Knowing Jesus: Faith, History, and Transformation
Summary
In today's exploration of the "Screwtape Letters," we delve into the profound question of whether we can truly know Jesus, the historical figure who lived 2,000 years ago and continues to live in our faith today. The narrative begins with Uncle Screwtape advising his nephew Wormwood on how to corrupt the spirituality of a person who has recommitted to God. The focus is on the dangerous intersection of theology and politics, where one's spiritual identity can become entangled with political ideologies, leading to confusion and division.
The discussion then shifts to the historical quest for Jesus, a journey that has spanned centuries. This quest has often been marked by attempts to separate the "Christ of faith" from the "Jesus of history," a notion that has fueled skepticism and doubt. The Enlightenment era saw a surge in attempts to uncover the "real" Jesus, resulting in numerous subjective interpretations that often mirrored the biases of their authors. Albert Schweitzer's influential work highlighted the futility of these quests, as they failed to produce a universally agreed-upon historical Jesus.
The narrative continues with the emergence of the Jesus Seminar and the third quest for the historical Jesus, which has taken a more productive approach by emphasizing Jesus' Jewishness. This shift was partly influenced by reflections on the Holocaust and the realization of the church's historical neglect of Jesus' Jewish roots. The New Testament documents, despite their historical scrutiny, remain a reliable source of Jesus' life and teachings, grounded in eyewitness testimony and oral tradition.
Ultimately, the essence of knowing Jesus lies not in historical biographies but in the transformative power of the resurrection and redemption. Jesus did not come to introduce a new morality but to invite us into the reality of God's kingdom. The New Testament gospels offer a faithful portrayal of Jesus, inviting us to meet, learn from, and love Him. As we engage with these sacred texts, we are encouraged to seek a deeper understanding of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, allowing His presence to guide and transform our lives.
Key Takeaways:
- The intersection of theology and politics can lead to confusion about one's spiritual identity. It's crucial to discern whether our primary devotion is to God or political ideologies, as this can significantly impact our spiritual journey. [01:33]
- The quest for the historical Jesus has often been subjective, with interpretations reflecting the biases of their authors. This highlights the importance of approaching historical inquiries with humility and openness to diverse perspectives. [04:28]
- Emphasizing Jesus' Jewishness is vital for a comprehensive understanding of His life and teachings. This perspective helps bridge the gap between the church and the Jewish people, fostering a deeper appreciation of Jesus' cultural and religious context. [08:22]
- The New Testament documents, grounded in eyewitness testimony and oral tradition, provide a reliable account of Jesus' life. This assurance allows us to confidently engage with the gospels and encounter the resurrected Christ of faith. [10:51]
- Knowing Jesus is rooted in the transformative power of the resurrection and redemption. By embracing the reality of God's kingdom, we are invited to live in His presence and allow His teachings to shape our lives. [11:07]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:23] - Can We Know Jesus?
[00:50] - Spiritual Corruption
[01:19] - Theology and Politics
[02:10] - Historical Jesus Debate
[03:20] - The Da Vinci Code and Skepticism
[03:48] - Albert Schweitzer's Influence
[04:57] - Changing Historical Perspectives
[05:39] - The Jesus Seminar
[06:30] - Subjectivity in Historical Quests
[07:26] - The Third Quest for Jesus
[08:22] - Emphasizing Jesus' Jewishness
[09:01] - New Testament Reliability
[10:21] - Living in God's Kingdom
[11:20] - Invitation to the Gospels
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 28:5-7 (The Resurrection of Jesus)
2. John 20:24-29 (Doubting Thomas and the Resurrected Jesus)
3. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (Paul's Account of the Resurrection)
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Observation Questions:
1. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between theology and politics, and how can this intersection lead to confusion about one's spiritual identity? [01:19]
2. According to the sermon, what were some of the subjective interpretations of Jesus that emerged during the Enlightenment era? [03:33]
3. How does the sermon describe the shift in the third quest for the historical Jesus, particularly in relation to Jesus' Jewishness? [08:22]
4. What role do the New Testament documents play in providing a reliable account of Jesus' life, according to the sermon? [10:51]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the intersection of theology and politics affect a person's spiritual journey, and what steps can be taken to ensure one's primary devotion remains to God? [01:33]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that historical inquiries into Jesus' life should be approached with humility and openness? [04:28]
