CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION
June 29, 1992, 9:15 A.M.
THE DIVINE EQUATION ©

JoHN M. BUCHANAN, SENIOR MINISTER

FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHICAGO
SCRIPTURE
MarK 8:27-30

"HE ASKED THEM, "BUT WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I aAM?’™
-MarK 8:29 (NRSV)

HE IS THE DOMINANT FIGURE IN WEST-

ERN Crvzazatzon. | He IS ARGUABLY THE
a
SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON WHO HAS
hn Ee SS SS Se eae
EVER Lxveo.| HE IS KNOWN TODAY BY MORE
=e

PEOPL als THE WORLD THAN ANY OTHER INDI

SS
VIDUAL.\ Most OF THE HUMAN RACE MEASURES
see 9 Be, bes
TIME FROM THE DATE OF HIS BIRTH. | HUN-
ee ees, |

DREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE USE HIS NAME
eee ae

IN THEIR PRAYING, | AND MILLIONS USE HIS

[=e :
NAME IN THEIR CURSING. kone

Vale
Yni-ef Chine Sebale
"jar uslav Pel \cam , Whe Wee:
\Wr — por, “\ cass

Thou YA Couduiies

yy Odsewrhs Yat ..

TE it wer Qossivle *

= “PULL UP OUT

OF HISTORY EVERY SCRAP OF METAL BEARING
AT LEAST A TRACE OF HIS NAME" NOT MUCH
aE TS =a
WOULD BE LEFT OF THE HISTORY OF WESTERN
cutture. | [see—deresteyr“PEERKAN;-dESUS
THROUGH OTHE GENTURTES SP ee ART,
e.7
MUSIC, EDUCATION, PHILOSOPHY, EXPLORA-
oo, jj igumaamerz., =p

TION, WARS, ALL OF IT INDELIBLY MARKED

= Hare claime § fr

BY THE NAME &# WHICH CHRISTIANS Adrvisels »
0 Ga We Wiel
e _ We Gabe .

ORantiinink Dee NOTEETO RC H .
WHO_WAS WAS: HE? {wo 1s ‘HE? \ wear,

NATURE OF MAN IS THIS?" HIS CONTEMPO-
——_—=_
RARIES ASKED IN A MIXTURE OF AWE AND

[ri a]
DREAD AND SIMPLE CURIOSITY. \ IT WOULD
=. a ee ew

SEEM. AFTER ALL, THAT WE SHOULD KNOW AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE ABOUT ONE WHO HAS SO
ae Sam ewes
PROFOUNDLY INFLUENCED OUR CIVILIZATION.
——— SS
AND YET THERE IS ABOUT HIM A PIERCING,
Say See

DEMANDING INTEGRITY THAT REPELS AS WELL
a SS a Sees

AS arraacrs | THERE IS ABOUT THIS MAN
ee Ss

SOMETHING THAT FRIGHTENS _US_A pit. \ IF

WE SAW HIM FREDERICK BUECHNER SPECU-
Lares "WE MIGHT AVOID MEETING HIS REAL
Saas
EYES... THE WAY THAT AT CERTAIN MOMENTS
WE AVOID MEETING OUR OWN REAL EYES IN
aa Sa
MIRRORS BECAUSE FOR BETTER OR WORSE THEY

THREATEN TO TELL US MORE THAN WE WANT TO

KNowW."| [THE Faces or Jesus, P. 9]
WHO WAS He? \ WHo_ts_pe2\ Way MUST
eel
WE ALWAYS ASK THAT ION IN BOTH THE
eS ee

PAST AND PRESENT TENSES? | HARVARD PSY-

CHIATRIST, ROBERT COLES, IN INTERVIEWING
Ses
FOR HIS BOOK{ THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF
Curtpren) ASKED THREE TWELVE-YEAR-OLDS
Cn dimmu ceeiemmieideemeiiiadainiad
IN TENNESSEE WHAT THEY THQUGHT_ZT WOULD

