·
26 Augustine, First Archbishop of Canterbury,
605 was a Benedictine monk who became the first Archbishop
of Canterbury in the year 597. He is considered the "Apostle to
the English" and a founder of the English Church
·
27 Bertha and Ethelbert, Queen and King of Kent, 616 was King of Kent from about 589 until his death. The eighth-century monk Bede, in his Ecclesiastical History of the English
People, lists him as the third king to hold imperium over other Anglo-Saxon
kingdoms. In the late ninth century Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, he is referred to
as a bretwalda, or "Britain-ruler". He was the first English king
to convert to Christianity.
·
28 John Calvin,
Theologian, 1564 was a French theologian, pastorand reformer in Geneva during the Protestant
Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system
of Christian
theologylater called Calvinism, aspects of which include the doctrines of predestination and of the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation of the human soul from death and eternal damnation, in which doctrines Calvin was influenced by and elaborated
upon the Augustinian and other Christian traditions.
·
30 Jeanne d’Arc (Joan
of Arc), Mystic and Soldier, 1431
·
1 Justin,
Martyr at Rome, c. 167 was an early Christian
apologist, and is regarded as the foremost interpreter of the theory
of the Logos in the 2nd century.
·
2 The Martyrs of
Lyons, 177 was a Christian
martyr who died at Lyon, France during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
FIRST READING: Acts 16:
9 - 15 (RCL)
Acts 16:9 (NRSV)
During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedo'nia pleading
with him and saying, "Come over to Macedo'nia and help us." 10 When
he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedo'nia, being
convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
11 We set sail
from Tro'as and took a straight course to Sam'othrace, the following day to
Neap'olis, 12 and from there to Philip'pi, which is a leading city of the
district of Macedo'nia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some
days. 13 On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we
supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women
who had gathered there. 14 A certain woman named Lyd'ia, a worshiper of God,
was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyati'ra and a dealer in purple
cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. 15
When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you
have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home." And
she prevailed upon us.
Acts 15: 1 - 2, 22 - 29
(Roman Catholic)
Acts 15:1 (NRSV)
Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers,
"Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot
be saved." 2 And after Paul and Bar'nabas had no small dissension and
debate with them, Paul and Bar'nabas and some of the others were appointed to
go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders.
22 Then the
apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to
choose men from among their members and to send them to An'tioch with Paul and
Bar'nabas. They sent Judas called Barsab'bas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers,
23 with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the
elders, to the believers of Gentile origin in An'tioch and Syria and Cili'cia,
greetings. 24 Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from
us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and
have unsettled your minds, 25 we have decided unanimously to choose
representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Bar'nabas and
Paul, 26 who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27
We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same
things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us
to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: 29 that you abstain
from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is
strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do
well. Farewell."
PSALM 67 (RCL)
Psalm 67: 1 - 2, 5 - 6,
8 (Roman Catholic)
Psal 67:1 (NRSV)
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face
to shine upon us, [Se'lah]
2 that your way
may be known upon earth,
your saving power
among all nations.
3 Let the peoples
praise you, O God;
let all the
peoples praise you.
4 Let the nations
be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the
peoples with equity
and guide the
nations upon earth. [Se'lah]
5 Let the peoples
praise you, O God;
let all the
peoples praise you.
6 The earth has
yielded its increase;
God, our God, has
blessed us.
7 May God continue
to bless us;
let all the ends
of the earth revere him.
Note: Verse numbering
in Roman Catholic bibles is one greater than the above
67 Deus
misereatur (ECUSA BCP)
1 May
God be merciful to us and bless us, *
show
us the light of his countenance and come to us.
2 Let
your ways be known upon earth, *
your
saving health among all nations.
3 Let
the peoples praise you, O God; *
let
all the peoples praise you.
4 Let
the nations be glad and sing for joy, *
for
you judge the peoples with equity
and
guide all the nations upon earth.
5 Let
the peoples praise you, O God; *
let
all the peoples praise you.
6 The
earth has brought forth her increase; *
may
God, our own God, give us his blessing.
7 May
God give us his blessing, *
and
may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.
SECOND READING:
Revelation 21: 10, 22 - 22: 5 (RCL)
Revelation 21: 10 - 14, 22 - 23 (Roman Catholic)
Reve 21:10 (NRSV)
And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me
the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It has the glory
of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. 12
It has a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels,
and on the gates are inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of the
Israelites; 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south
three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city has
twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of
the Lamb.
