Encountering the Risen Jesus in the Gospel of John

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Encountering the Risen Jesusin the Gospel of
John

• Felix Just, S.J.
• http//Catholic-Resources.org
• Winged Eagle, Symbol of John the Evangelist, by
  Rudolf Koch

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Readings from Johnduring the Easter Season

• The Gospel reading at most Sunday liturgies
  during the Easter Season is not taken from the
  Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, or Luke), but
  from Johns Gospel. Why?
• What messages do these Johannine readings have
  for us?
• What do the words of Jesus to his first disciples
  teach us about how we can still encounter Jesus
  today?

3
Gospel of John Intro

• Composition History
• Author according to John (Apostle, son of
  Zebedee?)
• Date late 90s? (last or four canonical
  Gospels)
• Location Jewish/Gentile (Palestine? Syria?
  Asia Minor?)
• Theological Emphases
• Jesus only-begotten Son, sent from the Father,
  Word of God, Word made Flesh, Revealer,
  Works/Signs, Equal to God, I AM
• Response? Believe, become children of God,
  receive eternal life
• Holy Spirit Paraclete (Advocate, Comforter,
  Counselor, etc.)

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Gospel of John Outline

• Prologue 11-18
• Logos Hymn Word in beginning with God Word
  becomes Flesh
• The Book of Signs 119 1250
• Cana Wedding, Nicodemus Dialogue, Samaritan
  Woman, Healing at Bethesda Pool, Bread of Life,
  Man Born Blind, Raising Lazarus, etc.
• The Book of Glory 131 2031
• Washing Feet, Farewell Discourses, Jesus Prayer,
  Passion Narrative, Crucifixion, Resurrection
  Appearances, esp. Mary Magd. Thomas
• Epilogue 211-25
• Another Res. Appearance at Sea of
  Tiberias/Galilee - added later

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John in Holy Week

• Palm/Passion Sunday (B, opt.) John 1212-16
• Jesus Enters into Jerusalem
• Holy Thursday (ABC) John 131-15
• Jesus Washes Disciples Feet
• Good Friday (ABC) John 181 1942
• Johannine Passion Narrative
• Easter Sunday (ABC) John 201-9
• Mary Magdalene Peter Beloved Disciple at Empty
  Tomb
• Optional for afternoon Masses Luke 2413-35
  Disciples on Road to Emmaus

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John in the Easter Season
Day/Feast Year A Year B Year C
Easter Sunday John 201-9 same as Year A same as Year A
2nd Sunday John 2019-31 same as Year A same as Year A
3rd Sunday Luke 2413-35 Luke 2435-48 John 211-19
4th Sunday John 101-10 John 1011-18 John 1027-30
5th Sunday John 141-12 John 151-8 John 1331-35
6th Sunday John 1415-21 John 159-17 John 1423-29
7th Sunday John 171-11a John 1711b-19 John 1720-26
Pentecost Vigil John 737-39 same as Year A same as Year A
Pentecost Sun. John 2019-23 Jn 1526-27 1612-15 Jn 1415-16, 23b-26
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Easter Sunday (ABC)

• John 201-9 Empty Tomb
• First day of week, before dawn
• Mary Magdalene finds tomb empty runs to tell
  disciples
• Peter B.D. race to tomb
• See burial clothes go into tomb
• B.D. believes, but they dont understand the
  scriptures
• v. 10 disciples return home

Giovanni Francesco Romanelli 1641
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Octave of Easter

• Resurrection Appearance Stories read at weekday
  Masses during the Easter Octave Jesus appears
• Mon Matt 288-15 to Mary Magdalene
  another Mary
• Tues John 2011-18 to Mary of Magdala by
  Garden Tomb
• (unfortunately not used in Sunday Lectionary)
• Wed Luke 2413-35 to two disciples on road
  to Emmaus
• Thurs Luke 2435-48 to disciples in
  Jerusalem
• Fri John 211-14 to seven disciples at Sea
  of Galilee
• (also used on Third Sunday of Easter, Year C)
• Sat Mark 169-15 to Mary Magdalene later
  other disciples

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Easter Octave Tuesday

• John 2011-18 Jesus appears to Mary of Magdala
• Mary stands outside tomb, weeping sees two
  angels Why weep?
• Turns sees Jesus (gardener?) Why weep? Whom
  do you seek?
• Mary! Rabbouni Noli me tangere Go,
  tell my brothers

Sir Edward Coley Burne-JonesEnglish, 1882
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Easter Octave Friday

• John 211-14 Jesus appears at the Sea of
  Tiberias
• Disciples (7?) back in Galilee, fishing catch
  nothing (cf. Luke 51-11)
• Large catch (153 fish) It is the Lord!
  Charcoal fire Bread fish

Lucas Gassel Flemish, 1500s
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2nd Sunday of Easter (ABC)

