Tag: pray

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John: Who Can Accept This Hard Teaching?

Read John 6:60-71

The last section in this chapter challenges us all to accept that which is hard to understand. Those of us that have worn the Christian badge for many years might have a hard time understanding the challenge here, but I want to strongly encourage you (exhort) to read this chapter from the eyes of one who does not yet believe. If His closest disciples found this concept difficult, we need to check our own hearts as well.

There are two groups of disciples in this narrative: The Twelve and The Many. I’m not exactly sure how this all worked in those days, but the concept of discipleship was common in that culture. Actually, it’s common in our culture, but we don’t use the term outside of church very often. Apprentice might be a more universally accepted title. The structure is the same, however. One learns from someone who is a bit farther down the road in their learning. Nothing new here, just setting the stage for understanding the hierarchy that existed amongst those who are listening to Jesus.

As with the previous post, it’s important to look one verse back to appreciate the current text. In this case, we see that Jesus is teaching in the synagogue. The group that’s gathered there chose to be in the audience; they came to learn. In other words, this is not a random group of people on a street corner, the people in this story are those who were immersed in Jewish culture.

Since this is the last post for chapter six, I also want to zoom out a bit and look at the lesson John is teaching us in this writing. If we examine the chapter as a single lesson with multiple parts, we gain some rich insight into how John is trying to help us understand Jesus’ methods.

Let’s expand the structure with what we’ve learned in each post:

  • John: Feeding Thousands – John 6:1-15.
    • Jesus cares about our physical needs.
    • The crowd wants to control Jesus.
    • They eventually ask for food that does not spoil.
  • John: Jesus Walks on Water – Don’t Be Afraid – John 6:16-24.
    • Jesus cares about His disciples.
    • They are afraid, but Jesus comforts them.
    • Between the two episodes, reverence for Jesus is increased.
  • John: Jesus is the Bread of Life – John 6:25-59.
    • Jesus is the answer to eternal life.
    • He is the Son of God.
    • He must die in order to be raised up.
    • Blood must be shed.
    • Eternal life is ONLY possible through His death and resurrection (this becomes clear as we read more of John’s teaching).
  • Many Disciples Desert Jesus – John 6:60-71.
    • Many, if not most, won’t be able to accept this teaching.
    • The Twelve are confused; this is a new lesson for everyone.
    • Those who were on the fence about Jesus simply can’t accept this teaching.

It’s amazing that the disciples have the guts to say this is hard to understand.

On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” John 6:60

I don’t know about you, but I find great comfort in the fact that they not only thought this, but they said it out loud. They had to know that Jesus wasn’t going to let this slip by; He was going to confront them. That’s what I love about these guys and that’s the kind of community I hope to be a part of. Don’t just accept the answers, ask more questions. At the same time, don’t be cynical! This is not a prompt to be confrontational! Not at all!

Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! John 6:61-62

Jesus explains that the Spirit gives life, the flesh is meaningless. He knows that not all will believe in these words.

For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” John 6:64-65

Jesus is not one to hold back, especially with His chosen disciples.

“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:67-69

Peter’s answer is the response that we know we should have deep in our hearts. When we reflect on this mortal life, I hope we too would come to the same conclusion: to whom shall we go? It’s a bit sobering to think in terms of eternity when we look at our daily activity.

Was this the event that pushed Judas over the edge?

Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.) John 6:70-71

Perhaps he had too much pride to walk away with those who couldn’t accept this teaching. In his mind, he “had” to stay. John adds the parenthetical note to be sure we don’t miss the point that early on in Jesus’ earthly ministry He is fully aware of Judas’ intentions. I think it’s safe to say that John didn’t get it at the time; his discernment alarm was not that finely tuned at the time.

We’re all pretty good about hiding feelings, even when they betray us. In our culture, admitting we don’t understand something is looked down upon. That’s what I love about one-on-one discipleship. In these personal settings, our discussions have the capacity to ask questions without the facade. At least that’s my prayer!

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I hope you’ll read this chapter from the eyes of one who does not yet believe and remember that His closest disciples found this concept difficult. Lord help us to check our own hearts as well. Help us to see the difficulty in accepting that which we have become comfortable in believing so that we can lead others to Christ.

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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: Testimonies About Jesus — The Canal

Read John 5:31-47

John records some incredibly striking words in the continuation of Jesus’s response to the religious leaders who were so upset that they literally couldn’t think straight. The passage begins with a discussion about who is testifying for whom. Then we read some very convicting words like, “nor does his word dwell in you” and “I know you do not have the love of God in your hearts.” (John 5:38, 5:42) Ouch! These words had to sting or at the very least provoke some kind of response. Jesus concludes with a very compelling and convicting argument that they don’t even believe the words that Moses wrote.

