Matthew 10:23

"When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes" (Matthew 10:23 RSV).

Comment:

This passage is especially popular with those Bible scholars who believe Jesus was, basically, a failed prophet. He believed the end of the world was literally at hand, and he was wrong. Albert Schweitzer, among many others, came to this belief.

But Jesus, when he is teaching as the Christ, is never simply discussing the events of his time. He is linked to spiritual Truth that is eternal, and constant, beyond the dimension of linear time. His reference here to "the Son of man" is not a self-description—he never refers to himself in those words. It is the coming of Christ Consciousness in all of us—the consciousness of our Oneness with the Divine that he taught and demonstrated, and that he calls us to achieve within ourselves. Achieving that consciousness is a lot of work. The great promise here, I think, is that we don't have to complete all the work ourselves. The Power of God is working with us, and will join us in fully expressing Christ Consciousness so long as we stay focused on the work that is ours to do.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed