(Gospel of Mark 1:29 - 2:12)
When Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to the house of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law lay sick in bed with a fever. Jesus, who was immediately told of this, came to her, held her hand, and helped her up. The fever at once departed, and she was able to wait upon her guests.
That evening after sundown many who were ill or possessed by demons were brought to see Jesus. The whole town gathered outside the door of the house to watch. Jesus cured many people with a variety of ailments. He also exorcised many demons, but he forbad them speak for they were aware of who he was.
Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus went out to find a secluded place where he could pray. Later, Simon and the others looked for him, and when they found him, they told Jesus, "Hey, everybody's looking for you!" But Jesus replied, "We need to go to other towns and preach there as well, for that is why I have come." And so he traveled around Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.
A man suffering from a serious skin disease came to him, kneeling before him and begging, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."
Jesus, feeling pity for the man, reached out his hand and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" At once the disease left him and his skin was cleansed. Jesus quickly sent him on his way with a stern warning, "Now don't tell anyone about this, but go to a priest and let him examine you. Offer the sacrifices required by Moses; let that be the public acknowledgment of your cleansing."
But the man instead went out and talked freely about what had happened, spreading the news abroad, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town; he stayed out of doors in lonely hideaways. Even then people from far and wide flocked to see him.
A few days later when Jesus returned to Capernaum, the people heard that he was staying in a certain house. The crowds that congregated there were so great that there was no room for them, even outside. Nevertheless, he preached his message to them.
A group arrived, bringing to him a paralytic, who was carried by four men. They couldn't get near Jesus because of the press of people, so they laid bare the roof above where Jesus was standing and broke open a hole through which they lowered the man and the mat on which he was lying. Jesus, so impressed by their faith in him, said to the paralyzed man, "My son, your sins are forgiven."
Some of the scribes who were there began thinking to themselves, "Why does this man talk like this? It's blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins."
Jesus immediately sensed what they were thinking. He asked them, "Why do you harbor these thoughts in your mind? Which is easier, telling a paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or ‘Rise, pick up your mat, and walk'? I will show you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." He turned to the paralytic and bade him, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home!” The man leapt to his feet, collected his mat, and strode out in full view of the company. Everyone was astounded and praised God. "We've never seen the like of this!' they declared.
Notes
1. Little is revealed of the apostles' private lives, but here we are told that Simon Peter has a mother-in-law. One assumes that he also has a wife, perhaps children as well -- that he will more or less desert to travel around with Jesus. (The question of how the apostles who had families managed to support them is not an issue addressed in the gospels.)
2. Jesus is in so much demand as a healer that he is mobbed wherever he goes and does his best to evade the crowds that demand his services. Jesus is moved to help the man with the skin disease and the paralyzed man, but his compassion, like that of most people, is more or less limited to those he has immediate contact with. Jesus does not think in terms of how many of the ill and infirm he can help, but rather how he avoid their entreaties and escape being bothered by them. One can understand his reaction, the compassion fatigue; it is normal. But considering he is supposed to be the Son of God, one expects something more than "normal." In fact, the purpose of Jesus' healing seems less humanitarian than a means to further his own end, the conversion and indoctrination of the people to his belief system.
3. Jesus forbids the demons he exorcises to speak because they know who he is. Does Jesus want to keep it a secret that he is the Son of God? Is this revelation premature? Yet Jesus pretty much says so when he justifies his authority to forgive sins. One might wish to silence the demons for other reasons, but why prevent them from making a true statement? And wouldn't the demons' testimony to his divinity strengthen Jesus' case that he is the Son of God? "Look, it's not just me who says I'm the Son of God, even these demons say so." Perhaps Jesus may have concluded that confirmation from demons would instead suggest that he was in cahoots with them, that he was an emissary not from God, but from the Devil. Experience from those who may have had truck with such demons recommends avoiding discourse with them.
4. Most translations refer to those suffering from skin diseases (tzaraath in Hebrew -- the subject is treated exhaustively in Leviticus) as being lepers. This is not necessarily the case, nor is it at all certain that ancient leprosy is the same disease as modern leprosy (Hansen's disease). Identification of ancient diseases is always problematic even when symptoms are accurately described, and conflation of different afflictions is common, e.g., no distinction was made by the ancients between leprosy, which may have been what this individual had, and vitiligo (abnormal whitening of the skin), which may account for most of Old Testament tzaraath.
5. The man cured of his skin disease does not follow Jesus' explicit instructions, that is, to keep it dark about how he was cured. Instead he blabs about it all over town. One would think the man would have enough gratitude to obey the man who cured him, if not fear of crossing a man with such power.
6. It is well established that Jesus is from Nazareth and when he preaches at the synagogue in Capernaum, one gets the impression he is a stranger in town. Many translations suggest that he has come home to Capernaum, when all that is meant is that he had come to a house in Capernaum. He was probably staying, as he often would, with a friend and/or follower. It is a dwelling large enough to accommodate a large number of people, but not the masses that turn out. The roof would have been flat and tiled most likely. By removing the tiles, a hole and access to the interior would have been created. The paralytic could have lowered on his mat with the four men handling ropes attached to each corner of the mat (bed, pallet, litter, couch, cot, stretcher?). Other explanations are possible, depending upon the design of the house, which we don’t know.
