David F. Ford

Summary: A Lenten devotional, offering reflections from John’s gospel on meeting God as he is revealed in Jesus.

Another kind of Lenten devotional follows a particular text or texts in scripture. In this case, David F. Ford offers guided reflections in reading the Gospel of John. For Ford, this was an extension of a twenty-year effort to write a commentary on John. Here, working with church leaders, he distills his insights into a compact resource to use over the course of Lent, during holy show more Week, and into Eastertide. The book is equally usable by individuals or groups, or perhaps for a whole congregation.

A brief introduction elaborates the two purpose for which John wrote the gospel as stated in John 20:30-31. Ford rephrases this as follows:

” John’s Gospel is about meeting and trusting God through meeting and trusting Jesus, and then maturing into that core relationship of being loved and learning to love, open to the superabundant life he gives” (p. 2)

He follows this discussion with brief suggestions for the book’s use.

The first part of the book consists of five chapters, one for each of the five weeks of Lent. The first chapter focuses on John’s Prologue: how it speaks to our quest for meaning, the loving relationship between Father and Son pervades the whole, and how the Prologue centers on Jesus. The next three chapters focus on three questions. The second chapter centers on the question of identity: who are you? The Baptist’s “I am nots” yield to Jesus revelation of who he is to the Samaritan woman in John 4.

Then chapter three explores Jesus’ question to Simon and Andrew: what are you looking for? It’s the question of desire and Ford explores the different desires that led people to seek out Jesus as well as our own culture’s desires. Thirdly, in chapter four, the disciples ask “Where are you staying?” This is the longing for home, answered by Jesus invitation to “remain” with him and its ultimate expression in the allegory of the Vine. Finally, chapter five contends that glory is the inevitable consequence of meeting God in Christ. The ultimate manifestation of that glory is in the cross, revealing God’s deep heart of love.

The second part, in three chapters covers holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. On Holy Thursday, in the washing of feet, Jesus reveals his love for his disciples–received by the Beloved disciple, denied by Peter, and betrayed by Judas. On Good Friday, the trial revealed Jesus in truth, the cross reveals his love, intimately for his mother and expansively for the world, and his death addresses suffering, sin, death, and evil. Then on Easter, we celebrate the great surprise, revealed first to Mary, the apostle to the apostles, and to the disciples, now “sent ones” into the world, given his Spirit.

Finally, part three, read in the weeks after Easter, picks up on how we are part of the ongoing story. We share in the lessons taught the disciples, to be a learning, praying, and loving people. In his conclusion, he describes that as being called into God, into community, and into the world.

Several appendices take us deeper into the study of John. Appendix A parallels John 17 and the Lord’s Prayer. Appendix B offers a ninety day reading plan to read through John. Some use this for a year or longer. Sadly, the plan leaves off at day 83, an error that will hopefully be corrected in reprintings. In the first chapter, Ford alludes to the breadth of theology, which Appendix C fleshes out in reproducing the table of contents from another book by the author. Finally, Appendix D addresses the hope for Christian unity, prayed for by Jesus in John 17.

Ford does all this in 160 pages. Each chapter includes reflection questions for individuals or groups. In conclusion, Ford has done an amazing thing in distilling twenty years of study into a guide any congregant or inquirer may use.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for review. show less

I primarily judge the books in the Very Short Introduction series by two criteria. First, how well does the author cover the topic. Second, does the author write with a distinct point of view. The second being more important than the first as only a clear perspective can keep such a short overview from being completely dry.

In part II of this work, David Ford does an excellent job based on these criteria. First, he limits himself to Christianity, as a broader scope would completely dilute the show more discussion. Then he delves into the ways Christian theology deals with God, morality and ethics, evil, Christ, and salvation. His style is to frame the questions and describe the types of answers that are possible. His view are present but he gives credence to a range of approaches. The writing is clear and concise.

Unfortunately, the rest of the book was aimed very narrowly at beginning students in seminary or university theology programs. The book opens with a discussion of the appropriate relationship between those institutions. Part III is a freshman overview of hermeneutics and epistemology, and the book closes with a dean's oration on the value of theology in the modern world.

Although I don't doubt that the VSI series is used in introductory college classes, it also has a wider readership and a greater respect for that audience could have broadened the range of theological issues addressed. show less

An excellent informative work on theological trends in the mid to late twentieth century, its breadth of coverage is astounding. My only criticism is that it does not engage these trends and thinkers in anything but a positive way. Also because of the anthology nature of the book, there is little to no cross-debate between the various strands of theological thinking. The book does show that theology faces the same trendy thinking as other disciplines, as so many of the authors described in show more the book have been lost to the mists of time, for good or for ill. A welcome introduction to theologies that guide who we have become as a church today. show less

It may be a very short introduction, but the writing style is very dense. I don't like the style, as I find it obscures the author's ideas, which are often very interesting.