The Good News for the Day, May 18, 2024
Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter (302)
After their conversation, Peter turned and noticed that disciple behind them, the one Jesus loved so specially. (That one had his head on Jesus’s breast during the supper, and asked privately, “Sir, who’s the one going to betray you?”)
When Peter notices that disciple, he asks Jesus, “Sir, what about him?”
Jesus says, “What if I want him to stay until I come back? What business is it of yours? You just follow me.”
[So, the word spread in the community that that follower wasn’t going to die at all. But Jesus had not told Peter that the other one would not die—just, “What if I want him to stay until I come back? What business is it of yours?”]
It is this same disciple who is telling people about these things who has written them. We know that he has testified to the truth.
There are many other things, too, that Jesus did, but if they were going to be described in any detail, I don’t think the whole world could contain the materials that would be written. (John 21)
If you read this text carefully, it represents a basic confusion, mystery, or problem that has existed since the very earliest days, since the death and resurrection of Jesus – the question of when – the time – of His coming back.
Among Christians, a general cultural belief exists that there will be an end of this physical world, Jesus will come upon the clouds, and sort people out according to their merits, grace, and ultimate eternal destination. This view is almost a constituent element of the Christian community – people waiting for the End Days, with whole theologies built on the tribulation, the rapture, the thousand days.
A very different view of the coming of Jesus emphasizes more of the daily appearance of the risen Lord among the naked, suffering, hungry, imprisoned and poor people.
In this view, the follower of Jesus emphasizes that the kingdom of God is here, in the mutual love and caring among the children of God. Jesus is present. The Second Coming happens infinitely often – every moment – as people see and seize the opportunity to respond to the need of their neighbor.
This text suggests this problem. Some people in the community came to Think Beloved Disciple, John, the presumed writer of this Gospel, would not die but stay alive until the “End Times,” as a living physical and virtually immortal person.
The contrary view would say otherwise. Like the rest of us, this individual is incomplete, consistently growing and deepening in his understanding that love reveals the presence of God. This “John” understands that it is only in death – when physical life is complete– that the coming of Jesus into his life will complete it – by death.
Although both views are valuable, I believe Jesus meant us more to understand that loving our neighbor is far more important than fear (or love) about an end of the physical world. Let us love one another now and not worry about the End Times.
jorisheise 