Reading these days the Gospel according to St. JohnI was particularly struck by a fundamental aspect that seems to contrast with the general idea that we can have of this Gospel. It would seem that this last canonical Gospel, written at the end of the first century, after the three synoptic Gospels, would be "theological", understanding this concept as being little attentive to the concrete historical data in which the earthly life of Jesus of Nazareth unfolded.
But this general idea about the fourth Gospel contrasts, from the beginning, with the reality of what is concretely written, in conformity with the author's purpose who, from the beginning, makes it very clear that he wants to present what is truly human in Jesus: "And the Word became flesh" (Jn 1:14).
Eternity and humanity
Yes, certainly, he looks at the Word in his eternity, in his pre-temporality, but not separated or pre-temporal without more, but in his union with the "flesh", with his humanity, and, moreover, with his humanity in what is weakest and most fragile.
John, who wrote his Gospel in his old age, intuits and discovers behind every event of the temporal, historical life of Christ, the same Word, the same timeless, eternal Christ, "who is still in the bosom of the Father" (cf. Jn 1:18), working on earth. The human in no way contrasts with the divine in Jesus, but is his transparency and manifestation.
Unity in the Gospel
There is no dualism, no Gnostic docetism, but unity, even in the most painful hours of the passion and death of Jesus. It is precisely in these sufferings that John sees the divinity of Christ, his eternal and definitive Love, shine forth with particular splendor: "And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself" (Jn 12:32). The miracles, for their part, more than works of power, are "signs", "shining forth" of his Love, of his divinity.
Ultimately, all the facts of Jesus' life, well grounded in earth and history, are placed in the light of the eternal Word, the "only-begotten" Son: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (Jn 1:14).