HAVE BEEN LIKE TO KNOW JESUS. ONE

ANSWERED:
"I'p HAVE BEEN LIVING IN A TENT,

MAYBE AND I'D BE A FISHERMAN OR A FARM-
————_——————

—_—_S
——

| THERE HE'D BE AND I'D BE LISTENING

3

TO | HE WAS POPULAR THEN, BEFORE HE
Sa
GOT IN TRouBLe.| THERE WERE CROWDS AND HE
WAS A_ TEACHER PEOPLE Loven \ THEY MUST
ee
HAVE KNOWN HE WOULD SAVE THEM: | rev
aay &
MUST HAVE KNOWN HE WAS SPECIAL - NOT THE
Se
CLOTHES_HE WORE. \ ar WAS HIS FACE, I
GUESS, AND WHAT HE SAID, AND HOW HE GOT
TO vou. "\ fp. 220]
I Loven_rHar. ( "HOW HE GOTTO
; EE
vou." \ Hy GUESS IS HE GOT TO_EVERYONE OF
US IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER, AND HERE WE
eee

ARE STILL, PERHAPS STILL NOT QUITE SURE

==
WHO HE IS AND WHY WE ARE HERE, WHICH
— ss ——

PUTS US IN VERY GOOD COMPANY, BY THE
WAY.
THAT'S WHAT THE INCIDENT WE READ
Epis, == SS Ses

THIS MORNING IS ABOUT - PEOPLE _ARQUND

JESUS WHO AREN'T QUITE suri WHO HE IS OR
(WHAT_THEY AREDOING THERE.

IT IS IN THE CENTER OF THE STORY -
a se

GEOGRAPHICALLY -\CAESAREA PHILIPPI: ‘

Caeser-ren hi -\'e- PS

4

BEHIND JESUS OF NAZARETH AND HIS SMALL
Bae =
GROUP OF FRIENDS LIES Gace: | THE
es eS
PLEASANT, ROLLING HILLS AND SMALL VJIL-
aaa] —[=

LAGES, THE LAKE, THE LOCAL SYNAGOGUES,
SSS

THE MONTHS OF TEACHING AND HEALING AND
Se Sr eae

THE CAMARADERIE OF TRAVELING TOGETHER.

ree AAAS
( AHEAD ) THEY CAN SEE THE PLAIN SLOWLY
eS

RISING TOWARD JERUSALEM.

Pe eee

IT IS GOING_10_BEgMERY DIFFERENT

aveap. | IT IS ALSO THE CENTER OF THE
Se

STORY, THEOLOGICALLY. \ MEN AND WOMEN
ewe (OES

HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING A TEACHER AND HEAL-
een iain

er.\ Bur NOW .THEY MUST DECIDE WHETHER
a J CS een)

THEY WILL COMMIT THEMSELVES TO HIM,

BECAUSE FOLLOWING HIM, SIMPLY BEING

CLOSE TO HIM IS ABOUT TO BECOME VERY
Pan ay

COSTLY.
aS
So HE ASKS rye [war ARE PEOPLE

SAYING ABOUT ue? | WHO ARE THEY SAYING I
Ss Ss

AM?" \ir's THE ACADEMIC question: \ THE

SAFE QUESTION. \ THEY TELL HIM: |"SOME
See ==

PEOPLE THINK YOU ARE YOUR COUSIN. JOHN
—_ Qo?

THE Baptist. | SOME EVEN THINK YOU ARE

es Peel
ELIJAH OR ONE OF THE OTHER PROPHETS,

Ps aie (eieriae
DEAD FOR CENTURIES, HAVING COME BACK
AGAIN."
WE SHOULD LIKE TO ARREST THE
eas | Sipe

DIALOGUE HERE.\§ IN FACT, THIS IS WHERE
eas =

cee ea SS ry Py '
\ he aimline
WE STOP ORDINARILY.\ WE PRESBYTERIANS
: é
TREASURE OUR TRADITION OF FAITH MOVING | “Presbys

TOWAR NDERSTANDING, \oF BELIEVING WITH partrsolonly
—————— LEVING wy
Mees nN \ °

OUR BRS, OF Talm® AS WELL AS HEART

ENGAGED IN prscrPLesurP,\ oF KNOWING AND

UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE BELIEVE BEFORE WE -
ey
COMMIT TO IT. | WE APPRECIATE THOUGHTFUL
RELIGION...\ WE ARE, ALL OF US, AMATEUR
= Sos

