the insipidity of Judaism is now shown to be rooted in a fundamental spiritual apostasy which Jesus has come both to confront and to reverse. The incident in itself is a sombre indication, this early in the Gospel, of the forces of opposition which must be confronted before the triumphant purpose of God in Jesus can win its way to destined victory. John is particularly concerned with the annual Jewish feasts in his record of Jesus’ ministry. He uses the meaning of these feasts to throw into relief