The Spirituality of Jesus

What was the Spirituality of Jesus? 

   A careful reading of the Gospels and the Holy Scriptures provides us with insight into the characteristics of the spirituality of Jesus.

• • Grace -- God's favor and forgiveness that comes to us as a gift.

    Trust and faith -- A powerful trust in God was a powerful part of the spirituality of Jesus.

    God understood as a caring, loving Father.

    Our acts of compassion and mercy are reflections of God's nature as loving and merciful.

    Prayerful and reverent 

    Social -- Jesus understands all of life including spirituality as communal.  It is part of our life in relationship with others. 

    Divine in humanity -- Jesus held to the view that sacred life was in humanity as well as above us.  Jesus said, "I am the light of the world," and "You are the light of the world."  In debate Jesus quoted with approval the saying in Psalms, "Ye are gods." 

    He believed in the redemptive and transformative power of God.  In short, Jesus believed essentially in a non-judgmental spirituality, holding that through God failing and sinful person's could be redeemed and changed into better people. 

    Following along the lines of the Old Testament prophets, Jesus often saw religion in its organized, formal expression as less than helpful.  Many points of conflict with the religious establishment of his day were centered in Jesus' criticism of their practices and traditions.  

     

     

    Where did Jesus obtain his spirituality?

    The primary earthly source of the spirituality of Jesus was from the Judaism of ancient Palestine, especially from the Torah and the book of the Prophet Isaiah.

    Surely, much of Jesus' personal spirituality was formed by his own life of prayer.  Of this, we know less.  And part of his spirituality was formed in his retreat experience that is usually called the temptations.

    And, as Christian believers we would affirm that Jesus received his spirituality from God our heavenly Father.  However, that affirmation says less than it appears to say, since it does not assign a value in Jesus' life to his learning in life, observations of people, and insights he gained from the Scriptures of the Jewish people.

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    Two Common Points of Confusion:

    1.   Confusing Jesus Christ with the Church. 

    Without a moments thought, millions people assume that Jesus is whatever form of church they often see.  But the church is not Jesus.  And like all human institutions, churches make many mistakes, become at times self-serving, self-centered, and just plain get off on the wrong track.  Other good folks assume in some vague way that Jesus is the Bible.  But Jesus is not a book, not even a holy book.  Only Jesus is Jesus.
    
    
         This is not to say that the church is without value, or without God's Spirit.  Still the church is not Jesus, nor is the Bible Jesus.  So my hope is that you will find a church in which you can grow spiritually and serve.  And I hope that you will find insight and guidance within the Holy Scriptures.  But most of all I hope you will embrace Jesus Christ and follow him.
    
    
    
    

    2.   Paradoxical Teachings and Statements of Jesus.

        The teachings of Jesus are often in paradoxical form.  Indeed, it appears that Jesus felt true spirituality was paradoxical.  Consider these well-known sayings of Jesus.
    
    
    
    

       "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

        " You must be born again."

        "whoever seeks to save his life will lose it."