Tag: teach

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John: Woman Caught Committing Adultery

Read John 7:53-8:11

Here’s a story inserted in the middle of the Tabernacle of Feasts that is controversial for at least two reasons: 1) it’s not found in the earliest authorized transcripts and 2) Jesus forgives the unforgivable. I’m not likely to satisfy the debate in this brief discussion, but I hope you’ll be encouraged to think about the event and draw your own conclusions. The one thing I would encourage you is not to avoid difficulties in Bible translation issues or conversation. With or without this passage, there is no difference in the truth of the gospel message or the theology we hold onto as truth. Let’s dive in!

Not Found in the Original Texts

The first disturbing revelation about the passage today is that the most modern translations of the Bible either skip it altogether or, as in my case, the NIV renders it in italics with significant footnotes.

The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53-8:11. A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part, after John 7:36, John 21:25, Luke 21:38 or Luke 24:53. NIV Study Bible, p. 1781

The NIV Application Commentary covers the issue in detail and it’s quite fascinating to read. Searching online you’ll find many places that discuss why the passage is in question. The writes of https://gotquestions.org provide a good explanation that includes this thought:

church leaders deemed the passage morally dangerous—since Jesus forgives the woman, wives might think they could commit adultery and get away with it. So, the church leaders tampered with the Word of God and removed the passage. To leave the passage in, they reasoned, would be to make Jesus seem “soft” on adultery. Later scribes, following the lead of the Holy Spirit, re-inserted the pericope, which should never have been removed in the first place. Got Questions

It’s a rather complex question that involves a lot of technical explanation. What I take from all the details is simply that God didn’t print the Bible for us. That is, He did not hand it to us on tablets or miraculously through the Gutenberg printing press. He chose to inspire mere mortals to write down words through the Holy Spirit to convey enough knowledge, wisdom, history, and teaching to help us learn to hear the voice of God.

The very fact that we, as Christ followers, are able to admit we have questions, that we would print the text in italics with footnotes, is a strong confession that we don’t know everything.

There is nothing inconsistent about the theme in the text for us to learn from. Let’s take a look at the event and consider the lessons we can draw from the text.

Jesus Forgives the Unforgivable

The text begins by putting a footnote on the previous discussion, “they all went home.” The Pharisees didn’t know what to do with Jesus, though their intentions are becoming clear.

Jesus makes an appearance at dawn and begins to teach again. The religious leaders seize the opportunity to present an open and shut case as a means of trapping Jesus: they caught a woman committing adultery! This should be a big win for them, so the parade the woman in front of everyone:

and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” John 8:4-5

Jesus appears to ignore their questions. For some reason, He is writing something on the ground with His finger.

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7

Jesus knows this is a trap and these not-so-wise scholars are tested by Jesus in return. They have, in fact, misinterpreted the law to their advantage. When we read Deuteronomy 22:23-24 we see that there are specific circumstances surrounding the immediate stoning. Probably the most important part is that both the man and the woman caught in the act are to be taken to the gate and stoned — not just the woman, and certainly not to the temple courts to please their egos.

The NIV Study Bible notes suggest that Jesus might have been writing the sins of those present in the dirt, that His divine knowledge of their hearts was being revealed on the ground for all to see.

At any rate, their argument was disarmed quickly. They had no choice but to leave the scene. Their failed attempt to trap Jesus was noted for all to see.

Jesus turns to the woman:

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8:10-11

Jesus knows the heart. He lets her go with a strong warning to leave her life of sin.

If we look at our own lives and insert our story into hers, I think we would all greatly appreciate the verdict and the challenge. Lord, help me to leave my life of sin and go into the world proclaiming Your message.

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John: Division Over Who Jesus Is

John 7:25-44

Who is this man? What is he teaching? There were dozens of questions in the minds of those present at the Feast of Tabernacles, the huge celebration for all Jews: sons and daughters, male and female servants that ran for an entire week. John points out the highlights in his narrative description of key events. In this third section of chapter 7, Jesus somehow hears dissension among the people and has to speak out loudly, cry out, and shout to get their attention. This isn’t the scene of someone hiding or trembling in fear of the authorities. Jesus is right there in front of them. The result: some believe while others firm up their disbelief. It’s interesting to see how people can watch the same event and walk away with completely divergent interpretations. Of course, this would never happen in our modern world, right?

In the last section, Jesus explained the origin of His authority and challenged the religious elite to use common sense with regard to the Sabbath. These were hard topics for this diverse crowd to understand. They couldn’t even agree on something we take for granted:

Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah? But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.” John 7:26-27

Really? No one will know? There is confusion about their interpretation of the prophets versus where Jesus came from, that is, where He was born.

Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.” John 7:28-29

Jesus doesn’t give them the pleasure of answering their question in human terms. His answer was more profound: He came from heaven. Think about that for a moment.