7. In the text the scribes thinking to themselves, literally think in their “hearts.” The ancients had the notion that thoughts originated not in the brain, but in the heart, just as we fancifully regard the heart as the origin of emotions.
8. Already Jesus is running afoul of members of the religious establishment who question his authority to forgive sins, the prerogative of God. Jesus, who can read minds, chides them and says he does indeed have that authority, for he is the Son of God. To demonstrate it, he heals the paralytic so that he can walk and make a dramatic ambulatory exit from the gathering. This will not be the last time that Jesus uses showmanship rather than argumentation to prove a point.
Showing posts with label Simon Peter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Simon Peter. Show all posts
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Monday, August 3, 2015
Beginning of Jesus' Ministry
(Gospel of Mark 1:14 - 1:20)
After John was imprisoned, Jesus traveled through Galilee preaching the gospel of God. "The time is come," he declared, "when the reign of God on earth is imminent. Repent of your sins and receive the gospel!"
Walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus caught sight of Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea -- for they were fishermen. Jesus exhorted them, "Come along with me. I will have you fish for people." Immediately they put down their nets and followed him.
A little farther up the shore, Jesus saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in a boat mending their nets. At once he called to them. Leaving their father Zebedee and the hired men in the boat, they, too, came along with Jesus.
Notes
1. Most translations refer to Jesus proclaiming the "kingdom of God." This means little. God is not a hereditary monarch. What it does mean is that he will reign and rule. Obviously, he already reigns in Heaven, so what Jesus is proclaiming is that God will soon reign on earth. Therefore, it is in the best interests of men to repent of their sins and get in his good graces before it happens.
2. Jesus selects his disciples in what would seem an impulsive manner, no job interviews, examination of resumes, background checks, nothing. The impression given is that he has some preternatural knowledge of the men he chooses and knows what he doing when he selects as his disciples simple fishermen with no religious training or experience in evangelizing. The disciples do not hesitate, ask no questions. They are apparently not given any choice in the matter: they are called and must go with Jesus. Does Jesus compel them with some hypnotic power? Why doesn't he give his disciples a chance to follow him freely, of their own volition, at least give them some time to think about what they are getting into? (It makes a better story this way!) So far the disciples seem a great deal like brainwashed cultists or zombies who wander off, leaving their jobs, to follow some stranger who merely calls to them.
3. So far Jesus has acquired 4 disciples, all Galilean fishermen, Simon (who would later be called Peter) and Andrew, brothers, and James and John, another pair of brothers, sons of Zebedee. There is no indication he knew them in the past or that he had any personal connection with them. A back story is totally absent.
4. There is no indication of the passage of time between the baptism of Jesus and the selection of his disciples, only what time necessary for John to get himself arrested and thrown into jail.
After John was imprisoned, Jesus traveled through Galilee preaching the gospel of God. "The time is come," he declared, "when the reign of God on earth is imminent. Repent of your sins and receive the gospel!"
Walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus caught sight of Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea -- for they were fishermen. Jesus exhorted them, "Come along with me. I will have you fish for people." Immediately they put down their nets and followed him.
A little farther up the shore, Jesus saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in a boat mending their nets. At once he called to them. Leaving their father Zebedee and the hired men in the boat, they, too, came along with Jesus.
Notes
1. Most translations refer to Jesus proclaiming the "kingdom of God." This means little. God is not a hereditary monarch. What it does mean is that he will reign and rule. Obviously, he already reigns in Heaven, so what Jesus is proclaiming is that God will soon reign on earth. Therefore, it is in the best interests of men to repent of their sins and get in his good graces before it happens.
2. Jesus selects his disciples in what would seem an impulsive manner, no job interviews, examination of resumes, background checks, nothing. The impression given is that he has some preternatural knowledge of the men he chooses and knows what he doing when he selects as his disciples simple fishermen with no religious training or experience in evangelizing. The disciples do not hesitate, ask no questions. They are apparently not given any choice in the matter: they are called and must go with Jesus. Does Jesus compel them with some hypnotic power? Why doesn't he give his disciples a chance to follow him freely, of their own volition, at least give them some time to think about what they are getting into? (It makes a better story this way!) So far the disciples seem a great deal like brainwashed cultists or zombies who wander off, leaving their jobs, to follow some stranger who merely calls to them.
3. So far Jesus has acquired 4 disciples, all Galilean fishermen, Simon (who would later be called Peter) and Andrew, brothers, and James and John, another pair of brothers, sons of Zebedee. There is no indication he knew them in the past or that he had any personal connection with them. A back story is totally absent.
4. There is no indication of the passage of time between the baptism of Jesus and the selection of his disciples, only what time necessary for John to get himself arrested and thrown into jail.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Breakfast with His Disciples
(Gospel of John 21:1 - 21:14)
Afterwards, Jesus appeared again to his disciples in the following manner: Several of the apostles were by the Sea of Galilee, Simon-Peter, Thomas the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. Simon-Peter told them he was going out fishing and the others said they would accompany him. However, when they went out in the boat, they caught nothing all night.
At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn't recognize who it was. He called out to them, “Hey boys, haven’t you caught any fish?"
"No, we haven't," they replied.
“Cast the net off your starboard beam and you'll find some!"
