Separation, distinction, rejection, diminishing, disrespecting, segregation, labelling, cruelty -
these are all too often evident. (Australia, again, can not validly claim the high moral ground! I lament the treatment of the Australian First Nations - photo below of persons who have died. Many are the images* of chained people - see Trove and following.)
[Re 2023 Robodebt, see below.]
I have encountered, and I reject, the propositions that Jesus, the wandering teacher, remained firmly amongst the Jews of Israel, and a limited, rural, selection of them.
It is true that, apart from Jerusalem, the major centres (those known to us) do not figure in the account of Jesus. It is also true that today many locations are unknown and many sadly inaccessible. The Gospel authors themselves make it clear that they do not provide an exhaustive itinerary for Jesus (see below). We do have the selection they preserved.
Where then did Jesus go? We see him in the vicinity of the large body of water in the north, one we know as the Sea of Galilee. So he might be found in Capernaum, a community close to that sea. Until he became unacceptable, we also see him spending time in Nazareth of Galilee.
Not all of Galilee became closed to him. Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news about God's kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness (Matthew 4:23, CEV). "All over" indicates a wide coverage.
Here is a useful summary: Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every[a] disease and every sickness.[b][c] (Matthew 9:35, CSB). Perhaps the "all" is a way of saying very many; everywhere was possible. The statement appears to relate specifically to the Galilee region.
Jesus had a strategy to reach the people of the ancient Covenant with God. He had assistance from his followers. and told them: When they persecute you in this town, flee to the next, for truly I tell you, you will not have finished going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes (Matthew 10:23, NRSVUE). That "coming" statement is challenging, but the passage at least clearly shows Jesus aimed for all the settlements of his own people. (I take the "coming" to mean the final revelation of Jesus at his resurrection.)
At the end, the accusers had no doubt Jesus had made their problem very widespread. Before the Governor they had this to say: But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place” (Luke 23:5, ESV). That is not the only time we read of Jesus, "the influencer", in Judea (ie, the southern area including Jerusalem). John gives a number of examples. We also read in John of a famous encounter Jesus had with a woman of Samaria, as he travelled through that despised region between (chapter 4).
Another remarkable encounter (below) between Jesus and a woman is located near the coastal city of Tyre. Whilst the reports do not place Jesus in that city, does it not look like he was seeking some peace (see Mark 7) in "Gentile territory"? Mark tells us she was a "Greek", born in the locality. The woman herself is not described as being part of the Temple community; not one of the Children of the Lord; not one of the lost sheep of Israel. She might be thought of as "one of them; not one of us".
Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment (Matthew 15:21-28, NIV). That woman neatly drew from the apparent denial. Strange? Confronting? Jesus was confronting, and is confronting. No one, "them" or "us", would miss out with Jesus. As long as they (we; I) ask humbly trusting; not as entitled, or magic-ing an answer.
The instances I cited above of Jesus' willingness to treat himself and others as being "us" are far from all such. I call to mind the:
- bleeding woman
- lepers
- tax-collector
- corpse
- sick
- religious official
- demon possessed
- foreign soldier
None were rejected or turned aside. Ever.
Jesus’ focus was his own people. Some of the people of the ancient “homeland” (Judea/Galilee) were his genetic relatives (which, in the long run, was irrelevant!). Others were co-religionists, acknowledging the Covenant with God, resident within the area recognised as being ruled under the ancient Jewish Law (as long as Rome agreed). There was a complication even in this, because many followers of Judaism lived in other lands. However, the Gospel writer sums up what Jesus did: He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be[a] children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent,[b] or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man,[c] but of God (John 1:10-13, CSB). Sad that "his own", those who had the first opportunity, might turn it down. That did not erase the offer, which stands from then to now. Yes, for you.
The Gospel writer also tells us that Jesus is for the world: And the Son of Man must be lifted up, just as the metal snake was lifted up by Moses in the desert.[a] Then everyone who has faith in the Son of Man will have eternal life.
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! No one who has faith in God's Son will be condemned. But everyone who doesn't have faith in him has already been condemned for not having faith in God's only Son.
The light has come into the world, and people who do evil things are judged guilty because they love the dark more than the light. People who do evil hate the light and won't come to the light, because it clearly shows what they have done. But everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do (John 3: 14-21, CEV). Yes, the offer of mercy stands. Jesus came to save. Yes, save. Accept his mercy and give thanks to God for his indescribable gift.
Jesus' time on earth was limited but he came to bring the offer of salvation to the world, to all nations. As he ended his "physical" time on the earth he told his followers to take the message out: Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah[a] is[b] to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses[c] of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:44-49, NRSVUE). Repentance is needed and forgiveness is available - to everyone. With God's own power, Jesus' followers will extend the salvation offer to all nations. The "them" of the day became "us" with Jesus. It was not easy to overcome the barrier, but the barrier vanished for those who obeyed and trusted Jesus.
It seems instinctive to regard the stranger with suspicion. Perhaps that is a way of keeping safe. However, those who truly belong to Jesus can never be strangers, even if their appearance or speech is different. (That is no reason to allow harm to come from the casual, unwise and foolish giving of opportunity to "wolves". Which is another - organisational - matter; previously considered, see eg, post "Little Ones".)
Here in Australia recently we have heard results of a lengthy and critical official inquiry into the tragic Government treatment of many people receiving support payments (benefits). The Robodebt report tells how it happened that innocent people were falsely accused of making excess gains "at the taxpayers' expense" and were pursued for alleged "debt recovery". That is, people were (incorrectly) deemed to have been overpaid; the "overpayment" had to be "recovered".
A media report: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-08/robodebt-royal-commission-political-populism-policy-culture/102575450
Cries of distress replaced honesty and justice. How can such things happen? Behind a screen of confidentiality and secrecy, people are responsible. The story is far from over. Underneath the mechanics and specific decisions is an attitude; a stance of "us and them". The others out there are different; less. Various insulting words are used of persons in need.
Corporations, or departments, or units, are entities with internal customs, understandings and procedures which help streamline operations. Staff can speak a "common language" and be understood by colleagues. A corporate culture may be useful. With the right leadership from the "top"(open leadership), staff may be able to take the time and make the effort to treat outside people ("them") with kindness and due consideration and correct interpretation. Let "them" be "us". But, what if there is an error or failing? What if a relatively junior staff member is concerned and wants to raise an issue? To question something. Will the boss respond: "Do you want to be part of the problem, or of the solution?"
I do not advocate for paralysis in decision-making. However, surely all voices should be heard and listened to, difficult, time-consuming, and costly, as it may be. Special care and time is needed if new and novel policies are to be implemented. A stable and valued workforce will help greatly.
You, dear reader, may not agree that modern society works as I say above? That is your choice. Nonetheless, the truth about Jesus does not change!
For Jesus, no one was "scum". Should they be for us?
Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Scripture quotations marked (CSB) are from the Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NRSVUE) are from the New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
* Australian historical treatment of Aboriginal people samples
Note re the above Wyndham image - often seen. I wonder how many other men that day were standing around, with guns....? (Restraints were used for non-Indigenous prisoners in early years, but that is not the full story.)
https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/australian-aborigines-chains-1902/
https://www.abc.net.au/religion/one-photo-brings-australia-history-of-colonial-violence-into-fo/12363912
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-19/indigenous-lock-hospitals-onbernier-and-dorre-islands/10634122?
Bible passages accessed via BibleGateway.com
Image: Trove; State Library of Victoria
Image: Unsplash
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