Tag: leader

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John: Jewish Leaders Begin to Persecute Jesus

Read: John 5:16-18

Following the outline from yesterday’s post, we’ll take a brief look at just three verses today. While this post is brief, I hope it allows you to focus on the few words and put yourself in the place of those present at the time.

John makes it clear that the Jewish leadership is beyond angry about His miracle work on the Sabbath. They are already formulating plans to eliminate Jesus. Why are they so angry? I think the answer comes from deep in the history of Israel all the way back to 1 Kings 12 when Jeroboam began the insurrection that led to the division of Israel into Northern and Southern Kingdoms and ultimately down a path of destruction. For a taste of Jeroboam’s leadership, read 1 Kings 12:25-33.

We can look back even further in history during the time Israel demanded a King. Perhaps this is a better starting point, but the Jewish leaders are unhappy about the Messiah coming as a king. They’re unhappy about the idea that the Messiah might look something like this Jesus character. I would suggest that they’re not looking for the Messiah at all, but that’s a bit bold and probably an overstatement.

Suffice it to say, because of rebellion in the past which led to the destruction of Israel, i.e., the divided kingdom that led to exile, Jewish leadership set up laws upon laws, rules about rules. Since the Sabbath was tied back directly to the Ten Commandments, everyone in the Sanhedrin could get angry about this transgression. I know that’s brief, but I hope that adds some perspective to their seemingly unfounded anger.

So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. John 5:16

If you agree that Jeroboam’s rebellion led to the destruction of Israel and that strict adherence to God’s law is paramount, then it’s easy to get behind this plot. We can’t let someone change the rules, because this will lead us back down the path of self-destruction.

Jesus tries to clarify His actions for them.

In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” John 5:17

Jesus is stirring the pot! If Jesus would have said, “You know that God never takes a day off,” there would have been little to discuss. God created the Sabbath for us, not Himself. That’s not the issue. The problem is that Jesus says, “My Father.”

Jesus suddenly states that He is the Son of God. He has a special relationship with God the Father that no one else can claim. John doesn’t give us any further dialog here, though I’d like to believe someone said, “excuse me, did You say, ‘My Father?’ Don’t You mean ‘Our’ Father?”

For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.  John 5:18

From their myopic perspective, Jesus must be stopped now! The Jewish leaders can’t allow this to continue.

I can sympathize with them except for one thing: they were NOT listening.

What does this mean for us today?

At the very least, this short passage should challenge us to evaluate the way we have established traditions and rules, whether written or understood. It should force us to carefully assess why we do what we do.

We have the privilege of reading the Bible in a hundred different ways. This gives us an incredible perspective and a great advantage over John. Of course, he had the opportunity of being an eye-witness and the ability to interview those who saw these signs and wonders performed. That’s a pretty big advantage that allowed him to craft the message through the prompting of the Spirit that relates to us today. My point is this: if John was able to see through mindless traditions when he was steeped in the culture, so should we. We must not get so comfortable with the traditions we have created that we miss Jesus standing right in front of us today.

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John: Healing at the Pool — Do You Want to Get Well?

As we head into chapter 5, I found it interesting that the NIV Application Commentary suggests the purpose of chapter 5 is to begin building the case against Jesus (cite below this post). This outline is helpful to give us some context for discussion:

The Crime (John 5:1–15)

  • A man at Bethesda is healed on the Sabbath
  • The man is interrogated
  • The criminal [Jesus] is identified

The Decision to Prosecute (John 5:16–18)

  • First basis: Jesus violates the Sabbath
  • Second basis: Jesus is making divine claims

Jesus Goes to Trial (John 5:19–47)

  • Jesus describes his “criminal” work
  • Jesus brings witnesses in his defense
  • Jesus prosecutes his opponents
  • Jesus identifies their crimes
  • Jesus challenges their ability to appeal

Read: John 5:1-15

In contrast to the request in the previous post where the principal character begs Jesus to heal his son, we now read a story where Jesus initiates the conversation. Instead of appealing to Jesus for help, Jesus sees the man and reaches out to him. While the man is not named in John’s gospel account, he would have been well known by the people from that area. After decades of inability to walk, people would certainly know him and his family.

In our modern culture, we can hide away in our houses and avoid our neighbors by slipping in and out of the garage by remote control. Not so back in the times represented here. Even though there were lots of people showing up for the special waters at Bethesda, this man was not nameless.

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” John 5:6

The man’s response is one of logistics, he knows the process, but perhaps after so many years of sitting and waiting he has few friends or family that will do more than drop him off at the pool. Do the math. There are nearly 14,000 days in 38 years. That’s a lot of days to put up with a friend or relative that can’t walk! I don’t know if they transported him daily, but they certainly had to tend to his needs in some way or another.

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” John 5:7

When the healing waters of Bethesda are stirred, there’s a chance you can be healed if you’re placed in the water at the right time in the right location. Jesus doesn’t even address this superstition, nor does He denounce any potential medicinal benefits of minerals contained in the water. He simply says,

“Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. John 5:8-9

After years of sitting and waiting, the man is healed in an instant! No wading in the pool. No special anointing oil or board of elders with hands on his legs. Jesus doesn’t tell the disciples to gather around and see how this is done. None of this implies any spectacle or special gathering. No spotlight, no microphones, and no additional words of instruction. The guy didn’t even know who Jesus was and most importantly, there was no public confession of faith before he was healed. None of that. Just a command.

