CHAPTER 9CHAPTER 9

JESUS IN JESUS IN

THE GOSPEL OF JOHNTHE GOSPEL OF JOHN

JESUS CHRIST:JESUS CHRIST:GOD’S REVELATION GOD’S REVELATION

TO THE WORLDTO THE WORLD

Organization of John’s Organization of John’s GospelGospel

ProloguePrologue– Highlights the theme of the GospelHighlights the theme of the Gospel

The Book of SignsThe Book of Signs– Miracles and their teachingsMiracles and their teachings

The Book of GloryThe Book of Glory– Explanation of Jesus’ Passion, Death and Explanation of Jesus’ Passion, Death and

ResurrectionResurrection Epilogue: Resurrection AppearancesEpilogue: Resurrection Appearances

– Differences between Jesus’ newly Differences between Jesus’ newly resurrected body and his former oneresurrected body and his former one

Background of the Background of the Gospel of JohnGospel of John

Date: likely between 90 and 100 ADDate: likely between 90 and 100 AD– Earliest fragment of New Testament writing is Earliest fragment of New Testament writing is

from John’s Gospel: John Rylands Greek from John’s Gospel: John Rylands Greek papyruspapyrus

Author: John, the “Beloved Disciple”Author: John, the “Beloved Disciple”– Possibly written in several stages and edited Possibly written in several stages and edited

by different people who were inspired by Johnby different people who were inspired by John Audience: diverse group that included Audience: diverse group that included

Samaritan converts, Gentile Christians Samaritan converts, Gentile Christians and Jewish Christians who were expelled and Jewish Christians who were expelled from synagoguesfrom synagogues

Themes of Themes of the Gospel of the Gospel of

JohnJohnStrengthen the faith Strengthen the faith

of the believersof the believers

Win new convertsWin new converts

Fight false ideas Fight false ideas about Jesus’ full about Jesus’ full

humanity or even his humanity or even his divinitydivinity

Challenge followers Challenge followers of John the Baptist of John the Baptist

who wrongly believed who wrongly believed he was the Messiahhe was the Messiah

The Uniqueness of The Uniqueness of John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel

More mystical More mystical than the synopticsthan the synoptics

Emphasizes that Emphasizes that Jesus Christ is Jesus Christ is

true God and true true God and true manman

New characters New characters appearappear

Jewish feasts are Jewish feasts are highlighted over highlighted over Jesus’ three-year Jesus’ three-year

ministryministry

Center of Jesus’ Center of Jesus’ ministry is ministry is JerusalemJerusalem

Long, extended Long, extended discourses rather discourses rather than short sayings than short sayings

or parablesor parables Jesus is the focus Jesus is the focus

of God’s of God’s Revelation—Revelation—

””I AM”I AM” Very poeticVery poetic

The IncarnationThe Incarnation

““In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . And the word became flesh.”and the Word was God . . . And the word became flesh.”

The IncarnationThe Incarnation

sarks (Greek), carne (Latin)sarks (Greek), carne (Latin)

FLESHFLESH

WE CANNOT BE HUMAN BEINGS WE CANNOT BE HUMAN BEINGS WITHOUT BODIES!WITHOUT BODIES!

Docetism: an early heresy that was associated with Docetism: an early heresy that was associated with the Gnostics that claimed that Jesus had no human the Gnostics that claimed that Jesus had no human

body and only appeared to die on the Crossbody and only appeared to die on the Cross

The Importance The Importance of the of the

IncarnationIncarnationIf Jesus Christ only If Jesus Christ only

seemedseemed to be human, to be human, then he didn’t really then he didn’t really

die and rise.die and rise.

If Jesus Christ only If Jesus Christ only seemedseemed to be human, to be human,

then our human then our human nature is not healed.nature is not healed.

If Jesus Christ only If Jesus Christ only seemedseemed to be human, to be human, then we have never then we have never

perceived the Glory of perceived the Glory of God.God.

Mary, the Mother of GodMary, the Mother of GodBy responding “yes” to God’s invitation to the Incarnation By responding “yes” to God’s invitation to the Incarnation at the Annunciation, Mary was already collaborating with at the Annunciation, Mary was already collaborating with

the whole work her Son was to accomplish.the whole work her Son was to accomplish.

ChristologyChristology

The study of Jesus The study of Jesus Christ—trying to Christ—trying to

understand who he understand who he isis

John focuses on the John focuses on the heavenly origins of heavenly origins of

Christ and his Christ and his fundamental identity fundamental identity as God’s only Son. as God’s only Son.

The synoptics The synoptics provide a narrative provide a narrative of Jesus of Nazareth of Jesus of Nazareth

and develop his and develop his story as an ascent to story as an ascent to

glory through the glory through the Paschal Mystery.Paschal Mystery.

The Signs in John’s The Signs in John’s GospelGospel

Sign 1: The Wedding at Sign 1: The Wedding at CanaCana

Jesus changed the Jesus changed the water into wine; water into wine;

we believe that he we believe that he can change us.can change us.

Water symbolizes Water symbolizes baptism; wine baptism; wine symbolizes the symbolizes the

Eucharist.Eucharist.

