Episode 852
Exploring the Politics of Power in John 11:45-57 | 852
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).
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Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.
He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)
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Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)
A profound examination of the Gospel of John 11:45-57 reveals the intricacies of power dynamics within religious institutions and the implications of challenging oppressive systems. The narrative illustrates the tension between the miraculous acts of Jesus, which inspired belief among many, and the fear exhibited by the ruling authorities. The latter's concern for their diminishing power in the face of Jesus' growing influence raises critical questions about the intersection of faith and institutional integrity. The chief priest Caiaphas's pragmatic yet chilling assertion that it is better for one to perish than for the entire nation to suffer reflects an ancient, yet ongoing, practice of scapegoating. This episode urges listeners to reflect upon their own complicity in systems that prioritize institutional preservation over justice, challenging us to evaluate where we stand in the face of societal injustices.
Takeaways:
- The Gospel of John illustrates the dynamics of institutional power and the resistance to liberation.
- Caiaphas's statement about one dying for many exemplifies the enduring practice of scapegoating.
- The religious leaders' prioritization of power over justice mirrors contemporary challenges to systems of oppression.
- Jesus's movement advocates for radical inclusion, challenging societal norms of exclusion and division.
- This episode encourages listeners to reflect on their complicity in maintaining institutional privilege.
- We are invited to examine how our communities might resist necessary changes for justice and inclusion.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Voice of God Daily
Transcript
Brad Miller.
Speaker A:Hello good people.
Speaker A:Welcome to Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:I'm Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller and every day we bring you an audible reading of the Word of God from the Holy Bible for the selected verses.
Speaker A:The verses selected from the Revised Common Lectionary.
Speaker A:We're in year C of part of a three year cycle and this is the Lenten season.
Speaker A:We do so in such a way that make the Bible understandable.
Speaker A:Read the New Testament message version relatable.
Speaker A:We give you three points to ponder applicable by giving you an application step to take and we do so in under 10 minutes or so with a prayer.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by Voice of God Daily, our website, which is the home of the ABC 123 Bible Study Guide.
Speaker A: scripture for Today from John: Speaker A:That was a turning point for many of the Jews who were with Mary.
Speaker A:They saw what Jesus did and they believed him.
Speaker A:But some of them went back to the Pharisees and told on Jesus.
Speaker A:The high priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Jewish ruling body.
Speaker A:What do we do now?
Speaker A:They asked.
Speaker A:This man keeps on doing these things, creating God's signs.
Speaker A:If we let him go on, pretty soon everyone will be believing in him and the Romans will come and remove what little power and privilege we still have.
Speaker A:Then one of them, it was Caiaphas, the designated chief priest of that year, spoke up.
Speaker A:Don't you know anything?
Speaker A:Can't you see that it's to our advantage that one man dies for the people rather than the whole nation be destroyed?
Speaker A:He didn't say this of his own accord.
Speaker A:But as chief priest that year, he unwittingly prophesied that Jesus was about to die sacrificially for the nation.
Speaker A:And not only for the nation, but so that all God's exile scattered children might be gathered together into one people.
Speaker A:From that day on, they plotted to kill him.
Speaker A:So Jesus no longer went out in public among the Jews.
Speaker A:He withdrew into the country bordering the desert to a town called Ephraim and secluded himself there with his disciples.
Speaker A:The Jewish Passover was coming.
Speaker A:Crowds of people were making their way from the country up to Jerusalem to get themselves ready for the feast.
Speaker A:They were curious about Jesus.
Speaker A:There was a lot of talk of him among those standing around in the temple.
Speaker A:What do you think?
Speaker A:Do you think he'll show up at the feast or not.
Speaker A:Meanwhile, the high priests and the Pharisees gave out the word that anyone who knew his whereabouts should should inform them.
Speaker A:They were all set to arrest him.
Speaker A:Powerful section of scriptures here.
Speaker A:A scripture here from the Gospel of John.
Speaker A:It's this narrative about institutional power and resistance and the cost of challenging an oppressive system.
Speaker A:Let's get into some points to ponder.
Speaker A:The first one is about power and privilege versus liberation.
Speaker A:The religious leaders response to Jesus revealed how institutions often prioritize maintaining power over pursuing justice.
Speaker A:Their concern about what little power and privilege we still have mirrors contemporary reactions to movements that challenge systematic oppression.
Speaker A:We see this same dynamic today when religious institutions resist LGBTQ inclusion, racial injustice, racial justice, or economic reforms that might threaten their institutional privilege.
Speaker A:And this text invites us to examine where we might be complicit in choosing institutional stability over justice.
Speaker A:Here's another point.
Speaker A:It's about the politics of scapegoating.
Speaker A:Caiaphas statement about one dying for many reveals the ancient practice of scapegoating, which continues even in our time.
Speaker A:We see it in the demonization of immigrants, the marginalization of minorities, and the persecution of activists who challenge the status quo.
Speaker A:This biblical text calls us to recognize and resist these patterns of sacrificing vulnerable people for the supposed greater good of maintaining social order.
Speaker A:Another point is about building inclusive community.
Speaker A:This passage mentions gathering God's exile scattered children into one people while religious authorities sought to maintain boundaries and hierarchies.
Speaker A:Jesus movement was about radical inclusion and this challenges our modern tendencies towards nationalism, denominationalism and other forms of exclusion.
Speaker A:It calls us to envision and create communities that transcend artificial divisions.
Speaker A:Here's your action step.
Speaker A:Examine where you or your community might be choosing institutional comfort over justice.
Speaker A:Identify a specific way your faith community maintains privilege at the expense of others.
Speaker A:This might be through building use policies or budgeting priorities or some unofficial social boundaries.
Speaker A:We may have draft some sort of a concrete proposal for change and share it with others who might be helpful in implementing it.
Speaker A:Remember, challenging institutional power often comes with resistance.
Speaker A:That's exactly what Jesus faced.
Speaker A:We're going to pray in just a minute, but I did want to remind you and just share with you a great opportunity you have to pick up a resource, a free resource that we have.
Speaker A:It's called the Daily.
Speaker A:It's called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A:It's just a point by point way to study the Bible and we offer it to you free.
Speaker A:You just go to our website voiceofgoddaily.com that is where you can pick it up.
Speaker A:Use it in complement to hearing the word of God here on Daily Bible refresh.
Speaker A:The ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible study method.
Speaker A:Here's our prayer.
Speaker A:God, you are the divine source of justice.
Speaker A:We confess our tendency to choose comfort over transformation.
Speaker A:We acknowledge how often we, like the religious leaders, prioritize our institutional ST over your call to radical love and inclusion.
Speaker A:Give us courage to examine our complicity in systems that scapegoat and exclude.
Speaker A:Help us to recognize the ways we might be standing in the way of your liberating work.
Speaker A:When we face resistance for challenging unjust systems, grant us strength and wisdom.
Speaker A:Remind us that your vision of beloved community is worth the cost of our privilege.
Speaker A:Guide us in creating spaces where all your scattered children can truly belong in the spirit of revolutionary love and justice.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Well, my friends, so good to be with you.
Speaker A:Thank you for joining me here on the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:We'll be back again with you tomorrow.
Speaker A: n years, a million people, by: Speaker A:Until then, remember, my name is Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller.
Speaker A:And I just want to encourage you that remember that God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.
