Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Saturday, February 8, 2014 Read John 5:19-29 Our reading today belongs with the story of the man who was healed at the Pool of Bethzatha. John has established a pattern through which he relates a narrative of an event. That narrative is followed by theological reflection, some of which is conversation within the event, and some of which is simply the elaboration of the author. We saw this in the story of Jesus encounter with Nicodemus. There we were really unable to determine when the theological reflection moved from Jesus words to Nicodemus to words about Jesus. The same happens here. The story begins with Jesus addressing those who have become his opponents through the episode of the man’s healing. But shortly it becomes evident that what we are reading is the author’s comments about Jesus and the meaning of who Jesus is. Once again the writer uses the formula, “Very truly I tell you...” This is to alert the reader that something critically important is about to be said. This follows the pattern in the Nicodemus story. We reflected on the possibility back in the Nicodemus story that the theological reflections about Jesus found in stories like that one and this one might just be the proclamation of the eye-witness who lies behind this gospel. Of course we can only speculate about that but perhaps what we have is this eye-witnesses testimony about Jesus. Clearly these theological proclamations make high claims for Jesus. He is the one who works the works only God can do. He is the one whom God honors and loves. To honor God means one must honor Jesus. John has told us that no one has seen God the only Son has made him known. That Son is Jesus – God the Son. Our reading today climaxes with resurrection language. Jesus has the power of resurrection. And the promise is made that all who believe in the Son will hear his voice and rise from their graves. In fact, all will be raised – some to resurrection life and others to condemnation. And it all depends on believing in Jesus.