The Pharisees check their rulebook and throw a flag:

The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” John 5:9-10

Seriously? For the first time in nearly 40 years, this man is able to walk, he is actually able to carry his mat, and you want to play the Sabbath card?

It takes them a while, but eventually, the Pharisees find out it is Jesus who committed the crime, He healed a man on the Sabbath.

Stop Sinning

The story is of a real person at a real place at a time when people saw a direct correlation between sin and suffering. If you are a sinner, you suffer. Do good and you will be rewarded. Right? Not exactly, but Jesus’ response directed at this man opens up a floodgate of questions:

Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” John 5:14

Stop sinning certainly implies the man has been sinning and the rest of the statement leaves us to believe his infirmity was the result of said sin. This is problematic.

What do we do with this story?

John must have had a particular reason to share this story. Was he trying to establish that the Pharisees had lost their way as the NIVAC outline suggests? Is this story about superstitions versus miraculous healing? Should we focus on the relationship of sin to suffering? Pass the mic around. I’d love to hear what you think!

For this man and in this case it appears that he needs to repent and have a change of heart. I think he showed up in the temple because he understood that God is to be honored for such a miracle. When Jesus tells him to stop sinning with a warning, it’s pretty clear that there is some relationship between sin and suffering for this man at this time. I would hope that I would be open to hearing such words in my own life! If there was any inclination that my infirmity would return because of sinful actions, I believe I would heed the words of Jesus.

 

Source: Wilkins, Michael J.; Garland, David E.; Bock, Darrell L.; Burge, Gary M.; Fernando, Ajith. NIVAC Bundle 6: Gospels, Acts (The NIV Application Commentary) (Kindle Locations 62791-62798). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

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John: Jesus and the Woman at the Well — Part 1

Read: John 4:1-15

Imagine Billy Graham sitting at a bus stop in downtown Atlanta engaged in conversation with a well-known prostitute. Don’t get me wrong, the woman at the well is not a prostitute, though her moral character is questionable, I am trying to set the stage for a conversation that is completely out of step with anything the disciples could have imagined. It made perfect sense for Jesus to stay up all night talking with a Pharisee named Nicodemus, but to sit and chat with an unnamed Samaritan woman was unheard of. Be shocked and amazed, then listen to the voice of the Spirit as we dive into chapter 4.

The Irony

Before we begin let’s consider the ironic juxtaposition of the two primary characters. John could have told us a hundred different stories to begin his account of the life of Jesus. After reviewing his notes he chose to give us back to back stories that force us to look in the mirror with new eyes. Chapter 3 presents a Pharisee by name, a religious leader who eventually gets mentioned a few more times, but who seems to exit the story after verse 15. Compare this to chapter 4 where the woman is unnamed, yet goes on to evangelize the whole town (see John 4:39), a Samaritan town at that.

Don’t miss the intentional placement of the stories either. Nicodemus came under cover of darkness, perhaps his own spiritual darkness. The interaction with the woman is at noon, in the middle of the day, out in the open where all can see what was happening. Two completely different settings for very specific reasons for us to see and learn.

The story begins by moving us from Judea to Galilee through the forsaken route of Samaria. John says, “he had to go through Samaria” in verse 4. Historians tell us that the Jews would go far out of their way to avoid Samaria, so what does John mean by saying he “had to” take this route? My answer tends to agree with those that suggest He had to go this route in order to set the stage for evangelizing Gentiles. He had to go this way because this is where He meets us: the lost, the least, and the lonely. He had to go this way because we need to learn how to go into places that would make our religious friends cringe.

John makes a point of showing Jesus’ humanity in verse 6,

and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. John 4:6

As I often confess in these writings, some portions of stories jump out to me like never before. The “had to” series above is one example. Another one is the point here: Jesus was tired. I don’t know if that’s significant, but the idea that Jesus, the One who was and is and will be needs to sit down catches my attention. It’s the middle of the day and he needs a break. Is this a signal for us to stop and pause from time to time? If Jesus needs to take a break, how about you? Obviously, this isn’t the point of the story, but it is an interesting sidenote.

John explains that the disciples have gone ahead into town to get some food leaving Jesus alone. This probably wasn’t all that unusual. Jesus went off to pray by Himself often; He didn’t need disciples tending to Him all the time.

The Woman

Jesus begins the conversation by asking the woman for a drink of water. Apparently, the well is deep and there is no communal bucket there for just anyone to drop and get some water. You’re supposed to show up with a rope and bucket.

The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) John 4:9

Jesus’ answer is not expected. The conversation quickly turns into a theological discussion.

