Commentary of the Gospell

John outran Peter and reached the tomb first; but he did not enter. He let Peter enter first and then followed him. That’s not the John we have known until now: This son of thunder was competitive – he plotted, with his brother, to siphon off the most prestigious seats in the Kingdom (Mt 20:21). He was rivalrous – he debated as to who among the disciples was the greatest (Lk 9:46). He was jealous – he silenced someone who was healing in the name of Jesus, just because he did not belong to their group (Lk 9:49). He was sacrificial – he wanted Jesus to invoke fire from heaven to destroy the Samaritans (Lk 9: 54). When and how did John learn to respect authority, give way to Peter, and walk behind? Perhaps he learned it in the Upper Room, at the first Eucharist. There, leaning on the breast of Jesus, John heard Jesus’ heartbeat, and emerged as a transformed man: John version 2.0