The Prologue of John:
Proclaiming the
Good News of Eternal Life!
Religious Education Congress (Session 2-13)
Archdiocese of Los Angeles – March 23, 2012
Fr. Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D. – http://catholic-resources.org
Loyola Institute for Spirituality, Orange, CA
Welcome!

Thank You for attending R.E. Congress!

Have you read the whole Gospel of John?



Have you read the entire New Testament?

Have you read the Gospel of John this year?
Four Gospels: Foundations of our Faith!

We need them to know, love, follow Jesus!

We need to read all four Gospels each year!
Study each Gospel separately. Why?

Same Jesus, but four very different portraits!
2
John’s Prologue

Not just a “Preface”


Although from a late stage in development of FG
More like a “Preview” or “Summary”
Encapsulates main themes of John’s Theology
 Christology: Who Is Jesus?
 Discipleship: How Do We Respond?


Purpose of This Session:
To understand John’s Gospel better.
 To be inspired to (re-)read John’s Gospel.
 To be able to use John better in Relig. Ed.

3
Biblical Study: Three Readings
1st Reading:
Introduction / Overview / Review
 2nd Reading:
Careful Analysis: Each Story / Each Verse
Compare other OT/NT texts, esp. Gospels
 3rd Reading:
Integration / Review / Deepening


Let’s Read the Prologue
4
First Reading: John 1:1-18 (NAB)
1 In
the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be 4 through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
5 the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it
5
John 1:1-18 (NAB, cont.)
6A
man named John was sent from God.
7 He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone,
was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
6
John 1:1-18 (NAB, cont.)
11 He
came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.
12 But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
13 who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but [were born] of God.
7
John 1:1-18 (NAB, cont.)
14 And
the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only[-begotten] Son,
full of grace and truth.
15 John testified to him and cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said,
‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead
of me because he existed before me.’”
8
John 1:1-18 (NAB, concl.)
16 From
his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace, 17 because
while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No
one has ever seen God.
The only[-begotten] Son, God,
who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him.
9
Beginnings of Other Gospels
Mark:
“The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ,
the Son of God.” (1:1)
Matthew:
“An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah,
the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (1:1)
Luke:
“Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the
events that have been fulfilled among us, / just as they were handed
on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and
servants of the word, / I too decided, after investigating everything
carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most
excellent Theophilus, / so that you may know the truth concerning the
things about which you have been instructed.” (1:1-4)
10
Structure of John’s Gospel (H.O.)

Prologue (1:1-18): Logos Hymn: Word with God; Word’s Role in
Creation; Believers become Children of God; Word becomes Flesh;
Only-begotten Son reveals the Father

“Book of Signs” (1:19—12:50):
Cana Wedding; Temple Incident; Nicodemus; Official’s Son; Samaritan
Woman; Healing at Bethesda; Feeding 5000 & Bread of Life Discourse;
Conflicts in Jerusalem; Man Born Blind & Good Shepherd Discourse;
Raising of Lazarus; Anointing at Bethany; Plots to Kill Jesus; etc.

“Book of Glory” (13:1—20:31):
Last Supper: Washing the Disciples’ Feet, Foretelling Judas’ Betrayal
& Peter’s Denial, Farewell Discourses; Jesus’ Great Prayer;
Passion Narrative: Arrest, Hearings & Trials; Crucifixion, Death & Burial;
Resurrection Appearances: to Mary Magdalene, Disciples, and Thomas

Epilogue (21:1-25): More Appearances of the Risen Jesus,
at the Sea of Tiberias/Galilee (added later)
11
John’s Prologue in Lectionary

Third Sunday of Advent, Year B

John 1:6-8, 19-28 (Witness of John the Baptizer)
 Christmas,
 John


1:1-18 (or shorter, 1:1-5, 9-14)
Also for 2nd Sunday after Christmas, omitted if
Epiphany is transferred to Sunday
Dec. 31: Weekday in Christmas Season


Mass during the Day
John 1:1-18
Roman Missal before Vatican II

“Second Gospel” read at end of every Mass
12
Highlight of John’s Prologue?

