Meeting the metaphor

Some twenty years ago now I was meeting with a couple who were interested in baptism for their two young children.  She was an Anglican and he was vaguely agnostic but with a Unitarian background.  I spent some time talking to them about the nature of a sacrament (an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace) and of baptism in particular as a cleansing from sin, a death and rising to new life and a grafting into the family of God in Jesus.  They listened attentively but asked very few questions.  At the end the husband said, and I can still quote, "Wow.  I've never heard that before with the God metaphor."  I thought to myself, "I really want to be there when this guy meets the Metaphor."

We have thoughts and ideas, concepts and images, and obviously even metaphors through which we envisage God.  For many of us we have good and sound theology that helps us understand and conceptualize God.  We necessarily emphasize sound theology because it is important.  But what is its purpose?  The metaphor or theology is not an end in itself.  What happens when we meet the metaphor or when our theology encounters the Theos.

This happens to one Martha of Bethany.  The story is told in John chapter 11.  I will refresh your memory.  Jesus is a good friend of this family - three siblings; Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  He hears that Lazarus is ill and, for the purpose of God's glory, takes his time making his way.  Sadly, by the time he arrives Lazarus has already gone to his greater reward.  Martha meets Jesus outside the village.  All the details of their conversation may not be recorded.  Perhaps there was a nice greeting, "lovely to see you, how was the trip."  But I somehow doubt it.  Martha has something to say which she says directly, indeed admonishingly, "Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died."

Jesus' response is simple, "Your brother will rise again."

And here Martha whips out her sound and comforting theology, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."  A+ for getting it theologically correct.  But the last day is only partial comfort this day.

And then her theology meets the Theos.  "I AM the resurrection and the life."  This is not last day stuff.  The Resurrection is here, now.  And as we continue to read the story through chapter 11 we discover that Martha's brother does rise again.  This day, not the last day.

So often I am waiting for what will happen at the end.  I am slogging through this vale of tears in the hope of the last day.  I read John 11and am reminded that he who is the resurrection and the life is here this day, in me, poured out through the Holy Spirit as a guarantee.  The Life is today.  Theology meets the Theos now.  To be sure there is a consummation which will eclipse what we know now (we see now as in a mirror, dimly, then we shall see face to face.)  But the promise is that he is among us now as well.

Our metaphors, images, ideas and theology help us to see and understand.  But they are not the point or the end.  Jesus is.