Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

When I think of the Gospel of John I am struck by image of Jesus that is provided that comes to us in extreme forms.

I have always been aware that John gives us a Jesus who is quick to talk about how he is the "way" the "truth" the "light of the world". I have always been aware of the strong and declarative Jesus who talked to people with a high degree of certainty. He was portrayed as one who seemed to know what other people never knew and he said things other people never thought.

There was that about Jesus that was confronting in John's Gospel and that is presented to us in such extreme fashion that there is a hard aspect to his presence.

But the more I think about it there is another side to Jesus as we find him in John's Gospel. He is also the one who offers sympathy to his disciples before his death on the cross. He tells them not to let their hearts be troubled nor to be afraid. He tells them he will send a Paraclete; a "comforter' to be with them.

There is a soft side to Jesus in the Gospel of John as well as the hard side. He is both confront er and comforter.

John was the last of the Gospels written. It was written 60 years after the crucifixion. It was written after the early church had realized Jesus was not returning as a judge at the end of time or the Parousia and the Christian believers had to get on with their lives.

The Gospel presents a contrasting image of Jesus and that is probably the way it is. He was more complex that we are thinking and John gives us a reason to think of Jesus in such a way that we cannot pin him down to our presuppositions. He was more than we thought.

Do you relate to "Jesus the confronter" as much as "Jesus the comforter"?

What do you think? If you have some ideas about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have other read your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.



Charles Schuster