3. Why is emphasizing Jesus' Jewishness considered vital for a comprehensive understanding of His life and teachings, as discussed in the sermon? [08:22]
4. How does the sermon explain the transformative power of the resurrection and redemption in knowing Jesus? [11:07]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own spiritual identity. Are there areas where your political beliefs might be overshadowing your devotion to God? How can you address this balance? [01:33]
2. The sermon highlights the importance of humility in historical inquiries. How can you apply this humility in your own spiritual studies or discussions about faith? [04:28]
3. Considering the emphasis on Jesus' Jewishness, how can you deepen your understanding of the cultural and religious context of Jesus' life? What resources or practices might help you in this journey? [08:22]
4. The New Testament documents are described as reliable accounts of Jesus' life. How can you engage more deeply with these texts to encounter the resurrected Christ? [10:51]
5. The sermon invites us to live in the reality of God's kingdom. What specific changes can you make in your daily life to embrace this invitation and allow Jesus' teachings to shape your actions? [11:07]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt the transformative power of Jesus' resurrection and redemption in your life. How can you share this experience with others to encourage their faith journey? [11:07]
7. Identify one aspect of Jesus' teachings that you find challenging to live out. What steps can you take this week to better align your life with this teaching? [11:20]
Devotional
Day 1: Navigating the Intersection of Faith and Politics
In today's world, the intersection of theology and politics can often lead to confusion about one's spiritual identity. It is crucial to discern whether our primary devotion is to God or political ideologies, as this can significantly impact our spiritual journey. When political beliefs become entangled with our faith, it can lead to division and a loss of focus on the core tenets of Christianity. By prioritizing our relationship with God above all else, we can maintain a clear spiritual identity and avoid the pitfalls of political entanglement. [01:33]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a recent political discussion or decision you were involved in. How did your faith influence your perspective, and how can you ensure that your devotion to God remains your primary focus in such situations?
Day 2: The Subjectivity of the Historical Jesus Quest
The quest for the historical Jesus has often been subjective, with interpretations reflecting the biases of their authors. This highlights the importance of approaching historical inquiries with humility and openness to diverse perspectives. Throughout history, many have attempted to separate the "Christ of faith" from the "Jesus of history," leading to skepticism and doubt. However, by acknowledging the limitations of our understanding and embracing a humble approach, we can appreciate the richness of diverse interpretations and deepen our faith. [04:28]
"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you encountered a different perspective on Jesus' life or teachings. How did it challenge or enrich your understanding, and how can you remain open to diverse interpretations while staying grounded in your faith?
Day 3: Emphasizing Jesus' Jewishness
Emphasizing Jesus' Jewishness is vital for a comprehensive understanding of His life and teachings. This perspective helps bridge the gap between the church and the Jewish people, fostering a deeper appreciation of Jesus' cultural and religious context. By recognizing Jesus' Jewish roots, we can gain a more nuanced understanding of His message and its implications for both Jews and Gentiles. This approach encourages us to appreciate the historical and cultural context of Jesus' life, enriching our faith and promoting unity among believers. [08:22]
"For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility." (Ephesians 2:14, ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate an understanding of Jesus' Jewish heritage into your study of the Gospels, and how might this perspective enhance your appreciation of His teachings and their relevance today?
Day 4: The Reliability of the New Testament
The New Testament documents, grounded in eyewitness testimony and oral tradition, provide a reliable account of Jesus' life. This assurance allows us to confidently engage with the gospels and encounter the resurrected Christ of faith. Despite historical scrutiny, the New Testament remains a trustworthy source of Jesus' teachings and actions, inviting us to explore His life with confidence and faith. By engaging with these sacred texts, we can deepen our understanding of Jesus and strengthen our relationship with Him. [10:51]
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life." (1 John 1:1, ESV)
Reflection: As you read the New Testament, how can you approach it with fresh eyes, seeking to encounter the living Christ in its pages? What steps can you take to deepen your engagement with these texts?
