Thought of the Day 05.04.09

Have you ever watched a movie where you thought you understood everything up until the very end, when suddenly an interpretative key or “twist” was added which forced you to reevaluate the whole movie?

What’s fascinating about such movies is that they transcend the mere “gotcha” and create a cognitive moment of insight which revolutionizes your understanding yet leaves you feeling fulfilled by the shift rather than betrayed or embarrassed by it. In the best cases, you immediately want to watch the movie again to see it from this new perspective.

This is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ does to the entire Bible. Any understanding of the Old Testament which does not originate in the revelation in Christ is thus less rich, less fulfilling, and, in a very serious sense, less true. That’s why for someone who has seen it this way, trying to discuss the Bible with those who haven’t is a bit like trying to discuss The Sixth Sense with someone who doesn’t believe Bruce Willis was a ghost the whole time.