Words, Ways, & Wonders

(This blog is taken from Phil’s Focus – Phil’s reflections on community theology, mission and culture)

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 believe it was John Wimber, who in the late eighties 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 of 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 would appear that in some peoples minds there has arisen an unhelpful distinction between Jesus’ acts of kindness and his supernatural ‘wonders’. I am referring to the fact that some people will (quite rightly) point to Jesus’ feeding of the 5000, or his healing of the sick as examples of a core kingdom value of kindness and justice, but in so doing can easily 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 his ‘wonders’!

 If we are going to stick with this useful trio of words beginning with the letter W, my suggestion would be 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 proposing this particular ‘W’ is that it is my impression that it is the ways of Jesus that have been grossly undervalued and under studied, leading to an often tragically deficient model of discipleship.  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 a revolutionary study. When we apply ourselves to examining his ways, the many facets of his incredible three year ministry are set in relief in new way; Jesus’ ways with his disciples, Jesus ways with his family, Jesus ways with rulers and people in authority, Jesus ways with the poor and oppressed. All of these are deeply rooted in his identity and authority as a beloved 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’ make far 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 that intense 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 out a simple yet challenging 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. I would suggest what it does is elevate an often neglected aspect of Jesus’ ministry to our full attention, challenging and empowering us to live lives that others can begin to emulate in the discipleship process.

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