For those who think Jesus was all about holding hands, smiles, and thought-provoking storytelling, this passage will help to refocus your thoughts.

Let’s take a quick look at the scripture, then I want to share a story, The Canal, from the NIV Application Commentary. Perhaps you’ll see the connection.

Testimony – John 5:31-37a

Jesus tries to explain that He is the One sent from the Father, but not because He says so, rather, it’s because others, notably John the Baptist, proclaimed this good news. He’s clear to state that He didn’t need John’s testimony, but if it’s easier for you to accept the word of another human, then great! What really matters is that you hear the testimony: Jesus is here to finish what started long ago!

Empty Vessels – John 5:37b-44

Jesus then directed His words at the hearts of those listening. I highlight this section (ok, I highlight a lot!):

You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John 5:37b-40

The reason they couldn’t understand the testimony is His presence is not within them. When I read verses like this, I shudder to think about how many Bible studies I’ve been a part of, the hours invested in study and memorization for the sake of education rather than life change.

I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. John 5:41-42

They were good students, So I imagine they were busy taking notes, looking for ways to pick apart His message. How did they receive this message? Did Jesus pause here for a while and wait for them to look up from taking notes?

Your Accuser is Moses – John 5:45-47

To make His message perfectly clear, Jesus points to the one they all agreed on: Moses. The Sadducees and Pharisees made up the Sanhedrin, the religious ruling authority of their time. They disagreed on a lot of things, but the writing of Moses was something they could mutually accept. Jesus points out Moses even testified about the day when someone greater than he would come:

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. Deuteronomy 18:15

“You must listen to him.” Jesus’s concluding remarks is followed by gently setting the microphone down and walking away:

But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?” John 5:47

Later on, the half-brother of Jesus would exhort us to become doers of the Word, not just hearers. I hope we gather together and build great friendships in ministry. May we learn to love and cherish each other as wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ. Absolutely. Please get together and study scripture, sing songs, pass the communion cup, but don’t stop there. Go and do something. Share the love of Christ and the message of salvation. Lord stir in our hearts so powerfully that we can’t help but reach out to others!

The Canal

I read this section in the NIV Application Commentary as I was preparing my thoughts on the passage above. I love the imagery it presents and the truth that it provides. Take a minute and read this excerpt and pray that God will stir something fresh in your heart.

Jesus’ inquisitors represent the “religious establishment” for whom the vigorous preservation of religious tradition counts more highly than the spontaneity and openness of faith. These people know their Scriptures and use them to defend all of the wrong things.

Karl Barth provides a harrowing description of this sickness in his famous 1919 commentary on Romans (see his remarks on Romans 2). Barth thinks about people who live in a wilderness alongside a canal. The canal was there to bring them water and life, and it was with great effort and cost that the project was built for their place in time. Great sacrifices were made, and many died as the canal was cut through mountain and desert. But the great irony is that the canal has become dry, and while its walls still convey evidence of the coursing of water, there is nothing there that can give life to anyone. Nevertheless, the people continue to service it, to defend it, to name their children after its architects and engineers; but it is only an historic thing.

A canal meant to convey something— water and life— now has become static, an end instead of a means. Something for the museum. People tell stories about it instead of drinking from it. The older ones treasure the stories most; the younger ones have to be initiated deliberately, but each generation seems to lose a fraction of the true vision of the canal as time goes on. And no one has a memory of what water in the canal really looks like. Barth’s warning to the Swiss and German church following World War I is a word we should heed today. The possibility always exists that my life, my church, my tradition, my denomination, even my Bible will become relics of religious curiosity instead of living instruments of God. Men and women will be ordained, earn Ph.D.s, and launch magazines, publishing houses, colleges, and seminaries with solid evangelical commitments, and it will all be for nothing. Empty canals. There are specialists who can cite Scripture and verse, who can measure orthodoxy with exacting precision, who can identify the religious speck in someone’s eye from a great distance, but in whom love for God does not exist (John 5:42).

 

 

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 63083-63098). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

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John: Jesus Responds – The Authority of the Son

Read John 5:19-30

The bookends of this passage reveal the role of Jesus as Son and His part in the complexity of the Holy Trinity. The Son can do nothing alone, but He is never alone. There is no “if” in this passage, so don’t get confused. Jesus explained His relationship to the Father for our benefit, not to raise questions!

My brief coverage of this topic doesn’t do it justice, but my goal is not to write a commentary here, simply to point out some thoughts that speak to me as I listen for His voice in the morning. I hope you hear this clearly and more! I pray you will be unsatisfied with my few words and add your own. Not for my benefit, but for your and those you know. May these few words inspire you to write your own!

