Know the Truth

On Thursday night, we gather for a local
Bible study. Like most Bible studies I've
been to over the years, we don't spend alot
of time really studying scripture, as if to
learn the theology of it's various
doctrines. We read a passage and a leader
makes their best effort to explain its
lessons. There is always the contest
between exegesis and eisegesis. Nearly
everyone who has ever read a passage of
sacred text has an opinion about what that
passage teaches. Almost no one knows the
difference between exegesis and eisegesis.
Even though I don't like to get into
technical terms, in this case I think that
it's worth the bother. It's really
important to know the truth about Jesus, to
meet the real Jesus.


--->
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exegesis

The word exegesis can mean explanation, but

as a technical term it means "to draw the

meaning out of" a given text. Exegesis may

be contrasted with eisegesis, which means

to read one's own interpretation into a

given text. In general, exegesis presumes

an attempt to view the text objectively,

while eisegesis implies more subjectivity.

Traditional exegesis requires the

following: analysis of significant words in

the text in regard to translation;

examination of the general historical and

cultural context, confirmation of the

limits of the passage, and lastly,

examination of the context within the text.
--->


John 7:45 The officers therefore came to

the chief priests and Pharisees, and they

said to them, "Why didn`t you bring him?"

46 The officers answered, "No man ever

spoke like this man!"

47 The Pharisees therefore answered them,

"Are you also led astray?

48 Has any of the rulers believed in him,

or of the Pharisees?

49 But this cursed multitude doesn`t know

the law."

50 Nicodemus (he who came to him by night,

being one of them) said to them,

51 "Does our law judge a man, unless it

first hears from him personally and knows

what he does?"

52 They answered him, "Are you also from

Galilee? Search, and see that no prophet

has arisen out of Galilee."


Here's an example. Jesus was born in
Bethlehem and grew up in Nazareth. This is
recorded in Matthew 2. Here in John 7:52
the record shows that the folks in
Jerusalem claimed that 'no prophet has
arisen out of Galilee'. Matthew 2:5 is a
reference to Micah 5:2. It says that Jesus
was to be *born* in Bethlehem. That's all
it says. Then Matthew 2:23 says that 'He
will be called a Nazarene'. This verse
seems to be an obscure reference, but the
reference to Micah is not.


In John 7:52, they are trying to prove a
negative. It's a poor line of defense.
Setting aside the obscure reference in
Matthew 2:23, the people who opposed Jesus
made the error of trying to prove that
since the scripture is silent on the point
of prophets coming from Galilee, that it is
the same as scripture saying that there
cannot be a prophet from Galilee. It's not
the same. An argument from silence is not
good proof. Exegesis agrees that the best
approach to making logical sense of
scripture is to study what it says instead
of trying to speculate on those points
where scripture remains silent.


Another way to say this is that they were
trying to accuse Jesus of things that had
nothing to do with his teaching. That, has
never changed. That's why exegesis is so
very important. Let the sacred text speak.
Don't try to speak for the text. It goes
against our nature to let go of our bias
even in light of the clear teaching of
scripture.


That's not so simple. What we call the Old
Testament was written in ancient hebrew.
It's not a simple language, nor a simple
culture. It's entirely alien to the modern
western mindset. What we call the New
Testament is an ancient greek text. It's
not quite as difficult a language, but the
challenge of cultural context remains.


Here's what really drives the opposition
nuts. The truth NEVER changes. It's the
same across all language and cultural
boundaries. That's what Jesus says below.
'You shall know the truth...' That's an
absolutely terrifying statement to some
people. There are those who, the last
thing that they ever would want, is for
people to know the truth. I think I know
people like that. But even if you can
manage to fool everyone else, you don't
want to fool yourself. Know the truth
about yourself. Know the truth about
Jesus.


The passage below is a long exchange
between Jesus and some of the authorities
from Jerusalem. It's a tense confrontation.
I think there was something about Jesus that
really terrified those folks. Do you see it?
The aim of exegesis was spoken of by Jesus
this way:


John 8:12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to

them, saying, "I am the light of the world.

He who follows me will not walk in the

darkness, but will have the light of life."

13 The Pharisees therefore said to him,

"You testify about yourself. Your witness

is not valid."

14 Jesus answered them, "Even if I testify

about myself, my witness is true, for I

know where I came from, and where I am

going; but you don`t know where I came

from, or where I am going.

15 You judge according to the flesh. I

judge no one.

16 Even if I do judge, my judgment is true,

for I am not alone, but I am with the

Father who sent me.

17 It`s also written in your law that the

testimony of two men is valid.

18 I am he who testifies about myself, and

the Father who sent me testifies about me."

19 They said therefore to him, "Where is

your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know

neither me, nor my Father. If you knew me,

you would know my Father also."

20 Jesus spoke these words in the treasury,

as he taught in the temple. No one took

him, because his hour had not yet come.

21 Jesus said therefore again to them, "I

am going away, and you will seek me, and

will die in your sins. Where I go, you

can`t come."

22 The Jews therefore said, "Will he kill

himself, that he says, `Where I am going,

you can`t come?`"

23 He said to them, "You are from beneath.

I am from above. You are of this world. I

am not of this world.

24 I said therefore to you that you will

die in your sins; for unless you believe

that I am he, you will die in your sins."

25 They said therefore to him, "Who are

you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have

been saying to you from the beginning.

26 I have many things to speak and to judge

concerning you. However he who sent me is

true; and the things which I heard from

him, these I say to the world."

27 They didn`t perceive that he spoke to

them about the Father.

28 Jesus therefore said to them, "When you

have lifted up the Son of Man, then will

you know that I am he, and that I do

nothing of myself, but as my Father taught

me, I say these things.

29 He who sent me is with me. The Father

hasn`t left me alone, for I always do the

things that are pleasing to him."

30 As he spoke these things, many believed

in him.

31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who

had believed him, "If you remain in my

word, then you are truly my disciples.

32 You will know the truth, and the truth

will make you free."

33 They answered him, "We are Abraham`s

seed, and have never yet been in bondage to

anyone. How do you say, `You will be made

free?`"

34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly I

tell you, everyone who commits sin is the

bondservant of sin.

35 A bondservant doesn`t live in the house

forever. A son remains forever.

36 If therefore the Son makes you free, you

will be free indeed.

37 I know that you are Abraham`s seed, yet

you seek to kill me, because my word finds

no place in you.


Jesus says that we will know the truth,
those of us who believe in him. What truth
was he talking about? What can be drawn
out of this text? Wasn't he talking about
the truth of who he was? Then he contrasts
the difference between being a slave to sin
and being freed by 'the truth'. It's a
reference to being under law on the one
hand, and finding grace on the other.
That's the gospel in a nutshell. That's
the choice. Law or Grace.


In the final verse, Jesus says, 'my word
finds no place in you'. Sad statement.
He is saying that they are far from the
truth. They are doing a poor job of
exegesis.


I chose these passages for a reason. If
you understand the context of this post,
then you will see the significance of these
verses. Let sacred text speak for itself
and leave off trying to speculate about
what it does not say. Simple. But never
easy.


To those of us who believe, however, we
receive his Amazing Grace. That's the
truth that makes us free from the penalty
of the law. All passengers on the Jesus
Bus ride for free. We couldn't pay for a
trip to heaven, don't have enough money.
We have nothing of value to offer to G-d.
But Jesus gives grace. He bought a ticket
for everyone who believes. Get on the bus.