Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Week 2: Matrix, Parties, Baptism, Testation


 Prayer: Corina Gonzales, who shared last week about her husband being killed in an accident,
had her son die this last week.  She has dropped out of class.
Here is the news and fundraiser:

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Everyone was assigned to a  party (by last name)
  • A-G=Pharisee
  • H-M=Sadducee
  • N-S Zealot
  • T-Z Essene
More on the parties:

 --






-Tell me what these clips from "The Matrix" that we watched in class have to do with today's
 topics: Jesus' birth, call,  baptism...or anything connected to the Bible or Jesus,  Watch all five short parts in a row..

part 1: white rabbit  (click to view)
part 2:  Neo meets Trinity
part 3:  choose your pill:
part 4: waking from the dream:
part 5: immersion into the Matrix
: 
If interested in Christian symbolism in The Matrix, click:

Resources on "The Matrix"

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Matthew 3New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

3 In those days
 John the Baptist (Immerser; Baptizer, Morpheus) 
appeared (!)
       in the wilderness of Judea, 
 proclaiming, 
'2 “Repent (change mind/change direction. Click here for the  Leadfoot story i told),
 for the  (core message) kingdom (political term)  of heaven (why not Kingdom of God?) has come near.”[a](at hand)3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight.’”
4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees  (parties)coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. (bounded set: how to get in?) 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with[b] water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire.  (is  baptism with Holy Spirit and fire a good thing?012 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (chiasm)
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” chiasm)
 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.17 And a voice from heaven said,
 “This is my Son,
             the Beloved,[d]
                        with whom I am well pleased.”
4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (God's devil) 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter  (testation) came and said to him, “If (since) you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, (intertext, hyperlink )
‘One does not live by bread  (economic) alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, (relig) 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
    and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world (polit) and their splendor; 9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God,
    and serve only him.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. (cf Luke)
12 Now when Jesus[a] heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
    on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people who sat in darkness
    have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
    light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim,
 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”[b] (sound familiar?)
8 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”  20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee  and his brother John, (Tank and Dozer) in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, (both) and followed him.
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--D
-Dave on Jesus' baptism: he starts by answering the "Texas baptism" question:


    testation part 1:
    part 2




    BAPTISM/TESTATIONS





    Joel Hofman has a great point:

    All Bible translators have to confront the problem of words that don't convey the same meaning to a modern audience as they did to an ancient one, said linguist Joel M. Hoffman, author of "And God Said - How Translations Conceal the Bible's Original Meaning."
    "For example, `John the Baptist' was really like `John the Dunker,'" Hoffman said.
    John was doing something new by submerging people in water to cleanse them of their sins, but that is lost on people 2,000 years later, Hoffman said. Today, people hearing John's title might think it refers to a Baptist denomination rather than his then-strange behavior.  -link


    -- 





    What are the THREE Scriptures quoted, paraphrased are alluded to   in the "Text message from God" at Jesus' baptism:

    “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”  





    ---
    Notes from FPU faculty Camp/Roberts:

    All four gospels contain a version of Jesus’ baptism. Matthew records the story of Jesus’ baptism in chapter 3, Mark begins his gospel with the story in 1:1-11, Luke has the story in short form in 3:21-22, and John’s version is in 1:19-34.  How does this text further answer the question “Who is Jesus?” in Matthew?
     Read Matthew 3:1-17 Matt transitions to Jesus’ adult ministry by introducing him at his baptism. Mt uses a common ancient literary device called syncresis, which means to make a judgment about something or someone by comparison. It is, in that sense, a simple comparison/contrast. There are 2 comparisons that are being made in chapter 3. One has to do with Jesus and John, the other with Jesus and the Pharisees/ Sadducees. The passage is structured in 3 sections. vv. 1-6 is a description of John and his message. John is presented as a fulfillment of a passage from Isaiah 40, where Israel is being called to return from exile. John is engaged in the same ministry as Isaiah, that of recalling the people. One might conclude that Mt is insinuating that whileIsrael returned from exile in they never fully returned to God. John’s appearance and location set him the liminal space of the wilderness, apart from Jerusalem society. He stands in the JordanRiver, where Israel also would have crossed into the land as they returned. The place of baptism in the Jordanmay draw the reader’s attention to the fresh start crossing the Jordan into the land represented for Israel.
                              --
     vv. 7-10 is a description of the Pharisees, Sadducees and others coming to John for baptism. John confronts them with a message of repentance that specifies the repentance must include acts of righteousness that demonstrate their repentance. The reference “God is able from these stones to raise up children of Abraham” may draw the readers attention to the 12 stones piled at the Jordan when Israelentered the land under Joshua’s leadership. The implication is that even stones can be made into children of Abraham. The difference is their acts have to reflect the righteousness characteristic of true repentance and change.

