The Sword of the Messiah and the Concept of Liberation in the Fourth Gospel

This article elucidates the Johannine concept of Jesus’ 'sword' as the means of liberation against a background of Palestinian messianic apocalypticism. It is argued that the Johannine Jesus is depicted as a messiah who liberates the world at large from the spiritual oppression of sin and the devil by means of his Spirit-imbued word of truth. In addition, Jesus also provides physical, social, religious and political liberation. Jesus’ programme of holistic liberation is continued by his disciples through the transference of his 'sword' in the form of their Paraclete-imbued witness.