What Does Jesus Want Most to Call His Creation?

Although Jesus is the Messiah and savior of the world, he usually chooses friendly even pastoral names when he referred to himself.  Jesus  called himself the Good Shepherd; the way that leads to his father; the cornerstone; or the bread of life come down from heaven.

Jesus chose cheery designations like the light of the world or the vine and his followers the branches.  Jesus even suggested that he and his father in heaven look exactly alike: “If you’ve seen me, you have seen the father.”  Using these references, Jesus sounded more casual and more easily approachable.

However, after Jesus rose from the dead, he greeted all with the words: “Don’t be fearful” or “do not be afraid.”  Did Jesus really mean precisely: “Don’t be frightened?” Or was it something deeper, like fearing God’s power of resurrection, or even God himself.

Above everything else, Jesus wanted God’s chosen ones to love God and not fear him.  He wanted creation to rejoice, and to be delighted to have a God who does so many wondrous things for his creation.

Rising from death Jesus said: “Do not be afraid” with a tone filled with forgiveness towards his father’s creation .  Always forward-looking, Jesus looked not to the past.  He wanted to do away  with his followers’  obsession for “running away” or “hiding” from their past.  Jesus only wanted them to feel not fear, but joy.  And was this what his disciples couldn’t believe? 

Wasn’t it Peter who said: “Master to whom shall we go?  You have the words of everlasting life.”  Peter even declared: “You are the holy one of God.”  Indeed, our God entered this world where humans harbor a passion to become God.  But God’s passion is to become human.

This alone should give fright, but instead we bend a knee before a God who redeems us from our deepest wounds and saves us from our utmost fears.  Only God can be so human.  And this is why Jesus offers his creation one more lasting endearment – he calls us friends.