Word to the Wise
Friday, April 11, 2025 - 5th Week of Lent - Fri
[Jer 20:10-13 and John 10:31-42,329]I hear the whisperings of many: "Terror on every side! Denounce! let us denounce him!" All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine." [Jeremiah] The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus, Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?" The Jews answered him, "We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God." [John]
In the Gospel According to John, Jesus is in charge from "the beginning." [cf. the "Prologue" John 1:1 et seq]. His attitude about Mosaic observances - e.g., healing on the Sabbath - gains him hostility from the Jewish authorities to begin with. Then he starts speaking about giving his flesh and blood to be consumed! [John 6]. Then he gives sight to a man born blind [John 9] and, the last straw, he raises Lazarus from the dead! [John 11]. People were beginning to believe in him. So, the "powers that be" start looking for ways to get rid of him. Jeremiah would sympathize! But Jesus knows how this is all going to play out and goes forward on his mission to his "hour."
In a strange bit of irony, at his trial before Pilate, who could care less what Jews believed and found no basis to charge him, the convincing charge has to do with ROMAN civil law. The Jewish authorities claim Jesus is trying to set up a kingdom in opposition to Caesar.
At this point, the prophet Jeremiah and the evangelist John invite us to join the dramatic tension that is building. Even if we have seen the play or read the story many times, the reason why the story/drama endures is because it is the story of OUR salvation brought about by the One whom God has sent and who lays down his life for his sheep [John 10} or his friends [John 15]!! Can we be mere passive spectators? AMEN