Words, Ways, Wonders.

I have realised that I have a small issue with a commonly and popularly held way of looking at the life and ministry of Jesus. 

I think it was John Wimber in the late eighties who coined a popular phrase; 'the words, the works, and the wonders of Jesus'. This was a neat little alliteration that summed up the three areas which most people saw as the life of Jesus; his amazing teaching (words), his remarkable acts of kindness (works) and his supernatural miracles (wonders). This remains a valuable lens. However, it is possible in some peoples minds that there is a distinction between Jesus' 'acts of kindness' and his supernatural acts. I am referring to the fact that some people will point to Jesus' feeding of the 5000, or his healing of the sick, as examples of a kingdom value of kindness and justice, but in so doing miss the fact that most of his 'acts of kindness' were simultaneously miraculous! He fed the hungry supernaturally! He healed the sick, well, supernaturally! Pretty much all of Jesus' 'works' were also 'wonders'! 

If we are going to remember a useful trio of words beginning with the letter W, wouldn't it be better to list them as 'the Words, the Wonders and the Ways of Jesus?' After all Jesus did call himself 'The Way...' (John 14:6) 

My reason for suggesting this particular 'w' is that it is my impression that the ways of Jesus are often under studied and undervalued. It is also my conviction that some of what are referred to as the 'works' of Jesus might actually be better classified as 'ways'.

The ways of Jesus makes for great study. When we apply ourselves to examining his ways, many aspects of his three year ministry come to the fore in a new way; Jesus' way with his disciples, Jesus way with his family, Jesus way with rulers and people in authority, Jesus way with the poor and oppressed. All of these were deeply rooted in his identity and authority as an obedient son. In  fact a healthy emphasis on Jesus' 'ways' helps bring to light his obedient humanity more fully. His final command to his disciples to 'make disciples' makes more sense and becomes more accessible when we examine the full extent of his commitment, his process, and his journey with them (his ways) over the three year period. 

Of course the gospels also become a whole lot more challenging as we see that Jesus really did mean that we should make disciples, and set a pattern by which we could imitate him. 

To reclassify some of Jesus' 'works' as 'ways' does not lose any of those core Kingdom values of serving the poor and being a voice for the oppressed. Instead I would suggest what it does is elevate an often neglected aspect of Jesus' ministry to our full attention. 

 

A study of the ways of Jesus gives us a whole lot more material to imitate. Let's not be those who fixate on Jesus's words, or who primarily seek his wonders. (amazing as they each are). Let's be New Testament disciples, committed to knowing his word, imitating his ways and performing his wonders. 

Let's be disciples who make disciples in the Way of our Lord. 

What do you think?  Does any of this make sense you? Id love to hear your comments.