If you want to know what it means to follow Jesus in John’s Gospel, keep thet word reunion in mind. Keep the word communion in mind too, along with the words abide, glory, love, hour, cross, suffering, eternal life, bread of life, abundant life, vine, branches, sheep, good shepherd, resurrection. If you want to know what discipleship is about in John’s Gospel, we will want to remember the words intimacy and communion too, with one-on-one encounters with God’s Son, with Jesus as teacher-mentor, provider, or helper.
It is in John’s Gospel, for example, that we see Nicodemus at night, one on one with Jesus, and we read of Jesus’ one on one meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well, and his encounter with a woman caught in adultery. Jesus is also one on one with Pontius Pilate before his crucifixion, and one on one with his beloved disciple. It is Jesus one on one with his mother at Cana of Galilee. Of course, Jesus is with others, but notice how many times he is with people individually sharing what is important.
That is why when you read John’s Gospel, you will want to note that this is not a Gospel for those who want to remain on the surface with their commitment to Christ. The love that Jesus and the Father share in the Spirit is intimate, real, deep; they abide in each other (15:4). It is the kind of relationship Christ has with his disciples – intimate, close; it is also the kind of relationships the disciples are to have with each other as well (15:3-6).
After all, in John’s Gospel, Jesus teaches a new commandment – to love one another, even to the point of taking off a towel and washing others’ feet (13:1-15). How much more intimate and vulnerable does it get than that? Indeed, Jesus says, greater love has no one than this, that they would lay down their life for their friend (15:13). In John’s Gospel, Jesus wants to see the church burning with love.
In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, of course, Jesus speaks of love of God and neighbor. Here, Jesus is speaking to how the disciples are to love each other (13:13). There is overlap, of course, but we must not miss the point that Jesus creates a community of forgiveness among his disciples, among his friends. In John's Gospel we see a community of reunion.
How might we reunite with Christ and stay connected to him? How might we abide in God and God in us?
Andy Kinsey
It is in John’s Gospel, for example, that we see Nicodemus at night, one on one with Jesus, and we read of Jesus’ one on one meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well, and his encounter with a woman caught in adultery. Jesus is also one on one with Pontius Pilate before his crucifixion, and one on one with his beloved disciple. It is Jesus one on one with his mother at Cana of Galilee. Of course, Jesus is with others, but notice how many times he is with people individually sharing what is important.
That is why when you read John’s Gospel, you will want to note that this is not a Gospel for those who want to remain on the surface with their commitment to Christ. The love that Jesus and the Father share in the Spirit is intimate, real, deep; they abide in each other (15:4). It is the kind of relationship Christ has with his disciples – intimate, close; it is also the kind of relationships the disciples are to have with each other as well (15:3-6).
After all, in John’s Gospel, Jesus teaches a new commandment – to love one another, even to the point of taking off a towel and washing others’ feet (13:1-15). How much more intimate and vulnerable does it get than that? Indeed, Jesus says, greater love has no one than this, that they would lay down their life for their friend (15:13). In John’s Gospel, Jesus wants to see the church burning with love.
In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, of course, Jesus speaks of love of God and neighbor. Here, Jesus is speaking to how the disciples are to love each other (13:13). There is overlap, of course, but we must not miss the point that Jesus creates a community of forgiveness among his disciples, among his friends. In John's Gospel we see a community of reunion.
How might we reunite with Christ and stay connected to him? How might we abide in God and God in us?
Andy Kinsey
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