So, I had some awesome conversations today that I would like to share.
The first one was about John 20:15, which says - "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
I think John had a stroke of genius when he wrote. The connection between Jesus and Adam is made complete. Adam, as the first gardener, tended the earth, and now the connection is drawn to the resurrected Jesus. As a perfect man, as a risen Lord, he is mistaken to be the gardener, which he is in another way, and I think that it also challenges us today - to care for the earth. What was man supposed to do in the beginning anyways? What was Jesus compared to? A gardener. Continuing in this pattern of thinking, I also think that people too often look to Jesus as just a sacrifice for sins, which he was, of course, but he was also the supreme example of how we should live. Many say - including Nietzsche and Gandhi - that they loved and respect Christ, but not Christians. We have fallen short of our example. I believe that must continue to move beyond "good and evil" and start loving and redeeming the world.
Besides that conversation, I also had an amazing class and an intended conversation with Nick and Ben afterwards about it. Those guys rock. Anyways, this has been a good day. Once again, college has challenged me to think again about what I believe and why I believe it. I wonder if I am going to go home and have my parents think I am a heretic...
Hopefully not. Ah, life. Where are you taking me? Where I am going with you?
4 comments:
I think you should be very careful when you call the words of scripture a stroke of genius on the part of John. John may have written those words but they were given to him through inspiration of the Spirit. The Bible is God-breathed.
And furthermore, I challenge you for saying people look to Jesus "too often" as a sacrifice for sins. Shouldn't we ALWAYS look to Christ as The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world? Knowing this, we must also always consider "how should we then live." The latter without the former is pretty much meaningless.
While I agree with you, Carol, I will also disagree.Scripture is God-breathed, but man also wrote it. I don't think John was in a trance. I think he was actively pursuing God in his writing, and that the Spirit worked through him.
And secondly, how often do we talk about Christ's death and resurrection, as atoning sacrifice, without mention of his life? The latter without the former is pretty much meaningless as well. How then should we live? I believe that the life of Christ answered that. He was the second Adam - the first fruits, now we all are new creations.
Hmm. We might be agreeing and talking past each other, if you will. But, again, while it may be the "gospel according to John", the truth expressed is God's.
I believe Jesus is the "second Adam" but is it perhaps a stretch to find that in that passage? In what way is Jesus a gardener? Was Jesus compared to a gardener, or rather contrasted with a gardener here? But it's cool that you thought about that.
Yes, Jesus is our example for "how we should then live". I guess the danger is following to one extreme. I don't want "moral teaching" without being taught that I will fail to "live a life worthy" but shouldn't lose hope because Christ is my propitiation. You don't want doctrine and teaching of what Christ did without hearing what we must do.
the solution? Attend College Church and skip chapel. :-)
Oh. Nice solution.
Post a Comment