CHURCH OF THE DORMITION OF OUR LADY

SCRIPTURAL AND THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS 2

❑JOHN 1: 1-18 (REVISION POINTS)
❑JOHN 1: 19-51
❑JOHN CHAPTER 2
 REVISION FROM JOHN 1:1-18
➢PROLOGUE
- THE LOGOS IS GOD AND THE TRUE LIGHT
- JOHN THE BAPTIST BEARS WITNESS TO THE LOGOS AS THE TRUE LIGHT
- THE LOGOS BECOMES FLESH TO REVEAL THE FATHER
- HUMANITY THROUGH THE INCARNATION PARTICIPATE IN THE FULLNESS OF GRACE
(COMMUNION WITH GOD) THUS HAVE AUTHORITY TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD
 JOHN 1:19-51 AND CHAPTER 2
❖THE MISSION OF JOHN THE BAPTIST AND TESTIMONY TO CHRIST
- JEWISH TRIAL THEME (WITNESS AND CONFESSION)
❖THE FIRST DISCIPLES CALLED
❖THE NEW CREATION IN THE SON – WEDDING AT CANNA, AND THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE

oWHEN THE MANUSCRIPTS WHERE WRITTEN THERE WAS NO CHAPTERS OR VERSES. NO SPACES JUST GREEK
CAPITALS START TO FINISH
Under David and Saul
Israel was a Kingdom
united
- North (Israel)
- South (Judah)
 1 CENTURY ISRAEL PEOPLE
ST

✓LEVITES = DESCENDANTS FROM TRIBE OF LEVI (SON OF JACOB) AND AARON THE HIGH PRIEST (TEMPLE FROM JERUSALEM)
✓SCRIBES WERE DOCUMENTERS, LAWYERS, JOURNALISTS, JUDGES, ETC.
✓PHARISEES (SOCIAL GROUP)- ORAL TRADITION/AFTERLIFE/JUDAISM IN COMMUNITY
✓SADDUCEES= UPPER SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ECHELON OF JUDEAN SOCIETY. POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND RELIGIOUS ROLES
(SACRIFICES ETC)
✓ESSENES= VOLUNTARY POVERTY, DAILY IMMERSION, AND ASCETICISM (THEIR PRIESTLY CLASS PRACTICED CELIBACY
✓HIGH PRIEST (CAIAPHAS) – DAY OF ATONEMENT
✓SANHEDRIN
✓ROMAN EMPIRE – PONTIUS PILATE IS THE ROMAN GOVERNOR OF JUDEA
✓ZEALOTS – REBEL AGAINST ROMANS
➢SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST IS THE FORERUNNER AND WITNESS TO
THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST
➢THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST IS THE COMING OF NEW
CREATION/THE KINGDOM/THE GLORY OF GOD/SALVATION
 REMAINING CHAPTER 1

1. WHO IS JOHN THE BAPTIST?

2. WHY DOES JOHN BAPTISE?
3. THE BAPTIST’S TESTIMONY TO CHRIST
4. THE BAPTIST’S DISCIPLES FIRST FOLLOWERS OF JESUS
 “THE VOICE OF THE ONE CRYING IN THE
WILDERNESS”
❑ELIJAH WAS PROPHET IN OLD TESTAMENT WHO DEFENDED WORSHIP OF THE ONE TRUE GOD,
PERFORMED MIRACLES INCLUDING RAISING PEOPLE FROM THE DEAD, BRINGING FIRE FROM HEAVEN, AND
APPEARED TO HAVE ENTERED HEAVEN WHILE ALIVE
- BEHOLD, I WILL SEND YOU ELIJAH THE PROPHET, BEFORE THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND DREADFUL DAY
OF THE LORD (MALACHI)
- THE SECOND COMING OF ELIJAH = THE ESCHATON OF ETERNAL KINGDOM
- JOHN THE BAPTISM FULFILS THIS PROPHECY OF THE MESSENGER PREPARING THE WAY FOR THE LORD
 ISAIAH 40

