The Other Way

When I reflect on the fall, I reflect with the knowledge that it seems there was another way (Genesis 2.15-17, 3.1-7). It is not of a God of free will to restrict humanity to a small parcel of time. We don't expect a three year old to be the same as a twenty year old; they have learnt lessons from their experiences, school, various mentors, and often, more traditionally a lot from their parents. God is our Father and I always see the choice of the garden not to be a choice between ignorance and knowledge but rather the choice of learning from God or figuring it out alone. I think as we look beyond the fall we see the great love of God as they go into the world of hardship, God ensures they are clothed and cared for into the world, Genesis 4.21. We see this today still, God cares for all of humanity.

Salvation is not limited to a few who were around Christ; as Paul says that death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses and this is carried into the Law (Romans 5.12-21). Through Christ who died an actual death as God —I will remember this being extremely important as my Trinitarian lecturer hammered home that if Christ didn't die, death is God as death holds the grand power and certainty; by dying Christ shows a dominion which is far greater then the grand certainty of this age— all transgressions can be forgiven through the free gift of Christ. This is the only way to Salvation.

Matthew's narrative of the forty days of fasting in the desert also reflects that there is another way (Matthew 4.1-11). Jesus spends this time tempted by the devil and uses the words of God to rebut all the suggestions. A pattern that was not able to be done by Eve or Adam but could be maintained by Jesus. Although to a certain point I believe the fall was always going to happen; and God knew this, Jesus knew this; I see Jesus' work as showing that another way is always provided. Forty days is beyond any normal standards human ability; and the scriptures do say that Christ was famished yet he survived this ordeal through the trust within God not through using power to sustain. This also shows the self-sufficient nature of the Trinity, Jesus didn't need anything of the world and although would have felt great hunger there was no need to take in order to receive.

There are so many truths in the readings this week and yet all I see is the love of God giving in all ways but never needing. This is a pure kenotic love.