John's Gospel was written some time after Jesus died. It is centred
around a number of signs and miracles attached to "I am " statements-I
am the good shepherd, I am the bread of life and so on. Jesus in John 12
v20-36 is approached through Philip by some God fearing Greeks, who want
to see Jesus much as people would ask an aide to see Madonna or
President Obama, to interview him! They are on pilgrimage, a habit practised by Muslims and others
as a way of increasing their faith. The Canterbury Tales is a
description of such a pilgrimage in medieval times and today people
pilgrimage to Iona, to Walsingham, to Jerusalem and Rome. Jesus knows that these Greeks signify
a turning point, a sign of the end stage of his time on earth, the
beginning of his journey to the cross and resurrection. Even the
non-Jews the Gentiles are following him! The crowd and the disciples
misunderstand what he must do, his calling. They are expecting a saviour
who will live with them forever. Interestingly Jesus turns away from
the Greeks and their demand. Instead he talks about glorifying God (a
theme in John's gospel) and harks back to Daniel's image in the Old Testament of the Son of
Man. Seeds only are produced by a dead plant and so it is that this
plant must die to produce Gods seed, an eco God! We all know what it
means to lose your soul (Jung calls it Psyche), to be distracted by what
is not really important and to die within. Our real self, not the one
we present to the world is fed, but our soul is dying. Jesus encourages
the crowd to take up their cross like dissidents and carry it and if
necessary to be die for what is really important. This is not a religion
for the faint hearted and some turn away. Its too much to ask. Jesus is
troubled as he sees what is before him..What can I say to you...save me
from this hour? But he accepts the cup of suffering...Like Moses lifted
the serpent up on the stick for the healing of the Israelites (still
used today as a symbol of medicine) so Jesus will be lifted up for the
healing of the world. The time is urgent. Life is fragile and can be
taken from us in a second. Put your trust in the light you can see
rather than stumbling in the dark!
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Lent for Ordinary People-Lent 5 2012 John 12 Passion Sunday
John's Gospel was written some time after Jesus died. It is centred
around a number of signs and miracles attached to "I am " statements-I
am the good shepherd, I am the bread of life and so on. Jesus in John 12
v20-36 is approached through Philip by some God fearing Greeks, who want
to see Jesus much as people would ask an aide to see Madonna or
President Obama, to interview him! They are on pilgrimage, a habit practised by Muslims and others
as a way of increasing their faith. The Canterbury Tales is a
description of such a pilgrimage in medieval times and today people
pilgrimage to Iona, to Walsingham, to Jerusalem and Rome. Jesus knows that these Greeks signify
a turning point, a sign of the end stage of his time on earth, the
beginning of his journey to the cross and resurrection. Even the
non-Jews the Gentiles are following him! The crowd and the disciples
misunderstand what he must do, his calling. They are expecting a saviour
who will live with them forever. Interestingly Jesus turns away from
the Greeks and their demand. Instead he talks about glorifying God (a
theme in John's gospel) and harks back to Daniel's image in the Old Testament of the Son of
Man. Seeds only are produced by a dead plant and so it is that this
plant must die to produce Gods seed, an eco God! We all know what it
means to lose your soul (Jung calls it Psyche), to be distracted by what
is not really important and to die within. Our real self, not the one
we present to the world is fed, but our soul is dying. Jesus encourages
the crowd to take up their cross like dissidents and carry it and if
necessary to be die for what is really important. This is not a religion
for the faint hearted and some turn away. Its too much to ask. Jesus is
troubled as he sees what is before him..What can I say to you...save me
from this hour? But he accepts the cup of suffering...Like Moses lifted
the serpent up on the stick for the healing of the Israelites (still
used today as a symbol of medicine) so Jesus will be lifted up for the
healing of the world. The time is urgent. Life is fragile and can be
taken from us in a second. Put your trust in the light you can see
rather than stumbling in the dark!
Winter
