The Gospel According To John
Posted By: Daryl
The Gospel According To John - 09/05/00 01:03 AM
What I would like for us to do is to study the book of John as much as possible verse by verse and thus learn more about life of Jesus Christ and His ministry to this world.
I invite each one of you to participate in this most wonderful study.
Feel free to use other references in the Bible and the SOP to enhance this study.
My goal is to cover at least a minimum of one verse each day.
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl 
[This message has been edited by Daryl Fawcett (edited September 04, 2000).]
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/05/00 01:06 AM
John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." What does this verse tell us?
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/05/00 02:30 AM
It tells me that God's Word is as everlasting as He is. That His Word holds the same power as He does, that His power extends beyond His being.
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Sarah Moss
*Prayer Changes Things!*
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/05/00 08:37 AM
Verse 1 tells us that "the Word was WITH GOD...Therefore, the Word could not be the Father.
John 1:14 tells us that this "Word," "became flesh," and we all know that this "Word" of John 1:1, was/is Jesus. Because that's what He did.
Why would this verse 1 tell us that: "In the beginning was the Word; and that the Word was with God? And that the Word was God?" Why should this matter to us?
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"The joy of the Lord will be your strength." (Neh.8:10).
Your brother in Christ
David T. Battler
[This message has been edited by DavidTBattler (edited September 05, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by DavidTBattler (edited September 05, 2000).]
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/05/00 07:58 PM
Verse 1 matters as it tells us right away and confirms it in verse 14 that the Word is Jesus Christ who is the Eternal God as the "in the beginning" of verse one when attributed to God actually means "from eternity was the Word....."
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/05/00 08:37 PM
John 1:2 "The same was in the beginning with God." This verse re-emphasizes the importance of in the beginning."
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
[This message has been edited by Daryl Fawcett (edited September 05, 2000).]
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/07/00 04:59 AM
John 1:3 "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. What obvious fact is this verse telling us?
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Gerry Buck
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/07/00 02:24 PM
The
WORD is our creator.
All things were created for and by Him.
Not only is He our saviour, He is our creator.
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What is popular is not always right.
What is right is not always popular.
Gerry B.
Posted By: Dan Wilson
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/08/00 03:35 AM
On that excellent point, I just want to let you know that we are hosting a creation seminar at the local University in late October. Dr. Kennedy is coming from the Geo-science Research Institute. We feel that this is a vital topic because if we don't believe that ...in the beginning..., the rest quickly unravels. I'm quite busy right now, but I will be sure to be checking back into this study. John has a way of putting things that is truely inspiring. In three verse he makes the trinity and the divinity of Christ irrefutable.
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/08/00 04:29 AM
Amen, Pastor Dan, especially as we approach verse 14.
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/09/00 02:16 AM
John 1:4 "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." What is this verse telling us?
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/09/00 09:56 PM
This Word is the Self Existant life giver to His creatures.
Without His breathing life continually into us physically, mentally, spiritually we can not live, see, understand, experience.
In other words ...In Him we live and move and have our being. To quote Paul.
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Edward F. Sutton
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/09/00 10:08 PM
That sounds like a good answer, therefore, let us move onto verse 5.
John 1:5 "And the light in the darkness did shine, and the darkness did not perceive it." (YLT)
John 1:5 "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." (KJV)
What does it mean that the light shone in the darkness but the darkness didn't perceive/comprehend it?
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Gerry Buck
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/10/00 01:42 PM
When He came here, He wasn't what we were looking for, so, we didn't recognize Him for Who and What He is/was.
The world was lost in sin(darkness) and when the light(Jesus) came to show the way out, we didn't recognize (comprehend) it.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/10/00 03:33 PM
The world saw the light & decided it did not like the light and would not obey the light neither repent over it's own darkness. This made coversion or being born again impossible.
The world therefore could not have the light taught in their hearts and minds by the representative(Holy Spirit) of the light(Jesus).
They refused the light(Jesus) and thus rejected the call of the Father(Father of Lights, Ancient of Days,). Without Him drawing them to Jesus they could not see anything of value in the Light.
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Edward F. Sutton
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/10/00 05:28 PM
John 1:6 "There was
a man sent from God, whose name was
John." Who is this John spoken about here?
What does "sent from God" mean in relation to this John person?
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/11/00 01:39 AM
His parents were too old to concive him.
God steped in.
The timetable was just right-remember the 490yr prophecy.
God steped in.
Gabriel prophecied to his father & directed his naming.
God steped in.
The Holy Spirit filled him from conception and directed the plans for his whole life and prophetic mission.
God steped in and stayed in.
Jesus was almost ready to come on the scene.
John steped in & God steped in through John.
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Edward F. Sutton
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/13/00 04:30 AM
It is interesting to know that before we were even born, God knew us.
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
What does this tell us about abortion?
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/13/00 05:13 AM
Why was John sent from God?
John 1:7 "The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe."
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/17/00 04:31 PM
I have been slack here, therefore, I need to get back at it again.
How or in what way was John the Baptist a witness "of the Light" in verse 7?
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Gerry Buck
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/17/00 07:05 PM
Mt. 3:3---- For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet E-sa'-ias, saying, THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,PREPARE YETHE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.
In those days, it was not uncommon for a work force to go before a King and straighten out roads and level high hills so as to make an unobstructed path for him to go over.
This let the people that someone of note was to come by..... this was the duty of john, to make the path ready and alert the people that someone of note was to come by.
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What is popular is not always right.
What is right is not always popular.
Gerry B.
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/20/00 04:32 AM
Thank you, Gerry.
Verse 7 basically says the same thing as verse 6:
John 1:8 "He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
John the Baptist was sent to fulfill and did fulfilled the call that God gave him.
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/20/00 04:10 PM
John saw the "Light" from childhood, even though he had never laid eyes upon His Person. He saw Him by following His Spirit from infancy. It was revealed unto Him by The same Spirit as to Who the "Light" was when he(John) physically saw Him for the first time.
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Edward F. Sutton
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/20/00 07:14 PM
Luke 1:41 John recognized Jesus as the Saviour before either of them were even born!
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Sarah Moss
*Prayer Changes Things!*
Posted By: Gerry Buck
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/20/00 07:20 PM
Agreed, he said 'behold the LAMB OF GOD which taketh away the sins of the world'.Jn.1:29
His mother said that the babe in her womb lept for joy at the sound of Mary's voice.
She also said that the one she (Mary) carried was blessed indeed.
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What is popular is not always right.
What is right is not always popular.
Gerry B.
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/22/00 02:54 AM
John 1:9 "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." What does "which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" really mean?
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/22/00 05:14 PM
A time to be born, a time to live and grow, while He who ordained our times to exist, breaths understanding into us, by His chosen agencies.
A time when a young kid 5-6yrs, walking down a side-walk with no one else around askes these questions.
1.Why do I exist?
2.Why am I me & not someone else?
3.Why am I now insted of the past or the future?
4.What is the reason I exist, what was God's purpose for me?
The answers quickly come,
1. I exist because for eternity God has dreamed of creating me-so He could enjoy loving me.
2. God knew that as He planned for me, and built in His mind all the things He wanted in His dreams about me; that I would be the happiest of all being me. So that's what He did, He made Me - Me.
3. As God dreamed of me, He knew what I would be like and what I would like. So He made me when He did.
4. He created me to love Him and walk with Him for eternity among the stars. As we would be together and never have to leave each other.
Now who would have explained that to that kid, except ---- John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
I rest my case.
{The only kid who was there.}
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Edward F. Sutton
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/23/00 06:13 AM
My answer to the question I asked on John 1:9 is found in some other related Bible references that I will look up when I get home and share them with you here.
In the meantime, you may want to find them before I do and share them here yourselves.
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl Fawcett :)
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/27/00 04:01 AM
Here is one Bible text that comes to mind:
Romans 12:3 "For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him.
Here is an even better one:
John 12:32 [Jesus said] "and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."
The true Light, which is Jesus Christ, draws everyone that comes into the world to Himself.
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/27/00 04:24 AM
Here are a couple of sad verses:
John 1:10 "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
It was bad enough that the world knew Him not, however, it was even worse still that His own received Him not.
Why did His own chosen people not receive Him?
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Gerry Buck
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/27/00 04:47 PM
Because of their preconceived notions of who and what the Messiah would be.
They had built up in their minds exactly what they wanted and refused to accept anything else.
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What is popular is not always right.
What is right is not always popular.
Gerry B.
Posted By: Linda Sutton
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/28/00 05:58 AM
The Jews wanted freedom from the Romans, not freedom from sin. It seems they had a wrong concept of what sin is.
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________________________
Even so come, Lord Jesus
Linda
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/28/00 04:10 PM
What about
His own receiving Him not today?
Is that possible?
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl Fawcett
[This message has been edited by Daryl Fawcett (edited September 28, 2000).]
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/29/00 09:33 AM
John 3:
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
John 14:
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
All we have to do is reject, disobey, neglect to hear, turn away from study & obedient action & we receive Him not.
[This message has been edited by Edward F. Sutton (edited September 29, 2000).]
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/30/00 02:54 AM
And how many end up by receiving Him not simply by neglecting to come to Him each day.
That's where daily devotions and prayer are so important and yet how many actually have a head knowledge of that and yet fail to receive Him daily through daily devotions and prayer. And then we wonder why we don't do so good in the spiritual warfare that is raging invisibly all around us.
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/02/00 11:29 PM
John 1:12 "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:"
In what way did Jesus give those who received Him "the power to become the sons of God"?
Also, what does it mean to "believe on His name" or how do we "believe on His name"?
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/04/00 05:23 AM
To answer my own question, when man sinned in Eden he lost all his rights and deserved the penalty of death. The plan of salvation restored man's opportunity and once again through Christ gave him the opportunity to know God and the power to choose to serve him. God does not arbitrarily make men His sons; He enables them to become such if they so choose.
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/04/00 07:37 AM
I had a meeting today with a pastor of another denomination who would have cornered you for sure with this last post Daryl!
I was talking to him about the text that says "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
He was trying to tell me that there are many SDA's coming out of adventism, and "into more grace," and that what I was saying had no real import.
I was just over at this guys place to do an estimate on a job; and somehow we got comparing the Scriptures with one another.
He sounded to me like he was trying to say that God does everything; and we don't do any of it. He was very well versed in many Scriptures; and yet, something seemed to be missing...
If God doesn't give us free choice, and allow us to "work out our own salvation," to others, in personal testimony, (Rev.12:11), what have we got but another empty religion, with the hollow victory of an uncaring and arbitrary Lord?
I'm glad that even though I likely won't get the handyman end of the work; the door is open for us to study/discuss more!
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"The joy of the Lord will be your strength." (Neh.8:10).
Your brother in Christ
David T. Battler
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/04/00 03:38 PM
Daryl is Biblically accurate.
Death=wages of sin
God's gift=life
have not because you ask not
come unto me that ye might have life-they didn't
unless you decide to come & decide to take His prescribed steps to remain, you become self decieved & will wear rose colored glasses till it's too late.
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Edward F. Sutton
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/07/00 05:03 AM
John 1:13 "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." What is this verse saying?
What does it mean?
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/09/00 11:09 PM
No answers??? Maybe, I need to be more specific.
What does born, "not of blood" mean?
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In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/12/00 04:39 AM
Where is everybody?????
I will wait until somebody answers my questions before I continue with this verse by verse study.
__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Linda Sutton
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/12/00 06:30 AM
To be born not of blood would mean that you are not a genetic descendent, not human born. Jesus told Nicodemus that we must be born of the spirit in answer to Nicodemus' statement about entering into to his mother's womb a second time. We become God's children by adoption.
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________________________
Even so come, Lord Jesus
Linda
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/12/00 04:10 PM
Thank you, Linda for that good answer.
Now, what does "not...of the will of the flesh" mean in this same verse?
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__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl :)
Copyright © 2000
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/13/00 08:38 PM
Gestational birth and spiritual birth are being contrasted. This experience of birth is not independent of the person being born's choice like physical birth.
It is a covenant of spiritual new life and loyalty built not by biology but through inreaching grace intelligently responded to from the heart transforming the life.
The power of God through His agencies (Scriptures, ordained circumstances that open the heart, His direct influence in the persons heart & mind.)
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Edward F. Sutton
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/16/00 03:32 AM
Thank you Ed for your post.
Now, what does "not...of the will of man" mean in this same verse?
__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/19/00 03:53 AM
Where did everybody go again?
__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Linda Sutton
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/19/00 05:59 PM
Hibernation in the den.
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/26/00 04:01 AM
Well, if nobody is inclined to answer that question, then I will move onto the next verse.
John 1:14 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
Who is the Word in this verse?
__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
[This message has been edited by Daryl Fawcett (edited October 25, 2000).]
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/26/00 06:05 AM
The will of man - seems like mortals did not decide the time, place, circumstances.
"The Saviour's coming was foretold in Eden. When Adam and Eve first heard the promise, they looked for its speedy fulfillment. They joyfully welcomed their first-born son, hoping that he might be the Deliverer. But the fulfillment of the promise tarried. Those who first received it died without the sight. From the days of Enoch the promise was repeated through patriarchs and prophets, keeping alive the hope of His appearing, and yet He came not. The prophecy of Daniel revealed the time of His advent, but not all rightly interpreted the message. Century after century passed away; the voices of the prophets ceased. The hand of the oppressor was heavy upon Israel, and many were ready to exclaim, "The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth." Ezek. 12:22. {Mar 9.1}
But like the stars in the vast circuit of their appointed path, God's purposes know no haste and no delay. Through the symbols of the great darkness and the smoking furnace, God had revealed to Abraham the bondage of Israel in Egypt, and had declared that the time of their sojourning should be four hundred years. "Afterward," He said, "shall they come out with great substance." Gen. 15:14. Against that word, all the power of Pharaoh's proud empire battled in vain. On "the self-same day" appointed in the divine promise, "it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt." Ex. 12:41. So in heaven's council the hour for the coming of Christ had been determined. When the great clock of time pointed to that hour, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. {Mar 9.2}
"When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son." Providence had directed the movements of nations, and the tide of human impulse and influence, until the world was ripe for the coming of the Deliverer.... {Mar 9.3}
Word made flesh. The creator took the nature of the created in His efforts to save them.
"In the fullness of time He was to be revealed in human form. He was to take His position at the head of humanity by taking the nature but not the sinfulness of man. In heaven was heard the voice, "The Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord."--The Signs of the Times, May 29, 1901. {7ABC 447.1}
When Christ bowed His head and died, He bore the pillars of Satan's kingdom with Him to the earth. He vanquished Satan in the same nature over which in Eden Satan obtained the victory. The enemy was overcome by Christ in His human nature. The power of the Saviour's Godhead was hidden. He overcame in human nature, relying upon God for power.--The Youth's Instructor, April 25, 1901. {7ABC 447.2}
In taking upon Himself man's nature in its fallen condition, Christ did not in the least participate in its sin. He was subject to the infirmities and weaknesses by which man is encompassed, "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." He was touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and was in all points tempted like as we are. And yet He "knew no sin." He was the Lamb "without blemish and without spot." Could Satan in the least particular have tempted Christ to sin, he would have bruised the Saviour's head. As it was, he could only touch His heel. Had the head of Christ been touched, the hope of the human race would have perished. Divine wrath would have come upon Christ as it came upon Adam. . . . We should have no misgivings in regard to the perfect sinlessness of the human nature of Christ.-- The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1131. {7ABC 447.3}
Be careful, exceedingly careful as to how you dwell upon the human nature of Christ. Do not set Him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin. He is the second Adam. The first Adam was created a pure, sinless being, without a taint of sin upon him; he was in the image of God. He could fall, and he did fall through transgressing. Because of sin his posterity was born with inherent propensities of disobedience. But Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God. He took upon Himself human nature, and was tempted in all points as human nature is tempted. He could have sinned; He could have fallen, but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity. He was assailed with temptations in the wilderness, as Adam was assailed with temptations in Eden.--Ibid., p. 1128.
