Modern visitors to Israel who travel the road north from Jerusalem
toward Shechem notice clay-ovens next to some houses along the
roadside. Many prefer to cook in these outdoor ovens rather than on
their electric or propane gas stoves.
Ovens like these have been around since ancient times. In the biblical
period each village had a common oven. Since villagers were often
members of a very large, extended family, these common ovens were
family ovens.
The common fuel for the oven was something that was more plentiful
than wood: camel or donkey dung. One of the duties each young girl had
to learn was to collect the dung, mix salt in it, and mould it into
patties to be left in the sun to dry. In the Middle East and many
Third World countries, such dung patties are still used as fuel
today.
A slab of salt was placed at the base of the oven and upon it the
salted dung patty. Salt has catalytic properties which cause the dung
to burn. Eventually the salt slab loses its catalytic ability and
becomes useless. Or as Jesus says, “It is good for nothing but
to be thrown outside where it can still provide a sure footing in a
muddy road.”
This is the Mediterranean cultural imagery Jesus has in mind when he
says: “You, my disciples; are the salt, that is, catalyst for
the earth-oven.” (In the Aramaic and Hebrew languages which
Jesus spoke, one and the same word means “earth” and “clay-oven.”)
To be salt for the earth-oven is to start fires and make things burn.
If Jesus’ disciples do this, they will also be “light of
the earth.” The two images so masterfully joined show Jesus to
be a clever and imaginative teacher.
The salty Jesus started fires and created light. Some saw and
understood. Others got burnt and put him to death. How can American
believers imitate the salty Jesus? How would this work in American
culture?