Things to consider (for all the stories) These stories are set in an imagined but contemporary Australia, an Australia that has recently been invaded and colonised by a foreign, military power. It is important to remember that the land Jesus walked and ministered in was occupied by the Roman Empire. These stories take place within the framework of that same existential tension. Because these are stories about the life of Jesus, we must assume that Christianity (as we know it) does not exist yet. There are temples, and people are religious, but it is a different world to that which we know. Similar but different. This reflects the reality of reading the stories as we have them in the Bible. However hard we try, we cannot fully understand the context and culture of the ancient Middle Eastern world in which Jesus lived. These are ‘what if?’ stories. Many of us have wondered whether it would have worked if Jesus had been born into our time and context. These stories explore that thought. The aim is to refresh the stories and help us see them in a new light. What can we see anew by looking through this lens? Many people reading this book will be Australians – or living in Australia. In every culture, the Gospel stories must take root in local soil. We have struggled with this because the church arrived in Australia as part of the violent, colonial project that transplanted a foreign culture onto Australian soil, without valuing the people and culture already here. If we listen to those people well, we might – together – be able to begin again. These are stories. Don’t overthink the ‘facts’. All these stories fit together. They are chapters of one story. In CARAVAN the stories explored the birth and childhood of Jesus. In HOLIDAY we encounter Jesus in his adult life and ministry. 6
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