Jesus and the "M" word

Masturbation:

Here I return to a subject that I'd classified in an earlier chapter as "probably". After having done some translation work in psalm 139 for another study; What'd He REALLY look like? in the light of that study, I would update my "probably" answer to "Yes, at least once."

Now where did I draw this conclusion out of?

15. Never was anything hidden of (denied) of (the way my) physical body (was made) than (coming from) You, by which I was made in secret, perfectly woven in the lowest lands of the earth.

Now, what the first half of this verse is telling us is that any questions or life issues that Jesus had, he was not denied the choice to explore. Now if he had a desire to find out what sex felt like, he was free to do so; yet only within the confines of what the law prescribed was appropriate to his life circumstances. So since there is no injunction against self stimulation, if he had an inclination to do so; there was no reason not to.

Now - behavioral context:

The rest of this psalm displays ample language of Jesus being grateful, amazed, and overwhelmed at the Father's care in his life. He was loved and he felt loved. That love was overwhelming to a positive impact on Jesus's psyche and emotions. That "overwhelmed" didn't make him fearful; although it made him awe struck, it also made him joyful.

Interestingly though; to be grateful, amazed and overwhelmed by this Divine presence not just in his personhood, but also in his "space" was humbling. Any of us who've experienced the presence of God can attest to this.

Again though, just like "overwhelmed"; it's not humility as a shameful sensation, but humility in an awe striking sense. It's humbling to be protected, loved, encompassed and "possessed of" (the possession of) God. It's (as Job describes) an "I place my hand over my mouth." reality: I don't have anything to say because words can't describe this. It's not a mere feeling. It's an awareness; and an awareness that's present regardless of how one "feels".

Not only is it all these other things; it's also comforting.

Sex as an act of worship:

Now did all these feelings of being amazed, enthralled, overwhelmed, loved and comforted translate into sexual arousal to Jesus? For someone who would have seen sex on account of it's extension of / reflection of God's goodness as an act of worship; that would be a logical conclusion, for that's what I think (just like every other good thing we have received from on high) sex was intended as in the first place.

Now worship entailed in the act of something, not for the sake of the experience itself, but for the pursuit of praising God (in the relationship with Him) for His goodness. We may sing and dance as acts of worship too that are performed in the physical world.

We also thank God for the provision He's given us in food, clothing, shelter, occupation, financial support etc. We may also be grateful for friends, family and pets (and / or farm animals). In all these things, in all that you do, do all to the glory of God. This encompasses every part of our lives, regardless of who we are or what our life circumstances afford to us.

The desire to pursue activity that would bring one to a more keen awareness of awe struck, cared for, overwhelmed, comforted and possessed of; in an act of surrender makes sense too. So thus it seems reasonable that activity that brought this awareness into focus would have been something Jesus desired to repeat.

Jesus had surrendered his entire existence and willingly so, on account of being loved and wanting to please the Father. Since the Father did love His Son, He also intervened for Jesus in ways that made being obedient easier. One obvious example we have is the angel of death at Passover. Jesus was so "hell bent" on accomplishing his mission that he surrendered his entire existence to that end. The Father helped him accomplish this by assigning his soul to a place where its human frailty wouldn't get in the way. This was a mercy to both us and Jesus. What it was like to have his soul severed from the rest of his personhood; I have no idea. Although I do think it would be reasonable to conclude that it was indeed a death in and of itself.

So likewise, I think this is also evident in the second half of the passage in Matthew 19 that says "by the power of God who restrains him….". The Father helped Jesus to be able to fulfill "be fruitful and multiply" via the Spirit by restraining him in the flesh. The Greek word here "restrain" or "contain" means "to make a space for". He made a space for Jesus to contend with this need between the two of them.

Now ironically, this word is also translated "accept"; which means to decide to be OK in that provided space. Which apparently Jesus decided to "occupy" that "space" as opposed to choosing to go to a different space. (i.e. fulfilling the command in the flesh). Yet in a grand way, as psalm 139 explains to us; Jesus was grateful for all the provisions in life the Father provided, because he knew it was all to the greater good in the end. Jesus was not bitter over what could be perceived to be "denied of"; but rather came to the conclusion that the Father's ideas were more excellent than Jesus's own and part of "learning obedience" was learning to trust the plan.

Also though, all of what Jesus may have wanted to understand was provided to him. If he wanted to know what it was like to have children; that was afforded to him also in Joseph's death. Now despite the painful trauma of Joseph dying that the entire family undoubtedly felt; I think Jesus came to a place of being grateful too for the lessons Joseph's absence afforded Jesus the opportunity to learn. For all intent and purposes, on account of Joseph's death; Jesus had the experience of raising a family.

So what of greater glory could Jesus have attained to in having his own wife and children than to reign in the kingdom of heaven? Yes, you can have those who will love you because you are their father; but what of a greater deed, than to have millions who love You because You bought them with Your own blood.

Yes Father, it was of a more brilliant plan to not let a good creation go to total waste! How ingenious; like this be fruitful and multiply idea we also came up with in eternity past. I'm eternally grateful I only ever have to endure this atonement ordeal once; but that other thing. Hallelujah, I want to do that again!