| Relevant Text |
Issues Facing Hebrew Christians ca 100 AD |
1.
"This is truly the prophet who has come into the world."
| Hebrew Christians had to face up to the question as to whether Jesus was a great prophet or something more. |
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2.
"..so they could make him a king."
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With the Temple and Jerusalem itself destroyed in 70 AD Hebrew Christians had to question whether they thought of the new Church as a spiritual force or a political one.
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3.
"They were afraid."
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The Acts of the Apostles show it was the Hebrew Christians, who continued to call themselves Jews, who wanted to continue with Jewish observances and who hesitated about reliance on Jesus and his Word |
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4.
".. while teaching in a synagogue in Capernaum."
| Hebrew Christians continued to attend the synagogue |
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5.
"His brothers said this because they did not believe in him."
| If Jesus had been connected with Essenes, these would be known as his "brothers". If some Essenes 'converted' to become 'Christians', tensions would still continue c/f the "false brethren" of Paul. |
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6.
" Is he about to go to the dispersion of the Greeks (around the Roman Empire) and so teach the Greeks?"
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It would be Hebrew Christians asking about teaching the Greeks as distinct from themselves |
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7.
"...scribes and the Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in adultery."
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Even after conversion Hebrew Christians identified themselves by their previous background, as did Paul. "Christians" from a Pharisee background wanted to keep the details of Mosaic law. If they avoided eating with Hellenists (c/f Gentiles) it is unlikely they would accept marriage with them. |
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8.
"They (those who believe and yet are critics?) answered him "We are the seed of Abraham.."
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Hebrew Christians still had to be challenged to trust in the word of Jesus rather than their status as descendants from Abraham. |
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9.
"The Jews had already agreed that if anyone should acknowledge him (Jesus) to be the Christ they would be put out of the synagogue."
| Later in the first century the Jews agreed to put "Christians" out of the synagogue by requiring that a prayer/curse against them be included in Synagogue services. |
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10.
"I have other sheep that are not of this fold and it behoves me to bring them (into this fold) also."
| The early Church developed from the base of Jewish converts. Early church leaders would echo the words of Jesus to insist that those of a non-Jewish background are invited to join it. |
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11.
"Has it not been written in your law.."
| The Acts of the Apostles shows that many Hebrew Christians thought the external framework of Mosaic Law had more authority than a following of Jesus |
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12.
".. where John had at first been baptizing."
| John's first mission was to those of Jewish heritage. |
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13.
"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus."
| Jesus had deep bonds within a Jewish community as did Hebrew Christians in later decades. |
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14.
"Any person who lives and believes in me will not be dead (and have to wait for ) the end of time."
| Hebrew Christians tended to believe c/f Jewish tradition that resurrection occurred at the end of time. Jesus taught that his kingdom extended beyond the realm of death and therefore resurrection would take place before this. |
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15.
"But (in saying this) he did not realise that he was actually making a prophecy"
| This comment shows how John the writer is reflecting on the life of Jesus in terms of later events. The Romans destroyed the Temple and priesthood in 70 AD. The Jewish nation was faced with extinction. But the emerging church, with its Jewish roots and wider membership was providing a type of "buffer zone" for the Jews? |
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16.
"..if anyone knew where he was they should inform on him so that they might arrest him."
| The Hebrew Chriatians were still faced with the prospect of betrayal by others as in the persecutions by the Emperor Nero (54-68AD) |
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17.
"But me you do not always have."
| The presence of Jesus in a community is more nebulous that the external rituals that were being held onto by Hebrew Christians. |
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18.
"The crowd who were with him were there when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and out of the dead. Then they were met with a crowd who had heard that he had worked this sign."
| In Johns community there were those of the Hebrew tradition who had personal contacts with people who had been part of Jesus life and miracles. Then there was the crowd of later comers (from a Gentile background and next the generation) who had heard about all this. |
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19.
".. unless the grain of wheat falling in to the ground dies, it remains on its own. But if it dies it bears much fruit."
| The Hebrew Christians are holding development of the church back by clinging to their rituals and previous framework of culture and thinking, |
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20.
".. even out of the rulers there were many who believed in him (Jesus). But because of the Pharisees they did not (openly) confess this in case they should be put out of the synagogue."
| This paralleled the situation faced by Hebrew Christians who continued to attend the synagogue in the time of John. |
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21.
"The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has one judging him (that is) the word which I spoke."
| John points out that there is a shift from emphasis on the Mosaic law as judge to an emphasis on the Word |
