Yesterday Kay Lynne and I were received as new members in the First Lutheran Church of Poulsbo. We feel very blessed to now “officially” be a part of this wonderful congregation.
The sermon by senior Pastor Don Jukam serves as an example of one of the key reasons we felt drawn to this body of believers.
We always seem to learn a fresh nuance about the faith, no matter which of the three ministers is preaching.
This is a teaching parish in addition to being a “Word and Sacrament” Church. We are instructed Biblically to grow in the faith, and First Lutheran provides the perfect milieu.
In yesterday’s discourse, Pastor Jukam provided some fresh insight for our Gospel lesson taken from John chapter 6 – even for a long time believer like myself. Did you know, for instance, that there is no Greek word for our English word “miracle”?
Being that the New Testament was originally written in Greek, where, then, did all the references to Jesus’ (and others’) “miracles” come from in our English versions? Most likely from mis-translations.
Pastor Jukam pointed out that the three Greek words that have most commonly been translated into our word “miracles” are the Greek versions of “signs”, “wonders” and “works”. And there is a theological basis for this.
The “signs”, “wonders” and “works” that Jesus did always pointed toward something: namely, that he was the Son of God, and the “greater” things that he did were to be a “sign” that he was indeed the Messiah.
Though there are many who have performed “miracles”, the “signs”, “wonders” and mighty “works” that Jesus did always pointed – and continue to point – to God’s provision of salvation and eternal life for all of us through his son.
Thanks be to God.
No comments:
Post a Comment