Can we Really know the Mind of Jesus?

Akita Suggagaki · Jan 8, 2022

Yes, at least something of it.

What woke me to this was my recent interest in classic novels and also music and art. They give us access into the minds of the authors. A novel, for example, has characters created by the author who then then puts his or her own thoughts and words into their mouths The more we read the more we get to knw the author, perhaps even better than their own family members.

The Gospels give us parables, words and actions attributed to Jesus. They give us access into his way of thinking, his mind, and a deeper realization of who he is. Today I was reading the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The image Jesus creates for us is one of a Father who overlooks the insults and stupidity of both of his sons. The reconciliation is all up to them. the Father freely welcomes them.

That is the way Jesus understands the Father and all we need for reconciliation. For a closer walk with Jesus we must read the Gospels and read them slowly, entering into them.

Eftsoon · Jan 8, 2022

Akita Suggagaki said:
Yes, at least something of it.

What woke me to this was my recent interest in classic novels and also music and art. They give us access into the minds of the authors. A novel, for example, has characters created by the author who then then puts his or her own thoughts and words into their mouths The more we read the more we get to knw the author, perhaps even better than their own family members.

The Gospels give us parables, words and actions attributed to Jesus. They give us access into his way of thinking, his mind, and a deeper realization of who he is. Today I was reading the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The image Jesus creates for us is one of a Father who overlooks the insults and stupidity of both of his sons. The reconciliation is all up to them. the Father freely welcomes them.

That is the way Jesus understands the Father and all we need for reconciliation. For a closer walk with Jesus we must read the Gospels and read them slowly, entering into them.

The Old Testament also enriches our understanding. The typology and foreshadowing fleshes out the image of Christ we see in the gospels. Abraham and Isaac for instance is a kind of double typology (this isn't an actual thing lol) Abraham is the knight of faith, willing to renounce everything, but simultaneously believing that God will act miraculously and providentially. He surrenders to God's determination of the future. This foreshadows Christ in Gethsemane. Isaac also willingly submits to his fate, and is the sacrificial victim. It deepens our understanding of Christ.

Rachel20 · Jan 8, 2022

Eftsoon said:
The Old Testament also enriches our understanding. The typology and foreshadowing fleshes out the image of Christ we see in the gospels. Abraham and Isaac for instance is a kind of double typology (this isn't an actual thing lol) Abraham is the knight of faith, willing to renounce everything, but simultaneously believing that God will act miraculously and providentially. He surrenders to God's determination of the future. This foreshadows Christ in Gethsemane. Isaac also willingly submits to his fate, and is the sacrificial victim. It deepens our understanding of Christ.

The unnamed servant who found Isaac a bride may then be a type for the Holy Spirit. And Jacob a type for us.

Mr. M · Jan 8, 2022

Akita Suggagaki said:
Yes, at least something of it.

What woke me to this was my recent interest in classic novels and also music and art. They give us access into the minds of the authors. A novel, for example, has characters created by the author who then then puts his or her own thoughts and words into their mouths The more we read the more we get to knw the author, perhaps even better than their own family members.

The Gospels give us parables, words and actions attributed to Jesus. They give us access into his way of thinking, his mind, and a deeper realization of who he is. Today I was reading the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The image Jesus creates for us is one of a Father who overlooks the insults and stupidity of both of his sons. The reconciliation is all up to them. the Father freely welcomes them.

That is the way Jesus understands the Father and all we need for reconciliation. For a closer walk with Jesus we must read the Gospels and read them slowly, enottering into them.

Nice insights, and so true. Please allow me to take your analogy one step further. I often
tell others that the scriptures form the basis for literal topics for conversation with the Lord.
In other words, if you are grappling with the comprehension of a passage in the narrative,
we can discuss this with the Lord. So using your analogy, we can not only gain insight from
an author by reading his book, we can get so much more if we entered into a dialog or
correspondence with him or her and ask questions. Your interest in their work would lead
to a personal relationship, and friendship. This is one aspect of my understanding of the
fellowship with the Spirit.

Mr. M · Jan 8, 2022

Rachel20 said:
The unnamed servant who found Isaac a bride may then be a type for the Holy Spirit. And Jacob a type for us.

Interesting that you would mention the servant of Genesis 24.
I recently used his example for us in prayer.
When you stand praying, forgive, and be specific!

Here is his name...
Genesis 16:2 But Abram said, Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless,
and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?
Genesis 24:2 So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over
all that he had......

Rachel20 · Jan 8, 2022

Minister Monardo said:
Interesting that you would mention the servant of Genesis 24.
I recently used his example for us in prayer.
When you stand praying, forgive, and be specific!

Here is his name...
Genesis 16:2 But Abram said, Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless,
and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?
Genesis 24:2 So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over
all that he had......

Thank you for the name. I just looked it up and it means "God of help" or "God is help". Which furthers the typology as Holy Spirit, called the comforter/helper in John 14.

