Date: October 18, 2020
Bible Text: Luke 5:1-11 | Stephen Weenink
Series: Jesus Is ___________.
One of the disadvantages that we have when it comes to Scripture reading is that, when we don’t know the character of the author of the Bible, we have the tendency to misunderstand the reason for which He writes and the tone in which He writes.
When I read a text or an e-mail from someone I know quite well, I get a sense when they are joking or being light-hearted. I also know when they are getting down to the heart of a matter, because I read that message with their voice in my head. When I get a message that I don’t understand, I need to dig in and ask questions so I know the intention with which it is written.
When it comes to the Bible:
- We can miss out on its nuances if we’re not in relationship with the Author.
- Worst case scenario is that we misinterpret it completely because we misunderstand the intentions or what He’s written.
- This is why some horrible things happen “in the name of Jesus”.
- But when we understand the character of Jesus, the Gospels come alive.
- They are no longer two-dimensional stories of some guy named Jesus
- They become 3D stories about the Jesus that we know personally.
What we’re trying to do over the course of this series, is to unmask the character of Jesus. Jesus’ character has been veiled by religion, by the Enemy, so that we don’t trust Him the way that we should. When we see the character of Jesus, as He reveals it to us in Scripture and by the Spirit, things change in our relationship with Him.