is believe? (John 4-9)

In the first three gospels there are many miracles, many parables about the kingdom and some teaching about how to treat others.  John’s gospel seems to have more emphasis on believing in Jesus so you gain eternal life.  Unfortunately, at least for me, it’s rather vague.

For example, somebody asks what the people can do in order to do what god wants us to do.  And Jesus replies to believe in the one God sent (Jesus).  And later, that all that see the Son of Man and believe will have eternal life.  Serious question:  Believe what exactly? 

In an earlier post I wondered where all the people who were crying for the crucifixion of Jesus came from.  I now know.  They show up in John.  Many people grumble about Jesus.  In the earlier gospels Jesus is enigmatic about his identity.   I am not sure if Jesus ever calls himself the Messiah.  He allows others like Peter to call him the Messiah.  In John, he often refers to himself as the one who came from God.  And that people can only get to the father if they believe in him and that no one can come to Jesus unless the father makes it possible for him to do so.  (Maybe that’s the problem facing non-believers.  For some reason God doesn’t want us to believe.)

Jesus gets people angry because he tells them that he is the light, that he is the bread of life, that he is the one – the only one - through which eternal life is possible.  I can see why there is anger.  I can see a god-fearing Jew at that time wondering at the audacity of someone saying that they could not reach god unless through someone who just showed up out of nowhere.   Killing him might be a little extreme, but I can see why they would be upset.  And I can see why people of other religions might be upset today when people don’t think it possible for them to reach god except through Jesus.   Why the need of a middleman?

Anyway, there are several times when regular people not just the religious authorities are angry at Jesus and want to have him arrested.  These must be the people who shouted for his death.

John includes the famous story of the woman who was about to be stoned for adultery when Jesus asks for the person who is without sin to be the first to throw a stone.  All walk away and rightly so, but why do we feel so strongly about this story.  How would we feel had it not been a poor woman accused of adultery, but some perverted child molester or a sadistic serial killer?  

Finally (for this post) Jesus talks about the truth setting us free.  And the truth?  Everyone who sins is a slave of sin.  So I suppose stop sinning and you will be free.  That makes sense – if we are ever really told what constitutes sin.  In John it appears that not believing in Jesus (and what exactly are we to believe) constitutes this sin.

is start John (John 1 - 3)

I have read through John and is it ever different from the other three gospels.

It starts by saying that Jesus is the Word and that the Word was around right from the beginning.  There is no virgin birth, no star, no wise men, no angels or stable or manger.  Jesus always was.  I actually have no idea what that means but it makes more sense to me than the Christmas story which sounds very much like a story. 

I have always wondered why God would go through the trouble of having Mary conceive through the Holy Spirit.  Wouldn’t it be just as easy to inspire somebody to spread this Word like he did with Moses and other Old Testament prophets?  None of those people had special births (unless you count Adam).  Later in the text, we learn that Jesus did have Mary and Joseph as parents as some people reject Jesus because of his humble beginnings.  I am not diminishing John’s belief in Jesus as he sees Jesus even more Godlike than the other writers.  He seems to emphasize Jesus as a part of God not just the son of God if that makes sense.

Regardless, in some way, and you can spin it in a thousand directions, Jesus to all the gospel writers was a special person who had been inspired in some manner to preach the word of God.  And like in the other gospels John has  John the Baptist introduce Jesus as this special person.  But there is no mention of John baptizing Jesus nor is there any mention of the temptations in the desert.  And this seems to make more sense as why would Jesus who comes from god need to be baptized or succumb to temptation.   

After gathering the 12 disciples, Jesus performs his first miracle which is the turning of water into wine at the wedding in Cana.  Jesus appears to be reluctant about performing this miracle telling his mother that his time has not yet come.  Then Jesus goes to Jerusalem where he clears the moneychangers from the temple in much more dramatic form than in the other gospels.  That scene occurs at the end of his ministry in the other gospels but here it starts it.

