Hi there,
So I have been studying the word, week to week, for some time now - trying to memorize as much of it as possible. Not to boast (I certainly don't want to do that) but I have even tried visualizing words, that I think Jesus might have said - with a little help from the Holy Spirit. But even despite having a plethora of words to relate to (whether or not you count the words, that may not have been as historic as I thought), I have come to the conclusion that there is more to Jesus, than just what He said.
What Jesus said, has paramount importance, but in terms of committing to Christ, and following Him, His words are weapons of warfare, not a final map - a final map, to life in Heaven, where there are things you can't even say on Earth, they are so holy. I think what the Bible takes great pains to set out, is that we encounter the words of Jesus, on the way to meeting Him, in person. It is meeting Jesus in person, that is the point. Yet even then, you might be tempted to think you can rest on that!
Actually, what I think happens, is much like the Bible sets out, by way of allusion. The allusion is to the choice between the true Mystery, and MYSTERY (the iniquitous "mystery") - one which gives life, and one which takes it. The struggle here is quite profound; the Mystery of the Christ pertains to moving from listening to the Word, to doing it - while MYSTERY is ignorant of the Word, and does as she pleases. You cannot have both! But while MYSTERY becomes more and more known for her evil, the Mystery of the Christ, continues to become ever more mysterious!
How mysterious can the Mystery of Christ, become? Well, that indeed is part of the mystery - but I don't want to mince words here: what is profound, is that even a partially complete history of the life and times of Jesus, all that He said and did only add to the mystery more and more. This is what John meant when he said "all the books in the world, could not contain the things which Jesus did" (John 21:25) - as it is what is meant when it says "MYSTERY goes up in smoke", that is, that that which does not compare to Christ's Mystery cannot last, by comparison. The point being, there is far more Mystery in Christ, than we should ever worry could not be found - in this particular word, or another.
Now I am not saying "it is true, as long as it has Mystery", I am saying the hallmark fo the faith which we seek, is both word and the consumption of it, both Mystery and the revealing of it - it gives us strength to give the word proper context; and it gives us hope of meaning, if we trust, that more than the word alone, will be revealed. That is what we are waiting for, the Master, who brings with Himself the Word and the Mystery of it. We are not just guessing what He will say, we actually want to be in the Mystery of His Presence - which we know to be life.
I hope this has opened the Door a little, to what you are searching for in the scriptures - and more than that that you find it!
So I have been studying the word, week to week, for some time now - trying to memorize as much of it as possible. Not to boast (I certainly don't want to do that) but I have even tried visualizing words, that I think Jesus might have said - with a little help from the Holy Spirit. But even despite having a plethora of words to relate to (whether or not you count the words, that may not have been as historic as I thought), I have come to the conclusion that there is more to Jesus, than just what He said.
What Jesus said, has paramount importance, but in terms of committing to Christ, and following Him, His words are weapons of warfare, not a final map - a final map, to life in Heaven, where there are things you can't even say on Earth, they are so holy. I think what the Bible takes great pains to set out, is that we encounter the words of Jesus, on the way to meeting Him, in person. It is meeting Jesus in person, that is the point. Yet even then, you might be tempted to think you can rest on that!
Actually, what I think happens, is much like the Bible sets out, by way of allusion. The allusion is to the choice between the true Mystery, and MYSTERY (the iniquitous "mystery") - one which gives life, and one which takes it. The struggle here is quite profound; the Mystery of the Christ pertains to moving from listening to the Word, to doing it - while MYSTERY is ignorant of the Word, and does as she pleases. You cannot have both! But while MYSTERY becomes more and more known for her evil, the Mystery of the Christ, continues to become ever more mysterious!
How mysterious can the Mystery of Christ, become? Well, that indeed is part of the mystery - but I don't want to mince words here: what is profound, is that even a partially complete history of the life and times of Jesus, all that He said and did only add to the mystery more and more. This is what John meant when he said "all the books in the world, could not contain the things which Jesus did" (John 21:25) - as it is what is meant when it says "MYSTERY goes up in smoke", that is, that that which does not compare to Christ's Mystery cannot last, by comparison. The point being, there is far more Mystery in Christ, than we should ever worry could not be found - in this particular word, or another.
Now I am not saying "it is true, as long as it has Mystery", I am saying the hallmark fo the faith which we seek, is both word and the consumption of it, both Mystery and the revealing of it - it gives us strength to give the word proper context; and it gives us hope of meaning, if we trust, that more than the word alone, will be revealed. That is what we are waiting for, the Master, who brings with Himself the Word and the Mystery of it. We are not just guessing what He will say, we actually want to be in the Mystery of His Presence - which we know to be life.
I hope this has opened the Door a little, to what you are searching for in the scriptures - and more than that that you find it!
