The fifth in a series on restoring the drama to the study of the Word of God.
David Baboulene, in The Story Book, develops Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. I believe this Hierarchy is worth considering when following plot lines in Scripture. The needs are, in ascending order:
- Physical survival needs.
- Safety and Security needs.
- Social needs.
- Self respect needs.
- Personal fulfillment needs.
These
needs make up the stuff of crisis episodes. Unless the book is simply about survival
in the wilderness, it is in the last two categories where we look for growth or
failure in the career of the “good guy.” In Scripture those two categories are
key issues in the new creature passion of born-again characters to glorify God.
Once
these areas are understood the storyteller is ready to
help the listener feel the crises. In our study we need to objectively analyze Jesus’ struggle in
Gethsemane, but we have no business letting our hearer get away without subjectively
wrestling
with the pathos of the event. Jesus
was tempted in all points like we are. On the strictly human level every
category in that hierarchy of needs crumbled around him. The difference between
the crises Jesus faced and those faced by other characters in the narrative is
that, for him, the result was revelatory. He does not grow better; He displays himself as best. In the events the listener is confronted with the demonstration of his actual Lordship, Messiah-hood, and his sinless qualification to be our Redeemer and Mediator. In lesser
characters the listener discovers improvement or disintegration, and he observes the impact
on the character himself as well as those around him.
Over
the years I have found it helpful to put the listener behind a nearby bush or door where he can observe the
crisis in order to know the seriousness of the moment but suspend knowledge of
how it unfolds. In so doing I provide an opportunity for him to appreciate its implications.
PREVIOUS: Granny the Spoiler
NEXT: Think of a Train
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