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:10

This lady is sharp! She immediately jumps into the debate with Jesus by showing her knowledge of Jewish history. This wasn’t just a well, this was Jacob’s well and the concept of living water had many important distinctions.

but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” John 4:14-15

At this point, the story changes focus, so I suggest we pause here and reflect. Imagine we’re sitting with John as he is telling this story. I’m convinced he did this a hundred times — that’s why he wrote it down. John might have let this thought linger before transitioning into the life and history of the woman in the next part. Perhaps he would look into the eyes of those present and ask a few questions like, what water was Jesus referring to? What is this spring of water that leads to eternal life?

Instead of jumping ahead to read the rest of this story, take a moment and pray that the Spirit would speak to your heart about the lesson thus far. Imagine you are at the well and Jesus is talking to you. He actually wants to give you much more than that which you requested. You asked a simple question, but His response is for eternity.

This is our Master. This is our Lord and Savior. I truly believe He stands ready to give us far more than we could imagine if we would humble ourselves and simply ask with selfless hearts.

Continue to Part 2 — Jesus and the Woman at the Well

 

 

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John: Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

Read: John 3:1-15

The reading today takes us up to the infamous verse, John 3:16. It’s important to remember the context, so the title I chose for this post is intentionally focused on Nicodemus. He’s the Pharisee that heard about Jesus and sought Him after hours, under cover of darkness. Jesus has a lot to say to Nicodemus (and us) before John summarized the lesson in a statement that almost everyone has heard. This section paints the picture in dark or light, black or white. There is no gray mentioned here. It’s a tough lesson for a religious zealot from a few thousand years ago and it’s hard for many to accept in this present time. Let’s dive in and take a look!

Visitation at Night

Imagine you were part of a minority group that is trying to get a nation back on track with God. The Pharisees had a strong voice and were convinced their way was right. Their main rival was the Sadducees, the group that held a majority of positions in the Sanhedrin. The Sadducees were bound to the Torah, the first five books of what we call the Bible. They denied the resurrection, afterlife, and even the spiritual realm. Their beliefs seemed out of step with reality from our perspective and definitely something the Pharisees were trying to overshadow. (See GotQuestions.org for more.)

The picture I’m trying to paint is one of political maneuvering among the religious elite. This background is essential to understanding why Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council, had to show up at night — this was significant and unusual.

In addition, recall the events covered in John’s first few chapters: John the Baptist, calling of the disciples, miraculous water into wine, and clearing of the temple. There were probably other events that prompted Nicodemus to seek out Jesus, but John wants us to consider these before reading this chapter.

He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” John 3:2

Teaching the Teacher

As we begin to dive deep into this lesson, I have one last observation to set the stage. The Pharisees are notoriously at odds with Jesus. We know they were the group in particular that wanted to have Jesus killed. Yet Jesus accepted the opportunity to meet with Nicodemus. I would suggest His words are meant to encourage Nicodemus, not speak down to him. I read the interaction with great kindness, with care and love.

I hope this is an example for us to speak to others who are truly seeking to understand the essence of our faith. It’s impossible to show anyone what the heavenly realms look like, there has to be a leap of faith. That leap must be from a sure foundation to a certain destination. The foundation is Christ. The destination is eternal life with the Father.

Nicodemus is a teacher of teachers who came to learn from the greatest teacher of all. Perhaps he set out to test Jesus, to see where He stood on the Torah. He doesn’t even ask a question before Jesus jumps into an intense thought.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3:3

Nicodemus is a learned man. I’m convinced he knew that Jesus had more to say on this subject, but he’s trying to understand how to teach this to someone else.

“Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” John 3:4

Jesus now explains that which is difficult to understand. His explanation he gently rebukes Nicodemus,

“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? John 3:10

Even so, He provides details to challenge and stretch the imagination of many.

“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” John 3:5-6

We Speak and You People Don’t Believe

These few verses jump out at me this morning. Here Jesus’ words are “we speak” versus “you people.” Something is going on here. Pay particular attention to this passage in that light.

Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? John 3:11-12

Let the thought sink in. Jesus goes on to provide an example of Moses lifting up the snake in the wilderness, just as He will be lifted up on a cross. His testimony is compelling. I think they talked until dawn. In my imagination, I see Nicodemus with tears as he hears the words of the Messiah. I think he’s convinced and stuck at the same time.

We’ll see Nicodemus a few more times in this gospel account. My prayer that I would learn from his humility and great desire to learn from the Master.

I intended to include the next few verses, but as I got to this point, I wanted to pause and reflect on how much I am like Nicodemus. Raised in the church, steeped in religion, blessed beyond measure, yet lost in the world. I need to hear and appreciate the ensuing verses, but I need to wait a moment.

Lord, fill this place right now. Cast a light into the darkness that surrounds us. Show us that if we hold tightly to that which the world honors we will miss the blessing You have for each of us. This is a hard lesson to understand, but essential to our growth.

Breathe into us, Holy Spirit, fill our lungs with Your breath so we may be a blessing to everyone we meet today. Everyone.

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John: Jesus Clears the Temple Courts

Read: John 2:13-25

John wastes no time in documenting Jesus’ reaction to those making a profit off of people coming to the temple to offer sacrifices. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all place the event much later in their message, so I have to wonder why John places his emphasis so early in this account. It’s also important to keep in mind the significance of the previous discussion about turning water into wine. These events have deep meaning when we take time to step back and consider John’s intentions when compiling his narrative. Let’s dive in and take a look at the scene.

