A major feature of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius is our focus on knowing Jesus and relating to him personally. Each person comes from a unique background, family, culture, and time, and so no two people will perceive Jesus in quite the same way. From the New Testament accounts of him we can relate to Jesus in various ways. Like each of us, Jesus’ personality was multifaceted, and he played many roles in one life. Consider these various aspects of him:
- Wisdom figure / sage: he gives us the Sermon on the Mount.
- Radical / activist: he clears the Temple; breaks religious rules to help others; interacts with women, lepers, and others on the margins or without power.
- Healer / exorcist: he heals many people and casts out many demons.
- Prophet: he tells the painful truth, even to leaders—“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees.”
- Master of debate: he avoids being trapped in argument—“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.”
- Teacher: he teaches through parables, storytelling, and example.
- Messiah: he proclaims, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
- Friend: he says to his disciples (and to us) “I call you my friends.”
- Mystic / shaman: he is able to manipulate physical elements (calms the storm) and exist between space and time in mystical union with Moses and Jeremiah (transfiguration).
What aspect of Jesus do you relate to best, or with the most comfort? Why do you think this is so?
What aspect of Jesus do you relate to least, or makes you least comfortable? Why do you think this is so?
This post is a part of An Ignatian Prayer Adventure, Week 6.
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I’m probably most comfortable with Jesus being a teacher because I relate to so many of His stories that he uses to teach us. The least comfortable is probably friend because it is hard for me to think I’m his friend because that seems to put us on an equal level.
I am most comfortable with Jesus as Friend, the person with whom I can speak my heart, the person who loves me without reserve, the person who promised to be with me at my death, the person who gives me advice that is good for me not good for Him, the person I think of frequently as though He were my Lover (which He is, Lover of my heart and soul). He is my comfort and my solace, as any real friend would be. He listens without interruption, He hears me, He helps me hear Him.
My fervent prayer is to become more like Him and less like myself. I know He will help me do this. He IS helping me do this, but I’ve a long way to go yet. My path is not ending yet, but I think I can get there in the end. I look forward to His Kingdom, His unending love, and His infinite mercy.
I am not comfortable seeing Jesus as mystic and/or shaman, because Sister Jerome would not approve, and she might give me detention again. Seriously, I have never ascribed any traits of Jesus to magic or mysticism. I’m too practical. Or maybe I feel those traits are beyond me, and so, if I want to be like Him, I’d never get there.
It’s perfectly all right that you not see Jesus as mystic! Receive Jesus in the way that your heart and life have prepared you to receive him. Thanks for posting. Peace–Vinita
Having felt a spiritual kinship with Jesus since age 5, and being 62 years old at this writing, my lifelong amazement has been His presence in my spirit EVEN during the periods of my enormous rebellion and apathy toward Him. It became clear to me that I was loved, being cared for and ultimately will be taken home to that place that has been prepared for me. I am MOST comfortable knowing Jesus as my ETERNAL Savior. I become uncomfortable in times of restlessness, when I want to know MORE than I am being shown. My highest peace is found in the hymn verse, “just as I am, without one plea, but that your blood was shed for me”.
Lovely, your description of Christ’s presence even “during periods of my enormous rebellion and apathy toward Him.” His mercy is unending. Peace–Vinita
I am most comfortable with Messiah because He is, The Way, the Truth and the Life. I have found there is no one I trust more than Jesus the Messiah. I consider Him my brother. He has comforted, guided, and restored me through many personal downfalls, or trials.
I don’t feel any discomfort with any of the aspects of Jesus. I truly believe he is everything the Scriptures ascribe to Him.
I can’t say that I know which ‘Jesus’ I best relate to, but I must say that this description of him; the breaking down into different components, is fascinating to me. I’ve never though of him this clearly- thanks.
Eva
I have being persuaded but now I know about and I trust him.He has make me the head I am no more the tell . I Love Jesus.
… and then we need to look at those capacities and facets within our own self. I think there is more to us than meets the eye.
I am most comfortable with my relationship with Jesus as my Savior. I can never stop thanking Him for saving me and for loving me that much!