...Jesus' indirection.
[Here, I mention how both Jesus and Satan use indirection. That makes sense, indirection can be as shrewd as it is humble. We know how shrewd the devil can be. But Jesus says that followers of Christ are to be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves.]
Very good. Even the resurrection is full of indirection in that Christ walks out of the tomb and then steals away to Galilee, where he only appears to his disciples. I think I would have headed back to the temple to announce that I had returned.
ReplyDeleteIndirection says something about belief, too, I think. God apparently thinks he has been plain enough for the present time. I read something this weekend, I think in Bonhoeffer, that this ambiguity is actually a gift because it gives us an opportunity to choose faith. When Jesus returns, there will be no more ambiguity, and no more time for indecision on our part. He will be seen and known clearly then, and he will stand in judgment of us.
But this present ambiguity is actually another grace, giving us time to be won over by love, time to process our doubts and reach our own conclusions about Jesus.
It's interesting to speculate about God's ways and motives. Jesus' indirection is often maddening, but may be a gift that takes into consideration our pride and stubbornness, and the power of sin to cloud our vision.