Perhaps the most important issue tackled in the book of Job
is the issue of suffering and justice in the world. We know that Job's suffering is not due to
sin so the arguments of his friends, which are all based on the premise that
this is the result of some sin in Job's life, are simply wrong. Suffering is a given in this life because we
live in a world broken by sin. The only
righteous man, completely without sin, who ever lived, suffered mightily and
more or less constantly. We focus on the
suffering of the trial and the cross but Jesus' family didn't believe in Him,
the people who knew Him longest doubted Him, even His disciples sometimes seem
to have questioned if He was truly who they thought He was. Bildad urges Job to get over it and shut
up. The proof that Job is not righteous
is what has happened to him. Surely the
wisdom of the ages tells him that to be truth.
Let us never be guilty of being friends like these.
Jesus, at the festival, meets both admiration and
opposition. Some believe but others
question. Such is always the case isn't
it? Some imagine that Jesus must be
Messiah because of what He has done and the authority of His teaching, He is
learned without having been taught by any of the best rabbis. Jesus is trying to get them to move past what
they think they know to what they can absolutely know if they are willing to
accept the evidence before them. Some
believe on account of the signs and miracles He has done while others can't see
past what they believe about His origins in order to come to faith. The leaders determine that this is getting
out of hand and move to arrest Jesus. In
response He speaks of going where they cannot come, causing greater confusion
among them in the belief that He must mean going to the diaspora. Sometimes our wisdom gets in the way of
knowledge.
Peter's vision ends and three men show up, in accord with
what he has heard from the Spirit, and tell him of the vision that Cornelius
has experienced. By the time they arrive
in Caesarea Peter has understood that the vision wasn't about food so much as
it was about people. He explains that
he, as Jew, wouldn't have come to a
Gentile's home but because God gave him a vision he now understands there is
nothing common or unclean about people.
Cornelius relates his vision that he was to send for Peter and implores
Peter to say all he has been commanded by the Lord. I wonder if Peter saw in Cornelius' reaction
to his presence, falling at his feet and worshipping him, his own reaction to
Jesus on the lake that first time when they had the great catch of fish? Jesus didn't deflect the worship but Peter
knew himself to be unworthy, "I too am a man." Knowing who we are
keeps us grounded.
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