Friday 23 April 2010

Background

John wrote his Gospel many years after the death of Jesus. It iswidely believed by scholars that it was written in the early 2ndcentury AD, when the growing group of believers had had time toreflect on the events of Jesus' life and their meaning. One of thecentral rituals of the early Church involved the sharing of a mealand remembering the words of Jesus to reinforce their life of faith(see 1 Corinthians 11:23-27).

The words from today's passage would be used in this ritual. Someof the early detractors of the Christian Church accused Christiansof cannibalism. If these words were literally true you could seehow such an accusation could arise. The words though, along withmuch of John's Gospel, are meant to be understood symbolically. Buteven though the passage has a symbolic meaning, the nature of theillustration would be offensive to a Jewish audience. Yet themystical understanding of being made one with Jesus is somethingthat carries immense power and possibility. It opens the door to aradically new and different way of relating to God.

This passage reinforces the understanding that faith in Jesus isnecessary to share in a relationship with God, which isqualitatively different to any other way of talking about, or beingwith God. It reinforces the view that only through faith in JesusChrist is it possible to have the fullest possible relationshipwith God. This has the potential to cause conflict with otherreligions, and in some instances has done. Christians have beenaccused of saying they are right and all others are wrong, becausefaith in Jesus is presented as the only way to have a fullrelationship with God. The strong contrast of life and death, alongwith the contrast of past and present, lends itself to this type ofunderstanding.

To Ponder

What are the important rituals in your life?

In a diverse and complicated world when candogmatic belief be of help?

When does an adversarial approach to life becomecounterproductive?