Word to the Wise
Wednesday, April 9, 2014 - 5th Week of Lent - Wed
[Dan 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 and John 8:31-42]"If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."
In that one quotation there is a mountain of meaning! In our own time, we use it, occasionally, when referring to folks who deny "facts" and insist on living in their denial, no matter what the particular subject might be. In that case, the "facts" (whatever they may be) are external "truths" like certain scientific evidence which are unacceptable because of other strongly-held beliefs (evolution v. creationism) or because the socio-political implications (global warming) are unacceptable. The debates can be fierce! Bearing this in mind can help us understand the intensity and purpose of today's gospel passage. Again, I urge the Beloved Congregation to read all of chapters seven and eight (chapter five, too) for a complete picture.
The Gospel of John thrives on contrast and conflict. Light and darkness, above and below, belief and unbelief appear over and over again. Some of this is conditioned by the state of things at the time the gospel was put into writing. Those who believed in Jesus who belonged to synagogues were finding themselves expelled for their belief. This naturally caused anger and resentment which colors the discussion about what was believed! In the case of the Gospel of John it is a matter of believing in Jesus or not! This belief is what would set one free from the slavery of unbelief! In the debate, the "Jews" quite naturally resented being portrayed as "slaves" to unbelief and responded accordingly. The Christians (Jews who had accepted Jesus) had difficulty (to put it mildly) seeing how their friends could persist in "unbelief," given the "evidence."
In the debate today, the issue is Jesus' relationship to God, whom he calls his "Father." His adversaries claim descent from Abraham and through Abraham to God. Jesus can make the same claim since he too was a Jew, but his claim is more personal and God is not an "external fact" but a matter of his identity: The debate will come to a climax when Jesus says, "Amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM." That's when rocks start flying!
We can be observers or participants in this debate, but I urge the reader to try and take the part of each side to get a more compassionate perspective and understand the "freedom" that the truth can bring. This may help us in regard to relationships with religious bodies other than Judaism such as Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. We Christians do accept a tremendous truth but we can become slaves to the way we insist on it to others. AMEN
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