Monday, November 20, 2023
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Trouble, trouble, trouble
In the second century BCE, Antiochus IV, a Greek king over Israel and Jerusalem, erected a horrible abomination upon the altar of burnt offerings.
Alexander the Great died and his kingdom was divided into four parts, as Daniel had predicted a hundred years earlier. Antiochus was the proud son of one of one Alexander’s generals – he himself added Epiphanes to his name, a word which means “God Manifest.”
Yes, Mr. Antiochus thought highly of himself. In his hubris he sought to destroy the faith, scrolls and traditions that belonged to Yahweh.
Any scrolls of the law which they found were torn up and burnt. Whoever possessed a scroll of the covenant or observed the Jewish Law was condemned to death.
The king would be challenged by righteous Jews, but not before many of the righteous suffered for their loyalty to Yahweh.
Many in Israel were determined and resolved not to eat anything unclean; they preferred to die. And they did die. Terrible affliction had fallen upon Israel.
Remember, without electricity or batteries it would be difficult to spy on your neighbor, at least at night. Soldiers would endanger their own lives if they entered the dark confines of Jerusalem. Everyone, on both “sides”, lived in fear, even terror, knowing little except what they could see with their own eyes.
“What’s that sound?” A cat meowed, looking for its bowl of milk and knocking over a vase of desert flowers. The children slept on, but Mom and Dad were instantly awake. As daybreak opened their eyes, the silent night awakened and began to bustle with the noises of neighbors and the market, shouts, cows being milked, and perhaps, in corners unnoticed, conversation. Plans for rebellion, hiding weapons, waiting … just a little longer.
Though the snares of the wicked are twined about me, your law I have not forgotten. I behold the apostates with loathing, but I am attacked by malicious men who are far from your law.
Judas Maccabees listens to his father and uncle, who are very angry. He is growing strong, chiseled muscles, tall, and he is becoming angry too.
Jesus did not speak of Judas Maccabees. He spoke of turning the other cheek, and not resisting evil with evil. Were there other rabbis, perhaps Sadducees, who spoke this way in Second Century BCE? Centuries later, popes and others developed a doctrine of Just War from the stories of Maccabees. What did Jesus think of Just War?
We talked about these questions in our Sunday School class. Many of us had stories about standing, or not standing, up against evil. I wish Jesus had been there to help us understand how we should live.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.
When I follow Jesus and am persecuted for my trouble, maybe my family is killed – where is the light of life then? The light of life has not gone out. Can I get a longer view? How?
Certainly my view will be longer the more troubles that come my way. Longer even as I live a normal life, full of trials and trouble. There are days when Jesus walks by and restores my sight.
What do you want me to do for you? “Lord, please let me see.” And Jesus said, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”
Bartimaeus “followed Jesus, giving glory to God.” In the weeks and years to come, following Jesus, he endured trials as did everyone around him. Eventually his body wore out and he died. Or perhaps he was killed by a Roman soldier. We don’t get to hear the rest of the story.
But that’s because the “rest of the story” is only postscript. Bartimaeus was given the light of life, and he followed Jesus. That’s it, the exclamation mark, all he needed to get to the finish line. Us too.
When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.
(1 Macabees 1, Psalm 119, John 8, Luke 18)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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