THEOLOGIANS. | we BELIEVE GOD WANTS US TO
eas RSS ED

BE. \ we ARE THE ONES WHO ALWAYS CHECK
SS

THE AUTHORITIES BEFORE WE TAKE A STAND.
SS eae

AND SO WE WOULD PREFER THE DIALOGUE TO
==

sud aes
STOP HERE OR AT LEAST TO BRQ&DEN=Opt=nt= Paswrr
ut —
eqmr SO WE CAN ORGANIZE AN ADULT FORUM ON
DU

6

age? TOPIC OF [THE RELATIONSHIP OF JESUS. Sows be

oF NAZARETH TO THE ESCHATOLOGICAL AND / Chaten w®

HISTORICAL AND AND POLITICAL HOPES OF / of pars
—

THE SEMITIC PEOPLE EMERGING UNDER THE SA at AC,

IMPERIAL POLITICAL ECONOMY OF ROME."

JESUS, HOWEVER, PUSHES ON WITHOUT

a

PAUSE> OM THE ACADEMIC TO THE PERSON-
——————e aia, po eee)

aL. ("But You... WHQ.pQ You SAY THAT I
—ee

am?"| IT BECAME SUDDENLY A HIGH AND HOLY
fee

AND FRIGHTENING MOMENT, ONE THAT MOST OF
ae a oo
US WOULD PREFER TO avor.\ It'S SAFER TO
SSE Riera
BE IN THAT FORUM LISTENING TO A LECTURE,
PE eS EY a
TAKING NOTES, SIPPING COFFEE.\ HE WAS
FORCING THEM TO STAND AND DELIVER. \ IT
ees SI
WAS PETER WHO SAID srwpy,| "You ARE THE
rs |
IT WAS ALMOST TOO easy. ACTUALLY
aoe ==.
IT WAS A PREPOSTEROUS THING TO say.| THE
SS
NATION OF ISRAEL HAD BEEN WAITING FOR
2 ea ' =a
CENTURIES FOR THE MESSIAH, THE QNE WHO
a=, SE,

WOULD COME IN THE NAME OF THE LORD,
eS ES

OVERTHROW THE ENEMY AND RECONSTITUTE THE

Gere
OLD wonarcn.| HE - THIS ITINERANT
Ee y

apex, [THIS UNEMPLOYED CARPENTER, THIS

ILLEGITIMATE SON OF MARY... THE
ee)

2 l
MESSIAH. .. PREPOSTEROUS ]

Ss.
Weseeemtre—ITESTERPLATIN DP WHAT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN next. | THe GOING WILL BE TOUGH.
eS ae
SOME PEOPLE ARE SCARED THE MESSIAH MIGHT
[as ee [ae
COME AND TAKE AWAY THEIR PRIVILEGES.
ay a
THE PEOPLE WHO EXPECT A KING, ON THE
= = =

OTHER HAND, ARE IN FOR A RUDE DISAP-~-

Sees
POINTMENT.\ THERE IS PERSECUTION AND ——— nd lon.
Java «We
SUFFERING AND DEATH AHEAD. |} AND PETER,
Saas, =e a Saas
THE ONE WHO JUST CALLED HIM MESSIAH,
FINDS THAT COMPLETELY UNPALATABLE AND
aS a ae See
STARTS AN ARGUMENT - TAKES HIM ASIDE TO
ina Te
REBUKE HIM.| "LOOK, Jesus, "|e MUST HAVE
Ley
SAID, [I'VE JUST PAID YOU A PRETTY BIG
SEE
COMPLIMENT, AS A MATTER OF FACT, ABOUT
==, De ea

