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FRIDAY THOUGHT 2/29/08

I enjoy what I see as the playful, teasing side of Jesus.  (Personally, I think he’d be great at a poker game, able to look you in the eye, wink and bluff you into folding an ace-high straight against two small pair.  But I digress.)
 
Picture the 12, worried and unbelieving (as always) in a boat on a stormy sea.  And then Jesus comes strolling across the water (whistling?), as if he is going to go right on by them.  After they called out to him, he “climbed” into the boat (I picture him smoothing his robes and wiping his hands) as if this sort of stuff happened every day.  (Hey, boys, how’s it going?)
 
My point:  First of all, forgive any liberties or heresies.  As a layman, I claim latitude…and ignorance.  But my point is that Jesus, in addition to being God, was very human and very approachable.  I’m serious when I say I think He would be a hoot and a half at one of my low-stakes poker games.  So, enjoy our playful, loving God.  And don’t even think about bluffing Him.  — jri
 
“He saw the disciples straining at the oars,
because the wind was against them.  About
the fourth watch of the night he went out to
them, walking on the lake.  He was about to
pass them, but when they saw him walking
on the lake, they thought he was a ghost.
They cried out, because they saw him and
were terrified. 
 
“Immediately he spoke to them and said,
‘Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.’ 
Then he climbed into the boat with them,
and the wind died down.”
        –    Mark 6:48-51