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     Tradition has divided the Gospel According to John into two major sections, book-ended by the "prologue" (1:1-18) and the "appendix" {ch. 21).  The first of the two major sections is called "the Book of Signs" (1:19 - 12:50) and addresses Jesus' ministry from Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist to his final journey to Jerusalem.  The second section, "the Book of Glory," (13:1 - 20:31) addresses the period from the Last Supper (the washing of the feet of the disciples) through the post-resurrection appearances to the disciples, especially Thomas.  The passage we read in today's gospel scripture contains the last verses of the Book of Signs and is a kind of summary of Jesus' teaching and mission.

     In this passage and in the verses that immediately precede it (37-43), we have not only the summary of Jesus' teaching and mission but also a summary of some frustrating results!  The evangelist identifies the disbelief of the Jewish authorities as one group and those who believed but were afraid to admit it publicly because of fear as another group.  No doubt these groups were in existence at the time the gospel was composed as well as in Jesus' time.  

     We who are "cradle Christians" may find it difficult to understand the dramatic challenge that Jesus presented to his listeners.  He says, "Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me."  Those who heard the preaching of the first disciples were faced with believing that a carpenter from Nazareth was the one sent by God to save the world, and was furthermore the very physical manifestation of God.  We have more than the witness of the first disciples since it is now 2000+ years since the Gospel of John and the whole New Testament were composed.  Nevertheless the challenge is the same.  Do we believe that Jesus is the one whom God has sent?  It is really a spiritual life and death decision.  AMEN