Character Matters

Character matters — I think that is maybe one of the main messages of the gospel lectionary this week (John 1.47-end).

 

The text opens with Nathanael coming towards Jesus who looked up and exclaimed, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” (47)

 

What a commendation that is. A person with no deceit, a person who is honest, genuine and straightforward — a great character.

 

In my last two blogs I commented about how apt the texts were in the light of the upcoming election with all the lies, half-truths and derogatory remarks being made with no thought to the harm such accusations cause. One only needs to look at the Haitian community to see the harm caused by lies told for political gain. I think this opening phrase is also very apt for this particular time.

 

I want to look a little more at Nathanael. It is assumed that Nathanael in John’s gospel is the Bartholomew of the synoptics. The scriptures give no direct link, but the comparison of the lists of apostles has led to that understanding. It is often thought that Nathanael is the given name while Bartholomew was the surname.

 

Today, I want to ponder only on this first encounter with Jesus. To do so, I want to back up a little and set the text in context. Nathanael was invited to come and see Jesus by his friend Philip. It is clear they were both versed in the scriptures, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law, and about whom the prophets wrote — Jesus of Nazareth” (45)

 

“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” (46) was the response. It is here I want to pause and dwell for a moment. It is quite a response showing blatantly the prejudice against people from Nazareth. Nazareth was a tiny place; Nathanael was from Cana and was likely emphasizing a commonly held view.

 

So where do such prejudices come from? They are deeply ingrained and often held without people realizing they hold them. Prejudices come from our family, our upbringing, our social circle, our culture and, more recently, from social media.

 

Often, it is easy to see where a prejudice is coming from in others. I read or hear something, I recognize the bias and refuse to accept it until I check it out — especially those opinions on social media!

 

However, most of the prejudice we hold are unconscious. Others are needed to open our eyes to them and reveal them for the bias they hold. That is exactly what happened to Nathanael. He was challenged by his friend, Philip, “Come and see.” (46). 

 

A short sentence, but a profound one and a very important one. Those few words issue a challenge — don’t remain with your prejudice, Nathanael but come and check it out. I don’t know what went on in Nathanael’s mind and heart, the text offers no detail or insight. 

 

Facing our prejudices is often like that, a short phrase or action challenges and everything changes. It is like a veil has fallen away. There is no going back — I’m sure, like me, you can look back and see times when this has happened in your lives. These are significant moments.

 

Everything changed for Nathanael, he laid aside the deep-seated prejudice and went to meet Jesus. And was met by that wonderful phrase, “an Israelite in whom there is no deceit”. 

 

Nathanael was honest, open and straightforward. He had received the challenge to his innate prejudice, accepted the challenge and moved beyond it revealing the character of the person he was. Character matters!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow Me!

The lectionary passage is Mark 8.27-end. I have talked before about the unique structure of the Gospel of Mark, but it is worth noting again.

 

The first half (1:1 to 8:26) is all about the ministry of Jesus. There are no birth stories or childhood tales in the Gospel of Mark.  The gospel opens with the words “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah …” followed by the appearance of John the Baptizer, who is shown to be a fulfillment of a prophecy by Isaiah (1:2-3). After which the verses are full of miracles, healings and teachings on how to live. The stories come thick and fast, short, concise tales one after the other — blind people see, women and children are healed, multitudes are fed, caring for people supersedes the sabbath, the disciples are sent out to expand the message of Jesus and Jesus’ mission is shown to be for all. 

 

Mark 8: 27 (and the first verse of today’s text) is a turning point as the journey to the cross begins. Peter declares Jesus is the Messiah and from there on the journey moves away from Galilee and towards Jerusalem. The focus of the second half is less on public ministry and more on preparation for what is to come. It is worth noting that both sections of the Gospel of Mark begin with a declaration that Jesus is the Messiah. 

 

Interestingly, immediately after Peter’s declaration, Jesus’ response is to “sternly order them not to tell anyone about him.” (30). I wonder why this was as it is a departure from the focus of the preceding chapters when the disciples were sent out to proclaim the good news. Perhaps, it was merely because the word “Messiah” was loaded with expectations of someone who would arise to lead the people into victory and thus create a different mission for Jesus.  But I prefer to think that it is more about revelation. Recognising Jesus as Messiah was about something deeper than could be told in words, is that sense of inward knowing. 

