Leaning Your Weight
 
“Jesus said to her,‘I amthe resurrection and the life; he who believes inme
will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in me will
never die.Do you believe [in] this?”–John 11:25-26 (NAS)
 
Translating the ancient biblical languages in a way that
communicates to a contemporary audience without distorting
the original meaning is a complex process. Linguists, scholars,
pastors, and theologians have long wrestled with this discipline.
Oneman, John Paton is an under-celebratedmissionary of great
faithfulness. Paton dreamed of missions since early childhood.
After studying theology and medicine, he was ordained by the
Presbyterian Church and set sail to establish a church in a place
called New Hebrides. Shortly after arriving on the island of
Tanna, Paton’s young wife died, followed by their infant son. For
three more years, Paton labored alone to make Christ known
among the hostile islanders. Although he barely escaped alive,
the experience transformed his understanding of faith from a
passive to an active concept.
 
Later, Paton returned and spent fifteen years on another island
without any Christian witness. Paton was working one day in
his hut on the translation of John’s Gospel, puzzling over John’s
favorite expression pisteuo eis, to “believe in” or “to trust in.”
“How can I translate it?” he pondered. The islanders were
cannibals; nobody trusted anybody. There wasn’t even a word
for “trust” or “faith” in their language! His native hireling came
in. “What am I doing?” Paton asked him. “Sitting at your desk,”
the man replied. Paton then raised both feet off the floor and
 
leaned back on his chair. “What am I doing now?” In reply,
Paton’s servant used a verb that means “to lean your whole
weight upon.” That’s the phrase Paton wisely used throughout
John’s Gospel to convey faithful belief in God.
 
Our faith never stands alone; it always leans upon something or
someone else. There’s only One fully worthy of being that object,
for only He “is able to keep you from falling and to make you
stand before His glorious presence without fault and with great
joy” (Jude 1:24)!
 
For Discussion: Have each person finish this statement and record the
answers in your journal (Appendix E): “The area in my life right now
where I most need to lean confidently upon God is…”Pray for faith.
Family Activity: Go around your home/yard and think up a few
illustrations of belief. As you do them, relate the activity to the area you
identified in the discussion.