As we move into the final scenes of Jesus' passion in the story that John weaves in his Gospel, we see Jesus specifically as the King come to fulfill the will of the Father and the Sacrificial Lamb who offers Himself in order to die to our fallen flesh. This King has authority to give His life and to take it up again. John shares these words of Jesus earlier on on the Gospel and they come rushing back during the trial scene of Jesus before Pilate.
John's remembrance of Jesus is not one who agonizes over what faces Him but rather goes out to meet it head on. This is a King in control of what will transpire. He is the "I am" upon whose words the Roman soldiers [John uses the term that means a cohort of about 100 to 600 soldiers] and the temple officials fall back and to the ground at their mention. Jesus says it twice. The witness of both the Son and the Father of who He is.
In the first verses of chapter 18, we get a garden scene the mirrors the scene in the first Garden in Genesis. The "I am" is there [God the Creator], a betrayer, deceiver, and liar is there represented by Judas [the serpent], innocent humanity is there [the disciples] and deceived humanity is there [the soldiers and temple officials]. John wants us to recall that the seed of the woman [Jesus] will crush the head of the serpent. Jesus is going to crush evil through His going to the cross. Jesus is presented in a place of power over those who arrest Him as well as power and control over His accusers.
John will also weave into the story of Jesus' passion, how Jesus Himself begins re-ordering the sense of community that surrounds Him. Entrusting Mary to John the Disciple is evidence that relationships are changing. As we approach chapter 20 and Mary Magdalene's encounter in the garden with Jesus outside the empty tomb, we see a complete change in relationship. Humanity will now stand in relationship to the Father as a member of the family. Humanity has been brought into the circle of relationship of the Triune persons.
As Pilate presents Jesus after he had Him flogged [Ecce Uomo] the crowd sees the brokenness of their own humanity and although in their ignorance fueled by their passion to do away with the one that is threatening their very livelihood, they rightfully shout "Crucify!" Our fallen humanity must die if there is any hope for new life. Jesus is the only one among all others in the court of Pilate, who has the power to give men and women the new life that they are so desperately missing.
Next week we will finish up what has proven to be a very pivotal Gospel that opens up to us a culmination of images in the Jesus story that speak not only of the events that transpired that day but also the cosmic significance of Jesus' work on the cross for humanity.
Recorded Lectures:
Portico John Lecture - Chapter 17 Jesus' Prayer to the Father Part II
Portico John Lecture - Chapter 18-19 Arrest, Trial, Crucifixion, Death and Burial
Portico John Lecture - Chapter 18-19 Arrest, Trial, Crucifixion, Death and Burial Part II
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