The ninth in a series on restoring the drama to the study of the Word of God.
Fleshing out the story of a text is not in opposition to expounding the text. Good exposition (telling what the text says) rises from good exegesis (the careful study of the text). And good exegesis is essential in developing the meaning. However, a poor telling of what that meaning looks like can abort the process. Although Scripture is alive, it is possible to “kill” it in the ears of our hearers. Alas! The aftermath of many of my messages sent folks away with an autopsy report unrelated to godly living. A well studied hammer is of no use unless it becomes a hammer well used.
Ponder
this text: A woman …came from behind and touched the border of Jesus’ garment.
Meaning:
“This woman was desperate." Have you ever been desperate?
Meaning
Visualized: “Imagine her, wide-eyed, elbowing her way through the sweaty mass
of rude rubberneckers. Almost…almost she can reach him. She lunges. She shoves
her hand between jostling shoulders. Her arm strains and her fingers…yes! Her
fingers! She feels her fingers touch the tassel!" Have you ever wanted anything
from Jesus so desperately?
I
have just given you a memory. To do so requires an understanding of desperation,
the dynamics of a crowd, and the thrill of a moment of success.
In
Scripture God gives the basic plot line with rich vocabulary to stimulate our
imagination. He has told us enough to keep us on track but has left the
possibility of different scenarios. That’s why we are never told precisely the
nature of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh.”
In
a class I told a possible version of the Cain-and-Abel narrative, building
around the meaning of Abel’s name - “worthless.” When I finished, one of the
men suggested a different story line.
My
response?
“Gotchya!”
I
rarely defend the details of my story lines. As, in this case, I used this one to make
people think about the text, and apply it and, maybe, remember.
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