Although the story is old, happening during the 18th century, it illustrates a biblical truth the Christian church needs to hear during our current evil divisiveness in every gathering and with every issue. The deadly viruses of stubborn selfishness and demonic lies are fueling this relational turbulence.
The Truth is this.
“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you, declares the Lord.” (Zechariah 2:10-11). And “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20-21).
The Story is this.
A beautiful and famous monastery in central Europe had fallen on tough times. In earlier days, its many buildings were filled with young priests and monks, and its big church resounded with the singing of the chant, but now the buildings and church were mostly deserted and silent. Only a handful of monks shuffled through the buildings praying their prayers and praising their God with heavy hearts.
On the edge of the monastery grounds there were beautiful woods in which an old Jewish rabbi had built a little hut. The rabbi would often come there to fast and pray. No one ever spoke with him, but whenever he appeared, the word would be passed from monk to monk, “The Rabbi walks in the woods.”
One day the Abbot, who was the head of the monastery, decided to visit the Rabbi and open up his heart to him regarding the bad conditions at the monastery and seek his advice.
The Rabbi welcomed him into his little hut. In the middle of the room was a wooden table with the Bible laying open upon it. The two men sat down at the table and said nothing to each other. They just sat there looking at the Bible.
Finally, the Rabbi lifted his eyes and said, “You have come to ask a teaching of me. I will give you a teaching, but you can only repeat it once. After that no one must ever say it aloud again.” The Rabbi looked straight at the Abbott and said, “The Messiah, the Christ, is among you.”
For a while there was silence, then the Rabbi said, “Now you must go.” The Abbott left without saying another word or looking back, but his mind and spirit were filled with questioning wonder as he pondered the Rabbi’s teaching.
The Abbott returned to the monastery, and the next morning he called all his monks together. He told them he had received a teaching from the rabbi “who walks in the woods.” But the teaching is to be spoken only once and never again. He looked at each of his fellow monks and said, “The rabbi told me that the Messiah, the Christ is among you.”
The monks were startled and puzzled by this saying. “What can this mean?” they asked themselves. “Is Brother John the Messiah? Or, Father Matthew, or Brother Thomas? Am I the Messiah? What can this mean?” The monks continually pondered the rabbi’s teaching that the Messiah, the Christ, was among them as they lived, worshiped, and worked together.
But as time went by a remarkably interesting thing began to happen among them. They began to treat one another with an incredibly special reverence. There was a gentle, caring quality about them now, which was hard to describe but easy to notice and feel.
It was not long until the big church again resounded with the singing of the chant. People came from everywhere to be nourished by the prayer life of the monks. Visitors were deeply moved by what they saw and heard. A significant and visible change came over the monks when they believed the Messiah, the Christ, to be present among them.
My Plea is this.
Yes, the rabbi in the woods was and is correct. The Messiah is among us. He is in each and every one of us. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. …I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. … On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14:16,18,20).
And when we begin to fully understand this truth and its meaning for our relationship with others, it will significantly reshape our lifestyle and relationship with others. This truth when lived out in our churches and communities, will cause the presence of God and His Kingdom to gloriously unfold in our midst.
Then we will joyfully proclaim with the psalmist, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! … For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” (Psalm 133:1,3b).
Jesus Prays this.
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:22-23). May it be so with you and me!
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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – February 16, 2022
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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