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A Course in Miracles Upside-Down Thinking In the New Testament My brothers slept during the so-called “agony” in the garden, but I could not be angry with them because I had learned I could not be abandoned. Peter swore he would never deny me, but he did so three times. He did offer to defend me with the sword, which I naturally refused, not being at all in need of bodily protection. I am sorry when my brothers do not share my decision to hear only one voice, because it weakens them as teachers and as learners. Yet I know that they cannot really betray themselves or me. The crucifixion cannot be shared because it is the symbol of projection, but the resurrection is the symbol of sharing because the re-awakening of every Son of God is necessary to enable the Sonship to know its wholeness. Only this is knowledge.
If you interpret the crucifixion in any other way, you are using it as a weapon for assault rather than as the call for peace for which it was intended. The Apostles often misunderstood it, and always for the same reason that makes anyone misunderstand anything—their own imperfect love made them vulnerable to projection, and out of their own fear they spoke of the “wrath of God” as His retaliatory weapon. Nor could they speak of the crucifixion entirely without anger, because their own sense of guilt had made them angry. Two Glaring Examples There are two glaring examples of upside-down thinking in the New Testament, whose whole gospel is only the message of love. These are not like the several slips into impatience which I made. I had learned the Atonement Prayer, which I also came to teach, too well to engage in upside-down thinking myself.
If the Apostles had not felt guilty they never could have quoted me as saying,
This is clearly the exact opposite of everything I taught.
Nor could they have described my reactions to Judas as they did if they had really understood me. They would have realized I could not have said,
unless
I believed in betrayal. The
whole message of the crucifixion was simply that I
did not.
The “punishment” which I am said to have called forth upon Judas was a similar reversal. Judas was my brother and a Son of God, as much a part of the Sonship as myself. Was it likely that I would condemn him when I was ready to demonstrate that condemnation is impossible? I Am Grateful To The Apostles I
am very grateful to the Apostles for their teaching
and fully aware of the extent of their devotion to
me. Nevertheless,
as you read their teachings, remember that I told
them myself that there was much they would understand
later because they were not wholly ready to follow
me at the time.
(John 16:12 and
John
16:25)
I emphasize this only because I do not want you to allow any fear to enter into the thought system toward which I am guiding you. I do not call for martyrs, but for teachers. No
one is “punished” for sins, and the Sons
of God are not sinners.
The crucifixion was a complex of behaviors arising out of clearly opposed thought systems. As such, it was the perfect symbol of conflict between the ego and the Son of God. The conflict is just as real now, and its lessons, too, have equal reality, when they are learned. |
All Forms of Rejection Are Meaningless I do not need gratitude any more than I needed (bodily) protection, but you need to develop your weakened ability to be grateful, or you cannot appreciate God. He does not need your appreciation, but you do. You cannot love what you do not appreciate, and fear makes appreciation impossible. Whenever you are afraid of what you are you do not appreciate it, and will therefore reject it. As a result, you will teach rejection. The power of the Sons of God is operating all the time because they were created as creators. Their influence on each other is without limit, and must be used for their joint salvation. Each one must learn to teach that all forms of rejection are utterly meaningless. The separation is the notion of rejection. As long as you teach this (rejection), you still believe it. This is not as God thinks, and you must think as He thinks if you are to know Him again. |
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