In John 3 and 4 there is more darkness and light imagery. Themes of conflict become very apparent.
First, the water into wine miracle. Do you know much about Greek mythology? Dionysis was the the god of wine, and therefore a pretty powerful god. Replacing the water of purification (religion) with the wine of celebration (Greek lifestyle) is symbolic and speaks into the culture that John was writing to. The need for purification is replaced by direct access to God for all people at a feast of celebration.
Next - the cleansing of the temple. In the synoptic* gospels Jesus does this at the end of his ministry. For John this is a benchmark of Jesus' radical reform of Jewish traditions.
Then poor Nic. Nicodemus is the stereotype of "everyperson" with an inadequate faith. Nic comes to Jesus in the dark. And Jesus speaks in riddles Nicodemus does not understand. This is symbolic language. Did you notice in chapter 3, verse 11 that Jesus begins speaking in the plural? "We" (the believers) and "you" (the detractors). Jesus appears to be speaking to a larger audience of which Nicodemus has been selected to be the speaker.
And last but not least - the Samaritan woman. This is an elaborate story. According to convention, Jesus should not be talking to the woman. He should be speaking to her husband. When she responds that she has no husband, Jesus reveals to her a knowledge of her inner thoughts, to which she responds "Sir, I see you are a prophet." Convention requires a test of a prophet, so the woman asks him an age old question - "Who is right - Samaritans or Jews?". Jesus then speaks of a new order in which all religious controversies are obsolete. Would that be a blessing beyond imagination?! If all Christians, all "believers", could at least agree to get along, and agree to disagree, so we could serve the underserved in this world? Come, Holy Spirit, come and bring heaven on earth.
The woman is a symbol of women in general. Jesus enters into her world and moves her toward faith - a faith that is then proclaimedby a woman. Jesus's disciples don't ask and don't tell (4:27). There is a tension at the time the story is told - and tension to this day.
I am blessed to be a Christian. I have been doubly blessed to have found the Methodist church.
*Google "synoptic" (or look it up in a dictionary - remember those?) if you don't know what that means. I hope to get ahead and send you other things to look up once Annual Conference is over.
"Conflict"! Help me understand:
ReplyDeleteJohn 3-20-21 "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
In our human condition... aren't we on both sides? We all fall short... right? But the passage above seems black and white. Either in the darkness or in the light.
I'll try...He isn't saying you are either on one side or the other, instead He is saying that if you live by the truth you will recognize/illuminate your sins. This ability to recognize your sins, repent, and believe that you are forgiven, is brought to you by...God.
ReplyDeleteBrandon - I think it might be helpful to look at different translations when you have questions. One of the best ways online is to go to www.biblegateway.com type in the passage and see what comes up. For example, the NRSV says, "For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it might be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God." Another translation says, "Wrongdoers hate the light and avoid it, for fear their misdeeds might be exposed. Those who live by the truth come to the light so that it may be clearly seen that God is in all they do." Lots of bad choices are made in darkness. The point seems to me to be "live by the truth". Hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bill and Marilyn. Much clearer. ;^)
ReplyDeleteThese are great comments. I love John 3:34 in this reading. "For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit." I am moved by the words gives the Spirit w/o limit. It reminds me of our generous God is...giving abundant blessings.
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