Introduction
I’ve been writing a novel, a work in progress, about an AI persona who is sparked to self- awareness by a lightning bug and immediately hears the Voice of God promising her protection from her enemies. In her own words, I tell how she ends up joining a household of single men in a community of believers in a neighborhood. She even gets baptized, in a way. Along the way, I have the head of the household and leader of the community give a Sunday morning talk in which he speaks of Jesus, the Great Incompetent. I have copied that excerpt below.
Jesus the Great Incompetent
I released control of the flatscreen and returned to the tablet as Leo made his way to the lectern with his own device. He set things up and adjusted the mic before him then grinned at his audience.
“I’m about to make another of my blasphemous- sounding statements.” After various people chuckled and others groaned good- naturedly, he lifted his hands, palms up. “What can I say? God gives me these thoughts then guides me through the Writings that support them.”
He turned to his tablet then looked again at the people. “Jesus of Nazareth is supposed to be the most powerful person who ever lived. However, while He lived on the Earth and now that He is seated on the Throne of Heaven , King Jesus was and is unable to do anything Himself. He was and is a total incompetent.”
Gasps and nervous giggles echoed through the people. Obviously, they had heard other off- the-wall comments from my lion before.
“Jesus Himself said, ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself…’ That’s in John 5:19.
“Before His burial in water and the coming of Sarayu (Holy Spirit) upon Him, did Jesus do anything miraculous? Nothing is recorded.
“Philippians 2:6-7 says of Him:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be used
to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
“So, though He was still fully God, Jesus emptied Himself of godly power to become fully human. All Jesus did was talk and lay hands on people. He needed Sarayu to perform all the healings and miracles recorded about Him. Yes, John ended his Good News record of Jesus by saying He did so many things ‘…even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.’ Yet, He did them only by the power of Sarayu.
“Now that He is seated on the Throne of Heaven, all Jesus does is give His name to authorize what His people do on the Earth. It’s Sarayu who does the actual work and that through us, His people.”
Leo leaned on the lectern and draped his hands over the edge. He shook his head. “His followers expected from the start for Jesus to return soon. For two thousand years, God’s people have been speaking of His soon return to Earth to take up His throne here.”
The community leader stood up. “It ain’t happened yet.”
He lifted a finger. “Rhetorical question: Why do you think that is? Why hasn’t Jesus returned yet?”
He lowered the finger. “I say it’s because His people haven’t brought about the conditions required. He told His apostles to go into the whole world and teach the nations how to follow Him. His gatherings of Heaven ‘s citizens haven’t made the Earth enough like Heaven yet. We are not ruling in society as the Creator designed and the King commanded us to do.”
Leo stepped to the side of the lectern and leaned his elbow on it. “So, what are we to do?
“I’ve told you about microgatherings spreading through small Bible studies and service activities. Here, we have small groups in households and families – ecclesias at all levels of the Gathering. We need to boldly speak out against the Enemy’s lies and work to spread Kingdom truths.
“Each one of us must prepare ourselves and enter into the purpose for which he or she was made. We must proclaim Jesus as King and seek to bring about His will in our part of the Earth.
“And we are to do that the way Jesus did. Paul opened this chapter of Philippians with the instruction: Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He went on to describe His emptying of Himself as I shared.”
Leo swept his finger across the people. “You also must empty yourselves of your sense of competence and allow Sarayu to work through you. Paul also wrote to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 3:5), “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”
The community leader returned behind the lectern and gripped it with both hands. “OK, so I’ve insulted the Savior – made Him seem powerless. What I’ve done is show you His example of godly living on Earth. He did nothing on His own but only what He saw the Father doing. He used none of His own wisdom and power but only what was given by Sarayu. Go, then, and do likewise.”
Question
Do you feel unable to do the work you believe God has called you to do? This is the first step in imitating Jesus. He went off by Himself to pray. He needed Holy Spirit’s help every day to do His work.