John 3, 14-21 The Lifting Up of the Son (by Marco, SE8 and TM)

OBSERVATION

This gospel has many things to tell us about the theology of John:

- It is part of the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus, who is the recipient of Jesus “born again” teaching.
- It contains John 3:16, one of the most famous and widely-quoted verses of the Bible: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life".
- It talks about the condition for “eternal life,” which is to believe in Jesus
- It talks about God being the “light” of the world and yet the world preferred darkness.

This commentary focuses on the first verse: Jesus is compared to a serpent being lifted up. Usually in the Old Testament, a snake symbolizes evil such as the one which tempted Adam and Eve. While in the New Testament, Jesus Christ represents everything that is good. Therefore, why would the apostle John associate Jesus with something evil?


INTERPRETATION

During Moses’ time, God punished the rebellious Hebrews by sending hordes of venomous snakes which resulted in the death of many people. When the Hebrews asked for forgiveness, God ordered Moses to make a bronze serpent and to lift it up on a pole. The people who had snake-bites looked with faith at the bronze serpent, and they were healed afterwards.

Similar to the bronze serpent being lifted up on a pole, Jesus was also lifted up on the cross. Moreover, the bronze serpent and Jesus were both sources of life.

Thus, the comparison is not between Jesus and the serpent, but to the “lifting up” of Jesus and the serpent.

For John, Jesus went down from the Father to the world and the “lifting up” refers to the “upward swing” of Jesus back to the Father, which consists of three main events:

- Jesus being “lifted up” on the cross
- Jesus is “raised” from the dead
- Jesus “ascends” to heaven.


GENERALIZATION

Jesus is the way to the Father. Our own “lifting up” to the Father should follow the pattern of Jesus, and it begins with the cross. It is not the intention of God that we suffer, but practicing our faith always entail a sacrifice.


APPLICATION

Let’s apply the message of the gospel in our Singles Apostolate’ Values. For example, one of our values is Caring and it states: “we seek personal reconciliation over issue resolution when relationships are broken.”

That means we take the initiative to mend the relationship even though we are the ones that have been wronged. Difficult? Definitely. But perhaps that’s the cross that Jesus was referring to.

- What is the thing that you find most difficult to do, but you know would lead you closer to God?

Mark 9:1-10 Transfiguration of Jesus (Gospel for March 12, 2006)

OBSERVATIONS:

This is a fantastic scene being described in the gospel passage. Jesus and his core group of Peter, James and John goes up a mountain, his clothes become dazzling white, Moses and Elijah (two of the most prominent figures in the Old Testament) appears, a cloud casts a shadow, and a voice from heaven is heard. Then all of these disappear, and Jesus is alone again.

What does this all mean?

INTERPRETATION:

This passage should be interpreted within the context of Mark’s larger message of Jesus’ death/resurrection and the Christian vocation. (The passage from Mark 8:31 to 10:52 are dedicated to this larger message).

The mountain is used in several places in the bible as the venue where humanity encounters God. Jesus’ garments become “dazzling white” anticipates the major transformation of the world in the “end times.” Moses and Elijah are what the Jews consider as “end-times” figures. The cloud and the voice reflect God’s overwhelming presence. We are not talking here of an “end of the world” scenario, but a time when God’s Reign becomes fully present in all its excellence.

But the key in interpreting this passage lies in Mark 9:10 which says, “As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” (emphasis mine)

Jesus did not want his core group of disciples to associate his presence with the glory and magnificence they had just witnessed, but ALSO with the passion and suffering that he had to eventually undergo.

This is the Christian vocation: we undergo our own passion and suffering, but we keep our eyes on the prize.

GENERALIZATION:

“The fundamental law of Christianity is to lose all in order to win all. It is in this that we must listen to Christ: to give up all human assurance and to rely on God alone.” (Kingdom for All)

God allows us to have mountain-top experiences: a job promotion, an extra-inspiring prayer meeting, a “divine intervention” on a special prayer request, and other such events that simply stir us to declare “ang galing talaga ni Lord!”

But Christian life is not just mountain-top experiences. In many cases, if not most, life is filled with life in the valley: a relationship torn by a deep hurt, a career gone awry, a financial burden made heavier, or a sickness that could not have come at a worse time.

Mountain-top experiences help us when we are in the valley. We don’t cling to the mountain top; that would be like what Peter wanted to do, which is to build tents. Instead, we bring those experiences to remind us that God is in control, in the mountain-top and in the valley.

APPLICATION:

- What “valley experiences” are you going through right now?
- Share a “mountain-top” experience. How can that help you in the valley? How can it help others?

Co-authored by Sonny Santiago, SE-9 and TM

Mark 1:12-15 Temptation of Jesus (Gospel for March 5, 2006)

Observation

A lot happens in these four verses. Jesus was just baptised by John the Baptist, then he spends forty days in the desert, where he is tempted by Satan, then he returns and starts preaching the Kingdom of God.

Interpretation

The description of Jesus’ temptation is what we consider as a teaching story, rather than a historical story. It means that the author, Mark, wants to communicate a certain lesson rather than a historical account of what happened to Jesus. Also, that Jesus’ temptation happens right after his baptism is significant.

The lesson is this: the dessert is regarded as the territory of Satan, and Jesus defeats Satan in Satan’s own territory. The proper translation of temptation in this passage is NOT “to be attracted to sin” but “to be tested.”

For the early Christians, this was a source of inspiration since to be baptized at that time had dire consequences. During those times, when you are asked “who is your lord?” the correct answer is that “the Roman Emperor is my lord.” But the Christians would say “Jesus is my Lord.” That meant imprisonment or even death.

Generalization:

Well, today, we no longer have those occasions for martyrdom, but there are still many occasions when our being a Christian is tested:

- In the workplace, we can be tempted (or tested) to compromise our principles of honesty and integrity, but a Christian says “I will not, Jesus is my Lord.”

- In most occasions, it may not even concern major principles like that, but seeming harmless occasions when it would be so sweet to gossip and backbite, for example. Or to go along with friends in, shall we say, some errant endeavours. But the Christian says, “I will not, Jesus is my Lord.”

- Personal conflicts are unavoidable, whether in the family, our work, or in the Apostolate. In these occasions, we often feel our opinion or idea or solution is a lot better than the other person’s. But a Christian, especially a member of the Singles Apostolate, would say “Jesus is my Lord, and I value personal reconciliation more highly than problem resolution.” Max Lucado said: “the person to be loved is more valuable than the problem to be solved.”

Then, and now, it is difficult to be a Christian. It is much easier to be like everyone else, but a Christian should be a cut above the rest. Jesus didn’t have it easy, and the servant cannot be higher than the Master.

You are a cut above the rest. You will be tested. You can pass that test. That’s what this gospel is all about.

Application:

- In what occasions is your being a Christian tested? Cite occasions in the workplace, in the family, when with friends.

- How did you react during those occasions? How were you able to pass the test? What did you learn from your failure?