The Resurrection of the Body and the Life of the World to Come: John’s prophetic message
THE ENDING of the Gospel of John is an understated challenge to some of the rest of the New Testament. John1 describes a community with fake news in circulation relating to the return of Jesus.
Elsewhere, in the other three gospels and in some letters of Paul, the return of Jesus is anticipated in vivid, spectacular terms. John does not contradict any of that, but writes of a conversation between Peter and the resurrected Jesus. Peter asks about ‘the disciple Jesus loved’, and Jesus replies, “If it is my will (or desire) that he should remain (or abide) until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” (John 21:22)
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David Ford
Is Regius Professor of Divinity Emeritus in the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Selwyn College. His theological commentary on the Gospel of John will be published next year.