Do you like to view wild animals? You can see them in the zoo, but would you agree that it is better to encounter them in their natural habitat than in captivity? You take pictures of them and share them and your friends like them. There is something embedded in humanity that responds to the majesty of these great creatures. What is it, and why does this matter? Are you prepared to see this as a spiritual experience? They are part of my created order that reflects my glory.

Have you ever made a firm declaration that you would never deny me or fall away from the faith? Peter did, and he was wrong. You may have the best of intentions in all sincerity. Have you ever done anything that was contrary to prior intentions? I do not raise these questions to condemn you or discourage you, but to teach you. Do you think that your steadfastness in the faith is up to you? You do not hold yourself, but I hold you in the palm of my hand. An appropriate response would be humility and gratitude. You are a creature of grace.

Have you ever gone through a faith transition? Do you think it was beneficial for you? Did it feel more like  a crisis or an accomplishment? If it felt like a crisis you may have found it distressing but you can take comfort in knowing that I was with you and directing the process. If it felt like an accomplishment then it was probably all your own doing. You cannot bring about your own transformation. Your efforts towards this will leave you more firmly in control. Yet this is not a random event that affects some and not others.

Do you think that Christ is my last name? You have a first and a last name and so may think it normal for the same pattern to apply to me, but this view isn’t completely accurate in my case. Here is a helpful way to think of  this. The Word (Christ) was made flesh (Jesus) and dwelt among us. As Christ I inhabit eternity, as Jesus I walked and breathed among you. Both aspects were essential to my unique identity and mission, and so you have the mystery of the incarnation. There were relatively few people who knew me in the flesh. Do you regret that you were not one of them?