Difference between revisions of "Narrative Movement in the Gospel of John"

Revision as of 23:48, 28 July 2015

==Narrative Movement in the Gospel of John== [Comments in brackets have to do with relationship to Synoptic tradition]

John the Baptizer operating in Bethany beyond the Jordan (1:28).

Jesus apparently comes there from Nazareth (v. 29, 45), where John acknowledged him. v. 35 – Andrew, Peter’s brother, is one of John’s disciples. He follows Jesus. There is a possible allusion to Jesus’ baptism in v. 32.

Jesus goes to Galilee (1: 43)

Calls Philip, who along with Andrew and Peter were from Bethsaida (north Sea of Galilee), v. 43. Also calls Nathanael, who was from Cana (21:2).

[Mk 1:16f has Jesus pass by Sea of Galilee and call the four fishermen. In John they have already encountered Jesus, and were connected to John the Baptist’s work previously]

To wedding at Cana (2:1f)

Withdraws to Capernaum with his mother, brothers, and disciples, for a few days (v. 12)

Jesus goes to Jerusalem, 1st Passover (2:13f)

Driving out of moneychangers from Temple
Dialogue with Nicodemus (3:1f)

Back to Judea, where John was baptizing at Aenon (3:22). Joint campaign of baptizing in the Jordan area.

Leaves Judea, back to Galilee, passing through Samaria, because of plots of Pharisees (4:1; see note on John’s arrest in 3:24).

He is in Cana and Capernaum, where he heals official’s son (4:46f)

[This might be where MK 1:14f and the Galilee ministry would fit in. See below at 6:1f.]

Trip to Jerusalem for unnamed Feast (5:1f)

Heals paralyzed man on the Sabbath

Back to Sea of Galilee (6:1f). Time of 2nd Passover (6:4).

Feeding of the 5000
Walking on the sea
Teaching in synagogue at Capernaum (bread of life/blood sayings 6:35-59)

[This is the best hook-in to the Synoptic tradition. See Mark 6:36f. Note where this is in Mark’s narrative. Does all of the Markan narrative, set in Galilee (Chapters 1:14-8:27) fit in here, at the time of the 2nd Passover, when he is in the Galilee area? This would begin with John 4:43f. Note that in John 3:24 John had not yet been arrested! But in Mark 1:14 he begins his Galilee ministry after John’s arrest.]

General movement in Galilee (7.1). Danger in Judea.

To Jerusalem at Feast of Tabernacles (Fall of year) (7:10f).

Taught in Temple, stayed on Mt. of Olives. Strong confrontation with Jews, heals man born blind (chapters 7, 8, 9, 10)

Still in Jerusalem at Hanukkah (December) (10:22).

Withdraws again across Jordan, where John used to baptize (10:40).

Here he is in danger, and hiding out. (See 4:3; 7:1, 10; 8:59 for previous examples)

Goes to Judea, to Bethany near Jerusalem, to raise Lazarus (11:1f).

Has to withdraw to Ephraim (north of Jerusalem) to hide (11:54).

Returns to Jerusalem area one week before 3rd Passover (12:1).

[Here we face the question of where to place the material in MK 8:27-10:1. Notice though, in MK 10:1, he is in the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. But according to John, he spent the whole Fall and Winter in the general area (7:10ff).]

At Bethany, when Mary anoints him (12: 1-8)

[Note Mk 14: 1-9 this occurs later, just before Passover and after Jesus had entered the city, cleaned out the Temple, and pronounced its doom]

Entrance into Jerusalem (12:12f).

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