The Real Meaning Behind the Cross!

One of the most powerful stories in the Gospels is recorded in John’s Gospel (4:7-15). Readers of John have interpreted this story in many different ways. I have preached on this text numerous times. It is a remarkably compelling story of the human condition and the medicinal response of Jesus.

Unfortunately the story has been read through the typical lens of sin and separation thus leading to moralistic interpretations. The focus of the story then becomes the woman’s many marriages (five) and her existing relationship with a man who is not her husband.

This is such a bad reading of this story however. In fact, I would suggest that reading the Bible as a whole through the lens of sin and separation (from God) has inspired inferior ways to understand the meaning of Jesus’s death on the cross (another topic for another day).

There is of course a more helpful way to read this story. Rather than seen through the traditional lens of sin and separation what if we were to read this story through a much different lens: Shame and Alienation? Think about this for a moment.

A Facebook friend of mine recently shared a post that actually suggests this kind of reading of the whole Bible, particularly the story of Adam and Eve’s fall reported in Genesis 3. Actually I have heard him preach on this topic and his point is well taken. Here is what he posted:

In assessing the frailties of the human condition, the traditional diagnosis made by the Church describes humanity's ailment as "sin and separation" with the traditional cure described as "confession and salvation." Actually, the opening drama of our sacred text, the temptation and fall of Adam and Eve, tells a different story - a story of "shame and alienation" with a remedy of "healing and reconciliation" (Stan Mitchell).

This approach changes the dynamic of how we might understand the human condition and the prescription God put in place to deal with our condition (which is a much different solution that is based on the sin and separation model). It also changes the way we look at ourselves and each other. The implications of seeing the human story through such a lens are enormously encouraging for postmodern people.

A few years ago there was a startup church in the community I served that created quite a stir by placing on their church sign: “Scumbags Welcome.” Of course this was an attempt to reach those in the community who might otherwise feel unwelcome in a more traditional church setting.

Sadly from all indications the project did not work very well, which is not surprising.

Perhaps a better approach would have been more effective. Let me suggest a better way by telling you a personal story .

Several years ago I was having breakfast with my friend and author the late Robert Webber. Bob was in the process of writing a book entitled Ancient-Future Evangelism. Suddenly Bob asked me: “Steve, how would you engage these young postmodern folks today with the message of the Gospel?”  I was honored that such an esteemed author and professor would ask me such a question.

The answer I gave Bob was not premeditated. It was spontaneous. I didn’t have the time to think it through but what I did say even surprised me. I said something like this: “Well I would begin with the story of God’s good creation since that’s the first story in the Bible. I would tell them that when God crated them he created something good. I would not begin by telling them they are sinners in need of salvation since the Bible doesn’t even begin there.” 

Having had the time to reflect on Bob’s question I may have given him a more sophisticated answer. But after all these years I would now add: “The human problem isn’t so much sin that separates us from God as it is an illness that erodes our relationship with the Creator and with other humans causing destructive shame; thus God sent Jesus to heal us of that disease. A disease that puts us at “dis-ease” with God and others” (think Cain and Able).

So our starting point in defining the human condition is that all that God created is good yet in need of divine healing. The implications of this are enormous.

My Facebook friend told me that he is writing a book on this topic and that the quote mentioned above is his basic premise for his forthcoming book. I can’t wait to read it because we certainly need some thoughtful articulation on the issue of the human condition and the remedy God has created for it. We certainly need help in moving us beyond the old sin and separation model.