1. Message to destabilized believers who are leaving the Church
Since Christmas we have focused all of our lectures on the Gospel according to John. From next Sunday, I will commence to lecture from the Acts of the Apostles, whilst we wait and prepare for Pentecost.

As we have already learned, the Gospel of John, presumably written by John the Presbyter in about 90 CE, has two aims. One is to spread Jesus’ teachings, presumably narrated by John the Apostle to the Church fathers, and another is to encourage believers of the early Church who were being persecuted by the Jewish religious authorities and the Roman rulers. I chose chapter 15 of John for today’s lecture because I think it represents the essential message of the writer himself. (³¤­…)

1. Forgiveness comes after the judgement

Last week we lectured upon the first part of chapter 21 from the Gospel according to John. This chapter was added after the original conclusion of the book. It was because John wanted his own church members to know that the resurrected Lord Jesus appeared after His crucifixion to encourage the Disciples, not only in Jerusalem but also in Galilee. There is a stress on ‘obedience’ in this the fourth Gospel. (³¤­…)

1. Meeting again the resurrected Jesus

John, Chapter 21, from which we read today was an additional chapter written after the book was originally concluded at chapter 20:30-31. The words, perceived to be final speak for themselves: “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name”. However, John again began to write chapter 21. Why? This is the subject of today’s contemplation. John opens the chapter with these words: “Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way” (John 21:1). (³¤­…)

1. Jesus forgives the disciples

Last Sunday we explored the miracle of Jesus in bringing Lazarus back from death. At that time, Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). We also learned how that miraculous event changed Martha and Mary into authentic believers.

Indeed, the resurrection is hard to accept as a real fact by reasoning. It is so difficult to believe that many people continue to suffer, because, without believing in the Resurrection, humans will not be able to free themselves from the burden of death.

Even Jesus’ disciples at first found it hard to believe that the Resurrection of Jesus had really occurred. So, by reading chapter 20 from the Gospel according to John, we will contemplate today how those skeptic disciples came to believe with a genuine faith. (³¤­…)