GOSPEL READING
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: A first Reading
There is perhaps a sense of drama when reading an unknown story for the first time. What's going to happen? How will it all end? Few or any of us will in fact be reading the Gospel of John for the first time and we will have some idea of what is in the Gospel - and those ideas and memories of the Gospel may or maynot be accurate. Before we begin our detailed reading through the Gospel, it is therefore important that we read through the whole Gospel at one sitting. The purpose of this is to see how the story of the Gospel unfolds so that we will afterwards have a framework for our explorations.
Allow up to an hour for this reading of the Gospel. Have notepad and pen to hand.
We are looking for the features of the story. Therefore at this stage, only skim the many discourses of Jesus and see if you can pick up the main themes. (The discourse of chapter 6, for example, is about Jesus as the bread of life.) Remember, don't get bogged down in detail.
CLUES
The evangelist has carefully arranged his story and left us plenty indications about his arrangements. Even before beginning to read the Gospel, it will help to turn to chapter 13, verse 1. Something important is happening in this verse. As you read the Gospel, watch out for pointers towards this moment (just to help you, look at 2,4).
The first eighteen verses are quite clearly different in style and tone to what follows. There's no doubt that these verses are the prologue to the Gospel.
Notice how the evangelist uses time as a marker in chapters 1 & 2. Then in chapters 2 & 4, a major place takes place in the same village - what is it's name?
Make a note of the major characters in chapters 2, 3 & 4. We will be exploring their reactions to Jesus in the coming weeks.
As we move on from chapter 4, we soon come to the story of the woman caught in adultery, 7,53-8,11. Whilst this story is accepted as genuine Gospel tradition ("inspired" in theological terms), it does not actually belong to the Gospel of John. It just seems to be a bit of independent tradition which was too precious and important to be lost and which finds its traditional place here.
From chapter 5 to chapter 10, the evangelist uses an important feature of Jewish life as his frame. List out how this feature is used and it features in the discourses of Jesus. (If this sounds a bit complicated, look at 6,4 in light of the discourse of Jesus that follows.)
How does the "tone" of the story change from chapter 5 onwards? What is the difference between the man healed in chapter 5 and the man healed in chapter 9?
What happens in chapters 11 and 12? How do these chapters move the plot of the story forward?
The importance of 13,1 has already been mentioned. How much time is covered in the first twelve chapters and how much in the next8?
There is no need at this stage for more than a quick read through chapters 14 to 17. These form the farewell discourse of Jesus climaxing in his great prayer of chapter 17.
List out the main episodes of the story of the passion in chapters 18 and 19. What might be the dominant scene in this passions story and how is it arranged?
What is missing from the supper scene (chapter 13) and from the garden scene (18,1-12)?
Where are the disciples during the crucifixon? Note the contrast with the Gospel of Mark (Mk 14,50)
What are the last words of Jesus on the cross (19,30). Again, note the contrast with the last words of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark (Mk 15,34)
How does chapter 20 form the resolution of the plot? What about chapter 21?
After all that, it is time for my response.
Conclusion
This first reading as a brief overview of the Gospel has given a basis for beginning to read the Gospel more slowly and in greater detail. As a means of reading and interpreting, it is important to begin by having a look at the whole before examing the parts. The final stage of the interpretation is then to have another reflection on the whole in light of what has been explored.