They did so, but they couldn't even haul in the net, because there were so many fish in it.
The disciple that Jesus loved told Peter, "It's the Master!"
When Peter heard this, he put on his clothes (for he had taken them off) and jumped into the water, as they were only about 200 cubits from land. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. When they came ashore, they found fish cooking over a charcoal fire and some bread.
Jesus told them, "Bring some of the fish you've just caught." So Simon-Peter boarded the boat and hauled the net onto the beach. It contained 153 large fish, but despite it, the net hadn't torn.
"Come and have breakfast," Jesus invited them. None of the disciples dared ask who he was -- but they knew it was the Master. Jesus took the bread and served it to them and, similarly, served them the fish.
(This, therefore, was the third instance of Jesus revealing himself before his disciples after his resurrection from the dead.)
After they had finished eating, Jesus addressed Simon-Peter and asked him, "Do you, Simon, son of Jonas, love me more than the others do?"
"Yes, Master," he replied. "You know that I love you."
"Feed my lambs," he told him and asked him again, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
"Yes, Master, you know that I love you," he again replied.
“Be a shepherd to my sheep," he told him, but asked, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?"
Peter's feelings were hurt when Jesus had asked him a third time whether he loved him, but he responded, "Master, you know all things, so you must know that I love you."
"Feed my sheep," Jesus told him. "I tell you truly, when you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go, but when you become old you will stretch out your arms. Someone else will dress you and lead you where you don't want to go. (Jesus mentioned this to indicate the manner of death by which he would glorify God.) Jesus then bid him, "Follow me!"
Peter looked back at the disciple that Jesus loved (the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and asked, "Master, who will betray you?”). Peter questioned Jesus,”What will he do, Master?"
"If I wish him to stay here until I return, how does that concern you? You must follow me!" Jesus commanded.
(A rumor spread through the community of believers that this disciple would not die. Yet, Jesus did not say so, only, "If I wish him to stay here until I return, how does that concern you?”)
This is the disciple who was a witness to these events and who recorded them. (And we affirm that his account is accurate.) But there are other things that Jesus accomplished, so many that if each one were written down, I dare say the world would scarcely have room for all the books that would result.
Notes
1. The Gospel of John seems to have come to end in the last chapter, but here we have what seems like an appendix, a coda, something added on after the work had been completed. Perhaps this was a story heard by the author(s) and put it at the end of the book since it was too good to leave out (and it is). But we also have another apt concluding paragraph with the Apostle John taking credit for the authorship of the gospel.
2. The miracle of the abundant catch of fish is one of the miracles that, if it is true, must be just that, a miracle, not a misunderstanding, a parlor trick, an illusion, or an hallucination.
3. Interesting that the exact number of fish in the net is known, but the names of all the disciples present is not. Who was it that made the count and came up with 153 fish? If it were 150, one would assume it was an estimate, but 153 is precise. Does the number convey some symbolic significance or esoteric meaning? Perhaps it is like the story of the white hunter who was thrown exactly 47 yards by the tusks of a charging elephant -- he went back later with a yard stick to measure the distance.
4. Seven of the 12 apostles are present during this miracle. Among them were the sons of Zebedee, James and John. Zebedee was a prosperous fisherman who lived near the fishing town of Bethsaida on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.
5. As is the case with the other postmortem appearances of Jesus, he acts somewhat weirdly, that is, not casually or naturally. The gospel's self-declared author, John (the disciple Jesus loved, as he continually and annoyingly refers to himself) is the one who recognizes Jesus standing on the shore. As usual, it is Peter who acts first. The "big fisherman" impulsively jumps off the boat and swims ashore in an apparent eagerness to see Jesus. (The distance was 200 cubits, about 100 yards.) The story omits any greeting they might have had for each other. Jesus simply invites them to breakfast. No one says, "Hi, Jesus. Hey, I thought you were dead!" Jesus never explains himself. The disciples know it is Jesus, but his appearance must have been altered in some way that made them have some initial doubt of it.
6. Jesus has breakfast ready, including fish. But he asks Peter to bring him some of the fish they have just caught. Did Jesus gut, bone, and cook them himself? Jesus has a charcoal fire ready. (Not a coal fire, for coal was not yet used as a fuel.) Odd that he wouldn't have a wood fire, as one would expect. Did he bring a bag of charcoal down from Heaven with him? Ah, but it was a charcoal fire over which Peter denied Jesus; therefore he must now affirm him over a charcoal fire.
7. Jesus quizzes Peter whether he loves him or not. He asks him three times, probably because Peter denied knowing him three times. Jesus sounds like a nagging wife demanding that her husband tell her he loves her. He tells Peter to feed and tend his lambs and sheep, that is, to take charge of his flock, his religious congregation. He is more or less appointing Peter as the leader of his followers. Peter is, of course, considered the first pope. The illusion to the manner of Peter's death is somewhat vague. Traditionally, Peter was crucified -- upside down - in 64 AD. The outstretched arms apparently refer to his crucifixion.
