Jesus - the wisdom in person!

jesus the wisdom At the age of twelve, Jesus astonished the teachers of the law in the Temple in Jerusalem by engaging them in a theological dialogue. Each of them marveled at his insight and answers. Luke concludes his account with these words: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Lk 2,52)What he taught testified to his wisdom. “On the Sabbath he spoke in the synagogue, and many who heard him were greatly amazed. They asked one another, ‘Where did he get this? What kind of wisdom has been given to him? And what about the miracles that are performed through him!’” (Mk 6,2)Jesus often taught using parables. The Greek word for "parable" used in the New Testament is a translation of the Hebrew word for "proverb." Jesus was not only a teacher of wise words, but he also lived 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've probably noticed that wisdom is often personified. For example, we encounter it in... Sprüche 1,20-24 In female form, she loudly demands that we listen to her attentively in the street. Elsewhere in the Book of Proverbs, she makes claims that are otherwise only made 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 he was with God. (Joh 1,1)
The Lord had wisdom from the beginning of his ways. (Spr 8,22-23)
The Word was with God (Joh 1,1)
Wisdom was with God (Spr 8,30)
The word was a co-creator (Joh 1,1-3)
Wisdom was a co-creator. (Spr 3,19)
Christ is life (Joh 11,25)
Wisdom brings forth life (Spr 3,16)

Do you understand what this means? Jesus wasn't just wise himself and taught wisdom. He is wisdom! Paul gives further proof of this: "But to those whom God has called, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power and wisdom of God." (1 Kor 1,24)Thus, 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 just wisdom; he is also in us, and we are in him. (Joh 14,20; 1. Joh 4,15)It's about an intimate covenant that unites us with the triune God, not about trying to be wise like Jesus. Jesus Christ himself lives in us and through us. (Gal 2,20)He empowers us to be wise. He is omnipresent in our innermost being, not only as power, but also as wisdom. Jesus calls us to make use of his inherent wisdom in every situation we find ourselves in.

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.

The Epistle to the Colossians reveals to us, “In Jesus are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Kol 2,3)Hidden doesn't mean they are kept secret, but rather that they are stored away like a treasure. God has opened the lid of the treasure chest and encourages us to help ourselves according to our needs. Everything is there. The treasures of wisdom are ready for us. Some people, however, are constantly searching for something new, wandering from one cult or experience to the next in an attempt to find the treasures of wisdom the world holds. But Jesus holds all treasures. We need only him. Without him, we are fools. Everything rests in him. Believe this. Claim it for yourself! Receive this priceless truth and take wisdom into yourself through the power of the Holy Spirit, and thus 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.