Jesus - the wisdom in person!

456 Jesus the wisdomAt the age of twelve, Jesus amazed the teachers of the law in the temple in Jerusalem by engaging in a theological dialogue with them. Each of them marveled at his insight and answers. Luke concludes his account with the following words: "And Jesus increased in wisdom, and in stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2,52). What he taught showed his wisdom. “On the Sabbath he spoke in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked each other where did he get that from? What is this wisdom given to him? And only the miracles that happen through him!” (Mark 6,2 Good News Bible). Jesus often taught using parables. The Greek word for "parable" used in the New Testament is a translation of the Hebrew term for "saying." Jesus was not only a teacher of wise words, he also lived a life according to the book of Proverbs during his ministry on earth.

In this book we encounter three different kinds of wisdom. There is the wisdom of God. Heavenly Father is omniscient. Second, there is wisdom among men. This is the submission to God's wisdom and the realization of set goals by virtue of his wisdom. There is another form of wisdom that we read throughout the Book of Proverbs.

You have probably noticed that wisdom is often portrayed in person. This is how she meets us in Proverbs 1,20-24 in female form and loudly asks us on the street to listen carefully to her. In other places in the Book of Proverbs she makes claims that are otherwise made only by or for God. Many proverbs correspond to verses in the Gospel of John. Below is a small selection:

  • In the beginning was the Word and it was with God (John 1,1),
  • The Lord had wisdom from the very beginning of his ways (Proverbs 8,22-23)
  • The word was with God (John 1,1),
  • Wisdom was with God (Proverbs 8,30),
  • The word was co-creator (Johannes 1,1-3)
  • Wisdom was co-creator (Proverbs 3,19),
  • Christ is life (John 11,25),
  • Wisdom Brings Life (Proverbs 3,16).

Do you see what that means? Not only was Jesus himself wise and taught wisdom. He is wisdom! Paul gives further proof of this: "But to those whom God hath called, Jew and Gentile alike, Christ is shown to be the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1. Corinthians 1,24 New Geneva translation). So in the book of Proverbs we not only encounter the wisdom of God - we encounter the wisdom that is God.

The message gets even better. Jesus is not only wisdom, he is also in us and we are in him (John 14,20; 1. John 4,15). It is about an intimate covenant that connects us with the Triune God, not that we try to be wise like Jesus. Jesus Christ himself lives in us and through us (Galatians 2,20). He enables us to be wise. It is omnipresent in our innermost self not only as a force, but also as wisdom. Jesus encourages us to use his inherent wisdom in every situation in which we find ourselves.

Eternal, infinite wisdom

It's hard to grasp, but amazingly, a cup of hot tea can help us understand it better. To prepare tea, we hang a tea bag in a cup and pour boiling hot water over it. We wait until the tea is properly brewed. During this time, the two components mix. In the past it was customary to say: “I am preparing an infusion”, which perfectly reflects the process that is taking place. A "pour" represents the connection to a unity. When you drink the tea, you are not actually ingesting the tea leaves themselves; they stay in the bag. You drink "tea water", the tasteless water that has combined with the tasteful tea leaves and can be enjoyed by you in this form.

In the covenant with Christ we do not take on his physical form any more than water does not take the shape of tea leaves. Nor does Jesus accept our identity, but rather connects our human life with his inexhaustible eternal life, so that we bear witness to the world with our way of life. We are united with Jesus Christ, which means that eternal, limitless wisdom unites us.

Colossians reveals to us, "In Jesus are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2,3). Hidden does not mean that they are kept hidden, but rather that they are stowed away as treasure. God has opened the lid of the treasure chest and encourages us to serve our needs according to our needs. It's all there. The treasures of wisdom are ready for us. Some people, on the other hand, are constantly on the lookout for new things and make a pilgrimage from one cult or experience to the next in order to find the treasures of wisdom that the world has in store. But Jesus has all treasures ready. We only need him alone. Without him we are fools. Everything rests in him. Do you believe this. Claim it for yourself! Receive this priceless truth and receive the wisdom by the power of the Holy Spirit and become wise.

Yes, Jesus did justice to both the New and the Old Testament. In him the law, the prophets, and the scriptures (wisdom) were fulfilled. He is the wisdom of scripture.

by Gordon Green


pdfJesus - the wisdom in person!