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Edward F. Sutton
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 11/11/00 01:20 AM
Maybe it will make more sense by placing these two verses together as you see below:John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and [the Word] dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
It is obvious that the Word in verse 1 is God.
It is equally obvious that the Word in verse 14 is Jesus Christ.
It is, therefore, truly obvious that Jesus Christ is Jehovah God.
__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
[This message has been edited by Daryl Fawcett (edited November 10, 2000).]
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 11/16/00 12:22 AM
John 1:15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. Who was born first? Was it John the Baptist or Jesus Christ?
__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Edward F Sutton
Re: The Gospel According To John - 11/16/00 04:09 AM
John the Baptist was physically born first, but Christ is eternal therefore the Holy Spirit inspires him to exclaim (He was before me).
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Edward F Sutton
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 11/16/00 05:56 AM
And when we come to
John 8:58 we will read,
"Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." I AM
Where did we here that before?
__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
[This message has been edited by Daryl Fawcett (edited November 15, 2000).]
Posted By: Edward F Sutton
Re: The Gospel According To John - 11/16/00 05:10 PM
Moses went to see a bush that did not burn up. He got an unexpected talking to.
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Edward F Sutton
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 11/22/00 11:23 PM
Yes, Ed.
And that I AM of the burning bush is the same I AM of the gospel of John namely Jesus Christ, or, as He was known at the burning bush, Jehovah God.
Now on to the next verse.
John 1:17 "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."
What is the difference between the law and grace and truth?
__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
[This message has been edited by Daryl Fawcett (edited November 22, 2000).]
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 12/17/00 06:34 PM
We seem to have really slipped in this study, therefore, I am going to resurrect this topic again.
As this is a very important question, I am asking it again.
What is the difference between the law and grace and truth?
In other words, what's the difference between the law that was given through Moses and grace and truth that was given to us through Jesus Christ?
When was the law given?
When was grace and truth given?
_________________________
It is more blessed to give
than to receive. (Acts 20:35)
Daryl
Posted By: Edward F Sutton
Re: The Gospel According To John - 12/18/00 05:54 PM
law was trying to show the way to the lawless but couldn't, so it had to restrain them from danger.
Grace was empowering them but could not teach them, so it had to protect them from danger and themselves.
Truth both showed the way and taught them, but linked arm in arm with grace and law so arm in arm, Law - Grace - Truth working together gathered the flock and safely got them home.
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Edward F Sutton
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 12/27/00 07:18 AM
The law stated in this verse which was given to Moses by Jesus Christ up in the mountain was
originally good but was
gradually perverted by human tradition.
The law was designed even back then to lead men and women to salvation through faith in the coming Messiah who, as I said above, had given this law to Moses in the first place.
The fact that many sought salvation by the works of the law rather than by faith doesn't mean that the system itself as ordained by God was faulty. All that God does is perfect (Deut. 32:4).
There were those in the Old Testament times who accepted the law by faith.
The divine attributes of grace and truth were inherit in the law given to Moses, but had, for practical purposes, been lost under a thick layer of human tradition brought about by the perverted interpretation of the official exponents of the law, the rabbis.
By affirming that truth comes through Jesus Christ, John identifies Him as the reality toward whom pointed all Old Testament types and ceremonies, which were no more than a shadow of better things to come.
Now Christ appeared in person on this earth, which is the Christian reason for this time of the year, to reaffirm the great eternal truths revealed to these early men of old, and to restore them to their original luster, untarnished by human tradition.
Christ came to reveal the Father in His true character.
Here, for the first time, John refers to our Lord by the historical name, Jesus Christ. The eternal "Word" has become incarnate, a man among men, and John henceforth speaks of Him as such.
_________________________
It is more blessed to give
than to receive. (Acts 20:35)
Daryl
[This message has been edited by Daryl Fawcett (edited December 26, 2000).]
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 12/27/00 07:24 AM
John 1:18 "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." What can we learn from this verse?
_________________________
It is more blessed to give
than to receive. (Acts 20:35)
Daryl
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/02/01 05:30 AM
Let us take a deeper look at this verse by asking the following questions:
First, who is God in this verse?
I ask this because, didn't Adam and Eve see God? Didn't Moses see God?
__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Edward F Sutton
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/02/01 09:42 AM
1. Was Jesus's use of "man" refer to sinless as well as sinners ? He says "no man". Sounds like no one had seen the Father.
2. Was Jesus's use of "seen" just involve eyesight alone or, eyesight, harmony, and understanding also ? Jesus speaks of "delared Him". When Jesus declared Him, did people see the Father physically ?
If so why did He tell His disciple "if you have seen Me you have seen the Father."
It does not sound that way. Just a physical look if it could be made endurable by mortal man, would not effect spiritual change, harmony, understanding in a practical way, and recreated unity and obedience from fallen mankind back to the purposes of God.
We even use phrases like that, if I say "do you see what I mean", I am saying do you understand what I mean. Do you understand what I am saying ?
------------------
Edward F Sutton
Posted By: ChristianSoldier
Re: The Gospel According To John - 04/11/01 08:52 AM
This looks like a good line of study. I will visit it more often.
I noticed that the above verse Daryl is referring to tells us that the Son, (Jesus), has "declared" God.
How did Jesus do this?
------------------
"I urge you brothers to watch out for those who cause divisions, and put obstacles in your way, that are contrary to the teaching you have learned." (Rom.16:17).
Signed:
Christian Soldier
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 04/17/01 02:04 AM
I am posting the following text that will answer the question regarding the statement of John 1:18.
quote:
John 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
How do the above verses answer the question asked earlier and also explains John 1:18?
Let me ask it this way: In what way did they see the Father in Christ?
__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
[This message has been edited by Daryl Fawcett (edited April 16, 2001).]
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 07/14/01 02:02 AM
To finally answer my own question, I believe Christ declared the true character of God the Father in His own life and character as Christ came to reveal the true character of God which had been lost in this world of sin.
Now on to verse 19:
quote:
John 1:19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
Why did the Jews send priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask John, "Who art thou?, or "Who are you?"
__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
[This message has been edited by Daryl Fawcett (edited July 13, 2001).]
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 07/14/01 10:29 PM
quote:
Many among the leaders would not go to hear John's appeals and denunciations, lest they should be led to disclose the secrets of their own lives. Yet his preaching was a direct announcement of the Messiah. It was well known that the seventy weeks of Daniel's prophecy, covering the Messiah's advent, were nearly ended; and all were eager to share in that era of national glory which was then expected. Such was the popular enthusiasm that the Sanhedrin would soon be forced either to sanction or to reject John's work. Already their power over the people was waning. It was becoming a serious question how to maintain their position. In the hope of arriving at some conclusion, they dispatched to the Jordan a deputation of priests and Levites to confer with the new teacher.A multitude were gathered, listening to his words, when the delegates approached. With an air of authority designed to impress the people and to command the deference of the prophet the haughty rabbis came. With a movement of respect, almost of fear, the crowd opened to let them pass. The great men, in their rich robes, in the pride of rank and power, stood before the prophet of the wilderness.
The leaders knew their time was almost up..they either needed to come out for or against what John was preaching.
In The Blessed Hope
Avalee
[This message has been edited by Avalee Lohman (edited July 14, 2001).]
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 07/14/01 10:50 PM
These leaders knew who John was and what his mission was:
quote:
The Sanhedrin could not well defer an investigation of John's work. There were some who recalled the revelation made to Zacharias in the temple, and the father's prophecy, that had pointed to his child as the Messiah's herald. In the tumults and changes of thirty years, these things had in a great measure been lost sight of. They were now called to mind by the excitement concerning the ministry of John.
In The Blessed Hope
Avalee
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 07/15/01 12:00 AM
Thank you, Sister Avalee, for those quotes.
This next verse is interesting:
quote:
John 1:20 He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."
Why does it say "he did not deny" in this verse?
__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/17/01 03:48 AM
Since nobody ventured to answer my question, I guess it is time for me to try and answer it.
This verse means that John wanted to make it very, very clear that he was not the Messiah by fortifying this with a corresponding negative statement, denied not.
This then takes us to the next two verses:
quote:
John 1:21 "And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?"
Why do you suppose they were asking John the Baptist all these questions?
__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace
Daryl
Posted By: Edward F Sutton
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/17/01 03:10 PM
Attack on the messenger, discredit him. Skuttle his authority standing in the eyes of the people & restore their control.
------------------
Edward F Sutton
Posted By: Gerry Buck
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/17/01 08:12 PM
Trying to get him to say something they could twist and use against him later.
Same tactic they used against Jesus later.
------------------
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me: try my reins and my heart. Ps.26:2
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in men.Ps.118:8
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/03/02 05:26 AM
I have been a real slacker on this topic.
Getting back to John 1:21, who were they referring to when they asked John the Baptist if he were that prophet?
Posted By: Gerry Buck
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/03/02 09:13 AM
quote:
Originally posted by ChristianSoldier:
I noticed that the above verse Daryl is referring to tells us that the Son, (Jesus), has "declared" God.How did Jesus do this?
I would like to see this question persued.
How did He declare the father?
does He still do it today? [trick question]
Posted By: Edward F Sutton
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/03/02 11:19 AM
To declare - (Jesus declaring God the father)
telling about Him
demonstrating His teachings
stand as representative of Him as His Equal but subordinated Leasion to humanity
explain about God the Father, as only His Equal could
Psalms 22:25 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.
Psalms 35:18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
Psalms 40:9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
Psalms 40:10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
declare * = 138 texts (And you thought I was going to post all 138 texts & their Strong's #s & definitions. 
{I thought about it..... yuppers.)
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
John 1:18 No man <3762> hath seen <3708> (5758) God <2316> at any time <4455>; the only begotten <3439> Son <5207>, which <3588> is <5607> (5752) in <1519> the bosom <2859> of the Father <3962>, he <1565> hath declared <1834> (5662) him.
John 17:26 And <2532> I have declared <1107> (5656) unto them <846> thy <4675> name <3686>, and <2532> will declare <1107> (5692) it: that <2443> the love <26> wherewith <3739> thou hast loved <25> (5656) me <3165> may be <5600> (5753) in <1722> them <846>, and I <2504> in <1722> them <846>.
1834 exhgeomai exegeomai ex-ayg-eh’-om-ahee
from 1537 and 2233; TDNT-2:908,303; v
AV-declare 5, tell 1; 6
1) to lead out, be leader, go before
2) metaph., to draw out in narrative, unfold a teaching
2a) to recount, rehearse
2b) to unfold, declare
2b1) the things relating to God
2b2) used in Greek writing of the interpretation of things sacred and divine, oracles, dreams, etc.
1834. exhgeomai exegeomai ex-ayg-eh’-om-ahee; from 1537 and 2233; to consider out (aloud), i.e. rehearse, unfold:—declare, tell.
1107 gnwrizw gnorizo gno-rid’-zo
from a derivative of 1097; TDNT-1:718,119; v
AV-make known 16, declare 4, certify 1, give to understand 1, do to wit 1, wot 1; 24
1) to make known
1a) to become known, be recognised
2) to know, to gain knowledge of, have thorough knowledge of
2a) in earlier Greek it means "to gain a knowledge of" or "have thorough knowledge of"
1107. gnwrizw gnorizo gno-rid’-zo; from a derivative of 1097; to make known; subjectively, to know:—certify, declare, make known, give to understand, do to wit, wot.
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/03/02 03:56 PM
It looks like Ed did a good job answering Gerry's question.
How about telling me who they were referring to by that prophet in verse 21?
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 08/14/02 04:55 AM
A few months have gone by since I asked this question, therefore, I am going to try and resurrect this topic by asking it again.
Who they were referring to by
that prophet in John 1:21?
Can anybody answer this question?
They were refering to "that Propher" Moses......
Matthew Henry's Consice Commentary:
#19-28 John disowns himself to be the Christ, who was now expected and waited for. He came in the spirit and power of Elias, but he was not the person of Elias. John was not that Prophet whom Moses said the Lord would raise up to them of their brethren, like unto him. He was not such a prophet as they expected, who would rescue them from the Romans. He gave such an account of himself, as might excite and awaken them to hearken to him. He baptized the people with water as a profession of repentance, and as an outward sign of the spiritual blessings to be conferred on them by the Messiah, who was in the midst of
them, though they knew him not, and to whom he was unworthy to render the meanest service."
Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald
-DT- 01-21-73---Life and Mission of John
"Men were sent from the highest authority in Jerusalem to inquire in regard to the great agitation John was creating. He was calling whole cities and towns to listen to his voice of warning; and they would know the prophet's authority for thus claiming the attention of the people, and turning the world upside down. These messengers challenged John to tell them certainly if he was the Messiah. John confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou
that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. John is then questioned as to his authority for baptizing, and thus agitating the people, when he does not
claim to be Christ, or Elias, neither that prophet. The words, "That prophet," have reference to Moses. The Jews had been inclined to the belief that Moses would be raised from the dead, and taken to Heaven. They did not know that Moses had already been resurrected. "
Posted By: Tom Wetmore
Re: The Gospel According To John - 08/15/02 06:29 AM
Their question sort of had a double meaning of Moses and/or the Messiah, for it seems to clearly point directly back to the prophecy of the future messiah given by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:14-22. The phrase "that prophet" was refering to the One of whom Moses spoke who would be like Moses. As the one who lead God's people out of bondage to Egypt he was a type of Christ or Messiah, one who saved the people and who pointed forward to the Savior who would lead God's people out of bondage to sin.
As the quotes that Charlene just posted indicate, the Jews had misconstrued this prophecy to mean that Moses himself would come to save them again from their earthly enemies or the Romans, rather than One in the spirit of or One like a Moses. They had misinterpreted many of the later prohecies about the glory of Christ's second coming to apply to His first advent. Interestingly, the Samaritans to whom Jesus pointedly reached out, had rejected this misinterpretation, accepting only the prophecies of Moses and perhaps understood the prophecy of Moses as it was intended. This of course only further galvanized the Jewish leaders rejection of Jesus as the Christ.
I find it interesting that John the Baptist chose to associate himself and his role with Isaiah, the prophet that most clearly pointed the way to the Messiah's coming. Isaiah most beautifully and clearly identifies how and why Jesus would come.
Tom
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 08/14/02 07:57 PM
Am I to understand that the words that Prophet was the Jews, or more specifically, the Pharisees, referring to the resurrection of Moses, whereas, in reality that Prophet should actually have been referring to Christ?
Posted By: Tom Wetmore
Re: The Gospel According To John - 08/15/02 01:00 AM
Daryl,
That is how I understand it. Whether the Pharisees actually intended a double meaning is not so clear. Their understanding of the prophecy of Moses recorded in Deuteronomy 18 had taken on the peculiar twist that Moses himself would come as the fulfilment of this messianic prophecy. As they were spiritually dead they did not discern the spiritual significance of a coming Messiah as conveyed by Isaiah. This is what John redirected them toward. The term That Prophet was essentially code for Messiah.
