The Gospel According to John – 2018.03.04
Corruption
The gospel of the day moves the reader in
different directions.
The writers had a mix of motivations. On the
one hand they wanted to express the understanding that the death and
resurrection of Jesus was foretold by him, it was known, and it was in keeping
with God’s plan.
The Gospel writers mixed in with a commentary
on the social corruption of the day, with the intention of distancing Jesus and
the disciples, and the burgeoning Christian movement from it. In this regard
the Gospel for today is a piece of propaganda.
It is unnecessary for the writers to comment
on the Jewish Passover, unless they were writing to people who were not
themselves Jewish, they were also desiring to distance Christianity from its
Jewish origins.
Let us be clear, Jess was a Jew, and the
Passover to him, was simply the Passover.
Be mindful, the commentary on the corruption
in the temple is not without merit. There was corruption, there has always been
corruption in the priesthood, both before the time of Jesus and after.
The organization of religion is as much a
matter of commerce as it is of spirituality, perhaps more. This just criticism
must be applied equally to the entire community of believers, in all times, and
in all places.
Destroy this sanctuary and in three days I
will raise it up
Jesus took with him Peter and James and John
and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone by themselves. There
in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became dazzlingly white,
whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with
Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus: ‘Rabbi,’ he
said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for
you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say; they were
so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and there came a
voice from the cloud, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then
suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only
Jesus.
As they came down from the mountain he warned
them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen
from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves
they discussed what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean.
3rd Sunday of Lent
