“HAVE I SENT YOU INTO HIDING?” (Jn 8:51-59): 13 March 2008 (Thursday)
A strange and disturbing thing happens in the gospel account today. Jesus is speaking to the Jews and tells them what they don’t want to hear: that because they don’t keep his word, they will see death. Of course, the Jews aren’t exactly flattered by this. But when the Lord puts himself on equal footing with God and once again uses God’s name as he refers to himself as “I AM” (“Yahweh”), all hell breaks loose. The Jews pick up stones to throw at him, forcing the Lord to go into hiding.