“Pizzaonia Emerging” Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, curator
Part two:
A basic premise that we have always believed here in Pizzaonia is that if you are ever going to know the real Jesus, the man Jesus, you must focus on his “humanness.” To know him as a human being gives us a greater emotional understanding of what his daily life and experiences were like.
So much of our modern understanding of Jesus is placed on what Christians now believe about who he is. However, as we said previously, what about the time before any of this came about. Who was he then, the man, before the world knew him as the “Son of God?”
You have to wonder what his daily life was like. We have the Gospel impressions of very serious man intent upon his mission in life. The impression we are left with is a man completely focused on his Messianic role. But somehow that does not always square away with the way a human being would always act, regardless of who he was.
We have so many years of his life that are not accounted for – what was he like during this period? We know he was a carpenter, but how much real work was there for carpenters. We know the Romans and their client rulers were constructing huge new cites near his home. He and his father more than likely went where the work was, doing what they had to in order to help support the family.
What was he like when he had some time to himself? We know from later Gospel accounts he liked visiting with friends who included men and woman. Wine was a common drink that they all enjoyed. We can imagine how we would be in this situation. Granted he was different than we are, but he was also very much like us.
We know he was a great story teller. We can assume this is a skill he acquired during his life. I like to imagine Jesus in his early adult years spending the hours when he was not working - sharing ideas and small talk with his friends.
We also know how difficult the times were during his life. Every day was a struggle, but as the Gospels indicate they did make time to enjoy their friends.
Unfortunately, what we do know about his life takes place during his last three years. Granted, they are the three most important years, but little else. There is much written speculation that prior to this he was busy preparing for his mission. Again, this assumes that he was sure from the beginning that he always knew what his mission was.
For him to know this would also suppose that his special relationship with his heavenly father was established early. If so, it takes from us some of our abilities to relate to him as a human being like us.
However, again, what if this relationship was like a seed, there from the beginning, but it had to grow and develop into the fullness of what we now know became the Jesus of the Gospels.
I am sure some will consider this sacrilege – we do not. For us, this continued exploration of the man, Jesus only makes his life and choices more compelling.
Brother Giovanni
follow us: https://twitter.com/GIOVANNIFRANCO
opd 1013
* Nazareth is a thriving city today, but in Jesus’ time it was a small village of about 400-500 in population. Capernaum was probably larger with a population of 1500-1700. The nearby Herodian cities of Sepphoris and Tiberius were certainly consumer cities. The large building projects of the period in them provided a lively economy for farmers, builders, and fishermen.
Read more: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/worlds-best-selling-book/2012/apr/30/whats-title-jesus-nazareth-nazarene/#ixzz2ikwSmd7m
Follow us: @wtcommunities on Twitter
Comments