Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus by Lois Tverberg

Since our Israel trip in April, I am trying to be more aware of Jewish thought and background as I read the words of Jesus. Lots of "hidden" meanings, from the Jewish culture that are a little harder for Christian/Westerners to understand. Lois hits several of Jesus' parables and responses to the Sanhedrin to help us "get" where Jesus was coming from. She begins with the Shema-what we recited with our fellow travelers every morning before hitting the various sites. LOVE:"ahavah" is the Hebrew word that goes beyond emotions and mental thought-loving is action. Loving our enemies isn't just attempting to feel better about them, it is DOING for them."Hessed" is to love as God loved -eternal/enduring/forgiving. She interestingly also developed what Jesus meant in Mt 6:22-23 about "healthy eyes" or having a "good eye" -- it is in passage about money and God's provision. She believes it means "what is your primary motivation in life?" To have a bad eye is to cling to the little that we have, a good eye is to be radically convinced that God will provide, thus the fruit is a generous attitude- a "good eye" towards others. Another great chapter was on judging, something that I struggle with --but in Jewish thought, Jesus taught in Luke 6:38 that we should let our scales of justice fall past the balance point, bestowing on others a little more than they deserve. Wow -- Christians really miss that. I personally see this in judging drivers (jerk)/ slow clerks/ people who make stupid choices/etc. -- The idea is extending grace --"making excuses" for bad behavior, judging in their favor. One last Jewish word "lashon hara" is vices of the tongue- gossip/slander/ malicious speech. Yikes --we commit this even when we don't speak - the rolling of our eyes. The practice of telling negatives about others that are unnecessary and damaging/bullying/humiliating others. Good read, lots to ponder.