CAF Bible Study - The Gospel of John

[katy]

I am thankful that God sees in us what we don’t see even in ourselves. Unfortunately, it seems to me we often get in our own way, as Peter did before Jesus’ resurrection.

 

[maryj]

Normally, no one entered a house without first taking off one’s sandals and having one’s feet washed. Dust and mud were removed from people’s feet and the house was spared the dirt which might have been tracked in. Servant’s washed the feet of their employers. Poorer people washed one another’s feet. John writes that “while the meal was in progress” Jesus rose and took a towel and a basin of water and washed his apostle’s feet. The customary washing outside the door of the upper room did not take place. Why not? Hint (Luke 22:24)

 

[franny33]

John 13:6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him,“Master, are You going to wash my feet?” 7Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will later.” 8Peter said to Him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, "Master, Then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.
This was a sacramental dinner between friends. They didnt know yet, it would be the last. Jesus might have been thinking of those important things “not to forget”. This looks to me that Our Lord is giving the Apostles another way to institute Baptism. By washing them, He shows cleanliness is next to Godliness. Keeping clean in all ways is good.
Sincerely, Franny

 

[maryj]

Peter did not want a humble leader. when Jesus knelt before peter, he looked up at a stubborn face. Peter held his feet back and told Jesus that he would never let him do such a humiliating task for him. At Caesarea Philippi, Peter had protested that he would never allow jesus to undergo the humiliation of a public execution. He liked using the word “never” Peter was insistent on a dominant, foreceful, overwhelming, proud, controling type leader. He clearly did not want a master who was willing to perform an act that even Jewish slaves were not required to do.
what a scene. Jesus in the submissive position. Peter in the dominant pose. Yet the real authority was in the man who assumed a humble posture. His body talk was a prelude to the deeper emptying of the passion. Jesus had dug a new well into his resources to illustrate both the possibilities of human greatness as well as the extent to which divine love was willing to go. There is nothing commanding about a man kneeling on the floor before another man. Yet Jesus was totally comfortable in a posture that appeared to be vulnerable. the commander did not mind being humble. It was the proud soldier, Peter, who was uncomfortable. If Peter wanted to share in an unimaginable love, he must allow himself to be washed.
Foot washing was a ceremony that admitted one into the sanctity of one’s home. Baptism is the sacramental ceremony that welcomes one into the household of the faith.

 

[Red_Wolf]

But look what sort of a leader Saint Peter turned out to be for the early church; speaking and acting boldly when prudent, and letting others carry the speech and action when prudent. That, however, is a topic for Acts; his boldness in chapter 10 and gentle diplomacy in chapter 15 for example.

 

[Church_Militant]

John Chapter 14
[1] “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.
[2] In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
[3] And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
[4] And you know the way where I am going.”
[5] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”
[6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.
[7] If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him.”
[8] Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied.”
[9] Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, Show us the Father'? [10] Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. [11] Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves. [12] "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. [13] Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; [14] if you ask anything in my name, I will do it. [15] "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. [16] And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, [17] even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you. [18] "I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you. [19] Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also. [20] In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. [21] He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." [22] Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" [23] Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. [24] He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. [25] "These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. [26] But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. [27] Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [28] You heard me say to you, I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.
[29] And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe.
[30] I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me;
[31] but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go hence.

 

[Huiou_Theou]

The washing of the feet in the last set of chapters followed by this chapter leads me to consider the relationship between spirit and water – the baptismal regeneration.

Jesus washes the feet of his priests, and breathes on them saying receive the holy spirit. Then he speaks of his fathers house and hospitality. Who is the servant who can wash anyones feet in his father’s house?

Yet even more so, If anyone refuses the service of Jesus in the washing of the feet – you are ex-communicated. The servant of the servants of Christ – Peter must wash the other Apostles’ feet because of this example of Christ. This is a priestly service for the humbling of the chief priest among his brothers and at the same time reminding the others of his primacy in imitation of Christ. I find it sad that the theology today is so fem. in many dioceses that the priestly connection is being lost in conjunction with leadership of Christ the head, and instead this is being a male/female issue now in the States. It really ought to be priests washing each other’s feet, and even having lay males is a poor substitute.

The image of the common person merely exemplifies the humility of the priest even below the lowest servant – but in doing so, it simply reduces all priests to less than the lowest of the laypeople – instead of signifying the hierarchical charity among the holders of authority in Christ’s church with respect to each other. There are no laypeople in the discussion of this Gospel.

