Today, set in the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, we verify that John's Gospel takes its rhythm from the calendar of Israel festivities. At the beginning of Jesus' public life we find the “Jewish Passover”, from which the theme of the true temple derives (in connection with the cross and the resurrection) (cf. 2:13-25).

The healing of the paralytic —mark of the first great public preaching of Jesus in Jerusalem— emerges associated with a “Jews’ festivity” (5:1), probably the “Feast of Weeks” (the Pentecost). The multiplication of the loaves (and the Eucharistic preaching of John’s Gospel) come in association with the Passover (cf. 6:4). Finally, we’ll meet Jesus again in Jerusalem in the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple (cf. 10:22).

—Jesus’ way culminates in His last Passover (cf. 12:1): there, as the true paschal lamb, He will shed His blood on the cross. His high priestly prayer develops precisely out of the theological contents of the Day of Atonement.