“We need to . . . [be] aware of how our message about Jesus is interpreted by those who hear it. . . . Likewise, we need to be relevant without losing touch with the true identity of Jesus the Messiah. He is for all people, but he stands on his own terms. We morph to the Messiah rather than reshaping him to our own needs.”- Kyle Idleman and Mark E. Moore
Kyle Idleman and Mark E. Moore continue Chapter 4 of The Missing Messiah as they discuss how the idea of the Messiah morphed in Christianity. First, Kyle and Mark stress, each Gospel writer provided a new perspective on Jesus the Messiah. Thus, each writer helped readers understand Jesus within their own cultural context.
Above all, the authors underscore, this in no way suggests contradictory portrayals. Rather, the Gospel writers simply tailored their portrayals to show Jesus’ relevance in different times and places.
Most significantly, Kyle and Mark observe, Matthew and Mark each open their Gospels with this unprecedented claim. That a real, flesh-and-blood person had fulfilled messianic prophecies. In fact, Matthew traces Jesus’ genealogy all the way back to Abraham.
Furthermore, as Kyle and Mark explain:
“Matthew showed how Jesus fulfilled — and exceeded — the traditional Jewish understanding of the Messiah. . . . Matthew revealed how God’s promise to Abraham was fulfilled through Jesus and demonstrated that promise was not just for Jews, but for Gentiles too, presenting a redefined Davidic Messiah who was marked by compassion rather than conquest.”
In conclusion, Mark took a contrasting approach in his Gospel. Hence, Mark crafted his introduction in language that resonated with the church in Rome (Mark 1:1). The term Mark used, “Son of God”, represents a title usually reserved for the emperor. Thus, for a Jewish author living in the capital to apply that title to Jesus showed serious guts.
Today’s question: What Bible verses help you, through the power of the Holy Spirit, morph to Jesus? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The cultural air we breathe”