Common Opinion:
It’s all about Jesus! Central point in verse 14:
 “The word became flesh and dwelt among us”

13
Johann Christoph Weigel, 1695
John 1:1
John 1:14
14
Johannine Christology

Titles for Jesus from the Synoptic Gospels

Christ / Messiah; Lord / Sir / Master; Savior
 Rabbi / Rabbouni; Teacher
 Son of God; Son of Man
 Son of David; King of the Jews; King of Israel

New Titles for Jesus in the Fourth Gospel





Logos / Word of God; Only-begotten Son
One who comes from above
One sent from the Father
Lamb of God, Passover Lamb
Equal to God; I AM
15
Main Message of John’s Gospel

Not just Christology, but also Discipleship

Not just about JESUS, but also about US!
 How do WE respond to the message about Him?
 To understand this, analyze the literary structure
of John’s Prologue

John 1:1-18 is written as a CHIASM

Huh?
 What’s that?
16
Johannine Prologue: Chiasm
17
Literary Structures: CHIASM

“Chiasm” or “Chiasmus” or “Chiastic Text”
Greek letter Chi (shaped “X”): look at left side only
 Ancient rhetorical style: helps in memorizing texts
 First & second halves balanced: in reverse order
 Highlight in the Middle: not like today, climax at end
 A B A’
 A B C B’ A’
 A B C D C’ B’ A’
 A B C D E D’ C’ B’ A’
 A B C D E F G H I J K J’ I’ H’ G’ F’ E’ D’ C’ B’ A’


etc.
18
Literary Structures: CHIASM
A
B
C
D
E
D’
C’
B’
A’
19
Examples of Ancient Chiasms

Old Testament:






Gen 17:1-25
Exod 3:7-20
Deut 32
Isaiah (several)
Eccl 11:3—12:2
New Testament:




2 Thess 2:1-14
Col? Eph?
Phlm?
Hebr 12:1-2
20
Examples of Chiasms in John
John 1:1-18
 John 2:13-22
 John 6:1-15
 John 6:16-25
 John 13:1-21
 John 17:1-28
 All of John 13–17
 John 21:1-14
 Many more

21
Feeding of 5000 (John 6:1-15)
A) Geographical and Temporal Intro: Sea of Galilee (Sea of Tiberias);
large crowd followed Jesus, since they saw the SIGNS he was doing;
he goes up a mountain; Jewish feast of Passover was near (vv. 1-4)
B) Jesus asks Philip: “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”
Philip replies: “Two hundred days wages would not be enough” (vv. 5-7)
C) Andrew, one of his disciples, suggests: “Here’s a boy with five barley loaves
and two fish, but what good is that for so many people?” (vv. 8-9)
D) Jesus orders: “Have the people recline”; about 5000 men recline on grass (v. 10)
E) Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them... (v. 11a)
D') to those who were reclining; also of the fish, as much as they wanted (vv. 11b)
C') Jesus tells his disciples to collect the fragments; they fill 12 wicker baskets with
fragments from the five barley loaves (vv. 12-13a)
B') Which were leftovers from those who had eaten (v. 13b)
A') The people saw the SIGN and say, “This is the Prophet who is to come to the world”;
Jesus knew they want to make him a king, so he withdrew to the mountain alone (vv. 14-15)22
Walking on Water (John 6:16-25)
A) In the evening, his disciples go down to the sea, get in a boat, cross the sea to
Capernaum (vv.16-17a)
B) Already dark, Jesus had not come; sea is stirred up, strong wind blowing (vv.17b-18)
C) They row 3-4 miles, see Jesus walking on the sea, coming near the boat (v.19ab)
D) They are afraid (v. 19c)
E) Jesus says, “I AM” (ego eimi - v. 20a)
D') “Do not be afraid” (v. 20b)
C') They want to take him into the boat, but immediately arrive at shore (v. 21)
B') Next day, the crowd realizes Jesus had not gone in the boat with his disciples (v. 22)
A') Other boats come from Tiberias; near where they had eaten the bread; crowd sees
that Jesus and his disciples are not there, get into boats, go to Capernaum; find Jesus
across the sea, and ask: “When did you get here?” (vv. 23-25)
23
Last Supper (John 13—17)

