“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

Is mourning the same as depression?

Some might consider mourning as depression. Is this the kind of mourning Jesus is talking about?

Depression is not what Jesus is referring to. Depression can be the result of mourning, but mourning is based on losing someone we care for.

The word "mourn" here is being translated from the Greek word πενθέω (pentheō). According to Thayer's lexicon, this means "to grieve" or "to lament" for someone.

Thus when Jesus says, "those who mourn," he is referring to those who have lost someone. They had a spouse, family member, or friend, and lost them. 

This occurs when the spirit of that person leaves the physical body at the time of death.

On the other hand, "blessed" is being translated from the Greek word μακάριος (makarios), which means "happy" according to the lexicon. 

How can a person be mourning and be joyful at the same time?

What is the source of 'mourning'?

The physical body is designed for distress - physical suffering in many forms. But this physical body is not who we are. We are the spirit-person within. We are a spirit-person temporarily living within and falsely identifying with this temporary physical body.

As we put our faith in our physical body, our physical family, and our physical relationships, we are met with distress. This is because each body and each material object, one by one, becomes destroyed or we otherwise become separated from them.

Mourning is different. As we lose our family members or the relationships of this world, we are left mourning for their loss. We are left with an emptiness. This is a natural feeling because we were designed for relationships.

Mourning comes from becoming attached to another physical form of this world. When that physical form dies, we are let down. (Every physical body dies, and the soul or spirit-person leaves.)

Mourning can be 'blessed' according to Jesus because it can bring us to a point where we experience an emptiness that allows us to sincerely reach out to God.

How can we be comforted?

The solution that Jesus provides is to realize this world is not our home. This is a temporary place, full of hostility and calamity - but also a place of learning.

This world is intended to teach us that we are empty without our innate relationship with the Supreme Being. We are nothing without God because we were created to be God's loving servant and friend.

And only when we begin to realize that this world is not our home and that we can be comforted if we seek refuge in our relationship with the Supreme Being will we be relieved of the mourning within this physical world.

Should we become humbled with the realization that this world is not our home and we need to return to God, we will be comforted.

This is Jesus' message. 

Jesus was not preaching the importance of family life. He did not preach that we should take comfort in the family of this temporary physical body. While families can certainly help comfort us during times of physical and emotional distress, they are not the key to being comforted spiritually.

Being “comforted” as spoken of here comes only by way of a loving relationship with God. In reality, we do have a home, and we do have a loving family and a loving Father we can turn to and rely upon.

We will find comfort when we put ourselves at the feet of the Supreme Being. We can take refuge in the Supreme Being, and we will find our solution. This is Jesus' message. As we put our love and care upon God, we are comforted:

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matt. 22:37-38)

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

What does being 'pure in heart' mean?

The word "pure" here is being translated from the Greek word, καθαρός (katharos). This means, according to Thayer's lexicon, "purified" and "free from corrupt desire." This could mean "blameless" and "innocent" as well. 

But Jesus is not teaching to those who are perfect. Why would he need to teach to those who were perfect?

Rather, he is asking that we strive to become pure in heart.

Actually, the word "heart" is being used metaphorically. The Greek word καρδία (kardia) can literally mean the heart organ. But it can also mean "the center and seat of spiritual life" and "the soul" according to the lexicon.

This means that Jesus is not addressing our physical circumstances. He is not speaking of taking a bath and getting the heart of our body clean. He is speaking of becoming spiritually purified.

This purity of heart is pureness of consciousness - something that comes from the soul. Jesus taught his followers how to attain the character of pure in heart:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matt. 22:37-38)

Can we see God?

Seeing God is one of the central challenges many of us have regarding God’s existence. For many, seeing God is a requisite for belief in His existence. For this reason, many scientists refuse to believe in God’s existence - due to what they consider a lack of physical evidence. For this reason, many people do not believe in God’s existence.

Some even challenge God: 'If You exist, show me.'

This is the opposite of faith. The word faith means to trust in someone. While we may configure faith to mean a belief in something we are not sure about or cannot see, the true definition of faith is to have trust and confidence in someone. 

If we do not know that God exists, we cannot have faith or trust in Him. We simply cannot trust someone we do not know even exists. Otherwise, we are talking about blind faith, which leads to fanaticism.

However, if we assume that God exists because deep within our hearts we know there is someone out there Who cares for us, Who created us, and Who is our ultimate Father, we have the tools for developing trust (faith) in God. 

But if we do not want to assume His existence, then we are lost and wandering. 

This assumption of God’s existence can require a lifetime of soul-searching. Or it may simply require a split second realization that the Supreme Being loves and cares for each of us.

If we choose to assume God does not exist, then we are left with a purposeless existence. We are left with the assumption many scientists have made, leaving life an empty, random, accidental existence that started with a big bang and an evolution of chance.

Yet this assumption - of the big bang and accidental evolution - requires blind faith, because we do not know that life was an accident. To assume it was an accident - even though there is tremendous order and synchrony within the universe that opposes the notion of chaos - would be an act of blind faith. Because there is absolutely no proof that creation was an accident. It is only a theory born from some man's mind.

Why doesn't God show Himself to us?

