The Story of the World – Part 4

As we reach chapter ten of King’s Cross Keller’s pace seems to quicken. As Jesus nears Calvary, the focus on the crucifixion and resurrection begins to intensify.

In Chapter Ten, The Mountain, Keller takes us meticulously through the transfiguration that occurs in Mark 9.

“When the cloud comes down, not only do the disciples not die, they are surrounded and embraced by the brilliance of God. They hear God the Father speaking of his love for the Son, just as he did when Jesus was baptized at the beginning of Mark. Then suddenly the cloud goes away, and they are left standing there blinking in the comparatively dim light of the mountaintop, in a state of electrified wonder.” (P114-115)

Despite witnessing the astonishing, bewildering glory of God, the disciples still struggle to grasp what Jesus is saying when he again speaks about his death and resurrection that is to come. Whilst Keller explains that the disciples will not fully comprehend the events that took place on the mountaintop until after the resurrection, he also draws attention to the fact that the transfiguration not only strengthen and fortified Jesus, but it also was preparing the disciples for the trials that lay ahead.

Chapter 11 deals with Mark 10 and Jesus’ encounter with the Rich Young Ruler. At first glance, the placement of this event both in the Gospels, and in Keller’s book, can seem like a misstep. At one point events seem to gain momentum towards the crucifixion and then suddenly Jesus stops to answer a question:

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Mark 10:17

Keller takes us through Jesus’ response and unpacks it for us. It becomes apparent that this isn’t a distraction on the way to the cross, nor is it a misstep in Mark’s narrative. Instead, as Jesus heads towards victory and rescue for believers everywhere, he issues a stark warning about the things that await to ensnare us.

Keller entitled Chapter 11 as The Trap with good reason. We see people everywhere trapped in the belief that good deeds, wealth and prosperity are enough. Keller explains:

So Jesus is saying to the man in this passage, “You have put your faith and trust in your wealth and accomplishments, but the effort is alienating you from God. Right now God is your boss, but God is not your Saviour, and here’s how you can see it: I want you to imagine life without money . I want you to imagine all of it gone. No inheritance, no inventory, no servants, no mansions – all of it is gone. All you have is me. Can you live like that?” (p131)

This Keller explains is how to avoid falling into the trap. If you hold on to something that you couldn’t bear to be without, then there is a problem.

In chapter 12 The Ransom Keller draws our attention to the numerous times that Jesus foretold his death (Mark 10:45) only for the disciples to be unwilling and unable to comprehend it. Interestingly Keller doesn’t lay the blame for this lack of understanding at the feet of ignorance, but instead he suggests that it is worry, which in turn is arrogance.

The disciples have their own plan in mind. They, like we so often tend to do, can imagine how events here should play out. The substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus is not something they’re particularly planning on. Keller explains that when Jesus, time and time again, says that he is going to die. Rather than express the humility of laying aside your plans and accepting God’s sovereignty, the disciples try to remain in control. We see Peter draw his sword in Gethsemane for this very reason. This is a trap that we can fall into ourselves over and over again. Keller wonderfully articulates the solution thus:

“How can we escape this self-referential trap and truly become unselfish… The answer is, we need to look somewhere else besides ourselves. We need to look at Jesus.” (P151)

 

Jonny Evans

This post is part of a series of posts that will take place in the run up to Easter, recording various Firwood members’ reflections as they read through Timothy Keller’s ‘King’s Cross’. Please feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments below. For more information, click here