The Jesus Seminar, a group of scripture scholars formed about 30 years ago, aimed at discovering the authentic words of Jesus. They claimed his in this part of John’s gospel are so different from his words in other gospels that they are not his, but were created by a later disciple. 

Many New Testament scholars, among them Raymond Brown,  see the Last Supper Discourse as an example of the way many ancient writers summarized the teachings and mission of  great figures as they leave their disciples in death. John’s gospel, then, is a summary of Jesus’ teaching and mission in the context of the Passover.. Jesus addresses his disciples as “little children”,  as a father might address his children during Passover, explaining to them the message of that saving feast. 

He announces his glorification. He is going to the Father.  His disciples will participate in his glory.  “ I am the vine, you are the branches.” (John 15:1-8)  They are to love one another as he has loved them. Loving one another is his supreme command to them. If they keep his commandments Jesus promises them a joy that no one can take from them. 

Do we hear in the Last Supper Discourse words Jesus spoke to his disciples then, words he  spoke during his mission, and also words he spoke in the days after his resurrection? After Jesus rose from the dead, Paul tells his hearers in Antioch in Pisidia, “for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are now his witnesses before the people.” ( Acts 13:30-32)

In the “many days” he appeared to them Jesus prepared them for his sacramental  presence among them in signs. As he ate with them and drank with them he assured them he would remain with them in signs for ”a little while.” Still, we can hear they are disturbed. They “cling” to him. We hear their fears and anxiety in the words of Thomas and Philip. They were unsure and uncertain.

This icon, Christ the Vine, was painted by a famous fifteenth-century Cretan iconographer Angelos Akotantos (d.1450) before the Byzantine Empire collapsed, leading to the separation of Eastern and Western churches. The icon is a call for unity of the churches.