    A brood of vipers refers to a hole in ground where snakes would lay eggs and cover them with dirt for incubation. The newly hatched snakes would remain in the ground undetected by those passing by. A misstep into such a nest could be fatal. The threat is unseen; the passerby thinks the ground is safe, but it is not.The reference to cutting down plants that do not bear fruit is a common analogy used throughout Matthew (for example 7:16-20, 13:24-30). vv 11-12presents John comparing himself to “the one coming.”  The comparison is based on a greater than/ lesser than logic. John is lesser because he baptizes with water; the one coming is greater because he baptizes because he baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire. John is lesser because he is not worthy to carry the sandals of the one coming. John announces judgment, the one coming is actually able to bring judgment.
                               --
     vv 13-17 draws a comparison between Jesus and the Sadducees/ Phar and between Jesus and John. Note the way that the Sadducees and Pharisees are greeted vs. how Jesus is greeted. (see worksheet) The comparison between Jesus and John involves John putting himself as the lesser in Jesus’ presence. Jesus’ enigmatic response allowing John to baptize him is said to “fulfill all righteousness.” How is this to be understood? Does Jesus need to be baptized in the same way others do? John’s is 

    a baptism of repentance; is this what Jesus thinks he needs to do?
    Repentance doesn’t only mean turning from inappropriate action, but also involves going in the direction you ought to be going. Jesus aligns himself with God’s purposes. The dynamics between John and Jesus would seem to indicate that part of God’s purpose is for J not to take the greater position but to place himself in the subservient position to John.  This is a crucial, initial assertion that we will see reiterated through Mt’s gospel, which links righteousness to a reversal of power relationships, and Jesus being the faithful, humble servant. Immediately following this action, the divine voice announces affirmation of this action and of Jesus’ identity as beloved son. This is what is expected of the son.
    ---

    B

    We noted today that the baptism of Jesus  (chapter 3) and the temptations (chapter 4) should be read together as one literary unit or paragraph 

    Especially helpful is the suggestion by Donald Kraybill ("The Upside Down Kingdom") 

    and Ray Van Der Laan that throughout  his earthly life, Jesus was revisited by remixes of the original three temptations ("testations" ) of the devil"in chapter 4.

    Kraybill provocatively proffers the following taxonomy of the temptations; suggesting that any later temptation Jesus faced (or we face) is at heart in one of these three spheres:


    1=  Bread into stones: Economic 

    2=Jump from temple and test God:Religious 

     3=Own all kingdoms: Political; 





    1=  Bread into stones:  temptatio

    ations along your life timeline, and ask which of Jesus' temptation are each is  tied to.


    "Jesus was tempted in every single way humans are..."(click here for the shocking source...but warning, it's a dangerous book for religious folk!) 

    SO..if every temptation can be filed under one of the three categories:



    Economic    Religious   Political..

    or
    Relevant    Spectacular   Rule over

    ..under which does sexual temptation occur?

    Note Rob Bell's definition of "sexuality," biblically defined:


    "For many, sexuality is simply what happens between two people involving physical pleasure. But that's only a small percentage of what sexuality is. Our sexuality is all the ways we strive to reconnect with our world, with each other, and with God." (Rob Bell, "Sex God," p. 42)...
    These charts explained in Dave's testation video:




    How might virtually all temptations (the three Jesus faced, or others you could name) be fundamentally economic?  Kraybill, you'll remember, calls the bread temptation "economic," but how might any/all others temptations trace to this root/'garbage"?
    HINT: We noted that he term economics comes from the Ancient Greekοἰκονομία (oikonomia, "management of a household, administration") from οἶκος (oikos, "house") + νόμος (nomos, "custom" or "law"), hence "rules of the house(hold)".[1
     

    S

    Note  that the baptism of Jesus  (chapter 3) and the temptations (chapter 4) should be read together as one literary unit or paragraph ( a "coupling" or "particularization") as two items connected.