Overall Chiastic Structure:
 The
Washing of the Feet (13:1-30)
 The Last Supper Discourse (13:31—16:33)
 The Prayer of Jesus (17:1-26)

Historical Expansion:
ending at 14:31 – “Get up, let us go.” (NAB)
 Cont. with 18:1 – “When he had said this, Jesus went out…”
 Chaps. 15—17 added later, thus easily written chiastically
 Original
24
Washing of Feet (John 13:1-30)
A) Before the festival, Jesus knew his hour had come to depart from this world… (v. 1)
B) DEVIL had put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray Jesus. (v. 2)
C) During supper Jesus got up from table, to wash and dry his disciples’ feet (vv. 3-5)
D) Jesus & Peter: “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
Jesus about Judas: “For he knew who was to betray him;
for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.” (vv. 6-11)
E) “Do you know what I have done to you?” / Teacher & Lord (vv. 12-14)
F) “I have set you an example;
you also should do as I have done to you.” (v. 15)
E’) Servants & Masters / “If you know these things, you’re blessed if you do them.” (vv.16-17)
D’) Jesus to disciples: “I am not speaking of all of you…”
Jesus about Judas: “Amen, amen, one of you will betray me.”
Disciples are uncertain of whom he was speaking (vv. 18-22)
C’) Peter asks the Beloved Disciple to question Jesus, reclining next to him (vv. 23-26a)
B’) Jesus gives bread to Judas son of Simon Iscariot, and SATAN entered into him. (vv. 26b-27a)
A’) No one at table knew what/why Jesus spoke to Judas; it was the festival;
After receiving the bread, Judas went out. And it was night. (vv. 27b-30)
25
Last Supper Discourse (13:31–16:33)
A) 13:31-38 - Introduction: Jesus gives new Love Commandment; foretells Peter's denials
B) 14:1-7 - Don't let your hearts be troubled; I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life
C) 14:8-14 - Seeing and Believing in Jesus and in the Father; Mutual Indwelling
D) 14:15-24 - The Paraclete, Spirit of Truth; Keep the Commands/Words of Jesus
E) 14:25-31 - The Paraclete, whom the Father sends in my name; I Love the Father
F) 15:1-10 - The Vine and the Branches; Remain in Me, as I Remain in You
G) 15:11 – Purpose/Goal: My JOY in You; Your JOY Complete
F') 15:12-17 - My Commandment: Love One Another as I Have Loved You
E') 15:18-27 - The World Hates You; the Paraclete, whom I will send from the Father
D') 16:1-11 - Opposition from the World; the Paraclete won't come unless I go
C') 16:12-15 - Speaking and Hearing the Truth; the Glory of the Father
B') 16:16-24 – You’ll no longer see me; you’ll have pain; later your joy will be complete
A') 16:25-33 - Conclusion: Jesus speaks plainly about Father's Love & Disciples' Scattering
26
Great Prayer of Jesus (John 17:1-26)
A) 1-3: Jesus’ hour of glory has come;
he gives eternal life and knowledge to believers
B) 4-8: Jesus’ work glorifying & revealing the Father is complete
C) 9-12: Jesus prays that God protect the believers
who are still in the world
D) 13: Jesus’ return to the Father will make
the JOY of all who believe complete
C') 14-19: Jesus prays that God sanctify the believers
who are not of the world
B') 20-23: Jesus’ unity with Father completes unity of all believers
A') 24-26: Jesus’ glory reveals the Father;
believers have the knowledge and love of God
27
The Johannine Prologue (on H.O.)
A) 1-2: The Divine Word was with God eternally
B) 3: All things came into being through him (the Word)
C) 4-5: In him was life and light, which darkness did not overcome
D) 6-8: [John was not the light, but came to testify about the light]
E) 9-10: The True Light was in the world, but the world did not recognize him
F) 11-13: He came into his own realm, but his own people did not accept him
G) 12: THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD
F’) 13: These believers are not ordinary human offspring but are born of God
E’) 14: The Incarnate Word reveals God’s glory, full of grace and truth
D’) 15: [John testified about the priority of the one coming after him]
C’) 16: Out of his (the Word’s) fullness, we all received grace upon grace
B’) 17: Grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ
A’) 18: The only-begotten Son has revealed God
28
Prologue – A (vv.1-2) & A’ (v.18)
A
1 In
origin was the Word,
and the Word was toward [the] God,
and god/deity/God was the Word.
2 This one was in origin toward [the] God.
A’ 18 No one has seen God ever.
The only-begotten God [or Son], the one
existing in the bosom/lap of the Father,
that one has revealed [him].
29
En arch hn o logoV
En archē ēn ho logos

