Thursday, November 1, 2012

Traitor Joe

sorry, no ill intended toward the fine company that is TJoes  - just couldn't pass up on the play on words.
yeah, we'll show you how we handle traitors around here.

Scripture lesson from Mark 12 for this week (vs.  28-34), as much as they describe a dynamic Jesus lived through his journey on the way, what might they reveal of how this dynamic was lived out in the later 1st century Christian community Mark is addressing?

The account in these verses follows directly on the heals of Jesus encounter with the Sadducees: they set up their straw-man scenario about nature of marriage in death, feeling certain they'd adequately trapped this would be prophet, messiah - this one who most recently had come into town with accolades given to the Son of David. In His proving them wrong, Jesus had nothing more to do than open up the scriptures - "This scripture which you, I, we hold near and dear???/  This is why you are wrong - Oh so wrong. Maybe you should spend a little time reading that which you profess to believe so dearly." (that last sentence was a bit of editorial interpretation that may/may not be directly stated within Mark's missive.)

Enter the scribes - lest we forget (neglect) to note who this scribe represents- what attitude and perspective he brings to the discussion:  I direct you to vs. 18 of previous chapter.  "and when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him." While there was maybe no love lost between the Sadducees and the scribes - they had an agenda which they (he) was complicit in carrying out.  Do away with him. Get rid of Him. By any means possible, do not allow this' One coming in the name of the Lord' (vs.9 of ch.11) - by stealth, (vs.1,2 ch 14)  sneaky sneaky/ deceptively if need be??

Enter this scribe. He comes to Jesus having seen the quick, decisive, authoritative work he'd made of the Sadducees'; he comes with curiosity peaked? with a desire to know? seeking another opportunity to discern a weakness to later exploit?  Who knows what this scribe's motivations were - what it offered up was an opportunity for Jesus to show really how far apart they were not.

Jesus listened to what the scribe was asking - what he was saying, and in the depth of His response revealed a truth that the scribe may or may not have found comforting - his and His experience of the scripture, the truth revealed of God's hope and guidance and affirmation for human interaction are not that disparate, in fact they're likely within the statistical margin for error.

I've gotta wonder what the talk around the local watering hole was like that next morning. When the powers that be met out at the gate to talk of the happenings, to hear squabbles and disputes and render judgements on such matters, what judgement did they render upon this scribe.  "Traitor!!" ? "You and your stupid question - left the door wide open for that rabble rouser to reveal Truth - to speak a Word that does not make him look like a crazed lunatic - to show us in a way that reveals how small and petty
we really are, maybe. Damn you!!"

Was traitor the worst name levied at today's scribal envoy?  Was he able to show his face at the morning gatherings? Did he have to backtrack and walk-back his discussion and revelation in order to appease a particular narrative and agenda? Did he find himself ostracized, shunned, excommunicated - at least until he'd paid the appropriate penance?

How well was he embraced by those who were following Jesus as He journeyed the way?  did they shun him? did they ostracize him because of who he was?  How total was our scribe's alienation?

Jesus listened to those who wanted to kill him; He listened for a hint of agreement, nugget of commonality,  a seed of shared value through which He was able to come along-side this one scribe.  Was there nothing worth listening and hearing from what the Sadducees had to say? Was there nothing within what the other scribes had to share? I don't know.  Did this one scribe's experience of the Son of David leave a lasting mark upon his life? - - dunno - What I do know (we know) is that it left a significant enough of an impression that Mark thought it integral to share with his community. (were they dealing with dynamics of inside and out? Us vs. Them? Who is faithful and who is not? I wonder if Mark was trying to encourage them to be particularly mindful of what the 'other' was saying; to hear and listen for those places where we're not so far off from one another? Maybe it's in this listening posture that we will recognize the ever-present nearness of the Kingdom.

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