He pursued them - ג
The gimel ג is such a fun letter. Jesus used it in a saying concerning the rich man. But it has a deep theological meaning as well.
The gimel ג is drawn as a vav ו which splits. Jewish children learn that it is a rich man pursuing a poor man, because it looks like an outstretched leg.
The vav ן is the Word of God (Jesus [1]) with the focus being on clarifying by separating, but in the case of the gimel, doesn't just explain or clarify things, but also teaches holiness. The teaching of holiness (separation) is how God pursues us. Though we experience grace, we need to understand holiness to understand the grace.
Contents
We experience grace
When God created the heavens and the earth, his creation was bathed in grace. [2] But we do not understand grace without understanding holiness, so he immediately revealed himself as holy. [3]
Lets put this in different terms. Holiness is expressed by separation. God created us by separating a void from himself. He made space for us within him. He is God, we are not. We are in God. We customarily say that God is everywhere as if the everywhere were a container for God. But there is no container larger than God. [4] God is not in everything. Everything is in God. [5]
We don't understand grace without law
If I told you that I paid your fine, you would think I was crazy, because you are unaware of any fine. My statement to you would be foolishness. This is the same with the preaching of the cross. [6]
If you are unaware of the war between you and God; if you are oblivious to sin; if you do not know the pain, suffering and death that you contribute to; you perceive no need for assistance.
Perhaps you remember the first time you realized that you unintentionally hurt someone deeply; the look that pierced your heart and birthed human empathy within you. You immediately understood your need for grace. It is likely you had cause harm previously, but unaware sensed no need for assistance.
This is the purpose of the law. This is the mission of the judge. The law and the judge do not simply condemn you. They condemn you for the purpose of piercing your hardened heart so that you realize the pain, suffering and death you have contributed to. They condemn you so that you will seek assistance, forgiveness and mercy. They condemn you to lead you to Christ and the cross.
The gimel represents the rich man (God) pursuing the poor man (the sinner)
Jesus uses this meaning in a brilliant riddle which reverses the historical event with the hidden meaning.
Consider the dialog and circumstances around the meeting of the rich man and Jesus. [7]]
The rich man came running to the poor man Jesus and asks what he must do to have eternal life, but he refers to Jesus as the 'good' teacher.
This is a trigger word for Jesus. Original and universal sin is when men determine for themselves, or define, good and evil, usurping God prerogative. Only God can declare what is good or evil.
Jesus gently confronts the man, explaining that only God is good. The motive may be two-fold: "Why do you make a judgement that I am good since only God can judge?", or "Has God told you that I am God, and therefore I am good?"
Jesus attempts to determine which it is by telling him to keep the law. The man has two answers to choose from: "I have kept the law", or "I cannot keep the law and need mercy".
The man contradicts Jesus saying that only God is good. He doubles down that he himself is good, with the implication that he is equal to God.
If he is equal to God, then Jesus says he should do what God has done: Jesus, the eternal Son of God left his high estate, giving up everything to be man in order to reveal the father through teaching, and through his death. He invites, "Come follow me", after you also give up all you possess.
The rich man (Jesus - incarnate God) has chased the poor man (the sinner) with the law and judgement.
The camel
Jesus highlights the meaning of the encounter using the gimal: The name of the letter gimel ג also means 'camel'. They are the same word. Now consider the eye of the needle. When you thread a needle, you wet the thread and twist it to make it stiff. Then you hold it up close to your eye and bring the needle to the thread. You do this because if you move the thread, it will shake and fall and you will have to wet and twist it again. You bring the needle to the thread.
How is it that the rich man could think he was sinless? If we approach the law, like the thread approaching the needle we wilt before it. In order to think we are sinless, we must hold ourselves still, and draw the law to us so that we fit in the center of it. We re-interpret the law, or redefine it so that we are not guilty of sin.
We say that we are not guilty of murder, though Jesus says we are if we have been angry with a brother. We didn't steal that stuff from the office, we borrowed it and just haven't returned it yet. We don't lust, we just enjoy beauty. We don't covet, we just want to improve our lot in life.
It is easier for the real camel to go through the eye of a real needle, than is is for the rich man sinner, who chased the poor man, to justify himself by the law. It will never happen.
Those pangs of guilt; the times when a memory literally makes you gnash your teeth, or flinch; are the fruit of the law piercing your heart so that you will understand the need for mercy and be drawn to God for it. God pursues you.
References
- ↑ Joh 1:1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- ↑ Ge 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
- ↑ Ge 1:4 And God saw the light, that [it was] good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
- ↑ 1Ki 8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?
- ↑ Ac 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
- ↑ 1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
- ↑ Mk 10:17, Mt 19:16, Lk 18:18