It’s nearly Passover, the huge event for all Jews since the days of Moses. Think of this as Christmas times ten (or more). It’s a very big deal. The people are coming to the temple as required by their law to offer sacrifices. Some of these folks have to travel a long way. It’s difficult and complicated. The solution: set up a system to buy what you need and save yourself some trouble! Hence, the merchants appear.

Convenience isn’t always synonymous with evil, so don’t get me wrong. I like having the Bible available in multiple translations on my mobile devices. It’s convenient. There’s no badge of honor to gain by carrying around fifty pounds of books. But there’s a problem when we choose the convenience and comfort over sacrifice and change of heart.

The system probably began with good intention, but humans are notorious for taking something good and making it bad by turning it into a self-serving profit-making opportunity. Jesus sees the heart. He’s not the least bit distracted by our outside appearances.

In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.John 2:14-15

Note: the animals were for sacrificing and money exchanging facilitated changing a wide variety of currencies into that which facilitated paying the temple tax. Here’s an interesting article if you want to go deeper [ Link ].

The disciples think back to what the Old Testament prophets described as one who was zealous about heartfelt worship, one who would not tolerate mechanical worship. The mere thought sends chills down my spine. Would Jesus come into our courts of worship with a whip? Take a look at my comment on the previous post. I truly don’t think Jesus was pleased with half-hearted, checkbox worship back then and I don’t think He’s the least bit happy about it now.

The Jewish leaders are completely confused. I have to imagine there was a ton of discussion and debate about this scattering of money and dispensing of animals. John only gives us a few highlights to reveal the religious leaders are completely confused. This bridges the span between water to wine in Cana and the next chapter when Nicodemus has to sneak in to talk to Jesus. Again, I’m fascinated with how John crafts the story.

The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” John 2:18-19

Here’s where the writing gets a bit cryptic. Jesus’ answer leaves them scratching their heads. Well, I’m in the same boat. John explains that Jesus is making the point that He is the temple and He will be resurrected, but Jesus’ brief response at that moment would not have adequately explained His authority or even come close to answering the question.

John is using the scene to make a point, he is setting up his Gospel account to tell the story of Jesus’ life while introducing us to theology that helps us understand why Jesus did what He did. The Jews can’t and won’t see the signs and wonders right before their eyes. Most are lost in a system of laws and rules that prevent them from understanding. Sound familiar?

Even back in those days, they were able to look back and see why He did these things.

After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. John 2:22

John is looking back at the events to provide a current explanation. This is beautifully written for us to appreciate the simple complexity. Compare, “Then they believed” here in verse 22 to “and His disciples believed in Him” in verse 11. Do you see how John is building his case for Christ?

I’ll leave you with John’s words today, much better than anything I might add:

But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person. John 2:24-25

 

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John: The Voice of One Calling in the Wilderness

Read: John 1:19-34

We are sure that John the Baptist is not the Apostle John, he’s not the one who wrote the Gospel of John, but the religious powers of his day couldn’t figure out who he was. John the Baptist was baptizing people at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River and apparently attracting quite a lot of attention, or perhaps from the Jewish leadership’s perspective, distracting a lot of people. One thing is sure. John knew his calling. He understood what his life was all about and was relentlessly pursuing Jesus.

John the Baptist:

Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” John 1:22-23

John’s mission was not to impress anyone with his importance. I don’t even think he was on a mission to gather disciples except where it would help promote the message of repentance and preparation for Jesus. John knows Jesus is among them. This is a truly overwhelming thought:

“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” John 1:26-27

“But among you…” is an audacious statement that has slipped by me in the past. He’s right here in front of you. And He will be revealed very soon. In fact, the way John (the Gospel writer) puts it, the very next day he has an encounter with Jesus.

John Testifies About Jesus.

Finally, after years of obedience with no guarantee of success, John the Baptist sees Jesus.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ John 1:29-30

John is speaking to his disciples, and he is speaking to us. This is the One, the Lamb of God, the One who was and is, the One who was before and is now. There’s a lot of doctrine wrapped up in this short phrase. I imagine they talked about the concept more than once. The prologue suggests this was something they thought about a lot.

John the Baptist didn’t know Jesus in this way as they grew up. They were cousins in an earthly sense, but their heavenly mission transformed both from ordinary men to extraordinary people from God.

John Knew His Mission on Earth.

I don’t know about you, but I often find myself praying for clarity, a clear mission statement. John had no doubt.

  • I came that he might be revealed to Israel: John 1:31
  • God sent me to baptize with water: John 1:33
  • I would see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ John 1:33

John knew his mission and he went about it zealously, day after day, with complete confidence holding nothing back.

Then it happened.

Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One. John 1:32, 34

Some Thoughts:

I think John was sure he would eventually see Jesus, but he had no idea of when. Day after day John was committed to his work. Each day he woke up, ate some honey and locusts, fluffed his wild hairdo, and then began preaching repentance and baptizing people. How many did he baptize before or after Jesus? No one knows, but try to imagine: one thousand fifty-three, fifty-four, fifty-five…on and on. The message was of utmost importance. Each time he had to wonder. Is this the one? Nope. Next one? Nope. Again and again.