The fundamental issue here is if God exists, why doesn’t He prove it to us? Why doesn’t he show us all, without a doubt, that He exists?

The problem with this question is that it assumes that we are the center of the universe and God revolves around me. As if He has some responsibility to reveal Himself to me.

But the reality is that everything revolves around the Supreme Being - including ourselves. Each of us is a tiny, tiny speck compared to the Supreme Being. Why should He have to appear to us? Does He owe us anything? No.

The reason we don't see the Supreme Being is that He hides His existence from us. He doesn't want us to see Him. Why?

Because we wanted to get away from His existence. This is why we reside here, in these temporary material bodies, on this planet. As detailed very carefully in Genesis, we rejected the request from God not to eat the forbidden fruit. And what is the forbidden fruit symbolize? The desire to be like God. Consider what the serpent said to Eve about eating the forbidden fruit:

"For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:1-5)

Because each of us decided that we would turn our backs on God and we wanted to be like God, God gave us a separated place where we could pretend we are the center of the universe and everything revolves around us. This is our consciousness - we are each thinking of ourselves as the greatest - the best - the most important. This is God's position. And we are envious of that position.

The reason we cannot see God with these physical eyes is because our eyes were designed not to be able to see Him. This design allows us to pretend that God doesn’t exist. 

This design of the temporary material body allows us to play out our self-importance for a while, to see if we can be happy without Him. Certainly, if the material eyes were designed to see Him, it would be hard to pretend He doesn’t exist.

In other words, if we could see Him with these eyes it would destroy our illusion.

This illusion that He doesn’t exist was created to give us our freedom of choice. Each of us has the freedom to love Him or not. Since we don't see Him with these physical eyes, we can ignore Him.

As soon as we abandoned our trust in God, things went downhill immediately. In the story of Adam and Eve, notice that as soon as the forbidden fruit was eaten, there was a realization of nakedness, and suddenly they had to wear clothing. This wearing of clothing symbolizes the assumption of a temporary material body - to hide the purity of the living being.

How can being 'pure in heart' help us see God?

The purity of the living being - the spirit-person within this body - lies within the humble trust and faith in God’s existence. Without that purity; without that trust in God, we are simply lost and blinded by our own desires and aspirations to become godlike.

It is for this reason that Jesus states that those who are “pure in heart” will see God. Those who have humbly forsaken the notion that they are godlike, and that they can enjoy life without God, gradually become purified in heart as they undergo the process of giving their heart to the Supreme Being.

With this purity comes an increasing vision of the Supreme Being. It is not that there is a certain moment when we pass some sort of test and we qualify to see Him. He becomes more and more visible to us as our hearts become increasingly pure. 

There is an expression that says “it takes one to know one.” This is applicable to spiritual life. One cannot gain entrance into the spiritual world without the guidance of someone who already knows and loves God. This is what Jesus offers his followers.

In order to see God, we have to enter into the consciousness of His kingdom. Everything is within the kingdom of God because He made everything. But we can choose whether we want to be in that consciousness or not.

The inner chamber of the kingdom of God - where the Supreme Being exchanges loving relationships with those who love Him - is a dimension that can be accessed from where ever we might be located.

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do ..." (Matthew 6:16-17)

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:16-17)

Why is Jesus talking about fasting?

Jesus is alluding to the practice of his time - devotional fasting. This is an ancient devotional custom that a person will fast on a holy day - a day that commemorates God or one of God's representatives. 

This was a common practice during Jesus' times and earlier, as temple followers would fast on holy days.

Jesus is also describing how this practice can be misused and manipulated for the purposes of attracting the attention of others.

While religious holidays like the birth dates of saints and periodic dates of the ceremony have become feasting days to secular society, fasting for devotional reasons has a long tradition in every religious teaching. This practice goes back as far as Abraham and Moses. And Jesus' statement confirms that Jesus approved of this practice.

Devotional fasting contrasts feasting and secular fasting. The devotional fast is done to please and celebrate the Supreme Being. It is done as a personal sacrifice of loving service. 

One of the main benefits - and purposes - of devotional fasting is to focus attention on the Supreme Being.

A devotional fast is accompanied by praising God's Holy Names and glories. These activities also have a longstanding tradition in devotion to God.

What is secular fasting?

The secular fast is defined by Jesus "as the hypocrites do." It is done to appear to others as being religious and austere.

For some, the fast may also be about being healthy or losing weight. In both of these instances, as Jesus indicates here, the reward is given immediately: "I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." 

How do they 'receive their reward in full'?

The benefits Jesus indicates relate to the respect or admiration of others obtained through fasting. As soon as we proudly display to others or tell others we are fasting, we have earned our reward immediately by gaining that person’s respect, admiration or attention.

Even the intent of fasting to impress others - so that we can be accepted by others - gives us this immediate benefit - while we lose the benefit that might have been gained spiritually.

If our purpose is to impress or be accepted by others, we have effectively missed the opportunity to please the Supreme Being with that activity. This is because we have turned it into a self-centered activity.

Self-centered activities - done to please ourselves or look good to others - are diametrically opposed to devotional activities done to please the Supreme Being.

What does Jesus mean by God being 'unseen'?

Jesus is stating that God will see our devotion - and see our fast - even if no one else does. This means that Jesus is acknowledging the Supreme Being's existence beyond the physical world.

