As all of this had been going on, the disciples, including our author Matthew, have been watching and learning. Finally, Jesus knows it is time to ask THE QUESTION, to settle once and for all what all of this is about. Peter--perhaps the most aggressive, type A personality among the disciples--is the one to answer: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God."
Jesus' identity--the fact that he was the Son of God--was the focus of his ministry, not his actions or teachings. The healings and the miracles served to point to his divinity. The teachings showed an access to Truth not available to a mere mortal ("he taught as one who had authority, and not as the teachers of the law). It was all about revealing that he was God in the flesh. A miracle would impress, would help an individual for the rest of their mortal lives. A good teaching might help people live better. But his mission was much larger than that. He was here to save all of humanity for all of eternity, and no one understood how big, how dramatic, how gruesome and glorious that effort would become. Now that his identity is established with his disciples, everything changes. There is a gravity that begins to pull Jesus, and the disciples, and all of us, to the Cross.
As followers of Christ, we spend a lot of time on Jesus' teachings, as we should. But Jesus' teachings are not life--not primarily. Jesus himself is life. There is a huge difference. If you try to follow Jesus' teachings, you will fail. "Be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect." (Matt. 5:48) Good luck with that. Jesus-perfection is unattainable, but Jesus-life is within our grasp, and Jesus is about to show us how.
What stands out to you about Jesus as a person so far? What has surprised you most? What about him are you struggling with?
Jesus is not coming across the way I expected. I'm not sure if it's Matthew's style of writing, but I feel like at least once a chapter, Jesus says "are you stupid???" (for example: "How is it you don't understand" in 16:11, "Are you still so dull?" in 15:16). I feel like we are taught that Jesus is kind and patient, but he seems so impatient in these chapters what with the refusing to perform miracles and blowing off the woman in chapter 15. I'm having a hard time reconciling this.
ReplyDeleteA guy named Philip Yancey, wrote a book called "The Jesus I Never Knew," and he wrestles with this tension. The Jesus of the flannel-boards in elementary Sunday school lessons seems to be a different man than the one we read about in the gospels. I see Jesus' "frustration" with ignorance as a hint of passion. He realizes the gravity of his message and mission. This is not a game. The stakes are high. You can't miss this.
ReplyDeleteI also realize that written words have a tendency to miss a lot. It's the reason why we'd rather not send important messages by email. We miss tone-of-voice, body language and inflection. In one particular movie version of Matthew, Jesus' doesn't come across nearly as irritated, but speaks the exact words of the text. I have to create space for my misinterpreting his words and attributing more to him than is really there.
It seems you might be saying Emma is misinterpreting the text. It's as if irritation or anger somehow negates the holiness of the God-man. While you are correct in saying the written word can miss the wholeness of communication in the flesh, I don't think that is the issue. My question would be 'why do we assume anger, irritation, frustration, even sarcasm, is somehow incongruent with being God? Can you tell me where the Bible says that is wrong?
ReplyDeleteI know I'm not supposed to evaluate comments, but this is my favorite comment thread so far. This is why I think reading the gospels is so important--when you read, watch and listen to Jesus through the gospel accounts, the real Jesus is different from popular notions of him, and you have to wrestle with that. Emma, I wish everyone would say "Jesus is not coming across the way I expected." I'm sure the disciples said the same thing many times. In the end, he still didn't come across as expected; he was more and better than they ever imagined.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right about Matthew's writing style. His purpose is to highlight Jesus' authority. John, in contrast, gives a more personal account. Both are true, and both are important, which is probably why we have 4 gospel accounts and not just 1.
Interesting that the harsh statements you mention are directed at the disciples. Jesus exhibits amazing kindness in encounters with people, but he's sometimes hard on his closest followers, like a coach who pushes his best players the hardest to draw the best out of them. I know everyone doesn't respond the same way to this, but I am drawn to it; it contradicts the "wussification" of Jesus in popular culture.
In no way was I implying that Emma was misinterpreting the text. I agree with her. What I was saying was that "I have to create space..." not her. I am the one who reads into the text my own feelings and my own opinions. It's a me, not you...
ReplyDeleteI understand that Jesus exhibits a healthy dose of anger, irritation, frustration and even sarcasm in many cases in the context of the gospels. I also realize that Matthew was written by a Jew who got it to Jews who weren't getting it and it's possible that some of his frustration creeps into his choice of words. God wanted it there, obviously, so we wrestle with what it means and how it applies to me.
I am encouraged that Jesus is not a wussy (thanks Cameron). If his words are harsh, they are meant to edify in the larger story. If he is irritated, it's because of the larger story. If he is sarcastic, I like him even more!
I didn't consider the relation of the people to Him. It does make sense that He would be frustrated with the disciples. He needs them to get the point, and He needs them to get it _now_. If I view the words and tone in regards to a sense of urgency that Jesus must have had, it makes more sense. At the same time, I would like for Him to say to me "Now, Emma, I see that you didn't quite understand what I was saying. Let me try to explain it in a different way" rather than "Seriously, Emma? I already told you this."
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