The Way, the Truth and the Life in the Gospel of John Research Paper

Exclusively available on IvyPanda Available only on IvyPanda

The Gospel of John exhibits a subtle difference from the other gospels books, called the synoptic gospels. The difference is in the fact that most events narrated there can be interpreted, to a higher degree, in both a literal and a figurative way. The synoptic gospels leave little margin for a figurative interpretation. But in the book of John, the author of the book seems to have attached a double meaning to most events narrated there. The ministry of Jesus is presented in such a way as to look like a painting, subject to the reader’s interpretation (Robert, 2004). And when Jesus one day offered to wash the disciples’ feet, the disciples themselves were at a loss for an appropriate interpretation. One of the disciples, Simon Peter, initially actually refused to have his feet washed. He agreed only when Jesus told him that his refusal would make Jesus reject him as a disciple. Jesus then explained the significance of this unexpected deed.

We will write a custom essay on your topic a custom Research Paper on The Way, the Truth and the Life in the Gospel of John
808 writers online

According to Jesus, a master would always remain the master over his servants. This notwithstanding, all people should wash each other’s feet, in accordance with the example that Jesus had just set (GNB). The practice, amongst other things, would help maintain humility amongst people, and the perception of servitude that so eluded people of high ranks. As long as the masters understood that their status would not diminish with such shows of humility, the exercise could only help bind the society better. In short, Jesus was teaching his disciples that real masters were not insecure about their positions, and were in fact willing to stoop to the level of the servants so that they could rise up together (Elmer).

Shortly afterward, Jesus predicted that one of the disciples would betray him. This brought consternation to all the disciples, and they asked aloud just who could do such a heinous deed. Simon Peter told the disciple that Jesus loved the most to ask for clarification. Jesus responded by dipping a piece of bread in the sauce and giving it to Judas. The significance of the act was lost upon the other disciples, but soon afterward, Judas Iscariot rose up and walked into the night. The rest of the disciples were left wondering at all the events (GNB).

Jesus went on speaking to the remaining disciples. He told them that he was soon going to have to go to a place that nobody else there could go. Simon Peter countered this by asking why it was so, yet he was willing to die for Jesus. That’s when Jesus predicted that that same night; Simon Peter would deny Jesus thrice, before the cock crew. But he reassured the disciples, telling them that he was going to prepare a place for them, and would afterward come and take them to him. According to Jesus, each of the disciples knew the way to wherever he was going. Thomas then asked how they could ever know the way if they didn’t know the destination. That’s when Jesus answered: “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me.” (GNB).

The significance of this statement has been debated upon for ages. Theologians have related it to the events recorded in both the old and the new testaments. In the Old Testament, Jesus was only directly mentioned in a few prophecies. Those prophecies occurred through such prophets as Jeremiah and Isaiah, and they referred to either the birth or crucifixion of Jesus (Marta). Otherwise, human interaction with God, Jehovah, used to be direct or through other prophets or kings. God used to manifest a lot of signs and wonders as a mode of communication in the Old Testament. Many of these signs were not focused on a single person or location. So how then could Jesus declare that he actually determined who went to the father and that without him the human was doomed?

Is it possible that humans actually interacted with Jesus even in the Old Testament? As the first verse of John depicts, Jesus, the word, existed right at the beginning, being with God, and being God. Several incidences recorded in the Old Testament have, in particular, intrigued theologians. For example, Jacob, son of Isaac, is said to have fought with God one night, right up to dawn. The reference to the opponent as God and not Angel is significant here. So who was this God? Could it have been Jesus? And when, at dawn, God relented, he gave Jacob a lasting legacy: he changed his name to Israel and blessed him and his descendants. To this day, Israel has continued to grow and is regarded by many as a uniquely, and mysteriously, blessed state. Could this be an extension of Jacob having been given the truth and way by Jesus? The jury is still out on this one (Elmer).

By the brief declaration, Jesus effectively defined absolute power, and the mandate to utilize it. He made it clear that the destiny of humans lay in his hold, and that only through acknowledging this could humans ever hope for enlightenment and ultimate deliverance. Apparently, in the heavenly hierarchy, the way to God Himself led through Jesus, His Son, and only through him. Knowing Jesus was knowing God, and denying him was denying God himself. Jesus was the extension of God on earth, hence his statement that “whoever has seen me has seen the father too”. In a sense, Jesus had come to earth so that people could better relate with his teachings, as he delivered them from a human point of view. And because of this, the implication was that if anybody didn’t assimilate such teachings, it would be much harder to understand the heavenly concepts any other way. That was the biggest difference between the Old and the New Testaments: while the Old Testament referred to an invisible God, the New Testament described a God who had actually lived on earth.

1 hour!
The minimum time our certified writers need to deliver a 100% original paper

By way of conclusion, Jesus’ statement during that Passover eve spanned all the dimensions that people seek in religion. It covered the need for direction and guidance that everybody seeks – the way. It covered the need by everybody for clarity of thought and actions – the truth. And finally, it covered the need by everybody for long, meaningful life – the life (Executable). In short hence, for all quests by mankind, Jesus was not only a solution, he was the answer. Essentially hence, human actions should begin and proceed by acknowledging the power and influence of Jesus in this life, for only then would the human be in resonance with laws of nature. Without question, this brief statement immediately ascribed to Jesus the status of the divine- of a deity, if not the deity.

References

Elmer L. Towns: The Gospel of John: Believe and Live. AMG publishers 2003 Pgs. 85-112.

Executable outlines: Sermons from John: The way, the truth and the life. 2009.

GNB- Good News Bible: The Gospel According to John, 1992. American Bible Societies New Testament Pgs 117- 148.

Marta Alves Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, 2000. Web.

Robert Nguyen Cramer (2004) 2009. Web.

Print
Need an custom research paper on The Way, the Truth and the Life in the Gospel of John written from scratch by a professional specifically for you?
808 writers online
Cite This paper
Select a referencing style:

Reference

IvyPanda. (2021, October 21). The Way, the Truth and the Life in the Gospel of John. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-way-the-truth-and-the-life-in-the-gospel-of-john/

Work Cited

"The Way, the Truth and the Life in the Gospel of John." IvyPanda, 21 Oct. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/the-way-the-truth-and-the-life-in-the-gospel-of-john/.

References

IvyPanda. (2021) 'The Way, the Truth and the Life in the Gospel of John'. 21 October.

References

IvyPanda. 2021. "The Way, the Truth and the Life in the Gospel of John." October 21, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-way-the-truth-and-the-life-in-the-gospel-of-john/.

1. IvyPanda. "The Way, the Truth and the Life in the Gospel of John." October 21, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-way-the-truth-and-the-life-in-the-gospel-of-john/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "The Way, the Truth and the Life in the Gospel of John." October 21, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-way-the-truth-and-the-life-in-the-gospel-of-john/.

Powered by CiteTotal, best essay bibliography generator
If you are the copyright owner of this paper and no longer wish to have your work published on IvyPanda. Request the removal
More related papers
Cite
Print
1 / 1