John Dominic Crossan, The Historical Jesus, p. 366
Andrew Greeley, “Why Do We Envy Success?,” When Life Hurts, p. 72-74
James McAuley, “Jesus,” Divine Inspiration, p. 104
Thomas Merton, The Wisdom of the Desert, p. 78
The Wisdom of the Desert
Walker Percy, The Message in the Bottle, p. 136
The Message in the Bottle
Istvan Sinka, “Jesus Leaves Nazareth Forever,” Divine Inspiration, p. 102
Geza Vermes, The Changing Faces of Jesus, p. 206
The Changing Faces of Jesus
… according to the evangelists Jesus perceived himself explicitly as a miracle-working prophet. The famous Nazareth episode is profoundly revealing. “A prophet is not without honour except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house” (Mark 6:4; Matt. 13:57; Luke 4:24). The context of the story makes it plain that Jesus’ disillusioned declaration was sparked off by the dislike of the locals for his charismatic teaching and “mighty works” (Mark 6:2; Matt. 13:54). Conversely, since people of his home town had no faith in him, the spiritually paralyzed Jesus was incapable of curing and exorcizing among them.
3 Thomas 105
4 John 4:44; Thomas 31
3 Stephen Mitchell, The Gospel According to Jesus, p. 23
The Gospel According to Jesus
According to a later Jewish legal principle, “A man is illegitimate when he is called by his mother’s name, for a bastard has no father.” That is why in my version of the Gospel I have translated ho huios tes marias – “the son of Mary” – as “Mary’s bastard” (it is impossible to know exactly how crude an insult the Aramaic would have been).
4 Stephen Mitchell, The Gospel According to Jesus, p. 88
1 He went away from there and came to his own country; and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.
6:1 και εξηλθεν εκειθεν και ηλθεν εις την πατριδα αυτου και ακολουθουσιν αυτω οι μαθηται αυτου 6:2 και γενομενου σαββατου ηρξατο εν τη συναγωγη διδασκειν και πολλοι ακουοντες εξεπλησσοντο λεγοντες ποθεν τουτω ταυτα και τις η σοφια η δοθεισα αυτω και δυναμεις τοιαυται δια των χειρων αυτου γινονται 6:3 ουκ ουτος εστιν ο τεκτων ο υιος μαριας αδελφος δε ιακωβου και ιωση και ιουδα και σιμωνος και ουκ εισιν αι αδελφαι αυτου ωδε προς ημας και εσκανδαλιζοντο εν αυτω 6:4 ελεγεν δε αυτοις ο ιησους οτι ουκ εστιν προφητης ατιμος ει μη εν τη πατριδι αυτου και εν τοις συγγενεσιν και εν τη οικια αυτου 6:5 και ουκ ηδυνατο εκει ουδεμιαν δυναμιν ποιησαι ει μη ολιγοις αρρωστοις επιθεις τας χειρας εθεραπευσεν 6:6 και εθαυμαζεν δια την απιστιαν αυτων και περιηγεν τας κωμας κυκλω διδασκων
John Dominic Crossan, “From Miracle to Table,” The Historical Jesus, p. 332-348
John Dominic Crossan and Jonathan L. Reed, Excavating Jesus, p. 160-162
Imaging the Word, Vol. 3, p. 250
8-11 Luke 10:4-11
11 Acts 13:51
13 James 5:14
7 And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and preached that men should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.
