C: 3rd Sun of Easter (5 May 2019) - PRIMACY OF NO ONE (Jn 21:1-19)

There is a lot of debate on the presence of John 21 in the Fourth Gospel. The suspicion among many exegetes is that it was added by a later redactor for the main reason that Jn 20:31 seems to have already ended the gospel with its closing words: “But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” Meanwhile, Jn 21:1 begins a new episode which necessitates thereafter a second ending to the gospel in Jn 21:25: “But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” However, this argument does not automatically prove that Jn 21 is merely inserted since literary internal evidences prove that the language and theology of Jn 21 is consistent with the whole gospel, and is thus integral to the Johannine narrative.

What makes Jn 21:1-19 controversial among readers is its commissioning of Simon Peter, pedestalling him as the undisputed head of the apostles. This is seemingly implied in the three-fold-question and mandate on him by Jesus, entrusting to him the direct care of his fold (vv. 15-17). This stands in parallel with the story of the Synoptic commissioning of Peter after his so-called great confession of faith (Mk 8:29; Mt 16:16; Lk 9:20) earning him the right to hold the “keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 16:19). Now the big question in our enquiry is: Was Jn 21:1-19 simply inserted to highlight the primacy of Peter over the rest of the apostles?

Even if it seems logically sensible, we cannot sweepingly assert that it is such. One is that nowhere in the Gospel of John are the disciples of Jesus called “apostles”. They are not an exclusive elite group as we find in the Synoptics (cf. Mk 3:14; Mt 10:2; Lk 6:13); rather all the followers of Jesus are simply called “disciples” inclusive of women, his personal friends, and even some from the Jewish crowd. Two is that the concept of primacy of authority is never pushed forward by the evangelist. Even though Peter was given importance in the gospel (6:68; 13:9,37; 20:2; 21:1-19), so were other disciples: Thomas (11:16; 14:5; 20:28), Magdalene (19:25; 20:1,18), Philip (1:43-46; 6:7; 12:22; 14:8-9), Andrew (1:40; 6:8; 12:22), Lazarus (Jn 11-12), the beloved disciple (13:23; 19:26-27; 21:7,20-24), among many. Three is that the command to love and to serve is not solely given to Peter in Jn 21:15-17. It is a staple mandate in the whole gospel that is addressed to everyone in general (13:15,34-35).

In our present context, we often rely on Church authorities to spearhead on practically everything. Such respect is commendable but it downplays the equal commissioning given to all Christ-followers: to lay people, to women, to small communities, and to individual Christians. Remember that Peter is not the only one consecrated to lead in the Gospel of John. We, hence, should also assert our giftedness to lead and to proclaim God’s good news to others. A point of initiative among all of us is to spread God’s news of truth, justice, compassion and love to the whole world.

The latest bombings on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka that claimed the lives of at least 321 people catapulted Christians to harbor deep hatred against Muslims, purported as responsible for the terrorism in three of their churches. Despite the message of Church leaders in Sri Lanka to Christians not to retaliate, some counterattacked Muslim quarters few days later. What happened is that violence begets violence. This cycle of ferocity and animosity should not be propagated. Rather, having been mandated by Christ to tend his sheep, we all (not only the Church leaders) should pray and minister to all kinds of sheep, even to the so-called “lost ones” after Jesus’ example as the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11-16).

We are children of Easter morning who were greeted with the Easter message of “Peace” (Jn 20:19-20,26). Let us all then learn how to propagate the message of peace at all times.

- Rex Fortes, CM