Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Healing the Blind Man Analysis
Healing the Blind Man Analysis
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
-These first few lines relate back to Nolans definition of solidarity. He stated that a group’s actions are identified as a whole. In this case, the family is the group, and the sin is the action . By asking Jesus if either the parents or the man sinned shows us that a whole family is responsible if one member sins.
3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
- Jesus explains that no one has sinned, but the man was born this way so God’s work can be put in his life.
6Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7"Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
- Jesus’ healing of the blind man was an act of compassion. Nolans definition for compassion is the human emotion that humans feel when they realize another person’s need. He also says that compassion is necessary for solidarity to exsist and for the Kingdom of God to be built here in our lives. By healing this man, Jesus was able to show this man the good of God, inviting him to spread the word of God to others.
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
-These first few lines relate back to Nolans definition of solidarity. He stated that a group’s actions are identified as a whole. In this case, the family is the group, and the sin is the action . By asking Jesus if either the parents or the man sinned shows us that a whole family is responsible if one member sins.
3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
- Jesus explains that no one has sinned, but the man was born this way so God’s work can be put in his life.
6Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7"Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
- Jesus’ healing of the blind man was an act of compassion. Nolans definition for compassion is the human emotion that humans feel when they realize another person’s need. He also says that compassion is necessary for solidarity to exsist and for the Kingdom of God to be built here in our lives. By healing this man, Jesus was able to show this man the good of God, inviting him to spread the word of God to others.
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind (John 9:1-12)
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
6Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7"Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No, he only looks like him." But he himself insisted, "I am the man."10"How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded.
11He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."
12"Where is this man?" they asked him. "I don't know," he said.
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
6Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7"Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No, he only looks like him." But he himself insisted, "I am the man."10"How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded.
11He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."
12"Where is this man?" they asked him. "I don't know," he said.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Chapter 9 Summary: The Kingdom and Solidarity
In chapter 9 of Jesus Before Christianity, The Kingdom and Solidarity focuses on the discussion of solidarity and it's part in the development and building of the Kingdom of God. The chapter starts out by Nolan talking about how solidarity is one of the most fundamental concepts in the bible. Solidarity, also known as collectivity by the Hebrew scholars, is a term used to describe the actions of a group or family that acts as a corporate being; the group acts as one, their actions are identified as a whole, much a like a team or group of people today.
The Jewish community, then in the time of Jesus and also today, have always displayed a great sense of solidarity. The basic unit of collectivity was the family. The family included the extended family and all relatives, blood or not. Nolan discusses how the family identified themselves as a whole and that actions done to one member of the family were felt by all. An eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth was the cornerstone of the family's or groups principles. We can associate this principle today with the Mafia or other gangs. The mafia image has been popularized in mainstream culture through films like "Goodfellas" and "The Godfather" series. These films show how solidarity and group identification can be taken to the extreme, nonetheless still great examples of solidarity in our world today. Many people today base their identities on loyalties and prejudices of race, nationality, culture, class, ancestry, political party, religion, and others.
One of the main points of this chapter that Nolan discusses is the differences in the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan. Both Kingdoms have solidarity and group collectivity, but they have fundamental differences in their ideas. Satan's Kingdom is based upon the exclusive and selfish solidarity of groups, where the Kingdom of God is based in the "all-inclusive" solidarity of the human race. Nolan then goes on to discuss how the "loving your enemy and your neighbor" is to experience group solidarity. Treating your enemy or neighbor as yourself is to experience group solidarity. Jesus extended his hand to all, outsiders and enemies, so we just try to do the same.
Another main point that Nolan brings up is the difference is reciprocal love and true solidarity. Loving someone who loves you back has no virtue. As Nolan states, "Jesus is appealing for an experience of solidarity with humankind, and experience that is non-exclusive, an experience that is not dependent on reciprocity because it includes even those who hate you, persecute you, or treat you badly." Jesus even abandoned the main solidarity to family to make those strangers and outcasts into his brothers and sisters. Jesus loved all people and had solidarity for all humankind. He loved everyone for what they were, and he loved everyone he met one at a time, for their own person.
Nolan closes the chapter with the definition and explanation of compassion. Compassion is the human emotion that all humans feel when they realize another person's need. The parable of the Good Samaritan shows how compassion can be moving and create action. Compassion is necessary for solidarity to exist and for the Kingdom of God to be built here in our lives.
The Role of Suffering and Death: The Chapter 16 Summary
Chapter sixteen in the book "Jesus Before Christianity" talks about the role of suffering and death Jesus' teachings. Suffering was a main component in Jesus' teachings. In order to get into the "kingdom" one must give up all of one's posessions, leave home, and family. One must deny one's self and be willing to suffer. Suffering was closely related with the coming of the "kingdom." This is shown best through the passage in the bible
Another issue that is brought up is the paradoxical nature of compassion. Jesus wanted to destroy suffering and the only way to do so would be by suffering himself.
Death also has a paradoxical issue. This paradox is "Anyone who saves his or her life will lose it, anyone who loses her or his life will save it" (Nolan 139). This means that if you fear death you are already dead and if you dont fear death you have begun to live. Jesus was fully alive because he was willing to suffer and die not for a cause but for people (Nolan 139).
Blessed are the poor....
Blessed are those who are persecuted...
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you
and speak all kinds of calumny against you... for in the
same way they persecuted the prophets before you. (Mt. 5:3, 10-12)
Another issue that is brought up is the paradoxical nature of compassion. Jesus wanted to destroy suffering and the only way to do so would be by suffering himself.
Death also has a paradoxical issue. This paradox is "Anyone who saves his or her life will lose it, anyone who loses her or his life will save it" (Nolan 139). This means that if you fear death you are already dead and if you dont fear death you have begun to live. Jesus was fully alive because he was willing to suffer and die not for a cause but for people (Nolan 139).
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