朝食後の会話

(解説をしたもの ヨハネによる福音書21:15-25)

この章の前半では、７人の弟子たちがガリラヤに帰ってきました。彼らは釣りに行き、岸辺にいるイエス様を見て、船の右側で釣りをするように指示され、153匹の魚を積んだ網を岸辺まで引きずって、そして...章の後半が始まると、彼らはイエス様との断食を終えたところです。今、彼らはリラックスしています。

イエスはペテロに「あなたは私を愛していますか」と言われ、ペテロはその質問に少し驚いたのか、答えは明白だと思って「はい」と答え、イエスは「私の子羊を養ってください」と答えます。そして、イエスは「私の子羊を養ってください」と答えます。そして、この変わった会話の後、主は彼らに、若くして後に老いていくことについての小さなたとえ話をします。主はペテロに従うように言われ、ペテロは嫉妬したように、ヨハネは何をすればいいのかと尋ねます。主はペテロの嫉妬を軽く叱って、「もしこの人が私が来るまで待っていたら、あなたがたには何の意味があるのでしょうか」と言われましたが、その後、ヨハネにも従うように言われました。

最後に、ヨハネの福音書、そして実際には四つの福音書のすべてのコレクションは、彼がこの福音書の作者であるというヨハネの説明で締めくくられています。

では、会話とたとえ話、そして嫉妬の発生をもっと詳しく見てみましょう。

この部分で言及されているのは、七人の弟子のうちペテロとヨハネの二人だけです。ペテロは信仰、つまり真実を表していますが、私たちが本当に信じている霊的なものが神からのものであるという真実を表しています。ヨハネは善、すなわち隣人への愛を表しています。前者は心の理解の部分に、後者は心の意志の部分に存在します。

ペテロに羊に餌を与えるように言うとき、主は、主に従うということは、新しい教会で主に従う者となるために、すべての弟子たちが今知っている主と主が来られ、どのように人生を歩むべきかについての真理を宣べ伝えることだと言っています。会話の中で、主は直接、問いかけておられます。"ヨナスの子シモンよ、あなたはこれらの者よりも私を愛しているのか？"ペテロはガリラヤ人の仲間を愛する以上に、主イエスを愛しているかどうかを問われているのだと思います。ペテロが最初に答えた時、"主よ、私があなたを愛していることを知っておられる "と言っています。

三つの質問の最初の質問で、主は「私の子羊を養ってください」と答え、その後に「私の羊を養ってください」と答えます。羊と羊はどちらも善を行うことを愛する人を表しますが、羊は隣人のために善を行うことを愛する人を意味しますが、羊は主のために善を行う人を意味します。前者は霊的な善であり、後者はより高次のものであり、天的な善と呼ばれています。しかし、最初に善いことをしようとする人は、何が善いことなのか分からず、それを御言葉から学び、教えられなければなりません。だからこそペテロは「彼らを養え」と言われているのであり、つまり、真理はどのように善いことをすればよいかを示していなければならないのです。良いことをするためには、良いことをしたいという意志と、それをするための方法を知っているという理解が結びついていなければなりません。キリスト教生活を成功させるために、また、より大きな規模のキリスト教会のためには、「ペテロ」と「ヨハネ」が調和して働かなければなりません。

それから例え話が出てきます。"若い時は、自分で準備をして、自分のやりたいことをやっていた。"しかし年老いてからは、助けを求めなければならない。" "行きたくないところには、他の人が運んでくれるだろう。"

これはここには当てはまらないようですが、もちろん当てはまります。第一の方法は聖書のテキストに与えられています。それは主の死についてです。第二の方法は、私たち全員のための教訓です。私たちが若く、自信に満ち、強いとき、私たちは自分のやりたいことができ、何の助けも必要ないと感じています。悪を行うための誘惑は、私たち自身が対処することができます。しかし、私たちが賢くなってくると、私たちの強さはすべて主から来ていることに気付きます。もし私たちが自分自身だけに頼り続けるならば、地獄からの誘惑はあまりにも強く、私たちは地獄が私たちに望んでいることではなく、私たちのために望んでいることをするように導かれるでしょう。私たちは最初から主に従うこと、主に頼ることを学ばなければなりません。このことは、私たちがたとえを理解するまでは、それが当てはまらないように思えるところで、彼はたとえの最後に言っています。"主はこのことを話されたとき、こう言われた。それが私たちがしなければならないことでもあります。

ペテロは、この真理の説教をすることに喜びを感じ、自分が特別視されていると感じているのかもしれませんが、ヨハネもまた、主を愛し、その代わりに愛されていることを知っています。そこでペテロは「この人は何をすればいいのだろうか」と問いかけます。必要とされる調和がまだ存在していないようで、ペテロはその絆に嫉妬し、おそらく自分が一番だと安心したいと思っているのでしょうが、そうはいきません。ペーターはただ「そんなことはどうでもいい、自分に与えられた仕事をしなければならない」と言われてしまう。

