Word to the Wise
Saturday, March 21, 2015 - 4th Week of Lent - Sat
[Jer 11:18-20 and John 7:40-53]So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why did you not bring him?" The guards answered, "Never before has anyone spoken like this man." [John]
Jesus did not fit the "mold" that the religious authorities had in mind for a messiah. He was from Galilee, which we Americans might refer to as "the boonies" - rural and unsophisticated. There is a bit of irony in that some of the crowd does not seem to know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. They know only of his origins in Nazareth of Galilee, and they dismiss him because they think he is not of David's family and does not come from Bethlehem.
This controversy meant nothing to the guards who were sent to arrest Jesus. They were overwhelmed by what Jesus was saying! Their response to the authorities when they came back emptyhanded was, "Never before has anyone spoken like this man." The guards are closer to faith than the authorities. Furthermore, Nicodemus makes another appearance as someone who is coming to faith, even if it is a timid faith.
If we are following the growing drama of Jesus' journey toward the cross and resurrection, it might be an interesting, even if anachronistic, exercise (a bit like Walter Cronkite's famous, "You were there" series many years ago) to interview some of the characters. We could talk to the guards or to Nicodemus or even to the chief priests and Pharisees. How would this impact OUR faith in Jesus. Would the line, "Never before has anyone spoken like this man.." make us want to learn more? AMEN
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