I've been thinking lately about the images we have of Jesus. Jesus was not as often pictured, some European posterchild for a western religion. Jesus was Jewish, born in Israel, living in the eastern culture of first century Judaism. He thought in those term, and spoke in those terms, to people who clearly saw life and reality in those terms. We need to read the words of Jesus Hebraically, not through a western mindset. For us to take the words of Jesus out of that cultural context is to miss the revolutionary nature of his teachings.
Case in point... Luke 15.
Luke 15 is one large section of teachings. They are not three individual stories, but three stories beautifully building off of each other - resulting in a powerful punchline [one that I have heard very, very few teachers ever discuss]. Verses 1-3 set the stage for these teachings. The text tells us that sinners and tax collectors were flocking to Jesus to be with him and listen to his teachings. This really got to the Pharisees and religious scholars of the day. "He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends."
You see, the Pharisees were up in arms about Jesus being with sinners - but why? The Pharisees, contrary to popular belief, were passionate followers of God. Some scholars believe that of all the sects within Judaism, Jesus would have been most sympathetic and aligned with the Pharisees. They were people who were looking forward to the return of God's Messiah to establish the kingdom of God. They were people who wanted to live the right way, and have their lives set them apart in this world. Their deepest desire was to live life in such a way that God was honored in all they did and said. They believed that God's kingdom was coming, but to usher it in - God's people [the nation of Israel] needed to be holy and live a life of holiness. For them, holiness was the key. To that end, they devised rules and regulations that would help the nation of Israel live a life of holiness. The issue was... "sinners". For the Pharisees, sinners were the ones that were keeping Gods kingdom from becoming a reality. If we could just get everyone to do the right thing - then God's kingdom would come.
So Jesus is a friend to sinners... to these people who supposedly are keeping the kingdom away, enemies of God's kingdom.
In verses 4-10, Jesus tells two stories. Both explore the value of that which was "lost", resulting in a passionate search to recover that which was "lost". God cares about all of humanity - the "found", the "lost" and searching as well. God sees value in every person no matter who they are or what they have done. God sees dignity and value in every human being... enough that he pursues every one with his love.
The last story is where things get really interesting. A son leaves the father, goes though his entire inheritance, awakens to what is really real in life and decides to return home. His father is there, with open arms, welcoming him home. The son begins to confess his inadequacy to the father - but the father is not even listening. The son is home and they begin to party! [For those who say God is not up for a good party, you might want to re-re-read the Scriptures on the feasts and festivals.]
Anyway... that seems to be where most people end the story, which does deliver a powerful truth about God's love for humankind, but there's more in the text.
The older son comes and complains - I've been with you and you haven't treated me this way. "This son of yours" is the term he uses for his brother. He's so insensed that he is not even willing to see that this is his own brother. The older brother cannot believe the love and grace that is shown "this son of yours". How could you love him after all that he has done to you? Even more, how come you are treating him this way? What about me?
The reply of the father at the end of the text is the bombshell. "We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found." Did you see it... "this brother of yours".
The scandal of the story is not necessarily in the love shown by the father to the son, amazing as it is. The scandal is that the older brother has missed the relationship he has with his brother. He cannot see that this is his brother. He is so focused on himself that he cannot even feel the joy of a brother being found alive.
For so long I've heard people focus on the older brother's inability to offer grace to the younger brother - and that is true. But there's another layer of reality happening here. The older brother has fogotten the dignity of the younger brother. He has missed the relationship he has, one of being an equal in the eyes of his father - and so it was with the Pharisees.
The Pharisees not only had missed the ability to offer love and grace to others - at the very core of their being, they had missed that these people they had labeled "sinners", these people who were the enemies of God's kingdom - were none other that "these brothers of yours". All of humanity has dignity and worth in the eyes of God. All humanity are linked together as "brother and sisters", creations of the Master Creator - loved by God, sought after by God, celebrated over by God.
Rather than label others, let's reach out to connect all people to their Creator.
There's a par-tay coming... can you hear it?
I take back everything I've ever said about you being a heretic! Great post! Love you, even though I am the "older brother!"
Posted by: Robin | April 21, 2005 at 01:24 PM
Awesome post! You have such great perspective on things. Thank you for sharing God's revealings to you. I truly value your perspective because it it researched and well thought out. Thank you!!!
Posted by: Stephanie | April 22, 2005 at 01:33 PM