The Gospel According to John 11/13/17 Professor Tate

Vocabulary Amidah Johannine Prologue “I am” sayings Stereoscopic storytelling

Historical Clues “‘We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that he now sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes…’ His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.” (John 9:20-22) “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God.” (John 15:26-16:2) “Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God.” (John 12:42-43)

Historical Clues “For the apostates let there be no hope. And let the arrogant government be speedily uprooted in our days. Let the heretics be destroyed in a moment, and let them be blotted out of the Book of Life and not be inscribed there together with the righteous. Blessed are you, Lord, who humbles the arrogant.” (from the Amidah, a daily Jewish prayer)

Historical Setting and Communal Identity I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.” (John 17:9) I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world…They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.” (John 17:14-16)

Historical Setting and Communal Identity “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) “You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:44-45)

Who Is Jesus in the Gospel of John? The Johannine Prologue and the Articulation of a Christology In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it…And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth…No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made himself known. (John 1;1- 18)

Who Is Jesus in the Gospel of John? The Johannine Prologue and the Articulation of a Christology The Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water…When he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race. And now, my children, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways…for whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, but those who miss me injure themselves; all who hate me love death. (Proverbs 8:22-36)

Who is Jesus in the Gospel of John? The Johannine Prologue and the Articulation of a Christology God sent out his word and healed them and delivered them from destruction. (Psalm 107:20) My word goes out from my mouth. It shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I propose. (Isaiah 55:11)

All things came into being through him Who is Jesus in the Gospel of John? The Johannine Prologue and the Articulation of a Christology All things came into being through him The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

Who is Jesus in the Gospel of John? “Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58) But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.” (Exodux 3:13-14)

“I Am” Statements in the Gospel of John “I am the resurrection and the life.” (11:25) “I am the light of the world.” (8:12) “I am the bread of life.” (6:35) “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (14:6)

Historical Setting and the Articulation of a Christology “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.” (John 12:44-45) Versions of this statement repeated 17 times throughout John’s gospel.

Stereoscopic Storytelling In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and lived among us. “Whoever believes in me believes in him who sent me.”

Stereoscopic Storytelling A Samaritan woman came to draw water and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink”…The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans). Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?”…Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” (John 4)

Jesus’ Signs in John Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth. The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!” (Matthew 12:38- 42) “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe. (John 4:48)

Compare Mark 5:21-43 (the healing of Jairus’ daughter) with John 11:1-44 (the raising of Lazarus).

John’s Eschatology “Very truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life. Very truly I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” (John 5:24-25) “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” (John 18:36)