En archē
Not “En tē archē” – “In THE beginning…”
 But “En archē…” – “In beginning; At origin…”
 Cf. Gen 1:1 – “In beginning, when God created
the heavens and the earth…”


Verb ĒN: imperfect past tense

Not just one point in past time
 Implies continued action/existence in the past
30
What Is the “Word” / “Logos”?
JESUS?

Yes, but notice that the name “Jesus Christ”
is not mentioned until verse 17!
31
En archē ēn ho logos

Ho logos
Greek logos: not just “one word”
 Logos = word, phrase, sentence, speech



Logos = power of communication & reasoning


Logic; Biology, Geology, Anthropology, Zoology, etc.
Genesis 1: God creates by speaking…


“Seven Last Words of Christ”? (Good Friday)
OT: God’s Torah, Law, Instruction, Wisdom, Voice
John 1: God’s LOGOS / WORD is personified

God’s “Speech Act” is inseparable, yet distinct
32
R.E. Congress 2012


Theme: Voice Infusing Life / Voz que infunde vida
Reflection:
“Earth, with her thousand voices, praises God”
(Samuel Taylor Coleridge)
…and so it was from the beginning, the Voice of God
rang out, infusing all of creation with abundant life.
At other times, this “still small voice” calms troubled spirits, enabling all
to reach for new horizons. A familiar voice stirring with the harmonies of
care and reassurance awakened Lazarus and returned him to life,
energy and renewed vitality.
Ours is a God whose voice resounds in the depth of our being calling us
away from old habits, inviting us to embrace more wholesome ones. And
today ... the voice reverberates and we echo God’s voice infusing life –
giving hope, refreshing spirits.
– Sr. Edith Prendergast, RSC; Director, O.R.E.
33
Logos: God’s “Voice Infusing Life”
Gospel of John:

“Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming, and
is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of
the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” (5:25)

“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they
follow me.” (10:27; cf. 10:3-5, 16)

[After Jesus briefly prayed thanking God], he cried with a
loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" (11:43)

[Peter]: “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the
words of eternal life.” (6:68)
34
En archē ēn ho logos…

…kai ho logos ēn pros ton theon…
God = Greek “Theos”; Latin “Deus” (Eng. “Theo-”)
 The logos was not just “with” (next to) God,
but “face to face” or “turned towards” God!


