In Chapter 7 of John’s Gospel, Jesus is speaking to a gathering of festival-goers in Jerusalem’s temple courts, a diverse group, mixed in their reception of him so far. Yet “the crowd” must be understood as more than just another character in the story; they are a mirror reflecting us – their questions, responses, and presence stand in for humanity’s curiosity and self-protective tendencies. “Why are you trying to kill me?” should not only be read as trial-like dialogue at the tension-filled peak of a religious festival, but also as a piercing accusation revealing our own willful blindness toward our complicity in violence.

Why is this such a difficult question to approach?