Joan Conway….An Easter commentary and Bible exercise

Introduction

Easter Day is the first day of a season of joyful reflection on the resurrection of Jesus. The victory of Easter is the precursor of the final victory and redemption.
This season, which includes Ascension Day, ends at Pentecost, the fiftieth day after Easter.   During the Easter Season I have prepared some commentaries, reflections and bible exercises for us. This is number 4.  Peace be with you, Joan 

The Easter Anthems

Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us:
so let us celebrate the feast,
not with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness:
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.  1 Corinthians 5.7b, 8

Christ once raised from the dead dies no more:
death has no more dominion over him.
In dying he died to sin once for all:
in living he lives to God.
See yourselves therefore as dead to sin:
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Romans 6.9–11

Christ has been raised from the dead:
the first fruits of those who sleep.
For as by man came death:
by man has come also the resurrection of the dead;
for as in Adam all die:
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  1 Corinthians 15.20–22

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

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Bible exercise

How did they know and what happened next?   Look up the passages and fill in the gaps

John 20. 1 – 31, 21. 1 – 24

Early on the first day of the week …

She ran and went to Simon Peter…

The disciples returned to their homes …

Mary Magdalene went and announced it to the disciples …

When it was evening …

A week later …

After these things …

Just after daybreak …

When they had finished breakfast …

Follow me!

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The I AM sayings in John’s Gospel

The phrase “I am …” appears in the Gospel of John many times.
It is formed of two Greek words [ἐγώ εἰμι] that seem to mean the same thing:
ego – I am; eimi – I exist.

So why does Jesus use this structure used?

In the Septuagint [Greek version of the Old Testament] it appears in Isaiah: 43. 10(11), 25.
God declares that God is the Lord and God forgives sins.
In Exodus (3.14), when Moses tells God that he needs a name to tell the people who is sending Moses with instructions for escaping from Egypt, God responds with the phrase translated as ἐγώ εἰμι in the Septuagint, as “I AM WHO I AM” in the NRSV translation, and is written אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה in the Hebrew text.

There has been much discussion over the translation of this text especially with regard to the tense of the phrase.

For us, in John’s Gospel we can consider whether we think that Jesus’ use of the phrase is an assertion of his identity, his self-understanding, and then we can look at the various ways in which he connects with us through the use of pictures such as Good Shepherd, Way, Life, True Bread …

I AM the resurrection and the Life ; John 11. 17 – 27
I AM the Way, truth and life – John 14. 1 – 7 ,

There are links with the Hebrew Scriptures –

Resurrection and life – Dan 12:2; Ps 56:13; 2 Mac 7:1-38

The Way , Truth and Life – Exodus 33:13; Psalms 25:4; 27:11; 86:11; 119:59; Isaiah 40:3; 62:10, 1 Kings 17:4; Isaiah 45:19

11:25 – Jesus said to Mary, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,” Jesus tells his friends that while they have some understanding of the resurrection at the end times, he is the resurrection and the life. When he speaks of life he describes the life he will bring as abundant life (John 10. 10).

Jesus is the source of life, death is no obstacle to the love of Jesus. Jesus victory over death is a reality and those who believe in Jesus will have eternal life. (1 John 5. 11)

Jesus speaks to his disciples at their last meal together. They want to know where he is going.

14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”

At the moment we may not be able to see the way ahead but by following Jesus, our shepherd, we will find the way. He will show us the way to the Father and to eternal life.
Because Jesus is the truth we do not have to listen to fake news, gossip or speculation about the future.
This life is only a beginning: we look for the life to come.
If we follow Jesus the Way and believe in him, the Truth, we will be led to live a Life that is more meaningful, full of hope and joy.