Albion · Jan 8, 2022

Akita Suggagaki said:
Yes, at least something of it.

What woke me to this was my recent interest in classic novels and also music and art. They give us access into the minds of the authors. A novel, for example, has characters created by the author who then then puts his or her own thoughts and words into their mouths The more we read the more we get to knw the author, perhaps even better than their own family members.

The Gospels give us parables, words and actions attributed to Jesus. They give us access into his way of thinking, his mind, and a deeper realization of who he is. Today I was reading the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The image Jesus creates for us is one of a Father who overlooks the insults and stupidity of both of his sons. The reconciliation is all up to them. the Father freely welcomes them.

That is the way Jesus understands the Father and all we need for reconciliation. For a closer walk with Jesus we must read the Gospels and read them slowly, entering into them.

It sounds like you might have misunderstand the meaning or the way it was presented. Jesus often challenged his listener, particularly when someone had tried to put him on the spot by posing an unanswerable question or it was asked by a hypocrite. Calling them out while answering the question was done for a purpose, but it can be misinterpreted by the reader, especially one from a different era and culture, or by someone who thinks of Jesus as just a human and so judges everything with that in mind (which is not to say that this refers to you, but we often hear the kind of question you brought to us).

Soyeong · Jan 8, 2022

Akita Suggagaki said:
Yes, at least something of it.

What woke me to this was my recent interest in classic novels and also music and art. They give us access into the minds of the authors. A novel, for example, has characters created by the author who then then puts his or her own thoughts and words into their mouths The more we read the more we get to knw the author, perhaps even better than their own family members.

The Gospels give us parables, words and actions attributed to Jesus. They give us access into his way of thinking, his mind, and a deeper realization of who he is. Today I was reading the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The image Jesus creates for us is one of a Father who overlooks the insults and stupidity of both of his sons. The reconciliation is all up to them. the Father freely welcomes them.

That is the way Jesus understands the Father and all we need for reconciliation. For a closer walk with Jesus we must read the Gospels and read them slowly, entering into them.

In Genesis 18:19, God experientially knew Abraham that he might teach his children and those of his household to walk in His ways by doing righteousness and justice that the Lord may bring to him all that he has promised him. In Exodus 33:13, Moses wanted God to be gracious to him by making known to him His ways that he might experientially know Him, and Israel too. In Jeremiah 9:3 and 9:6, they did not experientially know God and refused to know Him because in 9:13, they had forsaken His law, while in 9:24, those who know God know that he delights in practicing in steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in all of the earth, so delighting in expressing these and other aspects of God's nature in obedience to His law is the way to experientially know God, and His Son, who is the exact expression of His nature (Hebrews 1:3). In Matthew 19:17, the way to enter eternal life is by obeying God's commandments, and in John 17:3, eternal life is experientially knowing God and Jesus, so God's commandments are His instructions for how to know Jesus. In John 2:4, those who say that they know Christ, but don't obey his commands are liars, and in 1 John 3:4-6, sin is the transgression of God's law and those who continue to practice sin have neither seen nor known him. In Matthew 7:23, Jesus said that he would tell those who are workers of lawlessness to depart from him because he never knew them so knowing Christ is the goal of the law. So God's word does teach us how to experientially know the mind of Jesus.

Mr. M · Jan 8, 2022

Rachel20 said:
Thank you for the name. I just looked it up and it means "God of help" or "God is help". Which furthers the typology as Holy Spirit, called the comforter/helper in John 14.

Amen. A rich study in the meaning of the name, which definitely points to the Holy Spirit.
The name Lazarus in the NT is Eleazar in the OT
Memorial For Lazarus

Blade · Jan 8, 2022

"Jesus often challenged his listener," Amen.. like the thousands there and Jesus says to Philip what are you going to do about this. Christ haha already knew HE was testing Philip.

So can we really know the mind of Christ. Yes.. He in is we are one and we are to have the mind of Christ that thought it not robbery to be called equal with God.

Akita Suggagaki · Jan 8, 2022

Eftsoon said:
The Old Testament also enriches our understanding. The typology and foreshadowing fleshes out the image of Christ we see in the gospels. Abraham and Isaac for instance is a kind of double typology (this isn't an actual thing lol) Abraham is the knight of faith, willing to renounce everything, but simultaneously believing that God will act miraculously and providentially. He surrenders to God's determination of the future. This foreshadows Christ in Gethsemane. Isaac also willingly submits to his fate, and is the sacrificial victim. It deepens our understanding of Christ.

Yes so affirming the value of reading scripture in the 4 traditional senses: the literal, the allegorical, the moral and the anagogical. Revealing the mind of God.

Akita Suggagaki · Jan 8, 2022

Minister Monardo said:
So using your analogy, we can not only gain insight from an author by reading his book, we can get so much more if we entered into a dialog or correspondence with him or her and ask questions. Your interest in their work would lead to a personal relationship, and friendship. This is one aspect of my understanding of the fellowship with the Spirit.