Was John ever discouraged? There’s no indication that he ever missed a beat, but I have to wonder if he looked at the list of those he baptized a few times to see if he somehow missed the sign. That’s just my mind wandering because there are so many days when I question if I’m on the right track.

What is your wilderness today? You and I may not be standing in a river or eating locusts and wild honey, but if we can see beyond the physical realm and peek into the spiritual world that surrounds us, I think we would see the wilderness with some clarity. Of course, the tempter does not want us to see this nor does he want us to dwell on the thought.

Instead, I think Satan wants us to question being the voice in the wilderness. He wants us to think we are merely drawing attention to ourselves. He feeds us the lie that it’s all about our fame and fortune. I don’t want to say “we” too often. Perhaps you don’t get discouraged or confused, but I have found myself questioning my motives to the point of inaction. Does that make sense? Am I the only one holding back? Is my pursuit of ___ (fill in the blank) ___ all about promoting myself, or is it to help people in their walk with Christ? It sounds easy, but it’s not.

As I get older, my list of failures gets longer. The opportunity to dwell on that which did not work is far longer than the successes I have seen. Here’s the key: focus on the mission statement that was commanded: go and make disciples of Jesus, teach His commands, baptize in His name, repeat until the time on earth is done. If my daily activity is supporting the mission, whatever that activity is, I’m moving in the right direction.

Life in the wilderness may not easy at times, but in comparison to the sacrifice that Jesus made, it’s certainly worth the struggle. Enjoy the successes. When you fail, (and you will if you’re trying) lean forward and fall on your face. Fall forward. Then get up and try again.

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John: Introduction

For the next three months or so, we will study the book of John. The Apostle John adds a different perspective from Matthew, Mark, and Luke (known as the Synoptic Gospels). John includes stories that are not found elsewhere. He emphasizes the incarnation of Jesus as something we should wrap our minds around. The word incarnation is not one we use in everyday conversation, at least I don’t, but it’s an important concept to consider. Here’s how John defined it:

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Jesus was at the beginning as the Word, with God, and with the Holy Spirit. He was eternally present, rather, He is eternally present. (The whole notion of not being bound by time is hard to get my mind around.)

Incarnation means that Jesus, the Word, stepped into time and took on human flesh. John will invest quite a bit of energy trying to help us appreciate the importance of this distinction. I hope you’re willing to take the journey with me!

Different Perspective, Same Story

As mentioned early, John’s perspective is different, but this is all part of the same story.

While ninety percent of Mark’s stories appear in either Matthew or Luke, ninety percent of the Fourth Gospel—the Gospel of John—is unique. The Bible Project

Having read through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts, we now get to take a distinctly different view that should give us a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Messiah as fully human and fully divine.

Here’s a sketch of the Book of John that provides an insightful overview of his account of the life of Jesus.

TheBibleProject_John
Overview of John by The Bible Project

That’s pretty intense! I made a poster of this to help as we study the Gospel of John and I hope it’s helpful for you. Here are links to The Bible Project’s videos that provide a great overview: Part 1 Part 2.

Bible Study on the Gospel of John: Here’s the link to the page that contains the current handouts for those participating in the Bible study. [ Handouts ]

This will be an exciting journey as we learn about the life of Jesus through John’s personal encounter with the Son of God. Expect to be challenged. This is going to be fantastic!

Things I’ve Learned Along the Way

One of the many things I’ve paid particular attention to this time through the Bible is that Luke and Acts were written by Luke and can really be considered one continuous story. The Bible Project suggests there are five books, based on our modern Bible divisions, that are considered “the Gospel of Jesus.” Essentially, they combine Luke and Acts and refer to it as Luke-Acts. As I was blogging through Luke, it only seemed fitting that the post after Luke 24 should be from Acts 1. I didn’t read The Bible Project’s introduction before, but I definitely support their perspective now.

If I had read this statement a year ago, or if you asked me in a game of Bible Trivia, I would have said there are four books that form the Gospel. I would have been wrong.

The Forest

It’s important not to win a trivia contest and miss the opportunity to hear the voice of God through His word. This is not to suggest that we should merely swim on the surface, skimming over the deep details that make up the Bible. Nor am I suggesting we need to strap on some deepwater diving gear and go down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench to understand every pixel in every image portrayed.

Let’s meet somewhere in the middle. The internet provides links to a seemingly endless stream of information, but we only need so much to make sense of the context of the stories we read. I’m in awe of those who have dedicated their lives to add to the body of knowledge to support the biblical accounts.

Contemporary Context

My present effort is mostly focused on finding sources that appear trustworthy to help me understand the narrative better, especially as it seems to relate to our contemporary context. This is what I like to call the “so what” portion of every post. If my words don’t add to a better understanding of the passage, they fail the “so what” test. As I type the blog, I take lots of notes. Fortunately for you, there are many thoughts that get deleted when I review what’s written before hitting the “publish” button. Hopefully.

Some days I probably don’t review the words enough. That’s where you come in and that’s why there is a space for comments. My prayer is these words will inform and challenge, but when I leave a gap, please take a moment and fill it with your thoughts. That’s the challenge.