And then the text gets even more complicated.   Jesus talks about being born again, that no one can enter the Kingdom without being reborn by water and the spirit.  He says that people are unwilling to accept his message.  He asks how people will be able to believe what he says about heaven when they refuse to listen to what he says about this world.  Unfortunately, I can’t find too many details about what he says about this world and what his actual message might be.  (It might come later.)

Then we get the famous “for God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.”  And this has always stumped me.  What does it mean “he gave his only son”?  We know that Jesus dies, but Jesus came back so it is not like anything has been lost.  What are we willing to sacrifice to show our love for somebody?  Sacrificing something means we have given up something.  Serious question:  What is god giving up to show his love for the world?

is see some proof (Luke 23 - 24)

The scene on the cross is different.  Jesus does not ask God why he has been forsaken.  Instead he asks God to forgive the people because they don’t know what they are doing.  That seems to be more in keeping with the divinity of Jesus.  

The two criminals on the cross (only mentioned in Matthew and Mark) also talk.  One mocks Jesus for not being able to save himself while the other one defends Jesus and asks to be remembered when Jesus returns as King.  Jesus promises him that he will be in Paradise with Jesus that day.  And that bothers me somewhat.  Both criminals presumably had led evil lives, yet one at the last minute gets a reprieve because he believes. (Unlike the foolish girls and why can't I leave that story alone?)  I know we are allowed second chances but it seems to me that that is cutting it rather close.  And at the same time the kind, generous, compassionate, loving, forgiving non-believer ends up gnashing his teeth in the fires of hell.

The resurrection story is also different.  Luke follows the shorter version from Mark.  The women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James) go to the tomb and find the rock rolled aside.  Instead of an angel outside as in Mark, there are two angels inside who tell them that Jesus has been raised.  The women tell the disciples who do not believe them.  Peter runs to the tomb and sees it empty except for the grave clothes and is amazed.

Then two of Jesus’ followers are walking to Emmaus.   Jesus joins them, but they don’t recognize him.  They talk about the amazing events that have occurred including the empty tomb.   The two appear disappointed that Jesus hasn’t returned and Jesus explains what needs to happen.  Then while they are eating, they recognize Jesus who promptly disappears. 

Later, while these two followers tell the disciples about their experience Jesus appears again.  They think they are seeing a ghost but Jesus shows his wounds from the cross.   In, what I consider an odd scene, Jesus then asks if there is any food and he is given some fish.  I suppose Jesus might be hungry, but I am always curious about why that kind of detail would be included.  Jesus tells them to preach the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins before being taken up into heaven.

I am slightly bemused by these scenes of a resurrected Jesus.  The disciples are unbelievers until Jesus shows up in some kind of visible form.  These are the people who followed him, listened to him, believed him and believed in him yet they cannot believe that Jesus rose until they actually see him.  How then are non-believing skeptics like me expected to believe a 2000 year old story without similar evidence?

is stop being confused (Luke 17 - 23)

Jesus is asked when the Kingdom will arrive and says that it doesn’t work that way that we won’t be able to say here is the kingdom because the KINGDOM IS WITHIN YOU.  That really surprised me.  If the Kingdom is within us then we can enter the kingdom at anytime.  But then he adds that the Son of Man will return causing devastation like that seen by Noah and Lot. 

 

I admit to being totally confused.  Jesus tells us how to behave.  But he also puts unrealistic expectations on us (give up everything including your family).  He tells us of a coming kingdom when bodies will be resurrected but also tells us that the kingdom is within.   

I have been reading these gospels without reading any other sources where other interpretations may help me out.   I just wanted to figure out what the book says to me.  I think I can summarize to this point:  "Be kind.  You will gain inner peace."  There is certainly nothing wrong with that, but I am not sure if that is what Jesus and especially his later followers (the church) were saying.  

Jesus continues with the parables, enters Jerusalem, continues to teach about the coming Kingdom and after the last supper is betrayed by Judas and arrested.  (I know I am going quickly here.)

