The Gospel of St. John and Its Relation to the Other Gospels by Rudolf Steiner

Author:Rudolf Steiner
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9780880100144
Publisher: SteinerBooks
Published: 1982-05-02T05:00:00+00:00

The artistic composition of the Gospel of St. John.

The climax of power in the signs and miracles.

LECTURE IX

At the close of yesterday's lecture we referred to our impending consideration of the cardinal event within the Christ-impulse: the Death upon the Cross and its significance. But before we proceed to the narration of the Death of Christ, which represents the culminating point of these lectures, it will be necessary to say something today concerning the actual meaning and importance of much that is contained in the Gospel of St. John, and of the relation of this Gospel to the others. We have attempted in the last few days to gain an understanding of the Christ-impulse on the basis of a clairvoyant study of the Akashic record, and to establish that impulse as an actual fact in the evolution of mankind. Moreover we referred only to those parts of the Gospels which appear to confirm the facts previously ascertained and verified by clairvoyant research. But today, in order to facilitate the progress of our considerations, let us glance at the Gospel of St. John itself, and describe that momentous document from the point of view of its own value. This Gospel, of which we said yesterday that modern theological criticism (in so far as it is infected by materialism) can come to no satisfactory conclusion concerning it, and is powerless to understand its historical truth, will reveal itself to us, when studied in the light of spiritual science, as one of the most marvellous documents in possession of the human race. It may be said that it is not only one of the greatest religious documents but that of all literary productions — if this profane expression be allowed — it may be accounted as one of the best. Let us now approach the contents of this document from the literary standpoint.

When we understand it aright and know the true meaning underlying the words, we find it, from the very first chapter, to be one of the most finished productions, as regards style and composition, existing in the world. Of course, something more than a superficial examination is required to detect this. We find immediately, on a casual glance, that the writer — we now know his identity — reckons exactly seven miracles up to the Raising of Lazarus. (The significance of this number seven will be dealt with in the course of the next few days.) Which are the seven miracles or signs?

1. The sign at the marriage at Cana in Galilee.

2. The sign given in the healing of the nobleman's son.

3. The sign given in the healing of the man 38 years in his infirmity, at the pool at Bethesda.

4. The sign given in the feeding of the five thousand.

5. The sign given in the vision of Christ walking on the water.

6. The sign given in the healing of the man born blind, and finally

7. The greatest of the signs, the initiation of Lazarus — the transformation of Lazarus into the writer of the Gospel of St.

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