Saturday 16 April 2011

Background

Jesus was a Jew and John's Gospel is more than a little harshtowards Jews.

Jewish people around him responded in different ways to him. Many"believed in him" (verse 45). Some were his disciples. Then therewere those like Martha, Mary and Lazarus for whom he had a speciallove (verse 36). And there were authority figures whoplanned to arrest him or "put him to death" (verses 57, 53).

One authority figure, the high priest Caiaphas, prophesied aboutJesus that he "was about to die for the nation, and not for thenation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God"(verses 51, 52).

There were those Jewish people who accepted and welcomed Jesus, andthere were those who were troubled by him and rejected him. Therewas a fear too that "everyone [would] believe in him, and theRomans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation"(verse 48).

So within just a few verses all these different Jewish responses toJesus are captured. He is a friend and companion to many of hisJewish contemporaries but also a threat, religiously as well aspolitically by the authorities.

Jesus had a public ministry of preaching, teaching and healing. Heloved going to festivals like the Passover (verse 56). But he alsofound it difficult to walk about "openly" and spent much time inquiet wilderness spots (verse 54).

Jesus was an outspoken and controversial public figure. In today'sworld he would be a celebrity. And people either love or hate suchfigures. There was not a uniform acceptance or rejection of Jesusby Jews.

To Ponder

Do you think John's Gospel is harsh towards Jews?In what ways?

Why do you think Jesus was seen as such a threatby the religious and political authorities of his day?