People of Hope:
Every year as we enter into Holy Week, we hear most of the Passion Narrative (the story of Jesus’ betrayal, trial, and death by crucifixion) through the eyes of the Gospel of John. This year is no different. While we are always called to wrestle with the text, and Pastor Chris and Deacon Connie strive to interpret the text in ways that are faithful to the Holy Spirit’s promptings through those writings, the Gospel of John still presents some difficulties that are worth pointing out.
A prominent recurring group in the Gospel of John is referred to in most English translations as “the Jews.” In most occasions they are placed in an antagonistic light against Jesus and his followers. Far too many times in history, these texts have been used as justification for anti-Semitic views and actions, so we would like to offer some context for the phrase, as well as guidance on how to interpret it when heard this coming weekend.
First, we know that the text of the Gospel of John was written during a time of great pain for the early Christian church. John’s community was made up primarily of Christians who had Jewish backgrounds and still held a deep connection to their synagogue community. During this time, members of the Jewish community were becoming more skeptical of those who professed Jesus as lord, and began to push them out of the synagogues (John 9:1-41 is often seen as an allegory for such an event). As the Gospel of John was written, much of the pain of that separation was reflected in the language of the text; thus, those often seen as gatekeepers to the Jewish faith become referred to as “the Jews” over and against those who are more open to the good news of Jesus, or at least more tolerant of those who had alternative thoughts on the faith. While we confess that the Gospel of John is a true and faithful telling of the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we also cannot separate it from the context of those who wrote it down. So as we enter Holy Week, remember:
“The Jews” were a very small subsection of an entire diverse faith. As referred to in the Gospel of John, on most occasions they were most likely religious elites who thrived on the status quo. They are not representative of the entire Jewish community then, and especially not now. Jesus and his followers were all Jewish – not Christian. As we truly examine these powerful texts, we should also examine our own lives, recognizing that we are not simply bystanders, but also participants in the story of Jesus’ Passion. We see ourselves not only as those who witness, but we are also Peter who denies, Judas who betrays, and even “the Jews” who would plot against Jesus and willfully conspire to ensure his death for the sake of our own comfort. If you’d like to explore these thoughts in further detail, the following resources can help:
https://resources.elca.org/worship/the-jews-in-johns-passion/
For a deeper dive into the whole of the Gospel of John, we recommend Raymond E. Brown’s commentaries on John from the Anchor Commentary series.
Have a blessed Holy Week!
Pastor Chris