being human, becoming christian: an embodied reconciliation of heaven and earth
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Being Human, Becoming Christian: An Embodied Reconciliation of Heaven and Earth. Cherith Fee-Nordling, Alan Hirsch, Deb Hirsch and Tory Baucum. What Are Humans For?. A Nuptial Biblical Theology. What Are Humans For?. Starting our theology where the Bible does. What Are Humans For?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Being Human, Becoming Christian: An Embodied Reconciliation of
Heaven and Earth
Cherith Fee-Nordling, Alan Hirsch, Deb Hirsch and Tory Baucum
What Are Humans For?
A Nuptial Biblical Theology
What Are Humans For?
Starting our theology where the Bible does
What Are Humans For?
Bible does not start with original sin (Genesis 3)
but rather with original design (Genesis 1-2).
What Are Humans For?
Genesis 1-3 is the grammar – building blocks of meaning - for reading the rest of the Bible.
What Are Humans For?Canonical Book Ends:1st Human Words are words of
the Bridegroom: “This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of flesh” (Gen 2:23).
Canonical Book Ends:Last Human Words are words of
the Bride: “Come Lord Jesus, Come!” (Rev
22:17, 21)
What Are Humans For?
The story of “Man and Woman in the Garden of God” is the story of the Bible in miniature.
What Are Humans For?The Bible begins and ends with
a wedding in a garden. The center piece of the Bible is a wedding song – “Song of Songs.” This is the soundtrack of the Bible.
What Are Humans For?
We will utilize this “grammar” towards the reading of
John’s Gospel.
What Are Humans For?John the Baptist’s introduction
of Jesus:“the strap of whose sandal I am
not worthy to untie” (1:27).
What Are Human’s Form
“Untying the sandal strap” was the role of a kinsman redeemer who sought to marry the widow of a close relative. (Deut. 25:9 & Ruth 4:1-7)
What Are Humans For?
Is this “untying the strap” phrase really a reference to
Israel’s marital customs? Maybe I’m straining the soup
to thin?
What Are Humans For?
John 2 – Jesus begins the redemption of the world at a Wedding. Another hint?
What Are Humans For?John 3:29 – John the Baptist is now
explicit:“The one who has the bride is the
bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice.”
What Are Humans For?John 4: Samaritan Woman at
the Well – or – How does Jesus woo his bride?
John 4 Con’t.Key motifs – Well scenes are type scenes – how
women are wooed. See Rebekah, Rachel and Zipporah
(Genesis 24:12-14, 29:10-12 and Exodus 2:16-20)
John 4 Con’t.Theology as Deflection – “You
Jews, We Samaritans” Different Torah, Temple and
Territory3 Pillars of Judaism Altered
John 4 Con’t.Heart of the Issue is the Human Heart• “Go call your husband?” v16• 5 husbands, 1 partner.Jesus is the seventh man and the one
she had always been looking for?
What Are Humans For?First comes love, then marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage. This is the image Jesus’ uses to predict his passion.
John 16 Con’t. “When a woman is giving birth, she
has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anquish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world” (v. 21)
What Are Humans For?
After the resurrection, Jesus is initially confused as a gardener. This is in response to his query to Mary: “Whom are you seeking?” (20:15-16)
Where Does this Story End?“The climax of the story of redemption is the
marriage supper of the lamb (Rev. 19:9-10). If history began with a wedding in Eden and closes with one in the New Jerusalem, the biblical story runs from wedding to wedding, from temporal symbol to eternal reality”-Dennis Kinlaw, “Let’s Start with Jesus”, p 64.
What Are Humans For?1. Design (Sexual Difference) + Desire
(Union) = Destiny 2. Marriage is God’s “pedagogy” for
our ultimate union with God3. Disordered desire (lust, etc) must
not be repressed but redeemed
Next Steps?Do the “Our Bodies Proclaim the
Gospel” seminar:
http://www.christopherwest.com/shop/standard-product/our-bodies-proclaim-the-gospel-4-cds-study-guide/
Jesus of Nazareth
Image of the Invisible God...
Son of the Father
Born of the Spirit and of Mary
Jesus of Nazareth
Obedient Spirit-anointed ‘Israel’
‘New Adam’ resurrected by Father & Spirit
Firstborn from ... the dead … over all creation.
Jewish Eschatological Expectations Present Age:
Broken CreationComing Age: New Creation
SinSickness
DeathChaos
No Spirit
RighteousnessWholeness
Life/ResurrectionShalom
Holy Spirit
Jesus’/NT Eschatological Expectations:
Present Age: Broken Creation
Between Times: The Church
Coming Age:New Creation
SinSickness
DeathChaos
No Spirit
Future existence
ALREADY by the Spirit
RighteousnessWholeness
Life/ResurrectionShalom
Holy Spirit
Begun → → → Consummated
“Walking” by the Spirit =
Embodied
Empowered
Cruciform
Preview of New Creation