Sculptures by the Sea (of Galilee)
Sculptures by the Sea CrossPurposes 154
If you don’t live in Sydney you probably don’t know about the annual sculpture exhibition which is presented on the coastal strip between Bondi and Tamarama beaches. The two week show is on just now. Some of the best known sculptors on the planet have their ‘creations’ placed on the headlands and rock formations, on the grassy slopes and beach sands. Thousands upon thousands visit the site and marvel (or wonder!!!) about the creativity on display. (Joggers hate it because it all happens on their track.)
For reasons I can’t explain, while half-asleep the other morning, I was linking the Sculptures by the Sea with the story of Anna which I shared in CrossPurposes 153. Weird? Not really, if we let the Holy Spirit be the sculptor. The instrument he uses to do his ‘fashioning’ is the Word of God, especially the Word of Jesus Christ. His raw material is the regenerated heart which is set on Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Such a heart is willing to be remade, even if there is a cost. As that person ‘stays the course’ through thick and thin, through the best and worst that happens in life, then transformation is to be expected.
I mentioned Anna Papaj. But think of Jesus’ disciples as they roamed the highways and byways along the Sea of Galilee. Picture their souls and spirits being pickled in his words about salt and light, turning the other cheek, forgiveness of others, meekness and mercy, trust and prayer. Catch their astonishment at his purity of heart and purpose, and his unwavering trust in his Father’s will. Let them hear the call to humility, to wash feet, lead by being a servant, take up their own gospel cross. See their confidence grow as they begin to trust his ‘ask, seek and knock’ promises.
Let’s keep going. Imagine what the Spirit is doing in them as they confront their own failures and as they are unwilling spectators of his crucifixion. Record their amazement when he meets them risen and alive. Sense their relief as forgiveness embraces them. Be heartened as you see them rise to the call to represent Jesus and his kingdom to the world.
You know what they are? What they are becoming? Yep, that’s right. They are ‘living sculptures by the sea’, being wondrously and beautifully worked by the Holy Spirit of Jesus.
But that’s not all. In his mind’s eye the Holy Spirit has an extraordinarily lucid image of the end goal of his labours. The artistic result is what the Father in heaven always had in mind. Without any hint of loss of personality, indeed with marvellous enhancement of individual personality, each follower of Jesus looks more and more like him. Jesus, in his coming, living, working, suffering, dying and rising, is the prototype for the divine craftsman.
Many years ago I went to hear Archbishop Desmond Tutu in the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra. One thing he said in particular stayed with me. “God forbade his people from making ‘graven images’ because in each human being he already had a person made in his image.” A valid point I reckon, though the image is often so heavily obscured, under layer-upon-layer of sin, that it is well nigh invisible. For new covenant people that image is emerging with even greater clarity and glory than was present with Adam. (Fred, Fred, Fred…are you not bordering on heresy here?) In Jesus we see a side of our God that the newly created Adam did not (need to) see. As we are being ‘sculpted’ after the image of Jesus, the Spirit enhances the ‘living sculpture’ by installing into the core of our inner-self a new heart which is wired to replicate the capacity for Calvary-type grace, mercy and truth which is only found in Jesus the Christ.
Does that give you fresh eyes to see what the Spirit was doing in Anna Papaj? Now think of what the Spirit has in mind for you (and me). Does your spirit not cry out for such stunning possibilities? Ask and you shall receive!
Have a ‘blessed’ week.
Fred
If you don’t live in Sydney you probably don’t know about the annual sculpture exhibition which is presented on the coastal strip between Bondi and Tamarama beaches. The two week show is on just now. Some of the best known sculptors on the planet have their ‘creations’ placed on the headlands and rock formations, on the grassy slopes and beach sands. Thousands upon thousands visit the site and marvel (or wonder!!!) about the creativity on display. (Joggers hate it because it all happens on their track.)
For reasons I can’t explain, while half-asleep the other morning, I was linking the Sculptures by the Sea with the story of Anna which I shared in CrossPurposes 153. Weird? Not really, if we let the Holy Spirit be the sculptor. The instrument he uses to do his ‘fashioning’ is the Word of God, especially the Word of Jesus Christ. His raw material is the regenerated heart which is set on Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Such a heart is willing to be remade, even if there is a cost. As that person ‘stays the course’ through thick and thin, through the best and worst that happens in life, then transformation is to be expected.
I mentioned Anna Papaj. But think of Jesus’ disciples as they roamed the highways and byways along the Sea of Galilee. Picture their souls and spirits being pickled in his words about salt and light, turning the other cheek, forgiveness of others, meekness and mercy, trust and prayer. Catch their astonishment at his purity of heart and purpose, and his unwavering trust in his Father’s will. Let them hear the call to humility, to wash feet, lead by being a servant, take up their own gospel cross. See their confidence grow as they begin to trust his ‘ask, seek and knock’ promises.
Let’s keep going. Imagine what the Spirit is doing in them as they confront their own failures and as they are unwilling spectators of his crucifixion. Record their amazement when he meets them risen and alive. Sense their relief as forgiveness embraces them. Be heartened as you see them rise to the call to represent Jesus and his kingdom to the world.
You know what they are? What they are becoming? Yep, that’s right. They are ‘living sculptures by the sea’, being wondrously and beautifully worked by the Holy Spirit of Jesus.
But that’s not all. In his mind’s eye the Holy Spirit has an extraordinarily lucid image of the end goal of his labours. The artistic result is what the Father in heaven always had in mind. Without any hint of loss of personality, indeed with marvellous enhancement of individual personality, each follower of Jesus looks more and more like him. Jesus, in his coming, living, working, suffering, dying and rising, is the prototype for the divine craftsman.
Many years ago I went to hear Archbishop Desmond Tutu in the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra. One thing he said in particular stayed with me. “God forbade his people from making ‘graven images’ because in each human being he already had a person made in his image.” A valid point I reckon, though the image is often so heavily obscured, under layer-upon-layer of sin, that it is well nigh invisible. For new covenant people that image is emerging with even greater clarity and glory than was present with Adam. (Fred, Fred, Fred…are you not bordering on heresy here?) In Jesus we see a side of our God that the newly created Adam did not (need to) see. As we are being ‘sculpted’ after the image of Jesus, the Spirit enhances the ‘living sculpture’ by installing into the core of our inner-self a new heart which is wired to replicate the capacity for Calvary-type grace, mercy and truth which is only found in Jesus the Christ.
Does that give you fresh eyes to see what the Spirit was doing in Anna Papaj? Now think of what the Spirit has in mind for you (and me). Does your spirit not cry out for such stunning possibilities? Ask and you shall receive!
Have a ‘blessed’ week.
Fred
posted by PastorFredVeerhuis at 4:51 PM
2 Comments:
Thanks Fred for an excellent linking of how Jesus worked with His disciples and how the Holy Spirit (Sanctifying Spirit) works on God's people. Layer by layer the Sculptor removes the extraneous material to reveal His creation.
Dear Fred thank you for the idea that we are all works of art shaped by the Creator. A refreshing way to look at the person that stares back from the mirror.
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