Remember the context for this discussion: Jesus just healed a man who was lame for 38 years; a man who didn’t ask to be healed, yet was given this amazing gift. The religious leaders are appalled because Jesus did this on the Sabbath, but they are ready to kill Him because He asserts that He is the Son of God!

Jesus’s response begins and ends with these statements:

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. John 5:19,30

The Son can do nothing alone. Let that sink in. As I said in the beginning, Jesus doesn’t give us any hint that He can ever be separated from the Father (and the Spirit). This is not an option. The triune aspect of the Father-Son-Spirit is a challenge to grasp, but just like gravity, it is very real and life on earth would not be the same without it!

Be Amazed — Don’t Be Amazed

Which is it? Should I be amazed or not?

Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. John 5:20

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice John 5:28

Jesus seems to indicate that healing the lame is no big deal. What greater works could be done you ask?

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. John 5:21

Raising the dead to life. Ok, that’s definitely a greater work than healing the lame, but how is either thing even possible?

The way John prepares this passage, I get the idea that the religious leaders are actually listening to Jesus’s response to their concerns. It seems that Jesus has them scratching their heads as He explains to them in no uncertain terms that they need to listen to His instructions.

Twice John records that Jesus says, “Very, truly I tell you…” A phrase that provides a strong indication that we need to listen to the rest of the statement.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. John 5:24-25

Do you hear and believe? Lord, I hope and pray we are able to hear Your voice and Your words.

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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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God Did Not Send Jesus to do His Dirty Work

Read: John 3:16-21

I know we just discussed this here, but there is much more to say before moving on. As I read the NIV Application Commentary over and over again, I’m struck by the need to explain John’s statements further. The phrase that leaps off the page is the title of this post:

God did not send Jesus to do His dirty work.

God was and is for us. It is His greatest desire that all would come to accept that which the world has taught us otherwise: there is absolute truth and that truth is wrapped up in the incarnated life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

The following is an excerpt from the NIV Application Commentary that dives deep into the subject in a much more eloquent manner than I can express. Please take time to read this three or four times. It’s that significant.

 

 

Today’s intellectual climate is offended by the absolute claim of religious truth, but a faithful rendering of New Testament Christology demands this. This theme will continue to come up throughout the Gospel of John, but at this juncture, John has said something important that we must pause and note.

Many Christians today think about the work of Christ with an unfortunate, ill-informed understanding of God and Christ. I see this again and again both in classes I teach and in the church.

The imaginative picture used by many to express the work of Christ is that Jesus has died in order to placate an angry God, whereas the cross expresses the love of Christ for us and his work appeases God’s threatening wrath. This makes God an opponent and an adversary while Jesus is our ally.

But this is not what John says in 3:16. “God so loved the world…” The work of Christ is God at work, God saving the world, God extending himself into the condition of our humanity and bringing about reconciliation. The center of this error is a deficient view of the Trinity or, more precisely, a deficient understanding of what the church’s earliest theologians were trying to express at the Council of Nicea (A.D. 325).

Christ was not created— there was no time in history when he “was not”— and so he enjoys an eternal existence precisely like God. Further, he shares the very essence or being of God (the Council of Nicea used the word homoousios to express this concept). Why is this important? Because it means that God himself is on our side. God himself is at work on our behalf.

He did not send a messenger (Jesus) to do the dirty work. God himself came to the cross and suffered in order to bring his beloved creation back to himself.

This understanding is expressed repeatedly by Paul. In 2 Corinthians 5: 18–19 he describes the goodness of God in rescuing us and remarks: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” Or again, in the words of [Bible]Colossians 1:19–20[/bible]: “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in [Christ], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”

The cross is thus God’s work. Jesus Christ came to earth, not in order to change God’s mind, but to express God’s mind.

 

Who can understand why God chose this method or the timing? Why did He wait 430 years to call Moses and lead His people out of slavery? Why, what, how? I can’t answer these things sufficiently because the explanation requires some degree of faith. It requires belief in something greater and more powerful than mankind. I’m required to confess that I lack the intellectual capacity to answer these questions to appease the cynic and skeptic and I have the audacity to conclude there is a God that is responsible for all creation that is not bound by time nor offended by my opinions. He is God. I am not.

I tried to explain my perspective in this post: Reason for the Hope I have in Jesus Christ a few months ago. The current study of John’s gospel continues to rattle the chain and begs me to investigate more. My prayer is these words will stir something in your heart and keep you awake at night. I suggest this is the Holy Spirit stirring in your heart. Listen to that voice. Turn off the streams of worldly advice and hear from the voice of One who loves you more than my words can express.