Jesus says God is "unseen." What does this mean?

This doesn’t necessarily mean that God cannot be seen, but that He is unseen by the physical eyes, and unseen by those whose focus is upon themselves: self-centeredness.

Just consider the meaning of focus. When a camera is focused upon a certain image, it can capture that image. But when capturing that image, it is not focused upon other images and thus misses those. For example, if the lens is focused upon something far in the distance, it won't be capturing something right under the camera.

Seeing the Supreme Being has a similar context in that one cannot see the Supreme Being when we are focused upon ourselves and the enjoyment of this temporary physical body. In this state, one's consciousness is polluted with greed, and this clouds our ability to see the Supreme Being.

But when our consciousness becomes focused upon the Supreme Being, and our innate loving relationship with the Supreme Being becomes awakened, the pollution of greed and self-centeredness - and bodily identification - clears up. This opens our spiritual eyes:

How can we see God if He is 'unseen'?

While we are in the physical world we can see God now through the eyes of love.

These are our true eyes. Real vision takes place from the heart. Through one's consciousness. This is where understanding takes place, and it is through understanding that we actually see - or perceive.

The only way to see God - and see others as they really are - is with the eyes of love.

One may look through the eyes at someone's body but never actually see them. This is because they are not seeing with their consciousness. They are not seeing through the eyes of love and understanding.

Jesus' message here emphasizing seeing with the heart as opposed to just the eyes. Jesus is speaking about establishing our personal relationship with God, and loving each other. The fact that he says the Supreme Being “sees what is done in secret,” indicates activities done solely to please the Supreme Being and not to impress or please others.

How does a person begin to truly see then? It begins with focusing our consciousness upon the Supreme Being. Through personal worship of the Supreme Being and dedication to the Supreme Being. This means practical steps such as making offerings to Him and glorifying Him.

This is the nature of our original existence. Every one of us was created to exchange a direct, unique, and personal relationship with the Supreme Being. We each have our own unique relationship with Him. God wants us to revive that personal relationship with Him. This is the intention of Jesus’ teachings.

“But blessed are your eyes because they see ...” (Matthew 13:16-17)

“But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” (Matthew 13:16-17)

'Blessed' are whose eyes?

Jesus is speaking directly at his students and disciples - who were following his teachings. For this reason, he says:

"But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear."

Many who read Jesus' words try to read into them some kind of magical, mysterious meaning. Many try to use their imagination to understand the words “hear” and “see.” This is unfortunate.

The reality is that both “seeing” and “hearing” are done not simply using the sense organs, as all those around Jesus heard his words and saw his actions. Real "seeing" and "hearing" is done with the heart.

This deeper sense of "seeing" and "hearing" means that we must see that behind Jesus' words and actions is a relationship of love between Jesus and the Supreme Being.

This is a heartfelt relationship, one that cannot be dissected by the logic centers of the mind.

Why are they 'blessed'?

Jesus' teachings reveal a relationship of love, dedication, and service. This is confirmed with such statements as:

"By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me." (John 5:36)

Jesus was wanting to please the Supreme Being because he loved the Supreme Being.

Such a loving relationship with the Supreme Being is so rare in this physical world. It is so rare, Jesus points out, that even the prophets, who themselves served and represented God, yearn to be in the presence of one who is experiencing and expressing a loving service relationship with the Supreme Being.

Those who have a chance to hear from one with such a loving relationship with the Supreme Being are truly blessed. So is the person who actually can perceive the relationship that Jesus displayed with his life and words. A person who can peer into and understand even a portion of Jesus’ confidential relationship with the Supreme Being is blessed with one of life’s highest benedictions.

Why do so many disagree about Jesus?

Ever since Paul debated with James and Peter regarding who Jesus was and what his teachings meant, many have disagreed about Jesus and his role.

This is quite odd because while James and Peter had heard Jesus' teachings directly and had been guided by him, Paul was not a disciple of Jesus. Paul's claim to Jesus was that he had a "vision" of Jesus while he was walking along a road.

Note that no one else observed this vision, and the claim is that Paul only saw a light - not Jesus' body or otherwise.  Acts 9:3 states that there was "a light from heaven," meaning there was a light in the sky. And then in Acts 9:4, it states that Paul fell to the ground and heard Jesus speak to him. 

Yes, there was a voice, but how would Paul have recognized that the voice was from Jesus if he didn't see Jesus or know Jesus beforehand? Literally, anyone could have spoken to Paul - or the voice could have come from Paul himself for that matter.

There is significant evidence that Paul utilized this "vision" to advance himself as a spiritual teacher in the name of Jesus without having done the hard work of learning Jesus' teachings and following those teachings. Almost immediately upon advancing his "vision of Jesus" Paul began teaching in the Synagogues in Jesus' name, despite the fact that he had not trained under Jesus. Jesus himself spoke of such people:

"Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many." (Matthew 24:5)

Prior to this, Paul, a Roman with Jewish ancestry, worked for the Roman government and was active in persecuting Jesus' followers. Then he had this "vision" and began teaching things that Jesus didn't teach at all. He created his own doctrine loosely based on Jesus' life but did not strictly adhere to Jesus' teachings. For this reason, Paul was criticized by Jesus' teaching disciples Peter and James - for having departed from Jesus' teachings in order to attract the masses.