Mary’s concern for Mary’s concern for others moved her others moved her

to intercede.to intercede.

The Signs in John’s The Signs in John’s GospelGospel

Sign 2: Cure of the Official’s Sign 2: Cure of the Official’s SonSon

Power of Jesus’ word Power of Jesus’ word was enough to heal was enough to heal the son of a court the son of a court

officialofficial

Jesus can rescue us Jesus can rescue us from spiritual death.from spiritual death.

Shows the power of Shows the power of intercessory prayer intercessory prayer (prayer for others)(prayer for others)

Sign 3: Cure on a SabbathSign 3: Cure on a Sabbath

Jesus is the source of Jesus is the source of life.life.

““My Father is at work My Father is at work until now, so I am at until now, so I am at

work.”work.”

Both the Son and the Both the Son and the Father work on the Father work on the

Sabbath.Sabbath.

The Signs in John’s The Signs in John’s GospelGospel

Sign 4 and 5: Multiplication of Sign 4 and 5: Multiplication of Loaves and Walking on WaterLoaves and Walking on Water

Recall Moses’ Recall Moses’ miracles in miracles in

Exodus after the Exodus after the first Passover first Passover

Manna in the desertManna in the desertWalking through Walking through

the Red Seathe Red Sea

Jesus is the New Jesus is the New Moses and the Moses and the true Passover.true Passover.

Bread of Life Bread of Life DiscourseDiscourse

After these signs, After these signs, Jesus tells his Jesus tells his

disciples that he disciples that he replaces the manna replaces the manna

of the Exodus.of the Exodus.

He is the source of He is the source of eternal life—the eternal life—the

Eucharist.Eucharist.

The Eucharist brings The Eucharist brings about an intimate about an intimate

relationship between relationship between Christ and the Christ and the

Church.Church.

Peter: Master, to Peter: Master, to whom shall we go?whom shall we go?

The Signs in John’s The Signs in John’s GospelGospel

Sign 6: Cure of a Man Born Blind

Contrasts a blind man who Contrasts a blind man who was given sight with those was given sight with those who had physical sight yet who had physical sight yet

were spiritually blind.were spiritually blind.

Remain faithful to Jesus Remain faithful to Jesus and your faith will deepen.and your faith will deepen.

The Lord teaches that The Lord teaches that spiritual blindness is worse spiritual blindness is worse

than physical blindness.than physical blindness.

Sign 7: Raising of Lazarus

This most important sign This most important sign prefigures Jesus’ own prefigures Jesus’ own

Death and Resurrection.Death and Resurrection.

Sums up all the signsSums up all the signs Jesus is the way of lifeJesus is the way of life

Jesus is the Jesus is the ResurrectionResurrection

Jesus is God (“I Am”).Jesus is God (“I Am”).

Faith is essential for us Faith is essential for us to gain eternal life.to gain eternal life.

The Last SupperThe Last Supper

John reports the Last John reports the Last Supper occurred on the Supper occurred on the day the Jews killed the day the Jews killed the

lambs for Passover.lambs for Passover.

Every Eucharist re-Every Eucharist re-presents in an unbloody presents in an unbloody manner the one Sacrifice manner the one Sacrifice

of Christ.of Christ.

Jesus washes the feet of Jesus washes the feet of his disciples.his disciples.

He promises to send the He promises to send the Paraclete, the Holy SpiritParaclete, the Holy Spirit

The High Priestly Prayer of The High Priestly Prayer of JesusJesus

The Lord greatly desires to live in us, The Lord greatly desires to live in us, people united to him.people united to him.

Passion NarrativePassion Narrative

Jesus is in control of Jesus is in control of the events of his the events of his

Passion.Passion.

John highlights the John highlights the Old Testament Old Testament

prophecies concerning prophecies concerning the crucifixion.the crucifixion.

Jesus entrusted his Jesus entrusted his Mother to the Beloved Mother to the Beloved

Disciple, and Disciple, and symbolically, to the symbolically, to the

whole Church.whole Church.

Resurrection of JesusResurrection of Jesus

The central event of our Salvation!The central event of our Salvation!

John shows how a personal John shows how a personal encounter with Jesus, not an empty encounter with Jesus, not an empty

tomb, brings about faith.tomb, brings about faith.

Jesus appears to the Apostles and Jesus appears to the Apostles and commissions them to continue his commissions them to continue his

work, to be missionarieswork, to be missionaries

Comparing the Comparing the Resurrection NarrativesResurrection Narratives

All four Gospels agree on All four Gospels agree on the following essentials:the following essentials: The Resurrection took place The Resurrection took place

early in the morning on the early in the morning on the first day of the week.first day of the week.

Women were present at the Women were present at the tomb, definitely including Mary tomb, definitely including Mary Magdalene.Magdalene.

The stone had been rolled The stone had been rolled away and the tomb was away and the tomb was empty.empty.

A messenger or messengers A messenger or messengers who spoke to the women were who spoke to the women were at the tomb; the women were at the tomb; the women were to tell the disciples what took to tell the disciples what took place.place.