Epiphany III: At Solomon’s Porch

At Solomon’s Porch, Peter takes the hand of a person described as crippled from birth — one who cannot yet walk the talk. As with any newborn, the lack is not desire but power: power in the limbs, power to communicate. Newly born into life, such a one appears as a beggar.

A woman pledged in marriage yet not taken, not yet redeemed, bears the promise of life, yet cannot bring forth the family she hopes for without a willing bridegroom to take her hand in a public way.

For centuries, readers have assumed this cripple was male and dependent on charity — mistaking expectancy for a plea for money. Yet those watching, alert to John’s testimony, see Peter draw attention to himself and to John, and they are rewarded. In this act the promise takes place: the Bride belonging to the Bridegroom steps into public life, as Peter takes her and and she clings to him — and to John — just as John the Forerunner had testified. (John 3:28-29; John 20:17

It is in this same light that the Teacher’s words to Mary after the resurrection must be heard. “Do not cling to me” does not deny that she is the Bride of the promise: it clarifies that the Teacher is not the Bridegroom she and many others had supposed. In that moment, words spoken long before — “cling to the Lord” and “If you knew the gift of God” — dry her tears and remove the scales of a shared dishonesty that had blinded her eyes. (Proverbs 16:11) Thus her feet are quickened, so she can honestly go and live the promise. (John 20:17; John 4:10; John 1:47)

The female gender of this crippled man, this person, matters. Women have been historically crippled by male grammar and by the way the Cross has been publicly interpreted — narrowing who Jesus Christ of Nazareth is perceived to be.

Yet the prophet Isaiah spoke of a Branch, the coming Messiah, who would save and preserve a remnant from the house of Israel. The Hebrew word netzer means branch or shoot, and it echoes the name Nazareth — and in the title Nazarene. Scripture pins Jesus to the branch of a tree. And the prophet Jeremiah sees this branch as an amygdala, affirmed by the Lord’s own words: “I am watching over my word to accomplish it.” (Jeremiah 1:12)

So pinned to the Branch, the Amygdala, was seen by many as a scandal, a public offence. Yet Mary stood by the Cross, and other women have stood by her, waiting upon the Word of the Lord to be fulfilled. (John 19:25)

And so the amazed followed Peter and John — and the one clinging to Peter’s hand — into Solomon’s Colonnade, to hear Peter speak on the porch.

Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways. You will eat the fruit of your labour; blessing and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine in your house, your sons like olive shoots around your table. (Psalm 128:1-3)

This is the third of a series of Epiphany blog posts. Epiphany IV follows the crowd as they listen to Peter speak.

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