❖ CHAPTER ON THE COMFORT = COMING OF SALVATION

❖JOHN THE BAPTIST IS THE VOICE PROCLAIMING THE COMING OF SALVATION THROUGH THE SON

- BOOK OF ISAIAH WRITTEN WHEN IN EXILE AND THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION / HOPE + FILLED WITH
PROPHECIES
 JOHN THE BAPTIST’S BAPTISM
• BAPTISM WITH WATER FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS – A BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE
• SIN = “MISSING THE MARK”
• REPENT= A CHANGE OF MIND/HEART/ATTITUDE AND THUS ACTION. IT IS NOT SORROW OR SYMPATHY FOR SIN
BUT A COMPLETE TURN AWAY FROM SIN
• HENCE SINS ARE FORGIVEN (REMISSION) THROUGH REPENTANCE
• CHRIST ACKNOWLEDGED THIS BAPTISM
• RIVER JORDON
• CHRIST WILL BAPTISE WITH WATER AND SPIRIT – A NEW BIRTH / REBIRTH – A BAPTISM OF ILLUMINATION
 “BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD”
• ABRAHAM WAS ASKED TO OFFER A LIVING SACRIFICE OF HIS ONLY SON – THE PLACE IS TRANSLATED “THE
LORD WILL PROVIDE” AFTER BY WHICH A “LAMB” WILL APPEAR
• EXODUS THE PASSOVER LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH (PASSOVER=DELIVERANCE)
• SUFFERING SERVANT FROM ISAIAH 53
- CHRIST AS BOTH MAN AND GOD DIES FROM THE TRANSGRESSIONS OF HIS PEOPLE
• JOHN THE BAPTIST THEN TESTIFIES THAT HE IS CONFESSING WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALED TO HIM.
 THE BAPTIST SENDS THE FIRST DISCIPLES
• FIRST DISCIPLES ARE ANDREW, SIMON PETER, PHILIP, AND NATHANAEL, AND A UNNAMED DISCIPLE
WHEREBY HOLY FATHER SUGGEST IT WAS JOHN
• “COME AND SEE” “FOLLOW ME”…SUCH WAS THE IMPRESSION OF CHRIST AND HE HUNGER OF THE FIRST
APOSTLES
• “CAN ANYTHING GOOD COME OUT OF NAZARETH”? – NO DIRECT PROPHECY ? CAN ANYTHING SPROUT
FROM THERE OR IS IT BECAUSE IT WAS MIXED POPULATION OF JEWS/GENTILES
• CHRIST STATES THAT THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHERE NATHANAEL WAS IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT HE IS
ABOUT TO WITNESS AS THE NEW CREATION BRING FORTH SALVATION
 CHAPTER 2- WEDDING AT CANNA
• MARRIAGE IS A POWERFUL SYMBOL OF MAN/WOMAN = BRIDEGROOM AND BRIDE
• THE COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND ISRAEL + CHURCH
• THEREFORE FITTING OF THE NEW COVENANT AND GOD AND WITH HIS CHURCH
• WINE= THE RICH/GOOD LIFE
• THE THEOTOKOS DEMONSTRATES CONCERN/LOVE FOR THE BRIDAL COUPLE, AND KNOWLEDGE THAT HER
SON HAS THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE WINE. MANY SEE THIS ALSO AS AN EXAMPLE OF FAITH AND
INTERCESSION
 CHAPTER 2- WEDDING AT CANNA
• WOMAN” IS USED WHEN ADDRESSING OTHERS SUCH AS THE SAMARITAN WOMAN, AND AGAIN AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS
TO THEOTOKOS OR POST RESURRECTION TO MARY MAGDALENE. IT IS ALSO USED IN GENESIS THEREFORE SCARED.

• NOT THE TIME TO MANIFEST HIS GLORY AS MESSIAH BY A PUBLIC MIRACLE. THE FULL MESSIANIC GLORY IS TO BE REVEALED
THROUGH THE PASSION/CROSS/BURIAL/RESURRECTION. SOME ALSO SUGGEST THAT THE SON IS NOW UNDER THE
FATHER’S WILL TO COMPLETE THE MINISTRY HE WAS SENT AND THE THEOTOKOS BECOMES A DISCIPLE TO WITNESS THE
GLORIFICATION OF THE SON I.E THE FIRST TO SUBMIT TO THE FATHER’S WILL
• “THE DIRECTOR” ODIGITRIA POINTING TO HER SON BUT ALSO THAT THERE IS A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING- CHRIST WILL
ACT IN COMPARISON AND THAT HE WASN’T DENYING THE CONCERN OF THE THEOKOTOS FOR THE WEDDING
 CHAPTER 2- WEDDING AT CANNA
• THE WATER WAS PRESENT IN THE STONE JARS WHICH WERE USED IN JEWISH RITUAL PURIFICATION I.E.
BEFORE CERTAIN OCCASIONS SUCH AS BEFORE AND AFTER A MEAL WASHING THE HANDS WITH WATER
WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO PURIFY ONESELF AND THE STONE ENSURED THE WATER’S PURITY.
• THERE ARE MANY RITUAL PURIFICATION METHODS AND NEEDS TO PURIFY IN THE JEWISH TRADITION
BOTH FROM OT AND OTHER TRADITIONAL SOURCES
 CHAPTER 2- WEDDING AT CANNA
• SERVANTS, THE THEOKOTOS, THE DISCIPLES KNOW THAT THE WATER WAS TRANSFORMED TO WINE WITHOUT JESUS
TOUCHING IT AND NOW THE FEAST MASTER IS COMMENTING TO THE BRIDEGROOM ON THE HOW GOOD THE WINE IS.
• THOSE WHO KNEW BELIEVED HAVING WITNESSED THE MANIFESTATION OF HIS GLORY
• ST JOHN CHY. WRITES REGARDING THE GLORY OF THE MIRACLE THAT WHAT TAKES SUCH A LONG PROCESS WAS DONE IN AN
INSTANT WITHOUT TOUCHING ANYTHING.
• THE WATER OF PURIFICATION WHICH SYMBOLISES THE JEWISH LAW IS TRANSFORMED INTO THE RICH WINE OF GOD’S
KINGDOM – THE HEAVENLY WEDDING FEAST THUS TRANSFORMING ISRAEL AND THE ENTIRE WORLD INTO A LIFE INVITED TO
THIS ETERNAL FEAST.
• THIS IS THE NEW COVENANT ESTABLISHED BY CHRIST THE ETERNAL LIFE
• ALSO ST JOHN WRITES IN CH 15 THAT CHRIST IS THE TRUE VINE AND THE FATHER THE VINEDRESSER
• FINISHES WITH REST WITH THE FIRST CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN CAPERNAUM
CHAPTER 2 THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE
• ST JOHN PLACES THIS STORY EARLY IN THE ‘TIMELINE OF EVENTS” IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE MINISTRY
TAKING OFF IN GALILEE. THE SYNOPTICS SPEAK OF A CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE CLOSER TO HIS PASSION.
WHILE MOST AGREE ITS NOT THE SAME EVENT IT COULD BE THAT IT OCCURRED TWICE BUT ST JOHN CHY.
BELIEVES COULD HAVE OCCURRED TWICE.

