http://www.jango.com/music/Ace+of+Base?l=0 (top right hit play button)
The song The Sign by Ace of Base is an example of Albert Nolan's new time brought about by Jesus. "I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes" is referring to Jesus and how he opened the eyes of the Jews by talking about the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus spoke of God's word and how they if they believed in him they would be saved. Plato's Allegory of the Cave is similar to this because everyone in the cave is blind, which relates to the Jews during time of Jesus. Eventually, one of the non believers finds a way out and sees the reality of the world. This correlates to the lyrics of the song when it says, "to get to the light where you belong". After seeing the sign, the now believer goes back to tell the others who discards what he says. This emphasizes how those who make the choice to believe in Jesus and his teachings will be saved. They have to experience Christ in their own life and acknowledge what has been there all along.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvep7FzeVa4&feature=related
This movie clip from the Passion of the Christ is an example of a modern interpretation of the trial of Jesus. Both the movie and Nolan state the accusers charge Jesus for claiming he is the Messiah and have the high priests of the Jewish religion turning Jesus in for Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Palestine, to judge. When Pilate questions Jesus about him being the king of the Jews, Jesus does not answer the question and simply inquires about why Pilate asks the question. Jesus does not admit to being the king of the Jews, it is a title he hinted at with him leading them to the Kingdom of Heaven but he professes it to not be on Earth. Jesus stays quiet while he is being questioned, allowing the others to determine their path in life, to either lie about him and continue to accuse him or to believe and come into the Kingdom of Heaven. I think the movie does an acceptable portrayal of the betrayal, trial, death, and ressurection of Jesus Christ.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
A new Time is at hand but the trial is still on
In Chapter 11 of Jesus Before Christianity, author Albert Nolan emphasizes the interrelationship of time and history, and how such concepts can affect our understanding and interpretation of the Bible and Jesus’ teachings. According to Nolan, time can be viewed as both a quantitative and qualitative concept. The concept of time in Western thought, according to Nolan, contains both quantitative and qualitative elements with quantitative being predominant, particularly when making reference to historical events. For Nolan, quantitative time is a measurement, an empty space that is filled with events of greater and lesser importance. Nolan describes this as being akin to our placing ourselves on an imaginary line with past events behind us and future events yet to come. Alternately, in Western thought, qualitative time is occasionally referenced, for example in discussions of good vs. bad times, wartime, etc. In contrast to Western thought, Nolan elaborates that the ancient Hebrews saw time not as a measurement but rather the quality or mood of events. Qualitative time was a means of seeing oneself on a journey between fixed events. The qualitative concept of time allowed people celebrating a fixed event to be “contemporaneous with their ancestors” who had experienced the same event even though it may have been decades or years earlier. For the ancient Hebrews, the concept of qualitative time reinforced the idea that the only reason for the continuity of time was God. God gave them a sense of history and a sense of destiny. But how does this relate to us today? Nolan advocates that for a true understanding of the message of Jesus we must understand his conception of time. The God of Jesus, according to Nolan is different from the God of the Old Testament- he is at a different place in qualitative time. He is a God of compassion, understanding and forgiveness. God has turned his attention to the human experience and this is open to the development of a relationship with us. Nolan’s ideas on the concepts of time and history help us understand that God can be authoritative and domineering in the Old Testament and still feels compassion for the ordinary person through Jesus’ teachings. Time is changing because God himself is changing or evolving with us and letting us experience Jesus’ concept of the Kingdom of Heaven.
In Chapter 18, entitled On Trial, Nolan discusses the events of Jesus’ trial and death and their relationship to our understanding of Jesus’ concept of the Kingdom. For Nolan, it was not Jesus who was on trail but rather his betrayers, accusers, and even his supporters, including the apostles. Nolan references Scripture citing that Jesus did not defend himself at the trial. Nolan analyzed briefly the perspectives of the Roman Government, as represented by Pilate, who had little concern for the matter other than expediency- essentially a give the people what they want perspective. He also examines the Jewish authorities who felt it easier to protect themselves rather than to protect one of their own. And finally, Nolan looks at his supporters, who betrayed him, denied him or simply fled, fearing the possibility of guilt by association. Jesus stood silently and waited to see if those who truly believed in his “kingdom” would stand with him. They did not; so Jesus accepted his fate and died alone, believing himself in the promise of his kingdom. True to Jesus’ notion of the Kingdom of Heaven as forgiving and compassionate, he gave man another chance to accept the Kingdom with his resurrection.
