Friday, March 23, 2012

No Darkness in John's Gospel

Today's Gospel (St. Matthew 27:45-54) opens with the reference to darkness over the land from the sixth to the ninth hour, a fact reiterated in Mark and Luke.  But the fourth Gospel makes no mention of this, even though John is especially keen on making connections with the creation in Genesis.  Why not?  For John, the glorification of Jesus is his cross: he is "lifted up" there and draws all men to himself.  He is the light of the world, and in him is no darkness at all.  So John sees no darkness on Good Friday, in spite of the physical darkness evident everywhere.  John sees glory there, greater than even at the transfiguration or the resurrection.  The death of Christ is victory, life, and salvation.  The sermon.

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