Arulvakku

29.09.10 ANGELS ASCENDING AND DESCENDING

Posted under Reflections on September 28th, 2010 by

  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, "Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him." Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." (Jn 1:47-51)

 

 

Nathanael believed in Jesus and exclaimed him to be the Son of God because Jesus recognized him even before he came to meet Jesus. That was, Jesus had played the role of a prophet (prophet in the sense of prediction). But the very same Nathanael did not believe when Philip told him about Jesus. In stead he questioned Philip saying ‘what good can come from Nazareth?’

 

Philip was assured that he would see greater things. He would see many miracles wrought by Jesus.  The greater things that Jesus assured him would make him realize that Jesus was more than a prophet. Here Jesus bore witness to himself.

 

The greatest thing is that the sky would be opened. Heaven that was closed to man so far would now be opened in Jesus. The angels ascending and descending would mean that a link would be established between heaven and earth (The same idea is found in Gen 28:12, 17). Jesus would become the gateway to heaven, in a sense, Jesus would become the new Bethel (abode of God). 

28.09.10 JOURNEY

Posted under Reflections on September 27th, 2010 by

When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?" Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village. (Lk 9:51-56)

 

 

Jews in Galilee made a journey to Jerusalem: a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This would take three to four days of walk. As they walk along, the Jews would narrate the great pilgrimage: exodus. As they walk along they would also tell other biblical stories: stories about kings and prophets and the dealings of God with the people.

 

Luke the Evangelist wants to tell us that Jesus is making his journey.  This Journey is to end in Jerusalem (the Promised Land for Jesus) where Jesus would fulfil his ‘exodus’.  Jerusalem is his goal. Travelling in obedience to God’s plan is the pilgrimage for Luke. And this is true for every follower (Christian) of Jesus.

 

When they meet with opposition, James and John want to call fire from heaven. They would be right and in the same position like prophet Elijah (  2Kg 1:10-12). But this is not the way of Jesus. Jesus’ entry is not a triumphant one clearing all resistance and opposition. Jesus’ journey is a journey of the kingdom with the message of Love.    

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