What if Jesus returned not yet for the final Rapture, but just to do a quick, interim inspection of His followers? What would He say about how they love their neighbors?
“How to Best Express Godly Love” is the fourth in an imagined series of ten speeches given in the first person by Jesus, focused on the efforts of modern-day Christians. Short excerpts found in the Bible concerning God’s Kingdom are expanded. Additional details are based on expert translations, authoritative Bible commentaries, and historical accounts. Although still closely adhering to the first-century Gospels, these lectures extrapolate into our modern-day, complex world.
If you are comfortable with your present understanding of Jesus or are fully satisfied with the doctrines taught by your particular Christian group, you may find parts of these fictional lectures uncomfortable or even offensive. However, if you have a deep love for the Biblical Jesus, wish to delve deeper into His thinking, and long to move ever closer to God, you may find these fictional lectures both intriguing and thought-provoking.
Or, if you've been turned off by established religions, yet appreciate the positive impact of Jesus' teachings across the centuries, you may find this lecture a fascinating introduction to his mind-blowing Principles. Told in the first-person, his words excite modern-day people as powerfully as they did back in the first century.
As with many other fictional depictions of Jesus found in books, music, and movies, “The Jesus Lectures-4” should be “taken with a grain of salt.” Rather than starting from a set of doctrines taught by some particular Christian group, lecture #4 instead focuses entirely on the time-honored, validated texts of Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. As such, descriptions and elaborations may differ from officially sanctioned interpretations. Readers are advised to discard what’s not useful for them, while treasuring any new “nuggets” of wisdom.
The author’s intent is not to create controversy, but to deepen our appreciation for Jesus’ transcendent first-century teachings. Rather than advocating a fresh list of rigid Rules, “The Jesus Lectures-4” explains dynamic Principles for each of us becoming the greatest in the Kingdom of God.
“The Jesus Lectures-4” challenges Christians’ present-day understanding of the following seven topics: 1) a Priest, Levite, Samaritan, and Lawyer; 2) the Foundation of Reality; 3) a Loud Beggar; 4) Raising the Dead; 5) Riding on a Donkey; 6) Glorification by Defeat; and 7) a Fine Pair of Sandals. Although conversational and friendly, centered around “folksy” stories and dramatic confrontations, this first-person lecture moves far beyond accepted traditions and standard sermons. Jesus enlightens us all on how to demonstrate our love to skeptics.
It is with great pleasure that I, Jesus of Nazareth, speak to you today! This is my fourth lecture on my overall theme of MOVING CLOSER TO GOD. Today I’m focusing on “How to best express Godly Love.”
In my last lecture in Book #3, “Dealing with Difficult People,” I described how the necessary permeability of our hearts is revealed by the ways that we relate to and treat other people. To remain within the Kingdom of God, each person must carefully maintain the “God-permeability” of one’s heart.
In today’s fourth lecture, contained in this present Book #4, “How to Best Express Godly Love,” I help you discover “operational definitions” of Godly Love. Furthermore, I show by powerful stories how it’s critical for evaluating your actions toward others. Why? Because how you define Godly Love in your life determines what ACTIONS you will take toward other people. In short, all my followers must change “Godly Love” from a vague emotion into carefully considered, edifying outcomes.
If your Godly Love does not have tangible positive outcomes, you will not remain in the Kingdom of God. Why? Because if you don’t truly love your fellow humans then you don’t truly love God. Thus, you must “operationally define” Godly Love in your life to prove God is in your heart and that you are in God’s Kingdom.
Those who are “greatest” in the Kingdom of God are servants. Voluntary servitude, however, is extremely difficult for anyone to do… unless it’s accomplished from a profoundly deep love. But human beings by nature are ornery, irritating, annoying, hurtful ingrates—very unlovable! Sure, it’s not so hard for you to love me. After all, I’m the one who promises you peace, supernatural help, and eternal salvation. I give that in exchange for you just doing that which is good for you. What a great guy I am! But your fellow men and women regularly hurt your feelings, demand huge things from you without giving anything in return, and who are, in some cases, actual enemies seeking to destroy you. To love them is a very difficult proposition!
How can you possibly love—to sincerely have “good feelings” toward—even those who are actively trying to hurt you? Well, there are several “secrets” to accomplishing this daunting task. I’ll reveal these enabling “tricks” in conversations I had with my own disciples back in the first century. They had just as hard a time, if not more, in loving their own fellow men and women!
Yes, it’s tough to love your fellow humans, especially irritatingly close friends and relatives, not-to-mention your actual, sworn enemies! But if you can master these techniques, the entire world opens up to you. You will have incredible power, which you never before dreamed possible. Plus, you can easily acquire the Godly Humility that opens up the doors of God’s Kingdom, then keeps you safely within its borders!
Let us now get into some of the most difficult lessons of all which I taught during the short time I physically spent here on planet Earth. Let’s start with a Priest, a Levite, a Samaritan, and a Lawyer…