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The Symbols of the Synoptic Gospels

The Symbols of the Four Evangelists

John/Eagle

high soaring, majestic, only created thing that would gaze into the sun.

  • John’s account transports men from the human image of Christ in the other gospels to the divine.
  • eagle recalls image of ascension. Christ rose to heaven like eagle to clouds.
  • his Gospel begins with the account of Zecharias the priest, father of John the Baptist which connects with theme of OT sacrifice.
  • man must be an eagle in that he looks straight to the Father. The Christian also must keep his eyes on goal of eternity. Is 40:31 those who wait for the Lord shall “mount up with wings like eagles.”

John uses language to strongly make the point that Jesus is not merely man but also divine from the very beginning of his gospel.(Jn. 1:4), (Jn. 1:17)superior to Moses(Jn 1:29:30) John the B’s declaration

  • mirrors Genesis in his opening prologue. “In the beginning”, he calls Jesus the Word. Title had great significance to the Hebrew people since it was God’s word that creates in genesis(Gen. 1:3, 6, 9).

mirrors Genesis in his opening prologue. “In the beginning”, he calls Jesus the Word. Title had great significance to the Hebrew people since it was God’s word that creates in genesis(Gen. 1:3, 6, 9).

the structure of the gospel can be thought of using the image of the eagle.

  • On the one wing being the prologue and book of signs,ministry,(ch. 1-10)see Jn. 2:11.
  • In the middle on the body the interlude (ch.11-12)
  • on the other wing the book of glory, passion, and appendix.(ch 13-20)

John has Jesus conversing about human things like bread or sight, but connects these things to incomprehensible things (6:31-35) I am the bread of life

  • Many of these teachings require a far sightedness, like an eagle, to understand.

Records Jesus as I Am…bread of life, good shepherd, true vine.

  • Records Jesus as I Am…bread of life, good shepherd, true vine.
  • vine is a symbol of Israel(Jer. 2:21)
  • sheep and shepherds represent the people and leaders(Ezek. 34)
  • John is thus trying to show Jesus is the culmination of the history and covenant of the Jews.

Jesus is also like an eagle that protects its nestlings. Numerous times He tells His disciples things for the now and the future(14:28-29, 15:11, )

For John the passion and death of Jesus gloriously set Him free to return to His Father. Adding to the glory is the fact that Jesus is in control of His passion(13:1-3).

True to form for John, Jesus’divinity in His glorious resurrection is healing(20:13-17)

Video

John from Greg Carl on Vimeo.

Sources

Burridge, Richard A. Four Gospels, One Jesus?. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2005.

Male, Emile. The Gothic Image:religious art in france of the thirteenth century. New York: Harper & Row, 1972.

St. Irenaeus of Lyons (ca. 120-202 AD) - Adversus Haereses 3.11.8 http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103311.htm

St. Jerome http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf206.vii.iv.ii.html also have translation of part of latin text.

Augustine http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf106.vi.iv.vi.html

Images

Creator Giovanni Pisano (ca. 1240-1319) Culture Italian Title Sculpture, Eagle Lectern for the Reading of the Gospels with the Eagle of Saint John the Evangelist Date ca. 1301, with later additions Location Made in: Tuscany, Pisa

Creator Donatello Title High Altar of the Santo; detail with bronze relief of Eagle, symbol of Saint John the Evangelist Date 1446 - 1450 Location Basilica di Sant'Antonio (Padua, Italy) Material bronze

Title Book of Hours. Use of Paris. whole page Folio/Page #: fol. 013r Work Type Manuscript Date c. 1420-1430 Material parchment School French Made in: Paris Description Text: St. John's Lesson. Miniature. St. John on Patmos. Saint in exile is seated on island, reading. His symbol, the nimbed eagle, is beside him with as croll reading his name. Small demon, hiding behind a rock, has stolen his pencase and spilt his ink. Decorated initial 'I(n principio)' with ivy. U-shaped bar with ivy. Decorated border with ink ivy tendrils on unpainted ground with small flowers, a few acanthus leaves. Attributed to the workshop of the Boucicaut Master. The miniature on f. 19 is attributed to the Boucicaut Master.

Creator Guyart Desmoulins Title Bible historiale. Folio #: fol. 214r Work Type Manuscript Date 14th century, first quarter Material Parchment Measurements 380 x 290 mm School French Made in: Paris Description St. John, seated, writing; with his eagle. John 1. 1 This miniature is wrongly headed 'Jehan Baptiste'. For vol. I, see MS. Douce 211.