In the Old Testament ( or Hebrew Scriptures ) there is the story of a man, Jonah , who gets swallowed by a whale, and then three days later he is spit out of the whale’s belly . There is also a story about the sun standing still. There is a story of war where the people of God defeat thousands of soldiers of the enemy with only 300 men. Also, there is the account of the people of Israel being sent to Babylon because they do not follow the ethics of God. Then at the end of another book, the people of God are told to destroy everything of the nation that had wanted to destroy them. And they annihilated everything.
Then, in the New Testament ( or Christian Scriptures ) , Jesus healed a woman who was bleeding for over 12 years, because she had touched, in the middle of a crowd, his cloak. Jesus of Nazareth also healed people who had had leprosy for most of their lives . They jumped up and down because the sores has somehow left them. Then there are the potluck miracles. One story, and there seems to be two stories, of feeding 5000 men and women, with five loaves and two fish. He invites his friends to help in the distribution, and he blesses the food,and begins to hand it out. After everyone has had enough there are 12 baskets full of leftovers for another meal. I would rather have bread and hummus, than raw fish. I am really not a sushi guy !
Then, there is the raising of the dead of Jesus, now the Christ . He comes into Jerusalem a week before his rising. There is an adoring crowd, but there are also leaders who want him dead. He does some teaching , healing and confronting during the week. He is anointed by a woman a few days before the action really begins. He has a final meal with his best friends. One friend leaves early to tell the political and religious leaders that Jesus will be walking outside later in the evening. They grab him and arrest him. They put him on trial overnight, and by the next day, he is hanging on a cross, dying a slow death. He dies. His body is taken down by some friends, and is put into a tomb. Then on the third day, men and women see that the tomb is empty. They tell people he is risen. After 40 days,, and a few more sightings, Jesus returns to heaven, and we have waited for his second coming for about 2000 years. We wait impatiently.
What do you think ? I have outlined just a few stories from the Bible. There are many more stories of faithful people since the Bible was written. I was raised from the dead, by God, firemen and my wife . Who knows where they each played a part in that miracle ? What holy book should my story go into today ?
The Bible is for our faith, and not for science or facts . I find the Bible about mystery and uncertainty, wiht a lot of room for prayer and reflection. The Bible is leading us/me into a new relationship with God every day. I do not need facts from God, and God needs faith from me. And I just need God, and what do you need to today for your life and faith ?
Fred Redekop
Ponder Anew 