MAKING MEANING OF THE DILEMMA OF CRUCIFICTION AND RESURRECTION

A dilemma I have often faced is what really is meant by Jesus dying for our sins. We have often created other catch phrases to speak of this mystery. We have referred to him as a redeemer, a liberator or even an examplar. We have generally mythologised his death and resurrection but this may be closest we can get to speaking of the truth of the story. I want to add an interpretation that may get a little closer to the true explanation.

The history of the evolutionary story of the universe, both pre-life an actual life, has been a story of one thing, the breakthrough of new developments. In some cases, the crossing of, what made be referred to, as new thresh-holds. Karl Jaspers outlines some examples when he spoke of the transitions from the primitive or archaic era to the magic, the mythic, mental rational and finally the integral era of recent years.  Early in the mental rational era the story of Jesus arrived with all of the mystery surrounding his persona. Interpretations have ranged from the exemplar to the extreme mystic. I want to explore the option of the blending of the various interpretations.

Jesus was a man that lived just as we do. He experienced a life that we normally do with joy of celebrations and suffered as we do. He also experienced, like a good many, mystical experience. Both extremes of human life, the normal and the mystical. My contention is that he displayed a break through, a crossing of a thresh-hold of consciousness. When this happens, it is the beginning of a new dawn for all. In the case of humans it meant that it makes it easier for others to follow suit and likewise easier for any person from across the whole world. What was of particular interest in Jesus’ case was that he embraced the depth of consciousness where not one person had experienced before. Many have outwardly suffered as he did, but none as inwardly and without resentment. He was able to grasp a depth of altruism and pray, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”.

The breakthrough into this new depth of conscious was the equivalent of touching the universal collective unconscious as named by Karl Jung. This was the equivalent of the spirit. Jesus died without doubt but by touching the depth of spirit, he was subsequently raised able to embrace the world of spirit and matter for a short period. It marked the beginning of the move to spiritual perception.

The scripture records three different examples of his spiritual reality. Firstly, there were the numerous examples of appearances. This suggests the initial examples of his transition. This alludes to what is reported to take place from people returning from near death experiences. They can be in transition then returning. Jesus’ appearances have the feel of those. Secondly, in John’s gospel, it reports that Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This was the first and personal offering to his friends to grasp the new consciousness of the spirit. The third example was at the feast of Pentecost, when the extraordinary display of fire and wind engulfed his faith follows and they spoke in tongues but in a language they could all understand. This was a collective experience, far different from the first two experiences. The underlying message was that they would grow in discovering the significance of ‘unity in diversity.’  With these three examples so began the slow and long journey of grasping the story of the Cosmic Christ working for the fulfilment of creation.