For those who prefer to listen to the posts, the podcast is available here: https://anchor.fm/dave-r-phillips. I’m still recording the posts, but it’s a start.

Index with Links to blog posts on John

I’ll update this list as we go through the Gospel of John

  1. Introduction to the series (this post)  podcast
  2. Prologue John 1:1-18  podcast
  3. The Voice of One Calling in the Wilderness John 1:19-34  podcast
  4. First Disciples Follow Jesus John 1:35-51 podcast
  5. Wedding in Cana, More Than a Miracle John 2:1-12  podcast
  6. Jesus Clears the Temple Courts John 2:13-25  podcast
  7. Jesus Teaches Nicodemus John 3:1-15   podcast
  8. For God So Loved the World John 3:16-21  podcast
  9. God Did Not Send Jesus to do His Dirty Work John 3:16-21  podcast
  10. The Baptist Teaches About Jesus John 3:22-36  podcast
  11. Jesus and the Woman at the Well — Part 1 John 4:1-15  podcast
  12. Jesus and the Woman at the Well — Part 2 John 4:16-26  podcast
  13. The Disciples at the Well John 4:27-42  podcast
  14. Take Jesus at His Word [Bible]John 4:43-54[/bible]  podcast
  15. Healing at the Pool: Do You Want to Get Well? John 5:1-15  podcast
  16. Jewish Leaders Begin to Persecute Jesus John 5:16-18  podcast
  17. Jesus Responds – The Authority of the Son John 5:19-30  podcast
  18. Testimonies About Jesus – The Canal John 5:31-47  podcast
  19. Feeding Thousands John 6:1-15  podcast
  20. Jesus Walks on Water – Don’t Be Afraid John 6:16-24 podcast
  21. Jesus is the Bread of Life John 6:25-59 podcast
  22. Who Can Accept This Hard Teaching? John 6:60-71 podcast
  23. Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles John 7:1-13 podcast
  24. Jesus Teaches at the Festival of Tabernacles John 7:14-24 podcast
  25. Division Over Who Jesus Is John 7:25-44 podcast
  26. Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders John 7:45-52 podcast
  27. Woman Caught Committing Adultery John 7:53-8:11 podcast
  28. Jesus Declares, “I Am the Light of the World” John 8:12-20
  29. Many Believed and Picked Up Stones to Stone Him John 8:21-59
  30. Blind From Birth Now Healed, Part 1 John 9:1-7
  31. Blind from Birth Now Healed, Part 2 John 9:8-34
  32. Blind from Birth Now Healed, Part 3 John 9:35-41
  33. Reflecting on “Blind from Birth” John 9
  34. The Good Shepherd John 10:1-21
  35. The Controversy Intensifies John 10:22-42
  36. Jesus Wept John 11:1-44
  37. Jesus Wept, Another Point of View John 11:17-37
  38. The Plot to Kill Jesus Brews John 11:45-57
  39. Jesus Anointed at Bethany John 12:1-11
  40. Palm Sunday John 12:12-19
  41. Jesus Predicts His Death — The Hour Has Come John 12:20-37
  42. Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews John 12:37-50
  43. Jesus Washes Their Feet John 13:1-17
  44. Jesus Predicts His Betrayal John 13:18-30
  45. Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial John 13:31-38
  46. Jesus Comforts His Disciples John 14:1-14
  47. Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit John 14:15-31
  48. The True Vine and Branches John 15:1-17
  49. The World Will Hate You Because of Jesus John 15:18-25
  50. The Promise of the Holy Spirit John 15:26-16:4a
  51. Unless I Go, the Advocate Will Not Come John 16:4-15
  52. Grief Will Turn to Joy John 16:16-33
  53. Glorify God By Doing The Work John 17:1-5
  54. Jesus Prays for His Disciples John 17:6-19
  55. Jesus Prays for All Believers John 17:20-26
  56. Jesus Arrested John 18:1-14
  57. Jesus Questioned by the High Priest and Peter’s Denials John 18:15-27
  58. Pilate’s Problem John 18:28-19:16a
  59. Jesus Crucified John 19:16b-42
  60. The Empty Tomb John 20:1-10
  61. Jesus Appears John 20:11-29
  62. The Purpose of this Gospel John 20:30-31
  63. Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish John 21:1-14
  64. Peter is Reinstated by Jesus John 21:15-25
  65. 1 John Introduction and the Word of Life 1 John 1:1-4
  66. Light, Darkness, Sin, and Forgiveness 1 John 1:5-2:2
  67. Obedience in Love 1 John 2:3-11
  68. Why John Wrote this Letter 1 John 2:12-17
  69. Who is the Liar? 1 John 2:18-27
  70. Children of God Don’t Keep On Sinning 1 John 2:28-3:10
  71. Love With Action and Truth 1 John 3:11-24
  72. Jesus in the Flesh is a Huge Barrier 1 John 4:1-6
  73. Whoever Does Not Love Does Not Know God 1 John 4:7-21
  74. The Command to Love 1 John 4:20-5:4
  75. Whoever Has the Son Has Life 1 John 5:5-12
  76. Conclusion of 1 John 1 John 5:13-21
  77. 2 John – Walking in Truth 2 John 1
  78. 3 John – Greet the friends by name

