Wisdom: The Art of Living Well...Pastor Phil Strong

Jesus: The Wisdom of God (Part 8)

11-14-10

● Most peoples of the ancient world viewed their world from the perspective of “myth”: stories told to explain how the world works. Those stories often dealt with phenomenon in the physical world for which the culture had no explanation… where human reason and rationale fail.

            We don’t want stories, we want answers! But, in the biblical worldview, story is the answer offered.

● The most common myth among the regions, although replete with its variations, was the myth of Baal. Essentially, it revolved around the cycles of nature necessary for survival, primarily, growing crops or raising livestock (in an arid region, the fertility of the land and crops was vital).

As you might imagine, water was a major element of the myth (e.g. easier to see the importance of Jesus’ demonstration of power over water (Mark 4:41 “Who is this… even the wind and waves obey him!”; Also, God’s deliverance from Egypt involved crossing water).

The struggle for life was really a cosmic battle amongst the gods; an on-going struggle between “order” and “chaos”.

In other words, they lived in a world of powers.

            Historians who study the ancient cultures suggest that when things were going badly, people didn’t look to place the blame with each other. Instead, they blamed supernatural culprits. From their worldview, what was happening on earth could be traced directly to actions taking place in the heaven-lies.

● The ancients saw no separation between the earthly and the heavenly, as most of our modern culture. The “unseen” was the reality.

The ancient peoples believed that the world was replete with hostile forces which needed to be appeased if you expected to live successfully (e.g. if you were going to travel by sea, you’d better satisfy the sea-god before setting sail).

● So, in such a world, the question was not, “Which God is real?”, but “Which God is most powerful?” It explains the showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18) as well as the plagues of the Exodus (Exodus 7- ).

● So, it is into this climate of uncertainty and fear created by such a worldview, that Jesus comes saying things like, “they shouldn’t worry about what to eat or drink”, that their God is aware of even the numbers of hairs on our heads, that they can be confident because of God’s awareness of them and determination to care for them.         

The “back-story” (a story that tells what led up to the main story or plot) being told was one in which the powers and the evil (disorder) that it inflicted was taken seriously.

Evil “was” the issue. Set that over against a modern worldview that says, “Evil? That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”

The more entrenched the denial, the more opportunity we provide for evil to operate unnoticed and without restraint.

The back-story, if you will, being told in the Scriptures, is one that assumes the presence of evil and refuses to offer any purely human resolution.

            The cross says, “This is what it looks like when God ‘hears the cries of his people and comes down to rescue them’ (Exodus 3:7-8)

● Arguably, one of the most significant passages for understanding the “back-story” is Isaiah 52:7 [see also Romans 1:1-4].“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news (proclamation; carry the good news), who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation (deliverance; victory; help from God), who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”

 “We interrupt this program to bring you a special announcement…”         

Jesus used the back-story and the language of cosmic conflict (battle) to describe his mission.

1 John 3:8 “The reason that the son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil…”

“In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world…” (John 16:33)

Clearly within Jesus’ worldview, there was an enemy who would have to be fought, but it was not the “pagans” who surrounded them.

John 12:31 (see also John 14:30; 16:11) “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out…”

            “prince of this world”: the ruler of this world is the dark power that has not only marred creation, but has actually infected the human structures, priesthood and empire,  that will act against Jesus.

● But, he continues… “But, when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself. He said this to show the kind of death that he was going to die.”

            Jesus is referencing a “back-story”, the story told in Numbers 21 (“we have sinned against God… Moses put a serpent on a pole, anyone who looks to it…”).

● Jesus offers them not an explanation, but a story. “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the son of man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3- with Nicodemus).

Some of the best known expressions of the cosmic battle have been written off as just some “random exorcisms” which would bring some relief to the tortured souls.

[Matt.12:22-32 read]

Notice how the people’s reaction serves as an indicator of the story in which they were living. They think they are encountering someone who is fighting the real battle with the real enemy, and doing so on their behalf (just as David fought for her).

Jesus speaks of “…bind(ing) the strong man…” The strong man in this metaphor being Satan. To “bind” is a metaphorical term indicating the curbing of power so that the strong man’s house (Satan’s kingdom) might be plundered.

[Matt.9:33 “never have we seen anything like this in Israel…” Mark 1:27- he commanded the demons on his own authority and he claimed that the authority was given to him by the covenant God (Matt.12:28 “finger” reflecting Exodus 8:19)].

● The real battle, as the story goes, that Jesus had come to fight was with the ruler of the power of this world; the one who had usurped the authority designed for humanity and was now bent on ensuring chaos and death.

Most of our understanding keeps talk of the “kingdom” and the “cross” separated. The writers of the NT intentionally align them as part of the same whole.

The Jewish stories of hope always depicted a final, great battle which they would fight themselves or God would fight for them or a Messiah would fight. The outcome of that decisive battle would be that the Kingdom of Heaven would be here on the earth.

I contend that there is simply no other way to offer this kind of knowledge except through an epic tale (bringing an epoch--- long period of time, to conclusion).

Again, Jesus’ words and actions only make sense if framed in the context of the Jewish story; and, they only make sense if he believed that through him, God was acting to bring about the Kingdom: that he was, in a very real way, fighting on Israel’s behalf, the final battle with evil--- the real enemy.

The cross and the resurrection are God’s “no” (judgment) to evil and his invitation to participate in his new world.

● In such a view, the creation, itself, is not seen as progressing toward completion, but the Creator, himself, entering the chaos to rescue and restore all that has been marred and defaced by evil.