Liberal Christian Commentary

21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Conclusion – That they may all be one

By searaven, on April 11th, 2012

John 17

The “great discourses” from the Gospel of John end with the prayer of John’s Jesus for the protection of his followers from the hatred of “the world.” Just as Jesus and God are one, so the followers of Jesus are one with Jesus and therefore with God, and those in the future who . . . → Read More: 21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Conclusion – That they may all be one

21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part XII – In Vino Veritas

By searaven, on April 4th, 2012

John 15

In what may have been an addition to the original Gospel, the writer states unequivocally that Jesus is the true, real vine, and God is the vine-grower/farmer. Throughout the Old Testament, the vine and the vineyard refer to the land and the people of Israel. (Psalm 80; Hosea 10:1-2; Isaiah 5:1-7; Isaiah 27:2-6; . . . → Read More: 21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part XII – In Vino Veritas

21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part XI – Knocking on Heaven’s Door

By searaven, on March 28th, 2012

John 13:36-14:31; 16

John 14 is the core of traditional Christian theology. When the Revised Common Lectionary is followed, John 14 explains Jesus’ death and resurrection (5th and 6th Sundays of Easter, Years A and C), and the coming of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost, Year C) after his post-resurrection, apocalyptic, bodily ascension into the sky, . . . → Read More: 21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part XI – Knocking on Heaven’s Door

21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part X – Last Supper

By searaven, on March 21st, 2012

John 13:1-35

In contrast to the synoptic Gospels, John is clear that Jesus’ last meal with his disciples was not the Passover meal. Instead, it was the night before the day of preparation for the Passover, when the lambs for the ritual meal were sacrificed. In John’s narrative, that particular day of preparation was also . . . → Read More: 21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part X – Last Supper

21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part IX – Beginning of the End

By searaven, on March 15th, 2012

John 12

Raymond E. Brown’s classic commentary on The Gospel and Epistles of John considers 11:1-12:36 as the last section of what he calls “Book 1 – The Book of Signs.” Brown titles this section, “From Death to Life and From Life to Death: Lazarus and Entry into Jerusalem.” The raising of Lazarus is Jesus’ . . . → Read More: 21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part IX – Beginning of the End

21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part VIII – Lazarus

By searaven, on March 9th, 2012

John 11

The raising of Lazarus from the dead is the final, last-gasp, over-the-top sign that John’s Jesus does. John’s point is clear: if the people don’t believe Jesus is the Messiah after this, they won’t believe him even if he comes back from the dead himself. John makes sure his listeners know that Lazarus . . . → Read More: 21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part VIII – Lazarus

21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part VII – Blind Sheep

By searaven, on March 2nd, 2012

John 9:1-10:42

John’s appropriation of Jewish festival metaphors continues throughout chapters 9 and 10. Jesus again declares his power greater than the torches used to light the women’s court: “So long as I am in the world I am the light of the world.” The man born blind washes Jesus’ healing mud from his eyes . . . → Read More: 21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part VII – Blind Sheep

21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part VI – Fire and Water

By searaven, on February 23rd, 2012

John 7:1-52; 8:12-59

With chapter 7 the anti-Semitism that has haunted Christianity for centuries seems to become unavoidable. Perhaps that is why only two verses are ever read by followers of The Revised Common Lectionary, and even those are considered alternative choices for Pentecost in Year A (when the emphasis is on Matthew’s Gospel): “On . . . → Read More: 21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part VI – Fire and Water

21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part V – Bread of Life

By searaven, on February 13th, 2012

John 6

John 6 is the foundation for the orthodox meaning of Christian Eucharist. The chapter opens with John’s version of the “feeding of the 5,000,” or “miracle of the loaves and fishes,” followed by the first of the “I Am” statements attributed to Jesus by John; John then presents an extensive argument about what . . . → Read More: 21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part V – Bread of Life

21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part IV – Believers & Ingrates

By searaven, on February 6th, 2012

John 4:46b-5:47 Before getting too much deeper into the Gospel of John, some definition is in order. The translation that is used for these commentaries is The Complete Gospels, The Scholars Version, Fourth Edition (Polebridge Press, Salem Oregon, 2010). In a cameo essay (pp. 203-204), the scholars clarify the meaning of the Greek word Ioudaios, . . . → Read More: 21st Century Cosmology and the Gospel of John: Part IV – Believers & Ingrates

Gaia Rising

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