In the intimate conversation between God and Moses as Moses pleads for the people and God moves, you witness an aspect of their relationship (Exodus 32:7-14, New King James Version).
In the intimate conversation between The Lord and Abraham as Abraham pleads for the people of Sodom, and the Lord moves, you witness an aspect of their relationship (Genesis 18:18-33, New Revised Standard Version).
Even when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden. How? Because they had a relationship with Him. They knew Him, not just of Him (Genesis 3:8, New Revised Standard Version).
As we begin to study the early life of Christ, we can see that even as a young boy, He knew God, His Father.
When Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple, they did not understand what He was doing there and why he has caused them such anxiety and stress as they searched for him. Jesus replied to them “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business? (Luke 2:49, New King James Version) Such maturity and wisdom he displayed UNDERSTANDING (not just knowing) that nothing He did nor would do was ever about Him.
Later we read the first recorded miracle Jesus performed, turning water into wine during a wedding in Cana (John 2, New Revised Standard Version).
It is interesting that this miracle is spoken about more than most other miracles, often too because it is the subject of alcohol debates.
What we overlook are very key aspects of understanding relationships.
Mary comes to Jesus and to tell him the wine is out.
Understanding that carrying on traditional or cultural norms to fulfill personal wishes and desires was not the essence of his ministry, He responds, “what does this have to do with me?” Understanding that this celebration has nothing to do with the timing of what He was sent to do, He reiterates “My hour has not yet come.”
It is the relationship between a son and mother that moves Jesus to honor this request of his mother, but it is for us to WITNESS and understand this had nothing to do with why God sent Him. Perhaps this is also why we oversimplify this particular miracle and make it so “commonly” spoken of.
This act is PERMITTED by God as we see an honored relationship between mother and son, but more importantly, Honor to His Father and honoring why His Father sent Him. Again, we witness the true essence of RELATIONSHIPS.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus would constantly refer to His Father regarding His work and His purpose.
If he wasn’t speaking about it, He still demonstrated it. Honoring the Deuteronomic laws which prohibited anyone from worshiping man, Jesus, as He walked in the flesh He was careful to NOT have those that followed worship Him but to see God in everything He said and did.
Why was this important?
Because as He would continue to demonstrate how to live with God here on earth, How to live in covenant with God, live in a relationship with God, work according to the expectation of God, He wanted us to see how to carry on after He ascended.
We were to follow in the steps of Christ, work to live as Christ did, follow spiritual disciplines that would align ourselves with God and His Word. In doing so, we reconnect forming true relationships with The Father, carrying the essence of Christ (The Holy Spirit). We become embodied once again and not in these faulty relationships we see established that have people running in the opposite direction of God.
In The Spirit of The Disciplines, by Dallas Willard, he contends that the secret of entering into an easy yoke is to embody the life of Christ. The analogy he gives of a child’s desire to emulate a ballplayer (3) is profound. The idea that one would desire to be so much like a star athlete that it may appear the necessary things needed are to adorn similar gear. Unfortunately, the true test comes at performance time, and they are not equipped to handle a given situation.
It is interesting that he uses the analogy of a child parallel to emulating the life of Christ. Adults would quickly teach a child the reality of discipline versus emulation. As Willard points out, we could apply the same application of disciplines to our faith. Willard implies that we would much rather avoid the pains of discipline and therefore miss out on the easy yoke (7) or make it easy for ourselves in the long run.
Nothing can replace a life of preparation and dedication, even if that life comes with pains. The preparation of life may seem burdensome as one must be committed and making sacrifices. But, when it is time to perform, it comes easily and naturally, without thought and hesitation, like muscle memory.
Following the Life of Christ should be a natural embodiment of who we are and how we live. The way of life becomes a natural pattern or design of who we are and how to carry ourselves. Whatever comes up in life, we are not stopping to contemplate how to respond because it is a natural part of who we are (9).
This is the foundation of RELATIONSHIP!!
It is time to check and RESET our Relationship with God. We cannot build a relationship if we are still focused on taking up our own ways. You must begin by moving away from your belief of knowledge and gain an understanding of who He is.