As is often the case, multiple meanings are possible for certain passages. The prophecy in Deuteronomy took place at the end of Moses life and was his reassurrance that God would not leave them without one to lead and guide them to the promised land and beyond after Moses died. On one level, it identifies a line of prophets who followed in Moses footsteps. And Jesus is a unique fulfilment and culminination of this prophecy that God would never leave nor forsake His people and that He would provide a Way.
Tom
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 08/15/02 04:57 AM
I think it is time to move on and look at the next few verses:
quote:
John 1:22 They said to him then, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
23 He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."
John the Baptist told them who he was by quoting from the prophet Isaiah:
quote:
Isaiah 40:3 A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
Did they understand what he said?
Let us read the next few verses of John.
quote:
John 1:24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.
25 They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?"
If they understood what John said, then why did they say what they said in verse 25?
[ August 14, 2002, 11:01 PM: Message edited by: Daryl Fawcett ]
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 08/20/02 04:06 AM
"Then why are you baptizing?"
In other words, "Then what right do you have to baptize anybody?
They were challenging his right or authority to baptize.
John the Baptist's reply:
quote:
John 1:26 John answered them, "I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know,
27 even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."
Did John the Baptist answer their question?
Posted By: Edward F Sutton
Re: The Gospel According To John - 08/20/02 04:21 PM
John was doing his job and he tossed their question aside and showed his mission, and announced the Messiah.
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/29/02 04:33 PM
I would say that John answered them to his satisfaction, if not to their satisfaction.
Now on to the next two verses:
quote:
John 1:28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
What did John mean by that which I bolded in verse 29?
Did John the Baptist understand the purpose of Christ's first coming?
Posted By: Edward F Sutton
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/29/02 06:44 PM
A lamb takeing away sin, is refering to a sanctuary service. That service being confessing upon that lamb & slaying it so the priest catches the life blood and mediates before the alter and makes vicarious atonement for the sinner - prefiguring the coming Christ, who would Himself offer Himself instead of a lamb & Himself as priest make atonement & mediate a seal for the repentant sinner via His actual merits.
Prefiguring what was done during the time of the yearly blotting out of sins & sealing - He would literally blot out the sins & seal the person. The blotting out of sins / sealing - prefigured by the focusing of the daily / year long progression of sins into the sanvtuary via blood culminated in the time of judgement / sealing / blotting out of sins by the lamb of God & High Priest of God accomplishing atonement within & for the sinner.
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 11/07/02 05:37 AM
Thank you, Ed.
![[Thank You]](graemlins/thanks.gif)
What, though, is
the sin of the world referring to here that Christ, the Lamb of God, takes away?
Posted By: Edward F Sutton
Re: The Gospel According To John - 01/23/03 06:44 PM
John 1:29 The next day <1887> John <2491> seeth <991> (5719) Jesus <2424> coming <2064> (5740) unto <4314> him <846>, and <2532> saith <3004> (5719), Behold <2396> the Lamb <286> of God <2316>, which <3588> taketh away <142> (5723) the sin <266> of the world <2889>.
266 amartia hamartia ham-ar-tee’-ah
from 264; TDNT-1:267,44; n f
AV-sin 172, sinful 1, offense 1; 174
1) equivalent to 264
1a) to be without a share in
1b) to miss the mark
1c) to err, be mistaken
1d) to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong
1e) to wander from the law of God, violate God’s law, sin
2) that which is done wrong, sin, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act
3) collectively, the complex or aggregate of sins committed either by a single person or by many
For Synonyms see entry 5879
266. amartia hamartia ham-ar-tee’-ah; from 264; a sin (properly abstract):—offence, sin(-ful).
********************
Word search - <266> = 151 Bible Texts
Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins <266>.
Matthew 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins <266>.
Matthew 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins <266> be forgiven thee.
Matthew 9:5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins <266> be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins <266>, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin <266> and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins <266>.
Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins <266>.
Mark 1:5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins <266>.
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins <266> be forgiven thee.
Mark 2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins <266> but God only?
Mark 2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins <266> be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
Mark 2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins <266>, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
Luke 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins <266>,
Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins <266>;
Luke 5:20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins <266> are forgiven thee.
Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins <266>, but God alone?
Luke 5:23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins <266> be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
Luke 5:24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins <266>, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins <266>, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
Luke 7:48 And he said unto her, Thy sins <266> are forgiven.
Luke 7:49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins <266> also?
Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins <266>; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins <266> should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin <266> of the world.
John 8:21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins <266>: whither I go, ye cannot come.
John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins <266>: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins <266>.
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin <266> is the servant of sin <266>.
John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin <266>? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
John 9:34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins <266>, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
John 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin <266>: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin <266> remaineth.
John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin <266>: but now they have no cloke for their sin <266>.
John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin <266>: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin <266>, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
John 16:9 Of sin <266>, because they believe not on me;
John 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin <266>.
John 20:23 Whose soever sins <266> ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins <266>, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins <266> may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins <266>.
Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin <266> to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins <266>.
Acts 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins <266>:
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins <266>, calling on the name of the Lord.
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins <266>, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Romans 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin <266>;
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin <266>.
Romans 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins <266> are covered.
Romans 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin <266>.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin <266> entered into the world, and death by sin <266>; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 5:13 (For until the law sin <266> was in the world: but sin <266> is not imputed when there is no law.
Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin <266> abounded, grace did much more abound:
Romans 5:21 That as sin <266> hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin <266>, that grace may abound?
Romans 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin <266>, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin <266> might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin <266>.
Romans 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin <266>.
Romans 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin <266> once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin <266>, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:12 Let not sin <266> therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin <266>: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Romans 6:14 For sin <266> shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin <266> unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin <266>, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin <266>, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Romans 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin <266>, ye were free from righteousness.
Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin <266>, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin <266> is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins <266>, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin <266>? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin <266>, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Romans 7:8 But sin <266>, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin <266> was dead.
Romans 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin <266> revived, and I died.
Romans 7:11 For sin <266>, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
Romans 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin <266>, that it might appear sin <266>, working death in me by that which is good; that sin <266> by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin <266>.
Romans 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin <266> that dwelleth in me.
Romans 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin <266> that dwelleth in me.
Romans 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin <266> which is in my members.
Romans 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin <266>.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin <266> and death.
Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful <266> flesh, and for sin <266>, condemned sin <266> in the flesh:
Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin <266>; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Romans 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins <266>.
Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin <266>.
1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins <266> according to the scriptures;
1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins <266>.
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin <266>; and the strength of sin <266> is the law.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin <266> for us, who knew no sin <266>; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 11:7 Have I committed an offence <266> in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins <266>, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Galatians 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin <266>? God forbid.
Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin <266>, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins <266>;
Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins <266>:
Colossians 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins <266> of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
1 Thessalonians 2:16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins <266> alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin <266> be revealed, the son of perdition;
1 Timothy 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins <266>: keep thyself pure.
1 Timothy 5:24 Some men’s sins <266> are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
2 Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins <266>, led away with divers lusts,
Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins <266>, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins <266> of the people.
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin <266>.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin <266>.
Hebrews 5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins <266>:
Hebrews 5:3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins <266>.
Hebrews 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins <266>, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins <266> and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin <266> by the sacrifice of himself.
Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins <266> of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin <266> unto salvation.
Hebrews 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins <266>.
Hebrews 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins <266> every year.
Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins <266>.
Hebrews 10:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin <266> thou hast had no pleasure.
Hebrews 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin <266> thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Hebrews 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins <266>:
Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins <266> for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Hebrews 10:17 And their sins <266> and iniquities will I remember no more.
Hebrews 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin <266>.
Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins <266>,
Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin <266> for a season;
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin <266> which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin <266>.
Hebrews 13:11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin <266>, are burned without the camp.
James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin <266>: and sin <266>, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
James 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin <266>, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin <266>.
James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins <266>, they shall be forgiven him.
James 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins <266>.
1 Peter 2:22 Who did no sin <266>, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins <266> in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins <266>, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins <266>, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin <266>;
1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins <266>.
2 Peter 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins <266>.
2 Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin <266>; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin <266>.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin <266>, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins <266>, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins <266>, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins <266>: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins <266> are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin <266> transgresseth also the law: for sin <266> is the transgression of the law.
1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins <266>; and in him is no sin <266>.
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin <266> is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin <266>; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins <266>.
1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin <266> which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin <266> unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin <266>: and there is a sin <266> not unto death.
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins <266> in his own blood,
Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins <266>, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Revelation 18:5 For her sins <266> have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
************************
The answer: RE the sin of the world: ALL HER SINS. If she will surrender them to Him while there is yet time before He throws down His censer.
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 01/24/03 07:30 AM
Then the sin of the world is not referring to one or any particular sin, but all the sins of the world?
In other words the word sin should really have been written in this verse as sins?
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/16/03 03:48 AM
Daryl & Ed
The original language context here, seems to support the concept of "sin" in a collective sense, similar to the text in Deut. where it says: "The Lord our God; He is one God." There, as in this use of the word "sin," the word "one," is definitely intended to be in a collective context.
But, let us say that yes. Sin, as used in the above, is indeed meant to be a collective description, as in "sin of the world."
Would the word "sins" contradict any Bible truth, if we were to replace "sin" with "sins?"
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/16/03 06:58 PM
I like and am inclined to agree with what I read in the SDA Bible Commentary.
quote:
By the singular form of the word John places emphasis on sin as a principle, rather than on particular sins. (see 1 John 2:2; 3:5; 4:10).
In other words, Christ came as the Lamb of God to take away the principle, bend, or natural inclination to sin, which, by His grace, will result in the end of the committing of all sins by those who choose and believe on Him. He came to removed the sin virus which would result in the removing or the taking away of our particular sins.
quote:
1 John 3:5 And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/17/03 07:08 AM
Let us move on to the next verse.
quote:
John 1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for He was before me.
What does "He was before me" mean?
Posted By: Avalee
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/16/03 08:57 PM
I looked up the words in Strongs and this is what is says for "before"
G4413
πρῶτος
prōtos
pro'-tos
Contracted superlative of G4253; foremost (in time, place, order or importance): - before, beginning, best, chief (-est), first (of all), former.
Since John the Baptist was older than Jesus of course John was before Jesus in human terms of birth. However, I think John here is acknowledging that Jesus, as God, has always been. So He had to be before him.
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/17/03 01:08 AM
Yes, for in view of the fact that John the Baptist was about six months older than Jesus, reference here is clearly to Jesus' preincarnate existence, or preexistence.
This verse is actually a repeat of the last half of verse 15. That part of verse 15 was so important that it was repeated in verse 30.
What does this tell us about Jesus and His preexistence? In other words, what does preexistence mean in these two verses, verses 15 and 30?
Posted By: Avalee
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/18/03 07:46 AM
Daryl doesn't it just mean what it says...Jesus has been from the beginning? He has always pre-existed.
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/17/03 10:10 PM
Pre-existed before John is evident from these verses, and maybe that is all we need to know at this stage of the study.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/18/03 02:20 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Daryl Fawcett:
Let us move on to the next verse.
quote:
John 1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for He was before me.
What does "He was before me" mean?
Hello Daryl
I see by your reply above that we are in agreement re the use of "sin," or "sins." I didn't have the BCs handy when I made the above post, but I did have in mind the things which you wrote. There is much wisdom in thse Bible Commentaries.
I know you are moving on to the next verse; but do you have a discussion here @ MSDAOL on "sins" and "sin?" It seems to me I saw one here once; but I can't find one now.
Now, moving to this next text, Jo.1:30, the context here is where John the Baptist was baptising people in the Jordan.
Was John the Baptist just talking about the last guy who set foot in the Jordan River, when he looked at Jesus and proclaimed: "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world?" No. Of course not. Neither was he speaking about the person before him, when he expanded on his proclamation about Him who was "before" him.
And I agree with those who have written here how Jesus has always existed. But, as I was looking at some Spirit Of Prophecy comments, regarding John 1:19-30, I found something really interesting. One of the reasons, I think this "before him" comment is so important in the human realm of things, is that since Jesus was always in existence; no one has any excuses, to NOT wash the robes of their character, in the blood of the Lamb.
When I saw news articles in my local paper, with President Bush proclaiming in his last State Of The Union Address: “There is power – wonder working power, in the goodness, and idealism, and faith of the American people;” I could only think how easily this statement could be misleading.
Not that I am saying there is anything wrong with Americans, or with President Bush, simply that the “wonder-working power we need in this hour of earth’s history, cannot come from human hands.
Speaking of Jo.1:29-30, I think Ellen G White has coined very well, what I am trying to say. I have come to see that I personally, (and so do others I am sure), need to pay better attention to these verses we are studying – especially the context of these verses, and what baptism, (which is what John was doing), really means:
“This is our washing and ironing time – the time when we are to cleanse our robes of character in the blood of the Lamb. John says: “Behold the Lamb Of God, which taketh away the SIN of THE WORLD.” Shall we not let Him take them away? Shall we not let our sins go?”
(GCB, April 6th, 1903, pg.89).
Seems some of us need to do more “laundry” (washing & ironing), than others.
Why do you think John also used the words “preferred before me,” when he spoke about Jesus here in verse 30? That Word “preferred” has got me wondering. I will be interested to see other’s thoughts on this.
======
Post edited only to remove a URL from this post. -Daryl
[ February 17, 2003, 07:41 PM: Message edited by: Daryl Fawcett ]
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/18/03 03:17 AM
I don't mind continued discussion on any verses previously discussed in this study. There is a topic on sin and sins in the Search For Truth forum.
I understand that preferred before me was referring to Christ's rank and dignity in relation to John, to which John acknowledged by sayingthis in this verse.
Posted By: Avalee
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/18/03 08:10 PM
I was doing a search in the Spirit of Prophecy web site on the words "preferred before me". Only 12 hits came up and the following was in it. I have not read this before, and found it quite interesting. What a beautiful description of the baptism of Christ.
quote:
March 1, 1874 The Life of Christ.--No. 12.
By Ellen G. White.
His Baptism.
After Jesus had been baptized of John in Jordan, he went straightway up out of the water to the bank of the river, and bowed in the attitude of prayer. A new and important era was opening before him, and he felt the solemnity and responsibilities of the new duties he was to perform, and heavier burdens which he was henceforth to bear. His baptism was the first act of his public ministry; and he here identifies himself with sinners as their representative, in taking upon him their sins, and numbering himself with transgressors. In his prayer, Christ, with his human arm, encircles fallen humanity, while with his divine arm he is reaching for the throne of the Infinite.
His hands were raised upward, and his eyes were fixed as if penetrating Heaven; and he poured out his soul in supplication to his Father for strength to meet the unbelief and sinfulness of men, to break the power of Satan over man, and to be able to overcome Satan in behalf of man. He presented humanity before his Father, asking that he would grant to fallen man the light and strength and power from his own throne to successfully overcome the prince of the power of darkness.
The soul of Christ was burdened with the sense of the sinfulness of men, and the hardness of their hearts, that kept them in unbelief and darkness, so but few would discern his glorious mission and accept the salvation he came from Heaven to bring them. Christ was about to enter upon a scene of fearful trial and temptation, which was to open his life of conflict and suffering. He was to perform new and arduous duties, and bear heavy burdens, such as had never fallen to the lot of men. His sinless humanity supplicates support and strength from his Father as he was about to commence his labors. He asks for the witness that God accepts fallen man, in his Son. He reaches for the throne of God to hang man upon his Father's mercy.
