In John's Passion account, Jesus is very much in charge of the proceedings. While We have Herod and Pilate, Jesus is really acting as judge of those who are judging him. The disciples flee out of fear. The officials who come to take Jesus away, seek the light of the world with artificial light, and Pilate moves nervously in and out of the Praetorian.
The phrase that continues to present itself is that of 'truth.' What is truth Pilate asks. John's Gospel, and our celebration of the Triduum answer that quite well. Early in his Gospel John tells us that the Father loved the world so much, that he sent his Son into our lives so that we could be freed from Sin and Death so as to experience new life. Then a few chapters later John's Jesus reminds us that there is not a greater love than one can have for another, other than the laying down ones life for another.
The truth that Jesus is talking about here seems to express itself in love. To be sure the love of the Father in Heaven is known by us, greatly theoligized, and and even detailed in art. Henri Nouwen had a great book reflecting on the Rembrandt painting of the Prodigal Son. Nouwen mentions that Rembrandt used an elderly, nearly blind man, to depict the father. Rembrandt wanted to make it clear that the love expressed on the son's return was more of a matter of touch, and embrace, than that of sight.
In the Gospels most of the healing stories have Jesus touching the various afflicted persons. Eyes, leprous skin, and hands are all touched. Just as Jesus' body is used to bring salvation to the whole human family; that healing affects our entire person. St. Paul wants us to be clear that Jesus the high priest does not accidentally stumble into bringing us salvation through his suffering and death, but chooses to love us all the more because of who we are in relationship to God.
The Paschal Mystery remains for us the center of our faith and proclamation. Like a little child God is overjoyed with the kinship we enjoy with him. John's theology reminds us that God came into our likeness, so that in conversion and discipleship we might enjoy the holiness of God. Again this is not simply God being 'nice' to us. God in Jesus Christ overwhelms us with his passion and peace.
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