It would be one thing if Paul were to have been a close disciple of Jesus, then begin adapting Jesus' teachings for a broader audience. But this was not Paul's position. He had not been close enough to Jesus to really learn his teachings directly. He learned of them secondhand and modified them to appeal to a broad audience, setting himself up as the leader of the early church. 

Paul effectively watered down Jesus' teachings and made them about being saved by Jesus' crucifixion instead of about coming to know and love the Supreme Being.

James and Peter, and other disciples of Jesus, were "blessed" because they got to hear directly from Jesus about God and His mission. They got to hear Jesus' teachings directly, inclusive of being corrected by Jesus from time to time.

Jesus' teachings were clearly aligned with the teachings of the Prophets. This lineage of ancient teachers spoke of establishing a loving relationship with God through devotion, worship and offerings.

Paul tossed all of this out the window in lieu of establishing a religious philosophy that aligned with the Roman Empire, and made Jesus' role be all about his dying for our sins. Paul taught that Jesus' teachings were new, and departed from the teachings of the Prophets, even though Jesus quoted the Prophets throughout his teachings, including his 'first and foremost commandment' to love God and love others (quoted from Moses).

Paul's interpretation of Jesus' life and teachings was clearly aimed to attract followers, who sought an easy departure to heaven by focusing on 'the blood of Jesus.' Amazingly, this is despite the fact that Paul was not a follower of Jesus and did not hear directly from him when he walked the earth.

Was the concept of 'son of God' Roman?

As an example of the alignment of Paul's teachings with the Romans', we find that the title of 'son of God' was an important political role to the Romans. For example, the Roman Emperor Augustus was given the title of divi filius, which loosely means son of God.

Before and after Augustus, other Roman Emperors, along with other emperors in different regions, were claimed to be the son of a god. Then we find that Emperor Constantine "the Great" pushed for Jesus to be given the title of 'son of God.'

The Roman-driven theology was that Jesus would be part of a holy trinity, putting him at the level of God - not unlike the status of certain Roman emperors before.

This role was argued among early Christian theologians. Then the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD took place. Here the attending bishops argued amongst themselves and were pushed to vote to officially authorize Paul's teachings while disregarding the teachings of Jesus' true disciples - thus disregarding Jesus' own teachings.

In other words, Jesus' role as defined by Jesus' closest disciples like James, Peter, John and others was completely rejected, in lieu of the mystical role defined by Paul - out of context with Jesus' actual life and teachings.

This is why, for example, Jesus' adherence to the teachings of the Prophets has been virtually ignored by so many. And many of the references Jesus made to the teachings of the Prophets have been misinterpreted and mistranslated to seem that the role of the Prophets was to predict Jesus' arrival.

Jesus' closest disciples were 'blessed' because they understood Jesus' role as a great loving servant of God. He was thus God's representative. They saw the relationship between Jesus and God in an intimate way because they saw Jesus' life up close.

Today, the reason why so many people debate about Jesus, and reach all sorts of bent conclusions about the meaning of his life and teachings, is because they do not see this loving service relationship that exists between Jesus and the Supreme Being.

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39)

What are the byproducts of blurring God's individuality?

One of the unfortunate byproducts of Paul's teachings and the Nicene Creed is that it blurred God's individuality. This in turn blurred the relationship between Jesus and God.

As a result, many sectarian teachings say that Jesus is the Supreme Being. This is unfortunate because when you eliminate the most important Individual of the relationship between Jesus and the Supreme Being, you remove the loving relationship itself. There must be two individuals in order to experience love.

In other words, when Jesus, and Moses before him, instructed us to love the Supreme Being with all our hearts and souls, they were speaking of our developing a relationship with an Individual - the Supreme Being. There can be no love without there being an individual object of love - the individual that is loved.

(Someone can say they love an object, but that is not the same as true love. By definition, true love can only be given to an individual or a group of individuals.)

This doesn't negate the union that exists between Jesus and God. There is a definite union between Jesus and the Supreme Being. Jesus is representing the Supreme Being, and acting on behalf of the Supreme Being. So in that sense, the words he speaks are coming from the Supreme Being, and we can worship Jesus as God’s messenger.

But to confuse the loving servant with his master and Beloved is to make a drastic mistake. To ignore the Supreme Being, the Father, whom Jesus loves and sacrificed his physical body for, is to eliminate the possibility that one day, we too, may be able to have a loving relationship with the Supreme Being. And this was the very reason Jesus taught those around him. He wanted others to develop their own personal loving relationship with the Supreme Being.

And as for seeing the Supreme Being as a vague force or void - as many do: how can we love a vague force or void? And how can a vague force have a will? How can a void have a will? In order to love and do the will of someone, there must be an individual - a person with a will. A person - in this case, the Supreme Person: The Person that Jesus is loving and serving - and teaching about.

“Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” (Matthew 15:28)

A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” (Matthew 15:22-28)

Why did he heal the woman's daughter even if she was a Cananite?

Even though Jesus had said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel" he still healed the woman's daughter. Why?

