I had a teacher in seminary who used to remind us that often when Christians read or hear the Bible read aloud, they imagined that they are standing alongside Jesus, or maybe just behind him. Either way, nodding their heads because – unlike the “others” Jesus is addressing, we Christians already understand and embody whatever he is trying to teach the crowd. But, as my professor said, “We don’t.”
I thought of her this morning as I read today’s Lenten readings. In John 5:39-44, Jesus is speaking to a crowd. Imagine, as you read, that you are not among his disciples, but that you are in the crowd, curious about what Jesus has to say to you. “You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know that you do not have the Lord God in you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God?” As another friend from seminary used to say, “Yikes!” Something to think about: When Jesus speaks and we feel scolded or challenged – not affirmed or praised, and especially not smug – then I think we are being schooled in how to live not only at Lent but for the rest of our days. Amen.
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