Johannine Reading of the Passion, Cross and Resurrection of Jesus

The Passion of Jesus as the Revelatory of Glory: Johannine Reading of the Passion, Cross and Resurrection of Jesus

Introduction

The Gospel of John presents a unique understanding of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. While the Synoptic Gospels focus on Jesus’ suffering and pain, John shows these events as moments of glory and victory. In John’s account, Jesus is not a victim of circumstances but someone who willingly gives his life to fulfill God’s plan of salvation. His death on the cross is not a defeat, but the moment when God’s love and purpose are fully revealed. This paper examines how John’s Gospel presents the passion, cross, and resurrection of Jesus as the highest revelation of God’s glory and what this means for believers today.

1. The Passion of Jesus as the Revelation of Glory

In John’s Gospel, the death of Jesus is shown as a moment of glory, not defeat. He willingly sacrifices himself out of love, fulfilling God’s plan. The story begins in the Garden of Gethsemane, connecting his sacrifice to the original sin in Eden. When Jesus is about to be arrested, he protects his followers by offering himself instead. This shows his role as the Good Shepherd who gives his life for his flock. His arrest becomes a moment of divine glory because his death brings life and freedom to many. Through this willing sacrifice, Jesus honors God and completes his mission to save humanity.¹

This shows that God’s glory is not revealed through power or escape from suffering, but through deep love and obedience to the Father’s will. On the cross, Jesus reveals the true character of God—a God who is just, merciful, and willing to suffer for the sake of humanity. His passion is not the end but the highest point of glory, where salvation and God’s greatness are fully revealed.²

2. Johannine Reading of the Passion

The Johannine reading of the Passion (John 18–19) offers a unique view of Jesus’ suffering and death. But John shows Jesus not as a helpless victim, but as a willing and powerful Saviour who faces death with purpose. When soldiers come to arrest Him, Jesus steps forward and says, “I am he.” These scenes show that Jesus is not overpowered—He is freely carrying out God’s saving plan.³

2.1. Jesus and Pilate: Revealing Divine Kingship

The author of the Fourth Gospel passes quickly over the examination before the Jewish authorities and instead focuses on the conversation between Jesus and Pilate. This is not just a meeting but a clear moment that shows the difference between human power and God’s authority.⁴ In John 19:10–11 and 18:33–38 Pilate questions Jesus, but Jesus stays calm and speaks with confidence. When Pilate asks if He is a king, Jesus replies, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). This means His rule is not only political but it is spiritual. Later, Jesus tells Pilate, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11), showing that God is in control even over rulers. This shows Jesus as a true king because He does not defend Himself or try to escape. Instead, He speaks the truth and follows God’s plan.⁵ Raymond E. Brown, in The Gospel According to John in Anchor Yale Bible, explains that this part of the Gospel shows Jesus as a king, full of strength and dignity, not a helpless man. Pilate is confused and afraid, but Jesus is clear that He is the king.⁶

3. Johannine Reading of the Cross

John’s Gospel shows the cross as a moment of glory, where Jesus willingly dies to reveal God’s love and purpose. It is not just suffering, but the fulfillment of His mission.

3.1. The Cross as the Hour of Glory

In John, the concept of “the hour” is central to understanding the passion. Jesus repeatedly refers to His “hour” having not yet come until the eve of His passion (John 2:4; 12:23). For John, this “hour” is the moment when Jesus is to be glorified through His death: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (John 12:23). The crucifixion is not simply an event of suffering, but the means by which Jesus fulfills his mission and reveals his glory.⁷

3.2. Voluntary and Sovereign Sacrifice

John emphasizes Jesus’ self-giving: He is not a passive victim, but the one who lays down His life of His own accord (John 10:17–18). In the arrest scene, Jesus steps forward, identifies Himself using the divine “I am” (ego eimi), and directs the unfolding events. John highlights Jesus’s control and sovereignty throughout the Passion, making clear that the cross is embraced willingly, in accord with the Father’s will.⁸

3.3. The Cross as Revelation of the Father

The passion is deeply theological. Jesus’s death reveals the love and character of the Father. Richard Bauckham writes, “The cross, for John, is the supreme revelation of God because it is the manifestation of divine love: ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only Son’ (John 3:16).” This act of self-giving love shows us who God truly is—a God who sacrifices for the sake of humanity.⁹