The woman displayed great sincerity of heart. She also responded humbly and with wisdom after Jesus chastised his disciples for wanting to send her away. 

She pleaded with Jesus to save her daughter. Jesus was pleased with her trust in the Supreme Being and in Jesus' authorization to represent God. As is stated in the Book of Matthew following Jesus’ statement, the daughter was healed within the hour.

This illustrates again that Jesus had little concern over the physical body of those he taught: He had no concern over nationality, race or gender (remember, she was a Canaanite woman, one that even Jesus' disciples were trying to send away). He had come to save anyone and everyone ready and willing to learn the Truth that Jesus was delivering from the Supreme Being.

As he had stated, the healing Jesus displayed was coming from the Supreme Being, as a tool to beckon people back home into God's embrace - back to their original relationship with the Supreme Being. Jesus' intent was to give people the wisdom coming from the Supreme Being.

The word “faith” is being translated from the Greek word πίστις (pistis), which means, "the character of one who can be relied on" according to the lexicon.

This refers to trust: Trusting in not only the Supreme Being's existence. But trusting that the Supreme Being cares about us and loves each of us unconditionally.

Those with a lack of trust in the Supreme Being will define "faith" as confidence in God's existence. This is actually a shallow form of faith. The deeper form is trusting God.

Why do we not see God?

Perhaps the question should be: Do we want to see God?

The answer to the second question is the answer to the first question.

We do not see God because we do not want to see God. We have come here to the physical universe and taken on physical bodies ("garments of skin") so that we wouldn’t have to see God:

The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. (Genesis 3:21)

We are in the physical world, away from the Supreme Being because we decided to we were more important to us than the Supreme Being. We ate the forbidden fruit - the fruit of self-centeredness - which is "forbidden" in the spiritual realm because the spiritual realm is a place of love and devotion for the Supreme Being - not a place of self-centeredness.

However, as our loving Best Friend, the Supreme Being does impose Himself upon us. He gives us the freedom to love Him or not because love requires freedom. If we don't want to maintain our loving relationship with Him, He sends us away to the physical world and stays hidden from our view.

Why is our faith tested?

Not seeing the Supreme Being renders a test of faith while we are in the physical world. Do we want to trust that He exists despite us not seeing Him with the physical eyes?

Better yet: Do we want to trust those who have sacrificed their lives to please Him?

This is the ultimate meaning of Jesus' sacrifice. It was not some kind of a magical process of saving everyone who accepts that he died for our sins. We still are responsible for our own sins - unless our activities are centered around loving and serving the Supreme Being and others.

But what Jesus did was commit his entire life to the Supreme Being - to help us understand not only that the Supreme Being exists, but that a relationship with the Supreme Being is worth sacrificing for.

What can save us then?

Consider a person who goes to war and dies for his country. Why do people do that? They are making a sacrifice because they feel the country is important enough to die for. In other words, their sacrifice illustrates the importance of their country.

While the Supreme Being is not like an impersonal country (He is a Person), the analogy illustrates the element of sacrifice: Why Jesus would be ready to make such a sacrifice on behalf of the Supreme Being? 

His sacrifice is a symptom of devotion. And by understanding such devotion, we have the opportunity to have a glimpse of the intimate relationship between Jesus and the Supreme Being.

This is what can save us.

Today, however, sectarian institutions and their teachers teach that we simply need to come to church (and give them money) and proclaim that we are saved by Jesus' dying on the cross. This is not at all the message he came to teach. This is why Jesus said:

“Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

It is not about our own salvation. It's about love. It is about re-developing our relationship with the Supreme Being and then working to please the Supreme Being out of love. This loving service to the Supreme Being is precisely what Jesus taught by his example and by his words.

This was illustrated by his last prayer before being arrested:

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39)

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones ...” (Matthew 18:10)

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:10)

Who are 'these little ones'?

The phrase, 'little ones' is being translated from the Greek word, οὗτος (houtos). The problem is, this Greek word doesn't really mean "little ones." It actually means, "these" or "this" or otherwise what was referred to previously.

Jesus is referring to the subject of his statements in Matthew 18:5-7. Here Jesus spoke of spiritual children - that is, those who have humbled themselves to God.

Jesus is speaking of humility here. Humility is one of the primary requirements for entering the spiritual realm. In the physical world, everyone is proud of themselves. 

The inhabitants of the physical world typically seek superiority. We are seeking to be better than others. This is why we strive to win sporting contests and other competitions. We want to be the hero. We want to be the greatest. We want to be on top.

In the spiritual realm, the Supreme Being is the hero. He is the greatest. He is the victor. And this is His natural position. He doesn't have to prove it to anyone.

The inhabitants of the spiritual realm thus do not struggle to win anything. They are the fans of the Supreme Being. They recognize and support the Supreme Being's omnipotency. They are feeling humble about their own positions. They see themselves as insignificant and see the Supreme Being as their personal hero.

As such, the inhabitants of the spiritual realm also see others as greater than themselves. This is because they are satisfied within. They do not need to promote themselves or gain the attention of others because their relationship with the Supreme Being completely satisfies them.

Who are 'their angels in heaven'?

With this next statement, Jesus refers to the children's guardian angels. The word "angels" is translated from the Greek word ἄγγελος (aggelos) - which means "a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God." 