8. The Gospel of John is purported to have been written by the Apostle John, the disciple that Jesus loved. Few scholars today believe he could have been its author, or the author of Revelation and the epistles ascribed to John. Although authorities disagree as to the exact date it was written (65 AD is probably the earliest), the Gospel of John is believed to have been compiled well after the other gospels, Mark, Matthew, and Luke, (and subsequent to the death of the real John, unless he happened to have been unusually long lived). While the other three books are considered synoptic gospels, that is, they provide an overall summary of events, John highlights particular incidents. Therefore, the Gospel of John is generally conceded to have less authority as a chronicle, but, of the four canonical gospels, it is considered to possess the greatest spiritual depth.
Afterwards, Jesus appeared again to his disciples in the following manner: Several of the apostles were by the Sea of Galilee, Simon-Peter, Thomas the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. Simon-Peter told them he was going out fishing and the others said they would accompany him. However, when they went out in the boat, they caught nothing all night.
At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn't recognize who it was. He called out to them, “Hey boys, haven’t you caught any fish?"
"No, we haven't," they replied.
“Cast the net off your starboard beam and you'll find some!"
They did so, but they couldn't even haul in the net, because there were so many fish in it.
The disciple that Jesus loved told Peter, "It's the Master!"
When Peter heard this, he put on his clothes (for he had taken them off) and jumped into the water, as they were only about 200 cubits from land. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. When they came ashore, they found fish cooking over a charcoal fire and some bread.
Jesus told them, "Bring some of the fish you've just caught." So Simon-Peter boarded the boat and hauled the net onto the beach. It contained 153 large fish, but despite it, the net hadn't torn.
"Come and have breakfast," Jesus invited them. None of the disciples dared ask who he was -- but they knew it was the Master. Jesus took the bread and served it to them and, similarly, served them the fish.
(This, therefore, was the third instance of Jesus revealing himself before his disciples after his resurrection from the dead.)
After they had finished eating, Jesus addressed Simon-Peter and asked him, "Do you, Simon, son of Jonas, love me more than the others do?"
"Yes, Master," he replied. "You know that I love you."
"Feed my lambs," he told him and asked him again, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
"Yes, Master, you know that I love you," he again replied.
“Be a shepherd to my sheep," he told him, but asked, "Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?"
Peter's feelings were hurt when Jesus had asked him a third time whether he loved him, but he responded, "Master, you know all things, so you must know that I love you."
"Feed my sheep," Jesus told him. "I tell you truly, when you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go, but when you become old you will stretch out your arms. Someone else will dress you and lead you where you don't want to go. (Jesus mentioned this to indicate the manner of death by which he would glorify God.) Jesus then bid him, "Follow me!"
Peter looked back at the disciple that Jesus loved (the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and asked, "Master, who will betray you?”). Peter questioned Jesus,”What will he do, Master?"
"If I wish him to stay here until I return, how does that concern you? You must follow me!" Jesus commanded.
(A rumor spread through the community of believers that this disciple would not die. Yet, Jesus did not say so, only, "If I wish him to stay here until I return, how does that concern you?”)
This is the disciple who was a witness to these events and who recorded them. (And we affirm that his account is accurate.) But there are other things that Jesus accomplished, so many that if each one were written down, I dare say the world would scarcely have room for all the books that would result.
Notes
1. The Gospel of John seems to have come to end in the last chapter, but here we have what seems like an appendix, a coda, something added on after the work had been completed. Perhaps this was a story heard by the author(s) and put it at the end of the book since it was too good to leave out (and it is). But we also have another apt concluding paragraph with the Apostle John taking credit for the authorship of the gospel.
2. The miracle of the abundant catch of fish is one of the miracles that, if it is true, must be just that, a miracle, not a misunderstanding, a parlor trick, an illusion, or an hallucination.
3. Interesting that the exact number of fish in the net is known, but the names of all the disciples present is not. Who was it that made the count and came up with 153 fish? If it were 150, one would assume it was an estimate, but 153 is precise. Does the number convey some symbolic significance or esoteric meaning? Perhaps it is like the story of the white hunter who was thrown exactly 47 yards by the tusks of a charging elephant -- he went back later with a yard stick to measure the distance.
4. Seven of the 12 apostles are present during this miracle. Among them were the sons of Zebedee, James and John. Zebedee was a prosperous fisherman who lived near the fishing town of Bethsaida on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.
5. As is the case with the other postmortem appearances of Jesus, he acts somewhat weirdly, that is, not casually or naturally. The gospel's self-declared author, John (the disciple Jesus loved, as he continually and annoyingly refers to himself) is the one who recognizes Jesus standing on the shore. As usual, it is Peter who acts first. The "big fisherman" impulsively jumps off the boat and swims ashore in an apparent eagerness to see Jesus. (The distance was 200 cubits, about 100 yards.) The story omits any greeting they might have had for each other. Jesus simply invites them to breakfast. No one says, "Hi, Jesus. Hey, I thought you were dead!" Jesus never explains himself. The disciples know it is Jesus, but his appearance must have been altered in some way that made them have some initial doubt of it.
6. Jesus has breakfast ready, including fish. But he asks Peter to bring him some of the fish they have just caught. Did Jesus gut, bone, and cook them himself? Jesus has a charcoal fire ready. (Not a coal fire, for coal was not yet used as a fuel.) Odd that he wouldn't have a wood fire, as one would expect. Did he bring a bag of charcoal down from Heaven with him? Ah, but it was a charcoal fire over which Peter denied Jesus; therefore he must now affirm him over a charcoal fire.
