It’s all about control. Whenever there is a great argument, the issue is not the subject of the argument, it’s always about control. This is true in politics in the public arena as well as politics within the church. In today’s passage the leading Pharisees model this truth for us. They rant about God’s Law, about what is proper and good for ordering Temple life, but their rants reveal they know neither the law nor the history of Israel. They reveal a contemptuous attitude and bigotry against anyone that disagrees with them because what really matters to them is that they are ones who control life in Israel. Nicodemus tries to give the leaders a reality check by reminding them that their law provides for a hearing before judgment can be rendered against a person. But, the hypocrisy train the Pharisees are riding has already left the station as their next comments reveal.
The Pharisees railed against Nicodemus for being ignorant that no prophet ever comes from Galilee. King David and Bethlehem are mentioned in this passage and John could have easily countered the assertion that Jesus’ hometown was in Galilee by affirming, in accordance with Scripture, Jesus was born in King David’s town of Bethlehem, not Nazareth. Instead, John points out the foolishness of the Pharisees charges against Jesus. John makes his point by using an interesting word play that the first readers of this Gospel would have recognized as John’s way of showing just how absurdly foolish the Pharisees were.
The word translated ‘comes’ can also be translated ‘rises up’ and the same word refers to resurrection in other parts of John. Two of Israel’s most well-known prophets came from Galilee: Jonah and Hosea. Jonah spent three days in the belly of the whale and in Hosea 6:2 it is written, “on the third day (God) will raise us up.” Not only did these great Prophets come from Galilee, they, in their own way, were pointing to the fulfillment of Jesus’ words in John 2:19, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
The Pharisees model for us the importance of continually asking ourselves the questions noted in yesterday’s passage: What do we know about God and how do we know it.
What word or phrase in these verses
attracts your attention?
Reflect on that word or phrase.
What insights come to you?
How does this passage touch your life today?
17-Mar-12 John 8:1-20
No comments:
Post a Comment