Background and Foreground

May 17, 2025 |  Recapping the First 2 Modules

Working through the readings and the posts so far has helped me think of the Good News like a painting.

The painter pours their creativity into the background, giving crucial context for the main subject. The painter gives exquisite detail to the foreground to set up the message of the art, and as the visual entry point for looking at the main subject.

In Module 1 and 2, we saw the mission of John the Baptist as part of the background for Jesus’ earthly ministry, preparing the way for Him. A woman stood at the feet of Jesus weeping. She was overcome by her sinful life being met with such mercy.  It seems that John’s message of repentance had taken hold of her.  The tax collector in the parable Jesus told had beaten his chest, knowing he was one of the worst of sinners, yet knowing he was right in God’s eyes because of his prayer for forgiveness.

We also saw foreground for observing the Good News, with the birth and early years of Jesus, as well as some passages about the early unbelief displayed by Jesus’ siblings.  What they saw in Jesus was not what they had expected. They didn’t understand at first who Jesus was or what He was about. All of these things point us to questions like these - who was Jesus, what was He about?

Module 3, starting in a few days, will look at these questions and others.