7. Jesus quizzes Peter whether he loves him or not. He asks him three times, probably because Peter denied knowing him three times. Jesus sounds like a nagging wife demanding that her husband tell her he loves her. He tells Peter to feed and tend his lambs and sheep, that is, to take charge of his flock, his religious congregation. He is more or less appointing Peter as the leader of his followers. Peter is, of course, considered the first pope. The illusion to the manner of Peter's death is somewhat vague. Traditionally, Peter was crucified -- upside down - in 64 AD. The outstretched arms apparently refer to his crucifixion.
8. The Gospel of John is purported to have been written by the Apostle John, the disciple that Jesus loved. Few scholars today believe he could have been its author, or the author of Revelation and the epistles ascribed to John. Although authorities disagree as to the exact date it was written (65 AD is probably the earliest), the Gospel of John is believed to have been compiled well after the other gospels, Mark, Matthew, and Luke, (and subsequent to the death of the real John, unless he happened to have been unusually long lived). While the other three books are considered synoptic gospels, that is, they provide an overall summary of events, John highlights particular incidents. Therefore, the Gospel of John is generally conceded to have less authority as a chronicle, but, of the four canonical gospels, it is considered to possess the greatest spiritual depth.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Disciples Abandon Jesus
(Gospel of John 6:60 - 6:71)
Hearing Jesus’ sermon, many of his disciples complained, "These teachings are hard to swallow! And who wants to listen to such things?"
Aware that his disciples were becoming disgruntled, Jesus spoke to them, "Do you find my teachings unbelievable? How then will you react when you see the Son of Man re-ascending to Heaven? ... It is the spirit that creates life; the flesh is powerless to do so. The message I have given you is of the spirit and of life. But there are those among you who do not believe it."
(Jesus knew from the start what disciples believed him and who did not and who was the one who would betray him.)
He added, "That is why I have told you that no one has come to me unless he has been granted leave to do so by my Father."
At this point many of his disciples turned away from Jesus and no longer followed him. Jesus addressed the twelve who remained and asked them, "Are you going to leave me as well?"
Simon-Peter answered for them, "Master, to whom would we go? You have the message of life everlasting. We have come to believe in you and to know that you are the Christ, the Son of the eternal God."
Jesus declared, "Did I not choose the twelve of you -- even though one of you will be an adversary?” (Jesus was referring to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, who, though he was one of the Twelve Apostles, would betray him.)
Notes
1. It can hardly be surprising that many of those following Jesus would eventually choose to abandon him, especially after the impact of the miracles he performs wears off. Other evangelists, even prophets did not claim to be the Son of God, a divinity who will raise the dead, judge mankind, and bestow eternal life on those who please him. It would have been a little too much to accept even of a miracle maker. Owing to his claims, it is likely that most people, even those receptive to his message, would have regarded Jesus as an arrogant crackpot, even a lunatic, or else a preposterous fraud, a confidence man of the grandest pretensions. But, according to the text, the reason most of his followers desert him is that his message is difficult to comprehend and believe.
2. Those still following Jesus are the Twelve Apostles, not all of whom have yet been named in this Gospel. On the positive side, this culling of the herd allowed Jesus to have an entourage of manageable size and, as a teacher, a smaller class size. Did Jesus purposely drive away most of his disciples so that only a core of loyal followers remained?
3. Simon-Peter, who apparently is taking a leadership position among the apostles, speaks for them and gives Jesus an explanation for why they are staying with him. Basically, he tells Jesus that he is the real deal and that he is the only one from whom they can receive everlasting life. What he does not say is revealing. He does not say he wishes to be a disciple of Jesus so that he can preach his message, bring in believers, and save their souls. He does not express any admiration for Jesus as a master or that he is motivated to serve him and stay with him out of love and loyalty. It's as of the apostles are remaining with Jesus only for what they can get out of it.
4. Jesus has foreknowledge of who of his disciples will stay and who will leave. Also he knows that one of the Twelve Apostles is a ringer who will later betray him. If he knows this, why does he accept as his disciple the traitor (Judas). He seems to be setting up his own betrayal as a part of the passion play he is performing in; he has already selected Judas to play a particular role in it. Why Jesus needs to have one of his apostles betray him and why that betrayal, which, in the end, amounts to practically nothing, seems requisite to his ultimate crucifixion is anyone's guess.
5. Almost all translations call Judas a “devil.” This is incorrect; the Hebrew word should be translated “Satan,” which is, only in a modern context, the same thing. The original meaning of Satan is someone, not necessary a spirit being, who is an adversary, an antagonist, someone who opposes your interests. Judas is not Satan or the Devil, as we define it, but only someone who will work against Jesus.
Hearing Jesus’ sermon, many of his disciples complained, "These teachings are hard to swallow! And who wants to listen to such things?"
Aware that his disciples were becoming disgruntled, Jesus spoke to them, "Do you find my teachings unbelievable? How then will you react when you see the Son of Man re-ascending to Heaven? ... It is the spirit that creates life; the flesh is powerless to do so. The message I have given you is of the spirit and of life. But there are those among you who do not believe it."
(Jesus knew from the start what disciples believed him and who did not and who was the one who would betray him.)
He added, "That is why I have told you that no one has come to me unless he has been granted leave to do so by my Father."
