Whenever you think about love, how do you feel? Whenever you feel love, how do you feel? Do you feel alive? Do you feel inspired, light, uplifted?
Is this what you feel?:)
I can hear your yes, my friend:) as love is exactly what I am experience right now, as I am writing these letters…:)
It`s beautiful, isn`t it?:) Love is beautiful. Love is life. Love is God and God is love…These two can`t be separated:)
I watched Jesus of Nazareth last night, and today, when I had to write this blog post, I didn`t have to think too much about what I will write:) The topic came pretty fast and with ease to me: love. Love is the way and it`s the only one.
Why am I writing about this topic, and what has that to do with the movie?, you may ask:)
The answer is this: love is what`s all about in the movie, and I totally got that as I was watching it:)
Don`t get me wrong. It`s not the first time for me when I watch this movie, oh no.
I believe I watched it for 4-5 times so far. But that happened when I was smaller and as a child/teenager you don`t get to understand too much from a movie, do you?
For some time now, I have been wanting to watch it, as if something (or somebody) would whisper:” Watch the movie, watch Jesus of Nazareth.”
Well, when seeing that “the voice” wouldn`t let me at peace, I finally took action. I searched for the movie and watched it online last night:)
For those of you who saw this movie too, you know that it`s full of messages, hidden meanings of the words, deeds and events. It`s also full of teachings- the part I love the most:)
So, at the beginning of the movie, I didn`t pay too much attention or interest and frankly, I was looking forward to getting to the end of it, so that I can say:” Ok, movie watched! I can move on to the next thing”. I am serious, this is what I thought.
Hope Jesus won`t be upset with me for saying this 😀 But I am a writer, and a writer must be authentic- no matter the circumstances.
As I was saying, the first part of the movie didn`t impress me too much. It`s where Jesus is a child and not much is happening at this stage.
But starting with the part where he gets older- this is where it gets really interesting. He speaks to the crowds, spreading God`s truth and love; he heals the sick and comforts those in pain and misery; he performs miracles and the people are inspired by him, by the truthfulness of his words.
They are given a new hope of salvation and he lifts them up from the weight of their sins.
And what I noticed is that the core message of Jesus`s coming into this world is love. Love, love, love and again, love. Everything he ever thought, said and done came from this place of unconditional love, and this is so very well shown when, as he saw the crowd, went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them The Beatitudes.
1Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
3 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
4Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
5Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
6Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
7Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
8Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
9Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“Love your neighbor as thyself; love and pray for your enemy; feed the hungry one; cloth the naked one; do unto others what you like to be done unto you…” all this and so much more are Jesus`s teachings, teachings that can be defined with one single word: Love. Whoever has love is his heart, can fulfill and experience these commandments with so much joy and ease!
The moment when he was crucified… my eyes welled with tears as the scene is so sensible and touching! There he was, on that cross, enduring the heavy weight of our sins and ignorance.
And what did He do?
He embraced it all; he didn`t put up resistance nor did he fight back. Instead, He accepted it all; he accepted it willingly and kept his loving, kind, compassionate nature, saying:” Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”
And in the night when He prayed in the Gethsemane garden, what did He say?
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Isn`t this the ultimate act of love? Isn`t this the ultimate proof of unconditional and unlimited love? Wasn`t Jesus the embodiment of pure love? I believe He was.
He knew it. He knew it very well that only love could wash away all sins and misery; He knew that only love could heal the world and people`s suffering souls and hearts; He knew that it was only through love that He could endure all that pain and agony while on that cross.
Why? Because He loved our world, He loved the people and He wanted for them to be cleansed by all sins and be at peace again and reconciled with Father from Heaven.
When the movie finished, I had this thought that Jesus can have more than 12 disciples. The entire world can be His disciples. Everybody who wants to follow Him can be His disciple, a true living example of His message and teachings. I believe this is what being a Christian really means.
We must love each other; we must understand, care and respect each other. It is through love that we can do it. If we put aside our egotistical side and open our hearts instead, we`ll find it that it`s rather easy to love and be loved; that it`s easy to look at ourselves as brothers and sisters and it`s easy to realize that we are not alone and each person`s words or deeds has an impact over our world.
Give love and surround yourself with it, as it`s the only way you can feel connected with everything else around you. Arthur Baker said it so well with his song (one I simply love!:)), LOVE IS THE MESSAGE !:)))
Much love,
Cristina
Cristina,
Great post. I agree that Jesus came here to teach the ultimate truth about love. I enjoyed your obvious pleasure at watching Jesus of Nazareth. It is one of my favorite movies. There is a new movie in my country called “Son of God” which is very good also. (I am actually watching it as I write this). Thank you for including the beatitudes in your blog. They are the perfect summation of Jesus’ teachings and should be kept in mind by all people. I enjoy reading your work, especially when you express your love for God and the way of true love through Him. Thank you. :O)
Doug
Hey, Doug:))
I am so glad to hear you like my blog post:)) Jesus of Nazareth is your favorite movie?! Really?:) This is so great, as it`s my favorite movie too!:))) It has a tremendous spiritual meaning and whoever watches it with attention can learn so many from it. Son of God? I`ll check it out, Doug, thanks for telling me about it:)) Yes, I agree, Doug, the beatitudes are the basis of Jesus`s teachings, I like them very much. There is a special meaning behind each one of these beatitudes, but every person must search that meaning for themselves, as not everybody understands them in the same way.
Thank you too, Doug, for your kind comment:)) Always a pleasure to read your thoughts:))
Much love, my friend:))
Cristina