Reading the Gospels Together The Storyline of John’s Gospel – Part 10 John begins his Passion Narrative by telling his readers that for a third time that Passover was about to happen. The first scene takes place at a meal in Jerusalem. John tells his readers nothing about the preparation for this meal. Clearly this is the same meal that Mark, Matthew, and Luke tell about in their gospels. But the events which take place at the meal are strikingly different. All four gospel writers reveal to their readers that Judas Iscariot is the one who will betray Jesus. John tells his readers that it was Satan who put the betrayal into Judas’ heart. The event begins with Jesus taking the form of a servant and washing his disciples’ feet. Only John tells of this foot washing. Following the foot washing the meal proceeds. But John does not tell the story in the same way as the others did. There is no taking of bread, blessing it, and no command to eat it because it is the Body of Christ. There is no taking of the cup and blessing it and calling it the Blood of Christ. John does not describe this meal as a Passover meal because in John’s chronology this meal happens on the day before Passover. At the meal we are first introduced to one who is called the “beloved disciple” who is sitting next to Jesus at the meal and asks Jesus to tell him who it is who will betray Jesus. By taking bread and giving it to Judas Jesus identifies his betrayer. John tells his readers that in the taking of the bread Satan enters into Judas. Yet, even with this clear identification of the betrayer the disciples do not fully understand when Jesus tells Judas to go and do what he must. They think Judas has been sent to prepare for the Passover meal which will happen the next night. Following the meal John tells his readers that Jesus spent a good deal of time attempting to prepare his disciples for his death. The narrative shows Jesus’ deep concern for how his disciples will function in his physical absence from them. Jesus promises them that he will send another advocate to care for them. This advocate will be the presence of Jesus following his death. This advocate is the Holy Spirit who the Father will send. John tells his readers that Jesus has been successful in bringing the message to his disciples – they know that Jesus has come from God and is returning to God and that Jesus will come again in the advocate, the Holy Spirit. Only John provides his readers this material centering upon Jesus’ deep concern for his followers that they might continue in the absence of Jesus. As chapter 14 comes to an end John tells his readers that Jesus commands his followers to rise and be on their way. At this point we encounter another of the “seams” in John’s gospel. Instead of moving on to the next episode John doubles back and provides his readers with three more chapters which are set in the room where the meal has taken place. These three chapters all center on the same concern of Jesus that his followers will be able to continue following his death and physical departure from their presence. Some of the material in these three chapters repeats what was said in the earlier chapter as Jesus talks about the sending of the Holy Spirit. All of this works together to make the meal scene in John incredibly longer than in the other gospels – at least 10 times longer. John invests a good deal of time in this event. It is clearly important to him. And even though John does not provide his readers with the story of Jesus transforming Passover into Holy Communion the event is a highlight of the narrative.