At this point many of his disciples turned away from Jesus and no longer followed him. Jesus addressed the twelve who remained and asked them, "Are you going to leave me as well?"
Simon-Peter answered for them, "Master, to whom would we go? You have the message of life everlasting. We have come to believe in you and to know that you are the Christ, the Son of the eternal God."
Jesus declared, "Did I not choose the twelve of you -- even though one of you will be an adversary?” (Jesus was referring to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, who, though he was one of the Twelve Apostles, would betray him.)
Notes
1. It can hardly be surprising that many of those following Jesus would eventually choose to abandon him, especially after the impact of the miracles he performs wears off. Other evangelists, even prophets did not claim to be the Son of God, a divinity who will raise the dead, judge mankind, and bestow eternal life on those who please him. It would have been a little too much to accept even of a miracle maker. Owing to his claims, it is likely that most people, even those receptive to his message, would have regarded Jesus as an arrogant crackpot, even a lunatic, or else a preposterous fraud, a confidence man of the grandest pretensions. But, according to the text, the reason most of his followers desert him is that his message is difficult to comprehend and believe.
2. Those still following Jesus are the Twelve Apostles, not all of whom have yet been named in this Gospel. On the positive side, this culling of the herd allowed Jesus to have an entourage of manageable size and, as a teacher, a smaller class size. Did Jesus purposely drive away most of his disciples so that only a core of loyal followers remained?
3. Simon-Peter, who apparently is taking a leadership position among the apostles, speaks for them and gives Jesus an explanation for why they are staying with him. Basically, he tells Jesus that he is the real deal and that he is the only one from whom they can receive everlasting life. What he does not say is revealing. He does not say he wishes to be a disciple of Jesus so that he can preach his message, bring in believers, and save their souls. He does not express any admiration for Jesus as a master or that he is motivated to serve him and stay with him out of love and loyalty. It's as of the apostles are remaining with Jesus only for what they can get out of it.
4. Jesus has foreknowledge of who of his disciples will stay and who will leave. Also he knows that one of the Twelve Apostles is a ringer who will later betray him. If he knows this, why does he accept as his disciple the traitor (Judas). He seems to be setting up his own betrayal as a part of the passion play he is performing in; he has already selected Judas to play a particular role in it. Why Jesus needs to have one of his apostles betray him and why that betrayal, which, in the end, amounts to practically nothing, seems requisite to his ultimate crucifixion is anyone's guess.
5. Almost all translations call Judas a “devil.” This is incorrect; the Hebrew word should be translated “Satan,” which is, only in a modern context, the same thing. The original meaning of Satan is someone, not necessary a spirit being, who is an adversary, an antagonist, someone who opposes your interests. Judas is not Satan or the Devil, as we define it, but only someone who will work against Jesus.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Appearance of Jesus
(Gospel of John 1:29 - 1:51)
On the following day John saw Jesus approaching and declared, “Look, here is the Lamb of God sent to us as a sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world! This is the one I was speaking of when I said, ‘The man who succeeds me will be greater than I, because he has lived before me.’ Hitherto he was not known even to me, but that he might become known to Israel is the very reason I have been baptizing with water."
John reported this: "I saw the divine spirit descend from the sky like a dove and light upon him. I myself did not recognize him until then, but he who inspired me to baptize with water told me: "He upon whom you see the spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit." I have personally witnessed this and can attest that this man is God's Chosen One."
On the following day John was in the company of two of his disciples when he saw Jesus again. He commented as Jesus passed by, "There goes the Lamb of God!" Hearing this, the disciples followed Jesus.
Jesus turned to them and asked, "What are you looking for?"
"Tell us, Rabbi, where are you staying?"
“Why don’t you come and see for yourselves," he answered.
They came and saw where he was living. It was about four in the afternoon, and they remained with him for the rest of the day. One of these two men was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. Andrew immediately went to see his brother and announced, "We have found the Messiah!" He then brought Simon to see Jesus. Jesus took one look at him and declared, "You must be Simon, the son of John, -- but henceforth you will be called Peter [meaning rock]."
The next day Jesus decided to travel to Galilee. He found Philip and bid him, "Come with me and be my disciple." (Philip was from the town of Bethsaida, which was where Andrew and Peter were also from.) Philip then went to Nathanael and told him, "We have found the man Moses referred to in the Torah and whom the prophets spoke of as well. He is Jesus, the son of Joseph of Nazareth."
"Nazareth!?” Nathanael retorted, "What good could ever come from that place?"
"Come with us and see," was Philip's challenge.
Jesus saw Nathanael approaching and observed of him, "Here indeed is a true man of Israel, one who is totally honest and sincere."
Nathanael questioned him, "How do you come to know me?"
Jesus replied, "Before Philip invited you here, I saw you ... when you were sitting under the fig tree."
Nathanael told Jesus, "Rabbi, you must indeed be the Son of God, the King of Israel!"
Jesus responded, "You believe that just because I had a vision of you sitting under a fig tree? You'll see greater wonders than that! I tell you truly that you will all witness the very heavens open. Divine messengers will then come up and down to commune with the Son of Man."