 

[Nita]

The washing of the feet in the last set of chapters followed by this chapter leads me to consider the relationship between spirit and water – the baptismal regeneration.

Jesus washes the feet of his priests, and breathes on them saying receive the holy spirit. Then he speaks of his fathers house and hospitality. Who is the servant who can wash anyones feet in his father’s house?

Yet even more so, If anyone refuses the service of Jesus in the washing of the feet – you are ex-communicated. The servant of the servants of Christ – Peter must wash the other Apostles’ feet because of this example of Christ. This is a priestly service for the humbling of the chief priest among his brothers and at the same time reminding the others of his primacy in imitation of Christ. I find it sad that the theology today is so fem. in many dioceses that the priestly connection is being lost in conjunction with leadership of Christ the head, and instead this is being a male/female issue now in the States. It really ought to be priests washing each other’s feet, and even having lay males is a poor substitute.

The image of the common person merely exemplifies the humility of the priest even below the lowest servant – but in doing so, it simply reduces all priests to less than the lowest of the laypeople – instead of signifying the hierarchical charity among the holders of authority in Christ’s church with respect to each other. There are no laypeople in the discussion of this Gospel.

To me there also seems to be a connection between
the OT washings that took place at the institution of the OT priesthood (Ex 29:1-9) and
the NT washings that took place at the Last Supper when the NT priesthood was instituted.
It’s as though ablutions are part of the ordination ritual that establishes a new priesthood.

Nita

 

[Church_Militant]

To me there also seems to be a connection between
the OT washings that took place at the institution of the OT priesthood (Ex 29:1-9) and
the NT washings that took place at the Last Supper when the NT priesthood was instituted.
It’s as though ablutions are part of the ordination ritual that establishes a new priesthood.

Nita

Isn’t it amazing when you look at all the types and foreshadowings of the New Testament in the Old?

[1] "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.

Whenever I see this verse I think of one of John Paul the Great’s favorite sayings when he used to quote Jesus and say “Be not afraid.”

[12] "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.
[13] Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son;
[14] if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

What an amazing promise of Our Lord and how few of us really believe it!

I wonder…is this the reason that so many of the saints we know about did such incredibly and miraculous things? I think this should encourage us to in our prayers and Christian life.

[15] "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
[16] And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever,
[17] even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you.

Another passage that probably speaks to us all.

This certainly tells us that without obeying Him we do not really love Him and what the results of disobedience are.

This certainly extends to many areas of life.

 

[katy]

I have a list of the books of the Bible from the OT that, together with the NT, make a continuous reading of the story of salvation. I’m hoping to get started on that when I finish what I am doing now. That is the closest I will likely come to a new year resolution.

 

[LtTony]

I’m presently focusing on Ch. 20. The resurrection narrative there seems to be significantly different than what is found in the other three Gospels. Why is that?

 

[NotWorthy]

I’m presently focusing on Ch. 20. The resurrection narrative there seems to be significantly different than what is found in the other three Gospels. Why is that?

The focus of the narratives is different. If you had three reporters, one from the USA, one from Afghanistan, and one from China report on the World Trade Center disaster, would you be reading the same three reports?

Each Gospel author is trying to convey a different lesson to a different audience. What’s important to John (and his audience) is not relevant to Matthew (and his audience).

 

[LtTony]

I understand what you are saying, and I am convinced of it. I do, however, have a lingering question regarding John 20, 11-15. It’s description of Jesus meeting the women is different from Matthew’s.

 

[Nita]

John 14:20 In that day you shall know, that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

I liked St. Hilary’s explanation of this verse:
“He is in the Father by reason of His divine nature, we are in Him by reason of His human birth, and He is in us through the mystery of the sacraments.”

The quote is from the Liturgy of Hours, Vol II (Lent Easter), page 779. St. Hilary gives a great explanation of verses 19 and 20.

Nita

 

[lak611]

I liked St. Hilary’s explanation of this verse:
“He is in the Father by reason of His divine nature, we are in Him by reason of His human birth, and He is in us through the mystery of the sacraments.”

The quote is from the Liturgy of Hours, Vol II (Lent Easter), page 779. St. Hilary gives a great explanation of verses 19 and 20.

Nita

That is a great explanation from St. Hilary. Thank you for mentioning it.

 

[Nita]

I’d read through Chapter 14 several times, waiting for some special verse to stand out - but it didn’t. Decided to read it then from a different perspective.

