|
John 8
Mar 11, 2007 22:09:49 GMT -8
Post by michelle on Mar 11, 2007 22:09:49 GMT -8
In reading John (specifically 8:1-8:11), I started thinking about how hard it must have been for the Jews at that time. For centuries, as a culture, they had been taught to obey the Law of Moses. Then "suddenly" they are being asked to disregard that Law because the Messiah has come. The Messiah was something they had been waiting for and now He was here, but it must have been really difficult for the Jews to do the 180. It's no wonder that it took some of them so long to get the picture. And I can't say I blame any of them for never getting it. I know how hard it is for me to accept change. I can't imagine having been taught one thing from childhood and then suddenly being told to believe something different.
|
|
|
John 8
Mar 12, 2007 19:48:57 GMT -8
Post by Josh on Mar 12, 2007 19:48:57 GMT -8
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them."
Matthew 5:17
I guess it all depends by what you mean by "disregard". Yes, Jesus message was "different" in some ways, but more in the sense of a "final evolution" than something wholly different. But, obviously, it was shocking to those who had become encrusted in their views. However, I think a lot of what Jesus was shocking them out of was not necessarily the law but their huge body of interpretation of the law.
For instance, in this passage in John 8, I note that he never tells them that they would be wrong to stone the woman. He doesn't directly challenge the law, he just finds a way to go beyond it to a higher law, right? Over and over again Jesus does just that, like in the Sermon on the Mount when he does the whole, "You have heard it said that ____________, but I tell you _________________" thing. He never lowers the bar, he always raises it:
"For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:20
Interestingly, my commentary notes that the Mosaic law said that there had to be eyewitnesses in cases such as these (which would be highly unlikely in an adulterous situation, which would seem to demand privacy) and that eyewitnesses were supposed to be the ones to cast the first stone (presumably to keep chicken-hearted liars from making false accusations).
Anyway, clearly their real purpose was to test him. The commentary goes on to say it's possible that Jesus knew they were lying about being eyewitnesses, and thus exposed their guilt in saying what he did. Who knows?
|
|
|
John 8
Sept 3, 2007 13:29:46 GMT -8
Post by Josh on Sept 3, 2007 13:29:46 GMT -8
Verse 12: When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
I have read that at the Feast of Tabernacles (where Jesus was speaking here) at this time there was a custom to light four huge lamps every night of the Feast and on the last night one candelabrum was left unlit to remind the Jews that they had not yet experienced full salvation. Jesus is saying that salvation has arrived!
|
|
|
John 8
Sept 5, 2007 19:26:24 GMT -8
Post by Josh on Sept 5, 2007 19:26:24 GMT -8
Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, "I am who I am . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' "John 8: 58"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" 59At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.Obviously, a massively provocative claim due to it's implication of divinity, but also I like how it stresses Gods/ Christ's timeless presence in the here and now. He is not "I was" but always "I am". We need to remember that always.
|
|
|
John 8
Sept 6, 2007 22:07:05 GMT -8
Post by nathaniel on Sept 6, 2007 22:07:05 GMT -8
Verse 12: When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."I have read that at the Feast of Tabernacles (where Jesus was speaking here) at this time there was a custom to light four huge lamps every night of the Feast and on the last night one candelabrum was left unlit to remind the Jews that they had not yet experienced full salvation. Jesus is saying that salvation has arrived! I love how you can totally take Jesus's words at face value or peak behind the curtain a bit. and either way there is something to be gained. It always seems like there's a little extra yumminess to be had.
|
|