Article May 4, 2009 ISSUE

A New Testament road map to a Spirit-based life

As you read, be prepared to take out your Bible and turn to the book of Hebrews.

BY MICHAEL HAMILTON

The earliest Christians thought deeply about the significance of Jesus. The quality of their meditation is reflected in the New Testament. His life, so fresh, yet so congruent with the Hebrew Scriptures, or Old Testament, required a new genre of literature, the Gospels, to articulate it. In addition, the correspondence of the Apostle Paul and other writers is heaped full with insights into the universal meaning of what they understand as the particular, radiant appearing of Truth among humanity: Christ Jesus, the paramount example of spiritual, redemptive living.

Each of these writers, in an individual way, embraces him. They show him the greatest respect, mingled with simple affection. What is more, they do not put Jesus out of reach. No, far from it. They place Jesus and his teachings at the center of life on earth, as the key to the meaning of existence.