22 I saw no temple
in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And
the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its
light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the
kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will never be
shut by day--and there will be no night there. 26 People will bring into it the
glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will enter it, nor
anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written
in the Lamb's book of life. 22:1 Then the angel showed me the river of the
water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the
Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the
river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit
each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3
Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the
Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; 4 they will see his
face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no more
night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light,
and they will reign forever and ever.
GOSPEL: John 14: 23 -
29 (all)
John 14:23 (NRSV)
Jesus answered him [Judas, not Iscariot], "Those who love me will keep my
word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home
with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word
that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
25 "I have said
these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and
remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace
I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts
be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, "I
am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that
I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I
have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may
believe.
The city lacks a physical temple, for the presence of God, Father
and Son (“the Lamb”, 21:22)
pervade the entire godly community, and they illuminate it ( 21:23).
All peoples and all rulers will be guided by this light ( 21:24).
Gates of an ancient city were kept closed against enemies, but those of the
city of God will be open to give everyone free access at all times ( 21:25),
for they will live in perfect safety. People will, in entering, reflect God’s
“glory ... and honour” ( 21:26).
While there will still be a distinction between those who trust in God and
those who worship other gods (“abomination”, 21:27),
the realm of those accepted by God will extend to all who dwell in the city,
whose names are in Christ’s “book of life”. (God’s record of the faithful is
mentioned numerous times in the Bible.)
In Ezekiel 47,
a sacred life-giving stream runs from the Temple; here a “river” ( 22:1)
flows from “God ... and ... the Lamb” (Christ). John’s vision includes both the
original bliss of the Garden of Eden and the hoped-for restoration of Ezekiel.
In the Greek, “tree” ( 22:2)
is collective, so many trees will provide nourishment for the
godly, for the “healing” of all: this is the goal and result of God’s new
creation. There will be no sin in the city, so “nothing [will be] accursed” ( 22:3).
In Exodus, to see God’s face was to die, but now the godly will see it joyously
( 22:4).
Being marked with God’s “name”, God will protect them. Those who worship God
will reign with him for ever.
Revelation 21:10,22-22:5
21:9: “seven bowls”: See Chapter 16,
where the contents of seven bowls are poured on the earth, with dire
consequences, in divine judgement of the earth and evildoers. [ NOAB]
21:10: “in the spirit”: John uses the same phrase
in 1:10.
John is in a state of prophetic illumination. [ NOAB]
21:10: “he carried me away”: In 17:3,
an angel carries John into the desert to view a whore. [ NJBC]
21:10: “high mountain”: In Ezekiel 40:2,
on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Exile, Ezekiel is transported, in a
vision, to see the restored Jerusalem, which is also on a high mountain. [ NOAB]
21:11: “the glory of God”: Isaiah 60:1-2 says:
“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For
darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his
glory will appear over you”. See also Isaiah 60:19;
Ezekiel 43:5;
Luke 2:9 (the
Shepherds). [ CAB]
21:11: “like a very rare jewel”: See Clipping below
on 21:19-21.
21:11: “jasper”: In 4:3,
we read that God, “the one seated there looks like jasper and carnelian”. [ NOAB]
21:11: “clear as crystal”: Note “clear as glass”
in 21:18 and
“transparent as glass” in 21:21.
Both God and the city are valuable, and transparent. “Jasper” is also
transparent. [ CAB]
21:12: “angels”: Being from God, the city has
celestial guards. [ JBC]
21:12ff: The glory of the Church is compared with that
of its source, the glory of God. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:6:
“... it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone
in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ”. [ JBC]
Comments: The numbers in the vision are 3, 12
and multiples of 12 : There are three gates on each side, adding up to
twelve.
21:14: The preaching of the apostles is the
foundation of the Church. Ephesians 2:19-20 says
that “the household of God” is “built upon the foundation of the apostles ...”.
[ NOAB]
21:16: Comments: The city’s cubic
shape: After the Holy of Holies, which also had equal length, width and
height: see 1 Kings 6:19-20.
[ JBC] See also Ezekiel 43:16; 48:16-22.
(John sees an infinitely larger city than Ezekiel.)
