English Standard Version
Christianity doesn't ask us to believe in an abstract concept. Christianity asks us to put our faith in a person, in a specific individual who lived in a specific time and place, who walked the dusty streets of Galilee and had specific conversations with specific people. He was real, and is attested to in the documents of history, and we put our faith in him. He's also willing to show us the way, to show us that he's willing to do anything that he asks of us. He doesn't command from afar -- he invites to follow and then he sends, only when we've walked in his shoes.
In some ways this is harder, because we see the impossibly high standard that Jesus sets, which is why it is so important that we hear the words of grace and forgiveness that he speaks. Here in John, Jesus has showed up after Lazarus has died, and no one understands, but Jesus looks for the best in people -- he's not quick to condemn, but rather listens to them with compassion.
I don't know what eternity is like, or what the halls of heaven look like. It's hard to wrap my head around some of these things. But I can picture Jesus the first century man, the one who ascended the cross and then burst forth from a tomb, the one who taught and healed and listened and prayed and wept and laughed. I can relate to that, and as I grow in faith, I can build upon this man and place my trust in him, and from there, I can launch into the more challenging concepts, but I can start with Jesus, the man, and build that relationship, day by precious day.
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