AS MUCH A COMPLIMENT AS THERE IS. AND

8

You'RE TELLING ME THAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

NOTHING BUT SACRIFICE AND SUFFERING FOR
YOU AND ME?"
-_ —

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE QNES WHO
PROFESS BELIEF IN JESUS ARE THE VERY
ONES WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE MEANING

eee

OF THEIR BELTEFS.@ BIBLICAL SCHOLAR

EGGEMANN WRITES THAT zw THE

WALTER BRU

cant RT

UNITED STATES THERE IS A CASUAL INDIF-

FERENT READINESS, EVEN IN OUR INCREAS-

ee

_ INGLY SECULARIZED SOCIETY, TO GRANT THE

MAIN CLAIMS OF THE GOSPEL - NOT TO GRANT

eee

THEM rwpontance. | "THE GOSPEL," HE SAYS;
. Be |

"Ts THUS A TRUTH WIDELY HELD, BUT A
Cee. Ll

TRUTH GREATLY REDUCED.” / [FINALLY ComMES

ee en lial
THE Poet, P. 1]

IF THAT DESCRIBES US, THIS ENCOUN-
TER AND CONVERSATION IS A DISTURBING
ad _———
peverornenr. \ It EXPOSES A WAY OF THINK-
el ‘re

ING ABOUT RELIGION IN GENERAL THAT 15

VERY DEAR TO us. \ our ASSUMPTION IS THAT

9

OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THIS STRANGE AND
bd

COMPELLING MAN IS PRIMARILY INTELLECTU-
Di]

ac. \Taar IS TO SAY, WE WANT TO KNOW WHO
baie —

HE WAS. \ An $Q WE WILL APPROACH THAT
De]

QUESTION WITH OUR FULL ARRAY OF INTEL-
er Sat nil

LECTUAL caPaBrLtyes.\ WE WILL READ AND
ee ee |

TALK ABOUT HIM AS A MAN IN HISTORY...
Panna

WE WILL ANALYZE HIM WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL
Ea ACCEL Ci

Ste

CATEGORIES AND WE WILL CONSIDER HIS
<=

ce

POLITICAL penavror. . \ WE WILL ATTEMPT TO
aire} ‘ices

UNDERSTAND HIS THEOLOGICAL CONTEXT.

ee

OUR ASSUMPTION IS THAT CHRISTIAN FAITH
a,

IS A MATTER OF BELIEVING CERTAIN IDEAS

aBouT Jesus.\ WHEN THOSE IDEAS ARE

Se initial ———e
CONDENSED INTO A FORMAL STATEMENT, THE
CO emmiaial ial

APOSTLES’ CREED, FOR INSTANCE, AND WE
Cal ee

STAND UP AND SAY IT, OUR ASSUMPTION IS
eee

THAT THE SAYING IT, AFFIRMING THE PROPO-

SITION, IS WHAT DEFINES US AS A CHRIS-

tran. \ ,

POKE FUN AT OUR INTELLECTUALISM BUT THE

w.\ It S$ EASY TO
bn

10

CHRISTIAN CHURCH HAS ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD

THE IMPORTANCE OF THINKING AND SPEAKING

—————

CLEARLY ABOUT WHAT IT BELIEVES. \ TODAY,

THERE IS NO MORE CRITICAL CHALLENGE THAN

EXPRESSING OUR RELIGION IN TERMS WHICH

SS

CAN HOLD THEIR OWN_IN THE MARKETPLACE OF
Sees

BUT UNDERSTANDING IDEAS ABOUT

No ONE,
—_—

Joun V. TAYLOR, A BRITISH THEOLOGIAN

SUS IS NOT THE ISSUE FINAL

NOTED, ,WAS EVER CONVERTED BY IDEAS ABOUT

6
Jesus. | CONVERSION HAPPENS OUT OF OUR
eS
ENCOUNTER WITH A MAN.
———

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT JESUS NEVER

SSS
SSS

ADMINISTERED A THEOLOGICAL EXAMINATION
Ee UO

AS THE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT TO DISCIPLE-

ze

surp.\ Wnen HE PRESSED THEM TO SAY WHO

ea a ay
| THEY THOUGHT HE WAS, IT WAS_NOT A MATTER
aes aE
OF ortHopoxy.\ RATHER IT WAS A_MATTER OF
Ss : SER
| THE WILLINGNESS TO FOLLOW HIM.
] Ses —

=p AND THIS LITTLE EXCHANGE EXPOSES A
‘ CL ==

| WAY OF EVANGELIZING THAT IS DEAR TO US 4

T love Wee story Aveeh Sitter ~ one of the Hulogic> |
Grau — ef ovr era * < Qrelssor e\ V 4C- vsed Ww ‘eu

clays Ww Callen ob _Yharver a ler tater Steudeli(.)
wise Wow Wem Lue. Sywposve pe A Trcaml.