 

As the text continues Jesus begins the preparation of his followers by talking about suffering and dying. Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and issued a challenge, “if any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (8:35).

 

I always like to highlight the impact this phrase would have had on the crowds hearing it. It would cause a ripple of shock and horror. In that society the word “cross” was not spoken, it was shameful, it was disgusting. Cicero (106-43 BCE) said that the mere mention or thought of the word cross was unworthy of a Roman citizen or free person. (Cic.Rab.Perd. 5:16)

 

Not only is Jesus uttering a word that should not be uttered but is stating that the only way to become a follower is to embrace something which is shameful, degrading and excruciatingly painful. Jesus is asking a lot of the crowds who follow him.

 

I think it is important to remember as one reads passages like this, that by the time this gospel was penned (approx. 60 CE) Jesus’ followers were already undergoing persecution which is thought to have started 35 CE. So, these words would bring a measure of comfort and encouragement that this was to be expected. This was the price for following Jesus and the reward would be reaped when Jesus “comes in glory of the Father-Mother with the angels.” (38)

 

I think it is difficult to think of a contemporary application of these words for today. In a sense, there was a simplicity about the message although definite not an easy one. — 

 

Receive revelation that Jesus was Messiah, 

Choose to follow Jesus 

Accept that the decision may cause persecution and loss of life 

Look forward to future reward. 

 

It is not so straightforward these days. This has been highlighted by the current political situation. It seems that it is no longer receiving the revelation that Jesus is Messiah that determines whether one is a follower of Jesus. It comes with a whole host of expectations — this week I got told by several people (in extreme and very unkind terms) that I was not a Christian simple because I voiced that I thought one presidential candidate was “fantastic”! 

 

I know others who have had the same experience. It makes me feel sad, somehow it feels like something important has been lost when religion becomes tangled with politics. I’m not sure what can be done about it. I have no answers. Simply a determination to speak for what I think is right and just but to treat those who disagree with kindness. 

 

A Warning!

I am reading the lectionary gospel (Mark 7.1-8, 14-15, 21-23) and epistle (James 1. 17 to end) in tandem today. The passages are connected, they address the same thing. They are not uplifting, maybe a little weird with the potential for condemnation of both self and others. And the last thing I want to blog about is a topic that leaves people feeling low and perhaps guilty that they aren’t good enough. I see no profit in that whatsoever.

 

Both these passages talk about things that one needs to rid oneself of. Having lived quite a lot of years now, I know one thing — no one is perfect! All will fail and do things they regret both in the past and likely in the future. This is part of our humanness. God created humanity with all the wonderful potential for living our own lives and making our own mistakes. A popular adage tells that “We learn by our mistakes”, and there is a lot of truth in that.

 

Yet, I think there is a warning to be heeded in these two passages. A warning that is perhaps more needed now than usual as the US moves into a pre-election period. The warning in both texts is simply that it is what utters forth from a person that causes harm.

 

It saddens me a lot to hear and read ugly words that are intended to harm, belittle and incite others to hatred. Surely, there must be a way to disagree on policies without hating the person who is voicing them. 

 

Of course, I know nothing much will change over the next couple of months, but I can refuse to be part of it. And, I can tell you there has been quite a few times lately when I have been tempted to forward a clever cartoon or meme showing a candidate in bad light. (I’m only human after all!)  But I have resisted sharing them.

 

Now don’t hear me wrongly. I’m not in any way suggesting that our political situation should be ignored. This is an important election; it determines the future of this country. I’m all for supporting an issue, for speaking against injustice and for working for those who are marginalized. That is an important part of our calling to serve which is part of our community rule — to love, to serve, to forgive.

 

It is important that a way is found where that can be done without making personal inflammatory attacks on someone’s looks or behavior. Over the next few weeks, I want to make a commitment to doing that. 

 

Will I fail at times — probably! 

 

But that is okay, I’ll learn, pick myself up and continue, all the time thanking God for my humanness.