Never had angels listened to such a prayer. They were solicitous to bear to the praying Redeemer messages of assurance and love. But no; the Father himself will minister to his Son. Direct from the throne proceeded the light of the glory of God. The heavens were opened, and beams of light and glory proceeded therefrom and assumed the form of a dove, in appearance like burnished gold. The dove-like form was emblematical of the meekness and gentleness of Christ.
The people stood spell-bound with fear and amazement. Their eyes were fastened upon Christ, whose bowed form was bathed in the beautiful light and glory that ever surround the throne of God. His upturned face was glorified as they had never before seen the face of man. The thunders rolled and the lightnings flashed from the opening heavens, and a voice came therefrom in terrible majesty, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The words of confirmation were given for the benefit of the witnesses at his baptism, and to assure God's dear Son that his Father accepted humanity through him, their substitute and surety, and that God would connect man to himself, and open Heaven to the prayers of men through the intercession of his Son.
Notwithstanding the sins of a guilty world were laid upon his Son, and he had humiliated himself to humanity to save the ruined race, Jehovah's voice assured Christ of his Sonship with the Eternal. In this manifestation, God put his seal to the plan of redemption through his Son, and evidenced that he accepted humanity as exalted through the righteous character and divine excellence of his beloved Son. A way was opened for sinners that, through obedience to God's law and faith in Christ as their Redeemer, they might form righteous characters and become children of God.
As John witnessed the Saviour of the world bowed in the deepest humiliation, and pleading fervently with tears for the approval of his Father, he was deeply moved. As the light and glory from Heaven enshrouded the Saviour, and a voice was heard claiming Jesus as the Son of the Infinite, John saw the token God had promised him, and knew for a certainly that the world's Redeemer had received baptism at his hands. With transport of joy and tearful emotion he stretched forth his hand, and pointed to Jesus, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me; for he was before me." "And I knew him not; but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." And I saw the Spirit descending upon him like a dove and overshadowing him; and I heard the voice of God bear record that this is the Son of God.
-
{YI, March 1, 1874 par. 7}
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/20/03 02:29 AM
Fantastic quote, Avalee!
Now on to verse 31.
quote:
John 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
What does it mean by I knew him not in this verse?
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/22/03 03:53 AM
1RED.043.001
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me; for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw and bare record, that this is the Son of God. Again the next day after, John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!"
While John knew that his mission was connected with Christ's mission; it seems like he was simply saying that although he had never personally met Jesus previously; God did tell John HOW he was to recognize Jesus, once he did meet up with Him.
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/27/03 05:07 PM
What does baptizing with water mean in the same verse?
Posted By: Avalee
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/28/03 08:18 PM
John was preaching to the people on repentence and part of that was being baptized for remission of their sins. Of course Jesus was not being baptized for repentence of any sins...as he was sinless....He was baptized as an example for us.
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/28/03 10:11 PM
Then, Avalee, would that mean that water baptism wasn't a New Testament concept?
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/18/03 11:45 PM
Seeing that I didn't receive an answer to my question from Avalee, I will ask it again to anybody reading this.
Then, anybody, would that mean that water baptism wasn't a New Testament concept?
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 04/11/03 03:13 AM
I guess nobody is going to answer my question, therefore, I will answer it by saying that it is my understanding that water baptism by immersion that John the Baptist was doing was an Old Testament Bible doctrine. The trouble is, I can't find anything in the Old Testament to back this up.
Does anybody know anything about this?
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 11/25/06 04:04 AM
Over three years ago since my last post on this topic.
Can anybody answer the question in my previous post?
Posted By: charis
Re: The Gospel According To John - 11/25/06 07:14 AM
I was told that water immersion is related to the ancient Jewish tradition of the Mikveh laws followed in both the OT and NT. It was a process of spiritual purification and cleansing. It must have meant something to the Jewish population of John's time.
The Jewish Encyclopedia states:
The washing of the whole body is the form of Ablution most frequently ordained in Scripture, and for the greatest number of causes. According to rabbinical interpretation, this is only valid when performed by immersion, either in a natural fountain or stream or in a properly constructed mi?weh, or ritual bath, containing at least forty seahs (about one hundred and twenty gallons) of water (see Baths).
The following are the cases in which the Mosaic Law requires immersion of the whole body, the object being either purification or consecration:
(a) No leper or unclean person of the seed of Aaron could eat of holy flesh until he had washed his whole body in water (Lev. xxii. 4-6).
(b) When a leper was healed of his leprosy, he shaved off his hair, offered up the prescribed sacrifices, washed his clothing, bathed his person in water, and became clean (Lev. xiv. 8, 9).
(c) Any person who came into contact with the body of, or with articles of furniture used by, a person having an unclean issue (), or with any article used by him, was obliged to wash both his body and his garments, and was unclean for a whole day (Lev. xv. 5-10).
(d) On the Day of Atonement the high priest, after sending off the scapegoat (see Azazel), was obliged to wash his whole body in water in a holy place. The same duty devolved upon the man who took away the goat and upon him who burned the ox and the goat of the sin-offering; and they were also required to wash their garments (Lev. xvi. 24, 26, 28). According to the Talmud, on the Day of Atonement the high priest immersed his whole person five times and washed his hands and feet ten times (Mishnah, Yoma, iii. 3).
(e) A sufferer from an unclean issue to be clean required immersion of the whole person (Lev. xv. 16, 18).
(f) Whoever touched a menstruous woman, or any article used by her, required immersion of the whole person (Lev. xv. 19-27).
(g) A native Israelite or a proselyte eating unclean flesh of a beast which had died of itself, or had been torn, became thereby unclean for a day, and was obliged to wash his whole body (Lev. xvii. 15).
(h) The priest who tended the red heifer, itself intended as a rite of purification, became unclean for a day and was obliged to wash his whole body (Num. xix. 7, 8).
(i) Whoever came into contact with a corpse or a grave was unclean for seven days. On the third and seventh days he was sprinkled with water in which ashes from the burnt carcass of the red heifer had been dissolved. On the seventh day he washed his whole body and his garments in water and became clean (Num. xix. 19).
(j) Among the ceremonies at the installation of priests was the washing of the whole body (Ex. xxix. 4, xl. 12).
(k) The Levites were purified by having water of the sin-offering sprinkled upon them (Num. viii. 15).
(l) A menstruous woman requires immersion, as is shown by II Sam. xi. 2, 4, and the rabbinical interpretation of Num. xxxi. 23.
Most of the above purifications, with the exception of the last, are in abeyance at the present time, it being impossible, in the judgment of rabbinical authorities, to observe them properly in the dispersion. The immersions for the sake of ritual purity at the festivals are, however, still observed by the pious. The Karaites follow all the laws of purity. The numerous sects of the ?asidim are especially scrupulous in their ablutions. A Gentile wishing to become a proselyte must also immerse his whole body. This ceremony is, no doubt, historically allied to Baptism, which is thought by modern authorities to have originated among the Essenes, who were very scrupulous respecting ablutions, and in the observance of the rules of purity
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 11/26/06 12:40 AM
Come to think of it, Naaman dipped himself in the water seven times and was clean.
2 Kings 5:10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come to you, and you shall be clean.
11 But Naaman was angry, and went away. And he said, Behold, I said within myself, He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of Jehovah his God, and strike his hand over the place and recover the leper.
12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? And he turned and went away in a rage.
13 And his servants came near and spoke to him and said, My father, if the prophet had told you to do a great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, Wash and be clean?
14 And he went down and dipped seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God. And his flesh came again like the flesh of a little boy, and he was clean.
How does one dip himself? By completely immersing himself.
This was a form of baptism from which came cleansing. In the case of Namaan, it was cleansing from leprosy.
Posted By: Darius
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/07/07 08:58 PM
I find it interesting that nowhere in the NT does it say that we should be baptized, just as Naaman dipped himself, yet the authoritive statement can be made that this was a form of baptism. Why do we have to try so hard to find connections that are not there? This kind of effort usually accompanies a very weak position.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/20/17 08:51 AM
Though this thread was begun several years ago, it is discussing one of my favorite books of the Bible.
Sadly it stopped back then -- but we can continue.
Here are the last few texts covered:
John 1:29 The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and says, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost.
1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
This is a testimony by John the Baptist, after the baptism of Jesus.
Twice the Baptist exclaims, "I knew Him not".
I don't think he means that he never knew Jesus as a human being, before this. They were cousins and their mother's appreciated each other's company. So he probably had met Jesus before in a more casual, family type of setting.
However, this was different -- John received a divine revelation of Who Jesus really was. With absolute certainty, and in awe of the reality, John realizes -- this is HE, the Messiah! Though He was born after me, yet He is the "I AM" who was God, and was with God from the beginning, and that has come down from heaven to manifest God to Israel! He is the Lamb of God come to save us from sin.
John the Baptists announcement wasn't just an announcement, it was filled with the power of conviction, a realization of the awesome reality of Who Jesus really was. The Baptist spoke by revelation, thoughts that were greater than he himself fully understood.
I think we ourselves still fail to really comprehend the full meaning of the verses here in John chapter one.
Of all the gospels, this one brings out the reality that our Creator, the One Who shared the glory of the Godhead with the Father, came down to this world and walked as a man among us. Took our sins, and died that we might live.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/22/17 10:08 AM
John 1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
1:37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
Interestingly, the Baptist twice announces something that no body, not even the twelve disciples of Jesus, after being with Him for three and a half years, understood.
Behold the LAMB of God.
Two of the Baptist's disciples, leave the Baptist and follow Jesus. (They both later become part of Jesus' twelve disciples)
Question -- why didn't the people realize what the announcement meant?
Behold the LAMB of God that takes away the sins of the world?
Posted By: Pilgrim
Re: The Gospel According To John - 06/15/20 11:50 PM
Scripture says that spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Not having received the Spirit yet, I believe they could not totally comprehend the true identity of Jesus. Lets face it, without the Holy Spirit we are all spiritually blind even though we may understand prophesy & doctrine. Ellen White says even the 'foolish virgins' are doctrinally correct yet have no Holy Spirit.
Pilgrim7
Posted By: NSPete
Re: The Gospel According To John - 06/17/20 09:45 AM
Remember also just previous to this declaration from John the heavens had opened and the Spirit of God in the form of a dove had descended upon Christ and the father had spoken saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
We read, "These words of confirmation were given to inspire faith in those who witnessed the scene, and to strengthen the Saviour for His mission." Desire of Ages pg. 112
Then it says ,"None among the hearers, and not even the speaker himself, discerned the import of these words, ?the Lamb of God.? What more could th Father do to try to reach the people with the truth of the Saviour's mission?
Why did they not understand? Because they were not expecting the Messiah to come in this form or for the purpose of which the sacrificial lamb in the sanctuary service foreshadowed, that is, to save the people from their sins. But how many today are making the same mistake? As we look forward to a place in the eternal kingdom we make excuses for why it is okay to continue in our sins which the Lamb of God came to cleanse us from. So with all the clearer proof we have today of God's plan through Christ for our salvation in becoming the Lamb of God it behooves us not to make the same mistake that these earlier witnesses had to the evidences that God was so merciful to provide.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/06/23 07:45 AM
The study of the book of John didn't get beyond the first half of the first chapter. But what an awesome picture John already gives us of Jesus in those first few verses!
John specifically states the purpose of His gospel in John 20:31, "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
And so in the first half of the first chapter we already see --
* Jesus, the Logos or Word, (the communicating link of God with humans), was there in the beginning, there is no starting date for Him, He was already there before the beginning.
* Jesus, the Word was with God (the Father) from the beginning
* Jesus, the Word, was God (in the highest sense, he is God)
* He is God with God the Father!
* Jesus was the active Creator, created everything that was created. Without Him nothing was created.
* Jesus is life (without Him there is only death)
* Jesus is light (without Him there is only darkness)
* Jesus is the TRUE light (there are counterfeits pretending to be light)
* Jesus, the Word, Who was God in the highest sense, became flesh. Took on humanity.
* Jesus, the one and only Being who is both God and man
* Jesus full of grace and truth
* Jesus, the son of God, came so all Who believe in Him would be children of God.
* Jesus came to show and declare what God is like.
* Jesus the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world.
That theme: Jesus the Lamb of God is carried through John's writings.
In Revelation 5, we see the Lamb of God, the only one worthy to receive and open the sealed scroll
Why the symbolic title? Why was He the only one worthy?
Rev. 5:6 in the midst of the throne ....stood a Lamb as it had been slain
Praise One: four beasts and 24 elders sing before the Lamb,
REv. 5:8-9 The four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, ...
5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood
PRAISE TWO: thousands upon thousands of angels, four beasts, 24 elders join
5:11 the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches,
PRAISE THREE: the whole universe joins in
5:13 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, [be] unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Three heavenly praise songs rejoicing because the Lamb (Jesus, the Word who was God, and was with God the Father) had come down from glory and paid the price, He was slain, and redeems us to God by His blood,
John 1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
1:37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Him.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/06/23 07:46 PM
JESUS BEGINS HIS MINISTRY
I'd just like to go back to Christ's baptism and add to the excellent comments already made by Avalee earlier.
Christ's baptism marks a very important point not only in Christ's life, but also in prophetic history. He was ANOINTED for this all important ministry at His baptism. The fate of the world was placed in His hands.
John 1:33-34
Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. It was this baptism by the Holy Spirit that was a sign to John the Baptist of Jesus Divinity and mission.
compare with Acts10:36-38
Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) ...began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.Now look at the prophecy in Daniel 9
S
eventy weeks (490 years) are determined upon thy people...to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy... from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks (483 years) ...And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off...And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (7 years): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.Christ the Son of God, our Lord, ?the Most Holy" Son of man ,? having come to fulfill the vision and the prophecy, was anointed in His flesh by the Holy Spirit from His Father. He had come to make reconciliation for sinners, defeating sin in the flesh, and to end the power of sin.
At His baptism He was anointed for this mission.
From this time (457 BC) four hundred and eighty-three years extend to the autumn of A. D. 27. According to the prophecy, this period was to reach to the Messiah, the Anointed One. In A. D. 27, Jesus at His baptism received the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and soon afterward began His ministry. Then the message was proclaimed. "The time is fulfilled." {DA 233.1}
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/06/23 08:44 PM
John 1:37 And the two disciples (John and Andrew) heard (John the Baptist), and they followed Jesus.
1:38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
1:39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour
Come and see
Don't just listen to what people say, come and see for yourself that Christ is a wonderful Savior, Friend, Master, Teacher, Guide, Brother.
Come and see and experience this for yourself!!!
Jesus invites us to come to Him and see and experience for ourselves.
Notice how many times this concept of "see and behold" for yourself is a call in this chapter.
John 1:29 BEHOLD the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
The word, behold" used in the imperative,especially to call attention, look closely, perceive through sight.
John 1:32, 34 I saw the Spirit descending... I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
John 1:39 He (Jesus) saith unto them, Come and see
John 1:40 (Andrew brought His brother Simon to see Jesus)
John 1:46 Philip said unto him, (Nathan) Come and see. (He didn't argue, just said, come and see)
In this world of doubt, despair and confusion Jesus says ?Come and See?.
Psalms 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/08/23 06:32 AM
John 1:40 One of the two who heard John the Baptist speak and followed Him (Jesus), was Andrew. Simon Peter's brother.
1:41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him. "We have found the Messiah --which is translated the Christ.
1:42 And he brought him to Jesus.
What can we learn of Andrew's faith
his missionary spirit
his method, from these verses?
