Interpreting Scriptures

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 -- Week of Proper 15

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 981)
Psalm [120], 121, 122, 123 (morning) // 124, 125, 126, [127] (evening)
Judges 18:1-15
Acts 8:1-13
John 5:30-47

Jesus is in conflict with those who have seen the works that he has done, works of compassion, healing, and abundant feeding. Although they have seen these good things that Jesus is doing, they are stumped because they cannot peg Jesus into a place of authority that they are comfortable with. Part of the problem, it seems, is the Bible.

"You search the Bible because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf." The people whom Jesus is addressing have searched the scriptures, and they don't see it the same way Jesus does. They do not see that Jesus is fulfilling the expectations that they have from their interpretation of the Bible. Jesus offers them his own interpretation, but they disagree.

Part of what Jesus is claiming in this passage is that John the Baptizer has functioned in the Biblically expected role of being the forerunner of the Messiah. We can find some of the other Biblical references Jesus may have used to interpret his ministry. But these interpretations are not convincing to this group. They are probably holding out for a Messiah who fulfills the conventional hopes -- a powerful leader who will restore Israel to power and expel her occupiers. (Those are Messianic prophesies of scripture.)

So this group reads their scripture and rejects Jesus' ministry. Jesus points to the scripture that drives his vision. They point to the scripture that drives their ministry.

How do you judge between them? There's a great hint in this passage. The critical principle is knowing God's love. Jesus is accusing these who reject him as not knowing God, not hearing God's voice. The ultimate critique: "I know that you do not have the love of God in you." That's why they are misinterpreting the scripture. That's why they can't see his authenticity. It's all about love.

Those who love catch on. Those who follow a God of love are drawn to him. That is the "name" of the Father that Jesus comes from. In the sentence after he references God's love, Jesus says "I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me." This same Johannine tradition will write simply in the epistles: "God is love."

The love of God and following a God of love is the interpreting centerpiece. Those who read the scriptures and interpret it from the perspective of a God of love will recognize the Messiah. Those who are looking for a different kind of God and a different kind of messiah will not recognize Jesus as he truly is.

Lowell
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The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR