Imagine a world in which you could find dozens of people who claimed to speak for God. Imagine that these people had tremendous followings and exerted their influence on the political process around them. Imagine that these people had nefarious motives for power, prestige and glory.
Okay, maybe you don't have to overtax your imagination with this one, because we live in such a world today. Religious leaders of every stripe can command, through the internet and other media, a legion of followers from a basement studio. Youtube, Twitter and Facebook have only democratized this kind of power. In other words, you no longer have to be a billionaire to afford the kind of coverage a viral video can give you for free. Even as I write this, a viral video called "I hate religion, but love Jesus" has generated a following for a slam poet dedicated to Christ.
The Pharisees lived in such a world. Since 400 years had passed without revelation from God (in Scripture form), so-called prophets were rising up all the time. Some would lead the people into armed conflict, others radical departure from society, and others greater fidelity to King Herod and his Roman handlers. The Pharisees were a more careful lot. If you were going to be a teacher who claimed authority, you had to claim it with a background. Drawing on the justice codes of the Law, claims to authority had to be met with witnesses.
Good thing, right? 1 John tells us to test the spirits and to exercise discernment when someone claims to come from God. Jesus warns the disciples over and over again to watch for false messiahs. So why does it seem that Jesus is so hard on the Pharisees for doing what He would tell His disciples to do?
Jesus lays out for the Pharisees what would bear witness to His words. That includes being lifted up (on a cross) and going away (ascension). In those two moments, the Pharisees will witness that Jesus' witness is the Father. The resurrection and the ascension of Jesus Christ, among many other things, are God's stamp of approval on the words and work of Jesus Christ. But before then, the book of John lays out plenty of signs and wonders that Jesus shows to prove His connection to God.
The Pharisees, however, refuse to see these acts. They turn their legitimate need for discernment into a basis of false confidence. They turn their heritage of faith into an excuse to exclude and disobey. Tragically, this conversation turns ugly in verses 31-58. It ends with Jesus claiming to be God ("Before Abraham was, I AM") and the Jews attempting to stone Him. Jesus was indeed a divisive figure.
But what about today? Today we have the witness of the New Testament and of God's continuing work in the world. The question I ask myself is, will I look to the Light of the World to see it, or will I close my eyes to it like the Pharisees?
No comments:
Post a Comment