ヤコブとエサウの物語を思い出します。 創世記25ここではエサウが長子であり、イサクからの生得権と祝福を相続することになります。ヤコブは母親の策略でイサクを欺き エサウのものを盗んだその後、彼はパダン・アラムに逃げ、叔父と一緒にそこに留まり、金持ちになりました。帰りの旅で天使と戦い、名前をイスラエルに変えてもらって、エサウと再会します。名前の変更は、ヤコブが御言葉からの真理で豊かになった今、同じく豊かなエサウとの友好的な出会いで、二人の双子は、たとえ話の中でイスラエルと呼ばれる一人の人物に統合され、心の中で善と真理の結合を意味します。

エサウはヨハネと似たような意味で、どちらも善良さや真の慈愛を表しています。ヤコブはペテロと似たようなものを意味します。どちらが重要かということで両者の間に敵意があるように見えても、どちらも役立たずになってしまいますし、天使のようになっている人（誰もが目指すべき人）には敵意はありません。真理は善を可能にし、善は何かを成し遂げるために真理を鼓舞する。私たちはそれらを別々に考えて話すことができますが、それらは（主の中では完全に、天使の中ではそうではありませんが）結婚しているように見えるように一体に結合されています。主の神聖な善と神聖な真理の結婚は、すべての創造の原点です。そう、すべての被造物です。

この善と真理の結婚、そしてバランスと調和のとれた生活の中で両方が働く必要性は、新キリスト教の中心的な概念です。

福音書では、この話の後にもう一つの話があります。その中で、残りの弟子たちは、主の最後の命令を聞くために、ここで述べた７人に加わります。

2788. That 'on the third day' means that which has been completed, and the beginning of sanctification, is clear from the meaning of 'the third day'. 'Day' in the Word means state, 23, 487, 488, 493, 893, as also does 'year', and as in general do all periods of time - an hour, day, week, month, year, or age; also morning, midday, evening, and night; and spring, summer, autumn, and winter. And when 'the third' is added to any of these the end of that state, and at the same time the beginning of the next, are meant. Here, the subject being the sanctification of the Lord which was effected by means of temptations, 'the third day' means that which has been completed and at the same time the beginning of sanctification, as also follows from what has been said previously to this. The reason for this meaning is that when He had fulfilled everything the Lord was to rise again on the third day, for the things that were done by the Lord while He lived in the world, that is, the things that were yet to be done by Him, were embodied within the representatives of the Church as though they had already been done. This was as it is with the internal sense of the Word, for with God that which is yet to come to pass and that which already is are one and the same; indeed to Him the whole of eternity is here and now.

[2] This is why the number three was representative not only in the Ancient Church and in the Jewish but also among various gentile nations; see what has been stated about this number in 720, 901, 1825. That such was the origin of the meaning of 'three' is clear in Hosea,

We will return to Jehovah, for He has wounded and will heal us; He has stricken and will bind us up; He will revive us after two days, on the third day He will raise us up that we may live before Him. Hosea 6:1-2.

Here 'the third day' stands for the coming of the Lord and His resurrection. The same is clear from Jonah, in that he was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights, Jonah 1:17, to which the Lord refers in Matthew as follows,

As Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:40.

[3] It should be realized that in the internal sense of the Word 'three days' and 'the third day' have the same meaning, as also do 'three' and 'third' in the following places: In John,

Jesus said to the Jews, Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. He was speaking of the temple of His body. John 2:19-21; Matthew 26:61; Mark 14:58; 15:29.

It is a well known fact that the Lord rose again on the third day.

[4] For the same reason the Lord also distinguished three periods in His life: in Luke,

Go and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, but on the third day I reach completion. Luke 13:32.

Also, the Lord underwent the final temptation, which was that of the Cross, at the third hour of the day, Mark 15:25. Three hours later, that is, at the sixth hour, darkness fell over the whole land, ¹ Luke 23:44. And three hours after that, at the ninth hour, the end came, Mark 15:33-34, 37. But in the morning of the third day He rose again, Mark 16:1-4; Luke 24:7. See also Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:18-19; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34; Luke 18:33; 24:46. From all this, and especially from the Lord's resurrection on the third day, the number three was representative and possessed a spiritual meaning. This fact becomes clear from the following places in the Word:

When Jehovah came down upon Mount Sinai He told Moses that he was to sanctify the people today and tomorrow and they were to wash their garments and be ready on the third day, for on the third day Jehovah would come down. Exodus 19:10-11, 15-16.

When they travelled from the mountain of Jehovah on a three days' journey, the Ark of Jehovah travelled before them on the three days' journey to search out rest for them. Numbers 10:33.

There was thick darkness for three days in all the land of Egypt, and nobody could see his brother for three days, but the children of Israel had light. Exodus 10:22-23.

[5] The flesh of a sacrifice made as a vow-offering or as a freewill-offering was to be eaten on the first and the second day; nothing was to be kept until the third day but was to be burned, because it was an abomination. So too with the flesh of a sacrifice made as a 'eucharistic' offering; if this was eaten on the third day the one offering the sacrifice would not be accepted and that soul would bear his iniquity. Leviticus 7:16-18; 19:6-7.

Anyone who touched a dead body was to purify himself on the third day, and on the seventh day he would be clean. If he did not do so that soul would be cut off from Israel. And one that was clean was to sprinkle water over the unclean person on the third day and on the seventh day. Numbers 19:12-13, 19.

