Christ and nature

Here are some excerpts from The Sacrifice of Praise by Herman Bavinck, specifically relating to how our Lord Jesus viewed the natural, created world...

"Christ acknowledges and respects the ordering of natural life in all areas, because he did not break down the works of the Father but only those of the devil. He pays taxes [Matt. 17:24-27] He refuses to act as an arbitrator between two brothers quarreling about an inheritance [Luke 12:13—15]. He commands to give to Caesar that which is his [Mark 12:17]. He requires submission to those who are seated upon the seat of Moses, and forbids his disciples, even in the most frightful hour, from use of the sword [Matt. 23:1; 26:52]. He never encourages revolt. Words of love are always heard from his lips. Love your enemies. Bless those who curse you. Do well to those who hate you and pray for those who do violence to you and persecute you [Matt. 5:44]."

"He also loves nature with a childlike joy. He enjoys her beauty and refreshes himself in her glory. He has an open eye for the grass of the earth and the lilies of the field, for the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. He uses the vine and fig tree, the mustard seed and the grain of wheat, grape and thorn, fig and thistle, field and flock, fishing and commerce as images and parables in his teaching about the things of heaven. The whole of nature speaks to him of the Father, who is in heaven, and who makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and causes it to rain on the just and the unjust. So little did he disapprove of all luxury that he, when Mary once anointed him with a choice perfume, did not complain with his disciples about the waste but gladly accepted the precious honor with thankfulness." 

"Jesus indeed laid down his natural life for our sakes, but he also took it up again and rose from the dead. When he bore our sins in his flesh on the tree and thus freed the natural life from its guilt, curse, and death, he then also made it his possession again, but now reborn, spiritualized, sanctified. The bodily resurrection of Christ from the dead is the decisive proof that Christianity does not stand in opposition to anything human or natural, but God's holy will is to perfectly redeem all of creation." (From The Sacrifice of Praise, pp 55ff)



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