These Papers, of Which There Are Seven: Interpreting Reality; Jesus and Religion; Discerning

Introduction

These papers, of which there are seven: Interpreting reality; Jesus and
religion; Discerning the presence of Jesus; Celebrations of the presence of Jesus; Being with Jesus in prayer; Obstacles and challenges in our following Jesus and Sharing the Goods News are offered to share an understanding of faith in the Lord Jesus. Each tract
builds on the previous one.

Being a small work, each tract cannot give a full account of the life and significance of Jesus. Indeed such a task would be beyond any book or books, let alone a brief tract.

The author of the fourth Gospel states: "But Jesus did many other things; if all were written down, the world itself would not hold the books recording them." (John 21.25) People who are devoted to the Lord Jesus might easily find omissions, perhaps annoying omissions, in
these pages.

Hopefully, these papers will not be condemned for omissions and shortcomings, rather that they may be used positively as people develop their understanding of faith in Jesus Christ. It might be a stimulus for further reflection and discussion.

The contents might challenge some assumptions and convictions that people have about Jesus. The understanding of our faith is like a diamond, it can be viewed from various perspectives and each perspective has a value to offer. There is no need to shear off the other faces of the diamond to preserve the integrity of the light we perceive.

Nowadays there are many opportunities for the discussion and study of the nature and effectiveness of Christian faith. These tracts might find a place in that Process. For some it might be the introduction to a fresh look at the Person who offers light in a world that is clouded in some darkness, a world in which people yearn for new life.

We live in a world that exhibits goodness and evil. At times, in the eyes of some, goodness appears to be in the ascendency; at other times, in another perspective evil is
predominant.

The media reflect the reality - dark and light. Two lists under these headings could easily be compiled. We might also name them: signs of Grace and signs of Disgrace. Of course the reality is not so neatly divided; good and evil are mixed in this world, even in ourselves, in all of us.

A sign of grace is anything that engenders respect and love and hope. Grace is beautiful, graceful. On the other hand, disgrace is an interpretation of any reality that promotes hate or despair or lack of respect. Disgrace is ugly, negative.

The signs of disgrace or evil are not an indication of a negative deity, malevolently working. Disgrace or evil, insofar as we have some comprehension of it, seems to come either from bad choices made by people, or simply from the imperfect, unfinished state of creation, or from a lack of overall harmony which will only be set right when the reign of God fully prevails.

Meanwhile we are immersed in a situation of some disgrace and evil; we continue to suffer. And in a way we might say that God suffers with us until the whole of creation is made perfect.

A Compassionate God

At the times when we actually feel shredded by suffering we might not have any sense of understanding at all. We might cry out in pain or frustration or anger or despair and yet bow before the mysterious God of compassion whom we do not perceive.

We cannot see God but we can see people and things which we call gifts of God. They are signs of God's goodness; they are positive and graceful.

This is a particular interpretation of reality: that there is a God who is the source of everything that is good and beautiful. This interpretation itself is an effect of grace
within us. Faith in God is a gift, a grace.

At times we might have an internal spiritual experience. Some might call such an experience an encounter with God. In the way of speaking used in these pages a spiritual experience would rather be called a sign of God; it is another example of the grace of God.

In a way we know God's grace rather than God directly.

God is beyond us, beyond our thinking, beyond our world. God is very mysterious - beyond us entirely, yet in grace permeating all that is.

Christians are convinced that the greatest gift of God to the world is Jesus of Nazareth. This book is mainly about him and his continuing presence.

The Human Race - Searching

The human race has a history of understanding grace. It seems that peoples from every age and continent have sought to discover a spiritual reality which gives meaning to the great and small things of the universe, to life and death. We can still learn from their search and
growth in awareness.

For example many peoples have developed a very close affinity with the search over many centuries or millennia and have learnt the value of living in harmony with the whole of creation, with due respect for all living things. These peoples often sense that there is a mysterious power or spirit or rhythm in creation to which they themselves are also subject. This would be seeing peoples' histories in the best light.

The Jewish race was particularly inspired in committing their understanding to a tradition of teaching and to the written word - the Hebrew Scriptures. We have called these scriptures the Old Testament. The Jews incorporated much of this inspiration into their culture.

Jesus and God

Jesus of Nazareth opened up enormously our understanding of God's grace in the world. Jesus is perceived in faith as the grace, the Son of God, the one who calls God Abba, Father. He is the One with whom we can call the author of grace, Abba.

For Jesus the God of grace was his Father, Abba. This name was not a philosophical construct which could have led him to call God the cause of all things, the almighty,
the eternal One, the infinite, uncreated, all-knowing Being. No; for Jesus, God was Abba, Dad.

The understanding that Jesus had of God far exceeded anything that had been expressed by fellow Jews, even by those with the clearest inspirations. Certainly Jesus grew up in the Hebrew culture. He was a Jew and followed the Jewish religion, but he had a more profound
relationship with the God of grace than any other Jewish religious person.

Jesus reveals more about the God of grace than anybody else does. His God is Father, Abba. Abba is the Creator of the new heaven and the new earth, the God of the kingdom or realm of love, forgiveness and peace where there is no fear, or violation of people or of creation.

Jesus had a direct experience of God, a close relationship with God, whom he called Abba. We, on the other hand senses or intuition. We can perceive the gifts of God, the grace of God, but for us God as God is beyond us and cannot be perceived directly.

Jesus is alive, present, sharing his life and love with anyone who wishes to accept him. The Jesus who is alive and present is the Jesus of Nazareth, now transformed. He is a friend who can give peace and good life to all.

We can benefit from his presence. He is here for us. We can receive his liberation, his love, his freedom from fear, his power over evil and suffering and death. We can receive his foundation for loving relationships, his focus for cooperation and 'community. We can share his link with God and the Spirit, his understanding of religion, his promise of the kingdom, on earth as in heaven. He has suffered with us and we suffer with him, until he comes again in the kingdom of God fulfilled.

In the life, death and resurrection of Jesus it is clear that grace prevails over disgrace, goodness over evil. And so it will be, we believe.