Why the title of this blog is "Still Without Understanding"

 


In Mark 7:18 and Matthew 15:16 Jesus tries to explain the word coming out of the mouth and questions out loud if his disciples "fail to understand".  Some translations yield "Are you so dull". Also in Mark 2:2 "...he was speaking the word to them." Each of the gospels stress the importance of the word (as discussed in another post), especially John. In John, the teaching can not be any clearer: "In the beginning was the Word...". After all these centuries are we still without understanding (Mark 7:18)? I would say yes. All this time has given us a better understanding; but not a full understanding. All my years in church helped prepare me to understand, yet I cannot accept much of the teaching of the church. 

Sometimes I don't think we even hear the word when it is simply put directly to us. Jesus said: "Love one another." Nothing needs to be added, but must be because we are not understanding.

Have you ever listened closely to "The Word" by "The Beatles"? I will present just clips and you can listen to the entire song. Lyrics from "The Word":

-"Have you heard the word is love?"

-"It's the word love."

-"I mean to show ev'rybody the light."

-"That the word is just the way."

-"And the only word is love."

And The Beatles (J. Lennon, P. McCartney) also offered a very blunt "All You Need is Love." You can listen to the song; but the title says it all and the lyrics repeat it over and over. Blunt folks! I might rephrase the lyrics to "All we have is love."  

I'm sure many others have repeated Jesus' instruction to 'Love one another', but we don't.  Easter would be a great service for "The Word" and "All You Need is Love" to be sung as we celebrate.

Jesus was teaching, saving and healing: A teacher, savior and healer. He saved by teaching or is trying to. I don't know how he healed.

Why would you want to kill someone who was teaching, healing and saving?  That will be considered in a future post.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Matthew Chapter 23: Required reading!

Image
  If you are seeking to learn what Jesus was/is doing, you MUST read Matthew Chapter 23. And you MUST read it with PASSION and practice your critical reading, thinking and reasoning. Look up the definition to each of those processes. In Matthew Chapter 23 Jesus calls the scribes and Pharisees: --Hypocrites 6 times. --Blind guides 2 times. --Blind Pharisee. --Whitewashed tombs. --Snakes, brood of vipers. You should refresh your understanding of hypocrite and hypocrisy to better understand why Jesus felt so strongly to scream this curse at them 6 -7 times in one gathering. And Jesus accuses them: --They do not practice what they preach. --You burden others yet are unwilling to lift a finger. --You are not to be called rabbi. --"You make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves." -- You neglect the law of justice, mercy and faith. --"You are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." --"How can you escape being sentenced to hell?" Well, I guess we...
Read more

Recommended Reading for those who seek a better understanding of what Jesus said

Image
  Recommended  Reading: ...Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.   I suggest leaving all other parts of "The Bible" for reference and scholars or theologians. Pay attention to what "Jesus" said.   ...Richard Rohr:  "Falling Upward" and "Simplicity" ...Clarence Jordan:  "Essential Writings" ...Bart D. Ehrman:  "Misquoting Jesus" and "Peter, Paul & Mary Magdalene" ...Leslie D. Weatherhead:  "The Christian Agnostic" Dr. Weatherhead made a life changing suggestion: "...write out your own creed". ...Timothy Keller:  "The Prodigal God" ...Thom S. Rainer: "Autopsy of a Deceased Church" Follow the teaching offered by scholars like the authors listed.  Use your own mind to decide. I will post my comments on select passages from the Gospels and some thoughts on the books in the reading list and some thoughts on other spiritual issues.
Read more

"I am...", "Son of Man"

Image
  Below is a brief listing of Jesus' "I am" statements. These statements show the brilliant insight and the ability for a teller of most complicated parables to be excessively brief.  John 6:35 "I am the bread of life." John 8:12 "I am the light of the world." John 10:7-9 "I am the door [or gate]." John 10:11,14 "I am the good shepherd." John 11:25 "I am the resurrection and the life." John 14:6 "I am the way, truth and the Life." John 15:1 "I am the true vine." Also, Jesus refers to himself as "The Son of Man" throughout the gospels. If fact, he uses the designation as "Son of Man" dozens of times. He almost never directly says he is the only son of God.  In fact, he argues with those called "Jews" by John 10:34-39 when Jesus states from Psalm 82:6 "I say, "You are gods, children of the most high, all of you." Study the "I am" statements and Jesus...
Read more