Book022

The glorified Jesus - 1. How he might be

New Testament writers contemplated the glorified Jesus

Previous Note. To the readers of Christianity reformed from its roots:

For so long I have experienced the need for having a more precise concept of Jesus. I have written a lot about him in these pages, but still his "image" (which is not a visual image) wasn't clear; it was somehow vague, with no specifics about his being, his functions, his relationship with us and ours with him.

I realize that this subject is about the unknown; about "beyond," where we can not reach, and where our words are almost meaningless, or short, or just analogies or metaphors; these are our limitations. But on the other hand we have the fundamental tenets of Christian faith: that Jesus was risen, that he was glorified, that he lives forever with the Father. Based on the foundation of this "rock," we might be able to have a better idea about what these words mean.

I have prayed a lot and thought a lot. This is what God has "revealed" to me so far, that is, this is what I have understood up to the present. I'll continue praying and thinking, and perhaps I'll see more light in the future.

The document

It is difficult to know the Jesus of today

It is not difficult to imagine the human being of Jesus of Nazareth; what is very difficult is to have a fair idea of the glorified Jesus. Here on earth he was one among many; beginning with his resurrection, he is unique.

I do not want to be told to read the New Testament or to look at the Christian tradition to understand the glorified Jesus; I have read the New Testament a thousand times and I have studied theology almost all my life. But I haven't found yet the answer to my concerns in a way acceptable to my convictions. That is why I have continued inquiring.

Apostles' knowledge of Jesus

Our knowledge of Jesus is very different from that of the apostles and early disciples. It was easy for the apostles to continue communicating with Jesus after his resurrection, because they had seen him before, talked with him, and then they saw him resurrected. So, their knowledge was accompanied with that very vivid experience of the glorified Jesus.

We are almost at the opposite end. We didn't see Jesus in his mortal flesh, or the resurrected one; we didn't have the experience of Jesus that they did. So, we are in a poor situation compared with theirs, and that is why our knowledge and communication with Jesus is more difficult than theirs.

Lacking the experiences that the apostles had, our substitute is faith. But faith is an enigma, no sight, as Paul says (2 Corinthians 5:7). Thus, let us try, guided by this faith, to understand better the glorified Jesus.