Tuesday of the
Fifth Week of Lent
(Numbers 21:4-9; John 8:21-30)
The Reverend William Sloan Coffin Jr., a prominent peace
activist, used to say that he had a “lover’s quarrel with America.” He served the country as a CIA agent but
thought some of its international policies were wrong-headed. We might see Jesus in today’s gospel as
having “a lover’s quarrel” with Judaism.
Jesus is in the midst of a debate with the Jews. He is, of course, Jewish himself but is
opposing standard Jewish teaching. He
tells them that he has much to say to condemn current Jewish doctrine. He concludes that when he is lifted up on the
cross, the world will know that his criticisms of Judaism are just.
We should realize that the dialogue in this gospel was
framed long after Jesus’ death. Christians
and Jews were much at odds because of Roman persecution of both. John, the evangelist, writes as if Jesus
defies his own people. This is likely an
exaggeration. But it is true that Jews
cannot accept Jesus’ divinity as we do. A
central issue is Jesus’ death on the cross.
For Jews it is the ultimate stumbling block. “How could God allow
himself to be crucified?” they ask. For
us Jesus’ allowing himself to be crucified in obedience to God, his Father, indicates
his divine nature.
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