Readings

John’s Gospel on these last days of Lent and into Holy Week portrays Jesus as a pilgrim celebrating Jewish feasts in Jerusalem. So different than the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, which concentrate on his ministry in various towns of Galilee. 

In Jerusalem on a Sabbath day, probably a Passover Sabbath, Jesus heals a paralyzed man at the pool at Bethsaida. (John 5). The Father never rests from bringing life to the world, and so his Son does not rest from bringing life on the Sabbath.  At a Passover Feast (John 6), Jesus calls himself the true Bread from heaven, the manna that feeds multitudes. On the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7-9) Jesus reveals himself as the light of the world and living water. On the Feast of the Dedication (John 10) celebrating the rededication of the temple after its desecration, Jesus claims to be the true temple, dwelling among us and making God’s glory known. Finally, the Feast of Passover is introduced in John 11, when Lazarus is raised from the dead. Jesus dies and rises on the feast.

Jesus acts and teaches during the Jewish feasts, John’s Gospel insists. He still acts and teaches as we celebrate the liturgy today, with its feasts and seasons.

Recent archeological work at the southerly approach to the Jewish temple in Jerusalem has uncovered major stairway lined by purification baths from the time of Jesus. The wide stairway suggests that pilgrims came large numbers to the temple at the time. The Jewish writer Josephus claims many Jews came from all parts of the Roman Empire as pilgrims to the Holy City. 

Jesus was one of them. He announced his mission to the world during the feasts. He was the fulfillment of the feasts: “ the light of the world. “

The Jewish leaders and many of their followers sought to silence him and were ready to stone him, because “many began to believe in him.” But “Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained until the announcement about his friend, Lazarus. 

Returning to Jerusalem for the Passover, he raised Lazarus from the dead and then faced the mystery of his own death and resurrection. In John’s gospel, all the bitter events of Jesus’ Passion are suffused with glory. John’s gospel, more than the others, find glorious signs in the passion of Jesus. We read his gospel on Good Friday.

Realists that we are, we find it hard to find God’s glory and power revealed in suffering. We find it hard to see anything but absurdity in the sufferings of our times.That’s why John’s Gospel may be an important guide today. “Look for the signs,” it says.  If we believe God is with us, there are signs of glory and a promise of resurrection, even in suffering and death.

The world is caught in a storm, like the disciples caught in their boat at sea. We need to know God is not asleep.   

Lead me on, Lord, through your holy signs,
especially the sign of your Cross.
Show me the glory I don’t see.