Hi Simon, Thanks for your reflections on this passage. It does, however, appear to end on a cliffhanger. 🧗
As the passage begins with a direct comparison between Jesus and the snake on a pole are you suggesting/implying that veneration of Jesus is "another monster, one which may need to be smashed"?
I don't, necessarily, disagree as I think head-in-the-sand worship without question or thought can become a monster, but I'm intrigued to hear if that's where you were going or what you think John was implying?
If so, vs 14 doesn't seem to sit comfortably as an introduction to what comes next. 🤔
Hi Storm, good question - apologies for the cliffhanger.
I would say in the first place that the intention is not to give an exhaustive exegesis of the text, just a short reflection on something from it. In a text like this I'd be there for hours if I was to try to unpack the whole thing.
I'd also say I'm not desperate to give final answers, either, things to consider are more interesting to me.
But in case you think I'm avoiding your question, then no - I'm not saying that the writer of John's gospel is suggesting this, nor do I altogether think that myself, except in certain circumstances. What I think he's actually doing is developing themes that he derives from Hebrew scriptural traditions, more of which in the edition of this that comes out today.
My thinking here was just to give an alternate take, to highlight an idea that otherwise might get overlooked.
Hi Simon, Thanks for your reflections on this passage. It does, however, appear to end on a cliffhanger. 🧗
As the passage begins with a direct comparison between Jesus and the snake on a pole are you suggesting/implying that veneration of Jesus is "another monster, one which may need to be smashed"?
I don't, necessarily, disagree as I think head-in-the-sand worship without question or thought can become a monster, but I'm intrigued to hear if that's where you were going or what you think John was implying?
If so, vs 14 doesn't seem to sit comfortably as an introduction to what comes next. 🤔
Hi Storm, good question - apologies for the cliffhanger.
I would say in the first place that the intention is not to give an exhaustive exegesis of the text, just a short reflection on something from it. In a text like this I'd be there for hours if I was to try to unpack the whole thing.
I'd also say I'm not desperate to give final answers, either, things to consider are more interesting to me.
But in case you think I'm avoiding your question, then no - I'm not saying that the writer of John's gospel is suggesting this, nor do I altogether think that myself, except in certain circumstances. What I think he's actually doing is developing themes that he derives from Hebrew scriptural traditions, more of which in the edition of this that comes out today.
My thinking here was just to give an alternate take, to highlight an idea that otherwise might get overlooked.