In Chapter 18, entitled On Trial, Nolan discusses the events of Jesus’ trial and death and their relationship to our understanding of Jesus’ concept of the Kingdom. For Nolan, it was not Jesus who was on trail but rather his betrayers, accusers, and even his supporters, including the apostles. Nolan references Scripture citing that Jesus did not defend himself at the trial. Nolan analyzed briefly the perspectives of the Roman Government, as represented by Pilate, who had little concern for the matter other than expediency- essentially a give the people what they want perspective. He also examines the Jewish authorities who felt it easier to protect themselves rather than to protect one of their own. And finally, Nolan looks at his supporters, who betrayed him, denied him or simply fled, fearing the possibility of guilt by association. Jesus stood silently and waited to see if those who truly believed in his “kingdom” would stand with him. They did not; so Jesus accepted his fate and died alone, believing himself in the promise of his kingdom. True to Jesus’ notion of the Kingdom of Heaven as forgiving and compassionate, he gave man another chance to accept the Kingdom with his resurrection.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Times They Are A-Changin'- A Summary of Chapters 11 and 18
What exactly did Jesus mean when he said “The time has come, the kingdom of God is near?” Jesus didn’t “measure” time. When Jesus spoke of time he was referring to the “tenor” of the times or the characteristics of the times, not hours or minutes. Like other prophets, he told his people that a future event, or eschaton, would change the essence of their lives or times and cause a complete break from past times. This world changing event could be seen in the signs of the times.
The Kingdom of God is that future event. Jesus read the signs in his life to believe the Kingdom of God was near. His work and the work of his disciples were actually changing the world order. They were helping the poor and oppressed. He was curing the blind and raising the dead. These successes were the signs of the time that God was working through Jesus and that God was now a benevolent God who wanted to save his people, not punish them. The Kingdom of God, a kingdom where the poor and oppressed are liberated from suffering, is the new time that Jesus predicted. Like the words of Bob Dylan, when Jesus prophesized “The time has come, the kingdom of God is near” he meant the “times they are a changing.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItPz7f-k-dE&feature=related
Jesus’s sermons on the Kingdom of God led to his trial and death. The Romans charged him with the crime of claiming to be the Messiah or King of the Jews. A Roman court, presided over by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate sentenced him to death for this crime. In reality, Pilate was a ruthless official who stamped out any popular movement that sought change because he viewed such movements as potential rebellions and threats to Roman rule. He feared Jesus was a rebel so he sentenced him to die. Jewish officials, however, were also guilty in Jesus’s death. They collaborated with Rome by handing Jesus over to the Romans to be tried. The high priest, Caiaphas, argued that Jesus should be sacrificed to prevent the Romans from destroying the Jewish nation out of fear of the new “kingdom” Jesus promised. Jesus did not defend himself against the accusations and his silence put thosed who judged and betrayed him on trial. All were guilty. Pilate was guilty of not caring about the truth of the accusations against Jesus and Caiaphas, the scribes and the Pharisees were guilty of not accepting Jesus’s words and believing in the Kingdom of God. Jesus died, but unlike those who accused and betrayed him, he “survived” because of his faith in God.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-lp0E0mkIE
The Kingdom of God is that future event. Jesus read the signs in his life to believe the Kingdom of God was near. His work and the work of his disciples were actually changing the world order. They were helping the poor and oppressed. He was curing the blind and raising the dead. These successes were the signs of the time that God was working through Jesus and that God was now a benevolent God who wanted to save his people, not punish them. The Kingdom of God, a kingdom where the poor and oppressed are liberated from suffering, is the new time that Jesus predicted. Like the words of Bob Dylan, when Jesus prophesized “The time has come, the kingdom of God is near” he meant the “times they are a changing.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItPz7f-k-dE&feature=related
Jesus’s sermons on the Kingdom of God led to his trial and death. The Romans charged him with the crime of claiming to be the Messiah or King of the Jews. A Roman court, presided over by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate sentenced him to death for this crime. In reality, Pilate was a ruthless official who stamped out any popular movement that sought change because he viewed such movements as potential rebellions and threats to Roman rule. He feared Jesus was a rebel so he sentenced him to die. Jewish officials, however, were also guilty in Jesus’s death. They collaborated with Rome by handing Jesus over to the Romans to be tried. The high priest, Caiaphas, argued that Jesus should be sacrificed to prevent the Romans from destroying the Jewish nation out of fear of the new “kingdom” Jesus promised. Jesus did not defend himself against the accusations and his silence put thosed who judged and betrayed him on trial. All were guilty. Pilate was guilty of not caring about the truth of the accusations against Jesus and Caiaphas, the scribes and the Pharisees were guilty of not accepting Jesus’s words and believing in the Kingdom of God. Jesus died, but unlike those who accused and betrayed him, he “survived” because of his faith in God.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-lp0E0mkIE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)