We kell qui-_crsem? Tw Ua buisls sells -
pote. \aewo angect4 \mq wunded -s6 Wwlay 4 sywmmey. | Iosteed -

Wa. SWE af vy a parewte Wed we ra 4 ee ofr q
Wale DS FW mw lom wa Too: “ -

EVANGELISM - SPREADING THE WORD - NORMAL-
Sas inet Ee Ep
LY MEANS CONVINCING PEOPLE THAT OUR
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ARE TRUER THAN THEIR
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. EVANGELISM MEANS

CORRECTING OTHER PEOPLE’S THEOLOGY.| BUT
Eee, ESTES ee

WHAT IF IT IS NOT FINALLY A MATTER OF
EE EES

GETTING PEOPLE TO AGREE TO IDEAS ABOUT
Se

Goo.\ WHAT IF, AS HE PROCEEDED TO TELL

HIS FRIEND PETER,\ EVANGELISM IS A MATTER
ee EEE

OF FAITHFULLY FOLLOWING BY LIVING THE
SS

LIFE HE TAUGHT IN THE WORLD, EVEN WHEN
es Sse

THE GOING GETS TOUGH.
EES, &#— =a

Be IS A STUNNING SECTION IN

Hans KUNG’S Book, ( CHRISTIANITY AND THE

WorRLD RELIGIONS) IN WHICH THE GREAT
Seas

THEOLOGIAN WONDERS HOW THE HISTORY OF
E—_

WESTERN CIVILIZATION WOULD LOOK TODAY IF
EE

SS SS
THE EARLY CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES HAD
emer Ce

TAUGHT AND LIVED THE ETHIC OF JESUS, THE
=e Se —— es
LOVE _AND JUSTICE AND COMPASSION HE

HIMSELF TAUGHT, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO

a —

12

GET EVERYBODY TO DISOWN THEIR RELIGION,
ee SSS

WHICH OFTEN MEANT THEIR CULTURE, AND
SOMETIMES EVEN THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL,
oa
i. ume ¢c
IN ORDER TO AFFIRM THE ORTHODOXIES OF
THE FOURTH CENTURY GREEK-THINKING THEO-
é
Locrans. [Kune REMINDS US THAT JESUS
SEE
never QUESTIONED ANYBODY ABOUT THE TRUE
————— P
FAITH, (NOR) ASKED ANYONE TO PROFESS HIS
——S aE oe,
OR HER orTHoDoxy. | HE EXPECTS NO THEO-
———————
RETICAL REFLECTION, BUT AN URGENT PRAC-
Sas eS
TICAL DECISION."} [p. 116]
AFTER TWENTY CENTURIES THE CHRIS-

TIAN CHURCH CONTINUES TO ARGUE WITH

ITSELF T WHAT IT MEANS TO BE EVAN-
x i
GELICAL.| EVAN@EETCAL IS THE NEW HOT

f —E= ae
WORBPIN EC ICAL CIRCLES AND IT
ORDINARILY MEANS THE HARD~S ; STRENU-
“eee / ee)

OUS PROCLAMATION OF IDEAS ABOUT JESUS IN
ORDER TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO AFFIRM THEM
—— _—_—_—_—_—_E—E—E—_~
AND SIGN UP. BUT WHAT IF THE GOOD NEWS
i) —_——

- THE GOSPEL - IS NOT A SERIES OF TRUTHS

aR a kee he AWW on lee Crd, Chath

Honk - f/ wt «¢ _surwival _ “yusess be us <A

\s NN ,* evan ,e lic al vs +Ae Via

ry

Zell

I lee

pawee

sv

60%?

