Speaking of “what’s next,” I’m toying with the idea of a book proposal using John as a biblical guide to deconstruction and reconstruction, with an emphasis on the reconstruction part. It is literally (ie figuratively) in the text:
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19).
While Jesus says that Matthew and Mark, only John takes that symbolism and uses it as a major thread for the entire gospel, and also applies it to the new covenant community.
Well that's exciting! And honestly a resource gap that needs to be filled. I think many of us have deconstructed together and are finally at the place of healing where reconstructing is the next phase. I've never thought of Jesus's statement here in terms of deconstruction. How beautiful!
To be honest I didn’t have time to read the whole thing yet, and I probably won’t have til Friday, but I’ll share thoughts when I have had a chance to really read and then digest a little bit.
The idea that what is explicit in the John's Epistles should be implicit in the Gospel of John is compelling. I've spent a lot of time and mental puzzling with John's Epistles and while it makes a boatload of sense that John should present Jesus and the other characters as arch types I did not see it for reading it as a historical account rather than a gospel account. Judas as the wolf among sheep and Peter as the hired hand are shocking connections. John's gospel is not just the gospel unto salvation but the gospel unto walking in the light and the push and pull of being in the light or cast into outer darkness; a whole ass illustration of the gospel and how it works out. John (through Jesus' teaching) gives us a historical allegory as the gospel.
This is a really helpful post for considering “what’s next?” after institutional betrayal.
Speaking of “what’s next,” I’m toying with the idea of a book proposal using John as a biblical guide to deconstruction and reconstruction, with an emphasis on the reconstruction part. It is literally (ie figuratively) in the text:
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19).
While Jesus says that Matthew and Mark, only John takes that symbolism and uses it as a major thread for the entire gospel, and also applies it to the new covenant community.
Well that's exciting! And honestly a resource gap that needs to be filled. I think many of us have deconstructed together and are finally at the place of healing where reconstructing is the next phase. I've never thought of Jesus's statement here in terms of deconstruction. How beautiful!
This is really thought-provoking, Aaron. I’ll be revisiting.
Thanks Jenn. Would love to hear any thoughts or feedback you might have!
To be honest I didn’t have time to read the whole thing yet, and I probably won’t have til Friday, but I’ll share thoughts when I have had a chance to really read and then digest a little bit.
The idea that what is explicit in the John's Epistles should be implicit in the Gospel of John is compelling. I've spent a lot of time and mental puzzling with John's Epistles and while it makes a boatload of sense that John should present Jesus and the other characters as arch types I did not see it for reading it as a historical account rather than a gospel account. Judas as the wolf among sheep and Peter as the hired hand are shocking connections. John's gospel is not just the gospel unto salvation but the gospel unto walking in the light and the push and pull of being in the light or cast into outer darkness; a whole ass illustration of the gospel and how it works out. John (through Jesus' teaching) gives us a historical allegory as the gospel.