BetterMost Community Blogs > The Twist Family Bible Study
The Twist family studies the Gospel of John
Wayne:
Ah, here's a more succinct description:
a conservative Jewish sect that arose in Roman-occupied Palestine in the 2nd century BC in protest against all movements favouring compromise with Hellenistic culture. The Pharisees were devout adherents of the law, both as found in the Torah and in the oral tradition known as the Mishnah.
They were opposed by the Sadducees on several grounds: the Sadducees did not acknowledge the Mishnah; the Pharisees opposed Greek and Roman rule of their country; and the Pharisees held a number of beliefs – such as the existence of hell, angels, and demons, the resurrection of the dead, and the future coming of the Messiah – not found in the Torah.
The Pharisees rejected political action, and in the 1st century AD the left wing of their followers, the Zealots, broke away to pursue a revolutionary nationalist policy. After the fall of Jerusalem, Pharisee ideas became the basis of orthodox Judaism as the people were dispersed throughout the Western Roman Empire.
Wayne:
By the way, Jesus comes down on the side of the Pharisees (against the Saducees) in the controversy over the after life. So he seems to share their view of the universe in some ways.
Wikipedia also says that the Pharisees were seen as the religious leaders of the poor, while the Saducees were the leaders of the rich.
Maybe the poor had a stronger motivation than the rich to believe in an afterlife. ??? :-\
Wayne:
Jesus opens chapter 10 with the story of the Good Shepherd... :)
I need that image of Jack pulling the thorny scrub out of the lamb's hoof... :-\ :'( :-* :-*
Wayne:
Jesus says when the shepherd comes to the fold he comes in by the door. Anybody tries to come in some other way must be a thief. The sheep won't follow anybody else because they recognize the shepherd's voice.
Intriguingly, when he explains this story, Jesus does not at first say he is the good shepherd - instead he says he is the door itself. Somethin' to think about ... ???
But then yes, when they ask what he means he explains that he is the good shepherd. He will give his life to save the sheep.
Wayne:
Now comes the Feast of Dedication ... Hanukkah!! :D :D
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