af

TO BE enoonseo \ wat IF THE GOOD NEWS IS
en nee ee,

THAT THE GOD WHO MADE US LOVES US AND
pee TT

HAS CREATED US TO LIVE IN JUSTICE AND
=e :

KINDNESS WITH ONE aworner. \ Wnar IF
—_—— ec ——

THAT'S GOD'S AGENDA INSTEAD OF EVERYBODY

SINGING OUT OF THE SAME HYMNAL? \\r THAT
TES a

ITS THE ISSUE, THEN EVANGELISM IS VERY

SIMPLY A MATTER OF LOVING AND SERVING

al

OTHER PEOPLE AND DOING IT NOT AS A WAY

ed

TO GET INTO HEAVEN BUT BECAUSE IN JESUS

a

CHRIST WE KNOW THAT IS WHAT GOD WANTS

a =—_—_—

AND EXPECTS.}} THIS NEWS ABOUT Gop'sS LOVE
er eee

—_

AND THE LIFE OF LOVE GOD WILLS... THIS
ERE
Is rrutH.\\ IT IS THE_TRUTH ABOUT HUMAN
en

Luce CHRIST-LIKE EVANGELISM THEN DOES
oy

NOT MEAN BECOMING PROFJCIENT AT MARKET-

rng

X
ING JESUS: /= DOES NOT MEAN HOW MANY
a

SOULS CAN BE REGISTERED IN THE GREAT

SCORE CARD IN THE sky, | How MANY HEATHENS
TURNED INTO BELIEVERS ,| BUT HOW MUCH LOVE
id

AND JUSTICE AND KINDNESS AND MERCY IS
a mmiaeimateel ee ]

14

BEING LIVED OUT IN THE WORLD IN THE NAME
qe SS aa =>
OF JESUS.

WHAT _JESUS WAS ASKING THEM WHEN HE
sar, (“bio DO YOU SAY THAT I au?" )- WAS
NOT ABOUT THEIR TH ocy.\ He DID NOT

a=
WANT A RECITATION OF IDEAS ABOUT HIS

(a a eee a Sa a
IDENTITY... \ HE WANTED TO KNOW_IF THEY

aS b eneneell

WERE READY TO roLtow.\) HE WAS ASKING FOR
EL Par Tram ae

COMMITMENT, NOT THEOLOGICAL CORRECTNESS.

CAN YOUFOLLOW JESUS WITHOUT

UNDERSTANDING HM? | OF COURSE. THAT'S

WHAT PETER orp, \wHat ALL THE DISCIPLES
Sa

px, wHAT FAITHFUL MEN AND WOMEN DOWN
SES an

ACROSS TWENTY CENTURIES HAVE DONE -
SSS

STUMBLED ALONG BEHIND HIM WITHOUT KNOW-

ING WHO HE WAS OR WHERE HE WAS GOING,

Soap

CONVINCED THAT HE WAS WORTH BETTING
— == Da

ONE'S LIFE ON,\ CERTAIN THAT HIS LIFE,
Say, is eee)

HIS LOVE, WAS - AMONG ALL OF OUR LIFE’S
Say ear pris

SSH

UNCERTAINTIES - PERMANENT, UNCHANGING
ee SESE

AND FOREVER.

15

THE LITTLE TWELVE-YEAR-OLD BOY

PONDERED THE WAY JESUS Fcets TO vou.")
[ee econ + SS
AND MAYBE_WE, CAN'T PUT IT ANY MORE
ADEQUATELY_ THAN ruat.\ HE GETS TO we \ I
SAY THE creeps. \ I AFFIRM THEM AS MY
Ee Seer}

OWN,| BUT THEY ARE FINALLY HUMAN AT-

ez
TEMPTS, VERY HUMAN ATTEMPTS WHICH EMPLOY
—_ eS

THE METAPHORS AND IMAGES AND VOCABULARY
===> EES
OF ONE POINT IN TIME TO DESCRIBE A

REALITY THAT WILL NOT ULTIMATELY BE
aaa SS

PINNED DOWN.) THEY ARE WAYS TO EXPRESS
SEs

HOW THIS COMPELLING MAN "GETS TO US":
Se SS Se

= WAYS TO SAY THAT IN THLS=MAN AND
ll =e

HIS LIFE I HAVE OCCASIONALLY SEEN WHAT

MY LIFE IS ABOUT.

