If you are unfamiliar, bible.art is a fabulous online gallery of artwork based on scripture. As a visual learner, being able to “see” the text in living color often adds a new layer of understanding. I encourage you to add it as a study tool. Some of the illustrations are classic pieces of art, others are more abstract, while others are more cartoonish, like the image below:
The image shown here depicts a modern interpretation of Jesus preaching the Sermon on the Mount. Seeing this illustration made me pause to wonder about who Jesus’s audience was back then, and who the audience might be today.
Although bikers can be some of the most faithful, generous, and love-in-action people, sadly, I think they often are victims of judgment, ridicule, and disdain. And yet, in this image, we are shown a crowd that is mesmerized by Jesus and is fully attuned to his teaching. Were they attentive because they needed Jesus’s message? Or are they listening because they finally heard a message that helps them feel seen?
Seeing this image brought a flood of questions to my mind:
If the Sermon on the Mount was offered today, who would be in the crowd that would gather to listen to Jesus? Why would they be interested in listening? Who would need to hear his words? Does the message Jesus offers shift, depending on who is in the crowd? Would there be people that you would not want to be in the crowd? Would you, yourself, be in the crowd?
When studying scripture, sometimes it is helpful to take a different perspective – either placing yourself as an observer of the story or putting yourself into the story. Doing so can often deepen your understanding, cause you to dig a bit deeper, or discover something new!
Prayer
Gracious God, we give you thanks for the opportunity to dig into the sermon that Matthew recorded in his Gospel. As we continue to study, open us to new ways of reading, seeing, and experiencing your word, that it might offer new wisdom and guidance for our lives. Amen.