Saturday 28 March 2009

Background

The witnesses to Jesus' teaching in this passage are dividedeven though they observe the same incidents. They have heard thesame words, but are reaching very different conclusions. Even someof the Temple authorities - a kind of religious police - areuncertain.

Taking Jesus seriously always involves choices. Jesus himselfsuggests that he brings division within and between people. This isbecause of the deep commitment needed to follow his teaching andway of life for individuals and communities. The first Christianswere called 'followers of the way' because they had made a positivechoice, taking their faith and lives in a particulardirection.

The figure of Nicodemus, a prominent religious leader, makes anappearance here. He helps us see that not all the religiousauthorities were against Jesus. Earlier in this Gospel (chapter 3) heseeks out Jesus secretly. He wants fairness in the treatment ofJesus. He struggles to understand what the carpenter is saying anddoing, and how it fits into the Jewish faith that's so important toNicodemus. We might describe him as a critical friend.

Passages such as these help us to sense the live controversy thatchallenged the people of that time. Being on the 'right' side ofthe debate would not have been easy. So let's be careful not tolightly condemn those who opposed Jesus at that time.

To Ponder

How easy, in our media-saturated society, is itto make lifestyle choices based on witnesses and evidence ratherthan 'spin' and propaganda?

What part would you like to see religious leadersplay in debate and discussion about the big issues of today?