John 12:20-33 (34-36)

Lent 5 – Year B

John 12:20-33 (34-36)

Ya gotta love this strange Jesus.

Philip and Andrew (in excited unison): Hey, Jesus there's some folks looking for to join up!

Jesus: So? I'm about to die, here. Tell 'em to consider their own death, that's the short course. Invest your life in death, and alakazam, ipso facto, and zoomazoozi here is eternal life in the midst of what was thought only regular ol' life.

Once started, like an easily distractible professor (or one who works by providing all manner of strands until folks can begin weaving some of them together), Jesus mutters on about what a troubled soul he has (oy vey, such trouble has my soul seen!), how he'd just as soon, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, avoid such trouble.

After a moment of high humor and thundering angels where Jesus gets brought up short when asking for a revelation of glory with a revelation that glory was already present (remember that death–eternal-life thing) so get on with living.

Of as much interest as these little gems is the assumption that a Messiah must last forever and keep us in that forever. Such a boring assumption when faced with the excitement of a death–eternal-life connection. No wonder Jesus went and hid away.

What did you think you were signing up for? Forever? Nah. Ain't exciting enough. Try the short course instead, it'll take you much further – right into a paradise of now.