Could We Have Invented Jesus Had He Not Existed?
- davidwperk
- May 10, 2024
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Friday, May 10, 2024
The week of the sixth Sunday of Easter
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
24‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 963)
AM Psalm 85, 86; PM Psalm 91, 92
1 Sam. 2:1-10; Eph. 2:1-10; Matt. 7:22-27
Today we celebrate the Feast of Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (See below.)
David’s Reflections
Could we have invented Jesus, had he never existed?
Leander Keck, New Testament scholar, had this to say about Jesus’ uniqueness, ". . . given Jesus' audacity it is a matter of either-or; either he speaks for God validly or he does not."* Today’s Gospel affords a striking example of Jesus’ sense of prophetic authority in phrases like “everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them” (v. 24) Only someone with a unique sense of divine calling and vocation could speak in that way.
Jesus’ self-awareness often comes through in his teaching, especially in his parables. Today’s Gospel gives us Matthew’s record of a parable that concludes both his and Luke’s versions of the Sermon on the Mount. In that parable, Jesus claims that hearing and following his teaching will be the only adequate foundation on which to build a life that survives the tests of time and of God’s scrutiny.
It fascinates me that in this parable, hearing Jesus’ teaching will not suffice. No matter how much intellectual stimulation and how much agreement I experience in considering his words, that will not do. Jesus says that the wise hearer both hears and does.
How do I demonstrate that I have confidence in what someone says? If a child trusts a parent, that child will learn to trust the parent’s judgment. If a client trusts a counselor, that client will be more likely to heed the counselor’s word. Our nation has become well nigh unleadable because the public has so little faith in the credibility of its leaders. Confidence has sunk so low that people resist heeding their word.
As a follower of Christ, my well-being depends in large part on the degree to which I heed the teaching and example of Jesus. Can I isolate areas of my life that continue to be out of harmony with what I understand to be Jesus’ intention for me? In those areas, I am demonstrating that faith in Jesus’ credibility has somehow not sunk deeply enough into my psyche. The more fully I trust his credibility and the wisdom of his teaching, the more likely I am to make the tough choices and engage in the harsh struggles necessary to bring my life more fully into harmony with his intent for me.
I keep returning to an essay written by New Testament scholar Walter Wink. Below you will find the link to that essay online and I encourage you to read it. Wink says this about my initial question above.
My deepest interest in encountering Jesus is not to confirm my own prejudices (though I certainly do that) but to be delivered from a stunted soul, a limited mind, and an unjust social order. No doubt a part of me wants to whittle Jesus down to my size so that I can avoid painful, even costly change. But another part of me is exhilarated by the possibility of becoming more human. So I listen in order to be transformed. . . .I respond though I must change. And in my better moments, I respond in order to change.
Truth is, had Jesus never lived, we could not have invented him.+
*“Leander E. Keck, A Future for the Historical Jesus: The Place of Jesus in Preaching and Theology (Nashville: Abingdon, 1971), p. 65.
+Walter Wink, " A Personal and Social Transformation through Scripture," February 2004. https://bibleinterp.arizona.edu/articles/Wink_Transformation
Collect of the Day, Sixth Sunday of Easter
O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 225)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, prophetic witness (died 9 May 1760 CE).
Collect of the Feast of Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf
God of new life in Christ: We remember the bold witness of your servant Nicolaus von Zinzendorf, through whom your Spirit moved to draw many to faith and conversion of life. We pray that we, like him, may rejoice to sing your praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Collect for Fridays
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 97)
A Collect for Quiet Confidence
O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 832)
A Collect for Early Evening
Almighty, everlasting God, let our prayer in your sight be as incense, the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice. Give us grace to behold you, present in your Word and Sacraments, and to recognize you in the lives of those around us. Stir up in us the flame of that love which burned in the heart of your Son as he bore his passion, and let it burn in us to eternal life and to the ages of ages. Amen. (BCP, 113)
A Collect for Mission
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 280)
Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 7:22-27
22On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” 23Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.” 24‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and great was its fall!’
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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