What is discipleship? IV. Living His Teaching
“You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.”
John 15:14-15 NRSV
Being and doing go together. Disciples live the Bible more than they know about the Bible. Disciples live the words of Jesus thus proving our love.
Way more than just admonitions, Jesus' words come from the Father to guide our life and to help us embody the life of God's Son. They are filled with promises.
Hebrews 4:12 says that the word of God is "living and active" not stale or faded.
Living for Jesus isn't a matter of following some cosmic to do list but as we live in Jesus' light we will exude His light, and those commands will more naturally flow.
The Beatitudes were given not to just be revered in history but to be lived with the core and every ounce of our being...
““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”
Matthew 5:3-11 NRSV
From the Beatitudes to every parable, healings and exorcisms, we get to heal and set people free.
He was a master Rabbi, not just teaching a new moral code but sharing a whole new way of how to do life.
Many of Jesus' best lessons involved metaphors, images or new pictures of how life in Him is to work. For every picture inherent was a spiritual embrace.
I am the bread of life...you shall never hunger again.
I am the light of the world...do not walk in darkness any longer.
I am the door...as you enter through me you shall be saved.
I am the good shepherd...live in Me and in My peace, because I will take care of your every need.
I am the resurrection...you don't need to fear death any more.
I am the way, the truth, and the life...In Him we find and follow His way to the Father.
I am the true vine...abide in Me and you will bear much fruit.
The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery defines an image as "any word that names a concrete thing (such as tree or house) or action (such as running or threshing).” It goes on to say an image can also be “any object or action that we can picture."
The Bible is filled with images. New pictures of God, Jesus and how to do life.
More than a book of ideas: it is also a book of images, inspirations, truths and motifs. Everywhere we turn we find concrete pictures and recurrent patterns. The Bible is much more a book of images and motifs than just abstractions and propositions.
These images can be both concrete and paradigmatic. Jesus was a master using them throughout his teaching both for illustration and insight.
In the telling of the Parable of the Sower, the listener “sees” the seed, soil, thorns, and birds in addition to the point Jesus was making. The concrete image serves as a paradigmatic metaphor for understanding the spiritual life and our response to God.
We all picture Jesus and God in some way. If we stretch too far it can become an idol. How we portray His life determines how we live Him in our daily coming and going. We are made in the image of God and get to shine the light of His life as we live His teaching in our own.
Questions for Reflection
John 15:14-15 NRSV
Being and doing go together. Disciples live the Bible more than they know about the Bible. Disciples live the words of Jesus thus proving our love.
Way more than just admonitions, Jesus' words come from the Father to guide our life and to help us embody the life of God's Son. They are filled with promises.
Hebrews 4:12 says that the word of God is "living and active" not stale or faded.
Living for Jesus isn't a matter of following some cosmic to do list but as we live in Jesus' light we will exude His light, and those commands will more naturally flow.
The Beatitudes were given not to just be revered in history but to be lived with the core and every ounce of our being...
““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”
Matthew 5:3-11 NRSV
From the Beatitudes to every parable, healings and exorcisms, we get to heal and set people free.
He was a master Rabbi, not just teaching a new moral code but sharing a whole new way of how to do life.
Many of Jesus' best lessons involved metaphors, images or new pictures of how life in Him is to work. For every picture inherent was a spiritual embrace.
I am the bread of life...you shall never hunger again.
I am the light of the world...do not walk in darkness any longer.
I am the door...as you enter through me you shall be saved.
I am the good shepherd...live in Me and in My peace, because I will take care of your every need.
I am the resurrection...you don't need to fear death any more.
I am the way, the truth, and the life...In Him we find and follow His way to the Father.
I am the true vine...abide in Me and you will bear much fruit.
The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery defines an image as "any word that names a concrete thing (such as tree or house) or action (such as running or threshing).” It goes on to say an image can also be “any object or action that we can picture."
The Bible is filled with images. New pictures of God, Jesus and how to do life.
More than a book of ideas: it is also a book of images, inspirations, truths and motifs. Everywhere we turn we find concrete pictures and recurrent patterns. The Bible is much more a book of images and motifs than just abstractions and propositions.
These images can be both concrete and paradigmatic. Jesus was a master using them throughout his teaching both for illustration and insight.
In the telling of the Parable of the Sower, the listener “sees” the seed, soil, thorns, and birds in addition to the point Jesus was making. The concrete image serves as a paradigmatic metaphor for understanding the spiritual life and our response to God.
We all picture Jesus and God in some way. If we stretch too far it can become an idol. How we portray His life determines how we live Him in our daily coming and going. We are made in the image of God and get to shine the light of His life as we live His teaching in our own.
Questions for Reflection
- Where has your doing gotten out ahead of your being?
- Where in your life do you just want to be more of who you know you are meant to be?
- Where are you getting overwhelmed with all that is being asked of you to do? Or what you think is expected of you? Or what you expect of yourself?
- Galatians 5:1 says "It was for freedom that Christ set us free, stand firm then and do not let yourself be burdened again with a yolk of slavery." Where do you need to detach and not feel so chained? How can Galatians 5:1 be more of a daily reality?
- If you could live a certain Bible verse or passage every day, which ones would they be and why?