Conflict with the authorities in John

Question 1

Why is the conflict between Jesus and the authorities more intense in John?

Answer 1

Because it echoes the disputes of the Johannine community with the Synagogues at the time

Question 2

What does Rivkin argue is misunderstood about Jews at this time?

Answer 2

Their philosophy of ‘live and let live’. He argues that 1st century Pharisees would not have wanted to see Jesus die because he disagreed with their rules

Question 3

What four ways can conflict in John be interpreted in?

Answer 3

• Christology
• Blasphemy
• Threat to power
• Political expedience

Question 4

Explain how conflict in John can be understood in terms of Christology

Answer 4

Refers to beliefs about Jesus’ relationship with God that go against Jewish beliefs. In Judaism God cannot be multiple persons. He is also utterly transcendent and so cannot have human features attributed to him. The phrase Son of God can only be symbolic and the idea that Jesus could be God incarnate or a human exalted to a God like state is blasphemous

Question 5

Explain how conflict in John can be understood in terms of blasphemy

Answer 5

Some of the Christological ideas about Jesus can be seen as blasphemous, as could Jesus’ criticisms of the temple and the torah. Breaking pharsiacal laws could also be seen as blasphemous. The Sadducees would have regarded Jesus’ teachings about eternal life as blasphemous. Many 1st century Jews saw death as the only appropriate punishment for blasphemy

Question 6

Explain how conflict in John can be understood in terms of Jesus being a threat to power

Answer 6

Jesus challenged the Sadducees by criticising the Temple and the Pharisees by criticising the law. The Romans would have seen the large crowds he attracted as potential for riots.

Question 7

Explain how conflict in John can be understood in terms of political expedience

Answer 7

Expedience means doing the practical thing even if you don’t believe in it The Romans had already displayed that they were easily provoked by popular leaders and large crowds and would put down potential revolt with brutality. The Jewish leaders wanted to protect their people from this. This meant that they would arrest Jewish troublemakers, even if they had no disagreements with their teaching. Rivkin argues that this is the real reason why Jesus had to die

Question 8

What are the three major disagreements that the conflict is set against?

Answer 8

• The Law of Moses
• Sabbath controversies
• Temple cleansing

Question 9

Explain the conflict around the Law of Moses

Answer 9

The Law of Moses was contained within the Torah. The Sadducees followed this completely while the Pharisees added to it with their own oral law. When a law was broken, the transgressor would have to be punished

Question 10

Explain the conflict around the Sabbath

Answer 10

Part of the Law of Moses but worth considering by itself. The Pharisees developed 39 types of work that were specifically forbidden. Jesus criticised the Sabbath as being too legalistic and putting laws before loving God and your neighbours

Question 11

Explain the conflict around the Temple

Answer 11

The re-construction of the Temple was still underway at this time. The outer courtyard was a market and a tourist trap. The idea of cleansing the temple and replacing it with something more pure was supported by Jesus but was seen as blasphemy and a threat to power by the Sadducees