Language is defined in stories II

The ultimate communication from God was JESUS Himself. That was God's way of "saying" several covenant concepts: "I've got your back"; "I am your Shield and exceeding great reward"; "I will express My Kindness toward you"; "My lovingkindness endures forever". If we read the Psalms we read many great covenant concepts. The last one - "His mercy or lovingkindness endures forever" is repeated hundreds of times. Most of Christendom knows the phrase, but cannot seem to receive it. Even if we receive it, we don't always realize the covenant connection. Hebrews 1:2 taught us that God SPOKE to us in "Son"- so Jesus is God's message to us in a picture-language story.

Stories are to communicate something beyond the story itself - a "spiritual meaning" or "heavenly meaning" - and Jesus is God's way of saying "I LOVE YOU - and don't you forget it."

So - when we ask what God's love means, we have a visible example - an illustration - which communicates concepts deeper than language itself. When we define agape - we have a "story" in our experience which shows something of what He is saying. Don't forget, though, God's ways are beyond "language" and "stories" and even Jesus Himself - when we try to comprehend God's love, nothing this side of heavenly wisdom approaches reality. When Jesus said, "If you've seen ME, you've seen The Father" - He meant a picture; an effort by God to show us something of what HE is like. But - even Moses only got a glimpse of "God's back" - which means "identity is from the face - and Moses didn't get to see much more than a shadow". We on the other hand - see Jesus - and as we "behold Jesus" - we are changed increasingly from one degree of Glory to another" 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Pictures and stories help get a glimpse. So - instead of saying we can't see Him, let's see what He gives for us to actually see something of Himself. Check the Life of Jesus - see His gentleness with "sinners" and don't explain away the story. See His sacrifice for US and allow it to HIT us full in the face. Matthew Mark, Luke and John told their story and that "picture album" really helps us SEE Jesus. We can love Him and believe in Him and know why He came and how much He loved us. Then - He designed us to continue to share "the Story"- to assist others in seeing Jesus.

Language is inadequate - study of Greek and Hebrew and Aramaic helps - but only to refine the story - to explain and paint a better picture of His life and how He showed us God. We simply must get to the picture - Pharisees and friends studied Scripture - but missed the story of God's "covenant Kindness expressed in Messiah" - so they hated Him with their whole beings. That wasn't because they needed more study of scripture; it was because they didn't "get the picture" of His story behind everything. They thought they knew Messiah - but only in reference to trying to avoid a broken Law - and they were convinced Messiah would make Law even more rigid and would "close all the loopholes". So - when it came to mercy, they were wanting - and so clueless they just knew Jesus couldn't be Messiah. And - later Judaizers persecuted Christians and later "Christians" killed each other because they missed the picture-story Jesus' life painted.

Much of the problems of Jesus' day and since could have been avoided if we realized Jesus was our Representative and offered Himself to us as a GIFT - and trusting HIM would be a guarantee of our salvation. (Romans 4:16) But - how can we know that ? All I can tell you is what the Bible pictures for us, so we'll try that part of the picture next. As John wrote - "These things are written so you might believe that Jesus is the Messiah - and believing you might have LIFE in His name." The FOCUS is Jesus.