This means they are messengers of God. The Supreme Being is sending them. They have access to the physical world because they are being sent.

Each of us has one or multiple guardian angels as we take our physical journey. These angels watch us and care for us. They hope the best for us. They support the process of learning that the physical world takes us through. They typically do not interfere, but they try to encourage us to make the right decisions.

This interaction takes place because we are missed in the spiritual world. We once dwelled in the spiritual world. In the spiritual world, no one is forgotten, and love and care pervade. Those we left in the spiritual world - especially the Supreme Being - have not forgotten us. They want us to come home.

Who is our real family?

The spiritual world is full of individuals just as this world is. The main difference is that in this physical world, mostly everyone is selfishly motivated, whereas in the spiritual dimension, everyone is loving the Supreme Being and motivated by their care for others. 

This is why Jesus says they, ".... always see the face of my Father in heaven.”

In other words, the central relationship in the spiritual world is with the Supreme Being. This is communicated here by Jesus as he reflects upon the relationship between the angels and the Supreme Being. The term "always see the face" means their consciousness is focused upon the Supreme Being and they are in constant contact with God.

This opposes the concept of heaven as portrayed by many over the centuries, of God being a vague impersonal force or white light. 

By the phrase, ".... always see the face of my Father in heaven.” we can know that the Supreme Being is a Person. He is personally present in the spiritual realm - and the inhabitants of the spiritual realm enjoy personal relationships with Him.

God, our guardian angels, and the rest of the souls in heaven are our spiritual family. This is not to be confused with our physical family. Our physical family is made up of fellow souls who have taken up physical bodies related to our physical body. But like us, they are not their bodies. Their bodies are temporary vehicles, just as ours are.

We might compare this to a person who sits down in a car and drives a car away. The car is not the person, but is the vehicle for the person. When the car stops, the person gets out, just as when the body dies, we leave the body.

We might better compare it to a person who sits down at a computer to operate a video game. The person will pick an icon and the computer game will take the person away into the game - even though the person is still just sitting at a computer. In the same way, while the spirit-person is operating a physical body, from a spiritual aspect the person is not necessarily away from the spiritual realm - we still retain our spirit-person form - but it is covered up. Our consciousness is preoccupied with our false identity and the illusions of the physical realm.

Within the physical world, we are enamored by space and time. We look through the molecular arrangements called our eyes and see light bouncing off of other molecules and we surmise that we are seeing reality. 

What we are actually seeing is molecules swirling around us that reflect light in a certain way. Those light reflections are picked up by our senses, and our brains interpret those reflections as hard objects - "matter."

Science tells us that we are not surrounded by hard objects. We are seeing molecules that are positioned around each other in a way that gives us the illusion of solidity.

Every "thing" we "see" here is recycling molecules. Even our body recycles molecules. Scientists have found that within five years every molecule in our body will be exchanged for another. This means our bodies are constantly changing.

Is this like looking at a waterfall?

Because the water within the waterfall is always moving, we are never seeing the same waterfall. The water is always new water. This is how molecules are also moving around us - never standing still. Always in motion.

In the same way, our body might appear solid, but it is in fluid motion. It is like a waterfall.

So our concept of time and space is illusory. The reference points we make are all in motion so there is no standard of reference that we can consider constant in the physical world.

The only things that are constant are the spiritual elements existing within this physical world. The personality that is "me" is constant. The Supreme Being is constant. The spiritual realm is constant.

We might compare the physical world to a movie set. The movie set is built up specifically to make a film. The set is not a real place where real people live. It is a facade of a real place. It is set up to give the moviegoer the impression that the place in the film is real.

Can we find reality here in the physical world?

Yes, the potential is there, if a person makes the effort. In the movie analogy above, for example, a moviegoer is watching a film in a darkened theater. This gives the movie the impression of being real since the surroundings are dark. But the moviegoer can, at any time, step out of the dark theater into the daylight, and see reality.

That is why both John the Baptist and Jesus taught that the "kingdom of heaven is near." They taught that each of us can reconnect with the Supreme Being even while we are here on this planet.

However, for most in the physical world, we have forgotten our relationship with the Supreme Being. This is why we feel empty inside. We have forgotten our relationship with God, and this has created a hole within us.

In an attempt to fill that hole, we seek the love and attention of others. This means we strive to achieve fame and recognition, and this is achieved by winning or otherwise becoming accepted - which drives many to join groups or organizations in order to be accepted by others.

But we quickly find that accomplishing the acceptance or recognition from others does not satisfy us. This is found by sportsmen who achieve some big success - say an Olympic athlete who wins a bunch of gold medals. Once the athlete gets the gold medals and receives the fame and recognition for their accomplishment he begins to understand that it brings no real fulfillment. It does not fill that empty hole within.

This is also found out in so many other ways. For example, a family man or woman will feel that having a child will fill that hole within but they soon find out that the child is a responsibility and a lot of work - and the hole still remains. For this reason, they might think that another child will do the trick. Or maybe having an affair. Or maybe something else.

Even as we gain the various accomplishments of the physical world, we feel empty within.

