Simply Jesus, by N.T. Wright

Chapter 12 – At the Heart of the Storm

1.  We’re now back to the perfect storm theme, with Rome and Israel poised for deeper conflict.  Into that volatile mix enters God’s son, Jesus, who introduces a very different mission altogether.  This entire scenario is best understood through the lens of Scripture.  Wright focuses on Isaiah 40-66, Daniel, and Zechariah to illustrate this theme.  Jesus was undoubtedly influenced deeply by these writings. 

Wright considers Isaiah 40-66 to be one of the greatest pieces of poetic writing in all of history.  It offers comfort and hope…introducing Israel’s “servant,” who will complete God’s rescue operation through his own sacrificial death.  The result is a new covenant and a new creation.  “Isaiah’s version of Jesus’ perfect storm includes: the gale of pagan tyranny, the high-pressure system of Israel’s national life, and the hurricane of the divine purposes.  This is the new Exodus.” 

This “weather pattern,” if you will, has been with us forever, it seems.  Where else in history has this delicate triage left its mark?  Where in our world today is this “weather pattern” evident and active?

2.  The second thematic book is Daniel, where the kingdom of the one true God stands over against the kingdoms of the world, judging them, calling them to account, condemning them, and vindicating God’s people.”  Apparently both Jesus and Simon Son-of-the-Star leaned heavily on Daniel 7 to shape their vocational aspirations.  Daniel’s heavy use of metaphor quickly becomes confusing.  Wright notes that the vision and interpretations of chapter 7 are telling “the story of pagan empire reaching its height and Israel’s God then stepping in to call ‘time’ on the whole sequence, to bring arrogant paganism to judgment, and to establish instead his own kingdom in and through his faithful people.  This is the story…of how God becomes king.” 

Wright brings us back, then to Jesus’ use of Daniel 7 as a template of how God is active both in his ministry and its outcome for all of human history.  Given this explanation, how does Daniel further serve to portray this perfect storm?

3.  The third influential book is Zechariah.  Wright summarizes: “Israel’s exile is to be reversed under the rule of the anointed king, who will end up ruling the whole world.  The pagan nations will do their worst, but God himself will come to fight against them, and he will be king over all the earth.”  While Israel’s official rulers have failed, God’s own “shepherd” will be killed and the sheep scattered in order that the victory can be won.  These themes are visible as Jesus rides into Jerusalem for his final Passover. 

Wright concludes by citing the Psalms as influential material in shaping Jesus’ sense of vocation…especially as a source of prayer.  Here, too, God is at work in this active weather pattern to further shape the outcome of human history. 

Given these three scriptural references and their impact on Jesus, where has the church faced similar challenges?  How do these challenges impact us individually today?