Blind Men, Elephants…and Jesus??
Originally posted on PENSIEVE.
You would think becoming intimately acquainted with Jesus–getting to know Him, learning to love Him–is as simple as reading the Bible’s four gospels.
Until you read them back to back, and on the surface, see four portraits of the same man. Four very different portraits of the same man.
Because I never before read all four gospels in succession, a while back it occurred to me that immersing myself in these “biographies” would give me a clearer picture of Jesus. Rather than read them in the order they appear in Scripture (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), I read them John, Mark, Luke, Matthew; random, yes, but going from John to Mark paints a p.r.e.t.t.y. interesting picture.
Not far into the second book, I began to see how differently the gospel writers portrayed Jesus. It sounded almost like they were talking about a different person. Sure, there are accounts, parables and teachings that appear multiple times in two or more of the books, but the personality of Jesus seemingly changes between accounts. Don’t take my word for it, go read it yourself. In John, he’s all about love, in Mark, he’s extremely passionate and emotional; in Luke, more precise and his regard for women evident; in Matthew, he’s the most subversive in his “kingdom” thoughts.
[Why this was a surprise is beyond me. It shouldn't have been, but it was. In an instant I was almost mad at the disservice we render Scripture when we chop it into pieces and microscopically examine the words and their origin, and in the process, rip the life out of it. No cohesiveness, instead extracting a verse or two and studying it to see how "it" applies to our lives, rather than considering it contextually (relative to time, culture and the Scripture in its entirety). ]
And then, the far corners of memory pushed forward the old story of the blind men and an elephant and it made perfect sense. When I put myself in the place of one of the blind men, I could see why God preserved an account from many people to brushstroke a picture of who He is through the life of His son. One perspective wouldn’t convey a complete picture. I thought about my husband, how I would describe him as such; how our children would describe him as their father; how his parents would describe him as a son; how
his brothers would describe him as a brother; how his friends, co-workers, etc. would describe him…. Same person, different perspectives, all telling a part of his story, all absolutely accurate relative to our own experience. But all, very different accounts.
Last year, I decided to read through the Gospels with my children for our morning devotion. With intent, we read longer passages at a time, not just three or four verses. Like I had before, we began in Mark. I wonder how clearly they saw what I had, if they noticed the “differences” in Jesus’ personality. Although I tried to guide them in that line of thinking, I doubt it. My “goal” was simply starting the day Godward with the hope Jesus’ own words might ring in their ears throughout the day; if I had missed the different aspects of Jesus’ personality into adulthood, how could I expect them to see it?
I wondered what it says to them we don’t do this on the weekends or over the summer (I’m not sure I want an answer :/). I guess the bottom line is I hope God will kill any agenda of my own, and have His way through His own words.
Time will tell….
It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind
The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
“God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!”
The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, “Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me ’tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!”
The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a snake!”
The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
“What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain,” quoth he;
“ ‘Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!”
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: “E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!”
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a rope!”
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
Moral: So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!
~John Godfrey Saxe
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Editor’s pick from Robin @ PENSIEVE. To inaugurate the Blog Nosh Religion & Philosophy Channel, I thought it would be appropriate to share a glimpse of my faith since I’ll be one of three editors handling this column. For the record, it’s hilarious to me that within the launch of Blog Nosh, I’m the only Channel Editor posting original work–leave it to the Religion Editor to model self absorption and narcissism ;)! Originally published on my former blog, this is an oft-searched post based on the familiar childhood story about the blind men “seeing” (sensing) different parts of an elephant and describing it as if were six different things. Read Blind Men, Elephants and Jesus at PENSIEVE, as well as the post’s original comments.
Editor
Robin Pensieve
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June 27th, 2008
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Category:
Author- Pensieve, Channel- Religion & Philosophy, Editor- Robin at Pensieve, Faith, God, Gospel, Jesus, Poetry, Religion, Scripture
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Very interesting point… even us literature majors have probably never read the gospels as literature and really analyzed the hero through the eyes of each author… I’m going to do that!
Oh, Liz, I would love to hear your post-read thoughts! If you do, track me down, k?
Thanks for taking the time to read today :).
I’ve never read this poem before! (Though it doesn’t surprise me to find poetry in your post.)
I enjoyed your observation. I’ve recently begun reading the bible all the way through (I’ve never made it, I get distracted at some point and feel the need to start over again.) The last two times I began reading chronologically. This time I thought I’d simply begin at the front cover and make my way to the back cover. Unlike other attempts, this time I’m reading it very contextually - longer passages, really getting into the story of it. Also unlike other attempts, I’m not following a schedule. No “this chapter on this day,” etc. I’m reading until I want to stop, putting my bookmark in until next time and then picking up where I left off. It’s a very fufilling and satisfying way of reading the bible. (In fact, I’ve been meaning to blog about it…you know, if I get around to blogging any time soon!)
BUT… I wonder…this time when I get to the gospels, am I going to continue straight through or will I mix them up? Cuz, you know, now that I read this…it’ll be very not to!
Great idea to feature one of your own posts - particularly, as you say, as a way of sharing some of what you believe (by way of introduction).
I’ve read the gospels through numerous times and still haven’t really *seen* the differences you mention (well, I get that they’re different but not quite as well put as you’ve described here).
Thanks for sharing.
Great post- I have read the whole of the bible through at least 7 or 8 times and each time there is something new and a wealth of information for me. Of course I believe in the inerrant truths of the bible being a long time Christian, but it is still interesting to see the different first hand perspectives that those closest to Jesus had during Jesus’ short three year ministry. Are they contradictions- No I don’t think so.
I love how you tied into your post the poem of the blind men and the elephant. The last I heard that poem was in elementary school and it stuck with me some time. It certainly is not an elementary concept. I think even seasoned adults forget that- we do not all think alike. This is an important truth we have to overcome in order to better understand ourselves and the meaning in our lives and how we can make a difference to others. No two people think alike- even when it comes to God, religion, and spirituality. Most people live in the “vacuum of self” (me included) and it’s hard for us to fathom that others don’t think like we do.
Very cool! Love it. I have something I need to write that I think would fit here. Maybe I’ll do that today. Hope your vacation is going well.