…kai theos ēn ho logos.
Not just “the word was divine” (Jehovah’s Witnesses)
 But “the Word was God” from before time began
 Alt.: “What God was the Word also was”

35
Review – A (vv.1-2) & A’ (v.18)
A
1 In
origin was the Logos/Word,
and the Logos was face to face with God,
and what God was the Logos [also was].
2 He was in origin face to face with God.
A’ 18 No one has seen God ever.
The only-begotten God [or Son], the one
existing in the bosom/lap of the Father,
that one has revealed [him].
36
A (vv.1-2) & A’ (v.18)

Compare A & A’

Verses 1-2: Logos & God
 Verse 18: Son & Father

“No one has even seen God”?
1st Cent. debates: Did Moses see God?
 Jesus is the best REVEALER of God!


Textual Variations in v. 18:
Mono-genes theos = “only-begotten God”
 Mono-genes huios = “only-begotten Son”

37
Is Jesus the “Only Son” of God?

We are used to saying “yes” – “of course he is”!



But: old translations of Gloria & Creed inaccurate!
Aren’t believers “children/sons/daughters of God”?
Jesus is the “Only-Begotten” (not “One and Only”)




In contrast, we are “adopted” as children/heirs (Paul)
John 1:14 & 1:18 – mono-genes
John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world that he gave his
only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him
may not perish but may have eternal life.”
John 3:18 - “Those who believe in him are not
condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned
already, because they have not believed in the name of
the only-begotten Son of God.”
38
Roman Missal, 3rd ed. (2011)

Gloria:

Old: Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
 New: Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

Nicene Creed:

Old: We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
 New: I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
39
“Of the Father’s Love Begotten”
Verse 1:
Of the Father’s love begotten,
ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see,
evermore and evermore!

Words: Aurelius Prudentius, 5th Century (Corde natus ex parentis)
 Translated from Latin to English by John M. Neale and Henry W. Baker (1850’s).
 Tune: Divinum Mysterium
40
Prologue – B (v. 3) & B’ (v. 17)
B
3 All
things through him came into being,
and without him came into being
not one thing.
B’ 17 Because the law through Moses was given;
the grace and the truth through Jesus Christ
came into being.
41
All came into being through him

“Came into being” (Gk. egeneto)

Through him: All things
 Without him: Not one thing

Contrasts between Moses and Jesus:
Thru Moses: Law/Torah “was given”
 Thru Jesus: Grace & Truth “came into being”


More contrasts in John’s Gospel:

Moses vs. Jesus (12 more times)
 Abraham vs. Jesus (esp. 8:33-58)
 Jacob vs. Jesus (esp. 4:5-14)
42
Prologue – C (vv. 4-5) & C’ (v. 16)
C What has come into being 4 in him was life,
and the life was
the light of humans;
5 and the light in
the darkness shines,
and the darkness
did not overcome it.
C’ 16 Because out of his fullness
we all received,
even grace upon/from grace.
43
What the Logos Provides

Verses 4-5
Stair-step progression: Logos  Life  Light
 Contrasts: Light shines; Darkness doesn’t win!


Verse 16

“Out of his fullness we have all received…”


Gk. pleroma (Col 2:9 “For in him the whole fullness of
deity dwells bodily”; cf. Col 1:19; Rom; Eph)
“charin anti charitos”
Gk. charis = “grace, gift” (cf. “charism”)
 Gk. anti = “instead of, in place of, upon”
 Not replacing; but “on top of” / “in addition to”!

44
Prologue – D (vv. 6-8) & D’ (v. 15)
D
6 There
was human sent from God;
his name was John.
7 He came in testimony,
so that he might testify about the light,
so that all might come to believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but […]
so that he might testify about the light.
D’
15 John
is testifying to him and has cried out,
saying, “This was the one of whom I said,
The one coming after me came into being before me
because he was prior to me.
45
John “the Witness”

“John” in the Fourth Gospel

Not the brother of James, sons of Zebedee
 But John “the Baptist” (Synoptic Gospels)
 John does little baptizing in the Fourth Gospel

The “Witness/Testimony” of John

About himself & about Jesus:
 1:8 – He [John] was not the light, but [he came]
so that he might testify about the light.
 1:15 – “The one coming after me came into being
before me because he was prior to me.”
46
John “the Witness”

