Our fourth session focused on John 13. In this opening chapter of the Upper Room scene an enigmatic character is brought to the forefront.
In John there appear to be four ways of talking about Old Scratch.
The devil. The devil is the most common designation for this character or idea in the Gospel of John. Jesus speaks of the devil in his confrontation with a group of Jews in John 8. Jesus makes the case that their false accusations and desire to kill him reveals their connection to the devil because the devil is a murderer and a liar. A similar idea is expressed in 1 John 3. Are they motivated to kill Jesus because of the work of the devil or is the idea of the devil a way of talking about and understanding their actions which are so diametrically opposed to the faith of Abraham?
In the Greek devil is dia-bolos, which literally means, "the one who casts apart". With that literal understanding of devil in mind read verse 13:2 above again. To me it sounds more or less like, "The one who casts apart thrust Judas apart from Jesus". The description of "the one who casts apart" sounds similar to the Hebrew word often used for this character, the Satan.
The Satan. Only once does the Gospel of John translate this word in reference to this idea. However, the idea the word conveys appears often. Satan is literally translated as, "the accuser". In the Hebrew scriptures the Satan, or the Accuser, functions like a prosecuting attorney pointing out the flaws and evil in humanity before YHWH the just judge (check out Zechariah and Job). In John 13:27 it says Satan entered Judas and Jesus told him to go do what he was going to do. In this I hear, "the Accuser entered Judas and Jesus told the Accuser/Betrayer to go get those who have been and will again accuse Jesus" unjustly.
The ruler of this world. This title is easy to ascribe to the person of the devil and yet on closer inspection perhaps this title helps us to see the devil in a different light altogether. The "ruler of this world" appears three times:
Consider again the Gospel of John's audience at the end of the first century; Christians who had been exiled from the synagogue and who on some level were facing persecution from the Roman empire. Who is the ruler of this world to them? Look again at the reference from John 14:30 spoken in the Upper Room. Now look at John 19:11 as Jesus speaks to Pontius Pilate:
The evil one. This title only appears once in the Gospel of John as Jesus prays for his disciples. Is the evil one a particular person or, like in the Gospel of Matthew, is it a reference to the devil? The context of the verse focuses the presence of the evil one in the world and implies that the evil one has power in the world.
From this brief look into the devil in the Gospel of John we're left with questions. Is the devil a spiritual entity with the power and permission to influence human affairs? Is it a dark power we are made vulnerable to, or that we submit to, when we choose that which is not love? Is it a way the ancient Christian community talked about the irrational and indiscernible hatred and evil that is manifested in our world, in others, and in our selves? Is it some mix of all three or something else entirely?
What is made clear in the Gospel of John is that no devil or darkness or death can compare to he that is the resurrection and life. In his Upper Room speech Jesus comforts his disciples saying, "I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!" Jesus did not conquer with violence or dominance but with a life giving love that casts out fear. Again, it's the very beginning of John 1 that makes it plain:
"The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him" - John 13:2Discerning the character and work of the devil is no easy task. The layers of cultural beliefs and historical assumptions that have accreted around this character coupled with the often abstract biblical references make it a challenge to understand the devil. In order to get our head around this topic we'll narrow our scope. As we're studying the Gospel of John, we'll focus on John's references to the devil.
In John there appear to be four ways of talking about Old Scratch.
The devil. The devil is the most common designation for this character or idea in the Gospel of John. Jesus speaks of the devil in his confrontation with a group of Jews in John 8. Jesus makes the case that their false accusations and desire to kill him reveals their connection to the devil because the devil is a murderer and a liar. A similar idea is expressed in 1 John 3. Are they motivated to kill Jesus because of the work of the devil or is the idea of the devil a way of talking about and understanding their actions which are so diametrically opposed to the faith of Abraham?
In the Greek devil is dia-bolos, which literally means, "the one who casts apart". With that literal understanding of devil in mind read verse 13:2 above again. To me it sounds more or less like, "The one who casts apart thrust Judas apart from Jesus". The description of "the one who casts apart" sounds similar to the Hebrew word often used for this character, the Satan.The Satan. Only once does the Gospel of John translate this word in reference to this idea. However, the idea the word conveys appears often. Satan is literally translated as, "the accuser". In the Hebrew scriptures the Satan, or the Accuser, functions like a prosecuting attorney pointing out the flaws and evil in humanity before YHWH the just judge (check out Zechariah and Job). In John 13:27 it says Satan entered Judas and Jesus told him to go do what he was going to do. In this I hear, "the Accuser entered Judas and Jesus told the Accuser/Betrayer to go get those who have been and will again accuse Jesus" unjustly.
The ruler of this world. This title is easy to ascribe to the person of the devil and yet on closer inspection perhaps this title helps us to see the devil in a different light altogether. The "ruler of this world" appears three times:
- "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out." - John 12:31
- "I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me" - John 14:30
- "And when the Advocate (ie Holy Spirit) comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment...because the ruler of this world has been condemned." John 16:8, 11
Consider again the Gospel of John's audience at the end of the first century; Christians who had been exiled from the synagogue and who on some level were facing persecution from the Roman empire. Who is the ruler of this world to them? Look again at the reference from John 14:30 spoken in the Upper Room. Now look at John 19:11 as Jesus speaks to Pontius Pilate:
"Jesus answered, 'You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.'"
The evil one. This title only appears once in the Gospel of John as Jesus prays for his disciples. Is the evil one a particular person or, like in the Gospel of Matthew, is it a reference to the devil? The context of the verse focuses the presence of the evil one in the world and implies that the evil one has power in the world.
From this brief look into the devil in the Gospel of John we're left with questions. Is the devil a spiritual entity with the power and permission to influence human affairs? Is it a dark power we are made vulnerable to, or that we submit to, when we choose that which is not love? Is it a way the ancient Christian community talked about the irrational and indiscernible hatred and evil that is manifested in our world, in others, and in our selves? Is it some mix of all three or something else entirely?
What is made clear in the Gospel of John is that no devil or darkness or death can compare to he that is the resurrection and life. In his Upper Room speech Jesus comforts his disciples saying, "I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!" Jesus did not conquer with violence or dominance but with a life giving love that casts out fear. Again, it's the very beginning of John 1 that makes it plain:
"What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it."
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