My 2016 Lenten Journey--Day 40

March 20, 2016 ~ Day 40

My 2016 Lenten Journey: Exploring the Gospels to discover what following Jesus and becoming more like him would look like? ‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

Matthew 12:1-21 ~ The Sign of Jonah is a clear messianic reference. We can find ample evidence in the Gospels of Jesus’ self-awareness as the Servant of Yahweh, represented in the Servant Songs of Isaiah; however, this is Matthew’s only report of Jesus’ saying anything related to his burial. At his trial his accusers refer to his statement about destroying the Temple and rebuilding it in three days; however, of the four Gospels, only John puts that statement on the lips of Jesus.

It goes beyond the scope of these devotional meditations, but it is possible that the three-days-in-the belly-of-the-fish/three-days-in-the-belly-of-the-earth statement is added by the evangelist, who already has witnessed the resurrection. Without verse 40, the discourse moves smoothly to connect Jonah, not with the fish but with the repentance of the people of Nineveh, who repented as a result of Jonah’s preaching.

Two points: (1) Nineveh was the capital city of Israel’s bitterest enemy; yet, the people repented and God spared them. Thus, the people of Nineveh and the Queen of the South will rise up to judge the unrepentant current generation of Israel. (2) In the previous chapter Jesus says virtually the same thing to Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, condemning them for their lack of repentance in comparison to pagan cities, Sidon and Tyre.

In context, notwithstanding the reference to his own burial, the current passage is at least a continuation of the diatribe against those who cling rigidly to their laws for their justification and who refuse to consider any possibility that the reach of God’s love extends beyond Israel.

Jesus concludes, “…something greater than Jonah … (and) … Solomon is here.” The prophets of Israel left little doubt that God’s embrace was intended for “all nations”, and that Israel was called to be the beacon of light that would draw “all nations” to God. Those with influence, however, never fully acknowledged that “something greater than Jonah and Solomon,” namely, the universal intent of God’s embrace and Israel’s servant role as the medium of that embrace. In essence, they saw God as their private genie.

Is my relationship with God too private? Am I missing the bigger picture of God’s universal love?

Whoever has seen me has seen the Father (John 14:9 NRSV)

‘And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32 NRSV).

That's the way it looks through the flawed glass that is my world view.

Together in the Walk,

Jim