February 24-March 1, 2008

PICTURING CHRIST
Jimmy Teigen

Think how many images you see everyday that tell a story. I have pictures on my desk that bring me back to a mountaintop, to Busch Stadium, to my wedding. I glance around my living room and see our television, DVD player, photo albums, more pictures on the wall. We live in a society where a picture is worth more than a million words. I have the hardest time memorizing words on the page, but I can quote every line of The Princess Bride. Mark must’ve known (let’s call it Inspiration) we were headed this way –how else do you explain the vivid stories? He could’ve summed up the first half of his letter giving a Top 10 list of Jesus’ Human Yet Divine Characteristics, but he chose to be a storyteller. He puts us into the story –terrified in the boat at the ghost on the waves, starving in the crowds, amazed at the healings.

And what do we learn about Jesus in these snapshots? He extends his hand to Gentiles, women, the handicapped, and to top them all: a quick witted Gentile woman’s daughter! He has power over food, nature, traditions! This guy is changing the way religion is thought, practiced, and done! Everyone has a response (fear, amazement, skepticism, laughter, hope, desperation) but it’s Peter’s response that changes the entire letter: “You are the Christ.” What happens after this blunt picture of Jesus? Mark notes that a shift occurs in Jesus’ teaching –focusing on the sacrifice he has destined to make.


[Jimmy Teigen is the youth minister at the McKnight Road Church of Christ in St. Louis, Missouri, he and his wife Amber have the joy of raising Corrina. When he's not with his family or the youth group you can find Jimmy geocaching throughout St. Louis or asleep on his couch or pondering why God would bless him with such a wonderful life…]