• JERUSALEM IS THE SPIRITUAL CENTRE THUS JESUS CHRIST WOULD HAVE VISITED ON MANY OCCASIONS,
ESPECIALLY AT TIMES LIKE THE PASSOVER. WE KNOWN FROM THIS GOSPEL THAT JESUS’ MINISTRY WAS
APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS.
CHAPTER 2 THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE
• DURING PASSOVER MANY CAME TO JERUSALEM TO OFFER PRAYER AND SACRIFICES SUCH AS A LAMB,
DOVES, AND OXEN THUS MANY INCLUDING PRIESTS WOULD UP A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS OF THIS
PERIOD OF THE YEAR. THERE WAS EVEN MONEY EXCHANGERS FOR CURRENCY CONVERSION.
• CHRISTIANS HAVE A “NEW PASCHAL” (NOT ANIMAL SACRIFICES )
• THE AUTHORITIES OF THE TEMPLE ALLOWED THIS TO OCCUR IN THE COURT OF THE GENTILES A PART OF
THE TEMPLE WHERE THE GENTILES PRAYED
• THE WHIP OF CHORDS WAS USED SO THAT THE ANIMALS WOULD LEAVE, AND THE OWNERS CHASE THEM
AWAY FROM THE TEMPLE COURT.
CHAPTER 2 THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE

• THE MORE IMPORTANT OFFENSE TO THE JEWS HERE IS THAT CHRIST STATES A CLEAR DIRECT
RELATIONSHIP TO THE FATHER “MY FATHER “RATHER THAN TURNING THE TEMPLE COURT INTO A
EMPORIUM OR HOUSE OF COMMENCE.
• AFTER THE RESURRECTION THE DISCIPLES RECALLED PSALM 69:9 “ZEAL FOR YOU HOUSE WILL EAT ME
UP”. I.E. THE ENERGY AND PURSUIT OF THE FATHER’S WILL .
CHAPTER 2 THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE

• ONCE MORE WE HAVE THIS “JEWISH TRIAL” THROUGHOUT THE GOSPEL ….THE JEWISH LEADERS ARE
ASKING BY WHAT AUTHORITY DO YOU HAVE A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP TO THE FATHER TO “CLEANSE THE
TEMPLE”
CHAPTER 2 THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE
• SIGN WILL BE WHEN THE “HOUR WILL COME” WHEN THE WORLD DESTROY AND CRUCIFY THE SANCTUARY OF
HIS BODY AND IN THREE DAYS HE WOULD “WAKE UP” ARISE. TEMPLE=GOD’S PRESENCE WITH THE PEOPLE
THEREFORE BECAUSE CHRIST IS 100% GOD AND 100% HUMAN HIS BODY IS THE TEMPLE. SO THE
RESURRECTION IS THE SIGN THAT GIVES HIM THE AUTHORITY TO CLEANSE THE TEMPLE
• HERE ST JOHN IS HIGHLIGHTING THE “FLESHLY OR EARTHLY” UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY RELATED TO THE
PHYSICAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE BUT ALSO THAT HE IS FAILING IN PROVIDING THEM A SIGN HERE
AND NOW
• ALSO IN CH 2 WE READ ABOUT THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM THE NEW CREATION WHERE THERE IS NO
PHYSICAL TEMPLE I.E GOD WILL BE WORSHIPED IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH. I.E. NO NEED FOR SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS
 CHAPTER 2 FINISHES

• HE PERFORMED MANY SIGNS AND MEN TESTIFIED TO HIM BUT CHRIST DOES NOT NEED THE TESTIMONY
OF MEN BUT THE FATHER HAS IS REVEALED IN THE SON AND THE SON REVEALS THE FATHER