21:16, 17: “fifteen hundred miles ... one hundred and
forty-four cubits”: These measurements work out to 2,200 km and 66 metres (220
feet). Ezekiel 48:35 says
that the circumference of the city shall be “eighteen thousand cubits”. While
the city is a cube, it has relatively low walls. [ NOAB]
21:19-21: Isaiah 54:11-12 says
“O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, I am about to set your
stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your
pinnacles of rubies, your gates of jewels, and all your wall of precious
stones”. [ NOAB] The precious
stones listed here are not the same as those on the high priest’s breastplate
in Exodus 28:17-21,
but are those associated with the Signs of the Zodiac in John’s time. He lists
them in reverse order, perhaps signifying that they must be
reinterpreted.
21:21: “the street”: i.e. the paving of the streets.
[ NOAB]
21:22: For the Temple being superfluous because the
presence and glory of God permeate the entire community, Isaiah 24:23 says
that on the Day of Yahweh:
“... the moon will be abashed, and the sun ashamed; for the Lord of hosts will
reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his elders he will manifest
his glory”; [ NOAB]
however, 3:12 hints
that a physical earthly temple is not of ultimate importance in itself, but
continues to have significance as a symbol of the hoped-for close relationship
between God and humans.
21:22: “the Lamb”: In 5:9,
a “new song” is sung to “the Lamb”: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to
open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God
saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; you have made them
to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth”. [CAB]
21:23: “ the city has no need of sun or moon to shine
on it”: See Isaiah 24:23,
quoted above. 1 John 1:5 tells
us that “... God is light and in him there is no darkness at all”. See also
Revelation 22:5;
Isaiah 60:1-5, 19-20.
[ JBC]
21:23: “its lamp is the Lamb”: In John 8:12,
Jesus says “I am the light of the world”. [ NOAB] In 2 Corinthians 5:17,
Paul writes: “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything
old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”.
21:25-26: Isaiah 60:11 says
“Your gates shall always be open; day and night they shall not be shut, so that
nations shall bring you their wealth, with their kings led in procession”. [ NOAB]
21:27: Those who come to the city will be one with
those who dwell there. The realm of the holy was confined to the Temple and
those who entered it; now the entire city is holy. Zechariah 14:20-21 says,
in essence, “On that day” the whole city will be holy. [ CAB]
21:27: “unclean”: The Greek word is koinon,
usually meaning common. [ NJBC]
21:27: “book of life”: i.e. the register of God
containing the names of the redeemed. Such a book is also mentioned in 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15;
Exodus 32:32 (Moses
to God); Psalm 69:28;
Isaiah 4:3;
Daniel 12:1 (Michael
rises at the end of time); Malachi 3:16;
Luke 10:20 (where
Jesus tells the seventy emissaries upon their return “rejoice that your names
are written in heaven”). [ NOAB]
22:1: “river”: For the river of blessings from God,
see also Genesis 2:10 (second
creation story); Psalm 46:4;
Ezekiel 47:1;
Joel 3:18;
Zechariah 14:8;
John 4:10, 14 (the
Samaritan woman at the well). [ NOAB]
A sacred river is also known from Ugaritic (Canaanite)
and Mesopotamian sources.
22:2: “On either side of the river ...”:
Ezekiel 47:12 says
“On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees
for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear
fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary.
Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing”. [NOAB]
22:2: “tree of life”: JBC says that because this verse is
chiefly inspired by Ezekiel 47:7, 12, xylon,
tree, should be taken as a generic singular. Instead of the single tree of life
(Genesis 2:9; 3:22),
the eschatological city
contains many trees, offering plentitude of life, and all its citizens will
have free access to them.
22:3: “Nothing accursed will be found ...”: Several
interpretations (which are not mutually exclusive) are possible:
- The curses of Genesis 3:14-19 (in
the Garden of Eden) will be reversed. [ NJBC]
- There will no longer be occasion for sin (see
Daniel 7:26).
[ JBC]
- No one will be threatened with destruction for
idolatry, as in Zechariah 14:11.
See also Exodus 22:20 and
Deuteronomy 13:12-18.
[ NJBC]
- God will be reconciled with the nations rather than
cursing them and dooming them to destruction: see Isaiah 34:2, 5.
[ NJBC]
22:3: “the throne of God and of the Lamb”: There
will be one throne. In John 10:30,
Jesus says “‘The Father and I are one’”. [ NOAB]
Note that “his” and “him” are singular.
22:4: “they will see his face”: The old warning of
death on seeing God (see Exodus 33:20 and
Isaiah 6:5)
is repealed. [CAB] See also 1
Corinthians 13:12;
Matthew 5:8 (the Beatitudes); 1 John 3:2;
Hebrews 12:14.