Luke has much more detail about the humiliation that Jesus endured during and after his trial.  Luke also has Pilate even more unwilling to have Jesus killed.  He keeps saying that Jesus has done nothing deserving of death, that he will just whip him and let him go.  The crowd will not accept that.  Pilate even goes so far as to send Jesus to Herod who also views Jesus as a non threat.  He sends him back to Pilate.  Pilate again says that he sees no reason to kill Jesus but the crowd demands Barabbas be saved and Pilate finally consents. 

  

Clearly Luke is emphasizing Pilate’s innocence as well as Herod’s innocence.  The crowd are the guilty ones.  But who is this crowd?  Up to this point, Jesus has been followed by thousands of people who have been fed, cured of disease, promised a great future even after death.  Where are all the people that supported Jesus all through his ministry?  And where did this huge rabble of opponents come from?  Where were their criticisms earlier?  We know that scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and teachers of the law were worried about Jesus and were plotting to have him arrested and killed but they feared the crowd surrounding Jesus.   I didn’t think the crowd could be swayed so easily.

is understand who qualifies (Luke 13-17)

I know I am going too quickly, but I want to finish Luke in the next three days so I am going to comment on some of the more interesting aspects of Luke rather than (re)tell the stories.

Pilate had killed some Galileans who were sacrificing to God.  A tower had fallen in Jerusalem, killing 18 more Galileans.  Jesus says they did not sin any more than the people who were not killed.  In other words, when people are killed in random events or “acts of God”, they are not being punished for something they had done.   He adds, however, that people need to turn away from sin or they will die just as surely as the Galileans did.  I am still curious about the definition of sin.

Jesus also says that people who do not follow the correct way will gnash their teeth when they see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom while the door is barred to them.  This surprised me.  Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were devout Jews and they are in the Kingdom.  Does this mean that devout Jews who do not accept Jesus can enter the Kingdom?

Jesus talks about inviting the poor, the lame and the blind to feasts because while they cannot pay you back, God will pay you back when the good are raised from the dead.  I am not sure if this is the first time that Jesus makes reference to the good being resurrected as opposed to just entering the Kingdom.

Then Jesus says that a disciple must love Jesus more than any family member including himself.   A disciple must give up everything.  What would happen if everybody gave up everything?  And how do I love somebody more than somebody else?  

Next is the parable of the prodigal son, the one who returns after a life of sin.  The father throws a party for him, rejoicing at his return.  The older son is jealous but the father tells him that he has always been with him and now they must be happy for something that they thought was lost and now has been found.  It’s not a bad story, but it seems to contradict the story of the foolish girls (in Matthew) who were not allowed into the kingdom because they had not saved enough oil.  Why does the prodigal son get the last minute stay of execution and the foolish girls don’t.

Jesus says if you have enough faith you could tell a tree to pull itself up by the roots and plant itself in the sea and it would obey.  I am pretty sure that nobody would want to do that, but I guess it means that if you have enough faith anything is possible.   I am not sure about that either.

is understand what God wants (Luke 11-12)

I will admit right off the top that I have no idea what I am talking about.  In yesterday’s post, I talked about what Jesus said was required to gain eternal life.  He said to love god and to love your neighbour.  He then used the parable of the Good Samaritan to show that everybody is our neighbour.  And we can show our love for them by being kind, compassionate, forgiving, understanding, and tolerant.  But I get confused by what he means by loving god.

First we have to believe in him.  And then we have to show our love.  And how do we do that?  Worshiping him with songs of praise?  Thanking him for everything we have?  Even when we are poor and miserable?  Or just following Jesus’ teachings of being kind to others? 

 

In the next few sections of Luke, Jesus reminds us that God can give us everything; all we have to do is knock.  He tells us that those who hear the word of God and obey it will be blessed.  (Again, I ask what are we obeying?)  Jesus accuses the Pharisees of hypocrisy and warns that they will be punished because their teachings were meant to keep people away from Kingdom.  (What teachings?)  He tells us not to fear people who can harm only the body but to fear god who can not only kill but throw the body into hell.  (This is hardly the image of a loving, forgiving god.) 

