Tag: miracle

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John: Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles

Read John 7:1-13

If we were Jewish or celebrated with our Jewish brothers, this would be the time of year when the Feast of Tabernacles would kick into high gear. John uses the backdrop of this festival to highlight some significant lessons for us to consider. The first vignette is a look at the interaction between Jesus and His brothers. We read words about the growing separation between those who follow Jesus and those who are convinced He is dangerous. In effect, He certainly is dangerous, but not for the reasons anyone is proposing.

It’s been about six months since the last chapter. John picks up the story by giving us just a little background, things people in the first-century church would have known well.

Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near… John 7:1-2

John continues to remind us to look for those who are conspiring to kill Jesus throughout his narrative. Think of it this way, imagine you are watching a movie with someone who knows how the mystery is solved. Throughout the show, they keep saying things like, “did you see that person?” or “watch this part carefully.” Beyond just spoiling the movie, they’re trying to help you see how the plot unfolds. This is how John writes.

The setting is during the last festival of the year. The Feast of Tabernacles was designed to be a joyous time of celebration for the whole Jewish community.

Be joyful at your festival—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns. For seven days celebrate the festival to the Lord your God at the place the Lord will choose. For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete. Deuteronomy 16:14-15

Sons and daughters, male and female servants, even foreigners, widows and orphans are welcomed and expected to join in the seven-day festival. Wow! Can we not keep some of these old customs? Can you imagine a celebration that went on for an entire week?

Jesus’ earthly father was Joseph. Though we don’t know how long Joseph was around after His birth, I’m convinced he took Jesus to all the festivals, that he participated with the rest of the village. I like to think that this was something their whole family looked forward to each year, every season. It’s helps me to think this way because it puts me in their sandals for a bit. This was a big deal.

With that context, listen in on the conversation that John records between Jesus and His brothers.

Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him. John 7:3-5

His own brothers did not believe in Him. It would be a while before James would become a follower of his brother. I’m pretty sure I’d be with His brothers, chiding Him along, suggesting that He do His miracle “show” for all to see (sarcasm sign flashing brightly).

You can’t see the cursor flashing on my screen. I’m sitting here replaying the scene in my imagination. His brothers have no idea what’s going on, they’re too close to the fire, they can’t see the flame. Jesus is patient with them. He doesn’t call down fire on them and vanquish them from the earth. He simply tries to explain that this is not His time.

Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. You go to the festival… John 7:6-8a

He gives them a lesson about the world that they’ll have to think about for a while. In a relatively short time, Jesus will be crucified in front of them. These are some heavy words He wants them to ponder.

Jesus sends them on to the feast without Him. I imagine this was the first time in their life that this happened. I can’t prove that, but it makes sense given their heritage. I also imagine James making a note. At least I hope so.

Secretly, Jesus shows up after the festival gets going. The leaders and the crowds are wondering why He hasn’t shown up. It’s odd. He’s usually around during these events.

Rumors begin to spread: “Where is he?”, “He is a good man”, “No, he deceives people.”

But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders. John 7:13

Lots of gossip, whispers in the crowds are heard, but not loud enough to get the attention of the religious leaders.

This is the tension I feel these days when I’m surrounded by nominal Christians, those checking their boxes, completing their duties, yet lacking the heart of one who truly follows Christ. Not that I have my act together, but I am seeking to follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit, attempting to become an authentic Christ follower. I’m closer today than a year ago, but still have a way to go.

We don’t have to wait too long this time. Jesus makes His appearance in the next section. Until then, think about what it feels like to go to something like this festival without your brother for the first time. Imagine what it’s like to turn and walk away, convinced that he is the one who is lost. Dwell in that place for a short time, but don’t stay there. You know the rest of the story. My prompt is meant to slow you down a bit. Let the dissonance hang.

 

 

Every biblical holiday given to the Jewish people has three aspects. Israel was to observe the holiday in the present in order to remember something God had done in the past while looking forward to some future prophetic purpose hidden within each festival. This is true for their weekly observance of Shabbat, as well as for the annual pilgrimage festivals of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

During the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot, the Jewish people were to gather together in Jerusalem not only to remember God’s provision in the Wilderness but also to look forward to that promised Messianic age when all nations will flow to this city to worship the Lord.

