The Eternal Messiah Jesus of K'Turia

Excerpt 4

Jesus smiled at her. “What you have discovered is the truth of faith.
Answer me this: Have you ever known a thing, but could not prove it?”
“Why yes,” she said. “My parents, the love they had for me. I never
doubted it. But I could not prove it.” And then she smiled,
understanding.
“Now you see,” said Jesus. “Who are they who would say that the truth
of faith is any less than the truth of evidence? Any who believe this are
mistaken, for they have one faith, in the reality of evidence, but deny
another faith, that in and of itself. I tell you, faith is stronger than any
logic, more powerful than any evidence.”
“I see that now,” she said. “If only everyone could see this truth!”
“Many have, and more will,” said Jesus. “Each will find the path to the
Truth in their own way.”
“I must tell you something,” she said. “The message you bring—I have
it many times before. As have others. I did not hearken to it, and may
never have, if I had not met you. Many others will also not accept this
truth.”
“And does that mean I should be silent, simply because some may not
listen?”
“No. But I fear—I fear for you. You know that I am—not of this place.”
“That is not of my concern,” said Jesus. “The Truth I bring, it is for
everyone.”
“I understand. But from where I am from, and have been, terrible
things have happened to those who have tried to speak this truth.” How
was she to say this? That the Jesus of Earth had been crucified? That for
every one of the other messiahs she had learned about who had
succeeded, three had been violently turned upon by their own people?
“So what would you have me do?” asked Jesus. “Would you have me
struck dumb, or hide in the mountains? One does not light a lamp, only
to hide it under a bushel. You certainly know this. The truth you
sought, the one of evidence. Did you hide it away, or shout it aloud?
Such is the power of belief.”
“But what if the people are not ready to believe? I worry they will hurt
you.”
“Do not concern yourself with me,” said Jesus. “Instead, look to
yourself. We each have our part. Now that you have found your truth,
do not think that your road is over. In many ways it is just beginning,
and the path ahead will be filled with hardships. Belief is only the first
step. From there, you must embrace the Truth, so it becomes part of
you, and transforms you. You will be challenged with temptation, and
thus you must have faith, faith that the Truth will guide you and
support you. You must use this faith to hold onto, to keep you steady.”
He reached out for her hand. “I have seen the torment in you. You
have crossed over the threshold of belief, and in that way your time is
now. But my time, it has not yet come, though it is soon. Then I will
proclaim anew, and even those who doubt will hear my voice.”
“And will they believe?” asked Prentiss.
“Belief is not a fate or a destiny, but a choice. Belief cannot be forced on
people, it must be embraced by them. I come not to remake people, but
to enable to remake themselves.”