6:7 και προσκαλειται τους δωδεκα και ηρξατο αυτους αποστελλειν δυο δυο και εδιδου αυτοις εξουσιαν των πνευματων των ακαθαρτων 6:8 και παρηγγειλεν αυτοις ινα μηδεν αιρωσιν εις οδον ει μη ραβδον μονον μη πηραν μη αρτον μη εις την ζωνην χαλκον 6:9 αλλ υποδεδεμενους σανδαλια και μη αβδυο χιτωνας 6:10 και ελεγεν αυτοις οπου εαν εισελθητε εις οικιαν εκει μενετε εως αν εξελθητε εκειθεν 6:11 και οσοι αν μη δεξωνται υμας μηδε ακουσωσιν υμων εκπορευομενοι εκειθεν εκτιναξατε τον χουν τον υποκατω των ποδων υμων εις μαρτυριον αυτοις αμην λεγω υμιν ανεκτοτερον εσται σοδομοις η γομορροις εν ημερα κρισεως η τη πολει εκεινη 6:12 και εξελθοντες εκηρυσσον ινα μετανοησωσιν 6:13 και δαιμονια πολλα εξεβαλλον και ηλειφον ελαιω πολλους αρρωστους και εθεραπευον
14-15 Matthew 16:14; Mark 8:28; Luke 9:19
17-18 Luke 3:19-20
17-22 Frederick Buechner, “Salome,” Peculiar Treasures, p. 149-150
28 Malcolm Muggeridge, Jesus: The Man Who Lives, p. 37
14 King Herod heard of it; for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; because he had married her. 18 For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias’ daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the baptizer.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
6:14 και ηκουσεν ο βασιλευς ηρωδης φανερον γαρ εγενετο το ονομα αυτου και ελεγεν οτι ιωαννης ο βαπτιζων εκ νεκρων ηγερθη και δια τουτο ενεργουσιν αι δυναμεις εν αυτω 6:15 αλλοι ελεγον οτι ηλιας εστιν αλλοι δε ελεγον οτι προφητης εστιν ως εις των προφητων 6:16 ακουσας δε [ο] ηρωδης ειπεν οτι ον εγω απεκεφαλισα ιωαννην ουτος εστιν αυτος ηγερθη εκ νεκρων 6:17 αυτος γαρ ο ηρωδης αποστειλας εκρατησεν τον ιωαννην και εδησεν αυτον εν φυλακη δια ηρωδιαδα την γυναικα φιλιππου του αδελφου αυτου οτι αυτην εγαμησεν 6:18 ελεγεν γαρ ο ιωαννης τω ηρωδη οτι ουκ εξεστιν σοι εχειν την γυναικα του αδελφου σου 6:19 η δε ηρωδιας ενειχεν αυτω και ηθελεν αυτον αποκτειναι και ουκ ηδυνατο 6:20 ο γαρ ηρωδης εφοβειτο τον ιωαννην ειδως αυτον ανδρα δικαιον και αγιον και συνετηρει αυτον και ακουσας αυτου πολλα εποιει και ηδεως αυτου ηκουεν 6:21 και γενομενης ημερας ευκαιρου οτε ηρωδης τοις γενεσιοις αυτου δειπνον εποιει τοις μεγιστασιν αυτου και τοις χιλιαρχοις και τοις πρωτοις της γαλιλαιας 6:22 και εισελθουσης της θυγατρος αυτης της ηρωδιαδος και ορχησαμενης και αρεσασης τω ηρωδη και τοις συνανακειμενοις ειπεν ο βασιλευς τω κορασιω αιτησον με ο εαν θελης και δωσω σοι 6:23 και ωμοσεν αυτη οτι ο εαν με αιτησης δωσω σοι εως ημισους της βασιλειας μου 6:24 η δε εξελθουσα ειπεν τη μητρι αυτης τι αιτησομαι η δε ειπεν την κεφαλην ιωαννου του βαπτιστου 6:25 και εισελθουσα ευθεως μετα σπουδης προς τον βασιλεα ητησατο λεγουσα θελω ινα μοι δως εξ αυτης επι πινακι την κεφαλην ιωαννου του βαπτιστου 6:26 και περιλυπος γενομενος ο βασιλευς δια τους ορκους και τους συνανακειμενους ουκ ηθελησεν αυτην αθετησαι 6:27 και ευθεως αποστειλας ο βασιλευς σπεκουλατορα επεταξεν ενεχθηναι την κεφαλην αυτου 6:28 ο δε απελθων απεκεφαλισεν αυτον εν τη φυλακη και ηνεγκεν την κεφαλην αυτου επι πινακι και εδωκεν αυτην τω κορασιω και το κορασιον εδωκεν αυτην τη μητρι αυτης 6:29 και ακουσαντες οι μαθηται αυτου ηλθον και ηραν το πτωμα αυτου και εθηκαν αυτο εν μνημειω
