August 26th, 2017

​I was recently reading the book, How God Became King, and the author, Tom Wright, talked about the importance of the comma within the Apostles' Creed where it says, '...born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate....' There is a LOT of stuff within that little comma!

I would think that the things that have been recorded in all four gospel accounts would be considered the high points of Jesus' life, not only by the early Christians, but by those Christians of any period in history. At the start of Jesus' ministry is his encounter with John the Baptist. In the middle of his ministry is both the miracle of feeding the 5000 and the confession of  Peter (Matthew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30, Luke 9:18-21, John 6:67-71). At the end of his ministry is obviously his suffering and death--and obviously this last one is a critical part of the creed.

That Jesus withdrew (or retreated) after the feeding of the 5000 should be a pretty obvious indicator that he is not interested in a position of power. After Peter's confession, that Jesus tells the disciples not to tell anyone that he is the Christ should also be another indicator (Matt 16:20). The title of Christ can carry along with it a position of power. But Jesus wants to go in a different direction; he wants to go in the direction of the cross.

From the standpoint of etymology, to 'confess' means to say the same word. To say the same words, it is important to have the same definitions of words.

Many years ago, when I was looking at the way Martin Luther translated his favorite Psalm, I noticed that he would have some interesting translations that followed the theology he was finding within the Bible after his 'tower experience'. One of the most memorable is his final translation of Psalm 118:1, 'Danket dem Herrn, denn er ist freundlich...' Perhaps you can get that even if you do not know any German. He is saying, somewhat literally, 'Thank the Lord, for he is friendly.' 

There is a concrete action here that you do not usually see in the translation, 'Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.' Luther's translation is down-to-earth, much like the life of Jesus was. The Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, comes down to our level to understand our hurts, our emotions, and especially our words. You can see that willingness when Jesus goes down to get baptized with a 'sinners baptism'; you can see that willingness when he goes up to a 'convicted criminals'' cross.

Jesus comes down to our level to anoint us, to pour oil and wine on all the wounds. He comes down to our level to help us hear some words that are much better for us. His words give healing. His words give life.