People in all times and places have suffered violence and oppression of the sort that breeds despair. When all human efforts fail, they start looking for the hero-figure to bail them out. Often this “hero” takes the form of a political, social or religious ideology (maybe all three). When this occurs, the consequences can be disastrous. Deliverers, champions and messiahs of all types have come and gone, but we still struggle amidst a broken, unjust and fearful world. 

Much of prophetic language is emotive and imaginative in nature. It was meant to work on the collective sacred imagination and fashion a new worldview and consciousness. It was also intended to inspire hope and energy in the people. What better way to communicate that God has not forgotten and that God will deliver them from danger at an appropriate time. In our own time, pessimism, extremism and fear seem to have gained the upper hand. We need the rich, transforming words and images that only prophets can provide to lift up our hearts and give us hope and courage. This should not be confused with the all too common demagoguery that we hear every day. Martin Luther King was one who understood this well and his biblical prophetic oratory stirred people to action and change. God is not going to do our work for us or clean up the mess we have made. God does send us inspired individuals to rouse us from our lethargy and negativity so that we can put our collective hands to the wheel of history. 

Do our hearts and minds yearn for God and things of the Spirit or for self-aggrandizement and gratification? This is a helpful way of understanding what is meant by being “in the flesh” or “in the spirit.” We are all embodied, but that is different from being in the flesh — in biblical terms, flesh often signifies earthly values and concerns. When the Spirit of Christ truly dwells in us, there can be only one direction of our yearning and our progress: love, service to others, spiritual values and union with God. Claiming the Spirit of Christ requires that we live according to that Spirit. 

The worldly wise and cynical would probably smirk or sigh in exasperation at talk of inspired imaginations or living in the Spirit. That sort of stuff doesn’t make sense in the “real” world. Perhaps this is what Jesus had in mind when He thanked God for hiding the wonderful things taking place in their midst from the wise and intelligent and revealing them to “infants.” Knowing God directly is a gift that Jesus gives to those whom He chooses. Jesus desires to share His relationship with God the Father but it can only be received with the openness and simplicity of a child. No fancy theology is necessary. This is the same quality manifested in Jesus — gentleness and humility. When we put on the yoke of Jesus we are never burdened beyond our means and it is not at all oppressive. It merely signifies a close and binding relationship, one of elder brother and friend. Life can be difficult and painful at times, but the yoke of Jesus will help us on the journey.