I've added a bit to yesterday's posting. Also, I have neglected to recommend that you take a look at the scripture that is quoted or mentioned.
What we have then in chapter 9 (of John's gospel - remember the story of the blind man) alone is a worldview of the sin of the world and the way Jesus comes to remove that sin, on his way subverting the understanding of sin completely. When this worldview is linked to other Johannine passages, we begin to get something close to what one might call a theology of original sin. In the first place consider the passage already alluded to in chapter 8 (of John's gospel), where Jesus discusses with the Jews who had believed in him their paternity and his. This passage is the Johannine equivalent of the woes to the scribes and Pharisees which appear in Matthew and Luke, where the ultimate criterion is the same: participation or not in a religion based on murder. Matthew and Luke specifically indicate that the history of murder of which this generation is accomplice goes back to Cain. When John refers to 'your father the devil (who) was a murderer from the beginning' this is also a reference back to the primordial murder which Genesis places at the beginning of human culture. Related to this primordial murder is a culture of lies, lies related to murder, as well as a blindness that cannot see the truth. Abraham was part of the way out of this culture based on the murderous lie, and if Jesus' interlocutors had been sons of Abraham as they claimed, they would not be trying to kill him, but they are trying to kill him, and therefore are the sons of Cain, whose desires were produced by the devil. Where Paul talks of sons of wrath, John talks of sons of the devil, who was a murderer from the beginning. The idea is the same: from the beginning human culture is radically mendacious and murderous. This can be understood only in the light of the Son who reveals the true Father and thus true sonship.
First of all, I once again must make the simple note that when I quote someone I do not change their gender images. In something I was reading for the sermon for this Sunday one author noted that Abraham breaks the cycle of human sacrifice when the story tells of the Ram offered instead of his son. No longer among those who follow in the way of Abraham will there be the offering of human blood for the well-being of others. This doesn't merely mean literal sacrifice on an altar. Rather, no more killing others for the sake of rescuing or saving ourselves from trouble or turmoil. No more killing. No more Cain and Abel. This line of Abraham - this line - will be a line that emerges and grows out of promise - not violence. We will receive life - not take it. In receiving life the future will open up into possibilities not yet visible. When we think we must take life to make life for ourselves, we are a part of the clan that is led by that 'murderer from the beginning - we have many names for that power of death.
Connection: What will be the story we will believe/trust as we move forward in this day? Will it be the lie that has run the world from the beginning of time? Will it be the image of the God who makes promises for new life and then pulls us into that life? I want - I need - to be pulled because I too often will settle for the same old story. And yet, it takes a power beyond my own to break that cycle. This is the place and time for the Holy Spirit. This is the place and time for creative imagination that risks becoming real.
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