Division over who Jesus is and the unbelief of the Jewish leaders Flashcards
What do Jesus’ disciples recognise him as?
The Messiah, King of Israel and Son of God
What was the problem with Jesus introducing the idea of the Eucharist and claiming to be superior to Moses through the I AM sayings (John 6)?
Culpepper argues that it caused many of his followers to defect since they could not accept these teachings, leaving Jesus with his core 12 disciples
Why might the defection following John 6 reflect the Johannine community itself?
Because they may have been a large group of Jewish Christians originally, but as they adopted a higher christology, the ordinary Jews defected until they were a small and unpopular minority in the synagogue
What does Culpepper mean when he says ‘Jesus will go to the diaspora but not as the Jews think’?
Jesus says ‘where I am, you cannot come’. Christian readers know this refers to the ascension and Jesus going back to God. The Jews misinterpret this and think he means Jesus will go to the diaspora to teach Jewish communities in the Roman Empire. In the end Christ’s message will reach the diaspora, becoming a new religion and leaving the Jews behind
Why would many Jews have suspected that Jesus was a false prophet?
Because the age of prophecy was said to have ended following the death of Malachi in 420 BCE
Why would Jews have refused to believe that Jesus is the messiah?
He does not meet the standard criteria since he comes from Galilee and doesn’t appear to be descended from the line of David
What does the confusion over Jesus’ identity likely represent?
The debates within the synagogues of the Johannine Community, where some members could accept Jesus as a prophet or the Messiah, but not as God incarnate
What does Brown argue was the specific purpose of John?
To convert these reluctant members of the Johannine synagogues
Explain this discourse in terms of christology
Jesus claims to know God because he is the Hellenistic Logos. Despite this he is not recognised by his own people, this links back to the prologue
Explain this discourse in terms of Jesus being a threat to authority
The Pharisees knew that their authority had been challenged. When they send their soldiers to arrest Jesus, they come back inspired by his words. Even some of their own members, like Nicodemus, seem to be on his side
Explain this discourse in terms of political expediency
This takes place during the Feast of the Tabernacles, which brought lots of pilgrims to Jerusalem. It is another opportunity to arrest Jesus before he can incite a riot. The divisions in the crowd are also a concern, since Jesus is creating disagreement and tension
