profile of john - note the differences in the Fourth
gospel’s portrayal of John the Baptist: missing-"John the Baptist" (as a
title), any emphasis on John’s dress or diet, a sample of John’s preaching;
added-the interrogation by religious authorities; John’s repeated denial of being a
messianic figure, the specific function of "bearing witness" to the light, and a
polemic on what must have been an early debate over John as a messianic figure (vs 8).
martyria - John’s function in the Fourth Gospel is to bear
witness to the light that is Christ. The actual Greek word, martyria, has a history and a
story all its own in this gospel. The word is loaded with double entendre-it reflects both
religious and juridical as well as experiential meaning. In early Christianity the word
could also refer to the ultimate testimony through martyrdom. John’s testimony to
Jesus will lead others to faith, but it will also function as evidence to indict Jesus
later in the gospel.
i am not - Unlike the synoptics, John is met with an official
delegation from Jerusalem to interrogate him and his activities. John’s negative
confession, ego ouk eimi, "I am not" provides an important contrast to the
positive confession of Christ that will recur throughout the gospel (ego eim,
"I am the light . . . the bread . . . the door . . . " etc). [1] John’s
blunt rhetoric reinforces the content: he is not the Christ.
[2] Recall a moment when you were
interrogated by another-in a less than positive way.
Notice how John under interrogation basically responds in the negative-"I am not .
. ." "No . . ." "No . . ." Are there times in our
lives/congregations/ families in which we are defined more by what we don’t do, who
we aren’t than by what we do and are? Recall specific instances.
Describe the similarities and differences between Mark’s and Matthew’s
portrayal of John and the Fourth Gospel-what conclusions can you make?
See DPS’s homily based on this
passage.
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[1] New Interpreter’s Bible IX (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995), page 527.
[2] Serendipity Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing Co., 1998), page 354.
