Being in God : spatial language in the Johannine Farewell Discourse

• Main Author: Pillai, Vijay R.
• Published: University of Aberdeen 2005
• Subjects: 226.506
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.424971

This study focuses on occurrences of spatial language found in the Farwell Discourse. We employ a sequential approach to studying the language. The sequence in which the spatial language unfold in the discourse not only has pedagogical value in communicating the content of the discourse, not is it only the text's way of engaging the reader and demanding the reader to respond to its claims but also it is part of the text's content. Through means of spatial language, John's Jesus communicates an ontology where being is not only modelled by the Mutually Indwelling God, but is also defined as being in relationship with the Mutually Indwelling God. The Farewell Discourse begins with the footwashing narrative in which a central issue is established. If Jesus is to depart, how are the disciples to continue experiencing Jesus' presence? Jesus answers by pointing the disciples to the being of the Mutually Indwelling God. Just as the Father is immanent in Jesus in the relationship that Jesus shares as the Son of the Father, Jesus is to be present to the disciples in their relationship to him. However, if Jesus models the disciples' experience of his presence on his own relationship with the Father with whom Jesus shares being, does Jesus suggest that the disciples are ontologically transformed in their relationship to Jesus? The Discourse answers affirmatively. But also it states that in fact alienation from a relationship with the Mutually Indwelling God is not to have an alternative and equally viable being, but to cease to have being. This is because only they have being who have the experiential knowledge of the Mutually Indwelling God. And ultimately this knowledge is a universal offer to the whole world that are given the opportunity to have true being by knowing the Father and Jesus, the Sent One.