I AM

I AM : M. M. Ninan
Thus, a good symbol helps in our understanding of the concepts
involved and also in manipulating ideas involving the concept. All
symbols are developed from the existing symbols. The symbols get
∫ a b x 2 dx = (b 3 – a 3 ) /3
their meaning only in the context of
the existing symbols. For example,
the integral sign developed out of the Sum sign with an elongated
S; differential sign was developed from the basic limit concept of
incremental signs as ratio of two infinitesimals. The same is true in
popular symbols. The cross was abhorrence till Jesus, because it
was a symbol of death in a horrible way. But in Jesus, it found a
new meaning. A symbol may have different meaning to different
people due to their background. A pig is considered a clean animal
in the west and a goat is considered an unclean animal. But in all
Semitic cultures, the pig is considered a filthy animal and is
abhorrent, while a goat or lamb is considered almost sacred. The
symbols are therefore culture sensitive.
Thus if we want to understand the meaning of a symbol we have to
go back into the context of the person who gives the symbol. In
order to understand the symbols Jesus used, we have to do it from
within the Jewish context of Jesus’ period. We have to ask the
question, how did his hearers
understand it and what are the
additional meaning he might have
given to the symbol.
In many
cases, he had changed the meaning
of the symbols considerably as he
did with the symbol of cross by his
personality and his divinity and
his teachings.
The symbols get their
meaning only in the context
Jesus being God incarnate knew much more than his hearers did.
His burden was to load the symbols with as much meaning as he
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