Day 5: The Transformative Power of Resurrection and Redemption
Knowing Jesus is rooted in the transformative power of the resurrection and redemption. By embracing the reality of God's kingdom, we are invited to live in His presence and allow His teachings to shape our lives. Jesus did not come to introduce a new morality but to invite us into a transformative relationship with God. Through His resurrection, we are offered redemption and the opportunity to live in the fullness of God's kingdom, experiencing His love and grace in our daily lives. [11:07]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you allow the reality of Jesus' resurrection and redemption to transform your daily life? What specific changes can you make to live more fully in the presence of God's kingdom today?
Quotes
"Uncle Screwtape writes, 'I think the best point of attack would be the border line between theology and politics.' That's a very telling line in our day 80 years later, where people are increasingly confused about whether their primary sense of identity and devotion is spiritual to God or political to their ideology." [00:01:19]
"Now this idea that there is a difference between the Christ of faith that people worship, pray to who was resurrected who is the son of God, that there's a gap a difference between him and the Jesus of Nazareth that human being that was born in Bethlehem and that died on a cross in Jerusalem this has been around for several centuries." [00:02:28]
"Albert Schweitzer, amazing human being, brilliant scholar, doctor, world-class musician, humanitarian, wrote a very influential book called the quest for the historical Jesus, and it turns out that all those different attempts to get behind the New Testament and try to find the real historical truth about the character who lived back then end up leading in very subjective paths." [00:03:53]
"The advantages of these constructions, which we intend to change every 30 years or so, are manifold, and again these are just remarkably prophetic words. Lewis among other things was a brilliant scholar, and it turns out that after that first quest for the historical Jesus about 10 years after this book the Screwtape Letters was written what's generally understood to be a second quest for the historical Jesus was begun." [00:05:10]
"This one actually has been I think somewhat less subjective and more productive, and it has mostly involved taking much more seriously the Jewishness of Jesus. Part of what triggered this was people reflecting on the fact that the Holocaust, the genocide of millions of Jewish people took place in Germany which among other things was the heart of New Testament scholarship for much of the 20th century." [00:07:26]
"The documents that is the New Testament documents say what they say and cannot be added to. Each new historical Jesus therefore has got to be got out of them by suppression at one point, this story this thing must not be accurate, and exaggeration at another, and by that sort of guessing, brilliant is the adjective we teach humans to apply to it." [00:08:49]
"The earliest converts were converted by a single historical fact, the resurrection, and a single theological doctrine, the redemption, operating on a sense of sin they already had and sin not against some new fancy-dressed law produced as a novelty by a great man but against the old platitudinous universal moral law which they had been taught by their nurses and their mothers." [00:09:36]
"Jesus came not to teach some new morality interestingly enough the moral truth that Jesus taught was quite similar Lewis writes about this in a book called the abolition of man with moral truth that has been taught by all religion and all great tradition. He came to say that now it's possible to live in the reality of the kingdom of God God's presence and God's reign." [00:10:05]
"And the New Testament documents were written out of quite careful eyewitness testimony in oral cultures. We understand a lot more about the nature of oral cultures and the oral transmission of history than people did 100 or 200 years ago, and all of that means that we can be very confident that the Jesus that we meet in the New Testament gospels is the Jesus who lived in Israel." [00:10:27]
"It is still true that we meet him on the grounds of the crucifixion and the resurrection, and that we can know him and learn from him and follow him and love him in the records that God has provided, and so I want to invite you to read those books, Matthew and Mark and Luke and John, and ask God to help you meet the Jesus whose life and death and resurrection is found there." [00:11:07]
"Uncle Screwtape goes on, several of his new friends are very much alive to the social implications of their religion that in itself is a good thing but it can be put to bad use. You'll find a good many Christian political writers think that Christianity began to go wrong and departing from the doctrine of its founder at a very early stage." [00:01:47]
"In the 1800s as a consequence of the enlightenment this caught a lot of momentum and there were actually literally believe it or not hundreds of books called the life of Jesus hundreds of versions of these that were written in the 1800s, about 1906 a man by the name of Albert Schweitzer you remember that name." [00:03:36]
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