 

 

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 61930-61950). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

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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: 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: Prologue

Read: John 1:1-18

The prologue to the Gospel of John is a profound statement that either leaves you in wonder for the rest of the story or drives you away shaking your head. I honestly don’t think there’s much in between. Every time I read these powerful words I’m in awe of the One, the I Am, the Lord of all. I feel inadequate and ill-equipped to explain what it means.

In my mind, I envision an unbeliever stumbling upon these words and looking at me with a puzzled expression and asks, “Do you really believe all of this?” My reply, “Yes indeed! And this is only the beginning of the lesson!!”

As we dive into the Gospel of John take courage and jump in head first. The water is deep, you won’t hit the bottom–I guarantee that! One other promise, I’m not going to answer all of your questions. That’s intentional as much as a confession that I don’t know all the answers. Theologians have invested countless years in unpacking these words, I’m not suddenly showing up with some new revelation, merely walking through the words and listening for the Holy Spirit.

Before you begin, take a moment and pray that your heart will inform your mind. Read these words with faith and let that faith guide your thinking. Add a comment to the blog as we go along to let me know how the words of John (not Dave) are speaking to you.

The Word Became Flesh

The other day I was talking with someone who had more questions than I had answers. It was a great dialogue that I truly enjoyed. In the discussion, I mentioned that I wanted to start a Bible study that would begin with the Gospel of John. He was confused as to why I wouldn’t start with page one, with Genesis. Then I read these words:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

I don’t know if it made sense to him, but I was convicted all the more!

John makes it clear that Jesus Christ is the Word, He was and is and has been from the beginning of time.

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. John 1:4

The Light of the World

John will explain this theme in greater detail. For now, let this thought wander in your mind:

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. John 1:10

I find great comfort in this thought. If the world did not recognize Jesus, we should appreciate that many we meet may not understand the Gospel message, no matter how clearly we explain it. Some will be able to make the leap of faith while others will not. Our role is to be consistent in our desire to learn more, to grow in faith, and keep inviting those who are far from Christ into His family.

Children of God

John lets us know that His own will not receive Him, though they knew better than most, that didn’t include everyone.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:12-13

Years ago, this was a memory verse from a discipleship class. I wrote a jingle, a little tune, to help me memorize the verse, “He gave the right to become the children, become the children of God.” I’m not going to give you a link to the song, it’s a little embarrassing, but it did help me remember that we have the incredible privilege of being adopted into His family. We are fully accepted and part of His family.

An Aside: John the Baptist

The Apostle John makes it clear that John the Baptist played an important role in the presentation of the gospel. He was the one who told the world with clarity and precision that we’ll read about soon enough.

He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. John 1:8

It may not seem that significant to us, but for the early church, especially those who were living with John at the time, there was a lot of controversy about John the Baptist. He was definitely different, baptizing people, calling them to confession. He wouldn’t stop. We’ll read more of that in the rest of chapter 1 and the second half of chapter 3.

Incarnation

There’s that word again: incarnation. God who was and is and is yet to come stepped into time in the physical body of Jesus Christ.

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

Why did He do this? For you. For me. For the person you love and the person you despise. Jesus became flesh and walked around with people, rubbed elbows, ate dinner, laughed, and cried because we are that important to Him, to God, to the Spirit.

I just read Bob Goff’s, Everybody, Always, this past weekend. The subtitle reveals the challenge:

Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People.

If you get a chance to read the book, I suspect you’ll be as challenged as I am to love people who are truly unlovable. I can create a list of people I think are unlovable, but I’m trying to become love as Bob explains through story after story in his short book. After all, Jesus said we should love God and love our neighbors and somewhere in there He said we have to love our enemies.

Here’s the thing: if I struggle to accept people where they are, bad attitude or not, isn’t it infinitely more difficult for the Creator of the universe to accept me? If anyone needs a reason to dispose of me, God could list a hundred reasons (per second). Yet He chose the opposite of what is logical. He chose to come and take on human flesh to demonstrate His unending love.

If God is willing to do that, it should be a simple thing for me, a mere mortal, to love others — everybody, always.

Reflections

  1. Do you believe what we’ve just discussed? Why do you believe what you believe? Hint: you can’t say, “The Bible says…”
  2. Study 1 Peter 3:15-16. Do you have a sense of joy, true awe, and wonder, concerning Jesus Christ? Why?
  3. The NIV Application Commentary suggested this prologue may well have been a hymn sung by the ancient church. The hymn would remind those gathered of these essential truths. Remembering such truths at a time of temptation, trial, or difficulty may be the key to a positive outcome. What song plays in your head during these times?
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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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