The Bible from Scratch

At different times over the years, when reading through the Bible, I have had the feeling that trying to grasp what had been written was a lot like making pumpkin pie from scratch. Both grasping what the Bible says and making pumpkin pie from scratch can be a lot of work. They can both be messy and sometimes they don’t turn out the way you want.

Wouldn’t it be easier if understanding what is in the Bible was more like going to Costco and buying an already made pie? At least let me use a can opener and some of that canned pumpkin goop!

Instead, I have to cut off the top, take out the seeds, and deal with all of the stringy stuff, pulp, slime and smell. Then you have to cook it, peel it and prepare it just to start making the pie. It is still a long while before the pie can be enjoyed!

Reading and understanding the Scriptures can at times be like that. Even the Apostle Peter referred to some of what the Apostle Paul wrote as containing ‘some things that are hard to understand.’ If Peter, who lived in the same time period, culture, setting and experiences that Paul lived found some things hard to understand, what chance do I have?

Though the Book of John was not written by Paul, there are parts of the Gospel of John that fit the description of ‘hard to understand.’ The ‘hard to understand’ nature of the Scriptures sometimes discourages people from reading, studying and thinking. It is easier to either not have ‘pumpkin pie’ or at least eat pumpkin pie that someone else has fixed.

I want to encourage you to ‘make pumpkin pie from scratch.’ Don’t just depend on someone else doing all of the work. There has never been a time in history when there were more resources than right now. Either by print, media or the internet, the tools necessary for studying and understanding the Bible are available.

During early 2013, as you read through the Gospel of John, do more than depend on someone else to dig out the ingredients to understanding. Do some of the work yourself. The ‘pie’ will taste better and you’ll experience the reward of discovery. Jesus is waiting to make the Word become real. He doesn’t always let understanding come easy, but then again nothing in life that is worthwhile comes easy.