As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I’m beginning to give thought to the next in my series of online retreats. After focusing—literally for years—on the voice and experience of the various people surrounding Jesus’ incarnation (Mary, Joseph, shepherds, Anna, Simeon, and others), it’s time to move forward thirty years and explore The Ministry of Jesus through the Eyes of Others.
That ministry may only have covered about three years of time (according to scholars), but the gospels are full of stories of Jesus’ encounters and relationships. He connected with a lot of people. He wove an impressive web of connection, throughout and beyond his home territory of Galilee. As I’ve thought about how to organize this material, I came up with a list of different types of encounters and realized that I could create an entire online retreat on each of those categories.
For example, there are a number of stories of Jesus calling people to follow him—or telling them that they can’t (I’ll share a bit more about that next week). There are also many stories of healings, teachings, and miracles. Then there are encounters and relationships that illuminate Jesus as a leader, Jesus in relationship with women and with outcasts, and Jesus in Jerusalem. Each of these categories illuminates a facet of Jesus’ ministry and seems to provide an opportunity to delve more deeply into how he influenced and transformed the lives of others he encountered.
As you can imagine, my mind and heart are full of possibilities. I’m planning on spending the next few weeks sharing some of my initial thoughts with you on each of these categories. That might include a few glimpses into the voice and experience of people who encounter Jesus, but it will also likely include some of my own experiences and thoughts on these categories.
As I begin this series, however, I want to ask you for assistance. Whose voice would you like to hear? Whose perspective would you like to explore? I welcome your contributions to help focus my task. How would you fill in this blank: The Ministry of Jesus through the Eyes of ___________.
I’d love to see what the apostle John would have said. He lived the longest and wrote so much but what was his personal viewpoint. If that’s to broad, then Jesus with women. He was the first to give them equal status and I’d love to see more of those encounters.
Thank you, Nila! John will definitely show up; not sure in what context yet. I also plan an entire retreat on Jesus and women; which stories would you like me to explore?
Thank you!!
Shirin
This is a tough one, what about Jesus through the eyes of those in positions of power (Rabbis, the Sanhedrin etc.). Over to you to work with what real authority / power looks like.
I like this challenge! In fact, I look forward to pondering this. Thank you!
I would like to see some perspectives on how Paul(Saul) who went through a total transformation in his life was impacted by Jesus and how he himself was later able to impact others for Christ. What an amazing story and what a tremendous incentive for all of us to know that we are not necessarily locked into a state where we are not able to change for the better. Only by the “grace of God” are we able to grow and change into the image of Jesus. There is always “hope” for us. So many in this world have lost all “hope”(witness the numbers of suicides of late) because they have not found the ONE who is “hope”.
Thank you, Diana. Yes, Paul/Saul’s story is a great one for understanding that change is always possible–if not always easy! I do have plans for writing about the First Christians and their relationships with Jesus…and since Paul didn’t meet Jesus during his human lifetime on earth, that might be in one of my later retreats. I do thank you for letting me know that you want to hear more about this. I also will say that I do intend to address the issue of hope through many stories in these retreats…Paul wasn’t necessarily hopeless or despairing–instead, rather severely misguided…but there are those who had no hope and Jesus brought them hope. So yes, I look forward to addressing that! Thank you for wanting it.
Peace,
Shirin