As a relative newcomer to the Gospels I was struck by the very personal and conversational tone of Jesus’s ministry to his disciples. He clearly gave them a useful scaffolding around which to talk with God. But, as so often seems to be the case it has been applied verbatim so that the scaffolding has become the prayer rather than the means to deeper communication.
I have gave a copy of the Gospels in which there is an essay preceding each by various well known people.
I love the essay by Nick Cave introducing the Gospel of Mark where he hilariously describes Jesus’ increasing frustration at the disciples inability to understand anything he said! 😁 (out of context I realise this sounds very flippant).
I’ve been trying to use the Lord’s Prayer as a framework for prayer.
As ever when it comes to Jesus, one could spend a lifetime ‘wrestling’ over the interpretation of just these few lines.
I agree, and love the scaffolding imagery. He also made it loose enough so they could take on responsibility themselves in a way that they related to God. This is why I sometimes struggle when it is said perfectly well in church, but without meaning!
Here is a further bit of reflection on the “Lead us not into temptation..”. Why do we ask this, as though the Lord might actually lead us into temptation? Instead, we are asking for leadership, and the next phrase tells us how we let ourselves be led. So, we should read it as “Lead us: Not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”
As a relative newcomer to the Gospels I was struck by the very personal and conversational tone of Jesus’s ministry to his disciples. He clearly gave them a useful scaffolding around which to talk with God. But, as so often seems to be the case it has been applied verbatim so that the scaffolding has become the prayer rather than the means to deeper communication.
I have gave a copy of the Gospels in which there is an essay preceding each by various well known people.
I love the essay by Nick Cave introducing the Gospel of Mark where he hilariously describes Jesus’ increasing frustration at the disciples inability to understand anything he said! 😁 (out of context I realise this sounds very flippant).
I’ve been trying to use the Lord’s Prayer as a framework for prayer.
As ever when it comes to Jesus, one could spend a lifetime ‘wrestling’ over the interpretation of just these few lines.
I agree, and love the scaffolding imagery. He also made it loose enough so they could take on responsibility themselves in a way that they related to God. This is why I sometimes struggle when it is said perfectly well in church, but without meaning!
I always ask God to make me a better person.
Here is a further bit of reflection on the “Lead us not into temptation..”. Why do we ask this, as though the Lord might actually lead us into temptation? Instead, we are asking for leadership, and the next phrase tells us how we let ourselves be led. So, we should read it as “Lead us: Not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”
I love that insight William, thank you ☺️