Presby-Musings

There is this great moment in the Gospel of John where Jesus restores the sight of a man who had been blind his whole life.  He heals the man on the Sabbath, and he does so in a strange way that has always puzzled me.  The blind man's healing begins with a conversation among the disciples who ask Jesus, "Teacher, whose sin caused this man to be born blind--his own or his parents' sin?"   The hidden argument behind this question was rooted in strict interpretations of the Law of Moses, which lifted up the notion that children were punished by God because of the sins of their parents and grandparents.   Jesus quickly debunks the legalistic approach to faith that the disciples were wrestling with, and declares that the man was born blind "so that God's power could be shown in him."   He then spits on the ground, makes some mud, smears it on the guy's eyes and tells him to go to a public pool and wash it off.  The guy goes and does what Jesus ...

In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus begins his greatest sermon, his essential teachings: The Sermon On The Mount.  One of the interesting aspects of The Sermon On The Mount is the pattern in which Jesus teaches.   He begins each new teaching with these words:  "You have heard it said..."  These words indicated that he was reminding them of the religious rules and regulations that they were supposed to follow as faithful, covenant people of God.   But then Jesus did something unexpected.  He would follow up his "You have heard it said," explanations of the religious laws with a new way of viewing the old commandments, and he would begin these new teachings with the words, "But I say to you..."   It would go something like this:   "You have heard it said, you must not murder...  But I say to you, if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be judged."  Or like this:   "You have heard it said, you must not commit adultery......