- WAYS TO SAY THAT IN HIS LIFE I

ee,

HAVE BECOME AWARE THAT GOD'S LOVE AND

BLESSI TS ON ALL _LIFE AND THAT IN

HIS HUMANNESS - HUMANITY IS _ BLESSED. Our h ee
— —— our lovee

- WAYS TO HELP ME SAY THAT IN THE ovr Passer —

LIFE OF THIS MAN I HAVE SEENWHAT REALLY /'oy, Wyre
or lve | ow

sequal + er ee

Sur mbiwnaes , | OW a

-.) GX
A Wlessed by Wie bry

16

MATTERS IN MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF THE
ea =— SS
worLD: | THINGS LIKE KINDNESS AND COMPAS-
eee SS ST
SION AND GENTLENESS AND FORGIVENESS.
aS SS _ ———Sa

IN WHAT I KNOW ABOUT THIS LIFE I
—_ EEE

EEE,
HAVE LEAR THE REDEMPTIVE POWER OF
RS aD
eran? | ao THE MIRACLE THAT THERE
ea —————,; |

IS NO FAILURE, NO BETRAYAL, THAT IS

IMMUNE TO THE RECREATIVE ENERGY OF LOVE. |
IN HIM.LLEARN THAT THE PURPQSE,OF Wig leak
pur peer

MY LIFE AND YOURS IS THE GIMING LE AWAY,

THE SPENDING 1T,| FOR THE ONES WE LOVE, * .
ED

OUR SPOUSES AND LOVERS AND PARENTS AND

CHILDREN, OUR NEIGHBORS AND STRANGERS

SEES.

[cee ae
NEED US -|AND THAT IN.GLYZNG OUR.
WHO NEED US |, D THAT IN.

LIFE AWAY - WE RECEIVE IT BACK, | BLESSED,
De)

RECREATED, IN A NEW SHAPE AND FORM AND
SS SSS

DIMENSION CALLED ETERNAL.
betel FT

IN HIM, ON OCCASION, I HAVE SEEN
eed —— Seas

AND BELIEVED THAT THE DEATH THAT COMES
ee

TO ALL AND WILL ONE DAY COME TO EACH, IS

— — aR

17

NOT THE_END BUT THE eecrunrns:| THAT HIS

DYING WAS, IN FACT, FOR US.
=a

IN_HIM, ON OCCASION, I KNOW THERE

Is Hope: \ HOPE FOR THE WORLD: \ HOPE FOR

PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE MIDDLE OF GRIEF

—

AND poverty: \ PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK AND
See

OPPRESSED. .C ALL_PEOPLE,
— —_

IN HIM I BELIEVE I CAN SEE THE

MEANING OF THE WORD Gop.

~— Do I KNOW ALL OF THAT ALL THE
See: aes a a

Time? | DoES ANYONE OF US? \ OF COURSE
—— — Fr, ed

—

nor. \\ Bur I KNOW ENOUGH OF IT THAT IT

=.

"GETS TO ME": \ enous OF IT THAT I DON’T
—— EE =a

WANT TO MISS IT BECAUSE, IF I MISS THIS
eS Sse

I MIGHT MISS MY OWN irre. | I KNOW ENOUGH

OF IT_THAT I WANT TO STUMBLE BEHIND AND
FOLLOW AS BEST I CAN.

AND MY GUESS IS THAT THE SAME IS
TRUE FOR YOU.

WHEREVER YOU ARE THEOLOGICALLY -

HOWEVER MANY THEOLOGIC EMENTS YOU
= =,

18

CAN AFFIRM WHATEVER YQUR CHURCH CONNEC~
Trong;] HEAR THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION
a

ANYONE WILL EVER ASK YOU: \ THE QUESTION

THAT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE...
,

= —--

— "You, - WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?"