Introduction
While the Gospel of John bears some similarities to the Synoptic Gospels, as Barrett (1974) points out, it also sets itself apart in several unique ways by focusing on the mystical nature of Christ and the importance of the Church. Even the Synoptic Gospels offer differing details of the life and teachings of Christ, and in many instances, John agrees or is more in line with Mark, while Mark differs from Matthew and Luke. Still, Barrett (1974) affirms that “John’s aim was not literal accuracy, and he therefore cannot be expected to… Continue Reading...
and immanent. Neyrev also draws attention to the central paradox on the Gospel of John, which affirms, “Jesus alone makes God known.” Thus, Christ links the temporal with the eternal. The Prologue tackles the cosmological mysteries of time and incarnation.
The Prologue also presents Jesus as mediator, with the ability to transmute God’s love into a love that is received directly in human life. As such, the Prologue helps to lead the reader into the Christian cosmology. Moloney presents the Prologue in a matter-of-fact way, presenting it as the opening segment of the gospel, one of the gospel’s “four major sections,” (p.… Continue Reading...
Gospel of John
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The Gospel of John presents Jesus to the reader in a way that makes Christ the central figure not just at the time but in all history. Christ is the logos—the Word from the beginning of time. As the faith community moved out of the synagogue, I can see how the Gospel of John helped to prepare the community for this move. Christ is depicted in the Gospel as instituting an entirely new religion—one based on love, charity, mercy and relationships. As Moloney (1998) states, “one… Continue Reading...
Jesus are instantly resolved through faith. For instance, in the Gospel of John, we learn the Son of Man “walks on earth” even though “his true home is in heaven,” (Ashton, 1991, p. 372). The Gospel of Mark expands on this theme, offering hope and even a message of joy in spite of the fearsome imagery and messages that occur throughout the text.
It is important to advise and counsel parishioners as to the meaning of the apocalyptic and doom-filled vision Mark communicates. Inculcating fear is important because it reminds us of the power of God and the importance of… Continue Reading...