Dom Helder Camara, Through the Gospel, p. 87
John Dominic Crossan, The Essential Jesus, p. 102
The Essential Jesus
John Dominic Crossan, The Historical Jesus, p. 133 & “Bread and Fish,” p. 398-404
The Historical Jesus
John Dominic Crossan, “The Parables of Jesus,” Interpretation (July 2002), p. 247-259
“The Parables of Jesus”
In this particular story, the disciples are always in the middle, are always present not just as background but as intermediaries. (p. 255)
In Mark the situation of hunger begets two divergent solutions. … Those divergent solutions mean that Jesus pulls the disciples into the middle of each succeeding step. (p. 256)
It suggests that when God in Jesus distributes food fairly, equitably, and justly, there is more than enough food for all. It also suggests that the church (the disciples as leadership, or as symbolic of the entire community?) wants no part of this functional destiny and must be pulled by Jesus—kicking and screaming, as it were—into the middle of that process: Jesus through disciples to people. The disciples say: “Send them away.” Jesus replies: “You give them food.” No wonder we prefer to emphasize a miraculous multiplication that we want but cannot obtain rather than a just distribution that we can obtain but do not want. (p. 258)
Dan Damon, “In a Lonely Place,” The Sound of Welcome, p. 7
Joseph A. Grassi, Loaves and Fishes, p. 23-50
Gerald Manley Hopkins, “New Readings (I),” The Plough, p. 35
“New Readings (I)”
Although the letter said
On thistles that men look not grapes to gather,
I read the story rather
How the soldiers platting thorns around Christ’s head
Grapes grew and drops of wine were shed.
Though when the sower sowed,
The wingèd fowls took part, part fell in thorn,
And never turned to corn,
Part found no root upon the flinty road
Christ at all hazards fruit hath shewed.
From wastes of rock He brings
Food for five thousand: on thorns He shed
Grains from His drooping Head;
And would not have that legion of winged things
Bear him to Heaven on easeful wings.
Henri Nouwen, Lifesigns, p. 69
Mary Oliver, “Logos,” Why I Wake Early, p. 40
“Logos”
Why wonder about the loaves and the fishes?
If you say the right words, the wine expands.
If you say them with love
and the felt ferocity of that love
and the felt necessity of that love,
the fish explode into many.
Imagine him, speaking,
and don’t worry about what is reality,
or what is plain, or what is mysterious.
If you were there, it was all those things.
If you can imagine it, it is all those things.
Eat, drink, be happy.
Accept the miracle.
Accept, too, each
spoken word spoken with love.
Virginia Stem Owens, “Bread and Circuses: Feeding Thousands,” Looking for Jesus, p. 15-21
“Bread and Circuses: Feeding Thousands”
The crowd, now orderly and obedient, sits down on the grass in rows as they’ve been instructed; their faith is at least temporarily superior to the disciples’.
