Templeton Project: Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John–His Enemies

Back in October 2015 I wrote about the inauguration of the Abington Templeton Foundation (see here).  The project is now underway (see here) and I will be posting our writing here.

Check out the latest piece entitled “Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John–His Enemies.”

See also:

• Grounds for the Project
• The Biblical Foundation – Apology
• Apology in the New Testament II
• Apology in the New Testament III
• With Gentleness and Respect
• Elect Exiles of the Dispersion – the Importance of Identity
• The Present Cultural Environment in America
• Flannery O’Connor’s ‘Push Back’
• Saint Paul’s Civility
• Unbelievers
• Christ, Culture, and Christians
• Jesus and His Opponents in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew
• The Holy Spirit as Apologist
• On Listening to God and One Another
• Deep Conviction and Commitment
• Questions Unbelievers (especially Atheists) May Ask in Dialogue
• Waning Faith and Yearning Heart
• The Apostle on Mars Hill (Areopagus)
• A Fire, a World of Unrighteousness
• Civil Blood Makes Civil Hands Unclean
• Examples of Uncivil and Civil Speech
• Of Self-Control
• Humor in Dialogue
• Utopian Dreams
• Do we understand each other?
• When We Differ
• Dialogue and Personality
• Of Anger
• Discipleship and Apologetics
• Nurturing Christian Disciples
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics I
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics II–Wise as Serpents and Innocent as Doves
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics III–Endurance
• Discipleship and Apologetics IV–Family Conflict
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics V–Doing the Will of the Father as Peacemakers
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics XII–“The Tree is Known by Its Fruit”
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics VI–A Sword, Not Peace
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics VII–Repentance and the Forgiveness of Sins
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics VIII–Mission to the Gentiles
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics IX–The Parable of the Sower
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics X–“Fear not, do not be afraid
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics XI–“Come to me, . . . and I will give you rest
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics XIII–Humility
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics XIV–Woes Turned to the Wisdom of Christ and the Blessings of the Kingdom
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics XV–The Sign of the Cross
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics XVI–The Resurrection
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics XVII–The Judgment
• Discipleship in Matthew and Apologetics XVIII–The Vision
• Templeton Project: Inside the Heart and Mind of an Atheist
• Spare, Knowledgeable, and Wise Speech
• Truth as the Only Solid Foundation for Inquiry and Dialogue
• What is Bigotry
• What is Bigotry? Part II: Ideology
• Establishment and Distortion of the Facts
• Confused Mind and Inconstant Heart
• Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John–John the Baptist
• Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John–The Mother of Our Lord
• Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John–Nicodemus
• Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John–The Samaritan Woman
• The Need for Self-Control
• Self-control and American Culture
• Is Transformation Possible?
• Values and Virtue–the Difference
• The Coronavirus
• Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John–The Healing of an Official’s Son
• Coronavirus Update
• A Prayer in a Time of Pandemic
• A Troubled Nation
• Articulation of the Faith in Times of Crisis
• Father Seraphim on Nihilism
• Day to Day Nihilism
• Who or What is Absurd?
• Christian Leadership
• The Power of the Invisible
• The Great Revolution
• Religious vs. Spiritual
• Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John–The Man at the Pool of Siloam, the Blind Man, and the Dead Man
• The Ideological Use of a Virus (Covid-19)

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Some who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead believed in Him; others sought His death.   Responding to those who were worried about Jesus’ bringing people to belief and the possible violent reaction of Rome, Caiaphas said, “You know nothing at all.  Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”  (John 11: 49b-50 ESV)  The irony is that Caiaphas unknowingly served as a prophet in making the correct prediction that Jesus’ death was on behalf of the people.  Jesus’ enemies plotted for His death.  They also plotted the death of Lazarus, because his coming back to life brought many to believe in Jesus.

Out of the raising of Lazarus comes intent to kill both him and Jesus.  Christians should remember that to serve Christ is to be vulnerable to persecution and even death.  No Christian should be surprise at these possibilities.

Judas, one of Jesus’ own disciples, became an enemy.  Working as an agent of Satan, he betrayed the Lord. Satan is a cosmic enemy of Christians.  The world too hates Christians as it hates Jesus.  (John 15: 18 ESV)  Jesus remarks that “A servant is not greater than his master.” (John 15: 20  ESV)  This means that if Jesus is persecuted, so will we be. (John 15: 20)

Jesus’ enemies are not only human beings but also Satan and the world.  Throughout history and outside of history the light battles darkness (see John 1).

At our Baptism both Satan and the world are renounced. The Triune God is then confessed. As we witness to Christ, we must expect opposition.  This battle between God and His foes will cost us.  We must be willing to sacrifice as we serve in God’s legions.

Our opposition to the forces opposed to God should not involve any violence on our part.  When we represent Christ’s Church, we must always witness with gentleness and respect.

May we defend ourselves if we are attacked violently?  This is a good question.

Michael G. Tavella

May 26, 2020

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