Testimony about himself (1:19-23)
Who he’s NOT: Christ, Elijah, Prophet
 Who he IS: “I am the voice of one crying out in the

wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’”

Testimony about Jesus (1:24-36)







the one whom you do not know
the one who is coming after me
the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
the one who ranks ahead of me, he was before me
the one on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain
the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit
the Son of God; the Lamb of God
47
John “the Witness” – later in FG

3:22-30 – John, when asked about baptizing
“You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Messiah,
but I have been sent ahead of him.' / He who has the bride is the
bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears
him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. For this reason my
joy has been fulfilled. / He must increase, but I must decrease.”

5:33-36 – Jesus, discussing John’s roll
“You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth… / He
was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a
while in his light. / But I have a testimony greater than John's…”

10:40-42 – Evangelist, quoting people’s opinions
“John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this
man [Jesus] was true.”
48
Prologue – E (vv. 9-10) & E’ (v. 14)
E
9 The
true light, which enlightens every human,
was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world,
and the world through him came into being,
and the world did not recognize him.
E'
14 And
the Word became flesh,
and tented among us,
and we have seen his glory,
glory like an only-begotten
[child] of the father,
full of grace and of truth.
49
True Light Coming into the World

True Light
Gk. phōs (cf. “photon, phosphorus”)
 Cf. Gen 1:3 “Let there be light”


World
Gk. cosmos = “the all” (cf. “cosmic; cosmology”)
 Not just the physical universe
 Esp. “world of people” or “human race”


Cosmos can be positive or negative in FG
“God so loved the world…”; “to save the world…”
 “The world hates…”; “The world does not know…”
50

And the Word became Flesh…

kai ho logos sarx egeneto…
Gk. sarx = “flesh” (cf. “sarcophagus”)
 Lit. “Incarnation” (cf. Spanish “carne”)
 Verb tenses: always was God; now becomes flesh


“…and dwelt/lived/tented among us.”

Gk. eskēnōsen = “pitched a tent”


Not permanently (temple), but temporarily (tent)
Gk. en hēmin = “in us”
Plural, for groups: “with us” or “among us”
 Singular, for individuals: “within us” or “inside us”

51
We have seen his glory

Glory/Praise
Gk. doxa (cf. “doxology”) – OT “presence” of God
 “Glory like a mono-genes of the Father”
 John 17:1 – “Father, the hour has come; glorify
your Son so that the Son may glorify you…”



Heb 1:3 – “He is the reflection of God’s glory and the
exact imprint of God’s very being”
Col 1:15-16 – “He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of all creation; / for in him all things in heaven
and on earth were created, things visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers--all
things have been created through him and for him.”
52
Prologue – F, G, F’ (vv. 11-13)
F
11 He
came into his own [things/realm],
and his own [people] did not accept him.
G
12 But
F’
13
as many as did receive him,
he gave to them authority
to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
those who, neither of bloods,
nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of a man,
but of God were born.
53
“His Own”

Verse 11a: “He came into his own…”


Neuter pronoun  his own things/realm/creation
Verse 11b: “and his own did not accept him”
Masculine pronoun  his own people/humans
 Who are “his own people”?


Caution: Avoid anti-Semitism!
Recall v. 3: “All things (incl. all humans) came
into being through him”
 Historical fact: vast majority of Jews and Gentiles
rejected the Christian message about Jesus

54
Central Point of John’s Prologue

Verse 12:
 “But as many as did receive him, he gave to
them authority to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name”

Jesus Presents Everyone with a CHOICE:
 Receive
/ Accept / Confess / Believe / See /
Know / Remain / Live / Dwell / Abide / etc.
 Vs. Reject / Deny / Not believe / Go / Die / etc.
55
Results of Believing


