Happy Easter. As Paul said, if Jesus were not resurrected, then our belief is nothing but foolishness. The more I contemplate God’s Word and get the foolishness of the theologians and philosophers from whom I was taught in university out of my system, the more I understand. Jesus did not teach a philosophy. The prophets, the foundation of Jesus’ own spiritual formation, did not teach a philosophy, either.
The prophets taught and showed by example a life with God. Jesus taught that since the example of the prophets wasn’t enough to persuade people to abandon their old way of life and live a life with God, then he would offer a more stunning example. He showed the way–probably why the earliest Christ followers were called followers of the Way. It’s a way of life and the way to God.
Philosophers and theologians are quite certainly serious. And reading them can be entertaining (for some of us anyway). But those paths lead to pure rationality. Rationality is important in your life. But first comes the person. We follow Jesus, not because he was rational, but because he showed The Way. Trying to figure him out can be fun intellectual pleasure. But the task of life is to simply follow his example. We follow a man, not a philosophy.
How is your walk going? I know I’ve sinned this week (if the word gets in your way, think of it as doing things that are not what Jesus would do) and drifted from the Way. But the cool thing is that we can always find the path again thanks to Jesus. So today we cheer him, because his example finally broke the barrier to life with God.
Faith Venture 
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