“The God who would do everything to have relationship with us . . . chose to put on skin in the person of Jesus. He swapped His righteousness for our wrongness, His access for our distance, an open door for relationship with the Father. He is our common ground.”- Dick Foth
In Chapter 3 (“The Original Adventure”) of A Trip around the Sun, Dick Foth notes that our trajectory changes when Jesus invites us into relationship with Him. Thus, our journey begins at this point.
However, New Testament scholar Dr. Gordon Fee sees life as a wilderness. Therefore, a compass provides little help. And you need to know where you stand for a map to work. Hence, Dick underscores, when you find yourself in a place you’ve never been before, you need a guide. A Guide to the Father’s house – Jesus.
Consequently, Dick views the idea of place as very important. Because Jesus left His place and came to our place. In addition, Jesus took our place. Finally, we’ll go to His place. So, Jesus walks into our place and redirects us. He meets us where we are and gives us a new life, character, and way of seeing things.
Above all, Jesus invites us to go on that adventure. Thus, it’s a win-win for us. Because we fulfill His dreams for us, and Jesus gives us some dreams of our own.
Yet, Dick stresses, at times it’s a great challenge to get a clear view of Jesus. For time and distance can obscure Him, make Him institutional and insipid.
In conclusion, Dorothy Sayers, a British mystery writer and contemporary of C. S. Lewis, astutely said:
“The people who hanged the Christ never, to do them justice, accused him of being a bore — on the contrary, they thought him too dynamic to be safe. It has been left to later generations to muffle up that shattering personality and surround him with an atmosphere of tedium. We have very efficiently pared the claws of the Lion of Judah, certified him ‘meek and mild,’ and recommended him as a fitting household pet to pale curates and pious old ladies.”
Today’s question: How do you see Jesus as our common ground? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Middle-of-the-marketplace Messiah”
