One key to reading Scripture is to see yourself on its pages. Identify with the people, place yourself in their shoes, and ask, “What would I do in this situation? How would I feel?”
But don’t just do this with the “good” people, like Jesus, Paul, and Moses. Put yourself into the shoes of the “bad” people also. In other words, don’t see yourself as Jesus, going to help all the sinners, prostitutes, and tax collectors. Instead, see yourself as the sinner, the prostitute, and the tax collector.
Let me give you some examples from my own reading.
When I read Luke 5:27-32, I am not Jesus, calling Levi the tax-collector to follow me. I am Levi, a traitor to my own people, an outcast, a reject, and Jesus is calling me.
When I read John 4:1-26, I am not Jesus, offering living water to the woman at the well. I am the woman, who has had five husbands, and the man I am with now is not my husband, and Jesus is offering me the living water so I never have to thirst again. I’m not gay, but you understand the picture. We can all identify with searching for fulfillment and love in life.
When I read the Parable of the Prodigal Son, I see myself as both the sinful son who strayed, and the self-righteous son who stayed.
When I read of Jesus dying on the cross, I am both the thief who mocked Jesus, and the thief who asked for Him to remember me. I am John and Mary at the foot of the cross feeling deep grief and loss. I am the crowd watching the show. I am the soldiers, who nailed him to the cross.
It takes some imagination and creativity, but reading Scripture this way causes the pages to dance with life and color. Also, reading Scripture this way opens our eyes to the fact that we are poor, needy, sinful, broken people, and Jesus has come to us to cleanse us, wash us, purify us, love us, and make us whole. Only in this way do we gain the proper perspective to then go and help others who are also in need.
So what are you reading in the Bible today, and where do you see yourself on its pages?
katdish says
Great perspective. We recently finished up a series about Jonah and it occurred to me that when we face trials, many of us like to compare ourselves to Job, but in reality we are much more like Jonah.
Jeremy Myers says
Yes, I have taught through Jonah several times, and always try to point out how much we are like Jonah. As for Job, we are often like his friends… or maybe his wife.
Thanks for the comment! I love your blog.
Mark says
Yeah I think that’s very true. I think often we read ourselves as Jesus and others as the Pharisees too – I don’t think I’ve heard many sermons taking what Jesus says to the Pharisees as a direct challenge to us, as opposed to assuming that we’re on Jesus’ side and confronting those who disagree with us.
Reminds me of the story of the Sunday School teacher, who, after teaching about the self-righteous Pharisee who looked down on the tax collector, finished by praying “Thank you God that we’re not like that self-righteous Pharisee.”
Jeremy Myers says
That’s a great story about the Sunday school teacher. It makes the point well.
Mark says
I also think it’s funny how relatively rich western believers read the story of the rich man and Lazarus as teaching primarily about a literal hell and eternal torment.
In this story I’m not God, or Lazarus who goes to heaven, I’m the rich guy who lives all his life in comfort and luxury ignoring Lazarus at my gate.
Jeremy Myers says
Wow. I think you are absolutely right. We need to place ourselves in the rich man. I don’t think I have read that passage that way before, but I will now! Thanks.
Juan C. Torres says
I should trying reading the bible as you suggest. It’s been a long time since the scriptures have come alive to me. I think the reason why is that I tend to read it theologically too much, except the book of psalms.
Jeremy Myers says
Whew! It’s been a long time since I wrote this post, and had forgotten about it. I still read the Bible this way, somewhat. It helps to read the Bible different ways at different times to both keep up your interest AND to see Scripture in new ways.