new stuff

And he that sat upon the throne said,

Behold, I make all things new.

(Revelation 21.5)

what does the word 'new' mean when Jesus says it?

i mean, at first glance, Jesus seems to be very much about redefining things in new terms. however, perhaps he isn’t redefining so much as redeeming the original value and intended meaning of things. taking familar passages of scripture from moses and the prophets and delivering them with such spin that the scriptures themselves ae revitalized and the standard for behaviour is raised beyond the parameters of traditional expectation, Jesus’ work on earth is to purposefully exalt this human experience of living... to resurrect it.

and so, within the teaching part of his ministry, he often takes direct questions from the gallery on the simplest of truths, and uses them to radically rework his listeners’ paradigms and deepen their understanding of that which they think they already know...

• matthew 22.35-40 "greatest commandment"
• luke 6.27-31 "golden rule"

note how, in both of these instances, Jesus reminds the people that their own perspective is valuable. “as yourself” and “to you”... it's not enough to debate- to speak in logic and abstracts. he doesn't simply invite his listeners to think right. these words of truth only matter when placed in the context of human experience and lived out there.

there is the real challenge, however.

see, Jesus seems to hold that we already know ourselves implicitly and treat ourselves well... but what if we don’t know these things? failing to love ourselves appropriately, failing to take care of ourselves conscientiously, do Jesus’ words here have any meaning to us at all?