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John: Jesus Walks on Water — Don’t Be Afraid

Read John 6:16-24

John’s version of Jesus walking on water is concise. We have to look around for some more details, but we shouldn’t miss the point that Jesus is Lord of all and wants us to know that we should not be afraid as we fight the battles in this life.

John sets up the story by emphasizing the disciples were acting as a group separated from Jesus.

When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. John 6:16-17

Looking back at verse 15 we remember that Jesus “withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” This is somewhat remarkable to me, not only did He find time by Himself–He did it again! This isn’t the first or last time that Jesus will separate Himself from others.

Why didn’t they wait for Jesus?

Matthew and Mark add some insight into this story (see: Matthew 14:22-33 and Mark 6:45-51

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. Matthew 14:22
Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. Mark 6:45

Now it makes sense why they were in the boat without Jesus. Perhaps John leaves this detail out to focus on the miracle itself. In other words, it’s more important to focus on the idea that they were miles out in rough waves when Jesus appeared to them.

But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” John 6:20

Try and imagine the scene. The day began with crowds gathering and Jesus teaching the masses. They witnessed the miracle of feeding thousands with a few loaves and fishes, then Jesus slipped away. He sent these select few away, told them to take a boat and go. They obeyed their Master. Shortly before dawn, in the darkest of times, the disciples are in the middle of the lake, a storm is tossing them about, and they see someone walking toward them. I’m delirious just thinking about the scene.

How is it possible that Jesus is walking on the water towards them?

It is not possible, except for this: Jesus is God incarnate. He is Lord of all. He demonstrated His power by feeding thousands, now He shows His authority over nature. Who saw this? A handful of faithful followers. What was His main message?

Do not be afraid.

All three accounts of the story agree on this point. Jesus is teaching lots of things at one time, but the most important lesson is to not be afraid. To say this in a positive way, be courageous.

We’re going to have to be courageous to follow His command to seek and save the lost, to go and make disciples. We will likely have trouble in earthly terms like wind and waves, but the battle in the spiritual realm is far greater, much riskier, and far more deadly. We rage war against the Prince of Darkness. We need to hear the words: don’t be afraid!

One of the most frightening thoughts I’ve had in the last few days is that of the evil that is present in every city, every town, and shows up relentlessly on a daily basis. I don’t watch the news, but I do look at news sources online. I’m saddened by accidents on highways that claim lives, but I’m moved much deeper by accounts of men and women perpetrating crimes.

The ones we read about are the ones that get caught. Others happen that we know nothing about. What we do know is that they are inspired by a force that we are told to fight against.

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19

Don’t be afraid. There is a lot to be afraid of in this world, but we who are called to be followers of the One who walks on water, who feeds thousands with a word, who heals the infirmed, must not be afraid. The short time we walk on earth is an opportunity to be a people that stand against the gates of hell and we will not lose!

Each of us is called into the battle, into the fight. If you hear nothing else, hear this: Don’t be afraid. Jesus promises to be with us in this battle.

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John: Feeding Thousands

Read John 6:1-15

The commentators recommend reading the entire chapter to get the complete understanding of John’s perspective. The essence of the chapter is being fed by God, both physically and spiritually. We start with physical nourishment, but Jesus uses this miracle as a huge teaching point that most, including those closest to Him, cannot understand. Just thinking about it in these terms causes me to pause and wonder. When we look at this quick outline of the chapter, I think I can understand why:

Notice that Jesus recognized and participated in Jewish traditions. He was all about change, but He respected the feasts and other events that were part of Jewish culture during His time on earth. Most of these feasts were established during the time of Moses.

The references to Moses are not random or arbitrary. These people revere Moses as one of the most important men in history. He led them through the Red Sea; Jesus walked on water. The people complained and through Moses, they received manna (from God, of course); Jesus fed thousands from little. The people remember that Moses was the leader who stood up to Pharoah, but Jesus will not be seen as the leader these people expect.

