Every year I
participate in a special effort called the New
Testament Challenge sponsored by a
priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He encourages Christians to spend the
Christmas Fast, also known as Advent) reading the entire New Testament as a
preparation for Christmas. Each year I have done this, it has been blessing to
me and I pray this year will be no different. As part of the New Testament
Challenge, I endeavor to blog a bit about the reading for that particular day.
I may miss a few, but I pray for those who follow this blog (NOW ALSO ON FACEBOOK) it will be a blessing.
Reading
so many chapters of the Gospel of Mark, you can’t really blog on any single
theme since so much is covered in eleven chapters. But while I was reading it occurred
to me to expand upon my thoughts yesterday about how people understand God
differently.
In
today’s readings, we see Jesus teaching in the synagogue and many were amazed. “And
when the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing
Him were astonished, saying, ‘Where did this Man get these things? And what
wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by
His hands?’” (Mark 6.2)
The
other day I was reading an article (I can’t remember where or I would link it
for you) in which the author was bewailing the teachings of Jesus as nothing
more than a collection of teachings from other rabbis, and therefore not enough
“credentials” with which to attach grand claims of His Divine Nature.
That’s
what hit me today. Since Jesus is God and in complete communion with the
Father, also God, and the Holy Spirit, also God, wouldn’t it be EXPECTED that
His teachings had also been heard in the Prophets and other righteous men of
the Old Testament? THEY all received their wisdom from HIM, right? So we believe
as Christians, anyway.
This
also helps to interpret today’s astonishment. They had only heard such wisdom
from the Prophets before, and they had only been taught by the greatest Rabbis
before. NOW, in One Man, Jesus Christ, they heard it all wrapped up into One. I
suppose I would be astonished also.
Then
I returned to our contemporary reality of more than 25,000 denominations of
Christianity, alluded to in my post yesterday. In today’s readings, Jesus said,
“For he who is not against us is on our side. For whoever gives you a cup of
water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to
you, he will by no means lose his reward.” (Mark 9.40-41)
On
the surface, every denomination “is the same” as I was told yesterday. But
clearly they are NOT the same. Some even speak against the Orthodox Church,
declaring us pagans. So there must be a place for other denominations, who
proclaim Jesus Christ as the Only Begotten Son and Word of God, at the table,
so-to-speak. I NOT talking about the Holy Table, NOR about receiving Holy Communion.
The Church wrote the Creed for a reason. It outlines HOW the original Church,
founded by Christ and led by the Holy Apostles, understood Jesus Christ. We are
able to rationally discuss with our brothers and sister in other denominations how
they understand Jesus Christ and how we understand Jesus Christ.
This
is where doctrine has a role, but I won’t get into doctrine today. I just
wanted to reflect a moment, provided I don’t end up rambling, on how much still
is the same in the way people experience God. I suppose if such a discussion
helps bring someone closer to understanding Jesus Christ (since He alone
reveals Himself to us), it will be a blessing.
Until
tomorrow…..
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