February 17: Introduction: Stories of Jesus
Stories of Jesus
God has given us the arts as an alternative and heightened way to communicate. The arts are the language of the soul, distinct from ordinary, every day language. They speak to us at the very core of our beings, calling for passionate responses. Indeed, The Lent Project’s simple formula of coalescing scripture, music, visual art and poetry into an integrated whole has elicited an overwhelming rejoinder from our viewing audience.
I like to think of Scripture as a great work of art. Certainly it’s the inspired Word of God but it’s also an amazing volume of prayers, poems, hymns, parables, metaphors, and unforgettable images. Tom Steffen, emeritus professor of intercultural studies at Biola asks some intriguing questions related to the Bible as literature.
“What if we viewed Scripture as Sacred Storybook or Sacred Drama? What if theological education was driven by stories rather than abstract concepts? What if concrete characters rather than philosophical ideas predominated? What if propositions were personified? What if the imagination, emotions, and volition were given equal weight with the cognitive? What if graduation depended on accurately telling a minimum of 35 Bible stories, and the doctrines they teach?”
This year’s Lent Project focuses almost exclusively on the Gospel narratives and the life changing stories of Jesus they proclaim. In the troubled times in which we live it seems more important than ever to recount these pared down, carefully constructed tales, powerful stories that sweep across the landscapes of our parched souls calling us to follow. In the next eight weeks we’ll travel with Christ and his disciples as together we contemplate His ministry, sacrifice and glorious resurrection!
How we need to be guided by these healing stories and images. In the Lent Project the arts have been employed to create a setting where one can imaginatively encounter the living Christ. The old gospel refrain says what we hope you’ll experience, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
Why do we as Christians need a special season to strengthen our relationship with God? How does this annual “tithe” of time and days serve to encourage us as the Lord’s disciples? Lent and its structure offer practical ways to increase our devotion and love for God. If the church is indeed a hospital for the sick and wounded, then it follows that Lent is it’s yearly physical, an annual tune-up that has been practiced by all sorts of Christians since the early days of the Church. Lent is a time to cleanse our wills, realign our spirits and deepen our dependence upon God. It is a period of genuine repentance, of concentrated reconciliation with others, of fasting from all that distracts us, and recommitting our lives to God as holy sacrifices.
It is of immense comfort to know that we are on this great Lenten pilgrimage with our brothers and sisters in Christ from every branch of Christendom and every tongue and tribe and nation! May we journey well together and arrive ready and eager to worship Christ at His holy resurrection!
This year’s Lent Project is dedicated to those believers around the world who have died as martyrs for their faith in Christ over recent months, including the 21 Coptic Christians who were executed on February 15, 2015 by the Islamic State.
Barry Krammes
CCCA staff