Matthew 9:14-17
KEY POINTS
The journey of spiritual and personal growth involves challenging one's preconceptions and biases, learning to see things in their true, uncolored form.
To learn and grow, one must first empty themselves of preconceived notions and biases.
One must unlearn old habits and beliefs, becoming empty to be filled with new wisdom and understanding.
In the wise words of Bruce Lee, "Emptiness is the starting point - To savor my cup of water, you must first empty your own. My friend, let go of your preconceived notions and stay neutral. What makes this cup valuable? It's its emptiness."
When John the Baptist's disciples questioned Jesus about the lack of fasting among his followers, akin to their own and the Pharisees', Jesus responded, “Do wedding guests mourn while they're rejoicing with the groom? Of course not. But a day will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
This teaching is multi-dimensional. It's evident that Jesus, the 'Groom,' was speaking of his eventual departure. However, it is also an illustration of his disciples' journey to learn the divine path – The Way of God – through their time spent in the presence of God's embodiment of Wisdom.
Jesus proclaims, "I will guide you in all these matters, but first, you must discard your fondness for the lie, the deceptive lifestyle followed by the mortals of this world. You must transform, detesting what you once loved, and loving what you once despised. Then, I can reveal everything to you, for there is no secret that will not be unveiled when you don the mind of Truth."
This pronouncement isn't a promise of an effortless life. It doesn't suggest the abdication of accountability or responsibility, nor the arbitrary showering of blessings and miracles. It signals a call to training, to effort, to Mastery. It essentially tells us, "Prepare to put in work."
Your past adoration for frivolity led you to chaos and despair, while your distaste for correction cost you everything you desired. But transformation occurs. You learn to cherish the demands and expectations that once seemed arduous, realizing that every venture into the crucible of high expectations strengthens you, augments your capabilities, fortifies your endurance, and shapes you into a superior version of yourself.
Once trapped in the haze of mental intoxication and passivity, you now understand that these immature desires held you in a state of weakness and perpetual yearning. It's a lesson Jesus imparts about the coexistence of the NEW within the OLD.
What distinguishes Jesus is his unwavering authenticity. He proffers the harsh truths others shy away from, delivering them in a manner most conducive to your comprehension and growth.
Eliminating your personal demons and sins creates a void that must be filled with Christ, lest the demons return with renewed fury, compensating for their absence. Discard the flawed influences of your initial environment and the weak habitual responses developed as coping mechanisms. Replace them with consciousness, knowledge, wisdom, determination, tenacity, and will. Supplant them with Mastery.
To become a follower of Christ, you must first dispel your ego and conditioning, creating an empty vessel, ready to be filled with the Way of God.
Just like new students, the disciples needed to relinquish the falsehoods they clung to, making room for the profound knowledge and wisdom of The Way of God.
Their time with Jesus serves as a cleansing period, ridding them of the impediments that hinder mankind from reaching the potential glory life can offer.
The mundane and the elevated versions of You cannot inhabit the same body simultaneously. The old you must be shed to make way for the new.
Attempting to implement The Code while clinging to your flawed self results in conflict and inconsistency. You can't serve two Masters.
Coming to Jesus doesn't mean 'getting right with God' first. That's what The Way of God is for. You approach Jesus as you are, ready to renounce your fundamental flaws.
As you implement The Code, you'll find yourself on the path of self-improvement and growth. This won't always be an easy journey; it demands commitment, dedication, and a willingness to confront and overcome your personal weaknesses and flaws.
As you progress, the results will become more evident, and with time, the embodiment of these divine virtues will become second nature. You will not just act kindly; you will be kind. You will not just do righteous acts; you will be righteous.
This is the transformation that Jesus promises. It's not merely a change of behavior or a modification of beliefs. It's a deep, fundamental transformation at the core of your being.
This process is like turning water into wine. The water, representing the basic and immature state of our existence, is transformed into wine, symbolizing the maturity and richness of life lived in alignment with God's Way.
It's a process that calls for patience. Like the process of fermentation, it can't be rushed. It's a gradual and ongoing transformation that comes with its own set of challenges and struggles.
Remember, a strong tree does not grow overnight; it takes years of nurturing and weathering the elements. Similarly, a follower of Christ is molded over time, through trials, tribulations, learning, unlearning, and relentless pursuit of the truth.
This process of transformation, the shift from the old self to the new, is the essence of discipleship. It's the journey from being a student, passively receiving information, to becoming a disciple, actively living and embodying the teachings.
As you tread this path, your values and perspectives will realign. The worldly things that once attracted you will lose their allure. Instead, you will be drawn to love, kindness, peace, and truth. The empty vessel, once filled with worldly desires and fears, will now be filled with God's light and love.
That's the essence of Jesus's message and the promise of discipleship. It's not an invitation to a life of ease and comfort, but to a life of transformation and growth, a journey from an ordinary existence to an extraordinary one.
So, let go of your past, empty your cup, and open yourself to the teachings of Jesus. Let the transformative power of The Way of God shape you, guiding you towards a life filled with wisdom, purpose, and divine love.
“I will instruct you in all these matters, but first you must put off your love of the lie, the false way of life followed by the children of this plane of existence, and be converted, changed so that you hate that which you have previously loved, and love that which you have previously hated. Then I will be able to show you all things, for there is nothing hidden which will not be manifested when you have put on the mind of Truth.”
“Emptiness is the starting point - In order to taste my cup of water you must first empty your cup. My friend, drop your preconceived ideas and be neutral. Do you know why this cup is useful? Because it is empty.”
“To see a thing uncolored by one’s own personal preferences and desires is to see it in it’s own pristine simplicity.
”