How does it relate to us, what can we learn about sharing Christ?
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/09/23 09:35 AM
Andrew believed! He responded to the Holy Spirit's call and recognized Jesus as the Messiah after witnessing Jesus baptism and spending one evening with Christ, His heart was open and responsive.
He goes searching for his brother and excitedly tells him. "We have found the Messiah!!! The anointed one.
The first person Andrew shared the news with was his brother.
This is what every follower of Christ is to do. As soon as he himself knows Jesus, he is to tell others what a precious Friend he has found. This is a work that all can do, whether they are young or old.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/12/23 07:55 PM
John 1:42 And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
Why did Jesus rename Simon, and call him Peter?
(Petros) meaning "stone". This is a translation used in most versions of the New Testament of the name Cephas, meaning "stone" in Aramaic, a stone man, or made of stones.
There is a prevailing view that this was a prophecy that Simon Peter would be the first pope, but is that the real answer? If we reject this interpretation, we are under the necessity of providing a better one as we find in Matthew 16:18 another passage where Peter declares Christ is the Son of God, and Jesus answer "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church", is used to support the prevailing view.
That passage is explained as Jesus affirming that by Peter's declaration that Jesus is the Son of God, he has identified the true ROCK, which is Jesus, upon which the church will be built. Peter was a smaller rock that could be moved, but once firmly connected to the chief corner stone would be steadfast in the faith and would be a witness for the TRUE rock, Jesus. It is the confession of faith in Christ, upon which we, as living stones, are to be built upon the Divine corner-stone, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As Peter, himself wrote in 1 Peter 2:5-6 'you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house' .. upon Jesus, the chief corner stone.
So why did Jesus rename Simon, and call him Peter?
Peter definitely became a "living stone" that was being molded to be an important stone in that spiritual house. He became a ?rock? of faith once attached firmly to chief corner stone.
There is a stone called Peitersite stone. It is interesting, though it received its name fairly recently.
Yet, it seems to describe Peter's condition, and how he became a living stone (built on the corner stone which is Christ) in the foundation of the Christian church. A pietersite stone is often referred to as the ?Tempest? for its similarity to a wild desert storm. To form it has to go through several dissolutions, it begins its journey being folded and stressed within the earth, yet emerged as something truly beautiful.
Peter also had a rather tumultuous beginning, and experienced several dissolutions before he came forth as a staunch defender of the faith and a foundational pillar in the Christian church.
Jesus would have known the temptations and fall into outright denial that Peter would go through. But in giving him the name Peter, was a plea and a promise -- hold on to chief corner stone and you will become an important rock in the foundation of Christianity.
Epesians 2:19-21 the household of God; built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/13/23 09:05 PM
John 1:43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and finds Philip, and says unto him, Follow me.
1:44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
1:45 Philip finds Nathanael, and says unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write...
Philip was the fourth disciple to join Jesus.
The first two, John and Andrew, came because of John the Baptist's testimony.
Peter came because his brother Andrew invited him to come.
But now Jesus Himself goes out looking for Philip and invites Philip to follow Him.
Philip, like Andrew before him, goes out to find his friend.
Who was Philip, and why would Jesus personally go out to invite him to, to follow Him?
First, Philip the disciple was not the same man as the deacon Philip which is spoken of in the book of Acts.
Philip was a fisherman from Bethsaida in Galilee, the same town as Andrew and Peter, thus they probably knew each other and shared many common interests.
The text also reveals to us three things about Philip.
First, that Philip was searching for the Messiah that was foretold by Moses and the prophets. It seems he and Nathaniel probably talked about these things together earlier, it was obviously something they were expecting.
Philip was willing to immediately follow Jesus when called.
Thirdly, that when Philip found Jesus, he sensed that Jesus was the One he and Nathaniel were waiting for and immediately went and told Nathaniel so that he too could follow Jesus.
We don't know all that much about Philip the disciple. Philip bore a Greek name and could likely speak Greek.
In John 12, we see Philip again talking with the Greek pilgrims in Jerusalem.
20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and petitioned him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
22 Philip went and told Andrew: and Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
Later, during the last supper, we see Philip longing to know God better. Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, this enquiry gives Jesus the opportunity to teach his disciples about the oneness of the Father and the Son.[see John 14:8-10]
According to tradition Philip and Nathaniel were sent to preach in Greece, Phrygia, and Syria. Where Philip was eventually martyred.
A tomb supposed to be the apostle Philip's tomb was found during excavations in ancient Hierapolis, close to the modern Turkish city of Denizli.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/14/23 07:54 PM
1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
The inhabitants of Nazareth were proverbial for their wickedness, thus Nathaniel was surprised: "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?"
Yes it is hard for people who live in wicked places to maintain their integrity and relationship with God. That's why parents are encouraged to raise their children away from these wicked towns and cities. Yet, Jesus grew up in this sinful village and remained untainted! Our Redeemer did not choose the best situations to live in while a human here on earth. He, the Creator of the universe, choose the lowly estate of people struggling in this world of sin. It was His constant connection with the Father, that kept Him pure and holy in spite of all the evil surrounding Him. Showing us that we can not excuse our sinning on the environment, God can uphold us when we put our lives and wills in His hands.
When Nathaniel raised a question, Philip did not enter into arguments, instead he simply said, "Come and See"
Check it out for yourself!
There was a little doubt in each of their minds, we see it in Philip's words "Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph" and in Nathaniel's reply, "Can any good come out of Nazareth?"
But they were both honest seekers.
They didn't trust in the rabbis and teachers of the day, they went to Jesus to see for themselves.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" In surprise Nathanael exclaimed, "Whence knowest Thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when you were under the fig tree, I saw thee." {DA 140.3}
It was enough. The divine Spirit that had borne witness to Nathanael in his solitary prayer under the fig tree now spoke to him in the words of Jesus. Though in doubt, and yielding somewhat to prejudice, Nathanael had come to Christ with an honest desire for truth, and now his desire was met. His faith went beyond that of the one who had brought him to Jesus (who had Jesus was the son of Joseph). He answered and said, "Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel." {DA 140.4}
If Nathanael had trusted to the rabbis for guidance, he would never have found Jesus. It was by seeing and judging for himself that he became a disciple. So in the case of many today whom prejudice withholds from good. How different would be the result if they would "come and see"! {DA 140.5}
It was Nathaniel, who was the first disciple to exclaim "You, Jesus, are the Son of God"!
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/15/23 07:49 PM
1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
1:50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
NO GUILE
No self-deception, and no disposition to deceive others, no dishonesty, no duplicity, no deceptive tactics. or deviousness.
All who enter the Paradise of God will be those in whose mouths there is no guile, no impurity, no falsehood.
The 144,000 with Jesus in Revelation 14 are said to have "no guile in their mouths".
What a contrast to those working for the beast powers who are all about deception, hidden agendas, and control tactics.
JESUS SEES US WHEN WE PRAY
"He who saw Nathanael under the fig tree will see us in the secret place of prayer. Angels from the world of light are near to those who in humility seek for divine guidance".?(The Desire of Ages, 141.) {Pr 187.5}
Never is one repulsed who comes to Him with a contrite heart. Not one sincere prayer is lost. Amid the anthems of the celestial choir, God hears the cries of the weakest human being. We pour out our heart?s desire in our closets, we breathe a prayer as we walk by the way, and our words reach the throne of the Monarch of the universe. They may be inaudible to any human ear, but they cannot die away into silence, nor can they be lost through the activities of business that are going on. Nothing can drown the soul?s desire. It rises above the din of the street, above the confusion of the multitude, to the heavenly courts. It is God to whom we are speaking, and our prayer is heard.?(Christ?s Object Lessons, 174.) {Pr 188.3}
BELIEF
How Jesus rejoiced to see such an expression of faith, so full and earnest and sincere. Such faith would grow. "Thou shalt see greater things than these. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man" (John 1:49-51).
This is what we shall see if we are connected with God. God wants us to depend upon Him, trust him, and not upon man. He desires us to have a new heart;, and a new purpose. He would give us light from the throne of God. Angels are traveling back and forth from heaven to bring strength, light, truth, encouragement, and help. And while now, we see figuratively the heavens open as God's blessings flow upon us, in the future we will literally see the heaven's open and Christ with millions o f angels coming to take us home.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/15/23 08:04 PM
2:1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2:2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
2:3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, They have no wine.
We now begin the second chapter of the book of John.
The first chapter gave us a glorious picture of the divinity of Jesus!
It told us about John the Baptist and His mission
It told us about Jesus baptism with God the Father declaring Christ as "My Son in Whom I am well pleased, Listen to Him!"
It told of John's declaration that Jesus is "The Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world:
It told of the Jesus first disciples and how they came to follow Jesus.
Now we begin the first story of Jesus' ministry as Messiah during His three and a half years of ministering.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/17/23 03:50 PM
The third day there was a marriage....
The account of Jesus ministry on earth begins with the account of "a marriage".
Jesus was called and his disciples to the marriage.
Why would John begin the account of Jesus ministry on earth with a wedding feast?
If we look through John's writings, we find a wedding theme Christ is the bridegroom seeking His bride. He has come to earth to pay the bride price -- which is extremely high. But He will pay it so some day there will be a great wedding feast.
At the end of salvation's story we find this call to a great marriage in Revelation 19:7-9.
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His wife has made herself ready...Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb."
The first chapter of the gospel by John, revealed that the "Lamb of God", the creator of all things, had arrived with the solution to the sin problem.
Now on the "third day", the marriage theme is introduced. (does this third day symbolically point to the resurrection, when the bride price was fully paid)
It is interesting that John begins this scene by mentioning only one character in the first verse -- the mother of Jesus. She is not named, her identity is entirely defined by her relationship to Jesus.
Does this take us to Revelation 12? That scene also begins with a woman. The woman who gave birth to the child. The woman being symbolic of the church. Yet it is the child that was born which made all the difference for the world.
It reminds us of the very first promise in Genesis 3:15 when the "seed" of the woman, a child born of a woman, would crush the serpents head. That "seed" had come, Jesus Christ, Immanuel, God with us, would gain the victory over sin, death, and the grave.
Mary, it is suggested in the story, as a relative to the bride or groom had responsibilities in preparing things for the wedding. She's the one who is concerned that there is no wine for the guests. The church also needs to be concerned about the wine.
Wine also has it's symbolic meaning, pure wine is representative of the covenant blessings of God, the true doctrine or belief in God.
The Lord's Supper is believed to serve the dual purpose of remembering Jesus' sacrifice, as well as looking forward to great wedding feast, Jesus said, "I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdomI (Matthew 26:29). Yes, at that great wedding feast of the Lamb.
Later in chapter three verses 29 -36 John the Baptist declares Jesus as the true bridegroom who has come to prepare His bride, while he, John the Baptist, was only a friend of the bridegroom.
The true bridegroom, is making preparations for his bride, the Church.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/19/23 03:37 AM
2:3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine.
2:4 Jesus said to her, Woman what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.
2:5 His mother said to the servants, Whatever He says to you, do it..
DA 146 -147 "There was danger that Mary would regard her relationship to Jesus as giving her a special claim upon Him, and the right, in some degree, to direct Him in His mission. For thirty years He had been to her a loving and obedient son, and His love was unchanged; but He must now go about His Father's work. As Son of the Most High, and Saviour of the world, no earthly ties must hold Him from His mission, or influence His conduct. He must stand free to do the will of God....
In saying to Mary that His hour had not yet come, Jesus was replying to her unspoken thought,?to the expectation she cherished in common with her people. She hoped that He would reveal Himself as the Messiah, and take the throne of Israel. But the time had not come. Not as a King, but as ?a Man of Sorrows, had Jesus accepted the lot of humanity.
But though Mary had not a right conception of Christ's mission, she trusted Him implicitly. To this faith Jesus responded. It was to honor Mary's trust, and to strengthen the faith of His disciples, that the first miracle was performed.....
In nowise disconcerted by the words of Jesus, Mary said to those serving at table, ?Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.? Thus she did what she could to prepare the way for the work of Christ."
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/20/23 07:04 AM
John 2: 6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
Stone waterpots!!!
Six of them.
"Large stone vessels are very difficult to make, since they must be carved from a single piece of stone. A quarry and workshop producing stone vessels was recently discovered not far from Cana in lower Galilee. But the technology to produce large vessels needed the kind of lathes that were used by the Romans in making stone columns?so these large stone vessels were made during the period of the Roman occupation of Judea and Samaria.
These vessels had a specific purpose. They were used for purification rituals. Scholars have suggested it is quite likely (though of course not provable) that the wedding in Cana was taking place in the house of a priestly family, which accounts for the presence of so many large jars for ritual purity.
Jesus gives a command. Fill these purification vessels with water. The servants obey, and now we have six large, stone water pots,- holding 30 gallons of water a piece, and there were six of them.
This is a literal story of a literal marriage and it's problem, but it is told to convey spiritual lessons.
Jesus turns water in purification vessels into wine.
The water in those pots symbolized purification by water -- the baptism of John the Baptist,
But for the marriage feast (the one for the Lamb of God ) there is need for better cleansing, -- the wine of the covenant has been supplied-- representing the blood of the Lamb slain to redeem us from sin. (See Luke 22:20 and 1 Cor. 11:35)
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/23/23 12:32 AM
2:9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
2:10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: [but] thou hast kept the good wine until now.
2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
The best!
Everything is better with Jesus.
Marriage where Jesus is the center is far better than any human centered relationship.
Life is better with Jesus, no matter what the surroundings.
The book of Hebrews is full of examples of "better".
The better Priest,
The better sanctuary
The better blood
The better covenant
The better promise
The better hope
And it's all centered in Christ!
Many don't realize where the BETTER, Superior quality comes from.
They keep doing their own thing, thinking its good enough.
But the Better and Superior life and hope is all in Christ.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/24/23 06:17 AM
2:12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
2:13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
Jesus is beginning His ministry, His years in the carpenter shop of Nazareth are in the past.
It appears from this verse that He, and His mother and brothers, move to Capernaum.
Matthew seems to confirm this: 4:13 That shortly after the wilderness experience, Jesus left Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
The first story which Luke records, (4:16-31) after Jesus wilderness experience, is the hostile reception of Jesus in Nazareth, when Jesus revealed He was the fulfillment of the passage in Isaiah, they tried to kill Him. Some suggest after this Jesus, His mother and brothers, all moved to Capernaum.
Capernaum was the metropolis of Galilee and one of the most prosperous and crowded districts in all Palestine.
Capernaum was the home of James and John, sons of Zebedee and Salome. Salome is considered (by some) to be the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus.
Peter's mother-in-law lived in Capernaum.
In Capernaum they were astonished at His teaching for His word was with authority (Luke 4:32)
Who the brothers are, has been disputed by theologians. EGW indicates they were the sons of Joseph from a previous marriage, thus step-brothers of Jesus.
They did not really believe Jesus was the Messiah, and had at times made life miserable for Jesus in His growing up years.
But they still spent quite a bit of time with Him, and witnessed many of His miracles. They saw Him heal, heard Him preach, and saw how He was able to answer the Pharisees. They often travelled with Jesus, and in spite of their skepticism, and misplaced trust in Jewish leadership, at least two of those brothers accepted Jesus in the end, and became strong leaders in the fledgling church.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/25/23 11:16 PM
John 2:13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2:14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business.
2:15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables.
