John Journal Entry

Introduction:

For this journal entry, I read the New Testament book of John. The book of John is a gospel and it follows the story of Jesus’ life and ministry. I chose to write this entry over chapters 17-21. I choose these chapters because they fit together as the ending of Jesus’ ministry. The chapters go through Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion and resurrection.

Context:

Historical – John the gospel was written somewhere between A.D. 70-100. John most likely wrote his gospel in Ephesus in Asia Minor, which at the time was one of the most important urban centers of the Roman Empire. This book was written for an audience of both Jews and Gentiles.

Literary – The books are all consecutive and they are the last chapters of the gospel of John. The

Judas comes in with a band of soldiers and Jesus asks who they want. They tell him that they seek Jesus of Nazareth, and he responds “I am he”. The soldiers fall to the ground. The reason they fall to the ground is most likely because “I am” can be translated to “Jehovah” and they realized that he was claiming deity. He tells them to let his disciples go and just take him. Simon Peter draws a sword and cuts off a servant’s ear. Simon Peter is trying to defend Jesus and help him get away (he was probably trying to kill the servant, not just wound him.) “So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (v. 11). Jesus is telling Simon Peter that this is his destiny, God brought him here specifically to be arrested and crucified. So they arrest Jesus. Then, Simon Peter is outside of the courtyard of the high priest where Jesus is being held and he is asked by a girl if he is a follower of Jesus, and he tells her that he is not. He denies Jesus probably because he is scared of what will happen if he doesn’t. Jesus is brought before the high priest. The high priest asks about his teaching and his disciples, Jesus tells him to ask the people who’ve heard him speak, they know what his message is about. Jesus is trying to say that he is not doing anything secretly, his real message is the same as it is when he’s teaching in the synagogues. Peter then denies Jesus again when asked by a relative of the man who’s ear he cut off if he was with him in the garden. Jesus is then sent before Pilate. Pilate asks him, “are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus asks if Pilate is saying it himself or if others have said it about him. After talking with Jesus, Pilate tells the Jews that he does not think he is guilty, he asks them if they would like to have Barabbas (a robber) be released to them at the Passover instead of Jesus. Here, Pilate is trying to save Jesus