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.
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THE FOURTH GOSPEL’S REVERSAL OF MARK IN JOHN 13,31‒14,3
Peter’s question returns to the journey motif introduced in 13,33.
Peter has misunderstood the true meaning of Jesus’ words. He is
thinking of an ordinary — if dangerous — journey, from one place
to another, whereas Jesus is referring to his return to the Father.
Jesus does not directly answer the question at this point; the answer
will come in 14,2, when Jesus tells the disciples that he is going to
make preparations for them in the Father’s house. John inserts tra-
ditional material concerning Peter’s denial here and reworks it to
expand and explain 13,33 37. Following Jesus unto death is part of
discipleship when necessary, but the point here is that it may prove
more difficult than might be expected 38.
Jesus’ prediction, then, is that Peter will be thwarted by his own
ignorance 39. The irony of Jesus’ reply, “Will you really lay down your
life for me?â€, is that Peter will indeed eventually follow his Master
and lay down his life (21,18-19) 40. The message to the community is
that those who fail yet return and persevere remain disciples 41.
We now turn to the two parallels in Mark. Individually, Mark
12,28-34 and 14,27-31 do not appear to present strong evidence of
a connection. However, when the parallel passages are examined
together, the weight of evidence presents a more compelling case
for John’s possible use of Mark. We begin with some exegetical
comments on Mark 12,28-34.
1. Mark 12,28-34: The first commandment
Mark 12,28-34 forms a unit, featuring the interplay between the
scribe and Jesus. Debate over the “first†(most important) command-
ment was common in Jewish circles 42, and thus it is hardly surprising
that an impressed scribe would take the opportunity to ask Jesus this
question. In the Markan tradition 43, Jesus cites Deut 6,4-5 as the most
SCHNACKENBURG, John, III, 55.
37
KEENER, John, 928.
38
MOLONEY, Glory not Dishonor, 26.
39
LOADER, Christology, 55.
40
KEENER, John, 929.
41
DONAHUE – HARRINGTON, Mark, 354.
42
Matt (22,34-40) and Luke (10,25-29) have similar pericopes, although
43
significant differences make the issue of relationship problematic. Probably
there were several traditions in circulation, and Luke and Matt reflect these.
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