One of my motivations for blogging through the Old Testament a few years ago was the need to understand the history that was in the minds of the disciples. They knew the old stories well; I did not. When Jesus makes tangential references to Moses, Elisha, etc., we can understand the concept much more when we have a grasp of the whole story. My goal here is to motivate you to read the Old Testament through this perspective if nothing else! Here are a few links:

Read the whole chapter with these thoughts in mind, then come back and consider the first part.

Feeding Thousands

One of the rare parallels through all four gospel records includes this miracle. Some suggest that John used Mark’s notes to write this section. That may be the case, but what is significant to me is the fact that all four include this narrative: Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:35-44, and Luke 9:10-17.

In John’s account of this miracle, Jesus does more than just feed people, He tests Philip (and likely the other disciples who weren’t about to jump to Philip’s aid).

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. John 6:5-6

Philip has no idea how to answer Jesus; the task is far too daunting. Andrew chimes in with an idea, but he’s cautious:

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:8-9

Did they actively search the vast crowd? In my imagination, I can see the disciples trying to help Philip out, looking for an answer that might come close enough that their Master would fill in the gaps. Andrew takes the bold step with a caveat to save himself from certain embarrassment.

Side note: John points out that the bread Andrew found was from that of a boy and that it was made from barley. Commentators report that barley loaves were considered poor man’s bread, something like our present day pita bread. The reference to a boy is not unique, but it brings to mind the contribution of children to the kingdom. The vast majority of secret churches in China are run by teenage girls. Who would have thought boys and girls would play such important roles in advancing the kingdom? End of side note.

Jesus blesses the bread and fish and thousands of people are fed. Five thousand men were not alone. The total crowd size would have likely exceeded 10,000 people. This isn’t the point. Even if it was only 5,000 the miracle is far beyond any expectations. The crowd is moved by the miracle. Something special is going on here!

After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” John 6:14

It’s interesting that there’s no reference to the teaching that Jesus no doubt provided. Such a large crowd must have included a worship band, prayers of the people, and of course, a sermon! Sorry, I’m a bit cynical. Forget that last part.

The food provided a sign that His message must have indicated. They heard His words, I’m sure of it, but more than that, they saw His hands perform a miracle. This is what they’ve been waiting for.

Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. John 6:15

Jesus and the disciples were way outnumbered. He escapes and sends the disciples out by boat. We’ll cover that story next!

Jesus is Not an Idol

We cannot put Jesus on display as our personal Lord and Savior — He’s not an idol to put on a mantle. He will not be placed in a box, not with a fox, not in a house, not with a mouse. No Sam I am, He will not. Ah, the wisdom of Dr. Seuss and Green Eggs and Ham.

Jesus withdraws from the crowd that wants to be led from the tyranny of the Roman empire. While this is a noble cause, it misses the point that we’ll discover as we continue reading.

Lord, help us understand the whole story as we wrestle to appreciate each piece!

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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: Take Jesus at His Word

Read: John 4:43-54

Are you willing to take Jesus at His word and believe? The central character in this story is an officer in Herod’s regime, “a certain royal official,” who begs Jesus to heal his son. The passionate plea was met with a sharp response, but Jesus healed the son anyway. The official had faith while the Jews kept their distance and watched.

Time with Gentiles

This story begins as a continuation of the previous interaction with the Samaritans. “After the two days” (John 4:43) refers to Jesus’ stay with them as a result of the woman’s testimony. Many Samaritans came to believe. Now we see another example of a Gentile, that is a non-Jew, interacting with Jesus. I wonder if He grew tired of the political and social divisions that separated people? In Pastor Kurt Stutler’s message yesterday, he pointed out that social segregation was far worse in the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry than we see in 2018. It’s hard to believe, yet true!

Welcome or Not?

On the surface, this verse seems favorable:

When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there. John 4:45

However, as we look at the parenthetical comment in the previous verse along with Jesus’ assertion that they only want to see signs and wonders, we have to conclude that the phrase “welcomed him” should have had air-quotes around it. What they wanted was the show to continue, to a lesson to learn. The last thing these Jewish people wanted was to hear what Jesus had to say. Instead, they wanted more wine and miraculous healing.

