Knowledge and Understanding
Revival?
The Jesus Movement was a spiritual revolution in the late 60’s, early 1970’s. Many young people in America became Jesus freaks. I was not one of them, but I was curious. Today, the ‘Ashbury Revival’ is the talk of the town in Christendom. There have been plenty of videos, blog posts and blah, blah, blah, so I’ll hold my comments on that for now. So, back to the Jesus movement.
Jesus Freak
Two young Brits; Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice had written Jesus Christ Superstar. It was the 70’s rock opera that attempted to tell the story of the final week in the life of Jesus. I attended the stage production at the Hollywood Bowl those many years ago.
After seeing the play, I was even more curious about this enigmatic figure known as Jesus. Was the play accurate? I figured the best way to find out would lie to read the book that told his story. I purchased a Bible. Not knowing where to start, I began reading at Genesis, chapter one verse one. It was a long read; almost one full year. I read all the way to the last word in the book of Revelation.
I put the Bible away and thought, ‘That’s a book of bloodshed, betrayal and surprisingly, some saucy sex scenes.
About five years later, I was a Jesus freak. I picked up the Bible again and started reading at Genesis one, one. Now I was reading a personalized love letter. What had changed?
Hearing From God
The best illustration I’ve heard about the change that takes place in the life of a person chooses to follow Jesus came from the late pastor and teacher, Frederick Price. He said (I’m paraphrasing), Before we came to Christ, we were AM receivers. God is broadcasting on FM.
To put it in more modern terms, I was a standalone dialup modem. God was transmitting via satellite.
When I became a follower of Jesus, God equipped me with an FM, then eventually, a satellite receiver.
The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
Psalm 119:130
The first time I read the Bible cover to cover, I gained knowledge. The second time, I gained understanding.
Do you understand?