The only thing that will fulfill us is our relationship with the Supreme Being. This is a subordinate position. We are the Supreme Being's subordinates. Yes, God gives us a chance to play out our self-centeredness in this temporary world. Because He is giving us the freedom to love Him or not. Because love requires freedom.

And as Jesus states here, love also requires humility.

"But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” (Matthew 19:30)

What does 'first will be last' mean?

This statement by Jesus follows his response to Peter regarding his followers' fate - regarding the fact that they "will inherit eternal life." (Matt. 19:29)

Jesus adds this statement - the reason why the word "but" is inserted. This indicates that this is an additional requirement to enter the spiritual realm.

The key Greek words in the sentence are εἰμί (whoever), πρῶτος (first in line or succession), and ἔσχατος (last). In other words, εἰμί is defined in the Greek lexicon as "to be, to exist, to happen, to be present" in the singular person. In other words, the use of the word "many" in this translation would be inappropriate. 

We are talking singular. In other words: each person - every person.

So the better translation of this statement in this context would be something like: 

anyone who is first will be last.

Jesus is speaking of a basic part of the consciousness of those living within the spiritual realm and using a double entendre with respect to the concepts of first and last.

A person who considers themselves as first considers themselves the most important person in their lives. This is also spoken in modern English as 'consider yourself first.'

It is a matter of priority. What is our priority in life? Do we retain the position of first in our lives? When we make a decision, do we first consider what we will get in return? And is this our main consideration?

If it is, then we are considering ourselves first. And according to Jesus, with such a consciousness, we will be the last to, as Jesus stated with the previous verse, inherit eternal life.

This is because eternal life is a consciousness of love and humility. Because of their love for God, each citizen of the spiritual realm puts the Supreme Being and His children first. That means they are putting themselves last.

As such, a person who develops this consciousness - of putting God and God's children first and being last - will be the first to inherit eternal life.

And this is precisely why we are here, away from God in the first place: Because we began to consider ourselves first: We became self-centered.

Is this also described in Genesis?

This is actually detailed in the Book of Genesis - symbolized by the fruit. The fruit that Adam and Eve ate - which led to their being tossed out of the Garden (the spiritual realm) and forced to wear "garments of skin" (these physical bodies) - symbolizes self-centeredness: The rejection of our loving relationship with the Supreme Being - a loving relationship where He is first.

Jesus' point also refers to returning to the spiritual world first. This indicates that not everyone who leaves their body after death will necessarily return to heaven - the spiritual world - immediately. Otherwise, how could there be a first and a last?

These words indicate a time factor. It is not that when they are in the spiritual world they will be last in line or something. We are talking about when we get to go home, back to the spiritual world. This indicates that people return to the spiritual world at different times.

This concept of returning to heaven at different times means that some people may return to the spiritual world immediately after leaving this body, while others will return to the physical dimension.

This later factor is also speculated upon by the teachings of many sectarian institutions as purgatory. These speculative teachings propose that no one, not even those who have followed Jesus, will return to the spiritual world immediately after the death of this body.

This speculative philosophy maintains that after death everyone will all have to wait in some kind of waiting room somewhere for the supposed second coming of Jesus.

What about the second coming of Jesus?

This supposed second coming has been speculated upon by many for many centuries. It is based upon a few mistranslated and misinterpreted statements by Jesus and those from the Book of Revelations, specifically near the end, when it says:

"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." (Rev. 22:12)

and later, at the second to last verse in Revelations,

He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Rev. 22:20)

The key Greek word in these sentences (and others) is the word "coming." This is being translated from the Greek word, ἔρχομαι (erchomai). While the first and most direct meaning of ἔρχομαι is 'to come or to arrive,' there is also a second, metaphorical meaning in the Greek lexicon. Here is the exact Greek lexicon on the metaphorical meaning of ἔρχομαι:

2) metaphorically - a) to come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence; b) be established, become known, to come (fall) into or unto

"Metaphorically," means a definition that utilizes some figurative language. The Book of Revelation is a figurative text; one that uses a variety of analogies regarding "beasts" and so on. Thus we can conclude that the translation of the Greek word, ἔρχομαι would also be its metaphorical translation.

If we translate the text with the metaphorical translation of ἔρχομαι within the context of the statement, we can understand that the discussion is about arriving at a state of awareness regarding Jesus.

This is also consistent with other verses, such as:

“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30)

This is a metaphorical description that relates to the realization of Jesus' glory during a time of distress.

Is this about a change of heart?

These verses are discussing a moment in time when a person will become conscious of Jesus' spiritual relationship with God. This is also commonly referred to as a spiritual awakening or a change of heart.

This is referring to an internal change for a person. A moment of spiritual realization, when a person's heart changes, and they see Jesus and his relationship with God.

This concept of "coming," in fact, could well be compared to the word "seeing." Many of us might say, for example, "I see," when we realize a new understanding about something. Similarly, when a person "sees" God, or "sees" Jesus, is this about seeing in the physical sense, with the physical eyes? Is this about an apparition of seeing God appear like we might physically see a ghost?

God can certainly physically appear if He wants to. But this kind of "seeing" is when a person has a realization of God.

