Gentile = Roman

A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But [Jesus] said to them,

“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them;

and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 

But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest,

and the leader like one who serves. Luke 22:24-26

Dear Friends,

On Sunday (with the help of the children and the congregation), I told the story of the healing of the Gerasene demoniac. Like so many things we read in the Bible, it can be a challenge to understand and appreciate the context of the story and, hence, a challenge to understand how the early Christians would have heard it. Even the term “Gerasene demoniac” is off-putting… Gerasene means from Gerasa… That doesn’t help much! And when was the last time you had an encounter with a demoniac or even used the word?!

On Sunday, I provided some handles for these words:

·         Gerasene means that this was a man living in a Roman area,

·         Demoniac means that this man was not in his right mind (or his left as Dashell pointed out).

The context for Jesus’ ministry was not just that he was preaching and ministering to Jews and occasionally to some Gentiles but that is whole ministry was done in a region that had been conquered and was occupied by Rome. Recent archaeology has revealed that there was a major Roman city, Sepphoris, that was about 6km from Nazareth (where Jesus grew up). It is entirely possible that Joseph made furniture that was sold to people in this Roman city. Jesus would have been very familiar with Roman culture and society.

The Roman empire was in full swing during Jesus` time. It extended all the way around the Mediterranean Sea (which Romans called, Our Sea). Rome had acquired these lands through military conquest. A very strong standing army suppressed revolts and backstopped tax collection and tribute. Roman society had well-defined castes with the richest and most powerful at the top. At the bottom were slaves, children and women. One’s value was determined by how much one could be of value to the elites.

Within this context, Jesus brought word of a very different kind of kingdom… One where love, respect, service, charity, compassion and forgiveness were the order of the day. In addition to the Jews who were under the thumb of the Romans, this was good news to those who were devalued in Roman society: the poor, slaves, children, invalids, ill, women, and aliens. Jesus preached:

·         To be great in God’s kingdom, don’t be like the Romans but be the greatest servant;

·         Create treasures in heaven instead of stockpiling treasures on earth;

·         Don’t kill enemies but love and pray for them;

·         Treat all people as your neighbours and other believers as siblings;

·         To not judge people by their class or by their ethnicity;

·         Above all, love God and love one’s neighbour.

When we “try on” Jesus’ teaching TODAY with the awareness of this Roman context THEN, we find that this “Roman context” still resonates some today. The castes may be a little more subtle… the Roman patronage may look a little be more like employment… the quest for power and money is as alive as it has always been…

Jesus invitation to a new way of life—living life as a child of God—still calls for a radical reorientation and embracing countercultural values of service, generosity, forgiveness, compassion… and love of God and others.

Peace,

Pastor Phil