“Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?”
“Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?” Luke 15:4, 8
Jesus knew the lives of the people to whom he taught and ministered. He lived and walked among them. He told stories using everyday examples and imageries familiar to his hearers: lost sheep, lost coin, wedding banquet, sowing seeds, and so on.
This July, I had an opportunity to teach a two-week intensive course at the Central American Theological Seminary (SETECA) in Guatemala City. The course, “Theologies of the Cross,” examined various theological interpretations of the cross of Christ from Apostle Paul, Martin Luther, to contemporary theologians. I taught from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. with an interpreter for 10 days. After just the first day I didn’t know how I would teach another nine days of five-hour classes! But thanks to my excellent interpreter, we found a rhythm and good momentum.
The seminary is a gated community located in an unsafe part of the city and although faculty and students commuted freely to and from the seminary, I stayed in my guest apartment for most of the two weeks. I was comfortable and enjoying my developing relationship with my students.
Then something happened on the second to last day of class…
On that day I gave a lecture that emphasized that the cross and resurrection of Christ is the decisive demonstration of God’s incarnational, self-giving love and commitment for the suffering world. I also emphasized that the corollary to this central truth is that our Christian life also must demonstrate God’s self-giving love for those who are suffering.
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