The Word Was in the Beginning
The Living Word
Leviticus 24:10-16
The Message
10-12 One day the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites. A fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite. The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name of God and cursed. They brought him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelomith, daughter of Dibri of the tribe of Dan. They put him in custody waiting for God's will to be revealed to them.
13-16 Then God spoke to Moses: "Take the blasphemer outside the camp. Have all those who heard him place their hands on his head; then have the entire congregation stone him. Then tell the Israelites, Anyone who curses God will be held accountable; anyone who blasphemes the Name of God must be put to death. The entire congregation must stone him. It makes no difference whether he is a foreigner or a native, if he blasphemes the Name, he will be put to death.
For Reflection
Why
wasn't Jesus stoned? After all, that was the law and surely the Jewish
leaders wanted to obey the law. The law is not always about truth and
justice. The law is about regulation and what to do about those who
violate the law. The arguments are not about truth and reconciliation.
The arguments are about definitions; what was the law that was
violated? Did the accused violate it? What evidence do you bring to bear
on that fact? What should be the punishment (sometimes also specified
by the law)?
The Jewish leaders had no blasphemy. They had no evidence. They had law. They could remain pure before Passover by careful attention to the Jewish law and to the law of Rome. Piliate's condemnation was not theirs. But they did revel in it!
Jesus was about truth, justice and reconciliation. These things the law could not and cannot satisfy.
After the Christ event, truth became knowable.
The Jewish leaders had no blasphemy. They had no evidence. They had law. They could remain pure before Passover by careful attention to the Jewish law and to the law of Rome. Piliate's condemnation was not theirs. But they did revel in it!
Jesus was about truth, justice and reconciliation. These things the law could not and cannot satisfy.
After the Christ event, truth became knowable.
Pray
that
you will treat your words as windows into God's will; listen to the
words of the world with God's ear. listen to the words of scripture;
listen to God's whispered wisdom.
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