2:16 And He said to those who sold doves. "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise! The Passover was an important Jewish feasts. All male Israelites, age 12 and older were required to attend this feast every year in Jerusalem. This meant that during the Passover week large numbers of people coming from all parts of Palestine, and even from distant lands came to Jerusalem. People were required to bring certain sacrifices. Also there was tax they were to pay yearly. For the convenience of those who found it difficult to bring their own animal, for the sacrifice, suitable animals were being offered for sale. These were bought and sold in the outer courts of the temple.
The big problem was that this buying, bartering and selling was being done in the Gentile court of the temple. It was not only the entrance to the temple proper, it was also the only part of the temple that Gentiles could enter. Thus giving a most unpleasant welcoming sight for those coming to worship.
Here all foreign money was exchanged for the coin of the sanctuary. Because a person had to have sanctuary money to buy a sacrificial animal, and pay their temple tax.
The money-changing gave opportunity for fraud and extortion, and it had grown into a disgraceful traffic, which was a source of revenue to the priests.
Interestingly, John says, Jesus FOUND this happening in the temple!
As a Jew, Jesus would have attended Passover every year since He was twelve years old. He had probably seen this take place many times before.
But Jesus was now embarking on His ministry. He, as the righteous judge was investigating, and FOUND things that were seriously wrong, misrepresenting God and salvation.
Though Christ never used His Divinity to make things easier for Himself, at this point when God's character and the temple's purpose were so flagrantly misrepresented, Christ's Divinity shone through.
EGW
Christ came suddenly into the temple courts, divinity flashed through humanity, and raising a whip of small cords in his hand, with a voice that they will hear again in the execution of the judgment, he said, "Take these things hence. It is written, My Father's house shall be called a house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves." The priests and rulers saw as it were an avenging Angel, such as guarded the way to the tree of life....
As the priests and rulers, full of indignation and terror, sought refuge in flight at the cleansing of the temple, so will it be in the work for these last days {1888 Matterials 1490.2}
Overpowered with terror, the priests and rulers had fled from the temple court, and from the searching glance that read their hearts. In their flight they met others on their way to the temple, and bade them turn back, telling them what they had seen and heard. Christ looked upon the fleeing men with yearning pity for their fear, and their ignorance of what constituted true worship. In this scene He saw symbolized the dispersion of the whole Jewish nation for their wickedness and impenitence. {DA 162.1}
And why did the priests flee from the temple? Why did they not stand their ground? He who commanded them to go was a carpenter's son, a poor Galilean, without earthly rank or power. Why did they not resist Him? Why did they leave the gain so ill acquired, and flee at the command of One whose outward appearance was so humble? {DA 162.2}
Christ spoke with the authority of a king, and in His appearance, and in the tones of His voice, there was that which they had no power to resist. At the word of command they realized, as they had never realized before, their true position as hypocrites and robbers. When divinity flashed through humanity, not only did they see indignation on Christ's countenance; they realized the import of His words. They felt as if before the throne of the eternal Judge, with their sentence passed on them for time and for eternity. For a time they were convinced that Christ was a prophet; and many believed Him to be the Messiah. The Holy Spirit flashed into their minds the utterances of the prophets concerning Christ. Would they yield to this conviction. {DA 162.3}
Posted By: Kevin H
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/27/23 12:54 AM
1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
The inhabitants of Nazareth were proverbial for their wickedness, thus Nathaniel was surprised: "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?"
Yes it is hard for people who live in wicked places to maintain their integrity and relationship with God. That's why parents are encouraged to raise their children away from these wicked towns and cities. Yet, Jesus grew up in this sinful village and remained untainted! Our Redeemer did not choose the best situations to live in while a human here on earth. He, the Creator of the universe, choose the lowly estate of people struggling in this world of sin. It was His constant connection with the Father, that kept Him pure and holy in spite of all the evil surrounding Him. Showing us that we can not excuse our sinning on the environment, God can uphold us when we put our lives and wills in His hands.
Often we misunderstand the wickedness of Nazareth. Often we think of a place where God and religion is neglected, where there is temptation around every corner.
However, the wickedness of Nazareth came from their insignificance. Nazareth was a small Jewish outpost surrounded by much larger gentile villages and cities. Many ancient maps and village lists have been discovered and not a one of them lists Nazareth. We would not know of her existence save for the Bible and archaeological remains.
Because of the Bible the Jews were some of the most educated people in the world. A typical "illiterate Jew" usually had the equivalent of a two to four years of college. Disciples such as Peter James and John did not have their major education in religion, but very likely had the equivalent to a degree in business administration. They and their parents owned the large boats that went into the deep water and had employees dependent on them for their pay check.
Nazareth, on the other hand would have only had about 6 years of education. Those first 6 years was a study in reading, writing and reading the Bible text itself without the comments of the rabbis. The rabbinical schooling started in the 7th year. Nazareth was too far away from the towns that would have the continued education. The synagogue would have been the more conservative school of Shammai. Since it was so small and insignificant, and of the school of Shammai and not the more liberal schools, it is possible that the rabbi may have been a woman. We won't know unless we find a list of Nazareth rabbis, but the more liberal schools of the rabbis had for about 200 years been pushing for the job of rabbi to ONLY be open to men. The school of Shammai rejected this and continued to ordain woman rabbis until about one or two hundred years after Jesus. But do to the unpopularity of women rabbis they were usually assigned to these ultra small out of the way synagogues. (and whether male or female, a conservative rabbi would be uncomfortable with the more advanced school of the rabbis for their "liberal" ideas).
So you have a culture that tends to be educated, but a town that only has the 6 years of elementary education and unless you left, your education was done. These were hard working people would tend to feel inferior to other Jews, but at least they were Jews, the chosen people. They were not gentiles that they saw in the towns around them. But the news paper would never carry the headline "Local Boy Does Good"
Rabbinical students were told to study the Bible under fig trees. And that's where we find Nathaniel. This indicates that Nathaniel was studying for his MDiv or higher religion degree. The fact that he was aware of Nazareth shows that he knew a lot about the area. Jesus probably met many people who when they heard "Jesus of Nazareth" would ask "Jesus of where? Where on earth is Nazareth? I've never heard of it before." For Nathaniel it's "Hey, would you want to transfer from your program at the seminary and start studying with a hillbilly who has only a 6th grade education, " What good can come from that?
The wickedness of Nazareth was that the population thought "What can I do?" and as mentioned above the local newspaper was not expecting to carry the headline "local boy does good." and when that event happened, there was a discomfort among the people who had gone nowhere in life. A feeling that Jesus might have seen himself as better then them.
Coming home this guy who was making something of himself read the scripture than sat down. Now this was not like our churches where someone comes up and reads the passage and then returns to their seat to observe the rest of the service. No, the members would stand, the rabbi giving the service would sit down, and the rabbinical students would sit at the rabbi's feet. And the rabbi would teach from the seat. So we know that his home synagogue requested him to give the sermon.
So we have a group of people who have gone no where in life, handicapped by their education ending at the 6th grade, but at least they were Jews and not Gentiles. And what does Jesus use for his sermon, how much God loves the despised gentiles. It would have been similar as if in the early 1800s you had white trash living in the south, feeling that despite their low level in the scheme of life, at least they are not of African heritage. And someone among them ends up being a success, and comes to church and "What's Mr. Do You Think Your Better than me?" peaches on God's love for those despised from African heritage. Jesus talks about how God loves the despised "at least I'm not a gentile".
The wickedness of Nazareth was not a rebellion from religion with temptation around every corner. The wickedness of Nazareth was seeing themselves as inferior and insignificant and upset when one of them, with the same limited 6th grade education making something of themselves. Satan tempted them to see Jesus as all high and mighty Rabbi Hotsy Totsy, who does he think he is to become someone instead of going through life living in their obscurity and insignificance. Then becoming totally outraged when Jesus preaches about God's love for the "at least I'm a Jew and not a Gentile". people.
Now, despite their limited formal education, Nazareth was on the edge of the Jezreel Valley, they could look out and see, and a short walk away was the location of a large number of Bible stories. The people living in Nazareth could, if they wished, travel over to see where the story of Deborah took place and picture the events in their mind at the actual location, same with story after story. The residence of Nazareth had a set of the Bible Story available to them that was even better than Uncle Arthurs. Many of them could have taken their 6th grade, learning how to read and write and ability to read the Bible, and to walk to the location of the many Bible stories around them, and getting a knowledge of the Bible far superior to that of the rabbinical schools. And they could have been a light unto their gentile neighbors.
When Jesus went to Jerusalem for his Bar Mitzva, the rabbis were impressed as to his basic knowledge of the Bible, now if he would only continue to go beyond the 6th grade and start studying with the more advanced schools of the rabbis starting in grade 7. They would start to invite this promising child to leave behind uneducated hillbilly, what's the name of that town again, and to come into society for their education. This was the pressure that Mary would have been placed under. Would they stay in that town with a lack of education where they at most would study the Bible in it's geographical setting, or would they go where there was the rabbinical education advantages?
The wickedness of Nazareth was not a rebellion to faith, but a sitting around feeling sorry for themselves for their lack of education and soothing their "poor me" spirit with a looking down on their gentile neighbors and saying "at least I'm not one of them."
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/27/23 06:08 AM
John 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
2:17
And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
In contrast to the "backwoods" people in Nazareth, people in this event in the second chapter of John are not illiterate or uneducated. They rank in the higher educated, higher stationed group. Most in this class know their Bibles well -- many had memorized huge sections, if not pretty much all, of what was then scripture.
True knowledge isn't necessarily held by the highly educated, for them the simple things in truth, are complex and confusing with all their philosophizing. These people, sitting in the temple, selling Lambs for the Passover, though highly versed in scripture, don't understand that the Lamb of God was standing in their midst.
This HOUSE, the sanctuary has the story of Jesus and salvation written all the way through it, BUT THEY CAN'T SEE it!
Why, when dealing with the poor and illiterate is Jesus gentle and kind, where as when facing these highly educated leaders in the sanctuary, He displays wrath?
When people rise themselves up, like blackout curtains between God's messages and the truth, keeping people deceived, inspite of the light that wants to shine upon the people, it is one of the worst sins against one's fellow human.
It's the educated ones, blindfolding the poor, so they can't see salvation, that is grievous.
With ZEAL Christ worked to rip the blindfold away, so people can see the truth in Him!
Give us a sign? really!
After all they had seen and heard about Jesus they had seen many signs!!! Yet, in their mind they couldn't see and made sure no one else could either.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 02/27/23 08:45 PM
john 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE IN JOHN CHAPTER TWO. (First Cleansing)
The other three gospels record that our Lord cleansed the temple at the end of his ministry, in that last week just before his betrayal and crucifixion. Some scholars feel that John's account is of the same event, but John records it as having occurred at the beginning of our Lord's ministry.
It is not the same event -- Jesus cleansed the temple both at the beginning and at the end of His ministry on earth. A close look at the other gospel accounts reveals that there were considerable difference in these events.
Both times were connected with Passover.
Now scripture tells us that people prepared for the Passover by cleansing their houses. Anything to do with yeast, or fomentation, as well as dirt, was to be cleaned out.
This was done, not only for hygienic reasons, but to portray the need for spiritual cleansing as well.
Jesus had come to fulfill the promise
Jeremiah 33:8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
33:9 And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.
Yet in a city and a time that was given over to cleansing every house, symbolizing the cleansing power of the coming Messiah; when the Messiah came into the temple, the house of God, he found it filled with clutter and noise, dirty-smelling animals, money-changers and merchandise, and worst of all, it was filled with greed, deception, racketeering, a total lack of worship. It was a religious scam, using the things God had ordained to turn thoughts heavenward, into means of extortion of the poor and taking advantage of those who had come to worship.
Christ had come with power to cleanse from sin.
The first cleansing of the temple announced and revealed His power to cleanse!
It also revealed two things --
1. The temple was to be open to all who come to worship.
2, It helps us understand the paradox, that , though we are to come, just as we are (Christ will never turn away an honest seeker) be assured that Jesus is not going to leave us the way we are. He is not going to settle for clutter, compromise, extortion and racket, whatever may be defiling and corrupting the temple courts of our lives. Though He works with gentleness, patience and love, seeking to save the lost, yet if we mistake His patience and love as His acceptance of our cherished sins, we are in for a surprise.
This first cleansing was reminder, a wake up call, an announcement, the prophesize Messiah,.
Jesus, the Son of God, had come to cleanse them.
When the Jews asked for a sign as to what authority He had to do these things--.
2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Jesus gave His death and resurrection to them as the sign as to His authority to cleanse.
It was in symbolic language, but some would understand it, in time.
In the second cleansing of the temple, Jesus again drove out the money changers and livestock merchants, but then demonstrating why He had come, He healed and taught those common people who remained. Interestingly they didn't run. It was the unrepentant that ran. His healing was what Christ longed to do for the whole nation!
When they left the temple after the second cleansing, they passed a fig tree that had been in full leaf the day before, but now it was dried up.
(See Mark 11:13-20)
And Matthew records Jesus mournful words:
23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!
23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
If we refuse Christ's cleansing power, and by His Spirit, fail to put to death the sinful deeds of the body, (See Romans 8:13) one day we will find him coming again with flaming eyes and find ourselves running for the mountains, pleading for them to fall upon us.
Thus the two cleansings of the Jewish temple stand as bookmarks in the Christian experience.
The first -- Christ has come to drive out the sin and pollution out of our lives. It is by his power this work can be done, we can not do it ourselves. In cleansing the temple from the world's buyers and sellers, Jesus announced His mission to cleanse the heart from the defilement of sin,--from the earthly desires, the selfish lusts, the evil habits, that corrupt the soul.
The second -- Christ will come again. Will He find our hearts cleansed by His Spirit? Or will all the money changers and worldly ambitions, greed and sin, still be there?
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/03/23 03:41 AM
John 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
What do those words mean?
Many believed because of the miracles,
But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, He didn't need their testimony about each other.
Why not?
He knew their hearts.
He knew what was in man.
We can contrast that with Nathaniel's belief back in John 1:47-49
Nathaniel believed and Jesus recommended His faith for it was without guile. There was no deceptive element there. In other words, Jesus could completely trust him.
But though the people in the above verse also believed.
Jesus could not really trust them, He knew what was in their heart, and open trust was not there.
Jesus knew what was in each heart.
He didn't need any reference reports from other people,
He also knows what's in each of our hearts.
It really doesn't matter what others think is your heart. They don't really know.
But Jesus does know.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/05/23 04:37 AM
John chapter three
Anyone can join this study of John and share what these verses mean to them in their spiritual lives.
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Here we have a ruler of the Jews, a Pharisee, seeking a secret audience with Jesus.
Why the secrecy?
Why are people afraid of what others might think of us if we seek to be with Jesus?
The conversation begins with Nicodemus making complimentary small talk,
Jesus seemingly ignores the small talk and comes out with a startling spiritual truth.
Why does Jesus launch immediately into deep spiritual truth on the first meeting.?
And why does He avoid launching into deep spiritual truth with others and just tell parables to these others?
Is there a connection with the last two verses of chapter 2 with these introductory verses in chapter 3?
Posted By: Daryl
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/05/23 08:41 PM
Christ seems to reveal more truth in one-to-one conversations, as he also did with the woman at the well.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/08/23 10:36 AM
John chapter three
2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
The conversation begins with Nicodemus making complimentary small talk,
Jesus seemingly ignores the small talk and comes out with a startling spiritual truth.
Why does Jesus launch immediately into deep spiritual truth on the first meeting.?
And why does He avoid launching into deep spiritual truth with others and just tell parables to these others?
Is there a connection with the last two verses of chapter 2 with these introductory verses in chapter 3?
