Series 2 of the good Stuff. The Gospel According to jesus
In this series of reflections we examine the story of Jesus and the meaning of his life, death and resurrection. There can be a tendency to reduce Jesus down to a magical figure who comes down from heaven to die for us so that we can go to heaven one day in the future, but there is so much more going on in the story that invites a constant divine transformation in and through our lives right here and now.
The Gospel according to jesus - Part 1. Jesus The Prophet
In this first video we look at the context surrounding the life and ministry of Jesus and the ways in which Jesus begins to offer a ‘prophetic imagination’, an alternative way of seeing the world in which those with power do not have the final say, and where there is room made for the suffering, the vulnerable and those on the edges.
The gospel according to jesus - Part 2. why was jesus killed
The story of the gospels tells us that Jesus' vision of the kingdom of God, one that resisted using power over people but centred the vulnerable and suffering instead, was not received well by those who held the power (whether that be religious or political). In this reflection we look at the 2 big prophetic acts that Jesus enacts in the days leading up to his execution, and how this emphasises the motives of those who sought to eliminate Jesus from the conversation. Understanding this story is necessary for us to then go on to make sense of the meaning of Easter and how it might relate to us in the here and now.
Reflective Practice
As a way of meditating on Jesus’ alternative vision of the kingdom, try praying this re-phrasing of the beatitudes as a prayer practice. Pause, take some deep breaths, spend about 2 minutes tuning in to the sensations in your body and listening to the sounds around you, alert but with eyes closed. Then pray through this 3 times. If you prefer the original text in place of this re-phrasing, you’ll find it in Matt 5:3-11. If you can, spend a moment contemplating what it would be like to inhabit this view of the world and consider how that might shape or re-shape your life.
God is for those who are down-and-out, for the freaks, the weirdos, the awkward, the suffering, the irreligious and the profane;
God is for those who are deep in grief, whose pain makes them unable to participate fully in the strategies of a successful modern life;
God is for those who do not use power and strength over others in order to make their way in the world;
God is for those who long for things to be put right and for the unjust systems of the world to be torn down;
God is for those who show mercy and forgiveness to one another, rather than seeking revenge for the ways in which they have been wronged;
God is for those who can see that the external markers of religiously approved behaviour don’t mean much after all;
God is for those who resist ways of violence and oppression in the world, and instead seek to become agents of peace and reconciliation between those who do not yet understand or love one another;
And God is for those who, because they seek to live in this kind of reality, encounter the oppression, exclusion and disdain of those with power, wealth, and status.
the gospel according to jesus - Part 3. Saved from what?
If we ground the meaning of Jesus' death and resurrection in the life of Jesus, the story, history and context - what we find is an invitation to make sense of the meaning of language like sin and salvation through this story rather than as abstract or individualistic theological ideas. Rather than being saved from eternal punishment or torment, salvation in the story of Jesus is all about following in his way, entering into his vision of the kingdom of God, being embraced by God rather than held at a distance, turning from harm, abuse and violence and finding a God who enters into our pain and suffering and yet offers us new life.
Reflective practice
Sit quietly for 2-3 minutes. Breath deeply and pay attention to your chest rising and falling. Allow yourself to settle. If you have racing thoughts, acknowledge them and then bring your attention back to your breath.
In this place of stillness and contemplation, consider these questions for as long as you need:
Regardless of whether or not you’re religious or have been a Christian for decades, what could it mean for you to follow the ‘way of Jesus’ – to cultivate a life of beauty and self-giving love instead of harm and seeking power, in your life here and now? What would this change about your life?
How could following the ‘way of Jesus’ be connected to your salvation? (Not as a ‘how to get to heaven’ idea, but as ‘how I could be transformed’ kind of idea)
The gospel according to jesus - Part 4. what is god like
The good news of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus includes big claims about what God is like. Rather than a God who is distant and unconcerned, or worse - angry and ready to smite - the God revealed in Jesus is one who is shown to be present in our embodied reality, including our suffering and pain, and who freely offers forgiveness, healing and reconciliation. God is in solidarity with us, even to the point of death. And this reveals a God who is truly good, who can be trusted, and who invites us to be and do the same for one another.
Reflective Practice
Today’s invitation is into a palms down/palms up exercise. So firstly, take a moment to get comfortable, sit with your feet flat on the floor, your back straight, your hands resting on the tops of your thighs. Take a couple of deep breaths and then close your eyes. In this place of comfortable alertness, take some more deep steady breaths and pay attention to the rhythm of your chest rising and falling with each breath. Allow yourself to slow down for a moment. If your mind is racing – that’s okay, it’ll do that, but here you are, giving yourself some space to pay attention to what matters.
Palms Down
Now take your hands and turn your palms so that they’re facing downward. They may still be resting on your legs, or held in the air, or even down by your side. This physical posture of palms downward is a symbol of putting down, of letting go, of giving over to God that which you don’t need to hold on to. You may have some things on the top of your mind that you would like to give over – even just for these few minutes. In light of today’s reflections, you may also want this opportunity to consider letting go of:
A view of God as distant and aloof
A view of God as angry and judgemental
A view of God that centres around punishment and reward
Palms up
Now take your hands and turn your palms so that they’re facing upward. This physical posture of palms upward is a symbol of openness, or receptivity, of accepting that which you need from God. This place might be an invitation to open up to:
A view of God grounded in love and belonging
A view of God that is safe and kind
An invitation to be this kind of presence for those around you
the gospel according to jesus - Part 5. reframing repentance
In the final reflection in this series, we explore what repentance looks like in the context of the story of Jesus and the invitation to follow the way of the upside-down kingdom. Repentance is not to be used as a tool with which to add weight and further suffering to those who are already vulnerable, marginalised or traumatised. For Jesus, his biggest confrontation and challenge was always toward those with the most power and privilege. Repentance is much more about a personal and communal process of seeing the ways we might engage in harmful practices, and the commitment to move away from this and toward the way of love.
Reflective Practice
In your own time, respond to these questions. You may want to sit with a journal as a way of processing your thoughts on this:
In what ways do i have the capacity to cause harm to others? What would it mean to move away from that and toward self-giving love?
What kind of communities do I help to build, and how can they uphold the vulnerable and challenge the powerful?
What does it look like for us to take some collective responsibility for how our actions in the world are connected to suffering and injustice?
What does is mean to engage in all of this from a place of belonging and embrace, rather than heaviness and guilt?