John 1:18 says
that this is unattainable in this world. 1 John 3:2 says
“Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed.
What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will
see him as he is.” [ NOAB]
22:4: “his name will be on their foreheads”: See
also 3:12 and 7:3.
In 7:3,
the servants of God will be marked with a seal on their foreheads. In
Ezekiel 9:4-6,
the seal marks those under God’s protection. On the other hand, in
Revelation 13:16-17,
sealing has a different connotation: there sealing shows those with whom trade
can be conducted. Christians are not sealed, so are under economic boycott –
probably on the orders of Nero.
22:5: “they will reign forever”: In Daniel 7:27,
the “Ancient One” says “The kingship and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms
under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the
Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions
shall serve and obey them.”
John 14:23-29
Verse 22: “Judas (not Iscariot)”: Traditionally Judas son
of James is the person called “Thaddeus” in Mark 3:18 and
Matthew 10:3.
However BlkJn notes that
a Judas “of James” appears in the lists of apostles in Luke 6:16 and
Acts 1:13,
replacing Thaddeus in Mark’s list and either Thaddeus , Lebbaeus or Lebbaeus
called Thaddeus in Matthew’s list (depending on which manuscript is
read). In Luke and Acts, the Greek phrase is literally Judas of James.
The NRSV (and other translations) make the natural assumption that “Judas son
of James” is intended. It is unlikely, although not impossible, that “Judas” in
our reading is the one named in Mark 6:3:
“‘Is not this the carpenter, ... brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon
...?’”, one of Jesus’ brothers.
It is noteworthy that
Judas’ question here recalls the challenge made to Jesus by his brothers
in 7:4 to
show himself to the world, and also has behind it the presumption: if you are
the Messiah, surely you want to vindicate yourself to your enemies. [ BlkJn]
Verse 22: Judas may be asking, in confusion: What
then of the glorious coming of the Son of Man?, as foretold in, for
example, Mark 13:26.
[ JBC]
Verse 23: Jesus repeats his statement in v. 21 with
two changes:
- from “commandments” to “word”: thus generalizing the
meaning to his message as a whole, and
- Jesus will be shown to the disciples by dwelling in
them (“home” is literally place to stay in).
Thus the Old Testament
prophetic hope of God dwelling among people will be fully realized: In
Isaiah 57:15,
God says through the prophet: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also
with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the
humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite”. Judas’ question is answered,
indirectly: Jesus’ messiahship does not mean that he will force himself on his
enemies. [ BlkJn]
Verse 24: Jesus repeats what he has just said, in a
negative form. [ BlkJn]
Verse 26: The “Advocate” does not bring teaching
independent of the revelation found in Jesus’ words and actions. [NJBC] For “Advocate”, BlkJn offers Champion.
Per 16:13-15,
the Holy Spirit will not add any new revelation of his own, since that given by
Jesus is complete (see 14:9).
Verse 26: “remind”: 2:22 says:
“After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said
this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.”
and 12:16 says:
“His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was
glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and
had been done to him.” [ JBC]
Verse 27: “peace”: More than the conventional meaning
of shalom is intended. To give “peace” is a royal and a divine
prerogative (see Numbers 6:26;
Psalm 147:14;
Isaiah 26:12; 45:7)
which Jesus bequeaths as God’s Messiah, the Prince of Peace (see Isaiah 9:6 and
Ezekiel 37:26).
Worldly peace comes through coercion. [ BlkJn]
Isaiah 9:6 says:
“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his
shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace”.
Verse 28: “the Father is greater than I”: During
the Arian controversy,
this clause was used to support subortionist Christology.
[ NJBC]
Verses 30-31: Some believe that these verses were originally
at the end of the Last Supper discourse. [ JBC]
Verse 30: “the ruler of this world is coming”: The
battle with the Devil now begins. It will end in his apparent victory, but his
actual defeat: 12:31 says:
“Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven
out”. [JBC]
John 5: 1 - 9 (alt. for
RCL)
John 5:1 (NRSV)
After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now in Jerusalem
by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-za'tha, which has five
porticoes. 3 In these lay many invalids--blind, lame, and paralyzed. 4 5 One
man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him
lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him,
"Do you want to be made well?" 7 The sick man answered him,
"Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up;
and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me." 8
Jesus said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." 9 At once the
man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.
Now that day was a
sabbath.
