Gospel of John - Class 8

Our assignment for this class was to contrast the passion narratives found in the Gospel of John ch:18-19 with the Gospel of Mathew ch:26-27. Prior to today’s class our instructor wanted us to write down three differences to discuss in class.

 

In the account of the anointing of Jesus in Bethany Matthew names the host but the woman is unnamed, John named the woman but not the host. Matthew doesn’t use the names of those involved when the servant losses an ear during Jesus’ arrest, but John names Peter as the one with the sword. Remember that John isn’t too concerned about the primacy of Peter or the other apostles.

 

In Matthew Jesus has help carrying the cross and in John Jesus carries the cross alone. Although in Matthew Judas is condemned, Jesus says “Let my disciples go” making good His promise to have not lost one of those given to him. In John there is no final judgment of Judas also signifying that He has “not lost one of those you gave me”. Matthew’s Judas is repentant and John makes no mention of money as part of the story line.

 

In Matthew’s account of the betrayal Judas is in charge (kiss and coins), and in John’s account Jesus is in charge (Who are you looking for and I AM). The crucifixion in Matthew is a humiliation and degradation, which is what it was supposed to be under roman rule, in John the crucifixion is a lifting up or glorification of Jesus. At the end of Matthews account Jesus cries out “My God, My God”, and in John he quietly says “It is finished”.  We don’t find the in inauguration of a new community at the base of the cross in Matthew, and in John we see those gathered at the base of the cross as the foundation of the New Israel.

 

During our class discussion she emphasized the difficulty in trying to conflate them into one story. She also wanted us to understand that the Church is made up of saints and sinners. It’s not two separate groups of people; we are both, and she thought maybe this is what Jesus is trying to show. Jesus the Christ, who was and is the Son of God, is the primary message of the Gospel of John.

 

In John chapters 18 and 19 the Passion Narrative brings to a climax the themes found throughout the Gospel: A lifting up or gathering up of Jesus and the destruction of the old physical temple and the raising up of the new Temple in Jesus. Jesus is bound when the Jewish guards take him to Annas, and is then bound again when the guards take him to Caiaphas. This may allude to the story of Abraham and Isaac who was bound. He also carried the bundle of wood to his own sacrifice. It’s interesting to note that the place of Abraham’s sacrifice is the place later called Golgotha, the place of the new Temple, God’s beloved Son.

 

Passover was a very important event of course. God rose up Moses to deliver the people, and He brought the ten plagues to convince Pharaoh to let His people go. God also instructed every family to sacrifice a lamb and place its blood on the lintel so that the Angle of Death would pass over their house. The idea that this was a quick meal with no time for bread to rise continued into the days of Jesus. The Passover celebration brought thousands of people to Jerusalem, to sacrifice and eat the meal which included unleavened bread.

 

In the first three Gospels the Disciples ask where they are to prepare the meal, and that evening they celebrate the meal. Jesus’ death is the day after the Passover meal. In John’s Gospel Jesus’ death occurs on the day prior to the Passover meal, on the afternoon of the day of preparation. John changes the time for theological reasons to identify Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, giving life to all who believe in Him. Jesus’ death represents the salvation of Israel, just like the Passover Lamb protected them from death at the original pass over.

 

In John the soldiers use a hyssop branch to offer Jesus water with the sponge, which was also used to spread the blood on the lintel. The Hyssop branch was a sign of salvation and freedom for the Israel households.

 

For John the freedom from sin and slavery of the world denotes a condition rather than an individual act or infraction of the law. Adam and Eve’s refusal to believe that God was ultimate love and refusal to believe that everything comes from God, was related to their fear of not being in control of their lives. The fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was original not because it comes first but because wanting to be god like is the source of all sin, and is therefore a condition that affects the whole human race. For John the task of the Disciples was how to deal with the expression of individuals regarding this original human sin.

 

John also saw Jesus’ death as a free laying down of life for those whom Jesus loves: It was a release or liberation from the slavery of sin. The reason for Jesus' death was not the result of hate but was an ultimate act of Love. God’s Love achieved what Israel’s Law was unable to achieve, and their sacrificial acts were no longer necessary. Those who can believe and really understand it can have Eternal Life. What is required of us is to do what Jesus did for us, extend the love of Jesus to all, up to and including laying down our lives.

 

There was plenty of religious and political chaos present during the Passover event. Usually, when violence increases chaos increases and when the people decide that their violent behavior must stop they search for a common enemy. A scapegoat is blamed for their condition and turned into the common enemy, and Jesus was identified as their common enemy and blamed for causing the social unrest.

 

The people were looking for a scapegoat and it was obvious who the scapegoat should be; who needed a trial. Jesus was from Nazareth, He was a Galilean, despised by the religious authorities because His teachings challenged the Law, and they were threated by His teaching about the temple and His claim to be a king.

 

Once the scapegoat is gone the mission is accomplished and people begin to feel a little more peaceful. They justify their action by saying, “It is better for one person should die than the whole nation should parish.” Jesus was oppressed and afflicted, like a lamb taken to the slaughter. He was a scapegoat whose death was freely given: God let his plan come through despite the chaos that was present. The risen Jesus came to forgive and the peace that he brings is intended to commission us to forgive those who are against us. “Peace be with you. My peace I bring you.”