Stephen Scheidell

Dr. Gene Green

BITH 213

CPO W143

THEOLOGY IN JOHN

John's unique theological emphasis simultaneously stresses three themes: a Trini-

tarian continuity between Father, Son and Spirit; manifestation of the Father and the eter-

nity of Christ in the Father and Spirit. The three themes cannot be separated one from the

others. Christ "is" before Abraham (8:58) in the Father, "is" now a manifestation of the

Father and remains with his disciples after the ascension in the Spirit (16:13ff). Given

Jesus' Jewish audience he will obviously spend more time on the continuity of Father to

Son, but when time comes to prepare his disciples for his own departure, he makes clear

to them his continued presence via the Spirit. When he "cleanses" the temple during the

first Passover during his ministry, he makes his first (public) claim to divine continuity:

"stop making My Father's house a place of business" (2:16).

Throughout John, we find Jesus making similar references to this continuous state

of divinity. God sent his son (3:17). The Father has given all things into Jesus' hands

(3:35). God, the Father, is working until now, when Jesus works (5:17). Jesus does the

will of him who sent him (5:30). The Scriptures bear witness about Jesus (5:39). Jesus'

teachings are not his own, but those of his Father (7:16). Jesus knows the Father (7:29),

who sent him (7:42), and they are "in" each other (10:38, 12:26, 14:7, 10,11). Again, Je-

sus is not alone (16:32).

With a certain literary symmetry, John uses the keyword "manifested" thrice early

in the gospel and four times toward the end. John (the Baptizer) came with water to make

ready for Jesus to be manifested to Israel (1:31). He manifested his glory at the execution

of his first public miracle at the wedding in Cana (2:11). He "passes on" this manifesta-

tion to his disciples when one practices the truth (3:21); their actions are thus manifested

as coming from God. In his prayer before being arrested, Jesus tells of his manifestation

of the Father's name (17:6). After the crucifixion, Jesus manifested himself to his disci-

ples at the Sea of Tiberias (21:1). Later on a shore side, Jesus manifested himself for the

third time after his resurrection (21:14) when he breaks bread and fish for a meal.

Not allowing the divine manifestation of God on earth to end with his ascent, Je-

sus explains to his disciples that his physical absence by no means signifies his absence

of authority or guidance. In Jesus' speech in chapter 16, we find the divine continuity

passed on from Father to Son and from the Son to the Spirit of truth. What the Father dis-

closed to the Son, the Son now discloses to the Spirit who will come to guide Jesus' disci-

ples. This passage captures well John's threefold theology: Trinitarian Godhead; current

and future manifestations; eternal presence of God.

Centering on the continuity of the Godhead, John spells out a theology that ac-

counts for past, present and future. God the Father manifested himself to Moses in the

past, he manifests now (to the disciples) in Jesus, and his presence remains manifest on

earth in the Spirit acting in the church. In this threefold manifestation, God allows his

presence to remain among his people for eternity – most fully and most directly in the

person of Christ Jesus.