Jesus was a ruler in the sense that he was very powerful and took responsibility for his actions. He also instructed others to “own” their thoughts and actions. He was a leader. And he was also a Magician in the truest sense. He was able to transform reality, performing miracles with his highly developed spiritual powers. And he went through initiation, as is often the case with the great magicians of myth and folklore.
The practice of initiation has a rich history in the spiritual tradition of both East and West. In the East, stories abound of gurus orchestrating puzzling ordeals designed to deepen their disciples’ humility and spiritual understanding. The Tibetan Buddhist, Guru Marpa, made his eventual successor, Milarepa, build and tear down a house over and over again. Milarepa found Marpa’s angry ambivalence frustrating and utterly puzzling. But he complied with his teacher’s directives, nonetheless. He was eventually rewarded when Marpa conferred his teachings and deep affection upon his obedient disciple.
Many of us remember The Karate Kid saying, “wax on, wax off!” as he begrudgingly learned karate moves by waxing his teacher’s car. There are many examples of spiritual initiation in the shamanic traditions also, and certainly in the Old Testament:
God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac to test his faith. Jacob had to work for his Uncle Laban 21 years before he was blessed by an angel and able to reconcile with his brother. Joseph was betrayed by his jealous brothers and sold into slavery. He demonstrated the depth of his character, not only by the good works he performed in captivity, but also by his eventual forgiveness of his brothers. Moses spent years in the desert and then in the wilderness proving himself.
Through these and other stories, we see that the God of the Old Testament is a God who severely tests his followers. And in contrast to the Old Testament God, Jesus showed a God of love and grace. Jesus himself extended his acceptance and love to his disciples without making them undergo any form of trials or initiations. He chose ordinary men without applying any obvious tests of their readiness. Having accepted them, he then treated them as fully adequate partners and disseminators of his teachings.
He did not overlook their weaknesses however, and on several occasions, he subjected them to the kind of challenges that resemble initiatory tests. In brilliant ways, he awakened his followers and critics to the misperceptions that prevented them from attaining the full mantle of discipleship. And yet he did not judge them as unworthy. He could, however, see their self-imposed barriers to a closer relationship with God.
Like the Old Testament characters, Jesus went through initiation and became a great Magician, so to speak. And he said that we can do what he did and even greater things. We too, are potential Magicians. We have magical spiritual powers within us, and we can transform reality through the use of these powers.
The Sunday lesson this week is about the Ruler (power) and the Magician (will) within us. Join us at 10:30 am (or watch the recording of the Service later on our YouTube channel) to hear more about our magical powers.
Love & blessings,
Kathy