In fact, the crowd’s behavior is the most astonishing, yet the most overlooked, aspect of this story. When Jesus stepped out of the boat, they were no more than a mob—sheep without a shepherd. Yet in the course of the next few hours they have become something different. Their chaos gets ordered into a congregation, a flock that recognizes its shepherd. (p. 19)
The story chronicles an actual instance when, at least once in this world’s history, people took Jesus at his word. They didn’t panic. They waited. In consequence, they were bound together into a common body. …
We often choose our interpretation, I believe, because we are like the disciples rather than the crowd. Some of us, worried about how we’re ever going to meet the needs of the hungry and diseased masses of the world, miss what Jesus says about the flowers of the field and the birds of the air. The crowd, however, undistracted by feelings of obligation, hears those words and takes them to heart. (p. 20)
Parker Palmer, “’Loaves and Fishes’: Acts of Scarcity or Abundance,” The Active Life, p. 121-138
Kay Ryan, “Backward Miracle,” The Best of It, p. 260
“Backward Miracle”
William A. Yon, “Our Demon’s Name is ‘Yahneedmor,’” Congregations (September 1996), p. 5-7
33-44 2 Kings 4:42-44
34 Numbers 27:17; 1 Kings 22:17; Ezekiel 34:5; Matthew 9:36
39-40 Revelation 5:11
40 1 Kings 18:4
34-44 Vassar Miller, “Oblation,” Divine Inspiration, p. 146
34-44 Mikhail Pozdnyayev, “Remambrance of Five Loaves,” Divine Inspiration, p. 147
30 The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a lonely place, and the hour is now late; 36 send them away, to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
6:30 και συναγονται οι αποστολοι προς τον ιησουν και απηγγειλαν αυτω παντα και οσα εποιησαν και οσα εδιδαξαν 6:31 και ειπεν αυτοις δευτε υμεις αυτοι κατ ιδιαν εις ερημον τοπον και αναπαυεσθε ολιγον ησαν γαρ οι ερχομενοι και οι υπαγοντες πολλοι και ουδε φαγειν ευκαιρουν 6:32 και απηλθον εις ερημον τοπον τω πλοιω κατ ιδιαν 6:33 και ειδον αυτους υπαγοντας και επεγνωσαν αυτον πολλοι και πεζη απο πασων των πολεων συνεδραμον εκει και προηλθον αυτους και συνηλθον προς αυτον 6:34 και εξελθων ειδεν ο ιησους πολυν οχλον και εσπλαγχνισθη επ αυτοις οτι ησαν ως προβατα μη εχοντα ποιμενα και ηρξατο διδασκειν αυτους πολλα 6:35 και ηδη ωρας πολλης γενομενης προσελθοντες αυτω οι μαθηται αυτου λεγουσιν οτι ερημος εστιν ο τοπος και ηδη ωρα πολλη 6:36 απολυσον αυτους ινα απελθοντες εις τους κυκλω αγρους και κωμας αγορασωσιν εαυτοις αρτους τι γαρ φαγωσιν ουκ 6:37 ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν αυτοις δοτε αυτοις υμεις φαγειν και λεγουσιν αυτω απελθοντες αγορασωμεν δηναριων διακοσιων αρτους και δωμεν αυτοις φαγειν 6:38 ο δε λεγει αυτοις ποσους αρτους εχετε υπαγετε και ιδετε και γνοντες λεγουσιν πεντε και δυο ιχθυας 6:39 και επεταξεν αυτοις ανακλιναι παντας συμποσια συμποσια επι τω χλωρω χορτω 6:40 και ανεπεσον πρασιαι πρασιαι ανα εκατον και ανα πεντηκοντα 6:41 και λαβων τους πεντε αρτους και τους δυο ιχθυας εχουσιν αναβλεψας εις τον ουρανον ευλογησεν και κατεκλασεν τους αρτους και εδιδου τοις μαθηταις αυτου ινα παραθωσιν αυτοις και τους δυο ιχθυας εμερισεν πασιν 6:42 και εφαγον παντες και εχορτασθησαν 6:43 και ηραν κλασματων δωδεκα κοφινους πληρεις και απο των ιχθυων 6:44 και ησαν οι φαγοντες τους αρτους πεντακισχιλιοι ανδρες
Kelly Cherry, “Galilee,” Odd Angles of Heaven, p. 45
John Dominic Crossan, “Walking on Water,” The Historical Jesus, p. 404-407
John Dominic Crossan, “The Parables of Jesus,” Interpretation, (July 2002), p. 255
“The Parables of Jesus"
We could, of course, argue about historicity, and that may be the safest way to avoid the story as deliberate parable. For, if it is a parable, it asks us to debate among ourselves what happens to a church without Jesus. Furthermore, is it not fascinating that somebody already asked that question long before the first century was over?
Denise Levertov, “Passage,” Oblique Prayers, p. 87
“Passage”
The spirit that walked upon the face of the waters
walks the meadow of long grass;
green shines to silver where the spirit passes.