Notes
1. In Bethany John points out to his disciples this certain Jesus, the man he has recognized as the Messiah. The Messiah, the spiritual leader, teacher, and savior, has been long anticipated and sought for, especially by at the portion of the Jewish population to which John the Baptist and his followers belong. At the very least they must have felt that their religion had become corrupted by unworthy leadership and that the true teachings needed to be restored by some inspired and dynamic leader, and this was he for whom they awaited. John, however, specifically sees the Messiah as one who will bring atonement for the sins of the world, a claim that Jesus would make. (It would not be unfair to say that the quest for the atonement of sins is an innate obsession among the Jews -- due to a keen and admirable appreciation of right and wrong that was all but unique among ancient peoples.) John felt strongly that he had found that man, Jesus, and told his disciples so. Jesus is identified by the others as a rabbi, a teacher of the Jewish religion. The term was applied loosely to any religious teacher and not necessarily to one ordained by the Jewish religious establishment.
2. John, who does not at first recognize Jesus for who he is, believes he is the Messiah because God, who has bid him to baptize, tells him that he will see the spirit descend upon the man who is the Messiah. If Jesus were the Son of God, the divine spirit would be already within him and would not need to descend upon him. This scenario would make sense only if Jesus were a man who is now come to be possessed by the divine spirit, and John is witnessing the act of that possession. This is, of course, one theory of Jesus' divinity, that he was an ordinary man possessed by the divine spirit, but this is not the assertion of this Gospel's author, who believes that Jesus is the incarnation of Logos, and would have been so since birth, even conception. On the other hand, the descent of the spirit may have been a visible manifestation of the communion, ongoing, one would think, between Logos and Elohim, or God the Son and God the Father.
3. The divine spirit descending upon Jesus is described by John as a dove, or like a dove. The spirit is often described as a dove. Is this meant literally, the spirit assuming avian form, or does the spirit manifest itself as something white and tangible and borne upon the air, giving the impression of being a dove? It is interesting that when Joan of Arc (who called herself the Daughter of God) was burned at the stake, at the moment of her expiration, an English officer, one who was most zealous to see her burn, swore he saw a dove fly out of her body. Was it an hallucination? Was it seen by others? At any rate, the officer was so distraught and dumbfounded by what he had seen his comrades had to drag him off to the nearest tavern to give him a drink or two.
4. The first named disciple of John is Andrew and he is among those who, accosting Jesus on the street, follow him to his home to have a long afternoon's discourse. Andrew, impressed and convinced he must be the Messiah, immediately tells his brother Simon about this man. Simon is very interested and goes to see Jesus, who, for a reason not yet apparent, decides to rename him Peter (Cephas in Greek), meaning "rock." (One is tempted to translate the name as “Rocky"!) Peter will be Jesus's heir, the first Pope, the "rock" upon which will be built the Christian church.
5. When Jesus goes to Galilee, miles to the north of Bethany, he picks up some more disciples, among them Philip, who was from Bethsaida, as were the brothers Andrew and Peter. Bethsaida was a town north of the Sea of Galilee.
6. Philip tells Nathanael (a friend?) that Jesus is the man spoken of by Moses and the Prophets as the Messiah. We learn from him that Jesus is the son of Joseph of Nazareth. Nazareth was an insignificant town with no religious history and, therefore, was not highly thought of by Nathanael, who does not hesitate to say so. Nathanael is a blunt, outspoken fellow, but Jesus likes him and admires his truthfulness and sincerity. Nathanael, skeptical and perhaps resentful of the fact that Jesus claims to know him, is impressed when Jesus says he saw him sitting under a fig tree. One assumes that Nathanael was out of sight when this occurred and that Jesus' perception of him was due to clairvoyant faculties that Nathanael assumes to be of divine origin.
7. Jesus promises Nathanael and the others that they will see visitors come down from Heaven to visit him. This is cryptic and intriguing, a reference to “Jacob’s ladder” mentioned in Genesis. Does Jesus mean material, human-like beings physically descending from the sky and ascending again, -- spirit beings materializing and dematerializing? Or does he mean this figuratively? Does the heaven refer to mean the sky or does he mean Heaven, the abode of God, which would, as we understand it, be in some other, spiritual plane.
On the following day John saw Jesus approaching and declared, “Look, here is the Lamb of God sent to us as a sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world! This is the one I was speaking of when I said, ‘The man who succeeds me will be greater than I, because he has lived before me.’ Hitherto he was not known even to me, but that he might become known to Israel is the very reason I have been baptizing with water."
John reported this: "I saw the divine spirit descend from the sky like a dove and light upon him. I myself did not recognize him until then, but he who inspired me to baptize with water told me: "He upon whom you see the spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit." I have personally witnessed this and can attest that this man is God's Chosen One."
On the following day John was in the company of two of his disciples when he saw Jesus again. He commented as Jesus passed by, "There goes the Lamb of God!" Hearing this, the disciples followed Jesus.
Jesus turned to them and asked, "What are you looking for?"
"Tell us, Rabbi, where are you staying?"
“Why don’t you come and see for yourselves," he answered.
They came and saw where he was living. It was about four in the afternoon, and they remained with him for the rest of the day. One of these two men was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. Andrew immediately went to see his brother and announced, "We have found the Messiah!" He then brought Simon to see Jesus. Jesus took one look at him and declared, "You must be Simon, the son of John, -- but henceforth you will be called Peter [meaning rock]."
