In which I go on. And on. And on.

I'm reading a really great book right now. Or part of a book anyway, an essay. One of the seven which make up "The World's Last Night: and Other Essays" by C.S. Lewis. I'm currently reading the last essay in the book, the one actually named "The World's Last Night". It deals with society's views on the second coming of Christ. But it's a secondary discussion that emerges that has really stuck with me lately.

In Mark, chapter 13, Jesus is telling the disciples about his return. And then in verse 30 Jesus makes a statement: "Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done" (King James version, but funny that they get all formal and use "thou" and "verily" but then throw in "till" instead of "until"? I'm just sayin). Anyway... C.S. Lewis speculates that is could be one of the most frustrating verses for Christians to deal with. The generation that lived during Christ's time on earth is long gone. But of course, we say, Jesus wasn't wrong. It's got to be a "different understanding" of the word "generation" or some similar confusion. But Lewis goes on to say, what if Jesus was wrong when He guessed on when He would be returning?

**Please keep reading, I promise you will not be struck down by lightening. Or least, if you are struck by lightening, it won't specifically be for reading this**

So if you keep reading chapter 13 of Mark, verse 32 goes on to say: "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." Um, hi. What was that? "Neither the Son?" What?! Is it entirely possible that Jesus was just wrong and thought He'd be back sooner? Because during his time on earth he was human and was just guessing? It doesn't change his sinless nature, it just makes him human. This whole line of thinking was amazing to me. And once I kept reading, it really made sense. Read on...

Lewis writes: "The taking up into God's nature of humanity with all its ignorances and limitations... it would be difficult, and, to me, repellent, to suppose that Jesus never asked a genuine question, that is, a question to which He did not know the answer. That would make of His humanity something so unlike ours as scarcely to deserve the name. I find it easier to believe that when He said 'Who touched me?' (Luke 7:45) He really wanted to know."

Let's think about this a minute. Do you realize what that sentence implies? That when Jesus was on earth, He was sinless and blameless. But He also was really human. Humanity is ignorance. For us to say that Jesus knew everything and just skated through His time here until His death? That takes away from what He really did for us by giving up his divinity and coming to live among the idiots.

Think about this: If Jesus didn't know the details or the future, if He had to actually just live His life like the rest of us to find out? That means that He knew He was here on earth to give His life for us but most likely didn't know all of the horrible details. I mean, there were the prophecies -- the cross, guards gambling over his robes, the mocking. But until you live it, can you imagine how horrifying it would be to know for your entire life that something was going to happen but since you're limited by your humanity, you wouldn't know exactly until it was actually happening? No wonder Christ cried in the garden and asked God to find a different way. Jesus was probably terrified. Think how hard it is for us when we think God isn't there for us. How much worse for Jesus to know God would have to abandon Him to death? To think of Jesus' humanity, on those last few days... it makes the sacrifice that He made for us that much greater. That He put himself through all of that.

I'm not at all saying Christ was a sinner by saying He was human. It's not a sin to be human. To have to make a best guess because you don't know all the facts. And now I have to stop because I believe there is smoke coming out of my ears.