5.2 conflict in john

Question 1

What is there a strong emphasis of in John and how does this influence the conflict?

Answer 1

• the divine identity of Jesus which influences how antagonistic characters treat Jesus throughout his ministry

Question 2

Who were the Pharisees?

Answer 2

• overly adherent to Jewish tradition and unwilling to hear out Jesus’ calls for social, moral and religious change
• they favoured adherence to Mosaic law and the rites and services of the Temple

Question 3

Who were the Sadducees?

Answer 3

• differ in many respects from the Pharisees in the way they interpreted the law, usually portrayed similarly especially when opposing Jesus’ teachings

Question 4

Which other religious groups were a source of conflict during Jesus’ ministry?

Answer 4

• the cheif priests, elders of the people, the Sanhedrin and the high priest Caiaphus plotting to arrest Jesus and kill him

Question 5

What did Dominic Crossan identify?

Answer 5

• Jesus’ teachings directly conflicted with the hierarchical norms of both Jewish religion and Roman authoritarianism
• if anyone was being called ‘Son of God’ by religious crowds, then it was inevitable that Roman backlash would ensue

Question 6

What are the four main themes of conflict in John?

Answer 6

1. christology
2. blasphemy
3. threat to power
4. political expedience

Question 7

What is meant by christology?

Answer 7

• beliefs about Jesus’ relationship with God, especially those that go against Judaism
• a human being can never be God

Question 8

What is meant by blasphemy?

Answer 8

• christological ideas could be seen as blaspemy but so could breaking the Sabbath laws for the Pharisees and belief in eternal life for the Sadducees
• ideas around: laws of moses, sabbath controversies, and temple cleansing

Question 9

What is meant by threat to power?

Answer 9

• the sadducees enjoyed wealth and respect from managing the Temple and the Pharisees were respected as interpreters of the law

Question 10

What is meant by political expedience?

Answer 10

• the Romans would put down any rebellion and were easily provoked by large crowds
• the Sadducees and Pharisees wanted to protect the people against any reprisals and would be willing to execute any troublemakers
• Ellis Rivkin = argues this is the real reason Jesus was executed

Question 11

How can conflict be seen in Jesus Clears the Temple Courts?

Answer 11

• the market traders in the Temple were exploiting the worshippers
• Jesus calls the Temple ‘my father’s house’ (2:16), implying he is his Son
• the Temple authourities’ response indicates why they will always be in conflict = if they were ‘believers’ they would’ve understood Jesus’ words

Question 12

Which theme of conflict is most evident in Jesus clearing the temple courts?

Answer 12

• blasphemy = the Temple authorities only understand his actions and words as challenging/destroying the very core of their religion

Question 13

How can conflict be seen in the reaction to the healing of the crippled man (5:16-47)?

Answer 13

• Jesus’ actions and words bring him into conflict with the Jewish authorities because of: ‘breaking the Sabbath’, making himself equal to God, and he claims that God has given him 2 divine powers: ‘to give life’ and ‘to judge’
• the religious authorities had put their faith in the life-giving force of the Law but don’t see it points to Jesus as the Messiah

Question 14

Which theme of conflict is most evident in ‘The reaction to the healing of the crippled man?

Answer 14

• Sabbath controversies

Question 15

How is conflict seen in ‘The children of Abraham’ (8:12-57)?

Answer 15

• Jesus challenges the very foundation of the religion, which is that the Jews are God’s chosen people
• Jesus accuses the Jews’ father of being the devil (8:44) and that they don’t belong to God (8:47)

Question 16

How is conflict seen in ‘The Pharisees investigate the healing’ (9:13-34)?

Answer 16

• Jesus condemns the religious authorities for not ‘seeing’ who he is
• ironically, the Law of Moses, which was meant as a light to guide them (Psalm 119:106), made them blind

Question 17

How is conflict seen in ‘The plot to kill Jesus’ (11:45-57)?

Answer 17

• the raising of Lazarus had provoked a surge of support for Jesus (11:45)
• a meeting of the Sanhedrin was called (11:47-48), such as the threat of Jesus to their power
• Caiaphus’ words show his motive to be political expedience = better for one man to die than a whole nation

Question 18

Who, arguably was responsible for Jesus’ death?

Answer 18

• The Jewish authorities
  OR
• The political authorities

Question 19

How can it be argued that the religious authorities were responsible for Jesus’ death?

Answer 19

• Jesus was a threat to their power, due to his popularity among the people and his triumphant entry into Jerusalem (12:19)

Question 20

How can it be argued that the religious authorities were responsible for Jesus’ death?

Answer 20

• Jesus was a threat to their power, due to his popularity among the people and his triumphant entry into Jerusalem (12:19)