Wednesday 31 March

Many ways to understanding one truth

If I was seeing double, I’d go to the opticians… or to Alcoholics Anonymous! If I was seeing fourfold, I’d go there even quicker. I often used to wonder why God told us his most important story with four accounts, differing in perspective and detail. Isn’t that just confusing? Many early Christians apparently thought so, because there are several examples of the gospel accounts being put together [‘harmonised’]. But there are plenty of other examples of slightly different versions of the same events being told throughout the Bible. I think God wants to tell us something…

It would be interesting to listen to one of the gospel writers, but imagine how much more compelling it would be to hear Matthew, Mark, Luke and John sitting around a table discussing their memories and accounts. It is impossible for one person to notice everything or to represent every angle. Each of the evangelists would bring their different personalities, background and interests to create a rich whole:

‘Remember that man born blind…?’
‘Yes, Luke- Bartimaeus…’
‘You’ve got a good memory for names, Mark, and they are important- but did you notice how everyone started praising God…?
‘Oh! and the spitting - you didn’t mention that. A bit grubby for an educated man like you, Luke? I think you saw it, John?’
‘Yes, and I also couldn’t help noticing that Jesus described it as anointing his eyes…’

It’s fun to imagine this conversation going on.

Very often, however, we like to surround ourselves with people who agree with us and see things in exactly the same way. It feels reassuring and comforting. It could be in friendships, religion, politics or many other areas. The nature of the internet and having to remain in smaller groups than usual due to the lockdown, can tempt us to miss the diversity of different viewpoints and opinions. Differences, properly understood, do not threaten but enlarge our faith and our lives. In the words of the late Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: “Precisely because we are different, each of us has something unique to contribute to the unique project of which we are part”.

That’s true whether we’re writing a gospel or living a Christian life in in our church, family, community or workplace today.

A Prayer

Lord Jesus, Son of Man, you entrusted the telling your wonderful life to people who brought their own selves to sharing your story;
Help us to recognise and bring the unique qualities that we have, and to value that same uniqueness in others.
Amen

Revd Sarah Hobbs