How should we understand the scripture ‘Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary’?
This is an expression that shows what Jesus is. Speaking of our physical body, it is unimaginable, illogical and impossible for a human being to be born of a woman who has never had any sexual relation with a man. We are always born as a result of the sexual union between male and female. Once we are born, we are doomed to die of ageing and illness. Birth, ageing, illness and death are inevitable for our physical body.
The words that Jesus was born of a virgin woman, Mary means that he is not a physical body that comes into being as a result of the combination of opposite genders. If we thought of the physical body of a young man who was crucified as Jesus, he would not exist any longer, because he was already killed at that time. Then, who or what on earth would we be worshipping now?
According to the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus said, “When you see one who was not born of woman, prostrate yourselves on your faces and worship him. That one is your father.” This means that the true Jesus is not his physical being but some absolute being that transcends birth and death. He was here before his birth, is still here now and will be here forever. He revealed himself through a human body to teach people that the essence of our being is eternity itself, beauty itself, perfection itself and happiness itself.
Then, who or what is Jesus? Who or what on earth are we worshiping now?
If the physical body of young man who was crucified is not Jesus, who or what is the true Jesus who transcends birth, ageing, illness and death? To realise what he is and become like him is to attain eternal life, or true salvation, which is called enlightenment in Buddhism.
©Boo Ahm
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