Immortal, Illogical, God Only Wise
We have a natural fondness for precision. If we can quantify it, we can control it. We systematize our assembly lines; our food production; our theology.
While it’s possible to categorize and interpret the Bible with little more than language and logic skills, we can’t so easily dissect Jesus — Him being risen from the dead and all. In practice, it’s much safer to hold the written Word in higher esteem than the Word made flesh.
And don’t get me started on the Holy Spirit. We can’t study Someone who won’t stay put!
This is why high school biology students work with dead frogs instead of live ones.
And, if we’re honest, Jesus didn’t exactly make it easy to study Him. Whenever someone tries to pin him down, he changes the topic altogether.
Jesus said the most troubling things. It was like he had no regard for his responsibility as a communicator. He tolerated so much ambiguity. He left people to interpret most of his confusing statements all by themselves. In fact, He even ADMITTED that He often TRIED to be confusing…
WHAT?? You’d figure if anyone would be clear about reality, it would be the only one who can be clear because He, BEING GOD HIMSELF, is the one who created the world!
Instead, Jesus spoke intentional contradictions. He was equal parts harsh and ambiguous.
Jesus confronted mindsets, not doctrines.
The mind of another won’t yield until it wants to yield.
His harsh words and metaphors confront us.
- Hate your father and mother
- You must be born again
- I am the bread of life
- No one who turns back is worthy of the kingdom of God
- This is my body, broken for you. Eat it.
We need to let the words of Jesus hang.
Don’t be too quick to explain what Jesus “really meant.” Don’t dishonor his words; He spoke them for a reason.
The Truth is too complex to be communicated with mere words. Those who would attempt this futile linguistic exercise risk contributing to the lies we tell ourselves.
When someone thinks they can fully grasp something with their mind, they will think they “get it.” If we can easily come to a logical understanding of the truth, then our faith is no stronger than the belief achieved by demons.
Faith, on the other hand, must be willing to wrestle. The words of Jesus force an internal wrestling match in the heart of one willing to engage Jesus on HIS terms.
Our hearts must be ready to listen before we can genuinely hear the truth.
Not ready to listen with faith? Then Jesus refuses to play along with your charade. Curse Him. Call Him a fool. But Jesus won’t be a willing participant to your lies.
We, on the other hand, tend to use words much differently.
When we want to change the heart of another, we’re tempted to rely on the power of logic instead of the power of life.
We mistakenly think spoken words themselves are sufficient to convey the truth.
Our air-tight arguments may stand up in human courts, but they can’t sway human hearts. People don’t function this way. We aren’t ruled by 1s and 0s. We follow passions and deeply embedded truths we aren’t even aware of.
All words are dead, if not for the Life of God. The Bible itself is just a bunch of common words arranged in a certain order. Rearrange the words, and you get Moby Dick.
Words are hollowed out ravines, worthless unless flowing with the eternal, life-giving water. Jesus is this water.
“…whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13–14)
Language and logic are horribly insufficient to partake in the eternal realm. We need Life.
Thirsty soul, do you hear him? Jesus is offering you this life as well. See the cup in His outstretched arm. It’s brimming over with the water of Life.
Listen.
Drink.
Live.
