GOSPEL OF JOHN

Music: We Believe — As One Voice disk 7, Track 13

Author: Probably not the Apostle John… but more likely “the apostle Jesus loved” most believe a community was established that developed Jesus’ teachings to the point where it was written down into a Gospel. The Johannine Community was established by Jewish Christians — including followers of John the Baptist — but over time Jews hostile to official Judaism joined as well as Greek converts (or Gentiles). The mix of nationalities explains why words are explained in the Gospel text.

Date: Approx. 90AD or 60 years after the Resurrection.

Precipitating Event: expulsion of Jewish Christians from the Synagogue. Jewish leaders added a special benediction (daily prayers) to the existing 18 = that the Nazarenes (Christians) might suddenly perish. They were re-establishing the Jewish faith after the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed.

Where written: in the middle east – possibly Ephesus (west Turkey).

Relationship to the Synoptic Gospels: there are some common events mentioned in John and the synoptics (mostly Mark). But the whole structure, order of events and presentation are very different. The sources have not been identified: maybe oral, written or eye-witness testimonies.

Purpose: Jn20:31 – “…so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, & that believing this you may have life through his name.”

Method: Narrative and theological discourse (dialogue) develop the key theme of FAITH. There are no parables, and the miracles are presented in such a way that they becomes signs for people to make their leap of faith. It relies heavily on simple everyday Greek terms & everyday realities: water, bread and light.

The Gospel of John is the first theological book written in Christianity. That is to say, it deals more with what the revelations contained in the Synoptic Gospels mean, rather than what actually happened or what was said. Theology is FAITH seeking UNDERSTANDING.

Structure: there are 4 key parts:

1. Jn 1:1 - 1:18 Prologue: origin of Jesus.

2. Jn 1:19 - 12:50 Book of Signs: Public Ministry.

3. Jn13:1 - 20:31 Book of Glory: Last Supper/Passion/Resurrection.

4. Jn21:1 - 21:25 Epilogue: an addition made a short time after.

Part 1: Jesus’ identity is immediately identified with the active Word of God — Logos. But whereas other uses of this in Wisdom literature, John emphasises that the Logos (Jesus) is a living, historical person who is identical with and yet distinct from God (the Father) — which is why references to the Father/Son relationship are constantly used. Remember, the theology of the Trinity had not yet been developed. To respond to the Jesus is to respond to the Father: a practical expression of Jesus’ identity.

Part 2: 7 signs are used to deepen the readers ability to start and deepen their relationship with God. Each sign is described in a narrative which then leads into a dialogue/discourse to reveal its deeper meaning. The signs are: 2:1-11 – The Wedding at Cana; 4:46-54 – The cure of the nobleman's son; 5:1-9 – The cure of a sick man at the Pool of Bethzatha; 6:1-14 – The miracle of the loaves; 6:16-25 – Jesus walks on the waters; 9:1-8 – The cure of the man born blind; 11:1-46 – The resurrection of Lazarus.

Part 3: For those who have already accepted Jesus as God’s presence among people, the Book of Glory helps to reveal God’s love more fully. Through the Passion and Resurrection, John attempts to reveal Jesus as divine without being a “second” God. This is a human paradox, which explains the text which often seems to say one thing and then the opposite!

Other thoughts:

John constantly uses dualistic symbols (pairs of opposites such as light and dark). His discourses often repeat the beginning at the end (inclusions), and frequently includes explanatory comments. In line with his desire to reveal the deeper meaning, John talks about the Church in terms of what it is meant to achieve, rather than its structure. ie.community, and sees apostles as disciples among other disciples. \ the Holy Spirit’s role of the active presence of God in the Christian community is strongly evident through use of the term: Paraclete (Comforter/Advocate) — Jn14-16.

Prayer:

Music: Christ Be Our Light by Bernadette Farrell

Loving God, on our pilgrim journey to you,
help us who are seeking deep joy and happiness,
to realise that it is you that we seek.

Through the Gospels, may we be filled with certainty, truth and hope
so that we find your Son Jesus who is the Way the Truth & the Life. AMEN.

Because of the ‘exiled’ Jewish presence, John’s Gospel also develops an understanding of that where Jews once celebrated God’s presence through the special Feasts, Christians now see God revealed in the person of Jesus: God made man through the incarnation. John then shows where the Jewish Feasts fit into the Gospel:

1. Jn 1:1 - 1:19 Prologue

2. Jn 1:19 - 3:21 The First Passover

3. Jn 3:22 - 4:54 Journeys in Samaria and Galilee

4. Jn 5:1 - 5:47 The Second Feast at Jerusalem

5. Jn 6:1 - 6:71 Another Passover

6. Jn 7:1 - 10:21 The Feast of Tabernacles

7. Jn10:22 - 11:54 The Feast of Dedication

8. Jn11:55 - 17:26 The Last Passover

9. Jn18:1 - 19:42 The Passion Narrative

10. Jn20:1 - 24:25 The Resurrection Narrative

Synoptic Gospels Definition: The word "synoptic" means "with the same eye" or "seeing together." Matthew, Mark, and Luke present the basic story of Jesus in similar ways, including the order of the material, the stories told, the sayings of Jesus, even using many of the same words in parallel accounts. For this reason they are called the Synoptic Gospels. The [so called] Synoptic Problem is not really a "problem" in the normal sense of the term. It is simply a way to refer to questions and possible explanations about the literary relationships between the first three New Testament Gospels.

On the other hand, while the Gospel of John sometimes resembles the other three Gospels, it tells the story of Jesus in significantly different ways, including a different order of events, different perspectives and points of emphasis, and with its own unique vocabulary and style. Those differences can be understood in terms other than literary relationships between the Gospels, which is the reason John is not included in the Synoptic Problem. (http://www.utoronto.ca/religion/synopsis/meta-4g.htm)

http://www.cresourcei.org/synoptic.html Dennis Bratcher

Introduction

The Bible is not really an answer book for anyone’s questions for how to live a good life… a Godly life. It is more a book of faith, and a way to understand God, especially through the incarnate Son, Jesus. John’s Gospel is written so that we might believe in Jesus Christ.

Mention the Gospel symbols.

John = The Eagle.

Mark = The Lion.

Matthew = The Angel.

Luke = The Ox.

Read Synoptic Gospels bit.

Read handout.

There are many questions that are answered directly in the Bible, but some people are now dismissing those answers because the world has changed, and they don’t like the answers.

The Bible helps us know how Jesus thought, and how he interpreted the Law of Moses in the light of Loving God and Loving our neighbour.

Discussion

What issues are currently needing guidance that might be hard to find a direct answer to in the Bible?

How can we decide what the right way forward is, based on our understanding of the Gospels?