Justice for all...

John 7 : 37-52

37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, ³⁸and let the one who believes in me drink. ………

We often think that how someone lives and speaks tells a lot about that person. But does it? When people live under oppressive regimes or in oppressive relationships they may have to hide their true identity and values to remain personally safe.  In Jesus time people were thirsty for justice. They lived under a range of oppressive social and religious forces that meant they had to be very careful what they said and how they acted. On the one hand the empire of Rome guaranteed a peace for taxes and submission to Roman authority; on the other hand the religious fanatics insisted that their ritual laws and practices of homage be observed or the full weight of their religious intolerance would fall upon any dissenter. The craving for justice was a raging fire in the throat of ordinary people. Jesus came to satisfy that thirst. We often think that it is only the oppressed that thirst for justice but this is not so. In our story today, undercover cops and some of the religious leaders who are clearly identified with the oppression of the people find ways of preventing Jesus being arrested. They appeal for the teachings of Jesus to be heard as a form of justice because He promises liberation for them also. Jesus offers peace and reconciliation between the oppressed and the oppressor. Jesus is seen as identifying with and standing by the oppressed but at the same time He is offering reconciliation and Justice as inclusion and change for all.  In our day and time the forces of oppression and abuse, segregate and kill: physically, socially, psychologically and environmentally. As Christian disciples we must stand on the side of the oppressed and at the same time appeal to the oppressor to be reconciled and participate in mutually changing and empowering processes of justice for all.