Volume 12, Issue 1, February 1999

Chapters 7 and 8 of the Fourth Gospel present a unified narrative focussed upon the issue of Jesus’ identity. Abraham functions as a witness to Jesus’ identity and relationship with Israel’s God. For the Johannine Christians, living in their own time of conflict with emerging post-70 Judaism, the confrontation at Tabernacles offers clarity and hope in their struggle for identity. Abraham’s testimony demonstrates that the tradi-tions of Israel now find their fulfilment and perfection in Jesus.