Joy Laxton: The Gospels and Hidden Meaning in Language

 

Several excerpts from the Gospels have reminded me of our discussion in class of the hidden meaning that language can hold and the writings of Gadamer.  Gadamer stated, “Part of game [mirror of language] with speaking is that certain things are hidden, preconceptions, we can get to through the disruption of oneself through stories. Language itself hides these misconceptions, but we can uncover them through disruption, myth.”  This illustrates how language and the preconceptions formed around it can hide the meaning behind what one is saying.     

In Luke 9:44-45, it is written, “’Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.’ But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.” In Luke 18:33-34, it is written “They will flog Him and kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.” 34But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.”  And in John 12: 15-16, it is written, “’Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey.’ At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him.”  The Gospels include many other times in which the Jesus’ disciples and listeners did not understand what Jesus was saying, including Mark 9:32 and Luke 2:50.  Ultimately, however, these occurrences illustrate how although stated plainly, the language spoken, hid the meaning behind Jesus’ words until what he stated had occurred. 

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