I'm stuggling with this picture mainly becuase of the image of power being shown here, I would like some help, what do you think?
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Is this what would Jesus do?
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Who is Nathanael Baker?
- Nathanael Baker
- I live in the beautiful country of New Zealand. I live and work in Wellington. I aim to live an intentional life, searching out ways to show love, joy, patience, grace and kindness to those around me. I love searching for ways to make the world a better place. I enjoy wrestling with what it means to be truly human. I am Christ Follower, seeking to follow and know my Lord and Saviour. I beleive that it is only through Jesus that we can be truly fully human. That while we a broken, he offers to craft us to make us whole. I want to share with people what Christ has done for me and share in the journey that is life This blog and I am a work in progress.
10 comments:
Is there a specific reason that you think that Jesus WOULDN'T do this? Just curious...I find it very powerful myself too...
Hey Rhea, it just comes to my mind that the only time that Jesus ever comes in front of political leaders that he was charged with treason and was about to be sent to the cross to his death.
I agree with you there probrably isn't any specific reason, but I'm struggling partly with the lenses i've created, the views i've created of Jesus.
I think that the biggest issue I would have with this is that of the individuals that I recognize in the picture, I know of only one of them that is a Christian (I believe that the 3rd from the right is to be George W. Bush, who is a Christian). The rest I either don't recognize, or those that I do recognize I don't believe are Christians. When foot washing is mentioned in the Bible, it's mentioned in the context of Jesus washing His disciples feet....not Jesus washing non-disciples feet....it seems out of context for Him to be washing Osama bin Laden's feet. What are your thoughts on this?
I think thats Gods prerogative Rhea, and Gods grace and love is alot bigger than we think, and I'm struggling more with that than anything else!!!
If we look at the stories of the bible, we see many of Gods people actaully serving humbly in the halls of thier pagan kings. In the story of Daniel, Daniel rises to power within a couple of pagan empires and serves the King, but also shares the glory and goodness of God. In the story of esther, esther saves her people through being the Queen of a pagan king.
On the thing of serving non christians, eating with non christians spending time with non christians, the bible is very clear, we should do so.
I think my main issue is my preconceptions and struggles, the more I look at the picture, I'm more challenged by my prejudices, my views of the world and by my view of Jesus.
Jesus was sent to the world to show people their need of a saviour, we are to be that light in every situation we are in, we are to use every situation to do this.
I definitely don't have a problem with Christians serving non-Christians....I think that the Bible is clear that that's supposed to happen...but I suspect that this piece of art is supposed to parralell(sp?) the story of Jesus in the Bible washing His disciples feet...and if it's supposed to do that, is it not then IMPLYING that these people are DISCIPLES of Jesus? And I would just disagree with that....I don't think it's so much that you and I are disagreeing on this, but I think that we're just looking at it from different perspectives. I think that we're each focusing on different things within the artwork. We're focusing on different parts of it.
I agree that we are looking at different parts, but thats the beauty of art and I'm just looking at different things from different perspectives.
But I will say, I think the image is legitimate, and I'm just struggling with some things from where I see it. I'll get back after your next comment.
I think the main point of the image is that we are to be servants to all people. Just as Jesus was. Jesus also washed the feet of those in his midst who would go on to betray him (Judas) and one who would deny his name three times.
I beleive the message of the picture and of the story of the bible is that we are to model Jesus and be servants to all.
I hadn't thought about the fact that he washed the feet of Judas (who would later betray him) and Peter (who denied him three times). You bring up a very good point....touche ;-)
Rhea :-)
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