Jesus knows the motives and heart of every person. He knows if they come with sincere hearts, or if they are just curious come to see what is going on, or if they are trying to trip him up. He knows their needs and their spiritual condition.
For the casual seeker He tells parables to plant seeds of truth in their minds that may take root and grow,
For the honest seeker He avoids the small talk and gives them spiritual food that He knows meets their need.
And yes, in one-to-one conversations with people receptive to truth Jesus reveals more truth !
Nicodemus, as a Pharisee was most likely in the temple when Jesus entered on the day before the Passover. He would have been aware of what happened when Divinity flashed through humanity and money changers and sellers fled. He witnessed the miracles of Jesus there at the temple as the common people flocked in to hear Him. He was among the many who believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. Though cautious, he was convicted this was from God.
Nicodemus was a respected member of the Sanhedrin. He must have been powerfully convicted to break through the prejudice of his position, to acknowledge an untrained Galilean as a Teacher come from God and to meet with Him to discuss spiritual truths. It was a very compromising step for a Sanhedrist to take. No wonder he came secretly, especially after Jesus bold purging of the temple had set the temple authorities in a war path frame of mind against Jesus.
Yet Nicodemus came, evidence of his earnest desire to learn more. Jesus sensed this earnestness and took him straight to the heart of the gospel.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/09/23 07:33 PM
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
3:4 Nicodemus answered him. How can a man be born when he is old can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus, the respected man, well versed in all scripture, holding a high position as leader and teacher in spiritual things in Israel, is shocked by the statement. He understood that, being born again, had something to do with being converted, but the statement shocked him. Why would Jesus think he, Nicodemus, needed this experience? He Nicodemus was born into high ranking Jewish family, and was in the high levels of spiritual leadership!! And so, in bewilderment he says, "a man can't enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
Back in the Jewish culture and understanding then. the concept of "born again" was actually well known BUT it meant being "born" or transitioned into the "kingdom" in a proselytizing manner. Gentiles were "outside the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, without God in the world" (Eph. 2:12) To be "born again" in their minds, was not really meant as a regeneration, but it did carry the meaning of entering into a relationship with God by joining the Jewish faith and going through the rituals required to be considered a proselyte Jew -- joining the "kingdom" of God's chosen, by connecting with the Jewish religion.
But Nicodemus was not a Gentile! Why would Jesus suggest he needed to be born again?
He had all the top notch qualifications as understood in his time and position, which, in their minds mean he was part of the kingdom of God, part of the chosen nation.
This is a theme we as Adventists need to explore and understand.
Too often we (as well as other Christian denominations) often consider joining is being born again.
Yet, we can be top notch members of the organization, yet we still need to be born again?
What does it mean to be born again?
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/12/23 01:51 AM
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God
3:6 That which is born of flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Three times in this conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus says
ONLY those born again will enter the kingdom of God!
This is crucial!
What does it mean to be born again.
The verses above tell us a little about what it means to be born again.
1. involves water (baptism/cleansing) and the Spirit.
2. the first birth is of the flesh, the second is of the Spirit.
Romans 8 tells us more of the flesh vs the Spirit.
8:1 no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
8:10 if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also make alive your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of GodBasically, to be born again is to be raised from spiritual death to spiritual life by the Holy Spirit.
The flesh seeks to draw us away from Christ into gratifying physical pleasures.
But we walk by the holy Spirit that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us.
It is a transformation of the character by the Holy Spirit's power.
The power of Christ alone can work the transformation in heart and mind that all must experience who would partake with Him of the new life in the kingdom of heaven. "Except a man be born again," the Saviour has said, "he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3. The religion that comes from God is the only religion that can lead to God. In order to serve Him aright, we must be born of the divine Spirit. This will lead to watchfulness. It will purify the heart and renew the mind and give us a new capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us willing obedience to all His requirements. This is true worship. {CH 129.2}
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/13/23 05:45 AM
J
ohn 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
3:8 The wind blows where it listeth, and you hear the sound thereof, but canst not tell from where it comes, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. This was a totally different meaning of "born again" than the one commonly understood by Jewish leaders. The "born again" Jesus was talking about, wasn't about rituals and rules, rather it was opening the heart to the Divine Presence of God's Spirit. It wasn't just a self improvement of the person, it is the submission of heart, mind and life to Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Necodemus was baffled. So Jesus gives an illustration. One can't see the wind, one can't control the wind, but a person can hear the sound of it rustling in the trees, and see the results of its presence as things move and change occurs.
And so the Holy Spirit moves, unseen, unexplained, drawing our hearts to Jesus, till we gladly (if we don't fight against it) give our hearts and will to Him.
While the wind is itself invisible, it produces effects that are seen and felt. So the work of the Spirit upon the soul will reveal itself in every act of him who has felt its saving power. When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven. No one sees the hand that lifts the burden, or beholds the light descend from the courts above. The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders itself to God. Then that power which no human eye can see creates a new being in the image of God.
It is impossible for finite minds to comprehend the work of redemption. Its mystery exceeds human knowledge; yet he who passes from death to life realizes that it is a divine reality. The beginning of redemption we may know here through a personal experience. Its results reach through the eternal ages. [DA 173}
The Holy Spirit doesn't just fix up the old life, no, there is a transformation in our desires, motives, thoughts.. "There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit". {DA 172.1}
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/17/23 07:31 AM
John 3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, You are a master of Israel, and do not know these things?
3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto you, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and you receive not our witness.
3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you [of] heavenly things?
Nicodemus remains confused. How can these things be, he asks?
Why was he so confused?
Jesus chided Nicodemus for not being aware of the need and the promise of the new birth, because these were plainly laid out in the Old Testament. The promises of a New Heart, and New Spirit; the promises that God would remove the heart of stone and give a heart of flesh are scattered throughout the Old Testament. The words, "not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord -- why didn't he understand those words?
Nicodemus knew these passages. But he understood them differently. Christ was speaking in regard to the inward work of grace to transform the heart and mind, while Nicodemus seemed to be thinking only on the physical plane.
Yet is Nicodemus confusion a rare thing?
Is there an important lesson we can learn form this?
Do we find people today who can't understand that God's Holy Spirit can, and must, actually change their carnal natures if they are to inherit the kingdom of God?
Jesus had just cleansed the temple of people doing carnal business in the temple. None of those people who fled that day from the presence of Jesus had characters transformed by the grace of God to rightly represent Him in the temple services. There was another spirit directing their selfish enterprises.
Nicodemus was one who regretted the evil that was going on, but did he believe that the Holy Spirit could actually change people who yielded self to His leading?
Nicodemus, while honestly seeking, was still a Pharisee. Feeling secure in his own honorable life style, he had hopes of a Messiah, who would rally the nation of Israel to better standards, drive out the Romans and set up a kingdom right there in Jerusalem. Pharisees had tried to lift the standard by making rules about everything. Jesus was talking about submitting to God and being lead by the Holy Spirit.
The true mission of Jesus in redeeming people from sin and transforming their inner lives was just not in line with how he thought things would be done.
Change in a person's thinking usually does not come suddenly. Jesus patiently continued to explain, planting the seeds of truth in his mind, so they would take root and someday result in this man's acceptance of the full truth as it is in Jesus and His righteousness.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/19/23 04:27 AM
John 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you [of] heavenly things?
3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.
How can one explain spiritual things? Spiritual things are heavenly things that people don't fully understand but try to illustrate with earthly things in an attempt to understand them. Yet earthly things fall short of explaining heavenly things. It is true that to be perfectly acquainted with the concerns of a place, it is necessary for a person to be, or have been at that place..
Who has ever experienced these heavenly things so they can explain them to us earthlings, teaching and showing us the deep things of God. Who can now explain them in their full and true meaning?
Only the Son of man!
Only the One Who was in the beginning with God, and was God and was in the beginning with God! And became flesh to dwell with mankind. (John 1:1,14)
And it is His Spirit,
for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God...Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1Cor. 2:10,12) he will guide you into all truth: ..He shall glorify me (the Son of Man as well as the Son of God): for he shall receive of mine, and shall show [it] unto you. John 16:13-14)
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/21/23 06:57 AM
John 3:14 ?And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.?
The One Who came from the very throne room of heaven down to this earth, must be lifted up towards the heavens.
He is the ladder of life from earth to heaven. The only one who can connect us with heaven.
At the cross we unload our burden of sin and place it upon the spotless lamb of God who paid the demands of the law, so we can have forgiveness and life!
He was counted as a criminal, that we might be counted as saints.
The serpent of Eden induces sin and death. Christ absorbed our sin and died that we may be healed from sin and have life eternal.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/23/23 07:02 AM
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
To gain a better grasp of the magnitude of God's gift to the human race, consider the position mankind was in prior to the cross. In rebellion against God all humanity was condemned. God didn't need to condemn anyone, they were already condemned, sitting on death row. People tend to picture God as someone looking for things to condemn people.. No, the world was already condemned by the law.
Just like in the wilderness. The people were dying due to their snake bites. Without divine intervention they were doomed.
Even so the human race was bit by the serpent and sits under condemnation with the poison of sin robbing them of life..
God could have simply said, "Too bad, leave them to their chosen fate".
But no, God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so people don't need to eternally perish.
Christ, the perfectly sinless, Son of God, came and absorbed the poison of our sins into Himself and died a horrible death, so we can be forgiven, the condemnation being lifted.
We must BELIEVE and accept Him and His priceless gift, and through Him (for He is alive again) we can be saved. We need not face the second death of eternal non-existence, for He has opened the door of heaven with eternal life for all who truly believe and accept Him.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/25/23 12:41 AM
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
3:1 9 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
John often speaks of Jesus as the LIGHT!
John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
11:9-10 If any man walk in the day, he does not stumble, because he see the light of this world.
11:10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbles, because there is no light in him.
John 12:34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walks in darkness knows not whither he goes.
12:36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
What does this emphses on LIGHT mean?
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/25/23 05:33 AM
"John 3:19 this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil".
What is it about darkness that people cling to it and reject the light?
In the darkness we can't see very good, and sometimes we can't see at all. So why would people love darkness? The text tells us they love darkness because they don't want their evil deeds to be open to view. They want to keep doing evil without being reprimanded.
Jesus is light! When people come close to Him, their evil becomes visible. Those who love the Savior, will gladly turn from evil and follow Him. But those hiding their sins in the darkness, don't want any light to expose their evil.
This explains why people can get so intolerant under the guise of promoting tolerance. They don't want any demonstration of holiness, they resent it, why? Because they feel condemned. But instead of coming to Jesus for cleansing, they want to blot out all the light that reveals their sin,.
thus they say about people who have decided to live in the light that they are intolerant.
Yet for those crying in the dark, longing for deliverance. Jesus is the light of the world. Those who follow him now, have him as their light leading them to advance that great, and glorious day. True, that light will reveal a persons sins. Which is a precious gift ? like the fortunate early diagnosis of a deadly cancer, which is then removed, and healing takes place. But even more, Jesus as our light will reveal all that is beautiful, pure and holy. He will be the light in which we come to God ? the light of redemption, the work of salvation and a glorious future in the light that knows no darkness at all.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/29/23 08:17 AM
John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
God is holy! His light brings holiness to all who seek to dwell in that light.
People hate reproof. Thus many dwell in darkness. Not only non-believers but also the self-righteous professing Christians will not search for light. They love darkness rather than light, because they do not want to see themselves as God sees them.
But we all need to be transformed. How can we be transformed if we try to hide our sins in darkness away from Jesus the Light of the world. We need to come into the light and like David plead with the Lord --
Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
139:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/29/23 09:41 PM
John 3:22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
3:24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
These verses have raised many questions.
1. Were Jesus and John the Baptist both baptizing people?
2. What was this baptism, prior to the Christian era, symbolizing?
3. Why did Jesus disciples baptize people like John the Baptist was doing not far away?
In the next chapter, John 4:1-2 tells us that Jesus Himself did not baptize anyone, but His disciples did the actual baptizing, most likely under Jesus direction and authority.
The reason Jesus Himself did not baptize may well be to avoid the idea that those baptized by Jesus Himself were of a higher spiritual rank than someone baptized by one of the disciples.
But what is the reason for the disciples of Jesus to be baptizing at this point in history? The baptism described in Romans 6, commemorating Christ's death to all sin and resurrection to walk in the newness of life, was still future. The fullness of the holy Spirit was not yet poured out.
Were they simply baptizing the same as John the Baptist, whose baptism was "the baptism of repentance" in preparation to receive the Messiah? (Acts 19:4)
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/30/23 08:03 PM
The question is still unanswered. Why did Jesus take His disciples to a place in Judea where His disciples could baptize people, while John the Baptist was a bit further north also baptizing people?
Remember this was before the cross and there is no mention, or reason to believe that this baptizing was any different from that administered by John the Baptist.
As we read a bit further, this caused some tension between John the Baptist's disciples and Jesus' disciples.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 03/31/23 08:38 AM
John 3:22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
3:24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
3:25 Then there arose a question between [some] of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
3:26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all [men] come to him.
John the Baptist was a powerful preacher. He had stirred the multitudes who had flocked to the Jordan to hear him, and be baptized by him. He had totally dedicated himself to the work God had given to him. He had testified that Jesus was the Lamb of God whose shoe laces he was not worthy to tie.
Yet in these verses we see John the Baptist to be still taking an independent position. He had pointed others to Jesus, declaring Him to be the Lamb of God. He believed but yet he did not enroll himself among Christ's followers.
Was he still thinking the time was not yet, to join, waiting and thinking Christ would set up a physical kingdom? John the Baptist was also affected by the hopes of his people. The hope that the Messiah would take the throne of David and make national changes. We realize from the accounts in the other gospels (Matt. 11) after being throne into prison, of him sending his disciples to Jesus asking if He was the one, or if they were to look for another, that this may have been the case.
Jesus coming into John's territory and also having His disciples baptizing people may have been to gently show John the Baptist his task as the herald of His advent was finished?
John the Baptist was a remarkable man of energy with a great purpose, how could he just stop doing what he was doing voluntarily? So he continued it even though now it was splitting people's loyalty between him and Christ. The people came, and were baptized; as "they" had done at Bethabara. There was some rivalry developing concerning the Messianic movement , and we see the effect of it upon his disciples and him self.
Next, as we continue to the next verses, we will see John the Baptist recognizing His position to Jesus, and humbly accepting it. And in his last recorded message he points people away from himself, again pointing them to Jesus.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 04/02/23 08:26 PM
3:26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all [men] come to him.
3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
3:28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
3:29 He that hath the bide is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
3:30 He must increase, but I [must] decrease.
Satan was tempting John the Baptist! John was human and had felt success in drawing crowds. Bt now John's mission seemed about to close. Satan was there trying to arouse envy and resentment in the mind of John -- look you gave that Man good references, and now He's stealing all your audience.
What would John do? He still had influence with the people and it was still possible for him to hinder the work of Christ.
If he had felt sorry for himself, and expressed feelings that this just wasn't fair, he would have encouraged his disciples to deepen their own envy and resentment. If he would have expressed grief or disappointment at being superseded, he would have sown the seeds of dissension, would have encouraged envy and jealousy, and would seriously have hindered Christ's ministry
But John showed no sympathy with his disciples dissatisfaction. He recognized His own relationship with the Messiah. And with humbleness exclaimed -- "He must increase, I must decrease"
Self was put aside, and John the Baptist knew his own mission was simply to point and direct people to Jesus, not draw people to himself.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 04/07/23 06:44 AM
John 3:31 He that comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: he that comes from heaven is above all. Human beings talk and share and explain their thoughts concerning many things, but we are all earthly, even the best preacher is still of the earth and earthly.