Becoming "children of God" (1:12)
Having "eternal life" already now (3:15-16, 36; 5:24; 6:40, 47)

"Not perishing" (3:16); "not being condemned" (3:18); "not coming under
judgment" (5:24); never being "hungry" or "thirsty" (6:35)
"Knowing" Jesus and the Father (4:42; 6:64, 69; 10:38)
Passing from death to life (5:24); living and never dying (11:25-26)

Abiding/living/remaining in Jesus & in God (6:56; 14:17; 15:4-10)


Having "living water" flow out of one's heart (7:38)
Receiving the Holy Spirit (7:39; 14:26; 15:26; 16:13; 20:22)
Being "disciples" of Jesus (8:31); being Jesus' "friends“ (15:14-15)
Seeing the "glory of God" (11:40); seeing "greater things" (1:50)
Becoming "children of light" (12:36); not "remaining in darkness" (12:46)
Doing the works that Jesus does, or even "greater works" (14:12)

Having "life in his name" (20:31)






56
Review of John’s Theology

Christology: Jesus is the Revealer of God

Titles for Jesus
 Actions of Jesus

Discipleship: Followers are Believers in Him

Decisions: for Jesus vs. against Jesus
 Results: become Children of God; have Eternal Life

History and Theology in John’s Gospel

Role of John the Baptizer
 Relevance for 21st Century Christians
57
3rd Reading of John’s Prologue



Read John 1:1-18 again, on your own.
Are you inspired to read ALL of John now?
Analogy: Great Movie or Theater Play

Is it enough to have others tell us about it?
 Is it enough to see 2-3 minute clips on Sundays?
 Don’t you want to see the whole thing yourself?
 Don’t you want to see the best movies and plays
more than once, over and over?

Read or hear all of John; or see it performed!
58
John’s Prologue in Music
 That
You May Have Life:
Musical Stories from
the Gospel of John
 by
Marty Haugen (GIA, 2005)
 Lyrics on Fr. Just’s Website:
catholic-resources.org/Bible/
 Copyright Restricted Access:
 Username: “student”
 Password: “scripture”

59
Prologue (by Marty Haugen)

Evangelist: En arch hn o logoV,
In the beginning was the Word.
kai o logoV hn proV ton qeon, and the Word was with God.
kai qeoV hn o logoV, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God, and all things came to
be through him, and without him not one thing came to be.

Choir (Refrain): En arch hn o logoV,
kai o logoV hn proV ton qeon, kai qeoV hn o logoV.

Evangelist: In him was life,
and the life was the light of all people.
And the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it. (Refrain)
60
Prologue (by Marty Haugen)

Choir: He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
yet the world knew him not.
But to all who received him,
to all who believed in his name,
he gave pow’r to become children of God. (Refrain)

Choir (Refrain): En arch hn o logoV,
kai o logoV hn proV ton qeon, kai qeoV hn o logoV.

Choir: And the Word became flesh,
and the Word dwelt among us.
We have seen his glory, a glory as the only Son of God,
and from his fullness have we all received
grace upon grace. (Refrain)
61
Johann Christoph Weigel, 1695
John 1:1
John 1:14
62
Art Sources
 Biblical
Art on the WWW:
 http://www.biblical-art.com/
 by
Rolf E. Stærk
 Biblical
and Religious Art & Music:
 http://catholic-resources.org/Art/
 by
Felix Just, S.J.
63
More Resources

Catholic-Resources.org


Large website of biblical & liturgical materials
“A Retreat with the Gospel of John”

Audio CD Program with Written Guide
 15 conferences; 25 min. each; on 6 CDs
 Prepared by Felix Just, S.J.
 Published by “Now You Know Media”
 http://nowyouknowmedia.com
64
Questions? Discussion?
 Thanks
for Attending!
 May
God’s Word Give You Eternal Life!
 Pick
up flyers here in front, on stage
 Stop
by Booth #278:
Loyola Institute for Spirituality
Orange, CA
65