Contents
Introduction
When we remember that this Sunday is the last Sunday of lent and, that next Sunday (March 25 2018) will be Palm (or Passion) Sunday, then, we will not be surprised by the tone of the Gospel reading of this Sunday. The Greeks who wanted to see Jesus were certainly not proselytes but God-fearers. A proselyte is a new convert, especially one who is converted to Judaism. The God-fearers were those attracted to Judaism due to its monotheism and morality, but deterred by its excessive nationalism and requirement like circumcision. They worshiped in the synagogues but did not become converts to Judaism. As noted in the 3rd Sunday of Lent, the selling and buying and changing of money took place in the portion of the temple assigned to them. Many came to worship at the major Jewish festivals without being proselytes (converted) to Judaism, such as, the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:27,.…
The hour of Jesus
The Gospel according to John is not only theologically founded, it is also metaphysical. Speaking about Jesus to his disciples, John the Baptizer said “the one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all” (John 3:3). When Jesus told the Jews that he will go away and that they will look for him, but they will not find him, and that they cannot even come where he was going, the Jews concluded he was going to commit suicide (cf. John 8:21–22). Continuing, Jesus said to them “you are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world” (John 8:23). This was the bone of contention. Jesus is from above, while the Jews are from below. While Jesus spoke theological and divine languages, the Jews spoke earthly and human languages. Hence, they misunderstood everything Jesus.…
Conclusion
Like the Greeks, we all need to seek and speak with Jesus. But, instead of asking us our problems, sufferings, difficulties, sicknesses as we would have expected, Jesus makes known to us the hour of salvation, and lays before us the principle of life. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). This is a beautiful picture of the sacrifice of Christ. Unless we die to sin, discrimination, manipulations,.….
FOR DETAILS, GET YOUR OWN COPIES OF THE BOOK “THE WORD OF LIFE: SUNDAY REFLECTIONS” (vols. I and II)!! The reflection for the Fifth Sunday of Lent (B) is found in vol. II pages 150–159. Happy reading!
For details on how to get it, contact the author on this link: https://m.me/uchennabiblia?fbclid=IwAR2yeg4a6sDGBp9QGkIvKj6FSADumMokN6lshdE0zuo-JHs6qOmlhA7jyHo or email me at: postmaster@uchennabiblia.com or simply send an SMS on 08116100926, and I will get back to you.
