 masbury says: Stanley Hauerwas on what the cross is about Because he challenged the powers that be. The church is a political institution calling people to be an alternative to the world. That's what the cross is about."I didn't think Rome had anything to fear from Jesus? Thank you very much for this clip, Monte! That's (in my humble opinion) a necessary relativization of the Paulinic christology. I couldn't believe in a god who would have had the strange idea to save the world by managing a bloody drama on the world stage. Believing that Jesus' life and suffering is ours, as his brothers and sisters, I feel salvaged. Johanna G, thank you for your thoughtful comment. I also visited one or two of your blogs, and enjoyed them thoroughly (though the last time I seriously read German was 30 years ago!). There is so much yet to be understood, and so much has been simply assumed. I preached most of the way through Luke's Gospel last year, and was astonished at how different Jesus was than I had expected. Your thoughts were refreshing and enjoyable - thanks! Righthand: I didn't think Rome had anything to fear from Jesus?I'm sure you're right in the sense that most of Rome never heard of Jesus during his lifetime. Remember, though, that Rome was not the government in many ways; in the theocracy of Judea, local Judean government was probably in charge of most things. Romans were there to squelch incipient revolts and collect taxes. Perhaps Rome's partial role is a trifle akin to the US presence in Iraq. There is a government, but the USA has had huge influence over it. Rome's was greater, of course. And, you'll remember that Pontius Pilate's concerns about Jesus were that he was called a king (a possible insurrection) and that... "Why did he get killed? Because he challenged the powers that be."The "powers that be" whom Jesus conceptually challenged, were scarcely the authorities of the Imperium Romanum, but rather the spiritual and the juridical authorities of his fellow countrymen and fellow believers. "We have found this man subverting our nation."That makes one think, doesn't it? But it was the powers of the Empire, for you see the Empire ran Judea as a proxy, first through the last King and then through the priest. Any challenge to them was, by extension a challenge to the Empire. Ratilfar: excellent "big picture" comment! Monty, again you have a wonderful clip. You are one of the few ppl who actually "get" it. Even though it was not required by divine necessity, the execution of Jesus was virtually a human inevitability. This is what domination systems do to people who challenge them publicly and vigorously. Jesus was killed because of jealousy of the religious leaders, no doubt. but it goes much further. In those days the ideas of self government were far more established and understood, despite opinions to the contrary. The way of life that the follower of Jesus led, redistribution of the wealth with in their communities, affected the tax base of both the religious people and the Romans. That is why they killed Jesus. That is why they killed Peter. That is why they killed Paul. Christians who get along, govern themselves, share a lot, and know their rights under the law, do not make good tax slaves. Rome could care less what the people taught, nor the religious leaders, as long as their power ... |
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