 

The Synoptic Gospels: The word “synoptic” comes from the Greek word synoptikos, meaning “able to be seen together.” Source: https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/synoptic-gospels/

Podcast

I’m working on a Podcast to go along with this series. Stay tuned in at the following link if you enjoy listening on the go!
https://anchor.fm/dave-r-phillips

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Acts: Paul Sails for Rome

Read: Acts 27

Luke invites us to join him on Paul’s voyage to Rome. The detailed account of this story is probably based on Luke’s experience with Paul on this journey. In the narrative, we read many nautical terms that demonstrate their familiarity with traveling by sea. I’ve heard sermons in the past from retired Navy Captains that are incredibly enlightening in this context. I’m not a sailor myself, but even I can feel the tension that’s present in this chapter.

It’s a great story that continues to show Paul as one who is constantly focused on his ministry. There are many actors in the drama including the ship’s captain, a Roman centurion, sailors, prisoners, Aristarchus, Luke, and Paul. All set out on a journey that will be fraught with trouble from the beginning because they chose to sail at a time when most would have waited.

Julius the Centurion

Julius is the Roman leader responsible for delivering Paul and the prisoners to their final destination. It’s interesting the Luke and Aristarchus are included in the narrative since they were obviously not prisoners. One sermon I listened to compared the ship to that of a modern city bus, stopping at ports along the way, some passengers got on and off as desired. Julius made sure his people were accounted for.

For some reason, when they get to the port in Sidon, Julius allowed Paul to visit his friends.

Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs. Acts 27:3

I believe this was synonymous with ministering to a church he planted in that city or surrounding areas. Whether Julius was a Christ-follower or not is pure speculation, but he was certainly committed to ensuring Paul would complete his journey…even if he didn’t always agree with Paul.

…instead of listening to what Paul said, [Julius] followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. Acts 27:11-12

Julius wasn’t always right, but he was definitely in charge.

The Storm Rages On

For 14 days they were tossed about, a frightening time at sea, even for the most experienced.

On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. Acts 27:19-20

All hope was lost, except for Paul. At the beginning Paul provided his recommendation to stay put, to avoid sailing at this time of year. He reminds them of this advice when he tells them about a visit from an angel. This is significant:

21 …Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” Acts 27:21-16

His advice was not prophetic, but the rest of what Paul has to say is from the angel. Not one will perish, but the ship will indeed be lost.

Paul said they would be saved, he did not promise it would be easy.

Julius is on Paul’s side now and prevents the soldiers from killing the prisoners. He believes Paul completely at this point. Though God’s providence, they are indeed shipwrecked, all make it to the shore successfully. All 276 people. When I read this number, my perspective changed quite a bit. This was not a small little boat being tossed about. Even if the prisoners made up the majority of the count and were bound in close quarters, this was a sizeable vessel.

Paul’s Ministry Continued

Through it all, we see Paul consistently stayed on mission. I can’t imagine after 14 days of being tossed about with no sun and no stars that I could stand among starving people and suggest,

Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” Acts 27:33-34

Paul was obedient and one hundred percent sure that they would all arrive in Rome. Jesus told him he would. There was no room for doubt.

Is there something you’ve heard from God that leaves you without a doubt? Have you been able to quiet your mind long enough to let your heart feel the presence of the Holy Spirit? I’m not going to lie and tell you I have complete clarity, but I will keep praying, meditating, listening, and seeking Jesus with all of my heart until I come face-to-face with my Savior. I hope you will too.

The journey is not safe, but the destination is worth it. Sail on people, sail on.

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Acts: King Agrippa and Bernice Hear Paul’s Testimony

Read: Acts 25:13-26:32

This narrative begins with Festus talking to King Agrippa and his sister Bernice about an interesting case, i.e., Paul and the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem. Festus had a problem. He didn’t know how to write the letter to the Emporer, so he took the opportunity to ask Agrippa and Bernice for advice. King Agrippa is intrigued by the case and asks to have a chat with Paul. Festus made the arrangements for the next day. Paul seized the opportunity to tell his story all wrapped up in the gospel message. We don’t really know if Agrippa and Bernice were changed, but Paul was able to share the message with clarity, though he remained a prisoner.

Festus

Of all the things Festus likely talked to Agrippa about, he chose to discuss the odd case of Paul and the Jews. It’s not surprising that he would bring this up because Agrippa knew a lot about the Jews. Paul uses this detail in his argument (see Acts 26:3). Festus’ summary includes an absurd notion that the central character The Way, Jesus, was crucified but is no longer dead.

Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges. Acts 25:19-20

At a loss, he appeals to one he hoped to please.

Agrippa and Bernice

Agrippa yields the floor to Paul and invites him to speak. As mentioned above, Paul’s argument includes an appropriate preamble:

King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently. Acts 26:2-3

I love the way Paul sets up his defense with respect and dignity. There’s a lesson to learn in that alone. He also clears the way for taking some time to explain his case completely, i.e., present the entire Gospel message.

