main point
Peter's denial. Peter is marginalized here -- he enters the temple courtyard only through the beneficence of the other disciple whom Crystal associates with the Beloved Disciple and whom I associate with John the Evangelist. We may both be right (or wrong for that matter).
new light
John the Evangelist - and thus Johannine Christianity is seen as superior to Petrine Christianity -- John is recognized as Jesus' disciple -- Peter is not -- John walks Jesus with Jesus and Peter denies him -- Peter enters only the courtyard and then only at the behest of John and through the agency of a woman.
truth
Petrine Christianity seems to be marked by questions of authority -- Peter holds the keys to the kingdom. John's Christianity seems to be marked by questions of relationship - love -- vine and branches -- shepherd & sheep. John's way is what I hope the kingdom is like. History would seem to indicate otherwise.
implications
as with the washing of the feet -- if you would lead you must be slave to all others
problems
as i have said before -- it always comes down to obdeinece doesn't it
4 comments:
David, I'm not sure I understand what you mean about obedience. Please elaborate.
Crystal: Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin. (James 4:17).
I overthink absolutley EVERYTHING. Often this is a good thing but just as often it is a delaying tactic to avoid making a decision, taking a risk, or commiting myself.
brandon: HUMAN history is also God's history. It did/does not have to be that way but God in his sovereign love and wisdom has ordained that it be so. This life is God's engine for creating human souls and God lives in and through it.
I was also being a bit facetious. The model of Christianity that worries about who has the authority to speak for God on earth has been more successful (thus far) than the one that calls us into holy relationship and mutual submission. Doesn't mean God is done with us yet. The tables of the money-changers may yet be over-turned.
"More successful?", David. Depends upon what you mean by success. "In the world you will suffer much", or something like that. Authority based Christianity has succeeded only in the worldly sense.
As Gandhi said, he was waiting to find a church that practiced Christianity in order to become a Christian.
The Church (as it's generally known) is only one of the 'principalities', dedicated to the Prince of this World. Face it!
While this has always been true of the Church (Catholic or otherwise), there have always been sincere and commited Christians trying to do the Lord's work through this very earthern vessel.
David - James on obedience ... I know you like him but in this gospel, obedience isn't so important ... we see Peter messing up and he isn't punished but forgiven.
I saw an interesting article about "the beloved disciple" and it kind of speaks to what you said about him always getting it right when Peter got it wrong. The article translates "the disiple Jesus loved" as "the disciple Jesus kept on loving" - kept on loving, despite the mistakes he kept making ... link
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