Jesus tells of the foolish rich man who built extra barns to hold all his possessions only to realize that he could die tomorrow so what was the point of building up this wealth but not being rich in god’s sight. This certainly makes sense, but can’t a rich man be rich in the sight of god without having to sell everything he has?  In fact Jesus tells us to trust God, that God will care for us just as he cares for the birds and the flowers.  So he tells us to sell our belongings and give it to the poor as we will find more riches in heaven.   

He then warns about being prepared for the coming time using the parable of the faithful and unfaithful servant.  The faithful servant continued to do the master’s work even though the master had been gone a long time while the unfaithful servant looked out for himself and took advantage of the situation.  

And as in Matthew, Jesus warns that he didn’t come to bring peace but to divide father against son etc.  He says he has brought a baptism of fire.  He wonders why people can predict a coming storm but cannot see what is happening in the world right now.  He then warns to settle with others before being taken to court as the judgment will be harsh.  I am assuming that this parable refers to following the teachings of Jesus because God’s punishment will be severe otherwise.

After all this, I am still stumped.  I can understand most of what Jesus is telling us to do in our relationship with others.  I am still not sure what he expects from our relationship with god.   

is be a good samaritan (Luke 9-10)

I am not sure how I feel about having several gospels.  Sometimes it helps to reread a story and think about it again.  On the other hand, they can not only confuse the issue with separate stories and contradictions that muddy the infallibility of the gospels, but when I am reading the third gospel and the third retelling of the same story, my mind sometimes drifts and I need to pay attention or lose sight of the new stories that pop up.  

In Luke, Mary Magdalene who shows up in Matthew and Mark only when the empty tomb is discovered, is introduced much earlier when a list of several women who followed Jesus are mentioned.  Mary had been cured of seven demons.

The death of John the Baptist is mentioned only in passing.  Herod is wondering about the authority of Jesus and says that he had John’s head cut off and now he has to worry about Jesus.

As in the other gospels Jesus sends out the 12 disciples (although Luke has him also send out 72 more).  Jesus  speaks with Moses and Elijah.  He continues with the parables.  Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah.  Jesus speaks of his suffering and death and his resurrection.  He claims that there will be some people who will not die before they have seen the Kingdom of God.

We also have a story about a Samaritan town that rejects Jesus.  This is followed by what will happen to the unbelieving towns (less mercy than shown to Sodom) and that is followed by the story of the Good Samaritan. And I find this story very interesting.   Most of us know the story about the Samaritan who helped the man who had been beaten and robbed while other people had ignored the victim.  

But I had forgotten or never knew how the story was introduced.  A teacher of the law asked Jesus how to gain eternal life.   When Jesus asked him what the scriptures said, the teacher replied love god and love your neighbour.  Jesus said that was correct.  But the teacher then asks “Who is my neighbour?”  And Jesus replies with the parable of the Good Samaritan and concludes that helping everybody – even those who aren’t necessarily your friends – will gain you eternal life.

And here is where there seems to be two threads going on with Jesus and his later followers.  One is how to behave.  The good deeds and proper behaviour towards others are very important.  Now maybe I am missing something but Jesus doesn’t always add the caveat that you have to believe in him as well.  When the unbelieving towns are talked about what exactly are they rejecting.  Are they rejecting Jesus as Messiah or are they rejecting his call for peace and goodwill to others.  I know that somewhere there is a statement about good deeds vs faith but I really haven’t heard that from Jesus.  He tells people to follow him and the way to follow him is to be kind, forgiving, etc.  Because he is actually there, what faith is required?  

So how does that help us today?  No clue.  But it seems to me that if you follow the teachings of Jesus whether you believe in him or not, you are doing just fine.