The Official

The unlikely encounter with a Gentile official from Herod’s court shows that Jesus is not one to be put in a box. Somehow the official humbles himself and begs Jesus for the life of his son. As a parent, it’s pretty easy to understand. True life and death situations involving our children have a tendency to strip off all signs of pretense and authority. The official had heard about Jesus. This might be his only chance.

When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. John 4:47-50

The official goes from frantically finding Jesus and begging for Him to make the 20-mile journey to his home and heal his son to simply hearing and believing in one simple moment. What did that look like? Did the official have a come-back to Jesus’ rhetorical question?  Did they lock eyes? Did the disciples form a circle and let the man in to meet Jesus? Who knows?

At some point, the man had an encounter with Jesus and knew without a shadow of a doubt that His word was the word. Enough said. It is done.

The disciples spent hours and hours with Jesus and yet they struggled to have the faith of a Gentile serving in the oppressive court of Herod. We may be in good company, but that’s no excuse to lack faith.

Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. John 4:53

Lord help us to look into your eyes and believe. Increase our faith. Replace unbelief with radical courage. Holy Spirit, You are alive in us. Shake us up to be on mission for Christ as you have gifted us so that all would believe!

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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: Wedding in Cana, More Than a Miracle

Read: John 2:1-12

What if turning water into wine was more than just a miraculous event? This is one of those stories I’ve heard many times, but today, I’m hearing more than just a miracle. As I blog through the Bible this time around, especially the New Testament, I’m trying to get to know the author of each book. In this case, John chose to include this story early on in his writing. Why?

There’s no doubt that John witnessed miracle after miracle, so why did he choose this to be the first miracle presented to those who would read his account of the greatest story ever told? Was it about the wedding or about the wine? What if it were both?

So far, it seems like I’m asking a lot more questions than providing answers. We’ll get to work on the text in just a minute, but first I’d like you to step back a moment and imagine you’re sitting in a room where the Apostle John, the one Jesus loved, is collecting his thoughts. There’s a large table in front of him scattered with parchments and scrolls. He’s reflecting on all the stories, 1,000 days of wandering around with Jesus, the Messiah. Then he looks at you and invites you to sit down, to ask whatever questions you might have. Here’s my first question:

Why turn water into wine?

Easy. They ran out of wine. While this is true, is this the entire story? In the book Multiply, by Francis Chan and Mark Beuving, we are warned about reading too much into the story. We’re encouraged to see the plain meaning when the meaning is plain. Here’s the text:

When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” John 2:3

Weddings are an important celebration, especially in the Jewish culture. They last for days and are filled with traditions to give the bride and groom something to talk about for the rest of their lives.

Weddings mark the beginning of a new relationship. They are the proverbial pin in the map. From this day forward, the couple will be referred to as one. He goes with her and she goes with him. One. Whole. Complete.

John looked at all the notes in front of him and chose this event as the first miracle to set the stage for the gospel. It starts with something happening that has never been seen before and it’s intentionally placed to put us in the right frame of mind.

You probably know the story. Mary points out the fact that there is no more wine as quoted above. This indicates that the wedding planners failed to consider something, they underestimated the number of people or drinks or whatever and now the wonderful memory is about to be tarnished. Jesus’ reaction lets us know that He didn’t want that to happen, but he also didn’t want to make a scene at this time. That is the plain meaning of the story and that is a good thing.

“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” John 2:4

Jesus gives instructions anyway. John doesn’t tell us that He rolled His eyes at His mom or anything, though plenty of preachers have had some fun with this passage. The jugs were filled with water and miraculously turned into wine. When the master of the banquet tasted the wine he was shocked. This was far better than the wine they started with! He explains,

but you have saved the best till now. John 2:10

Exactly! The entire story of the history of the people of God was the original wine for the beginning of the party. Now the best wine is being served: Jesus. What you had was good, but this is even better. It’s miraculous and it’s amazing.

John caps off the story with this statement:

What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. John 2:11

The disciples got it. They knew before, but now they know much more, though they still have many days and miracles to go! This is just the beginning of a new story, John’s version of the story of Jesus.