Wind from the compass points, sun at meridian,
these are forms the spirit enters,
breath, ruach, light that is witness and by which we witness.
The grasses numberless, bowing and rising, silently
cry hosanna as the spirit
moves them and moves burnishing
over and again upon mountain pastures
a day of spring, a needle’s eye
space and time are passing through like a swathe of silk.
Francis Thompson, “The Kingdom of God Is Within You,” The Book of Uncommon Prayer, p. 154
“The Kingdom of God Is Within You”
O world invisible, we view thee,
O world intangible, we touch thee,
O world unknowable, we know thee,
Inapprehensible, we clutch thee!
Does the fish soar to find the ocean,
The eagle plunge to find the air
Than we ask of the stars in motion
If they have rumour of thee there?
Not where the wheeling systems darken,
And our benumb’d conceiving soars!
The drift of pinions, would we hearken,
Beats at our own clay shutter’d doors.
The angels keep their ancient places;
Turn but a stone, and start a wing!
‘Tis ye, ‘tis your estrangèd faces,
That miss the many-splendour’d thing.
But (when so sad thou canst not sadder)
Cry; and upon thy so sore loss
Shall shine the traffic of Jacob’s ladder
Pitched betwixt Heaven and Charing Cross.
Yeah, in the night, my Soul, my daughter,
Cry, clinging Heaven by the hems;
And lo, Christ walking on the water,
Not of Gennesareth, but Thames!
45-52 John 21:7
48 Exodus 14:21; Joshua 3:14-15; 2 Kings 2:8; Mark 13:35
51 Psalm 89:9; Jonah 1:15
48 Wendell Berry, “Walking on the River Ice,” Collected Poems, p. 215
45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw him, and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” 51 And he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
6:45 και ευθεως ηναγκασεν τους μαθητας αυτου εμβηναι εις το πλοιον και προαγειν εις το περαν προς αβεως αυτος απολυση τον οχλον 6:46 και αποταξαμενος αυτοις απηλθεν εις το ορος προσευξασθαι 6:47 και οψιας γενομενης ην το πλοιον εν μεσω της θαλασσης και αυτος μονος επι της γης 6:48 και ειδεν αυτους βασανιζομενους εν τω ελαυνειν ην γαρ ο ανεμος εναντιος αυτοις και περι τεταρτην φυλακην της νυκτος ερχεται προς αυτους περιπατων επι της θαλασσης και ηθελεν παρελθειν αυτους 6:49 οι δε ιδοντες αυτον περιπατουντα επι της θαλασσης εδοξαν φαντασμα ειναι και ανεκραξαν 6:50 παντες γαρ αυτον ειδον και εταραχθησαν και ευθεως ελαλησεν μετ αυτων και λεγει αυτοις θαρσειτε εγω ειμι μη φοβεισθε 6:51 και ανεβη προς αυτους εις το πλοιον και εκοπασεν ο ανεμος και λιαν εκ περισσου εν εαυτοις εξισταντο και εθαυμαζον 6:52 ου γαρ συνηκαν επι τοις αρτοις ην γαρ αυτων η καρδια πεπωρωμενη
53 And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him, 55 and ran about the whole neighborhood and began to bring sick people on their pallets to any place where they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or country, they laid the sick in the market places, and besought him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well.
6:53 και διαπερασαντες ηλθον επι την γην αβκαι προσωρμισθησαν 6:54 και εξελθοντων αυτων εκ του πλοιου ευθεως επιγνοντες αυτον 6:55 περιδραμοντες ολην την περιχωρον εκεινην ηρξαντο επι τοις κραββατοις τους κακως εχοντας περιφερειν οπου ηκουον οτι εκει εστιν 6:56 και οπου αν εισεπορευετο εις κωμας η πολεις η αγρους εν ταις αγοραις ετιθουν τους ασθενουντας και παρεκαλουν αυτον ινα καν του κρασπεδου του ιματιου αυτου αψωνται και οσοι αν ηπτοντο αυτου εσωζοντο