David continues to flee like an upstart instead of standing his ground like the established king that he is. Mephibosheth repays David's kindness by trying to take over the throne as soon as David flees. Absalom shows he has no clue what he has gotten himself in for by blindly taking advice from Ahithophel.
New Testament
Does anyone like Jesus from the Gospel of John? I know people like what he has to say, but does anyone like Jesus as he is presented as an individual in this gospel? (And yes, I realize that to some people this question is meaningless because they only see one Jesus across the gospels.)
In any case, Jesus is tried before Pilate. Pilate tries and tries to save him, but the Jews will not have it, so Pilate eventually orders Jesus crucified. Jesus is humiliated and beat and then hung up on the cross.
Psalms and Proverbs
ס (samekh) and ע (ayin).
Off the top of my head, I love Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), I love his healing of Lazarus (John 11), and his washing of the disciples' feet (John 13). I also love his treatment of the woman caught in adultery, but there is some confusion over whether that story actually belongs there.
ReplyDeleteHis words, on the other hand, are incredibly divisive. He makes some of his most famous--and most comforting--statements in John, yes, but he also delivers several long and alienating diatribes. Those harsh discourses might add to the characterization of John's Jesus as less human and more God-like.
Regardless, you are right in saying that most Christians view the four gospels as different perspectives of the same man, so it is ultimately a moot point. However, even viewing them separately, there is a lot I like about John's Jesus, even though there is also a lot that is alienating.
On the plus side, we are almost through the Gospels and on to new territory! Not that I don't like reading about Jesus--I am just struggling to find new things to say about the fourth account of the crucifixion!