4. Johannine Reading of the Resurrection of Jesus

4.1. Jesus’ Glorification during the Passion

Jesus is already honored and glorified during the events leading up to his arrest, throughout his trials before the Jewish leaders and the Roman authorities and even while he is on the cross. He carries the signs of his suffering even after rising from the dead. Jesus’ divine nature, authority as king and lordship are clearly shown during his suffering and death. The suffering (passion) and resurrection of Jesus explain and reveal each other so deeply that Jesus is already glorified through his suffering and crucifixion. Everything that happens in John chapters 18 to 20 is part of Jesus’ declaration “It is finished” (John 19:30) highlighting that Jesus, both fully human and fully God, fulfills his role as the Revealer and Savior.¹⁰

4.2. Connection Between Cross and Resurrection

The resurrection is closely connected to the cross. John understands that Jesus’ death was the way he returned to the Father. Jesus’ highest glorification with the Father happens through the surprising and paradoxical glory he receives on the cross.¹¹

4.3. The Resurrection as the Core of Christian Faith

The resurrection is the core truth of Christian belief, showing that God has confirmed Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God. Believing in Jesus as the risen Lord brings believers out of the old covenant and into a new time of God’s saving rule. John’s focus on the resurrection agrees with Paul’s teaching that faith has no meaning without the resurrection.¹²

4.4. God’s Love and Salvation Through Jesus

God’s love for the world is shown through His actions for the benefit of humanity, not for Himself but for our sake. Out of this deep love, He gave His only Son for the salvation of human beings. Jesus was not sent to condemn or destroy the world but to save it and reveal the fullness of God’s love. Salvation, therefore, is not only a future hope after death but a present reality, living the life of heaven here and now. Though Jesus’ mission has a double effect—bringing salvation to some and judgment to others—His true purpose was to offer life, not condemnation. This salvation was ultimately fulfilled through His death on the cross and His resurrection. Through this sacrificial act, even those who were undeserving sinners and the condemned have received the gift of salvation.¹³

5. Cross as the Revelation of Glory

Jesus’ death is shown as the result of Jewish leaders’ hatred and Pilate’s poor judgment. But in John’s Gospel, Jesus is shown as a king in control, not a helpless victim. He is not overpowered by others but chooses to lay down his life. For John, Jesus’ death on the cross is the highest point of his glory, not a tragedy. During his trial, Jesus stays in control. Even when soldiers come to arrest him, he says “I am,” and they fall to the ground. This shows his power. John’s message is clear: Jesus is not defeated; he is glorified through his death. The cross is where his mission reaches its peak.¹⁴

Therefore, in John, the cross is seen as the beginning of Jesus’ glorification. The “lifting up” sayings (John 3:14; 8:28; 12:32) show that Jesus’ death is not a shameful end, but a way through which God’s glory is revealed. His crucifixion and resurrection are part of one movement that brings glory to both the Son and the Father. By being lifted up, Jesus draws all people to himself and shows the true nature of God and his saving purpose.¹⁵

6. Implications for Contemporary Issues

In the Gospel of John, Jesus’ death is not portrayed as a defeat, but as the moment of his glorification (John 12:23). Unlike the Synoptic Gospels, which focus on Jesus’ physical and emotional suffering, John presents the cross as a place of honor where Jesus willingly fulfills God’s saving purpose. This challenges common views of glory tied to power, status, or success, and instead presents true glory as rooted in obedience, love, and self-sacrifice. This Johannine understanding has deep relevance in today’s world, where people struggle with injustice, suffering, and the search for meaning. John’s portrayal shows that God’s glory can be revealed even in the midst of pain and hardship. Jesus’ self-giving love becomes a source of hope for those who are suffering, reminding us that God is present and working even through difficult circumstances. Moreover, the Gospel challenges conventional ideas of power, showing that Jesus rules not by force, but through truth and humble service. This redefinition of power encourages the Church and society to value compassion and justice over control and domination.

