March 6, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Wednesday, March 6.
In April of 1962, President John F. Kennedy hosted a dinner at the White House. In attendance were 49 Nobel Prize winners. Robert Oppenheimer was there, too. And when JFK rose to speak, he began with these words -
"I think that this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House - with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."
Jefferson was an architect, philosopher, diplomat, lawyer, and scientist. He was governor of Virginia, the first U.S. Secretary of State, the second Vice President, and the third President. And, oh yeah, he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Considering all this, Kennedy's words seem less like a humorous remark and more like a statement of fact.
Thomas Jefferson wrote another famous document, as well. He titled it "The Life and Morals of Jesus Christ of Nazareth," but it has come to be known as The Jefferson Bible. Perhaps the word "compiled" would be more accurate than "wrote.” Jefferson literally took the New Testament and cut and pasted, picked and chose. His Bible included the teachings of Jesus, but excluded every reference to miracles, and left out any mention of the resurrection.
The Jefferson Bible is part of the collection of the Smithsonian Museum, and you can view it online. It is a record of a brilliant mind, but with something missing. Thomas Jefferson applied his extraordinary intellect to the New Testament, but, perhaps, should have turned his attention to this verse in the Old Testament -
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