Paul’s defense adds to the narrative Luke provided in Acts 9. Considering his desire to chronicle events in an orderly fashion, I would suggest this is by design. Paul’s conversion (as Saul) in Acts 9 focuses on the interaction with Ananias. Here, the focus is more on his interaction with Jesus.

We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ Acts 26:14

The explanation and reference at the bottom of this post explain that:

To “kick against the goads” is nothing less than an exercise in vanity; futile and pointless. The Greeks and Romans used this saying to imply ‘ruinous resistance.’See Goads

Agrippa and Bernice patiently listen to the entire presentation. They know what Paul is getting at, Festus is not quite following when Paul explains that Jesus was resurrected from the dead.

Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” Acts 26:24

Agrippa gets it:

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Acts 26:28

I love Paul’s response, and while I know I’m including lots of quotes here, I’m not ashamed:

Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” Acts 26:29

Short or long, we’re in this for the long haul.

I pray that each of us will be patient as we pursue our call to ministry, our deep desire to reach those who are lost and make disciples of the world. Join Paul in praying that all who are listening will become a follower of Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

Goads: The phrase was a common expression found in both Greek and Latin literature at the time of St. Paul. It was a rural image, which rose from the practice of farmers goading their oxen in the fields. Goads were typically made from slender pieces of timber, blunt on one end and pointed on the other. Farmers used the pointed end to urge a stubborn ox into motion. Foolishly, an ox might kick against the goad, causing injury and pain to its leg. Source

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Acts: Paul and Festus

Read: Acts 25:1-22

Paul’s time in prison continued in Caesarea when Festus succeeded Felix. To properly understand what’s going on here, I have to try and think like the presiding governors of that time. As I consider the events of that time, the story makes much more sense. Paul appears to have access to information about continued threats for his life by the Jews hell-bent on killing him. Even if he didn’t have a constant stream of updates, it’s reasonable to accept that those sworn to kill him would look for any opportunity to complete their vows.

Festus and the Jewish Leaders

Just after Festus took charge, the Jewish leaders seek him out and attempt to get access to Paul.

They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. Acts 25:3

Festus would not lower himself to be manipulated by the Jewish leaders. Politically speaking, it made no sense that he would capitulate so early in his time as governor of the region. If they wanted to play, they would have to come on his terms in his stronghold.

Prisons

One of the questions that come to mind concerns that of what prisons were like back in A.D. 50. As I researched this topic I found it interesting to consider that prisons were focused on holding people for trial or execution. In other words, people weren’t incarcerated for a period of time as punishment. Prisons were a holding tank for those two primary reasons. If you were waiting for a trial, the wait could be quite long, as in Paul’s case. If you were waiting for execution, it’s just a matter of logistics: you’ll be executed when it’s convenient for the executioner.

Sidenote on Felix

Several questions remain unanswered in my mind and I couldn’t help but backtrack a bit. Paul’s interaction with Felix is interesting. Remember that Luke added that Felix was hoping for a bribe in Acts 24:26. Paul was a man of influence, even Felix could see that. His perspective seems to be focused on how to benefit from having Paul as his prisoner. I found the following post from Birmingham Theological Seminary well written and quite interesting:

Now, in God’s mysterious providence, Felix was a dishonest ruler. Based on the insufficient accusations against Paul, Felix could have released him. But he didn’t. Instead, he saw an opportunity for personal gain. So, he held off ruling on the case, preferring to wait for Paul to offer him a bribe. Source

Felix essentially owned Paul. He could keep him restrained indefinitely under the guise of protection for Paul and peace for the region. This continued for two years as Luke noted in Acts 24:27, roughly A.D. 57-59.

The Trial (sorta)

The Jewish leaders made the journey to Caesarea to present their case against Paul for Festus to hear.

When Paul came in, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him. They brought many serious charges against him, but they could not prove them. Acts 25:7

We’re not given a lot of details here, but it seems like the same questions were considered along with the same lack of evidence to prove that Paul had done anything to motivate Festus to take action.

Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” Acts 25:8

Paul’s words are carefully chosen to reiterate this is a Roman matter, which implies that Festus needs to remain in control. The Jewish argument about desecrating their temple is of little interest to the Romans. It appears the Jewish attorney must have implied Paul was a problem for Caesar.

Let’s not forget that Jesus appeared to Paul in a vision and told him “so you must also testify in Rome” (Acts 23:11). Here is Paul’s opportunity.

If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!” Acts 25:11

The words, “I appeal to Caesar” are significant. Festus confers with his council and declares:

You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go! Acts 25:12

Some Thoughts

In our modern world, at least in this society, we might consider having a case appealed up through judicial lines all the way to the Supreme Court. This is an expensive process in both time and money with no guarantee of success. The Supreme Court can refuse to hear the case, send it back to the lower court, or worse, deny the justice we sought at the beginning.

Though I’m sure there are a thousand technical differences, the concept was the same for Paul. He was fueled by Jesus’ clear statement to present his case, and therefore the Gospel message, in Rome. But there were no guarantees. He simply had to remain true to his calling and obedient to his task.

Lord, I pray that I can be consistent in a world that wants to pull me one way or another depending on the desire of those around me.

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