Vision of Christ
Whether due to pure genius or higher spiritual inspiration, Allan Kardec's intellect was steered toward an innovative way of thinking. He could have sided with theologians or centered his attention on the historical Christ. He chose instead to rely on the words Jesus used to describe himself. The result was a compelling picture of the nature of Jesus and his relationship with God. The decision to use Jesus' own way of asserting his identity was brilliant and cannot easily be argued. This tactic provided an added benefit one that with diplomacy and skill he freed the Doctrine from the dense theological clouds that had engulfed Christianity from its inception.
Was Jesus an incarnation of God? Was he a divine being? Did Jesus believe his voice was the sole voice of God on earth? The answers to these questions certainly would shed light on the matter and help us understand his personality and his relationship to God. Allan Kardec saw no reason to hesitate, to him: Jesus was the most perfect being to ever live in the flesh (see The Spirits' Book, Q 625).
The study, published in Posthumous Work, includes a complete review of Jesus' words contained in the four Gospels, and several selected statements made by the Apostles after His death. Experts have declared this study to contain real gems of insight and likewise it has remained truly worthy of our reverent appreciation. A few of these statements appear in this article for your enjoyment.
The dogma of the divinity of Jesus is founded on an absolute equality between Jesus and God. However, in his own words Jesus gave witness of a distinct and undeniable separation that precluded any suggestion of sameness. When a king sends an ambassador on a mission, there is no doubt about the clear separation of identities. There is an evident and decisive definition of hierarchies and responsibilities. When an ambassador speaks, he informs that he is speaking on behalf of his highness the king. Jesus' words illustrated his status as an ambassador, i.e. a separate identity and his submission to a higher power. These were not the kind of qualities he would show if he wanted to convey equality or if he was God himself *. Consider the following passages:
And said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For the one who is least among you all-he is the greatest." Luke 9:48
Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, "Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me." Mark 9:36-37
So Jesus said, "I will be with you only a little while longer, and then I will go to the one who sent me." John 7:33.
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." Mathew 10:32
"But I have testimony greater than John's. But the works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf." John 6: 36-37
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, "You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from Him and He sent me." John 7: 28-29.
At that time, Jesus said in reply, "I give praise to you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Father except the son and anyone to whom the son wishes to reveal him." Matthew 11: 25-27
Allan Kardec believed that Jesus was the most perfect and purest being to ever don the flesh garment. To him, Jesus was the highest expression of divinity and the model after which we should fashion our existence. Allan Kardec felt a profound respect and reverence for Jesus and showed his love for him at every possible instance. He realized that history and the weight of theological tradition had obscured the meaning of Jesus' words and his presence among us. He used his advanced reasoning skills to bring forth a novel concept for the identify of Christ, one that would change people's views as well.
In a like manner, Chico Xavier, the great Brazilian humanitarian offered an interesting decisive factor about this issue. During a radio interview, he was asked at directly: "Do you believe that Jesus is God". Chico who was a dedicated student of Kardec's writing closed his eyes and visibly under higher inspiration responded: "I truly think that Jesus defined this matter when in prayer he cried: Our Father who art in Heaven".