Jesus’ words will be complemented by the actions
of the “Holy Spirit” (v. 26),
who will be “Advocate”, i.e. helper and counsellor to believers. He will cause
the disciples to remember (“remind”) what Jesus has said, and help them to
understand the true significance of Jesus’ words and deeds (“everything”).
Jesus gives to his followers “peace”, (v. 27, shalom)
– a very different gift from worldly gifts. In loving God, we come to know him.
If they really knew Jesus, they would rejoice at his coming departure (v. 28).
The Father has sent him into the world to do his will, so in that sense “the
Father is greater than I”. Jesus has told them this so that when they see his
manner of leaving (“it”, v. 29),
they “may believe”.
While the reader is left in doubt as to whether the man in this story became a follower of Jesus, the man cured in the next healing story (see 9:1-12) becomes a prototype for Christians persecuted by the authorities.
Our reading describes
the third of John’s Signs.
Comments: The Copper Scroll: This scroll was
found in Cave 3 at Qumran. It
dates from 35-60 AD.
Verse 1: “After this”: The Greek implies an interval of
unspecified length. [ BlkJn]
Verse 2: “the Sheep Gate”: This gate is mentioned in
Nehemiah 3:1 and 12:39.
[ CAB] However, BlkJn says that by the
sheep pool is also found in some manuscripts, and the pool is referred
to by this name by Origen and
other early patristic authors.
Verse 2: “Beth-zatha”: BlkJn says that the majority of
manuscripts read Bethesda. Other alternatives found in manuscripts
are Bethsaida and Belzetha. John usually gives
Greek equivalents for Semitic names, but not here. “Beth-zatha” is the
transcription for the Hebrew meaning House of Sheep. According to
Origen, this was the building surrounding the Sheep Pool, so called because
sheep for sacrifice were collected there, and their entrails were washed in the
Pool after the sacrifice. It was not far from the “Sheep Gate”. Excavations at
the Pool of St. Anne have revealed such a building with “five porticoes”. This
seems to be an example of the accuracy of John’s topography.
Verse 4: This verse, found in Codex Alexandrinus (and
in others of later date), says (starting with an addition to v. 3):
“for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and
stirred up the water; whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water
was made well from whatever disease the person had”. Because it is not found in
the earliest, most reliable manuscripts, it is omitted from most modern
translations of the Bible. The Pool of “Beth-zatha” has been found to be a
double pool, so it is possible that water was stirred up when water was
transferred from one pool to the other. It is also possible that John has
confused the Pool of “Beth-zatha” with the Spring of Siloam, where water flow
was intermittent. [ CAB] [ NJBC]
Verse 8: Although there are no parallels to this story
in the synoptic gospels,
Jesus’ words in Mark 2:9 are
similar: “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’
or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’?”. Also, Mark 2:5-10 is
similar to vv. 9c-15.
Verse 10: “it is not lawful ...”: Carrying burdens on
the Sabbath was not specifically forbidden in the Pentateuch, but the Mishnah classified it as work,
with some precedent in Numbers 15:32-36;
Jeremiah 17:21 and
Nehemiah 13:15-19.
[ BlkJn]
Verse 14: “‘Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse
happens to you’”: Sin, in John, is not believing in Jesus. 16:8-9says:
“And when he [the Advocate] comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and
righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me”. In
John’s view, this man is condemned (see 3:36)
because he has sinned in reporting Jesus. In 3:16,
Jesus says: “‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.’”
Verses 16,18: “started persecuting ... was doing ... were
seeking ... breaking ...”: BlkJn says
that the verbs are in the imperfect, and can be taken to imply that this is a
typical example of something that had already happened on other occasions,
though John mentions it here for the first time. Recall 20:30:
“Now Jesus did many other signs ... which are not written in this book”.
Verse 17: “My Father is still working, and I also am
working.”: Rabbis argued that God resting on the seventh day
of creation did not mean that he ceased creative activity, without which the
world would cease to exist, i.e. he still worked, and works – on
the Sabbath. Just as the Father is not inhibited by the Father, neither is the
Son. [ JBC] To those whose
monotheism was Judaic, Jesus was making himself “equal to God” (v. 18),
and so was blaspheming against God. However, to John the assertion that God is
Jesus’ “Father”, a claim to equality with God, is fully justified: in 1:1 he
says: “the Word [Christ] was God [Father]”. [ BlkJn]
© 1996-2019
Chris Haslam