Those who had killed someone in battle and had touched one who had been slain were to purify themselves on the third day and on the seventh day. Numbers 31:19.

[6] When they came into the land of Canaan the fruit of a tree was to be uncircumcised for three years and not eaten. Leviticus 19:23.

At the end of three years they were to bring every tenth part of their produce in that year and deposit it within their gates so that the Levite, the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow might eat. Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 26:12.

Three times a year they were to keep a feast to Jehovah. And three times a year every male person was to appear before the face of the Lord Jehovah. Exodus 23:14, 17; Deuteronomy 16:16.

Joshua told the people that in three days they would be crossing the Jordan and inheriting the land. Joshua 1:11; 3:2.

Jehovah called to Samuel three times and the third time he answered Him. 1 Samuel 3:8.

[7] When Saul wished to kill David, David hid in the field until the third evening. Jonathan told David, I will sound out my father on the third day from now. Jonathan said that he would shoot three arrows to the side of the stone. And David fell face to the ground, before Jonathan and bowed down three times.12, 19, 20, 35, 36, 41.

David was to choose one of these three things - either seven years of famine in the land, or his own flight before his enemies for three months, or pestilence in the land for three days. 2 Samuel 24:12-13.

[8] There was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. 2 Samuel 21:1.

Elijah stretched himself over the dead boy three times and revived him. 1 Kings 17:21.

When he had built the altar to Jehovah, Elijah told them to pour water over the burnt offering and over the wood three times. 1 Kings 18:34.

Fire consumed the captains of fifty sent on two occasions to Elijah, but not the one sent on the third occasion. 2 Kings 1:13-14.

It was a sign to King Hezekiah that they were to eat in that year what had grown of itself, and in the second year further growth from the same; but in the third year they were to sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of these. 2 Kings 19:29.

[9] Daniel went into his house and had the windows open in his [upper] chamber towards Jerusalem, where three times a day he gave thanks on his knees and prayed. Daniel 6:10, 13.

Daniel was mourning for three whole weeks, not eating pleasant bread, nor drinking wine, nor anointing himself, until the three whole weeks were completed. Daniel 10:2-3.

Isaiah went naked and barefoot three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and against Cush. Isaiah 20:3.

Out of the Lampstand went three branches on either side, and three almond-shaped cups on each branch. Exodus 25:32-33.

In the Urim and Thummim there were three precious stones in each row. Exodus 28:17-20.

[10] In the New Temple there were to be three chambers on this side of the gate and three on that, and all three were to measure the same. And the breadth of the gate to the vestibule of the house was to be three cubits this way and three cubits that. Ezekiel 40:10, 21, 48.

In the New Jerusalem there were to be three gates to the north, three to the east, three to the south, and three to the west. Ezekiel 48:31-34; Revelation 21:13.

The same may be seen in the following places:

Peter denied Jesus three times. Matthew 26:34, 69 and following verses.

The Lord said to Peter three times, Do you love Me? John 21:17.

Also, in the parable about the man who planted a vineyard, he sent servants three times, and at length his own son. Luke 20:12; Mark 12:2, 4-6.

The labourers in the vineyard were hired at the third hour, the sixth hour, the ninth hour, and the eleventh hour. Matthew 20:1-17.

And concerning the fig tree which, because it bore no fruit for three years, was to be cut down. Luke 13:6-7.

[11] Just as a group of three and a third one were representative, so also was a third part, as in the following:

Minchahs consisted of two tenths of fine flour mixed with a third part of a hin of oil, and the wine for the drink-offering was a third of a hin. Numbers 15:6-7; Ezekiel 46:14.

In Ezekiel it is said that he was to run a razor over his head and over his beard, and then to divide his hair, burning a third part in the fire, striking a third around the city with his sword, and scattering a third to the wind. Ezekiel 5:1-2, 11.

In Zechariah it is said that in the whole land, two parts were to be cut off, and the third would be left. Yet this third would be led through fire and tested. Zechariah 13:8-9.

[12] In John it is said that when the first angel sounded there came hail, and fire mixed with blood; and it fell on to the earth so that a third part of the trees were burned. The second angel sounded and so to speak a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea. And a third part of the sea became blood resulting in the death of a third part of the creatures who had their being in the sea. And a third part of the ships was destroyed. The third angel sounded and there fell from the sky a great star burning like a torch and it fell upon a third part of the rivers. The name of the star is Wormwood. The fourth angel sounded and a third part of the sun was struck, and a third part of the moon, and a third part of the stars, so that a third part of these was blacked out, and the day had no light for a third part of it, nor likewise the night. Revelation 8:7-12.

[13] The four angels were released to kill a third part of mankind. Revelation 9:15.

A third part of mankind was killed by these three, fire, smoke, and brimstone, which went forth out of the mouths of the horses. Revelation 9:18.

The dragon drew with his tail a third part of the stars of heaven and cast them down to the earth. Revelation 12:4.

'A third part' however means something which is not yet finished, whereas 'a third' and 'a group of three' mean that which has been finished - evil in the case of the evil, good in the case of the good.

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