PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Maura Pauli
Archdiocese of Hartford Catholic Biblical School
2012
Seven images in the Gospel of John describing who Jesus is in relation to us.
Jesus is the manifestation of God himself and he shares in God’s divinity.
Goals
Read & Understand Scripture
Encounter the Divine: Trinity
Understand Relevance to Our Lives
Deepen our Relationship with Jesus
BRIEF CATHOLIC BIBLE REVIEW
- 73 Books: OT=46; NT=27. God’s Plan of Salvation
- 4 Gospels “Good News” in NT
- Synoptic Gospels (seen together): Matthew, Mark, Luke
- Gospel of John
STAGES OF GOSPEL FORMATION
- Lived Gospel: Jesus among us (0-33 AD)
- Oral Gospel: after resurrection
- Written Gospel: Mark 70 AD; Matthew & Luke 80 AD; John 90 AD
GOSPEL OF JOHN
- Author: John, son of Zebedee, the “beloved disciple”, an apostle
- Date written 90-100 AD
- Community: Jews and Gentiles; tensions and conflicts about beliefs, Christian life and practices
Purpose
“But these signs are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and through this belief have life in his name.” John 20:31
CONTENT OF JOHN’S GOSPEL
- Prologue
- Book of Signs: 7 signs
- Book of Glory
- Epilogue
SEVEN SIGNS
- Water to wine at Cana
- Cure of Centurion’s Son
- Cure of the Paralytic at Pool
- Multiplication of Loaves
- Walking on Water
- Healing of man born blind
- Raising of Lazarus
CONCEPTS RELATED TO “I AM” SAYINGS
- Imagery
- The Word of God
- The Trinity
- Faith
- The Creed
- “I AM”
IMAGES IN WORDS, OBJECTS & PICTURES
Stones:
Ten Commandments
(Exodus 24:12)
Woman caught in adultery
(John 8:1-11)
Temptation of Jesus
(Matthew 4:1-4)
The Lord said to Moses: Come up to the mountain and while you are there, I will give you the stone tablets on which I have written the commandments intended for their instruction. (Exodus 24:12)
...Jesus bent down and began to write in the sand with his finger. (John 8:6)
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
(John 8:8)
Matthew 4:1-4
Temptation of Jesus
...”If you are the Son of God command that these stones become loaves of bread.”...
Mystery
Search
Revelation
Eternal Life
Quilt Block
Jacob’s Ladder
Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.
Creation (Genesis 1:1-2:1)
Word Made Flesh
(John 1:1-18)
Genesis1:1-2:1
In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth...a mighty wind swept over the waters. Then God said...
St. Augustine once referred to words as “precious cups of meaning” from which we are given to drink in a way that is Life-giving. Indeed as Christians, we profess our belief that “the Word became flesh.” That word, as we profess in the creed, is Jesus himself spoken eternally by the Father. And as the Word who became flesh for our salvation, he is “the way, and the truth and the life.”
THE HOLY TRINITY
- Father (Creator)
- Son (Redeemer)
- Holy Spirit (Sanctifier)
The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church #234)
MOSES PARTING THE RED SEA
MOSES RECEIVING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Encounter with the Divine.
Sacred Ground
EXODUS 2:23-4:1
- Israelites are in slavery and cry out to God. God hears them.
- Moses encounters God. Burning Bush.
- The call and commission of Moses
- Moses makes excuses
- Moses asks God his name.
MOSES’ EXCUSES
- “Who am I...” Exodus 3:11
- “Suppose they do not believe or listen to me?” Exodus 4:1
- “If you please, my Lord, I have never been eloquent...I am slow of speech and tongue” Exodus 4:10
- “If you please a Lord, send someone else” Exodus 4:13
REFERENCES TO “I AM” IN OLD TESTAMENT
- God’s self revelation
- Isaiah, the prophet
PREPARATION
- Read the Bible!
- Reflect on the words and images. How is Jesus revealing himself?
- Consider how the scripture may apply to your life.