■ The Language of Jesus (Logia Studies) 1. The Words and D…

■ The Language of Jesus (Logia Studies)

1. The Words and Deeds of Jesus ㅡ
In the New Testament and the Gospel of Thomas, we encounter a distinct style. Seeds, fruits, and harvests fill the language. A prophet sows the seed, and in prepared soil, it grows to yield fruit thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold. This is success.
Consider this saying:
“Let there be among you one who understands. When the crop ripened, he came quickly with a sickle and harvested it.”
Among you, one who grasps the truth, when the time is ripe, takes up the sickle and reaps the harvest.
For Christians, salvation is the greatest concern. A saved person is one whose mind ripens, whose seed bears the ultimate fruit. Jesus also taught, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Why? Because they come to know the Father.
“Blessed are those persecuted in their hearts: they truly know the Father.”
For those whose hearts are emptied, a new seed is sown in the field of their heart. Nourish that seed with faith, tend it consistently, and it will grow. We often compare Jesus to a revolutionary. Self-discovery is like a revolution.
A revolution happens when thoughts ripen. It means abandoning one thing to build another. An unripe revolution brings pain. Only when the fruit is ready can it be picked and savored. Time, place, and conditions are the keys to our happiness.
Hiding potential obstacles—those things that cannot be found anywhere—prevents real conflicts and disputes. “Keep watch so plunderers cannot find you.” This is how we wisely seek inner happiness.
In another parable, the “wise sower” is one who skillfully separates wheat from weeds—a sage who acts with discernment.
Be as cunning as a snake, as innocent as a dove!
2. Follow the Mysterious Language! (Logia Studies, Part 2) ㅡ
Logia refers to the lost sayings of Jesus. In the Gospel of Thomas, these sayings often clash with human society’s divisions and religious contradictions. Let’s trace their meaning.
First, on distinction and selection:
The Gospel of Thomas, chapters 8 and 107, speaks clearly. Chapter 8 tells of a fisherman:
“The kingdom is like a wise fisherman who cast his net into the sea and pulled it up full of small fish. Among them, he found one fine, large fish.
He threw all the small fish back into the sea and chose the large one. Whoever has ears, let them hear!”
In chapter 107, a shepherd with a hundred sheep loses the largest one. He leaves the ninety-nine to search for it, and when he finds it, he says, “I love you more than the ninety-nine.”
This is confirmed in chapter 23:
“Jesus said, ‘I will choose one from a thousand, two from ten thousand, and they will stand as one.’”
Jesus’ words don’t follow human logic. In His kingdom, the math is different. To choose one great sheep, He might abandon ninety-nine. It’s like a potter smashing lesser works to keep a single masterpiece, or a fisherman tossing back countless small fish to keep the prize. This is like the Olympic gold medal—worth more than nine silvers, it ranks a nation higher.Second, on peace versus conflict:Chapter 16 delivers a stark message:“Jesus said, ‘People may think I came to bring peace to the world. They do not know I came to bring conflict to the earth: fire, sword, and war.’” I ponder what lies behind these words. Jesus’ holy and merciful words are seeds. We must understand and nurture them to build a beautiful world, playing the keys of this world’s score to honor His will.