The problem as Jesus explains it is that they don’t know the Father. This is a serious accusation, but one that makes complete sense from John’s perspective. They know the rules, the laws, the customs. They’re here celebrating the feast as is their custom. They wouldn’t miss an opportunity to check a box.

Jesus constantly points people back to the heart of the matter. He is not concerned with how many psalms we’ve memorized or if we can quote book, chapter, and verse. He was and is still most interested in changing hearts.

As with any large crowd, the people divide themselves into camps: some believed and some did not. Far worse, some tried to seize Jesus, but this was not the time or place for that event. John is keenly aware of how and when Jesus will be turned over to the authorities. His point here is that they intended to capture Jesus but somehow were unable to hold Him. The religious leaders sent in the temple guard, but even that was a futile effort.

Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.” John 7:33-34

These are incredibly hard words: where I am, you cannot come. I can see Jesus looking directly into the eyes of those present and letting those words sink in. You cannot come because you do not know me. I’m confident that Jesus had many more words than the few that John captures here. He made the point perfectly clear to those present; He probably repeated the same statement in several ways to be sure they heard it correctly.

That’s why they had so many questions. Where is he going that we can’t find him? Is he going to hide among the Gentiles? The Greeks? They heard Jesus clearly, but they did not understand.

The crowds had two or three days of wondering about the message they heard. I’m sure there were lots of side discussions as they processed the message. Finally, as the festival draws to a close, Jesus pronounces that great news:

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:37-38

Note that Jesus points them back to Scripture that they had available to them. Their lack of understanding was within their ability to fix. They simply were misunderstood because they were being misled. This is critical to appreciate.

John helps us understand the significance of the statement.

By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:39

As we’ve seen in this section before, some heard the message and believed while others heard the same message and wanted to kill Him. The latter group was likely stuck on Jesus’ birth certificate, His town of origin. They were so lost in their piety that they couldn’t hear the call to receive was from the Living Well.

John is giving us all we need to know to make the right decision. He walked with Jesus for years. He watched Jesus die from torture so brutal that we shudder to dwell on the event. John was just as confused as his brothers in ministry when he watched Jesus take His last breath, but he remembers the following week when they had breakfast on the beach! John saw it all!

Lord may we listen and learn from John’s testimony and reach out to find the living water that is poured out for each of us.

 

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John: Jesus Teaches at the Festival of Tabernacles

Read John 7:14-24

It looks like Jesus couldn’t stay away from the Festival of Tabernacles any longer. Halfway through the week-long celebration, He made an appearance. When He did, He didn’t find some side tent or hidden area, He went straight to the temple courts.

The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?” John 7:15

Jesus appears to be speaking to several people at the same time. Sure, they want to know where His rabbinic teaching came from, but I really don’t think they’re listening. They seem to be lost in the credentialling world. Until they understand that Rabbi ____ (fill in the blank) approved of Jesus, they are not about to listen to His teaching. Well, not all of them. I have no doubt that some are in fact listening.

Jesus explains that His teaching came from God. He says this in a way to help them understand fully:

Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. John 7:16-17

It’s good to remember that John is providing the important points from the discussion. This is not a mere transcript. As we unpack the verses above we hear clearly that Jesus was taught by God, His Father. For many, that statement alone was enough to incite incredible anger. In my imagination, I see the faces of men who are about to lose it.

Jesus picks up on their threatening posture and beats them to the very thought that is in the minds of some who are listening (not all):

Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?” “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”John 7:19-20

Those who are vocal conclude that Jesus is crazy, out of His mind. We shouldn’t expect those who are convinced that Jesus should be killed will raise their hands. No way. The plot thickens. In John’s gospel, we’re not that far away from Gethsemane.

I can’t help but get lost in thought about John, the Apostle, the man. He’s getting old as he sits down to write this narrative for the benefit of others who are trying to understand who Jesus is and whether they should join the cause of Christ followers, The Way.  Imagine yourself in his shoes. Your closest friends, the ones you did ministry with when Jesus was walking around in flesh, these faithful few have been martyred for proclaiming the Good News. They’ve either been killed or will be tracked down and executed as they stand up for the cause of Christ.

Crowds like the one Jesus is debating with are too familiar to John, he saw them all the time. Everywhere he went. Probably every day. As he looks back at the time when Jesus was teaching, he takes comfort in knowing that the Master Himself had to deal with vicious attacks.

Read the last section in this passage from that perspective. Jesus refers to an event where He miraculously healed a lame man on the Sabbath. This is why He’s referring to Moses, the one Patriarch upon which they all agree upon.

Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” John 7:23-24

Jewish law required male circumcision on the eighth day after birth. There is a one in seven chance that your baby boy was going to have to be circumcised on the Sabbath. No problem. Since this happens so frequently, we won’t call this breaking the Sabbath. However, if you miraculously heal someone who’s been lame for decades, well, that’s another issue altogether! (I hope the sarcasm sign is flashing in your head.)

