What Color is Jesus--A case study in jazz theology (part2)

Nice to see we had a few brave souls chime in...

So that we can do theology in concert together, lwe need to make sure we are all playing the same song.

Listen to the words of our composer:

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me...I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25.35-36, 40)

Remember a classical approach to theology will see the answer in what is being said (nothing wrong with that). A jazz approach will see the answer in what is being done.

Now that we know the song, let's ask the question again, "What color is Jesus?"

Anybody care to take a solo? Let the improvisation begin!

Comments

[Tyler]

I had another son in the early evening of last night. During the labor his heart rate kept dipping down. The nurses told us that this was not good and that they may have to do and emergency c-section.

During this the evidence of my humanness came out. I worried that my boy may come out affected by lack of oxygen to the brain or whatever else could be happening. When you are having a child you think about all types of negative possibilities. And then God reminded me that He was the one most actively involved in this birth. He reminded me of Exodus 4 and the man born blind from birth in John.

I am certain that if I were to look into the eyes of any handicapped child, I would see that Jesus is handicapped.

My conclusion of that leads me to also see that when looking into the eyes of an Asian man, Jesus is Asian -- and looking into the eyes of a Hispanic, Jesus is Hispanic. The cosmopolitan community of Revelation displays what color Jesus is.

By the way my son was born healthy (whatever that means) -- Yale James Johnson

[Gary]

What color is Jesus? This could be a different question than "What color was Jesus?", that is, the historical Jesus, born a Jew from the middle east - likely filled with darker skinned people with dark hair. Now, Jesus is ministered to through the conduit of image bearers - in that, whatever we have done to the least of these, we have done to Him. So, it could be said that whatever color the recipient of godly love is.....so is Jesus. I find the answer to the color question far less significant than the thought process required to even contemplate the difference between a classical approach and a jazz approach. I wish I had been in Denver this past Wednesday - I'm singin' the blues!

[jazztheologian]

Tyler!--Congrats...that is great news on so many levels...and I like your answer...I think your on the same track as I...

Gary,
I couldn't agree more when you say the answer is less important than the process. The question, just forces us to a complimentary way of thinking about theology...

rg

[Manuel D. Rodriguez]

hungry, thirsty, stranger, needed clothes, sick, prison...tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25.35-36, 40)

I see this every day working at my job I try at times to just give them free ride here in San Antonio but hey God is faithful!!!

mega blessings
mdr

[Kevin]

What color is Jesus? I think, to use your analogy, that a classical approach would be to describe Jesus in terms of the color and body type of a Palestinian Jew in the 1st Century.

A jazz approach might be to describe Jesus' color in terms of Galatians 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

The person who commented, "were to look into the eyes of any handicapped child, I would see that Jesus is handicapped.

My conclusion of that leads me to also see that when looking into the eyes of an Asian man, Jesus is Asian -- and looking into the eyes of a Hispanic, Jesus is Hispanic" has probably come closest to the Truth.

The more important question is, "In Christ Jesus, what color are we"? For we shall someday be perfectly conformed to His image. What will WE look like?

[Dale]

Pastor Robert;
I'll answer your question with a question.
What color is the Wind? We can not see it but we can feel it's presence.