NSMinistries
November 8th 2003, 05:05 PM
IF YOU’RE JESUS THEN WHO AM I? Part 2 (http://www.christianity.com/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID19179|CHID624194|CIID1662896,00.html) By, Gary Piper
Sometimes when Jesus tells us something really significant, it doesn’t take root right away but needs time to germinate in the soil of our lives. You know how I know? Yup, you’re right it happened to me, just today. It must have been the shock of talking with Jesus face to face or something like that. At any rate this morning, as I was getting my self-altogether to begin my day at work suddenly wham! Jesus’ last words to me hit me, right between the eyes, “Don’t cross me it didn’t work the first time.” It momentarily took my breath away! I’m glad I was sitting at my desk rather than driving my car. After regaining my composure I tried to put the whole incident aside but it wouldn’t go away.
As lunchtime approached I grew more anxious by the minute, I knew it wouldn’t rest until I did something about it. I recall reading the prophet Jeremiah as he describe his experience with God as a fire in his bones. Stepping out of my office at 11:55 AM I had first hand knowledge of this truthfulness! Deciding to take an extended lunch, so I could put out the fire that raged inside, I drove to a nearby park and prayed, “If you’re Jesus than who am I.” Minutes later I parked my car and headed for a park bench over looking the river. Out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of a man with his back to me and instantly I knew it was Jesus.
Suddenly the man stood and turned in my direction on the front of his navy blue tee shirt were the words, “Don’t cross me it didn’t work the first time.” But this wasn’t the same man I met the other day this guy was shorter than I was and was definitely a few pounds lighter his hair was really short and he had a beard. “Hi Gary,” however the voice was the same.
“Who are you,” I shot back without thinking? His response was instantaneous, “You don’t recognize me?” Mine was just a fast, “Nope. There’s a familiarity about you, but I don’t recognize you.”
“Take a closer look into my eyes,” he said. Instantly he was no longer short, fat and beardless he was the man I met the other day. “Jesus,” I managed to utter? Throwing me a big smile he said, “Yup! It’s me in the flesh. You had me worried, I thought you’d forgotten me.”
Instantly I recalled the unworthiness I felt at meeting him face to face the first time. “You don’t feel unworthy again do you,” he asked? I couldn’t quite get my mind in gear and my mouth suddenly took off. “Wouldn’t you? After all you’re Jesus and I’m Gary,” I heard myself saying?
“Look at me,” he said. “Had I wanted you to feel unworthy do you think I would’ve appeared to you in a raggedy pair of Levi’s, worn out tennis shoes, and a faded tee shirt?” Suddenly feeling a little foolish I replied, “No sir you wouldn’t have.”
“That’s better,” he said, “And don’t call me sir we are friends Gary and I want you to feel that way. Friends are always on the same level and share their lives with each other.” I was beginning to feel a little more at ease, “Sorry Jesus,” I started. “I guess I was thinking at a deeper level then I needed to be. But tell me why did you appear different when I first saw you?
Read the rest here: (http://www.christianity.com/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID19179|CHID624194|CIID1662896,00.html)
Part 1 (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12891)
Sometimes when Jesus tells us something really significant, it doesn’t take root right away but needs time to germinate in the soil of our lives. You know how I know? Yup, you’re right it happened to me, just today. It must have been the shock of talking with Jesus face to face or something like that. At any rate this morning, as I was getting my self-altogether to begin my day at work suddenly wham! Jesus’ last words to me hit me, right between the eyes, “Don’t cross me it didn’t work the first time.” It momentarily took my breath away! I’m glad I was sitting at my desk rather than driving my car. After regaining my composure I tried to put the whole incident aside but it wouldn’t go away.
As lunchtime approached I grew more anxious by the minute, I knew it wouldn’t rest until I did something about it. I recall reading the prophet Jeremiah as he describe his experience with God as a fire in his bones. Stepping out of my office at 11:55 AM I had first hand knowledge of this truthfulness! Deciding to take an extended lunch, so I could put out the fire that raged inside, I drove to a nearby park and prayed, “If you’re Jesus than who am I.” Minutes later I parked my car and headed for a park bench over looking the river. Out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of a man with his back to me and instantly I knew it was Jesus.
Suddenly the man stood and turned in my direction on the front of his navy blue tee shirt were the words, “Don’t cross me it didn’t work the first time.” But this wasn’t the same man I met the other day this guy was shorter than I was and was definitely a few pounds lighter his hair was really short and he had a beard. “Hi Gary,” however the voice was the same.
“Who are you,” I shot back without thinking? His response was instantaneous, “You don’t recognize me?” Mine was just a fast, “Nope. There’s a familiarity about you, but I don’t recognize you.”
“Take a closer look into my eyes,” he said. Instantly he was no longer short, fat and beardless he was the man I met the other day. “Jesus,” I managed to utter? Throwing me a big smile he said, “Yup! It’s me in the flesh. You had me worried, I thought you’d forgotten me.”
Instantly I recalled the unworthiness I felt at meeting him face to face the first time. “You don’t feel unworthy again do you,” he asked? I couldn’t quite get my mind in gear and my mouth suddenly took off. “Wouldn’t you? After all you’re Jesus and I’m Gary,” I heard myself saying?
“Look at me,” he said. “Had I wanted you to feel unworthy do you think I would’ve appeared to you in a raggedy pair of Levi’s, worn out tennis shoes, and a faded tee shirt?” Suddenly feeling a little foolish I replied, “No sir you wouldn’t have.”
“That’s better,” he said, “And don’t call me sir we are friends Gary and I want you to feel that way. Friends are always on the same level and share their lives with each other.” I was beginning to feel a little more at ease, “Sorry Jesus,” I started. “I guess I was thinking at a deeper level then I needed to be. But tell me why did you appear different when I first saw you?
Read the rest here: (http://www.christianity.com/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID19179|CHID624194|CIID1662896,00.html)
Part 1 (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12891)