#79 How to retell the Jesus story to a world that‘s forgotten it
Aug 18, 2021
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NT Wright, theologian and author, discusses the challenge of retelling the Jesus story to a forgotten world. He explores conveying the story's significance and the meaning behind the kingdom of God in a modern context. The hosts reflect on explaining the story in today's culture, emphasizing introducing the living Jesus who transforms lives. They also highlight retelling the story accurately, addressing cultural misconceptions about the kingdom of God and Jesus' identity and actions. The inseparable connection between Jesus' death and resurrection and the importance of living out this story in today's world are also explored.
Christianity is about establishing God's rule on earth, not just going to heaven.
Understanding Jesus helps reshape our image of God and how he relates to his creation.
Deep dives
Challenging the traditional understanding of the Kingdom of God
The podcast explores the meaning of the Kingdom of God in today's Western culture. It challenges the common belief that Christianity is about going to heaven when one dies, emphasizing that Jesus came to announce and establish God's rule on earth as in heaven. The story of Jesus is presented as the story of the rescue and healing of creation, where Jesus demonstrates the kingdom through acts of compassion and restoration. The significance of the kingdom message is linked to political implications, highlighting the need to understand Jesus as Israel's Messiah and the world's true and healing Lord.
Reimagining God's relationship with the world
The podcast addresses the challenge of explaining the relationship between God and the world when telling the story of Jesus. It highlights that our modern Western understanding of God as distant and unconcerned often colors our perception of Jesus. However, in Jesus' Jewish worldview, God was believed to be actively present in the world, particularly in the Jerusalem temple. The episode emphasizes the need to allow Jesus to reshape our image of God and understand that Jesus, as a human being, was the natural embodiment of God in the world. It encourages a fresh understanding of how God relates to and acts within his creation.
The inseparable nature of Jesus' death and resurrection
The podcast addresses the challenge of presenting the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. It emphasizes that these events are not separate, but deeply interconnected. The death of Jesus on the cross is depicted as the climax of his Kingdom-bringing work, overcoming the power of evil and clearing the way for God's ultimate purposes. The resurrection, far from being a mere happy ending, is portrayed as the beginning of God's new creation, where Jesus establishes himself as the world's rightful sovereign. The podcast acknowledges the difficulty of fully grasping and conveying the profound meaning of Jesus' death and resurrection, but emphasizes the ongoing transformative power of this greatest story ever told.