The passion and resurrection of Jesus also offer a framework for understanding life’s purpose. In John, these events are not separate but deeply connected, revealing that through death comes new life. This brings hope of transformation, both personally and collectively. Therefore, the Church is called to live out this message by serving others, standing for truth, and becoming a sign of God’s glory in a world in need of healing and renewal.

Conclusion

In John’s Gospel, the passion, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus reveal God’s glory through love, justice, and victory over evil. The cross is not a defeat but the fulfillment of God’s saving plan. John shifts the meaning of glory from power to sacrificial love, seen in Jesus’ obedience and humility. This message offers hope in today’s broken world, calling the Church to reflect Christ’s love through justice, compassion, and truth. The passion is not just a past event but an ongoing call to live out God’s glory today.

Bibliography

Bauckham, Richard. Gospel of Glory: Major Themes in Johannine Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015.
Brown, Raymond E. The Gospel According to John XIII–XXI: The Anchor Bible. Vol. 29A. New York: Yale University Press, 1970.
Carson, D. A. The Gospel According to John. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press; Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1991.
Hoskyns, Edwyn Clement. The Fourth Gospel. Edited by Francis Noel Davey. London: Faber and Faber Limited, n.d.
Koester, Craig R. The Word of Life: A Theology of John’s Gospel. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008.
Lalfakmawia, H. Joseph. Re-Reading the Gospel of John. Kolkata: SCEPTRE, 2013.
Mlakuzhyil, George. The Gospel of John: Commentary for Students. Delhi: ISPCK and Vidyajyoti College of Theology, 2013.
Philip, Abraham. Jesus Tradition in the Johannine writings. Delhi: Christian World Imprints, 2023.
Thompson, Marianne Meye. John: A Commentary. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2015.

Online Sources

Culpepper, R Alan. “The theology of the Johannine passion narrative: John 19:16b-30.” Peer Reviewed Journal, 1997. Accessed on Aug 7, 2025. Pdf (EBSCOhost).
Deffinbaugh, Bob. “The glory of god in the passion of Jesus Christ.” Bible.org. Accessed on 04 July 2025. <https://bible.org/seriespage/6-glory-god-passion-jesus-christ>.
Neyrey, Jerome H. “Despising the Shame of the Cross: Honor and Shame in the Johannine Passion Narrative.” Accessed on 17 July 2025. https://wisdomintorah.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Despising-the-Shame-of-the-Cross.pdf.

Footnotes

Abraham Philip, Jesus Tradition in the Johannine writings (Delhi: Christian World Imprints, 2023), 90.
Bob Deffinbaugh, “The glory of god in the passion of Jesus Christ,” Bible.org, accessed on 04 July 2025, https://bible.org/seriespage/6-glory-god-passion-jesus-christ.
Jerome H. Neyrey, “Despising the Shame of the Cross: Honor and Shame in the Johannine Passion Narrative,” accessed on 17 July 2025, https://wisdomintorah.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Despising-the-Shame-of-the-Cross.pdf
Edwyn Clement Hoskyns, The Fourth Gospel, edited by Francis Noel Davey (London: Faber and Faber Limited, n.d), 515.
Philip, Jesus Tradition in the Johannine Writings, 91.
Raymond E. Brown, The Gospel According to John XIII–XXI: The Anchor Bible, vol. 29A (New York: Yale University Press, 1970), 856-857.
Craig R. Koester, The Word of Life: A Theology of John’s Gospel (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008), 132–134.
Marianne Meye Thompson, John: A Commentary (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2015), 357-360.
Richard Bauckham, Gospel of Glory: Major Themes in Johannine Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015), 83-85.
George Mlakuzhyil, The Gospel of John: Commentary for Students (Delhi: ISPCK and Vidyajyoti College of Theology, 2013), 132-133.
D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John (Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press; Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1991), 631.
Carson, The Gospel According to John, 632.
H. Joseph Lalfakmawia, Re-Reading the Gospel of John (Kolkata: SCEPTRE, 2013), 85-86.
Philip, Jesus Tradition in the Johannine Writings, 93.
R Alan Culpepper, “The theology of the Johannine passion narrative: John 19:16b-30,” Peer Reviewed Journal, 1997, accessed on Aug 7, 2025, pdf (EBSCOhost).

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