Prethodno priopćenje
JESUS AND VIOLENCE. THE PROBLEM OF THE INTERPRETATION OF SOME ACTIONS AND WORDS OF JESUS
Božidar Mrakovčić
; Teologija u Rijeci, područni studij Katoličkog bogoslovnog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Sažetak
In the introductory part different aspects of the relationship of Jesus and the theme of violence are reassumed: Jesus as the adversary of violence, victim of violence, his role in the violent political situation of his time, eventual violence in his actions and words. The last aspect is chosen because of the tension it creates in the understanding of the Gospel, and the possibility that in Jesus's words and actions one finds the justification or even inspiration for an act of violence. In the article two Jesus actions usually connected with violence are analysed: the expulsion of the merchants from the Temple and the damnation of the fig tree. The analysis shows that these two actions do not reflect Jesus' violent nature, but are symbolic prophetic actions functioning as an invitation to faith and conversion.
The whip, mentioned in the John's variant of the Temple event, is probably used for the cattle, not for the people. IN the rhetoric field, the article analyses the motive of two swords (Lk 22, 35-38), as well as the pronouncements of the final judgement, especially those in the conclusion of the Matthean parables. The invitation for the disciples to get the swords, in the eve of his passion, is not an invitation to violence, but is to be understood metaphorically, as a warning for the time of persecution that the disciples are experiencing after the death of Jesus. Concerning the strong expressions, threatening with judgement and the eternal punishment, pronounced by Jesus on account of those rejecting his message, their goal is not threatening itself, as dangerous as they may sound, but an awakening of the conscience and an invitation for a change. Violent speech concluding the parables of Jesus, regarding the character of God, does not have a dogmatic but a pedagogic nuance. The parables do not aim to describe God as violent, but to warn in the most convincible way about the possibility of the eternal bane, and invite to a responsible Christian life.
Ključne riječi
violence; Jesus; God; temple; fig tree; judgement; punishment; sword; parable
Hrčak ID:
124594
URI
Datum izdavanja:
12.1.2009.
Posjeta: 1.382 *