We start with the question: What is the story so far?
This week, we recognize that the story came to a sort of end in what we call the Old Testament (or Hebrew Scripture).
It also marks a beginning in the New Testament (or Greek Scripture).
Those of us who read genre fiction or watch movies can recognize the idea of the sequel: a story that was ended now continues.
We also recognize the challenge of having two different religious traditions (Judaism and Christianity) coming to different conclusions about this moment.
How we see this transition from one part of scripture to another is a deeply loaded question for us. But I don’t think it is one we must spend our time on this week. Instead, we might take as granted the simple idea that the story continues.
And in considering this continuing, we might simply suggest that this story is both radically new and deeply traditional. Jesus himself speaks to his own coming as not reflecting a departure from the law, but the fulfilling of it. Something new and old. Transformed and traditional. A paradox.
I’m reminded of watching those HGTV or DIY renovation shows in which a designer comes along and makes an old house new again by looking more like itself than ever. This, of course, is an imperfect analogy, but one that speaks to the vision Jesus himself describes for his ministry.
As we move into the Newer Testament, let us hold onto this tension. For there is a lot that can be learned from it.
Week Three: Relationship
In the first part, we reflected on the promise God made to the people. In the second part, we saw how the people responded to that.
This week we connect with the sacred purpose and what it means for our relationship to God and each other.
Prompt: We often speak of faith as a matter of our relationship to God. Last week, we were invited to reflect on God’s relationship to us. Jesus invites us to reflect on our relationship to one another. What can your experience of relationships teach about the love of God?
Suggested Readings: You might try reading one of the gospels from beginning to end: Mark, Matthew, Luke, or John. If you’re looking to dive into your faith, Matthew is a good place to start. If you want to see the challenge of faith (or want to follow the lectionary year), pick Mark. If you want to explore the freeing spirit of faithful living, choose John. If you’re looking to “put it all together” read Luke.
Assignment: Read the gospel as a story-within-a-story. Take note of Jesus’s life and ministry. Where he goes and who he helps. Take note of the disciples and how they respond to him. And the opposition and challenge. Grieve his passion and final days and then celebrate in his resurrection in the end. I personally love all the details that jump out at me from earlier in the story. The kinds of things we don’t notice unless we just read a previous passage–recurring characters or statements that have new resonance because they remind us of an earlier context.
Learn the story of Jesus as told in your chosen gospel. It’s totally worth it!
Also consider it within the greater story. What does this reveal about the story?
A Note About Reading: The gospels are not history books about Jesus. But because they put Jesus at the center of them, they sometimes feel like two thousand year-old news clippings.
Consider how they are presented to the reader, especially if you are reading the Bible from a bound, physical copy. The introducing words are: The Gospel According to Mark.
Gospel is a word that means “good news”. So these are books that share the “good news” of Jesus according to specific evangelists. Notice how the phrasing adds layers to the idea. We aren’t directly learning about Jesus. We are hearing “good news”. Jesus isn’t the sole purpose of our attention–we’re here to hear the good news. Good news that directly involves Jesus. Good news that is revealed in the person of Jesus.
In other words, we’re here to hear a story. A story that reveals a whole lot about what God is up in the person of Jesus. But the point of it all is that God is up to something.
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