“You teach the Bible”– a young woman asked, “Are you teaching reading?”
“No”, I explained, “The Bible is an amazing book that I help people to study”
She looked a bit mystified, so told her how the Bible was written over many centuries and contains stories, beautiful poetry, accurate history– like that of Jesus’ life– and much more, including predictions.
It took a while to explain to her the meaning of ‘predictions‘, but then I continued, “Some of the most amazing of the Bible’s predictions foretold the coming of Jesus– In amazing detail, foretelling the manner of His birth, death, life, and ministry.”
“Jesus?” She responded– And I realize that she hadn’t made the connection.
“Iesu-kiristo– Jesus Christ”, I told her, giving His name in Japanese and English.
She understood, then asked the meaning of His name.
I explained that Jesus was not an uncommon name then– it meant, God Saves. Christ was Greek for anointed one. In Hebrew, Jesus was the Messiah the savior promised in writings by Jewish prophets for hundreds of years.
Our conversation continued, but I was impressed by this exchange how, although Japanese are, to varying degrees, exposed to quite a bit of Western culture and history, they know far less than I often assume– about the book– the Bible, and the person– Jesus, that have shaped me, Western culture and, in fact, the world to an incredible degree.
I should remember that although I grew up in Western culture, I also knew little about the Bible. Of course, I thought of myself as a Christian– yet I don’t think I could have explained what that meant– until one day I discovered what it meant…
That story is in, That Book and That Man– Part Two
