"he has just shown me something about this parable that I’ve never seen before, and now that I see it, I can’t unsee it"
It wasn't until a few years ago when I decided to pick up the Bible for myself, tossing literally everything I'd been told about it in my childhood out the window and viewing it with open curiosity, that I noticed this connection. And I haven't been able to unsee it, either. Like the question is "who is my neighbor," and my white-ass, middle-class, often patronizingly holier-than-thou childhood congregation tried to tell me that the answer to that question was "those less fortunate than you." But in reality, Jesus' answer is "those who help you when you're fucking desperate." Because it's all well and good to say "ah, yes, the lesson of this parable is to help those in need," which is true enough. But I'm pretty sure Jesus is a little more radical than that. I think that's part ONE of the lesson. Part TWO is: "you ain't always gonna be all that and a box of crackers, and sometimes being a neighbor looks like accepting help with gratitude from the asshole you can't fucking stand from the wrong side of town." In true Jesus fashion, he is asked "Who is my neighbor" and dodges that question by providing an answer to a different question: "How can I BE a neighbor?" This guy.... Ugh.... Jesus is that annoying friend who irritates the fuck outta me with the way they're always right.
I’m always trying to remember a best ending. Sometimes anger gets in the way. Sometimes fear. Sometimes naivety. I guess like that old anti smoking ad, I just have to remember to never quit quitting. Grace and hope and one step at a time?
I've just finished Amy-Jill Levine's book, "The Misunderstood Jew The church and the scandal of the Jewish Jesus". She presented a perspective on this parable that is stretching - just like your statement, "We might instead consider that Jesus and the lawyer are not at odds, but are wrestling with making meaning together as two Jewish people wrestling with scripture.. Jesus, by introducing the parable is seeking to inspire a person from his tribe to wonder how his imagination could be renewed" She challenges us to see more than we have previously considered. Thank you for this perspective and reflection.
I have read this message before, but came upon it tonight as I was looking for new words to ponder - and found this post - and read it with new eyes. And I will come back again and again to read them. God is using these words to melt my heart.
“We might instead consider that Jesus and the lawyer are not at odds, but are wrestling with making meaning together...”
My whole life, every time I have heard or read this scripture, I have framed the man talking with Jesus as one who wants to trick him or discredit him. I am so appreciative of this vision of the man being one who truly wants to learn with him. The space between Jesus and the man isn’t a battleground (like I have always thought), but hallowed ground where they wrestle a vision of who God is into reality.
Wow! My mind is literally blown. I've been a Jewish Christian most of my life and never heard this idea of the perspective of the beaten person. I'm also remembering that even in the Hebrew scriptures when the rabbi's and their students would get together they would read a portion of the torah, or whatever they would read and discuss what it could possibly mean? I love the thought that Jesus and the lawyer could just be having that kind of conversation. Thank you so much!!!
"You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one"
Wow….that was powerful and a superbly meaningful question posed. So much to absorb and ponder.
"he has just shown me something about this parable that I’ve never seen before, and now that I see it, I can’t unsee it"
It wasn't until a few years ago when I decided to pick up the Bible for myself, tossing literally everything I'd been told about it in my childhood out the window and viewing it with open curiosity, that I noticed this connection. And I haven't been able to unsee it, either. Like the question is "who is my neighbor," and my white-ass, middle-class, often patronizingly holier-than-thou childhood congregation tried to tell me that the answer to that question was "those less fortunate than you." But in reality, Jesus' answer is "those who help you when you're fucking desperate." Because it's all well and good to say "ah, yes, the lesson of this parable is to help those in need," which is true enough. But I'm pretty sure Jesus is a little more radical than that. I think that's part ONE of the lesson. Part TWO is: "you ain't always gonna be all that and a box of crackers, and sometimes being a neighbor looks like accepting help with gratitude from the asshole you can't fucking stand from the wrong side of town." In true Jesus fashion, he is asked "Who is my neighbor" and dodges that question by providing an answer to a different question: "How can I BE a neighbor?" This guy.... Ugh.... Jesus is that annoying friend who irritates the fuck outta me with the way they're always right.
I’m always trying to remember a best ending. Sometimes anger gets in the way. Sometimes fear. Sometimes naivety. I guess like that old anti smoking ad, I just have to remember to never quit quitting. Grace and hope and one step at a time?
I've just finished Amy-Jill Levine's book, "The Misunderstood Jew The church and the scandal of the Jewish Jesus". She presented a perspective on this parable that is stretching - just like your statement, "We might instead consider that Jesus and the lawyer are not at odds, but are wrestling with making meaning together as two Jewish people wrestling with scripture.. Jesus, by introducing the parable is seeking to inspire a person from his tribe to wonder how his imagination could be renewed" She challenges us to see more than we have previously considered. Thank you for this perspective and reflection.
I have read this message before, but came upon it tonight as I was looking for new words to ponder - and found this post - and read it with new eyes. And I will come back again and again to read them. God is using these words to melt my heart.
“We might instead consider that Jesus and the lawyer are not at odds, but are wrestling with making meaning together...”
My whole life, every time I have heard or read this scripture, I have framed the man talking with Jesus as one who wants to trick him or discredit him. I am so appreciative of this vision of the man being one who truly wants to learn with him. The space between Jesus and the man isn’t a battleground (like I have always thought), but hallowed ground where they wrestle a vision of who God is into reality.
Thanks for this.
Wow! My mind is literally blown. I've been a Jewish Christian most of my life and never heard this idea of the perspective of the beaten person. I'm also remembering that even in the Hebrew scriptures when the rabbi's and their students would get together they would read a portion of the torah, or whatever they would read and discuss what it could possibly mean? I love the thought that Jesus and the lawyer could just be having that kind of conversation. Thank you so much!!!