Jesus doesn’t tell them to accept everything; He tells them to judge correctly! Stop acting like idiots!

How many times do we get caught checking our rules so carefully that we miss the intent God has for us in the moment. Lord, help us not to judge by mere appearances. Change our hearts to see clearly the direction we should move. And help us to move!

 

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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: Jesus is the Bread of Life

Read John 6:25-59

John dedicates the third section in chapter six to answer some questions and raise even more. Some of the crowd finally track Jesus down after His water-walking escape. They’re confused. Their motivation is for signs and wonders more than understanding the message. John records the highlights of the conversation which ends with a section that radically alters the view of religion. Take a deep breath. This is a heavy section.

Today’s story picks up in John 6:24 where the crowds realized that Jesus and the disciples somehow slipped away without any fanfare. They ask a logistical question, “when did you get here?”, but Jesus answers the deeper question that is on their hearts.

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. John 6:27

They pick up on the word “work.” This is a concept they can relate to, i.e., give them something to do and receive the reward. Right? Nope.

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:29

We might scoff at their response, but oddly enough, it all sounds incredibly familiar in this day and age: show us a sign, do something special. They recall the story of Moses and manna and try to convince Jesus by using scripture. Jesus knows the story better than they do, so He begins to broaden their minds by providing a lesson that promises life to the world. This is exciting news!

At this point it seems like they are tracking with Jesus: “Sir, always give us this bread” (John 6:34). They want the bread of life until they find out what Jesus is talking about.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

Hang on, it gets deeper:

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. John 6:38

Now they’re totally confused. Isn’t this Joseph’s boy? You know, the carpenter’s son? What is this talk about coming down from heaven? And back up a few verses, what do you mean by “it is my Father?”

Jesus explains to them using a metaphor to build on their understanding of physical events:

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” John 6:51

Their response reminds me of Nicodemus back in chapter 3,

Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” John 6:52

Seriously? Are they missing the point? Ok, let’s go along with this line of argument and feed you with words to build upon their ignorance:

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. John 6:56

Like the private conversation with Nicodemus, they know Jesus is not talking about cannibalism. The words here hold deep meaning and require that they completely agree that Jesus is who He says He is. That, my friends, is too much for them to handle.

It turns out, it’s a hard pill for the disciples to swallow, but that’s covered in the next lesson.

The good news is presented here, Jesus is the way. We have the advantage of having the whole story presented to us in the form of the Bible, especially here in John’s gospel. John captures seven incredible truths for us to ponder:

  1. I am the bread of life: John 6:35
  2. I am the light of the world: John 8:12
  3. I am the gate for the sheep: John 10:7,9
  4. I am the good shepherd: John 10:11,14
  5. I am the resurrection and the life: John 11:25
  6. I am the way and the truth and the life: John 14:6
  7. I am the true vine: John 15:1,5

In the next post, I’ll attempt to wrap up chapter six and learn from all the lessons John is trying to teach us here.

Lord, help us to grasp the essence of what is said in this passage and give us the faith to fully believe. Fill the gaps between the large spans between these two extremes.

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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: The Disciples at the Well

Read: John 4:27-42

There are actually two distinct parts to this section: the disciples and the woman. Both are significant, but I chose the title to reflect the part that I really hadn’t focused on very much. I’ll try to cover both parts here briefly. It’s up to you to dive into that which speaks to your heart at this time.

The Disciples

When the disciples catch up with Jesus at the well they demonstrate an amazing lack of concern for Jesus. I guess their spiritual gifts list did not include helps & service, giving, mercy, and the like! John makes of point of writing:

But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” John 4:27

Instead, it seems they were satisfied to simply be surprised, or perhaps Jesus was so exhausted from their travels that He wasn’t thinking clearly. Their solution? Offer something to eat (John 4:31). Jesus uses this as a teaching moment, a lesson that leaves them scratching their heads. Did someone one bring Him food? Surely not that woman!

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.” John 4:34-36

Jesus’ words don’t exactly clear things up. I don’t see the disciples shaking their heads and nodding in agreement. Not that they’re dense. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t buy into the notion that the disciples were a group of uneducated middle school dropouts. I honestly think they were wise in their own right, just not thinking on the same level as Jesus. Seriously, friends, I have no preconceived notion that I am anywhere near that level of thinking.

I’m not judging the disciples as much as it sounds like. John is using this interaction as a lesson for us to learn from. Their puzzled expression is for our benefit, “so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together” (John 4:36). Jesus wants to be in communion with us.

God’s desire to be with us stems from a very long time ago. This morning, as I was preparing for discussing this concept from Moses’ writings, I was struck with awe by this verse:

“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Exodus 25:8

From way back then God wanted to dwell among His people. This was a foreshadowing of an event far into the future, the day when God would send His Holy Spirit to dwell within us. This is in our DNA. We should long for sensing His presence within us. Then we can be glad together. This theme will be seen again, especially in John 17.

