Paul of Tarsus writes of his belief about the end of the world and an afterlife, “in Christ all shall be brought to life, but each one in proper order.” For Paul that order means “when everything is subjected” to the supremacy of chosen faithful and then to God. When Jesus speaks about the end … Continue reading “Ordering the End of the World”
Category: Military-Dominion
Insidious Intent
Jesus is talking with disciples about wise attendants at a wedding who bring oil for their lamps. He speaks also of their counterparts, foolish attendants. The foolish attendants want the oil the wise ones have brought. The wise ones tell them, “’No.’” The wise ones have taken their needed and helpful action and the foolish … Continue reading “Insidious Intent”
Heavy Nuclear Burdens
Jesus is cautioning listeners about rulers, “They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them.” The heaviest of burdens laid upon people’s shoulders is the annihilating weaponry rulers keep producing. Not only will rulers not lift a finger to move … Continue reading “Heavy Nuclear Burdens”
How War Lords Trap Us
The Pharisees were upset about Jesus continually challenging them. They “plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.” They construed a dilemma, a choosing of sides – or so they thought, between God and Caesar. Rulers like to trap people in conflicts. They like to trap people into taking sides in conflicts. Shall we take … Continue reading “How War Lords Trap Us”
Dictators Destroying the Common Good
Jesus tells a parable of a debtor who receives a loan he cannot repay, “the lender… let him go and forgave him the loan.” “When that debtor had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what … Continue reading “Dictators Destroying the Common Good”
Naked
“Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother, John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them… and his clothes became white as light” The heroes of ancient days made themselves gods; Sumer’s god-king Gilgamesh, Iran’s god-king Mazda, Egypt’s god-king Pharaoh. Ancient Israel’s deity says to their god-king Moses, … Continue reading “Naked”
Indigenous Risks
Nicodemus risks seeing Jesus to ask about his Way. Nicodemus is a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin. Their way is to oppose Jesus and they claim the right to condemn. Jesus tells Nicodemus, “God so loved the world as to give the fully begotten One… not to condemn the world, but that the world might … Continue reading “Indigenous Risks”
Arresting Intelligence (AI)
Soon after Jesus’ murder, “two of his disciples were walking to a village seven miles” away and “were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them.” Disciples still converse about “all the things that had occurred” around … Continue reading “Arresting Intelligence (AI)”
Arrested
“When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.” “From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Convert, for the Community of God is at hand.” John the Baptist has been a conscientious public witness, telling the truth about the ruler Herod. Like all rulers, Herod arrests the truth and … Continue reading “Arrested”
Why Are We Fighting in Jesus’ Name?
Amidst people fawning over the temple’s finery, Jesus speaks of the building’s demise, so too the religion of Militarism that constructs it while destroying people. Religion’s demise is a disturbance to rulers who fight Jesus. Religion’s demise is a curiosity to disciples who question Jesus, “when will this happen?” Jesus cautions, “Many will come in … Continue reading “Why Are We Fighting in Jesus’ Name?”