• John 2019-31 Jesus appears to disciples
  Thomas

• Evening of first day of week
• Jesus appears Peace to you!
• As Father sent me, I send you
• Receive Holy Spirit Forgive!
• Thomas not there Weve seen
• I wont believe unless I see
• One week later, Thomas present
• Jesus appears Peace to you!
• Dont be faithless, but believing
• My Lord and my God!
• Blessed who believe w/o seeing

Caravaggio 1601
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3rd Sunday of Easter (AB)

• Luke

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3rd Sunday of Easter (C)

• John 211-19 (or 1-14) Jesus appears at Sea of
  Tiberias
• Vv. 1-14 also used Friday of Octave of Easter
• Vv. 15-19 Dialogue Jesus Peter (also Friday
  of 7th Week of Easter)
• Do you love me You know I love you Feed
  my lambs
• Do you love me You know I love you Tend
  my sheep
• Do you love me You know I love you Feed
  my sheep
• Peters death?
• Follow Me

Sir James Thornhill ca. 1729
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4th Sunday of Easter (A)

• John 101-10 (I am the sheep gate)

Vie de Jésus Mafa
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4th Sunday of Easter (B)

• Year B John 1011-18 (I am the good shepherd)

Vie de Jésus Mafa
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4th Sunday of Easter (C)

• Year A John 101-10 (I am the sheep gate)
• Year B John 1011-18 (I am the good shepherd)
• Year C John 1027-30
• My sheep hear my voice I know them they follow
  me.
• I give them eternal life they will never perish.
• My Father gave them to me no one can snatch
  them away.
• I and the Father are One.

Vie de Jésus Mafa
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5th Sunday of Easter (A)

• John Last Supper Discourse

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5th Sunday of Easter (B)

• John Last Supper Discourse

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5th Sunday of Easter (C)

• John 1331-33a, 34-35 Last Supper Discourse
  (begin)

• Jesus speaks to the Disciples
• After Judas departs
• The Son of Man is glorified God is glorified
• Children, I am with you only a little longer
• omit 33b Where I am going you cannot come
• I give you a new commandmentLove one another as
  I have loved you.
• This is how all will know you are my
  disciples,if you have love for one another.

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6th Sunday of Easter (A)

• John Last Supper Discourse (cont.)
• .

Anonymous Woodcuts
Reformation Era, 1533
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6th Sunday of Easter (B)

• John Last Supper Discourse (cont.)
• .

Anonymous Woodcuts
Reformation Era, 1533
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6th Sunday of Easter (C)

• John 1423-29 Last Supper Discourse (cont.)
• Those who love me will keep my word my Father
  will love them.
• Paraclete/Advocate, whom the Father will send,
  will teach you.
• My Peace I give you do not let your hearts be
  troubled.
• Im going away Ill come back Ive told you,
  so you may believe.

Anonymous Woodcuts
Reformation Era, 1533
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Ascension of the Lord

• Readings from the Synoptic Gospels
• Year A Matthew 2816-20
• Year B Mark 1615-20
• Year C Luke 2446-53
• No Ascension Narrative in Johns Gospel
• Cf. 313 662 2017 Jesus talks about
  descending ascending

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7th Sunday of Easter

• Great Prayer of Jesus / High Priestly Prayer
• Year A John 171-11a
• Year B John 1711b-19
• Year C John 1720-26
• Also used TuesThus of 7th Week of Easter, each
  year
• Now supplanted by readings for Ascension

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Vigil of Pentecost

• John 737-39 (Years ABC)

• On last day of Feast (Tabernacles)
• Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink
  Rivers of living water will flow from within the
  one who believes in me
• not a direct OT quote cf. Num 202-13 Isa
  123 443 551
• Narrator This refers to the Spirit, that
  believers were to receive
• not yet since Jesus had not yet been glorified
  cf. Joel 228-29

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Pentecost Sunday

• Year A John 2019-23
• Jesus appears breathes on disciples Receive
  the Holy Spirit
• Same as 1st half of reading for 2nd Sunday of
  Easter (w/o Thomas)
• Year B John 1526-27 1612-15 (optional)
• The Paraclete, Spirit of Truth will testify to
  me, and you will testify.
• The Spirit of Truth will guide you to all truth
• Year C John 1415-16, 23b-26 (optional)
• The Father will give you another Paraclete, to
  be with you always.
• The Paraclete, whom the Father will send in my
  name, will teach you
• Vv. 15-16 also 6th Sunday Easter (A) Vv. 23b-26
  also 6th Sunday Easter (C)

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Conclusion

• Use of Johns Gospel during Easter Season
• Resurrection Narratives Empty Tomb Story
• Resurrection Narratives Appearance Stories
• Jesus as the Good Shepherd
• Peter Apostles as Shepherds
• Coming of the Paraclete / Holy Spirit / Spirit of
  Truth
• Believing, Seeing, Hearing, Reading
• Children of God Eternal Life