9/04/2007

Jesus at the Tension Point

Near the end of his book about Jesus, John the Apostle includes a story about transitions. It happened after Jesus had been raised again to life. John and a few of the other fishermen had been working the sea all night long.

The narrative is rich with symbolism though it doesn’t read as the fanciful sort; it reads as real-life that’s saturated with meaning.

Jesus is standing in the sand between sea and land. He is slowly becoming visible as night dissolves into dawn. He is shouting lightheartedness into frustration and fatigue. He is acknowledging futility and offering a surprise of fruitfulness.

This sort of disruptive goodness – this sense-making presence at the tension point of change and uncertainty – is what makes Jesus recognizable to his friends.
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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is a lot to consider here; this will be my daily nugget for September. Hmmm. There is richness......texture......sights, sounds and scents. Thanks for this.
Mom

9/04/2007 12:35 PM
Anonymous said...

I count on Jesus "sense-making" presence daily. My life is full of uncertainty and change and I would probably go mad without Him calming the seas around me. Good to see you back online, we've missed you. KRG

9/04/2007 11:13 PM
Dan said...

Wonderful visual and one of the great New Testament stories. Thanks for bringing it to the forefront.

9/05/2007 5:59 AM
Scott said...

Hi Mom -- thanks for commenting! Yes, the Gospel seems to honor and engage every nuance of human experience. I think that's why the message of Jesus has continually re-rooted among regular people across centuries and geographies.

Thank you for the encouragement, KRG. I am hoping to be a more consistent blogger now that the autumn routine is underway…

Dan, I’ll wager you have a storehouse of insights and intuitions germane to “the Jesus Way”. I’d love to read them someday…

9/05/2007 8:15 AM
Locust-Eater said...

It strikes me that he already has fish and bread going, but he asks for the disciples to contribute part of what they have just caught. And they eat together.

9/07/2007 8:31 PM
Scott said...

Thanks for weighing in, LE -- it's good to hear from you!

Yes, the hospitality of this story is one of my favorite things about it. And that Jesus invites his friends to participate in the hospitable moment he ignites.

9/08/2007 11:59 PM

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