Evil COULD be done by individuals–but even still, our personal errors are but a reflection of a Greater System. Racism. Materialism. Selfishness. Children, it is said, learn from their surroundings. My own observations are that even though we’re born with some genetic predispositions, our bad habits and vulgar speech are learned from the surrounding family and culture. So in order to bring in the Better World, oppressive systems need to be uncovered, examined and given an alternative. Lessons for the upcoming weekend address these Evil Systems and present a Better Other Way in our journey to perfection.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 speaks of the New Covenant which God is writing on the hearts of Israel and Judah–and their spiritual descendants, I hope! The prophet was disgusted with so much selfish living surrounding him, and he introduces a new covenant as an alternative to the prevailing system. We who have inherited Jeremiah’s vocation will be well-advised to keep identifying the oppression of whatever System is current; and to keep offering God’s pleasant alternative. “Freedom” is not doing just what feels good, but is an acknowledgement that Creation is a corporate and ongoing endeavor. Knowing and being known by God is having God’s law/presence etched indelibly on the heart, despite the cultural scribbling awaiting erasure…
The task of the High Priest was to enter the holiest spot in the house of God bearing the “most crucial human need. [Hebrews 5:5-10] envisions Christ as being forever in this mode.” (Paul Simpson Duke, in FEASTING on the WORD, B 2:137) The author of Hebrews says that Christ’s perfection was gained through the Cross, a danger to us preachers who try to dispel Adoptionism. Yet there should be an exploration of Priesthood, a term to which many will resonate. What does the person of Jesus carry to God on our behalf?
The Gospel, John 12:20-33, is a bit out of context since it comes AFTER the Triumphant Entry of Palm Sunday. It’s here today because it includes Jesus’ announcement that The Time Has Come: now the whole world (!) has seen his role as savior (besides teacher, healer and dispenser of miracles). “The ruler of this world will be driven out”, which is to say that the Tempter who personifies Evil has at last been identified and deposed. The prevailing System of violence and exploitation has been seen for what it really is, the road to death. “Once we have seen the System for what it is, we begin to be set free from its captivating ways.” (Charles L. Campbell, op.cit.)
We recently watched “The Beginning of Batman”–lots of hitting, flame-throwing, car crashes. And of course the Hero saves the day (“biff-bam!”) AND gets the girl. Violence begets a Happy Ending, at least until the next bat-signal. Walter Wink call this sort of stuff “the myth of redemptive violence”: hit ’em hard enough and Justice will prevail, Marshall Dillon! That’s what The System says. Some Hellenized Jews came to Jerusalem for Passover and wanted to see Jesus. Evidently tired of systemic myths, they were ready to look at what God REALLY was about! May it so be for all in your purview…
In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King
My intersection with Scriptures assigned to the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com
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