they who said among themselves, thinking not aright: "Brief and troublous is our lifetime; neither is there any remedy for man's dying, nor is anyone known to have come back from the nether world.
Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.
He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD.
To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us,
Because his life is not like other men's, and different are his ways.
He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father.
Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him.
For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him."
These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them,
And they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls' reward.
Psalms 34(33),17-18.19-20.21.23.
The LORD'S face is against evildoers to wipe out their memory from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears and rescues them from all distress.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.
Many are the troubles of the just, but the LORD delivers from them all.
God watches over all their bones; not a one shall be broken.
The LORD redeems loyal servants; no one is condemned whose refuge is God.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 7,1-2.10.25-30.
After this, Jesus moved about within Galilee; but he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him.
But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.
But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but (as it were) in secret.
So some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, "Is he not the one they are trying to kill?
And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Messiah?
But we know where he is from. When the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from."
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, "You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me."
So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.
THE PAIN OF JUSTICE
"Let us beset the just one." –Wisdom 2:12
A just person seems obnoxious to the unjust (Wis 2:12). Merely seeing a just person is a hardship for the unjust (Wis 2:14). Therefore, the unjust feel compelled to revile the just, torture them, and even condemn them to death (Wis 2:19-20).
Those who want to live godly lives will be persecuted (2 Tm 3:12). Suffering persecution is the natural result of living just and godly lives. Because we all naturally want to be accepted and even popular, and because we naturally want to avoid pain and suffering, we have reason to not want to be just, godly, and holy. Although in our heart of hearts we want to be like the just and holy Jesus, at the same time we don't want the persecution and rejection resulting from life in Christ. Thus, we have a war of contradictions raging inside us.
We can end this war by capitulating to our fallen nature and our enemies. We can let our faith grow lukewarm and join the popular, unpersecuted, persecuting ranks of the unjust. Alternately, we can choose love rather than self. By love, we can remain just and take the painful flak that accompanies love.
Will you fold under pressure or be set free? Will you persecute or be persecuted? Do you nail just people to crosses or take up your own cross? Are you another enemy of the cross (Phil 3:18) or another Christ?
Origen (c.185-253), priest and theologian
Commentary on St John’s Gospel, 19,12; PG 14, 548
To seek for Jesus is very often a good thing since it means the same thing as seeking the Word, the truth and wisdom. But you are about to tell me that the words “seeking Jesus” are sometimes spoken concerning those who mean harm. For example: “They tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come” (Jn 7,30). “I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me because my word has no room in you” (Jn 8,37). “Now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from my Father” (Jn 8,40).
These words… do not contradict that other saying: “The one who seek, finds” (Mt 7,8). The fact remains that distinctions exist between those who seek Jesus: not all are looking for him sincerely for the sake of their own salvation and to gain his help. Some people are looking for him for any number of reasons far removed from the good. That is why only those who have sought him in complete uprightness have found peace: those of whom one can truthfully say that they have sought the Word who is with God (Jn 1,1) so that he can draw them to his Father…
He threatens to go away if he is not received: “I am going away and you will look for me” (Jn 8,21)… He knows from whom he is withdrawing and with whom he remains without yet being found, so that if he is sought he will be found at the favourable time.
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