The Symbols of the Kingdom.

This is from a reading review I wrote for a class. First I summarize the reading and them I reflect on it. I felt that my reflection was at least interesting if not significant, however, this is probally not the most exciting thing to read.

But you might learn something. So if you would like to feel free.

Erik Germesin
Jesus and the Gospels [GBIB561.30]
Reading Review of Jesus and the Victory of God, pp. 369-473


Review
This reading begins by looking at how Jesus viewed the institutions and symbols of Israel and in doing so redefined them. Wright argues that Jesus did not intend to depart form Judaism as a whole but instead was calling Israel back to the intentions behind their traditions. Jesus was presenting that the return from exile, which is the real return of God to Zion, was happening in and through His work.

The return from exile was understood as being marked by a restoration of the whole of creation, which focused on the healing of the sick. Wright argues thats Jesus intended that His works of healing would be understood as representing this. Instead of restoring land Jesus instead restored people to wholeness. Jesus chose to act in a fashion that was symbolic in this way.

Family was another symbol in the Judaism that Jesus intentionally redefined. Jesus made it clear that He considered anyone who followed Him to be family and that as such they should act to each other as family. Family would normally be the first priority and Jesus challenged this by putting priority on the Kingdom. Wright notes that this was represented by Jesus in His sharing of table-fellowship with anyone who shared His agenda. Allegiance with Jesus was a new family tie that was more important that any other.

Wright shows how Jesus redefined Torah simply by stating that, “Forgiveness lay at the heart of the symbolic praxis which was to characterize his redefined Israel.” Jesus still intended this praxis of Torah to set His followers apart from the people around them. They were to demonstrate mercy and forgiveness to others as it was given to them.

Much like the Torah, Wright presents the Temple as not a bad symbol of Israel but one that Jesus intended to transcend. Jesus was controversial because He was claiming that in His work the Temple was being rebuilt. This also alludes into the idea that Jesus was able in Himself to provide forgiveness as this was an idea that went with Temple worship and the sacrifices. With this Wright discusses how all the symbols that Jesus redefined were all part of a return from exile for Israel.

Wright then addresses the questions of the Kingdom. The first of these, ‘who are we?’ Wright answers by stating that, “we are Israel, the chosen people of the creator god... in the process of being redeemed at last by this god, over against the spurious claimants who are either in power or mounting alternative programmes.” The question of, ‘where are we?’ Jesus answered by giving the news that the slaves were being freed and that the meek would inherit the land. Jesus looked at the question of, ‘what’s wrong?’ by identifying the true enemy, which was not Rome, but the Satan. ‘What’s the solution?’ could be simply stated as that Jesus was the solution as being the movement by which Israel would be restored. Finally the last question of, ‘what time is it?’ is that Jesus believed that Israel’s God was acting now, at the time of Jesus’ ministry so that the time of the Kingdom of God had arrived.

Reflection
Looking at the symbols of Israel is it clear that the ministry of Jesus was intended to address and redefine them. Considering the power that symbols have in the story of a culture it is safe to assume that Jesus wanted the symbols He presented to be significant in the Kingdom that He established. Just as Jesus restored people to wholeness, allowed all who followed Him to be treated as family, demonstrated grace and forgiveness, and showed Himself to be the source of forgiveness the church today is to use this as their example in their praxis.

It is clear in these that Jesus found people to be significant and not just ‘people’ as a whole group. The symbols that Jesus redefined all point to the idea that He valued individual people and their significance. This considers the idea that Jesus still restores people to wholeness, calls us to treat any who respond to His message as family, calls us to demonstrates grace and forgiveness to people, and shows himself to be the source of forgiveness.

The questions of the Kingdom that Wright presents also apply to the Church today as a source of analyzing our practice. Jesus’ Kingdom responses to these questions lead to an understanding that the Kingdom of God is now and those who are a part of this Kingdom need to know what is going on in it.