    NOTE: we'll use (as Van Der Laan does 
     drop-down box 
    for the biblical word
    which could be translated
    Temptation                               and/or                                           Test

    "testation."



    Kvocatively proffers the following taxonomy of the temptations; suggesting that any later temptation Jesus faced (or we face) is at heart in one of these three spheres:



    1=  Bread into stones: Economic 

    2=Jump from temple and test God:Religious 

     3=Own all kingdoms: Political; 




    Henri Nouwen ("in the Name of Jesus" breaks it down this way:

    1=  Bread into stones:  temptation to be relevant

     2=Jump from temple and test God:   temptation to be spectacular  

    3=Own all kingdoms: Political;   temptation to be rule over


    So, it may be useful to plot out various temptations along your life timeline, and ask which of Jesus' temptation are each is  tied to.


    Nouwen himself,  one of the most profound writers on the temptations of Jesus, was both Catholic (gasp!) and struggled with homosexual temptation (!!!)..


    And....Uh, on that last temptation, the homosexual one, he was in good company, according to a good Book I read:


    "Jesus was tempted in every single way humans are..."(click here for the shocking source...but warning, it's a dangerous book for religious folk!) 


    SO..if every temptation can be filed under one of the three categories:





    Economic    Religious   Political..


    or
    Relevant    Spectacular   Rule over


    ..under which does sexual temptation occur?


    Note Ron Bell's definition of "sexuality," biblically defined:



    "For many, sexuality is simply what happens between two people involving physical pleasure. But that's only a small percentage of what sexuality is. Our sexuality is all the ways we strive to reconnect with our world, with each other, and with God." (Rob Bell, "Sex God," p. 42)...



    How might virtually all temptations (the three Jesus faced, or others you could name) be fundamentally economic?  Kraybill, you'll remember, calls the bread temptation "economic," but how might any/all others temptations trace to this root/'garbage"?
    HINT: We noted that he term economics comes from the Ancient Greekοἰκονομία (oikonomia, "management of a household, administration") from οἶκος (oikos, "house") + νόμος (nomos, "custom" or "law"), hence "rules of the house(hold)".[1]   
    ------------------


    Note  that the baptism of Jesus  (chapter 3) and the temptations (chapter 4) should be read together as one literary unit or paragraph ( a "coupling" or "particularization") as two items connected.


    Remember how important repeated words are..in this case,  "SON":













    -The segue is direct..."Then after his baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit  into the desert for temptation by the devil."  (Matt. 4:1)
    (see this amazing assortment of Scriptures, maybe he is "God's devil" after all..)




    -In light of that, ask In what other ways do the baptism and temptation connect?
    How does baptism prepare for temptation?





    HERE are some helpful questions you might think about if you want to pursue this topic::

    • 1)What were the three temptations of Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11, Compare any ways Mark's account,  Mark 1:12-13  and  Luke's account, Luke 4:1-13 differ, and suggest any reasons why.
    • 2)How does Nouewen summarize the three temptations(1=to be relevant  2=to be spectacular 3=to rule over). H?  How do you (use your own words)?
    • 3)How do the three temptations connect to the historical and literary world of the Hebrew ("Old')Testament?
    • 4)How do the three temptations connect to the contemporary world of Jesus and the disciples?
    • 5)List and discuss several possible ways that versions of the three temptations reoccur and are revisited  throughout Jesus' life in Matthew's gospel?  (How is Jesus tested/tempted elswhere in Matthew, and how are the temptations versions of a similar one (two, or three) that he faced in the original temptation passage?
    • 6)What are the three core temptations you face, and how have they revisited you  throughout your timeline?  How would you categorize them using Nouwen's categories?  Using the three categories of the "Shema"  (heart/mind/might) a la  Vander Laan'?  Using Kraybill's three categories (1=Economic 2=Religious  3=Political; see chapters 1-4 of "Upside Down Kingdom")
    • 7)What have you learned about passing these tests/resiisting these temptations?
    • 8)What does all of this  (the Matt 4 Scripture, and testing/tempting) have to do with the Kingdom?
    • 9)Discuss how the passages that deal with Jesus not being immune to temptation( Hebrews 2:17-18, Hebrews 4:14-16,  and Hebrews 5:7-9) affect your views of  "Who is Jesus?" and of Jesus' divinity and humanity.
    •  
    -----------

