Jesus Wasn't the Great Exception—He Was the Great Example

A few years ago, I found myself in an unexpected spiritual dialogue at a gathering with a friend and his colleagues from the mosque. When one of them asked if I was a Christian, the tone of his voice suggested some skepticism. His past encounters with Christianity, it seemed, had painted the faith as rigid and exclusionary. I paused and answered carefully: “To the best of my ability, I follow the teachings of Jesus.”

His eyes lit up. “Ahhh,” he said, “you are a student of the book.” That single moment shifted the energy in the room. It reminded me that spiritual truths often transcend the boundaries of religion—and that Jesus, when we see him rightly, belongs to more than one tradition.

It’s time to reclaim the universal message of Jesus - not as an unreachable exception, but as a living demonstration of the divine potential in all of us.

As we move through Holy Week and reflect on Easter, many will revisit familiar questions: Who was Jesus? What did he really teach? What does he mean to us now? Unfortunately, our understanding of him is often shaped more by tradition than truth. Much of what we know was recorded decades after his death. But if we look at his life through a deeper spiritual lens, a clearer picture emerges.

Jesus was radically open-hearted. That openness allowed him to fully embody his divine nature. He lived in such attunement with Spirit that, as he once said, “When you see me, you see the presence that sent me.” But here's the part many overlook: He never claimed to be the only one with such access. In fact, he said quite the opposite - “All these things I have done, you can do.”

Jesus didn’t seek worship; he offered a wake-up call. His message wasn’t, “Admire me because I’m special.” It was more like, “Realize what you are because you’re sacred.”

Jesus is not the great exception - he is the great example. His life models what is possible when we live in full awareness of our spiritual identity. His story invites us to awaken the “Christ” within - a term not reserved for one man, but for the divine spark in us all. That Christ presence - also called the Atman, the Godhead, or pure Spirit - awaits recognition in every soul.

This Holy Week, we’re not just commemorating an event from the past. We’re stepping into our own spiritual rebirth. Easter is not only about what happened to Jesus; it’s about what’s trying to happen in you.

So let us not merely admire Jesus - let’s follow his lead. Let’s live as if divine potential is not a fantasy, but our truest nature. Because it is.

Peace and Blessings,

James