Little stories. Illustrations. Vignettes. All intended to crack the door to just a little more understanding.
Jesus offered a lot of these kinds of openings. He still does. Look to see what kind of new light might brighten your understanding just now.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
2 Corinthians 5:16-17
Kaleidoscopes are neat toys. You put your eye to the scope, and are able to turn the base to many different shapes and colors. It’s different for every person who looks.
Much like a kaleidoscope, we sometimes read the parables differently than our parents or friends. Here in 2 Corinthians, the writer is saying that we once knew Christ from a human point of view, and we no longer know him in that way. After Jesus’ time on earth, the people realized his importance and believed in him.
Through the parables that Jesus spoke, he shed new light and insight on stories people might have heard before. He taught his followers to see the world as he did – the old had gone, and the newness in Christ had come. We can learn from these short verses to see the world and each other through the “scope of Christ.” It is a lens of newness, where we can see the new creations we are through Christ.
Sarah Briggs
God, thank you for making things new. Help me to see myself, others, and the world through your eyes. Amen.
Go now with your eyes watching,
Watching for the unfolding of God's words,
Words that give light,
Words that bring understanding
To even the most simpleminded.
Inspired by Psalm 119:130