Our gospel readings for the final weeks of Lent are taken mostly from St. John’s Gospel. Unlike the synoptic gospels which picture Jesus’ ministry occurring mainly in Galilee, John’s Gospel sees Jerusalem as the place where Jesus reveals himself. Instead of going from town to town in Galilee, Jesus goes from feast to feast in Jerusalem. 

His miracles and his teaching in the temple in Jerusalem proclaim his replacement of the Jewish feasts. He is the new Sabbath. He heals a paralyzed world as he heals the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda on a Sabbath. (John 5: 1-18)   On the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7-8 ), which supply most of our gospel readings for the 5th week of Lent, Jesus reveals himself as the living water come down from heaven and the light of the world. His cure of the man born blind during that feast is a sign he is the world’s light.  

On Friday this week, as he celebrated the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple, a winter feast, Jesus is challenged over his claim to be the new Temple. He teaches in the temple this Saturday as the Feast of Passover draws near. In the reading from John 11:45-56 Caiaphas, the high priest, makes the fateful prophecy that one man should die instead of a whole people perishing. In response, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. The whole people will die and rise with him.

The gospel readings Tuesday- Saturday of this week contain Jesus’ important claims to be greater than Abraham. He is God’s Son, “I Am”. He will be condemned for this claim.