Debunking Religious Lies, “He is Just a Man”.

They say he is “just a man”, sandals drifting through the sand.  Calloused feet, well warn hands. I travel with Him long and wide.

The scoffers hide in the shadows of him speaking; dissecting, claiming discernment.  But I can’t blame them…they haven’t seen what I have seen.

His words dance out in melodic rhythm; His eyes soft, gentle; though His rivals don’t elude Him.

And I have seen Him in the evening, when they are gone to large houses, wearing white robes, posing on the street corners for all to witness their greatness…

Yet, despite their white-washed-ness, He loves them. He prays for them, as we sit lowly by the dirt, around the camp fire to eat.

Yes, who am I to be near this one who loves His enemies?

Morning comes. He washes.  Slips away un-noticed.  To the quiet, just Him and God.  His friends still lifeless, curled up in their own thoughts…while I go quietly to follow.

For where He is, I cannot, will not, part from even for a second.

He bows. Head descends below heart, there near the rock and the shade of this one lonely tree.  Tears stream, He cries out, face smiles, feet standing. As I hide where none can see.

And who said he is “just a man”.  For no men I have known, glow when they rise from the holy place.  No person I have seen fills baskets with fish and loaves like he did for the thousands the other day.

He grabs a stick, stokes the fire, inflaming the campsite to cook this catch for the fishermen surrounding.  And I am just a servant, carefully observing The Servant….to learn from The One they say is “just a man”.

And have I told you my story?  The one where He found me anchored in the depths of my own heavy weightiness.  And how He touched me, and in an instant; mind cleared, weight lifted, pain and doubt rose and left….never to be seen again.

And I follow Him now, because this free woman feels it an honor to be a bond-servant to The One who makes her holy.  The One who washed her, cleansed her, swiped her every fear away.

And how can they say He is “just a man”?  If they followed they would know how even the Pharisees can’t leave this man. Unlike the so-called “righteous” cloaked ones of our time, He turns His eyes to those ignored, the ones the “righteous” might think of as “dirty”, or contaminated.

Yes, that is where He found me…and I will follow Him forevermore.

Yet, unlike the “holy” in the church temple, he doesn’t ask for payment for the freedom He offers freely.  We follow because weightless mercy has no other response than to exonerate The One who breaks all sins of bondage…and casts all our fears away.

I was with him the other day.  He touched the eyes of a blind man and made him see.  He delivers those who don’t even ask for freedom.  I mean, who would do that anyway?

And that little girl?  The one others said deserved to lay lifeless because of circumstances people had learned of….

He not only lifted her from death, but called for us to feed her.

And who feeds those who were once dead?  Rises to life those that others pronounce as “untouchable”, “forgotten”, and “worthless”….

Yet, I have never seen the religious ones in the temple do that.  I had hid my sin for years…and no one came up to me and showed me all I had been….

In  fact, I never even knew that I needed healing…until I encountered Jesus.

Now, like the children who laugh and play and hover around my Savior….I can’t get enough of The One who never turned me away.

And He doesn’t see rank, or status, or have favoritism for one group of people.  He is more than a man, but the God of the humble, Redeemer of the lost, Savior of the simple.

And I wonder who are more blind, the ones who claim they are seeing…..or those who are broken, lowly, admitting they are desperate for more than alms, or tokens from those who need to ease their conscious?

Yet, we will wander today.  And some say He is “just a man” not knowing where He is going.  But I have followed Him before.  I have never left His side since my deliverance.  And I know that this God-man is intentional with each stride.  Every whisper, every touch, every smile is as if God himself is imparting something to us.

“Mere men” don’t love like He does…..

And with just one touch of His cloak, one look…they are healed.  Many.  So many, I couldn’t record what I have experienced while following this man…..who in no way could be, “just a man”.

“How do you know, you ask? How do I know that this is the Messiah, the long awaited one, the God all of scripture has been talking about?”  Because His words are few.  His eyes shine love.  His hands are healing.  His heart freely loves so unconditionally….those others say are “ugly”…

And do you know what He did the other day?  We went to eat.  Entered a house, where no house-servant was came to greet us.  We had traveled far, we were all tired and weak.  And yet this man, this one others insist is simply carnal in every sense….

He pulled a rag from his cloak.  He spoke little and got low.  He took my feet.  This one who found me and healed me long ago….This one who has seen and told me, all the terrible things I had been through prior to meeting Him…

And He poured, simply poured the cold tranquil water on my tired, calloused feet.  His eyes piercing me, such love radiating from a God, no man could emulate.

It is then, He reminds me…This is how true love is demonstrated.

And I have never seen a temple-man stand to let another man enter before Him.  I have never seen the so-called “religious” give up His chair, or position, or even smile, or nod, or touch a sinner who others might think is “dirty”….

But God did.  He not only touched us, He washes us clean, over and over again, in all our unrighteousness….

And that’s why I love Him so.  That’s why I will follow Him night and day wherever He might go.  Yes, that is why I know He is not “just a man” but someone clearly sent from heaven, shining heaven in ways our finite minds can’t understand…

Because who gets on their knees, and takes their hands and washes the dirt from any of us?  Only God.

I follow Him today.  And though I have left everything, I lack nothing.  Though I have forgotten my old identity, I have a new life, in love with this Savior who is everything to me….

And I must ask today my friend, have you met Him?  If not, just one look into His eyes and you will know it too.  Just one touch of my blessed friend’s hands and you will change and be forever made new.

Come. There is room.  There is room for you around the fire tonight.  He will never let the flames die and He will feed you “good” food, until your finally satisfied.

Come.  Though we have nowhere to lay our heads, though the skeptics lurk will always criticize and lurk in the distance….we have access to Living Water that never ends.  And you will find my friend, that is enough.

And have I told you?  Though He is God, His welcoming, approachable presence will amaze you.  You won’t have to “get in line”, or wait for you to turn to greet Him….

He is always here, always available to you…always listening….

Yes, they may say He is “just a man”….but He is not. I know it.  Because I have seen Him.

He is Lord.  He is my friend. He is God incarnate here in the flesh.

Will you join us and come follow Him too my friend?  For where He is, there is life.

(Linking with Tracy, Lyli, Barbie)