The Woman

The woman, on the other hand, was so taken by Jesus’ words that she left her water jar and told everyone she could that she might have just met the Messiah.

“Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” John 4:29

It’s amazing that though these people knew this woman well, her reputation was no doubt well known, yet they came to see. I’d like to propose that her level of resolve and commitment overshadowed her personal life. She spoke with a conviction that was out of character. It was compelling and exciting to think that perhaps the Messiah was actually there in their presence.

They came to see Jesus because of the woman’s testimony. Imagine that. One who had to collect water in the middle of the day to avoid being seen with others is the one who leads them to the One.

So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. John 4:40-41

She probably didn’t have it all right. Perhaps her theology was out of order or misspoken. But she knew what she knew and was excited to share this amazing news.

You and Me

That leaves you and me. The image I’m trying to paint above is that of a person who knows she is broken. She’s been reminded every day for who knows how long. I’d be lying to you if I tried to say I don’t feel this way all too often. My thoughts are not so pure and holy that they should inspire anyone except for this idea: meet Jesus.

Don’t take my word for it, please don’t put your faith in me at all. Let me introduce you to the One who is sitting at the well. He wants to be with you. He wants you to be part of His family.

Friends, this is more exciting than the crazy people at a football game seem to express (College or Pro). You don’t even have to paint your body in school colors or wear a shirt with J or E or S or U. You can if you want, but people will accurately assess that you’re crazy…unless it’s for football.

May I simply suggest we consider the incredibly good news of the Gospel and share with people as if their lives depended on this knowledge. As if.

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John: The Baptist Teaches About Jesus

Read: John 3:22-36

The episode with Nicodemus comes to a close in the first part of chapter 3. It’s as if John says, “next slide,” and continues his presentation with a completely different thought that builds his case for Christ. In some respects, this is the challenge of reading one excerpt at a time, at least for me. I have to keep reminding myself of the previous events. That’s one reason I really appreciate The Bible Project’s image that portrays the entire Gospel of John on one page. While it’s a bit overwhelming to look at all at once, it does help remind me of where we are in the story.

Here’s a portion of the illustration to keep us in context:The Bible Project Illustration

John the Baptist Teaches about Jesus the Christ — Again

The latter half of chapter 3 is not included in the picture above. John segues into verse 22 by writing, “After this…”

After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. John 3:22

From a literary perspective, it suggests we need to keep the previous picture in mind as we continue to read. Think about this, Nicodemus was the central character in the previous narrative, but all of the disciples were gathered around listening. They were learning at the same time. This was all new information for them as well.

The gospel narrative was written in hindsight so John is able to insert thoughts that were developed over many years as he looks back. He obviously has a lot of respect for John the Baptist since he included the Baptist’s work at the beginning of his account, then again after the lesson with Nicodemus.

Sidenote: John clarifies in John 4:2 that Jesus wasn’t actually the one baptizing people. This is significant once His true identity is revealed. It’s not that it was beneath Jesus to perform the baptism, rather, it seems more important to demonstrate that you don’t have to be the Son of God to baptize.

Jesus and John have parallel ministries going on in this scene and it creates some confusion among those who are working with John the Baptist.

An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” John 3:25-26

It’s interesting to note that the argument is about ceremonial washing. Nicodemus is wondering what it takes to see the Kingdom of God and John’s disciples are arguing about becoming clean through this washing ministry. Both are seeking to gain favor with God, to restart. There are many theories about John’s ministry of baptism, but it seems clear that those who were drawn to John had a change of heart. They were committed to demonstrating their new life by publicly being baptized.

John the Baptist Defers to Jesus

John was never confused about his role or place on earth. To be honest, I’m envious. His calling is laser focused. Many are attracted to him because of his single-mindedness. His own disciples might be a bit confused, but they are serious about life change. I want to be that kind of person.

John the Baptist sets the record straight.

He must become greater; I must become less.” The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. John 3:30-31

One of the amazing things about the Bible is how complete thoughts are summarized into short phrases. We can read this chapter aloud in a few minutes, but the conversations recorded probably went on for hours. John’s disciples certainly didn’t have just one question or one argument. They were in ministry together. There were lots of conversations and words about these events. We’re only getting the highlights, the key principles behind significant statements.

The temptation is to get lost in a single sentence, but I hope we can learn to hear God’s voice through the words and not get lost in thought. From my perspective, that’s why John, the gospel writer, ends this lesson with the following:

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. John 3:36

Whoever believes, anyone and everyone. Whether you’re a scholar like Nicodemus or a new disciple following the teaching of another disciple, the key to eternal life rests in your ability to humble yourself and believe in the Son.

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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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