Arulvakku

14.04.11 JESUS AND HIS CONTEXT

 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death." (So) the Jews said to him, "Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.' Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?" Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.' You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad. So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM." So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area. (Jn 8:51-59)

 

 

Words of Jesus are again, another context for reflection. Fulfilling the words of Jesus helps a man to receive eternal life. Here life and death are put in opposition. People do not understand what Jesus speaks. Jesus speaks in the context of the next world. He speaks of eternal life and eternal death (in the context of the next world). But the people understand in the worldly context.

 

Abraham and the prophets died like anyone. They faced death and their tombs are among them. So what Jesus speaks are out context and speaks like a possessed man. That is to say that he is unrealistic. People have proof for their views and they think on this earthy context. They are not able to pull themselves up to the context in which Jesus is and Jesus speaks from.

 

Jesus further confirms that he speaks from the Father who is God. All what he says is from God and only what God has revealed. He goes on to affirm that he is and he was with the Father and hence he is before Abraham and the other prophets. This was a total blasphemy. The Jews wanted to stone Jesus to death for this.