Shaun Groves
I’m in a Chicago airport (I don’t know which one) laid over before my flight to Madison, WI. Nathan Tasker is with me again this weekend, which is cool, and I sat by a professional skateboarder on my flight here this morning, which is also cool. I don’t remember names but he has a buzz cut and wore jeans and a hooded sweatshirt and asked the flight attendant if they recycle cans. Does that narrow it down?
Anyway, I read through parts of a book on the Jewishness of Jesus by a German guy named David Flusser. It’s called The Sage From Galilee: Rediscovering Jesus’ Genius. It’s about how Jesus wasn’t all that original. What I mean is a lot of what he said had been said before, I mean. But the way he said things that had been said before and the times he decided to say these things was brilliant. And I never knew it before.
When Jesus talked about the kingdom of heaven, for instance, he wasn’t first to do that. Jewish guys had been talking about the kingdom for a thousand years or more. But they talked about it, usually, as the end of time, some kind of future utopia. Or they talked about it as an overthrow of world governments by force, making God’s law government’s laws. Jesus said, basically, nope. It’s right now and in the future. it’s like a mustard tree. One day it will be big enough to hold big birds in its branches. But right now it’s seed, the tiniest seed, that’s just started spouting. It’s miniscule right now, this rule of God on earth, but one day… It’s here now, just poking out of the ground, but one day…
Genius.
But the crowds left Jesus, Mr. Flusser reminded me this morning. Partly because he wasn’t radical and original enough. Partly because what he taught was too hard and literal (Seriously, love your enemy, I mean it, like now and not just later.) Partly because he wasn’t a zealot taking up arms against the Romans. Partly because he wasn’t bringing an end to history but telling us how to live where we are in it. Partly because he didn’t make up something new but explained what the old stuff means right now, with only small tweaks to the old for clarity’s sake.
Has nothing to do with Chicago, skateboarders or Nathan Tasker. Just on my mind. Jesus doesn’t have to be completely original to be completely divine and completely revolutionary and right. Why do I feel that I have to be original to be any use to Him? Why do I feel I need a crowd? Why do I feel I need a big push, a big initiative, a big product or platform, a big idea? Those things are useful, sure, fine, of course. But small tweaks make a big difference…apparently.
RevJeff says:
Did the skateboard dude have a backpack, or an extra jacket you could borrow?
Anon says:
I was in Madison last night. ^_^ Newsboys, Kutless and Neworldson had a concert there. I wish I had known you were going to be in WI; maybe I could have convinced my family to see you instead.
I’m pretty sure I don’t have any original ideas when it comes to my beliefs. I look at what the word of God says and what Jesus says and do my best to understand. Sometimes I write songs and poems, but I’m just taking what was written and changing the order of the words some; taking words that were written in one book, and adding them to what was written in another book. It makes sense that Jesus wasn’t saying anything all that different from the prophets of old. If God stays the same, it’s likely that what is preached about him will also stay the same.
john in colorado says:
hey shaun,
do you recommend the book? is it worth a read.
happy travels.
Shaun Groves says:
Not really, John. It reads like a textbook and gets into a lot of scholarly debates that seem, to me, to be unimportant. But the highlights, the stuff I understand, has been good for me to know.
john in colorado says:
well then, i will count on you to do the work of “shlog”ing through and passing on the important ideas. i’m counting on you on this, one……..bro.
seriously, if you find any other good thoughts, i’d be glad to hear.
Noelle says:
I understand what you mean about needing a crowd or the need to feel original. Yesterday I really battled with the “need” to hear a compliment. I mean, I’m a 22-year-old woman, on her own, college grad. and I still feel like I need someone to say, “Noelle, you’re doing a good job,” or “Noelle, I really appreciate you.” For someone to point out that I’m unique and I matter… even though I had the Bible right beside me and God to tell me what I needed to hear.
Shaun Groves says:
Noelle, I think that need’s legitimate. That’s not what I’m talking about. I feel, at times, or assume, that I’m not as potent or sharp a tool on God’s behalf if I’m not doing what seems important to me. That’s more what I’m talking about.
I get that I’m valuable to God whether you say you love me or not…but I also wonder if one of the ways God tells me I’m loved is through other human voices. When my kids, my wife, my friend make me feel valuable it’s a good thing, maybe even God speaking through them in a mystical strange sort of way.
Hoping you hear from a human being soon just how much you mean to them, how important what you are is.
Cynthia says:
Oddly, I have been thinking about this myself. It seems that I’ve been making the simple complicated. When perhaps, the simple is great just as it is.
There are a couple of small projects that I’m involved with right now where my heart’s just not in them. I feel I need to contribute to something bigger and something I’m more passionate about. And God has really been speaking to me, that THIS is what He’s calling me to do right now, in the present. It may not be my passion, but it’s someone else’s who thought that I could make a contribution to.
Creatively, I always want to be original. When I draw or paint or write songs, I try not copy what’s been done. That is nearly impossible. Lately I’ve been thinking about my songs, and I think it’s okay to state what’s already been stated, because music touches those in all stages of their walk with God. Something I may have heard a hundred times may be the first for others.
Just my couple of cents worth.
Noelle says:
Gotcha. Reading it again, I see what you mean.
J.R. says:
Shaun,
You’re reading Flusser. I knew you were a good (but skinny) man.
Pick up his book (simply titled ‘Jesus’
. He calls it his “life work.”
Fascinating and brilliant man.
Rock the African continent, brothah.
J.R.