2023/01/16

74. The Basilica of the Agony

In the Gospel of John, there is another woman like Mary of Bethany, whom we have discussed (cf. blog № 71, № 72). She is the woman caught in adultery (cf. John 8:1-11). The episode of the woman is connected to the story of Jesus, who had healed the sick on the Sabbath (cf. John 5:1-18), defending himself based on the Law of Moses and trying to testify to himself (cf. John 7:14-39). When the chief priests and Pharisees heard this story, they sent their officers, but they could not arrest Jesus (cf. John 7:32-53). So, this time, the scribes and Pharisees took advantage of the time when Jesus began to teach the people, and brought the woman to Jesus and asked him, "Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?" (John 8:5). But they were dismayed by Jesus' unexpected reaction and left there one by one. And at last, only Jesus and the woman remained. Jesus said, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" (John 8:10), but at this point, she was calm and expressed no surprise or emotion that she had been saved. This attitude suggests that the woman was in collusion with them. Therefore, Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you" (John 8:11). "Go, and do not sin again," he continued, which is an admonition not to stay with the scribes and Pharisees and be part of their conspiracy. 

After that (cf. John 8:12-20), Jesus said to these Pharisees, "You judge according to the flesh, I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone that judge, but I and he who sent me" (John 8:15-16). Next, Jesus admonished the Jews who did not believe in Jesus (cf. John 8:21-30), saying, "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught me" (John 8:28). And to the Jews who believed in Jesus (cf. John 8:31-59), he explained, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is your God" (John 8:54). 

The reason Jesus continued to preach the name of God the Father and who he was to such an extent was because of his words, "For this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:40). From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus has spoken of his heavenly Father (cf. John 2:16). He did not mind argument, but always told the truth sincerely and diligently. Even amid the agonizingly heated exchanges, he continued to make known the name of his Heavenly Father and who he was. But the Church, which took over the will of this Jesus, bruised its own heel with the image of marriage (cf. Genesis 3:15).

Maria K. M.