In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

ϭϮϳ   Chapter Ten Water as Revelatory Symbol in John 1-12 Introduction The Fourth Gospel more than any other canonical gospel uses symbolic language as a means to communicate its kerygma. In this section of the gospel such themes as life, light, judgment and of course water are woven into the narrative, not in direct progression with each theme developed from beginning to end, but rather in a symphonic way like musical notes. A theme is introduced, developed to some point, and then it is woven with another, sometimes it is dropped, only to be taken up again later.1 The theme of water is treated in the same manner. This chapter is based on a close reading of the Johannine text. It is an attempt to outline how the evangelist has used the notion of water as a revelatory symbol to bring out the theological meaning of Jesus and his mission. Water as Symbol of Transformation by the Spirit Water is first mentioned in relation to John the Baptist (1:26). He announces to the messengers from the Pharisees that he baptizes with water, but among them stands one who is yet to be identified, and is greater than John himself. Then the next day John identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (1:29). Shortly afterward, John sees the Spirit of God descend and rest upon Jesus (1:32). The idea of water here is related to regeneration. It marks transformation through ritual where sinners become holy and outsiders become insiders,2 creating a new community of God. The baptism with water, however, points to Jesus who baptizes by offering the Holy Spirit of God which leads to forgiveness of sins and a new life in the Spirit. Thus the cleansing that is symbolized by the use of water in baptism is ultimately effected through the Spirit of God which Jesus gives to those who believe and repent. The next time we come to a mention of water is in the context of the wedding at Cana. Upon request, Jesus commands that jars of water be filled. The jars were used to hold water that was needed for Jewish purification rituals.3 Jesus transforms this  1 C.H. Dodd, The Interpretation of the Fourth Gospel, Cambridge: CUP, 1953, p. 383. 2 Jerome H. Neyrey, The Gospel of John, Cambridge: CUP, 2007, 102. 3 Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of John, Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 1998, p. 68. ϭϮϴ   water into wine. The evangelist then says that this was the first sign Jesus did (2:11) and that it manifested his glory (2:12). The transformation of water can here be interpreted variously. For example, one can see in this story a Messianic banquet4 where God prepares a table for his people. Whatever it means, the evangelist sees in this incident the revelation of Jesus’ own glory, demonstrating his creative power, a power that only God holds. The transformation of water to wine therefore shows that Jesus is the one who comes from God to fulfill Old Testament promises of abundance of wine in the Messianic era.5 Some have seen, symbolized in this incident, a new kind of religion being inaugurated,6 replacing the old Jewish religion.7 The connection between water baptism and the cleansing effected by the Spirit becomes even clearer in the Nicodemus story (3:1-15). Jesus declares before Nicodemus that unless one is born of water and the Spirit, one cannot enter the kingdom of God (3:5). Thus water becomes a powerful symbol of the cleansing that is, ultimately, effected through the Spirit, thus creating a new person out of the old one, a new person who is filled with the Spirit of God. In this way the rebirth which is from above is marked by the ritual of baptism of water in the Johannine community.8 Water as Symbol of the Revelatory Truth Embodied in Jesus The theme of water is greatly heightened in the story about Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman (4:7-26). There is an intensive dialogue between Jesus and the woman. We have the more references to water in this periscope than in any other. The symbolic meaning of water is further elaborated in this climactic episode with regard to the use of the notion of water. The previous periscopes in which water is mentioned tend to emphasize its symbolic representation of the transformative power of the Spirit of God...

Share