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Epiphany and The Blind Leading the Blind
One thing we want never to characterize worship leaders and designers: "The blind leading the blind."
Think about it. In the midst of the seduction of Eden, we get this exchange:
4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."Then this:
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
How does one become aware of blindness while their eyes are open?
Now look at this. In the midst of the Epiphany of Emmaus we get this exchange. (Luke 24).
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16but they were kept from recognizing him......
25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26Did not the Christ[b] have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
.....When he
was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"Anybody want to take a shot at some theological/doxological analysis from these "eye-opening" texts? Any "epiphanies" ????
Labels: epiphany
posted by John David Walt | at 1/13/2009 08:40:00 AM
Today...
2 Comments:
"Sight" degenerates or regenerates according to an active agent in these Scriptures. Humans are the passive agent, while God is the active. The phrase "eyes were opened" explains a non-human cause to the change. Ultimately, God opens or closes eyes, showing Himself faithful to the revelation of Himself in the human heart. I believe this is the Father acting through the Spirit.
Man also participates, but not as the source of his regeneration. At the refusal of God's Word, man's eyes are changed. Upon God's revelation of Himself in Christ, eyes are opened to the truth.
Christ was the revelation of God in flesh. The Scriptures attested to this, and Christ promised the Spirit to come because of what He had done. The bread and the wine centered the church experience on Christ's work, identified them as children of the Father, and reminded them to wait upon the coming Spirit.
Participation with the Trinity in the work of Christ is what we do in communion. This is one way we join with and depend on God's provision of sight.
His Word culminates in and through Christ. And the Spirit exhorts us through it. We participate with the Trinity through administering His Word.
I began thinking it was all God's action. Period. But the story doesn't stop there! God acts so that ultimately we are participating with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Dependent, and active because He enables us.
that's good analysis Kendra. thanks for sharing. i like the way you are thinking about worship as "participating." note it begins with the word "part" as in we are playing a part, but never in and of ourselves-- only in communion with the Father through the Son in the power of the Spirit. you are also showing good Trinitarian grammar. nice work.
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