Yes, and a dialogue with the Lord would require some careful listening. Ongoing daily relationship building.

Akita Suggagaki · Jan 8, 2022

Albion said:
It sounds like you might have misunderstand the meaning or the way it was presented.

Really? Misunderstand what? I am open to correction.

Akita Suggagaki · Jan 8, 2022

Soyeong said:
In Genesis 18:19, God experientially knew Abraham that he might teach his children and those of his household to walk in His ways by doing righteousness and justice that the Lord may bring to him all that he has promised him. In Exodus 33:13, Moses wanted God to be gracious to him by making known to him His ways that he might experientially know Him, and Israel too. In Jeremiah 9:3 and 9:6, they did not experientially know God and refused to know Him because in 9:13, they had forsaken His law, while in 9:24, those who know God know that he delights in practicing in steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in all of the earth, so delighting in expressing these and other aspects of God's nature in obedience to His law is the way to experientially know God, and His Son, who is the exact expression of His nature (Hebrews 1:3). In Matthew 19:17, the way to enter eternal life is by obeying God's commandments, and in John 17:3, eternal life is experientially knowing God and Jesus, so God's commandments are His instructions for how to know Jesus. In John 2:4, those who say that they know Christ, but don't obey his commands are liars, and in 1 John 3:4-6, sin is the transgression of God's law and those who continue to practice sin have neither seen nor known him. In Matthew 7:23, Jesus said that he would tell those who are workers of lawlessness to depart from him because he never knew them so knowing Christ is the goal of the law. So God's word does teach us how to experientially know the mind of Jesus.

Aligning our actions, thoughts, and doings with what we have heard is the challenge of the Gospel path. Not enough to know the commands but to also love them and live them. And that starts with truly understanding them. Back to knowing Jesus.

Akita Suggagaki · Jan 8, 2022

Thanks for the replies.

Eftsoon · Jan 8, 2022

Rachel20 said:
The unnamed servant who found Isaac a bride may then be a type for the Holy Spirit. And Jacob a type for us.

That's a rich reading, thank you I will ponder it.

Akita Suggagaki · Jan 8, 2022

Another thing occurred to me. Chapter 15 of Luke actually has three parables.
The first is the lost sheep. I am not a shepherd so I don't know but would an shepherd really leave the 99 vulnerable, at risk to look for the lost one? I guess in the mind of Jesus each one is that special, that important, not one among many but a special individual.

Next the lost coin. And this one look like it can be taken two ways. W are the lost coin the Lord is searching for. But wait. How did the coin get lost but by the carelessness of the woman? Perhaps we are the woman seeking the Kingdom of God like the pearl of great price. Either way, the truth is, when we find the Kingdom of God, God is also finding us. Paradox? Coincidence? Both and more?

Gregory Thompson · Jan 8, 2022

Akita Suggagaki said:
Another thing occurred to me. Chapter 15 of Luke actually has three parables.
The first is the lost sheep. I am not a shepherd so I don't know but would an shepherd really leave the 99 vulnerable, at risk to look for the lost one? I guess in the mind of Jesus each one is that special, that important, not one among many but a special individual.

Next the lost coin. And this one look like it can be taken two ways. W are the lost coin the Lord is searching for. But wait. How did the coin get lost but by the carelessness of the woman? Perhaps we are the woman seeking the Kingdom of God like the pearl of great price. Either way, the truth is, when we find the Kingdom of God, God is also finding us. Paradox? Coincidence? Both and more?

Jesus leaving the 99 to find the one is what is happening today, because the 99 did not seek to help restore the missing one.

aiki · Jan 10, 2022

Akita Suggagaki said:
Yes, at least something of it.

1 Corinthians 2:10-16
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.
16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Every believer has the mind of Christ, imparted to the believer in the Person of the indwelling Holy Spirit, who is the spiritual Life Source of every born-again person (Titus 3:5; 1 John 4:13; Romans 8:9-14; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) In the Spirit, the truly spiritually-regenerated person possesses the mind of Christ. It is not merely that I understand Christ, his mind, by a second-hand reading of Scripture, but directly and intimately through the Helper, the Spirit of Christ, living within me.

Study God's truth in His word, definitely. The Bible is the special revelation of God to the world and we can't do without it. (Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalms 1; Psalms 119:11, 105, etc.) Scripture is the "milk" and "meat" whereby we grow spiritually as children of God. (1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:12-14) But the mind of Christ is far more intimately connected to me than just words on the pages of my Bible.

Akita Suggagaki · Jan 10, 2022

aiki said:
In the Spirit, the truly spiritually-regenerated person possesses the mind of Christ. It is not merely that I understand Christ, his mind, by a second-hand reading of Scripture, but directly and intimately through the Helper, the Spirit of Christ, living within me.

Scripture is like the opening door...only the beginning.

Can we Really know the Mind of Jesus?

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