Thursday, March 26, 2026
As for me …
God begins with these three words in Genesis to reveal his plans to Abraham. In his kingdom on earth, he does not make Abraham ruler or servant, but co-creator with God. It is a two-sided agreement, emphasized when God concludes with As for you …
Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually.
The first half of Psalm 105 calls on God’s followers to fulfill their side of his covenant with Abraham and his descendants: give thanks, teach His ways, praise the Lord and glory in His name. The second half of the psalm transitions to God's side of the promise:
O offspring of his servant Abraham,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
He is the Lord our God;
his judgements are in all the earth.
He is mindful of his covenant for ever,
of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations
In both readings from the Hebrew Bible we have this give and give. Here’s what God promises here’s what we promise. This side-by-side relationship creates a feeling of immediacy: right here, right now, this is the governing covenant.
God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants is front and centre in John’s lesson. We are taken to within the temple where Jesus is having a discussion with the religious leaders, who appear to be increasingly agitated by what Jesus is saying.
Jesus has already been making the religious authorities uncomfortable with his deep understanding of sacred texts, combined with the mirror he holds up to the Pharisees’ behaviour, as well as Jesus’ suggestion that many of the religious observant are missing the point by valuing the letter of Judaic law over its spirit.
Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.
The response to Jesus’ words is to challenge them literally: Abraham died, so did the prophets — you think you’re better than them?
In engaging with the temple leadership, Jesus gives God the glory, while knowing that he, the Son, is fully united with his Father in being a perfect conduit of God’s will.
If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing.
It is my Father who glorifies me, …
Jesus is glorified: he has been blessed with the power to heal, to cast out demons and there are reports that he has even raised people from the dead. Jesus’ talks are also gathering huge, diverse crowds. People are listening to him.
… he of whom you say, “He is our God”, though you do not know him. But I know him; if I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word.
It’s not hard to picture how this was received. Can you imagine when Jesus says:
Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.
Perhaps in these words the rabbis recognize in Jesus the Godhead: Immanuel. God among us. They snap.
Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually
Alison Goodwin
Balm in Gilead Vocalessence Ensemble Singers
Comments
Post a Comment