President Obama may well be taking flack from all sides, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still be compared to Jesus Christ. In a blog post Wednesday, NPR lamented that The One’s loss of mojo — which is apparently the product of the “realities of governing as opposed to the unrealities of presidential campaigns” — has changed the president into a “human figure compared with the almost messiah-like status he had in the eyes of many supporters in 2008.”
Still, fear not, for the attenuation of Obama’s appeal ”doesn’t mean there still isn’t the occasional moment reminiscent of a Bible story.” That’s lucky, then. NPR explains:
Here’s John 21:15, the New International Version, describing a scene between Jesus and his disciples:
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter,”Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Most people will have seen President Obama’s call for yet another stimulus as somewhat routine, and possibly even thought that the terms in which the appeal was couched bordered on narcissism. (“If you love me, you got to help me pass this bill. (Applause.) If you love me, you got to help me pass this bill.”) It’s good to know that, even in these troubled times, what looked like a routine political speech was in fact reminiscent of something on an altogether higher plane.
When I heard him say that in his speech the other day, I immediately thought of a similar verse from John 14:15 - "If you love me, keep my commands."
I honestly think that Obama is thinking about himself, perhaps inadvertently, along these messianic lines.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell, none of us is likely to confuse Obama with Jesus; but I will venture that few of us want to see him re-elected, and that his unhealthy sense of self-importance is part of his problem - and ours.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm sure that NPR feels philia for that passage.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm seeing Acts 12:21-22, which reads:
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On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
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I'm more of an Old Testament guy: I like my God with more of the smiting and wrath.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"A higher plain"? Is a higher "plain" a mesa or something? Or was the speech given at a particularly low elevation?
Oh, I get it! You meant "plain" as in "plain Jane." A higher (degree) of plain-ness is an apt description of Obamismo.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell noticed. I've changed this typo!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseClever parallel but no cigar. The Gospel was giving Peter the authority as well as the responsibility to lead the faith community. Obama's campaign rally was begging his faith community to pressure the leaders to act irresponsibly.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Faith community"? I have a dozen translations. None of them mention "faith community."
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJesus said, if you love him, help others.
Obama says, if you love him, help him.
The contrast couldn't be starker.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI just want to point out that: Jesus in this reference is asking Peter if he loves Him to feed His people, not fleshly food but spiritual food. Feed my sheep the Gospel, the good news Jesus had fed or taught them. Who He is, and Gods perfect plan through Him. Helping or serving others is part of a believers walk in that truth. Not to be a critic, just to clarify.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat's also interesting about that passage is that there is something you don't see in English, IIRC. In Greek there are three words for love, eros, philos and agape. I haven't read this passage in the Greek but I believe it goes like this:
Jesus: Do you agape me.
Peter: Yes, I philos, you.
In order words "I love you, but not as much as you are asking me to". That's kind of an interesting twist on that quote...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNot so sure that's accurate.
It's true that "agape" refers to love of God (or a god), and "philos" refers to love of brother or friend, so you might say love of God is a greater love, but I don't think "Do you love me as God?" followed by "I love you as a brother" is the same as saying "not as much as you're asking me to."
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