2.8 Gospel of John

Prologue on “the Word” (1:1–19) Book of 7 signs (1:19–12:50) Book of glory about Jesus’ death and resurrection (13:1–20:31) Appearances and epilogue (21:1–25) Outline

Anonymous Gospel Tradition associates Gospel with John – John, disciple of Jesus, brother of James, and son of Zebedee (Mark 1:19–20); this “John” not mentioned in fourth Gospel John the disciple was illiterate (Acts 4:13) – Or John “the elder” of the NT letters Beloved Disciple (John 13:23-25; 18:15-16; 19:26-27, 34-35; 20:4, 8; 21:7, 21-23, 24) – Unnamed figure in the Gospel – Competition with Peter – Gives true testimony and wrote these things down (19:35; 21:24) – Often equated with John, as author of this gospel, but does not appear until Ch. 13. Martin Luther thought he might be Lazarus Author

Founded by one of Jesus’ disciples Often thought to have been written in Ephesus, but maybe in Syria (Antioch?) or Egypt (Alexandria?) Members driven from their synagogues for belief in Jesus – 9:22–28; 12:42; 16:2 Community’s defense is strong, internal ethic: “love one another” “Outsiders” misunderstand Jesus – e.g., 2:19–22; 3:4; 4:11; 11:12; some believe Community

90s CE This is NOT a Synoptic Gospel. Edited material dates to apostolic times – E.g., hypothetical signs source – Manuscript by a disciple of Jesus? – Editions by elders in the community? Place? Purpose: “that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name” (20:31) Date and Place

90% of John is NOT in Synoptic Gospels Uses possible “signs source” Possibly this is the 2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th or even 5 th edition Jesus’ long discourses focus on who he is – Synoptic Gospels focus on God’s kingdom – 5:19–47; 6:25–70; 7:14–52; 8:12–59; 10:1–18, etc. Jesus is the messenger and the message Symbolism – I AM statements (water, bread, life, truth, vine, way, resurrection). I AM equates Jesus with God, because Old Testament name for God was I AM (“Yahweh” in Hebrew) – Dualism: light/dark; life/death; truth/lies Style

Incarnation (1:1–19; 6:41). But there is no “infancy” narrative, as in Mt and Lk. Rather, Jesus is the pre- existent “Logos” (“Word”) who has existed for all eternity and now “becomes flesh” Conflict (5:18; 6:60–71; 8:39–59) Testimony (1:19–28; 4:39; 5:31–47; 8:12–20) True Revelation (8:21–20) “Lifted up” and “glorified” (8:21; 12:27–36) Jesus reveals God because he is God Love one another (action, NOT feeling) The Paraclete/Spirit comforter (7:37–39). In John, the Spirit is like a legal witness and defender who helps Christians when they must defend themselves against enemies Key Themes

no story of birth of Jesus; no mention of Jesus’ baptism no temptation in the desert; No mention of Jesus eating with tax collectors or sinners no parables; but sayings and long speeches – Example: Story of vine and branches (Ch 15) no miracles or exorcisms (but “signs” instead) no transfiguration; no condemnation or rich or about helping poor no words about love of neighbor or enemy, only “love one another” No call to repent or to renounce possessions no blessing of bread and wine at Last Supper no prayer in Garden of Gethsemane Material NOT found in John

Several important discrepancies: – Ministry is 3 years long, not 1 year long – Last Supper is 1 day earlier than in Synoptics – Jesus cleanses Temple of moneychangers at the START of Jesus’ public ministry in John, but in Jesus’ final weeks in the Synoptics Key Differences, John and Synoptics (2)

Calling of Andrew, Philip and Nathanael (Ch 1) Miracle at Cana: Turning water into wine (Ch 2) Conversation with Nicodemus (Ch 3) (“you must be born again”) Jesus and Samaritan woman at the well (Ch 4) Healing of crippled man at pool of Bethsaida (Ch 5) Rescue of adulterous woman from stoning (Ch 7 and 8) Healing of man born blind (Ch 9) Raising Lazarus from the dead (Ch 11) Many I AM sayings (I AM is God’s name in Hebrew) At Last Supper, Jesus washes feet of disciples, but DOES NOT bless bread and wine Long “Bread of Life” discourse (Jesus says, “I AM” the bread of life) – replaces Last Supper blessing of bread and wine? (Jn 6) Story of “doubting Thomas” after the resurrection (Ch 20) Peter denies Jesus 3 times (as in other gospels) but also affirms Jesus 3 times (Ch 21) Only in John

In John, Jesus speaks through “sayings,” but not parables In John, Jesus performs “signs” to show his power and identity, but not “miracles” Sayings and Signs of Jesus are connected: – Jesus says, “I AM” the Bread of Life, then feeds the multitudes – Jesus says, “I AM” the light of the world, then heals a blind man – Jesus says, “I AM” the resurrection and the life, then raises Lazarus from the dead Sayings & Signs in John

At start of gospel, Jesus is pre-existent Logos (Word), the 2 nd person of the Trinity Throughout gospel, Jesus says he is God (I AM) and works signs to prove it. Throughout John, anyone who sees Jesus is said to have seen the Father, whoever does what Jesus commands does the will of the Father, whoever rejects Jesus also rejects the Father. John’s Jesus is God-Man from Heaven (1)

In John, Jesus proclaims, “I and the Father are one” (10:10) At end of Gospel, as he dies on cross, Jesus triumphantly proclaims that his mission is complete: “It is finished!” (unlike Mark, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” or Luke “Into your hands I commend my spirit.”) Thomas confesses, “My Lord and my God!” John’s Jesus is God-Man from Heaven (2)

Disciples are commanded to love one another. When they do so, they show that they also love God. Focus is on cohesion and love within the Christian community. Christians are not told to love their neighbor, or to love their enemies. Love in John’s Gospel

Fewer than in Luke’s gospel, but in very prominent roles: – Mary at Cana and at Crucifixion, where she is entrusted into care of “beloved disciple” – Samaritan woman at well – Woman caught in adultery – Martha & Mary at Bethany at death of Lazarus – Mary of Bethany, anointing Jesus – Mary Magdalene at empty tomb (Ch 20) Women in John’s Gospel

Very HIGH Christology – divinity of Jesus is emphasized over humanity of Jesus (Logos, only-begotten Son of God, I AM, I and the Father are one, etc.) Jesus is the Lamb of God – crucifixion occurs on Feast of Passover, when Jews sacrifice a lamb Christology in John’s Gospel

Discipleship is about being “born again” through water and spirit (Story of Nicodemus, Ch 3) Discipleship is about BELIEVING (see Jn 20:30-31) Discipleship is about loving fellow Christians (love one another) Discipleship in John’s Gospel

Reflection Questions 1.What are specific ways in which the Gospel of John is different from the Synoptic Gospels? 2.What is the role of the Spirit / Paraclete in John? Is this the same or different than in Luke? 3.John’s Gospel often is called the “Gospel of love” – but how is love portrayed in this gospel, and how is it different from the portrayal of love in the Synoptic Gospels? 4.What are your favorite stories in John, that are NOT found in the other gospels?