Word to the Wise
Saturday, March 12, 2016 - 4th Week of Lent - Sat
[Jer 11:18-20 and John 7:40-53]SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2016 SATURDAY IN THE FOURTH WEEK OF LENT [Jeremiah 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] One of the characteristics of the Gospel of John is that it shows people at various stages of faith. The Samaritan woman at the well (Ch. 4) and the man born blind (ch. 9) are examples. The guards and Nicodemus in today's gospel scripture are also examples. The guards were sent to seize Jesus but found themselves seized by what Jesus was saying and returned empty-handed. Nicodemus has already made an appearance in Ch. 3 in the dialog about being reborn of the Spirit. He will make a future appearance in the removal of Jesus' body from the cross. In today's gospel, he makes the point that the religious authorities were not obeying their own law in their desire to get rid of Jesus.. In my years of pastoral ministry at universities, I met people at all different stages of faith. The words of the guards, "Never before has anyone spoken like this man," are words that can bring someone to faith if only they can know about those words. Others are like NIcodemus and are actively inquiring and defending something that is still new to them. I recommend to the Beloved Congregation a reading of the Gospel of John that focuses on the people in the various scenes and their stages in faith. This can help one's own faith and help us to know how to share it. AMEN