Mark Jennings, «The Fourth Gospel’s Reversal of Mark in John 13,31‒14,3», Vol. 94 (2013) 210-236
I argue that the author/s of the Fourth Gospel knew Mark, based on the reversal of certain Markan themes found in John. No attempt is made here to suggest the kind of literary dependence which is the basis of the Synoptic problem. Rather, my thesis is that the author/s of John may have used Mark from memory, writing deliberately to reverse the apocalyptic tendencies found in the Second Gospel. Isolated incidents of this possible reversal demonstrate little, but this paper proposes that the cumulative force of many such reversals supports the thesis of John's possible knowledge of Mark.
218 MARK JENNINGS
ing God to the world, and subsequently pass through death 29 and
be reunited with Jesus in his Father’s house (14,2-3). Jesus’ own
resurrection will be the guarantee that his disciples also will live
after death (14,19).
Thus 13,33 provides a thought structure to the material which
follows, as these themes appear throughout the Farewell Discourse.
Any tradition John may be working from would be adapted to the
thought structure introduced in this verse.
Jesus calls his followers to show love for each other in the same
way he has displayed it to them 30. It seems likely that this relates back
to Jesus’ display of love for his disciples in the foot washing (13,1) 31,
and also forward to the imminent passion 32. When he leaves and they
cannot follow him, they are “to repeat the love of Jesus and thus render
present the lifestyle of Jesus†33. The phrase á¼Î½Ï„ολὴν καινήν appears
in the Johannine epistles (1 John 2,7; 2 John 5), and this command of
Jesus is a major theme in 1 John (3,1.23; 4,21) 34. For the Johannine
community, the words of Jesus represent a new revelation, a distinct
emphasis 35 — the command “love your neighbour as yourself†(Lev
19,18b) becomes here “love one another as I have loved youâ€.
Jesus’ followers do not merely render present the lifestyle of
Jesus by showing love; they render present his lordship. In the same
way Jesus has revealed his Father through his love for them and
the world, so his followers will reveal the true God through their
love for each other 36. Though it is not possible to follow Jesus
physically, his disciples can continue to “follow†him by embody-
ing the love which he showed to them. In the section which follows,
Peter totally misunderstands the true meaning of following Jesus.
KEENER, John, 923.
29
KELLY – MOLONEY, Experiencing God, 286.
30
MOLONEY, Glory not Dishonor, 25.
31
KEENER, John, 924.
32
MOLONEY, Glory not Dishonor, 25-26.
33
SCHNACKENBURG, John, III, 53. Schnackenburg suggests that this may
34
be an editorial addition, perhaps by the author of 1 John, or a member of the
Johannine community.
W.R.G. LOADER, Jesus and the Fundamentalism of his Day (Grand
35
Rapids, MI 2001) 133-134. Keener also points out that Jesus does not appeal
to the Decalogue here, but gives one commandment that will define his com-
munity (KEENER, John, 925)
CARSON, John, 485; BEASLEY-MURRAY, John, 248.
36
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