 

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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 Finally Gets to Rome

Read: Acts 28:1-15

After the shipwreck, as Paul prophesied, they all landed safely on the shores of Malta. The Islanders were kind-hearted people that were definitely not Jewish and unfamiliar with Christ. Paul probably thought this was an amazing opportunity! Luke provides a firsthand account of the miracles on Malta which serve to ignite Paul’s ministry there. After wintering on the island, they finally get to Rome where word of their arrival was anticipated by brothers and sisters of the faith. They were all received well.

The Roman centurion, Julius, must have been truly impressed by these events. Luke doesn’t mention him in his narrative directly, but Acts 28:16 indicates that Paul was allowed to live by himself with only a Roman guard. I’m confident that Paul was not trying to impress Julius, he was merely serving the Lord by his actions. Yet I am sure that Julius watched carefully and I hope that his observations led him to Christ. We certainly have no information that would support his conversion, so I’m not trying to add to scripture. It’s just important to appreciate that people will observe how we act, how we treat each other and draw their own conclusions about Christianity based on what they see. This is exactly what the Maltese people did.

Miracles on Malta

These were a kind people. They didn’t need doctrine or theology to help those who were in need. I imagine they say the ship as it approached the island, then the nearly 300 castaways as they found the beach simply trying to survive.

The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Acts 28:2

The island is situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. My guess is this wasn’t a completely unusual event. As I researched Paul’s voyage to Rome several commentators concluded that it was crazy to sail at this time of year. Even without The Weather Channel, they knew it was a bad time to have large cargo ships sailing about.

With the fire started, Paul gathered wood to help warm things up and was bitten by a viper which attached itself to his hand. The Islanders concluded Paul must have been truly evil.

This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live. Acts 28:4

What happened next would likely be responsible for changing the course of history for the island nation of Malta. Paul merely shook the snake off of his hand and went about his business. The Islanders decided that Paul must be a god!

Next up, the chief official of the island, Publius, welcomed Paul and his group to his home. Again we read about incredible generosity. I’m reminded that people can be incredibly loving without knowing Christ. Just because people aren’t following Jesus, they are not inherently bad, but they still need Jesus!

At some point Publius let Paul know that his father was ill.

His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. Acts 28:8

I wonder if Paul (or Luke) mentioned that Christ could heal the sick as they spoke? In my mind, Paul’s kindness matched Publius’ hospitality. He walked into his father’s room and felt compassion. I don’t envision any religious display or rituals, just simply caring for the sick. Paul likely spoke to him, then prayed and through the power of Christ healed him. Luke tells us that the rest of those who were sick came and Paul healed them all. I think that would cement my decision to follow Christ!

Paul’s 3-month visit to Malta had a profound impact on their history. According to The World Factbook (CIA), Malta is more than 90% Roman Catholic based on 2006 estimates. I’m pretty sure they have a fondness for Saint Paul.

Welcome to Rome

Once winter was over, they made arrangments to head to Rome. Luke provides details of the journey with specific references to the ports they made on their way.

There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. Acts 28:14

Somehow they knew Paul was arriving. This part of the story has a warm and happy ending.

At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. Acts 28:15

The journey to Rome has been a long and difficult road. Imprisoned for years and still in custody, Paul made the best of bad times and stayed focused on ministering to those he meets wherever he goes.

One of the phrases I really dislike, and I’m sure I’ve mentioned it in my blog before, is the idea that “things could be worse.” Anytime trouble arrives at my front door whether, in the form of sickness, family, finances, friends, or rejection, someone has to say, “well, it could be worse.” *sigh* Let me avoid being guilty of suggesting we read Paul’s account and compare our current problems with his as a way of diminishing whatever trials we are going through today.

Paul did not seek to be arrested to preach in Rome. He certainly didn’t choose threats on his life or being shipwrecked. He simply chose to stay focused on spreading the Gospel. His reputation proceeded him. My prayer is that my own focus would be fixed on Christ, that every conversation would be lined with compassion, care, and concern. Our mission is clear and unique to each of us. Go and make disciples with the assurance that Jesus is with you!

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