The next day Jesus decided to travel to Galilee. He found Philip and bid him, "Come with me and be my disciple." (Philip was from the town of Bethsaida, which was where Andrew and Peter were also from.) Philip then went to Nathanael and told him, "We have found the man Moses referred to in the Torah and whom the prophets spoke of as well. He is Jesus, the son of Joseph of Nazareth."
"Nazareth!?” Nathanael retorted, "What good could ever come from that place?"
"Come with us and see," was Philip's challenge.
Jesus saw Nathanael approaching and observed of him, "Here indeed is a true man of Israel, one who is totally honest and sincere."
Nathanael questioned him, "How do you come to know me?"
Jesus replied, "Before Philip invited you here, I saw you ... when you were sitting under the fig tree."
Nathanael told Jesus, "Rabbi, you must indeed be the Son of God, the King of Israel!"
Jesus responded, "You believe that just because I had a vision of you sitting under a fig tree? You'll see greater wonders than that! I tell you truly that you will all witness the very heavens open. Divine messengers will then come up and down to commune with the Son of Man."
Notes
1. In Bethany John points out to his disciples this certain Jesus, the man he has recognized as the Messiah. The Messiah, the spiritual leader, teacher, and savior, has been long anticipated and sought for, especially by at the portion of the Jewish population to which John the Baptist and his followers belong. At the very least they must have felt that their religion had become corrupted by unworthy leadership and that the true teachings needed to be restored by some inspired and dynamic leader, and this was he for whom they awaited. John, however, specifically sees the Messiah as one who will bring atonement for the sins of the world, a claim that Jesus would make. (It would not be unfair to say that the quest for the atonement of sins is an innate obsession among the Jews -- due to a keen and admirable appreciation of right and wrong that was all but unique among ancient peoples.) John felt strongly that he had found that man, Jesus, and told his disciples so. Jesus is identified by the others as a rabbi, a teacher of the Jewish religion. The term was applied loosely to any religious teacher and not necessarily to one ordained by the Jewish religious establishment.
2. John, who does not at first recognize Jesus for who he is, believes he is the Messiah because God, who has bid him to baptize, tells him that he will see the spirit descend upon the man who is the Messiah. If Jesus were the Son of God, the divine spirit would be already within him and would not need to descend upon him. This scenario would make sense only if Jesus were a man who is now come to be possessed by the divine spirit, and John is witnessing the act of that possession. This is, of course, one theory of Jesus' divinity, that he was an ordinary man possessed by the divine spirit, but this is not the assertion of this Gospel's author, who believes that Jesus is the incarnation of Logos, and would have been so since birth, even conception. On the other hand, the descent of the spirit may have been a visible manifestation of the communion, ongoing, one would think, between Logos and Elohim, or God the Son and God the Father.
3. The divine spirit descending upon Jesus is described by John as a dove, or like a dove. The spirit is often described as a dove. Is this meant literally, the spirit assuming avian form, or does the spirit manifest itself as something white and tangible and borne upon the air, giving the impression of being a dove? It is interesting that when Joan of Arc (who called herself the Daughter of God) was burned at the stake, at the moment of her expiration, an English officer, one who was most zealous to see her burn, swore he saw a dove fly out of her body. Was it an hallucination? Was it seen by others? At any rate, the officer was so distraught and dumbfounded by what he had seen his comrades had to drag him off to the nearest tavern to give him a drink or two.
4. The first named disciple of John is Andrew and he is among those who, accosting Jesus on the street, follow him to his home to have a long afternoon's discourse. Andrew, impressed and convinced he must be the Messiah, immediately tells his brother Simon about this man. Simon is very interested and goes to see Jesus, who, for a reason not yet apparent, decides to rename him Peter (Cephas in Greek), meaning "rock." (One is tempted to translate the name as “Rocky"!) Peter will be Jesus's heir, the first Pope, the "rock" upon which will be built the Christian church.
5. When Jesus goes to Galilee, miles to the north of Bethany, he picks up some more disciples, among them Philip, who was from Bethsaida, as were the brothers Andrew and Peter. Bethsaida was a town north of the Sea of Galilee.
6. Philip tells Nathanael (a friend?) that Jesus is the man spoken of by Moses and the Prophets as the Messiah. We learn from him that Jesus is the son of Joseph of Nazareth. Nazareth was an insignificant town with no religious history and, therefore, was not highly thought of by Nathanael, who does not hesitate to say so. Nathanael is a blunt, outspoken fellow, but Jesus likes him and admires his truthfulness and sincerity. Nathanael, skeptical and perhaps resentful of the fact that Jesus claims to know him, is impressed when Jesus says he saw him sitting under a fig tree. One assumes that Nathanael was out of sight when this occurred and that Jesus' perception of him was due to clairvoyant faculties that Nathanael assumes to be of divine origin.
7. Jesus promises Nathanael and the others that they will see visitors come down from Heaven to visit him. This is cryptic and intriguing, a reference to “Jacob’s ladder” mentioned in Genesis. Does Jesus mean material, human-like beings physically descending from the sky and ascending again, -- spirit beings materializing and dematerializing? Or does he mean this figuratively? Does the heaven refer to mean the sky or does he mean Heaven, the abode of God, which would, as we understand it, be in some other, spiritual plane.
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