Tuesday 18 July 2017

Psalm: Psalm37:12-29

Background

Today's passage continues a narrativethat began at the chapter of chapter 7. Jesus had come down toJerusalem, even though he was something of a divisive figure amonghis contemporaries (John 7:12). Some figures in authority even wishto kill him (John 7:1), seemingly because he has claimedthat God is his ather (John5:18). Despite this danger, Jesus has boldly gone to the mostpublic space in the city, the temple, and spoken openly about hisdivine authority to teach and to heal (John7:14-18). The crowd are amazed at his learning but also openlyquestion his authority to speak in the way he does. Our passagetoday continues that dialogue between Jesus and the crowd.

Much of the debate in today's passagecentres on the question of whether or not Jesus is the Messiah(verses 26-27, 31). The term comes from Hebrew 'masiah', which istranslated into Greek as 'christos',from which we get the term'Christ'. Literally, it means one who has been anointed, as Davidwas by the prophet Samuel when God chose him to be king (1Samuel 16:13). By the time of Jesus, though, the term hadacquired a huge amount of additional significance and meaning. Ithad come to refer to a person (or persons) who would somehowliberate Israel. This might mean politically and militarily fromRoman domination, or it might signal the end of the world as peopleknew it, or something completely different. The Messiah might be aroyal figure, or a priestly one, or perhaps Moses brought back tolife. The debate and confusion amongst the crowd in today's versesreflects this lack of consensus, while displaying something of the'Messianic fervour' of the time - the popular belief that theMessiah would be coming soon.

Towards the end of today's passage, thecrowd became confused as to what Jesus meant when he said he wasgoing somewhere they would not be able to find him (verse 34). Webelieve Jesus was referring to his ultimate ascension to heaven (Acts1:6-11). However, they wondered if it meant that he was goingto one of the many Jewish communities that had sprung up around theMediterranean, in the Greek-speaking world (verse 35).

To Ponder

• How can you recognise someone who has been truly sent by God,and speaks on God's behalf?

• What sort of Messiah was Jesus?

• What can be learnt from the rejection of Jesus by hiscontemporaries?