Adult Confirmation - Session 3: Jesus, Human + Divine

When we study Jesus and His ministry, there is a tendency for us to focus on just one aspect of His being. We find comfort in looking to Jesus the man; a man who laughed and cried, and who went through experiences and emotions not all that dissimilar to our own. At the same time, we are drawn to Jesus' divinity in the miracles He performed in order to find our own healing and hope. Yet, we cannot become fully formed disciples of Jesus Christ unless we partake in His fullness as the Word of God enfleshed - not just one half or another.

This intersection of humanity and divinity is prominent in Jesus' teachings. One of the main vehicles for these lessons were parables. These parables were illustrations that took imagery and substance that the men and women of 1st century Palestine would have understood, and infused them with powerful and transformational spiritual wisdom. Take for example this passage from Luke 13:18-19, 

"He said therefore, 'What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches'."

For us today, this illustration doesn't necessarily make a lot of sense (unless you're in the agriculture business). When we read these parables in Scripture, rather than pass over them when they don't make sense, let's pause, figure out what the message is, and try to put it into modern terms. This was the exercise our table groups did this past Sunday. Here is some of their work:

Matthew 18:10-14, "The Parable of the Lost Sheep"

• Point: Everyone is worth the same in God's eyes.
• Example: As a teacher, you have a classroom of twenty-five children, and twenty-three of the children understand the concept being taught. The teacher won't just settle on the twenty-three who were able to get it, but would make sure that the remaining two children did as well.

Luke 18:9-14, "The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector"

• Point: Don't give generously to draw attention to yourself. Give generously to draw attention to God.
• Example: A successful business man is close to retirement, and one of his last acts is giving $25 million to build a new education facility with his name on it, so that all who enter its doors know of his generosity. At the same time an oil man is also near retirement, and likewise, gives $25 million to build an education facility. The difference is that he does so anonymously. 

How can we partake in the wisdom of God if we skip over the parts we don't understand? This exercise was challenging, but rewarding. We would do well to not be fearful of the things which we can't comprehend, and instead prepare our hearts and minds to experience the fullness of Jesus Christ, the Word of God enfleshed.

Yours,

Michael C. Andres

Director of Discipleship