separation, as spirit calls to spirit, deep to deep, in those impulsive times invested with one another (Ps 42:7). For an hour. For a moment of an overheard conversation. For a reading of one’s body language passing in the street or sitting down together for some catch-up. Yes, the luminaries are a happy cohort. Yes, the soldiers are a mighty barracks. Yes, the Christians are a healthsome revelation.
The soldier with artistry treasures the place in the soul where healthsome discipline has opened us up to healthsome love. Some plainness of vista, some warming revelation, some knowledge that God can jest with us because He first of all proved proof-positive, that He loved us. We accept the jesting, or the personal diorama, the picture of ourselves.
Angular and obtuse, flawed and dreaming of perfection, we are bundles of needs and impulses, bundles of ambitions and expeditions self-chosen. It is strange, for He does not ever posit an end to the capacity within ourselves to be convicted, but He redeems, and turns our angularity and ambition to proper use. It is then that we are a people Passed Over, like the firstborn of a family who, in times of Hebrew Scriptures, is consecrated unto religious service until redeemed by the tribe of the Levites (Nu 3:45). Passed over.
We vibe and feel out each other, accepting that the insecure one is made secure in their temporary or permanent role as head, by the assurance and encouragement of the one being ministered to. Life is a two-way street, sometimes. The husband gives the wife credit. The wife gives the husband credit. Jesus, as the bridegroom, is vulnerable to a mocking, overlording spirit that deadens and dismisses His peculiar insight. Survive He does, but no longer special or Christ-like. He is not able to do any miracles, because of their unbelief (Mt 13:58).
But we, instead, are recipient of the miracles, because we entered this tribe called Faith, this cohort, this clan, this plain-and-simple assembly. We were gentle people, all of a sudden. We were able without judgment to ask our neighbor if they are doing alright these days. We no longer fear to be robbed or misused, because there is gratitude in the air. We have our vision, a new vista, and give thanks that some were able to be in the disciple’s role, or in the role of encourager, or in the role of son, daughter.