     Moodle video: We watchhed"Into the Desert to Be Tested (video and study guide found at the link; or direct click below to watch the video
    ckick  here \
    to watch it), ( If it doesn't work, you may need to be use Firefox and/or have downloaded the free VLC videolan player here. Problems playing? Call FPU COL here). 

    --

     TIMELINES: THE FIRST THREE STUDENTS PRESENTED THEIR TIMELINES TONIGHT:  It was powerful to hear your stories:

    Here is a link about timelines, which includes the timelines ofa  few other classes.
    Here is a facebook album of  the timelines of several classes and cohorts 

     Here are a few to compare
     Here's the one where the student lost five children: "Demise".  remember this?




     .
    Remember what Kraybill said:
    Especially helpful is the suggestion by Donald Kraybill ("The Upside Down Kingdom") and Ray Van Der Laan (  video)  that throughout  his earthly life, Jesus was revisited by remixes of the original three temptations ("testations" ) of the devil"in chapter 4. - See more at: http://davewainscott.blogspot.com/2012/02/timelines-and-testations-jesus.html#sthash.dDNQduHa.dpuf



    Especially helpful is the suggestion by Donald Kraybill ("The Upside Down Kingdom") and Ray Van Der Laan (  video)  that throughout  his earthly life, Jesus was revisited by remixes of the original three temptations ("testations" ) of the devil"in chapter 4. - See more at: http://davewainscott.blogspot.com/2012/02/timelines-and-testations-jesus.html#sthash.dDNQduHa.dpuf




    --
    Note: I had this on the board..but didn't tell you the good news about it yet.  This is a "signs" quiz, and will be your quiz Week 4.  It replaces your terms quiz.  Simple mix and match.    All answers below, and highlighted if we covered them already in class, or in Dave's videos above.

    a)Three Worlds

    b)Chiasm
    c)inclusio(n)
    d)bounded set
    e)centered set
    f)fuzzy set
    g)drop down box
    h)Kingdom
    i)intertextuality/hyperlinking
    j)generalization/particularization
    k)Venn it!
    l)Loud fart/parable
    m)Excluded Middle Zone
    n)recurrence
    o)anomaly

    --


    Ie.

    ---\
    Service project preview:
    (we read the instructions and fielded questions
    Church visit preview:
    Preparation Reading:
    • Read all of Matthew in one sitting.   SKIM Then reread chapters 5-7, 10, 13, 18 and 24-25.
    • Kraybill chapters 5-7
    • Fee & Stuart chapter 8: The Parables
    • NOAB article, “Cultural Contexts: The Roman Period,” p. 2247-2253 – (this focuses on the early church & Jesus’ interactions with Roman Culture…this makes sense in terms of the 3 Worlds Presentation due this week)

    Remember:
    - we cancelled the Parables Worksheet.
    - We adapted/simplified the Three Worlds Presentation:

     Three Worlds Presentation
    Prepare a 5-minute “Three Worlds Presentation” on a single text from Matthew’s gospel. Presentations will be made to a smaller group of students, so assessment of this assignment is based on what you turn in to the instructor. Thus it is very important that you have a script or quite detailed outline of your presentation that clearly demonstrates you were working with the three worlds of the single text you chose.<Remember, we  simplified this assignment and said it need NOT  be detailed.  Even if you just make a list of questions for your presentation, or offer a short devotional, that's fine.  Do take a stab at trying to make sense of the text in context.  Maybe include a thought like "Who is Jesus in this text?  He is the One who_______________" 
    If you prefer listening, try an app for phone or computer that will do that.   Here is free audio of Matthew  on Amazon.  Be sure to listen in your class translation: NRSV (New Revised Standard Version)
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