I thought about how these were Our Lord’s final hours with His apostles. What would He consider important to say/teach them. I reread the chapter again looking for sort of an overall theme. What seemed to permeate the whole chapter was teaching about the Trinity - and in connection with that, Jesus’ deity. And I recalled that in the Church’s early history the major doctrinal battles had to do with Jesus’ nature (hypostatic union) and the Trinity. How very important it was to make provision for dealing with those controversies.

Rereading the chapter AGAIN, as tho I had asked Jesus to explain His deity and explain the Trinity, made the chapter very special.

Nita

 

[Church_Militant]

John Chapter 15
[1] "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
[2] Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
[3] You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you.
[4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
[5] I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
[6] If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned.
[7] If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
[8] By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.
[9] As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love.
[10] If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
[11] These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
[12] "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
[13] Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
[14] You are my friends if you do what I command you.
[15] No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
[16] You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
[17] This I command you, to love one another.
[18] "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
[19] If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
[20] Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. [21] But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me. [22] If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. [23] He who hates me hates my Father also. [24] If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. [25] It is to fulfil the word that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.’
[26] But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me;
[27] and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning.

 

[maryj]

As an avid gardener, I relate to these passages very personally. Jesus loved to use the images of daily life to illustrate his Gospel. Grape farmers planted their vines on terraced slopes above their grain fields. In those higher elevations they could count on the heavydews even in the dry summer months. With all gardening you must resist the urge to plant things too close togethar, you must give them room to grow and plenty of space to move through them and work. Every spring you must prune the vines. “when the flowering is ended and the blooms are succeded by ripening grapes, then comes the cutting of the branches with pruning hooks and the discarding of the lopped off shoots” (Is. 18:5) the workers walked through the rows, pausing at each vine to cut off the less productive branches with a small knife.( which if your a gardener you will know that this increase the productivity and yeild of the other branches) then they brought the piles of branches to a safe area where they were burned. the living branches, heavy with fruit would be propped up with forked sticks( sometimes I have to use 2x4’s to prop up plants so heavy with fruits they may even tip over and pull their roots from the ground). Lastly the soil around the plants is loosened carefully and weeds gently scraped away. Now we wait, while mother nature matures the fruit, they swell and ripen under the hot summer sun.( MAN, how’s that for symbolism. Love these passages.)
Participants in the Passover meal would have drunk four ceremonial cups of wine. At the last supper the third cup of wine was transformed sacramentally by Jesus into His Blood. The drinking of Sacramental wine would have been a perfect lead-in to his comments about the vine and the branches. I know that just thinking about getting out into the garden brings sweet memories to life, how pleasant these images of vines and grapes and wine. They speak of fruitfullness, color, joyful celebrations, and warm hearts.(wow do I have spring fever!!) Here they are in this very “mellow mood” they imagine vividly the sight of the bonfires at night where the pruned branches lit up the night.
Jesus chose these images to illuminate the mystery of his intimacy with us. The setting and their experiences lent themselves perfectly to Christ’s words “I am the vine and my Father is the vine grower” (verse 1)

 

[Nita]

The image that usually comes to my mind from this passage is the sap (not sure if that’s what it’s called in a vine), flowing through the vine and from there into the branches - the source of life for the plant.

It reminds me of sanctifying grace - a river of living water, flowing from Our Lord into us; eternal life if we remain united to Jesus.
Other verses from John come to mind:

*John 4:10,14 "If you knew the gift of God, …you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water. … “…the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

John 7:38 (Alternate reading in RSV) If any one thirst, let him come to me, and let him who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.”

John 19:34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.*

Nita

 

[Red_Wolf]

I’d read through Chapter 14 several times, waiting for some special verse to stand out - but it didn’t. Decided to read it then from a different perspective.

I thought about how these were Our Lord’s final hours with His apostles. What would He consider important to say/teach them. I reread the chapter again looking for sort of an overall theme. What seemed to permeate the whole chapter was teaching about the Trinity - and in connection with that, Jesus’ deity. And I recalled that in the Church’s early history the major doctrinal battles had to do with Jesus’ nature (hypostatic union) and the Trinity. How very important it was to make provision for dealing with those controversies.

Rereading the chapter AGAIN, as tho I had asked Jesus to explain His deity and explain the Trinity, made the chapter very special.

Nita

For me, too. Thanks for this post, Nita.