When a person "sees" God, they are "seeing" with the heart. They "see" with understanding. They "see" with consciousness. They "see" with awareness:

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

In this context, a better translation than "coming" would be "appearing". This is connected to seeing - or arriving at a state of consciousness or realization of who Jesus really is and his relationship with God.

This is why Revelation 22:17 discusses "The Spirit and the bride..."

Who are the 'Spirit and the bride' in Revelation 22:17?

Certainly, the text is using some symbolism here. But who is the "Spirit" who is the "bride"?

"The Spirit and the bride" refers to God and His loving servant, in this case, Jesus. 

The full text of Revelation 22:17 is:

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!" Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

Note that both the Spirit and the bride are saying the same thing: "Come!"

This means that the "bride" is echoing the same thing that the Spirit says.

We can also note that "the one who hears" can also say "come!"

This means that someone who hears can also echo what the Spirit says and the bride says. Why?

Because God wants us to come home to Him. He wants us to return to Him. This is the "water of life" that is being referred to.

And Jesus also wants us to return to God. And those who receive this understanding - and hear God and Jesus - can also call us back home to return to God.

Jesus is the loving servant of God. He and God have a loving relationship - much as is assumed between a bride and her husband. And those who hear and follow Jesus can take on the role of Jesus' assistants, helping Jesus serve God.

The bottom line is that this supposed "second coming" of Jesus is a misinterpretation of the original scriptures. The reference is to a moment in time when we come to realize that we are completely lost without the teachings of Jesus - and we take refuge in them. This realization - hearing God and Jesus calling us home ("Come!") is the "coming" - the appearing of Jesus within our hearts.

What is the primary teaching of Jesus?

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

"For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness ...." (Matthew 21:32)

"For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him." (Matthew 21:32)

Was John the teacher of Jesus?

Many have a problem with this statement. They inaccurately claim that Jesus was God and that Jesus never accepted a teacher. Yet we know that Jesus sat with Rabbis asking them questions when he was younger:

After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. (Luke 2:46)

We also know that Jesus accepted baptism from John:

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. (Matthew 3:13)

Baptism is the act of accepting that person as teacher. This is confirmed by others who accepted baptism from John:

Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” (Luke 3:12)

This last verse makes it clear that for them, baptism is the act of accepting that person (the baptizer or baptist) as their spiritual guide. They greeted them as "teacher" or "rabbi" and they also asked them for instructions ("what should we do?").

What about baptism today?

Today we find a host of different sects conducting baptism in various ways. Some use dunking into a body of water, whole others splash or pour water over the person. For many, baptism is a rite of passage - a ritual to declare one's allegiance to a particular sect or church.

In these secular baptisms, the person giving the ritual can be a reverend or priest, or a church deacon. Often they are administered by officials appointed by the sect.

Yet the person who has been baptized will still come away thinking that they are saved somehow by the purification of the water. this is assumed because Jesus' name was invoked during the ritual.

Yet Jesus himself criticized this ritualistic endeavor, and condemned the use of his name for cleansing rituals:

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?" Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Matthew 7:22-23)

So while many will feel graced by having been dunked in water while someone else proclaims the name of Jesus, we find from Jesus' own teachings that he was not impressed by rituals and healings done in his name.

Rather, Jesus wanted something else from his students:

“Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

Is Jesus God?

Some will claim that John could not be Jesus' teacher because Jesus is God. They also say that John himself said that Jesus should baptize him.

Yes, it is true that John said Jesus should baptize him. But this illustrates the humility of John. It illustrates that Jesus was an advanced spiritual person. Jesus was not your typical follower. He was very advanced in his relationship with the Supreme Being.

This is confirmed by scripture. Jesus prayed to God repeatedly. He also said over and over that he was sent by God:

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish his work." (John 4:34)

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24)

"By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me." (John 5:30)

“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me." (John 5:36)

"And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen His form," (John 5:37)

"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me." (John 6:38)

"And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day." (John 6:39)

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day." (John 6:44)

"Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me." (John 6:57)

Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the One who sent me." (John 7:16)

Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but He who sent me is true. You do not know him, but I know him because I am from Him and He sent me.” (John 7:28-29)

Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the One who sent me." (John 7:33)

"But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me." (John 8:16

"I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” (John 8:18)

“I have much to say in judgment of you. But He who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from Him I tell the world.” (John 8:26)

"The One who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.” (John 8:29)

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me." (John 8:42)

"As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." (John 9:4)

"I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent me.” (John 11:42)

Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the One who sent me." (John 12:44)

"The one who looks at me is seeing the One who sent me." (John 12:45)

"For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken." (John 12:49)

"Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the One who sent me.” (John 13:20)

"Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me." (John 14:24)

"They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me." (John 15:21)

"but now I am going to Him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’" (John 16:5)

For I gave them the words You gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent me." (John 17:8)

This means, by Jesus' own admission, that Jesus is not God. Rather, Jesus is God's representative. To be sent by someone else means to be that person's representative or messenger. Jesus is God's messenger.

Yes, it is quite easy to confuse the messenger with the sender of the messenger. Especially when the sender cannot be readily seen. But the reason we are not seeing God with the physical eyes is that this is the dimension where God makes Himself visible, in order to give us the freedom to love or not love God - and even the freedom to even not accept His existence.

This is because love requires the freedom to love.