Too often people look to human teachers and preachers and other members who are considered to be spiritual leader, and expect much from them. But people can let their followers down, they can make mistakes, sometimes even serious blunders. Our faith must not rest on people, it must rest on the One Who came from heaven.
John the Baptist in this his last recorded message, directs people away from himself, for he is only of the earth, earthly. He urges them to look to Jesus, in whom our hopes of eternal life are to be centered.
He is above all, Creator and sustainer of all, Who came to this earth from heaven, to teach us of heavenly things. He is the link between earth and heaven, the only name by which we MUST be saved.
NOTE:
We are going through the book of John -- almost finished with chapter 3.
The purpose of this thread as stated in the OP
What I would like for us to do is to study the book of John as much as possible verse by verse. I invite each one of you to participate in this most wonderful study.
Feel free to use other references in the Bible and the SOP to enhance this study.
My goal is to cover at least a minimum of one verse each day.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 04/07/23 05:39 PM
It's interesting how this message (earthly vs heavenly) runs throughout this chapter.
Jesus tells Necodemus
3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you heavenly things?
3:13 And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Then we hear John the Baptist testifying
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
How important it is to lift our eyes and minds from all the temporal earthly things and ideas, and focus on heavenly things -- Jesus, sitting on the right hand of God, connecting us earthlings to all the splendor of heaven itself. Why are we so focused on earthly things? (Myself included --look up! Lift up your heads for your redemption drawth nigh)
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 04/10/23 10:47 AM
John 3:32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure [unto him].
The amazing thought has been brought home several times in John -- Christ, the Creator of the Universe, the One with God, Who was God, and with God, in the heavenly realms, came down here to this dark world to testify of God's character and plans. He came to share heavenly truths and bring salvation to a lost race.
The sad thing which is also stressed again and again is that the people He came to share these glorious truths with, did not receive His testimony.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
Christ came as a human filled with the Holy Spirit to bring life and truth to the world.
But though the sad note of rejection is repeated again and again, there is also a happy note!
Those who received and believed Christ's testimony are being sealed and know and fully believe that God is TRUE. His promises are true. God has sealed him, because he is true"; namely, with his holy Spirit; see ( 2 Corinthians 1:22 ) ( Ephesians 1:13 ) ( 4:30 ) .
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 04/12/23 02:58 AM
John 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Companion texts:
John 5:20 For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that He himself doeth.
John 13:3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands,
John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
When Jesus came to earth as the Redeemer, the whole destiny of the earth was given into his hands. He took the burden of humanity that he might save men from the consequences of their sins.
He is not only our Savior and Redeemer, He is also our High Priest, our Advocate and Judge.
"Having suffered human affliction, cruelty and temptation, he is qualified to understand the frailties and challenges of people. His love and mercy are mingled with His judgment upon them. Therefore, the Father has given this work into the hands of his Son, knowing that He who victoriously withstood the temptations of Satan, in behalf of man, will be all-wise, just, and gracious in pronouncing their eternal destiny". 2SP169
"All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent." (14 MR 129)
"There is only one true religion, only one way to heaven; only one light to illuminate the way as the pilgrims press on. As we follow on to know the Lord, we shall acknowledge at every step that Christ is the Light of the world, that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; and we shall find that the path that He bids us follow is ?as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day? (Proverbs 4:18).
Letter 126, Aug. 7, 1902
All other ways lead to destruction.
BELIEVE in Jesus.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 04/15/23 05:42 AM
JOHN CHAPTER FOUR
To the Jews first
Then to the Samaritans
Then to all the world.
In Chapter two and three, Jesus was witnessing to the Jews.
There was the wedding feast,
And there was Nicodemus.
In Chapter four, Jesus now reaches out to Samaria
We are introduced to the woman at the well,
And later in the chapter Jesus honors the request of a Gentile.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 04/19/23 06:19 AM
John 4:1-4 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John?
although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.
So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. But He must needs go through Samaria.
Some have calculated that Jesus was about five to six months in Judea (from Passover till beginning of harvest) and from these verses, it appears that He was attracting a verily large number of followers. (More than John the Baptist) and His disciples were baptizing them.
"The priests and rabbis had been jealous of John's influence as they saw the people leaving the synagogues and flocking to the wilderness; but here was One who had still greater power to attract the multitudes. Those leaders in Israel were not willing to say with John, ?He must increase, but I must decrease.? They arose with a new determination to put an end to the work that was drawing the people away from them" DA180.
Aware that these leaders were planning a "divide and conquer" strategy by igniting and fanning the feelings of jealousy between John's followers and Christ's followers, Jesus quietly left the area.
John had done a great work of preparing people for the coming of Christ. Jesus was building on the groundwork John had laid, and by no means did He want two opposing parties to arise between people who basically believed the same message.
But why go to Galilee by passing through Samaria -- the territory of the Samaritans? Relations between Jews and Samaritans were not all that friendly?
Jesus spent many hours in prayer communicating with His Father. God revealed to Him the events He would meet. And thus Christ knew what God's plan for Him that day was. He knew there was someone out there in Samaria, that He needed to talk to!!!!
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 04/23/23 06:33 AM
John 4:5 Then they came to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
4:6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour...
his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy food.
It's interesting that Jesus MUST travel through Samara on his way to Galilee. There were other routes He could have taken. Most Jews would have taken a different route as Jews and Samaritans did not like each other and preferred to have nothing to do with each other. Why?
An abbreviated history:
--930 BC Israel divided into two nations, northern with capital in Samaria, and southern kingdom with capital in Jerusalem.
--732 BC Due to mixing their worship of God with idol worship the northern kingdom was conquered by Assyria. Many were killed, many were deported, but some were left in their homeland. The Assyrians also imported other conquered people to Samaria who intermarried with the remaining Israelites. Israelite culture and even worship style did not wholly disappear from the area. But the hybrid version was not acceptable to Jews in the Southern kingdom.
--597 BC Judea, which wasn't that faithful with their worship either, were conquered by Babylon. Again many were killed, many taken captive, but a few were left in their homeland, some of these fled to Egypt, but some intermingled with the survivors in the north.
--527 BC the first of the "converted" remnant Jews returned from Babylon to start rebuilding their temple and nation.
The Jews didn't want the Samaritans to help, and the Samaritans were not happy to have them back and made a lot of trouble for the returned Jews.
330 BC the Samaritans built their own temple on Mt. Gerizim
128 BC the Jewish leaders destroyed their temple on Mount Gerizim.
The hatred between the two groups was very strong during Jesus time on earth.
John, in the above scripture passage references history
But notice it references COMMON history when the Samaritans and Jews were all Israelites.
Jacob's well. This area had been temporal home for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the fore fathers of Israel (combined Israel and Judea ).
Mount Gerizim was the mount of blessing in Deut. 11:29, 27:12,
It stands central in the combined northern and southern land of Israelite.
It had been a place of worship in the very early years.
The Masoretic text, a dead sea scroll passage and the Samaritan Pentateuch all claim Moses ordered an altar of worship to be built on Mount Gerizim.
Mount Gerizim continues to be the centre of Samaritan religion to this day, and Samaritans ascend it three times a year: at Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot.
In the Samaritan mind, it was Mount Gerizim, not the temple mount in Jerusalem that was God's designated place of worship.
So these verses give us a bit of background as we venture into the story of the woman at the well.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 04/28/23 06:11 AM
THE WOMAN AT THE WELL
It would be good to read John chapter four and get an overview of the whole account.
So many points to consider.
What was the woman's attitude in the beginning?
How did it change?
How did Jesus guide the discussion to win her over?
How did His method differ from His conversation with Nicodemus?
What did Jesus say that got her so happily excited she invited everyone out be with Jesus?
John 4:6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with [his] journey, sat thus on the well: [and] it was about the sixth hour.
4:7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
4:8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
4:9 Then said the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, ask for drink of me,
Water is a rather dominate theme in this passage.
Centuries earlier, Jacob, in need of water for his household and flocks dug a well there.
Early every morning the women of the town come out to get their day's supply of water.
This particular woman however, comes in the heat of the day to get her supply of water.
Jesus is sitting at the very place where people come to get their water.
Jesus is thirsty and asks for a drink, but He is the source of LIVING WATER!!!
What is the spiritual meaning of water?
1. Water is seen as a symbol of life. Without water life ceases. All living things depend on water, for it is essential to life.
2. Water is seen as a purifying agent. Washing away dirt and filth. Water is seen as a symbol of cleansing and protecting in a religious sense.
3. Water is a driving force. There is power in moving water and steam. In our spiritual life we also need the power to move forward in faith
When we partake of the living water, that living water flows out from us to influence other people for God.
4, Water, quiet water, has a calming effect,, that brings peace
All that is true to in a limited degree with literal water,
But the Living Water Christ gives represents the greater reality
Eternal life, purified of sin, eager and enabled to work for Christ, and experiencing an inner peace even if the world around us is falling apart.
But in this part of the chapter, the woman is only interested in the literal water in the well.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 05/09/23 06:34 AM
4:9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
4:11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Jesus was human. He was thirsty but didn't have anything with which to draw water.
He who made the ocean, who controls the waters of the great deep, who opened the springs and channels of the earth, rested from His weariness at Jacob's well, and was dependent upon a stranger's kindness for even the gift of a drink of water.
In that part of the world it was considered important to offer water to travelers. But this poor woman was thinking of other things. She had come to the well in the middle of the day to avoid the gossiper would heckle her or cast her contemptuous glances. She just wanted to get her water and get back home. Besides the traveler beside the well was a Jew, and she was a Samaritan.!
But Jesus was seeking a key by which to reach her with some living water!
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 05/15/23 06:10 AM
John 4 :10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, Give me to drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water.
4:11 The woman said unto him, Sir you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then have you that living water?
4:12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
The woman is skeptical. At this point she doesn't understand what this stranger is trying to say. But she is responding for she senses there is something unusual here. Yet she is still focused on the literal water in the well.
Jesus did not immediately answer the question in regard to Himself, but in a tone of voice that conveyed His earnestness He said, "Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
This was not ordinary water this stranger was talking about.
Are we like the woman at the well who didn't realize at this point, to Whom she was speaking.
"Only One can meet that need! Jesus did not convey the idea that merely one draft of the water of life would suffice the receiver. He who tastes of the love of Christ will continually long for more; but he seeks for nothing else. The riches, honors, and pleasures of the world do not attract him. The constant cry of his heart is, More of Thee. And He who reveals to the soul its necessity is waiting to satisfy its hunger and thirst. Every human resource and dependence will fail. The cisterns will be emptied, the pools become dry; but our Redeemer is an inexhaustible fountain. We may drink, and drink again, and ever find a fresh supply. He in whom Christ dwells has within himself the fountain of blessing,--"a well of water springing up into everlasting life." From this source he may draw strength and grace sufficient for all his needs. {DA 187.3}
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 05/24/23 11:02 PM
John 4:14 But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
4:15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
John gives us two stories about Jesus encounter with two very different individuals.
In chapter three we studied the account of Jesus? interview with the Pharisee, Nicodemus.
This was a religious leader and a moral man.
Jesus tells him, ?Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.? (John 3:3)
Being a moral man and a religious leader was not enough. Nicodemus needed the new birth.
In chapter four we find another account. This time it's of Jesus? encounter with the immoral Samaritan woman at Jacob?s well. Jesus skillfully shows her that she needs the living water that He can give.
It?s the same basic message with a different metaphor, she too needs to be born again.
Nicodemus and the unnamed Samaritan woman are as different as they could be. He was a Jewish man; she was a Samaritan woman. He was educated and a respected leader in the Jewish faith.
She was uneducated, lived a shameful life, and was avoiding people.
He was well to do, upper middle class. She was a commoner of the despised Samaritans.
He was morally upright; she was immoral.
He came seeking Jesus in the night because he recognized Jesus was no ordinary man.
She had no idea who the stranger at the well was, but Jesus sought to reach her.
Nicodemus tried a scholarly, logical approach, and went home to think over Jesus' words, before making his move to accept Christ. She responded quickly and emotionally, dashing back to her city to call everyone to come and listen to Jesus.
Jesus loved both of them, talking to them with language that would stimulate their unique interest and desire to learn more.
All people need to be born again and partake of the spiritual water that only Christ can give. It doesn't matter if one's life before Christ was considered noble and commendable, or if it was ignoble and shameful, scripture says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All need to be born again and raised into newness of life drinking the living water.
And that's the greatness of the gospel. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 05/31/23 07:56 PM
John 4:15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
4:16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
4:17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
4:18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
4:19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
Jesus had captured her interest in this "Living Water of life". But now that she responded positively, He abruptly turned the conversation. Why?
Before a person can receive this gift of Living Water, which He longed to give, she must be brought to recognize her sin and her Saviour.
How is this done? He didn't simply say, "You are a sinner and I've come to save you." He did it in a more indirect way, to pull her to Him, rather than build barriers of self defense.
He "said to her, Go, call thy husband, and come back here"
She answered, "I have no husband."
At this point she was trying to evade the reality of the situation and hoped to prevent all questioning in that direction.
But Jesus continued, "What you said is right, you have no husband: for you have had five husbands; and the one you are now living with is not you husband: you are telling me the truth.
I'm sure the Samaritan woman trembled in a moment of shocked silence. How could this stranger know her life history, bringing to view what she had hoped to keep hidden as much as possible.
Questions tumbled through her mind: "Who was this man that could read the secrets of her life? Her past was nothing that she was proud of, and it brought feelings of guilt. She was familiar with the God the Samaritans worshipped. Which was a lot like the worship the Jews engaged in.
Jesus was bringing her "into the light".
John 3:19-21 light has come into the world, but people love darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil, hates the light, and refuses to come into the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But the person who seeks and wants to live truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God".
She could deny nothing; it was all true! She was a sinner, and the thought was not pleasant. She didn't want to talk about THAT! So she tried to divert the conversation away from herself and engage Jesus in a theological debate.
In a reverent tone, she said, "Sir, I perceive that Thou art a prophet." Then, hoping to silence conviction, she turned to points of religious controversy between their two nations. If this was a prophet, surely He could give her instruction concerning these matters that had for centuries caused friction between the Jews and the Samaritans.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 06/08/23 09:30 AM
4:19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
4:20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.
She perceived that Jesus was a prophet. Nicodemus said, "we know that thou art a teacher come from God", but both seem to think this enlightenment meant they would talk of theological things. But Jesus immediately turns it into conversation concerning the person's spiritual needs.
The woman tried to start up a discussion over a long standing controversy between Jews and Samaritans. Which mountain were they to worship upon. Jesus turned it into a lesson on the meaning of true worship, which soon would no longer be limited to a place, with animal sacrifices and temple ritual, but would be freely accessible to everyone with a desire to worship Him to do so anywhere.
He acknowledged that the testimonies of salvation were held by the Jews, Without these testimonies (scripture) worshippers did not know what or how to worship
But, a day is coming, he says, when Jerusalem, the holy city, the place with the temple of God, will not be the focus of true worship. Instead of where we worship, Jesus focuses on whom we worship and how we worship.
Three times Jesus mentions the "Father".
(21) worship the Father
(23) Worship the Father in spirit and truth
(23) The Father seeks such to worship Him.
She was referring to the authority of earthly fathers, like Jacob.
Jesus was pointing her to heavenly Father.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 06/08/23 06:20 PM
Worship HIM in spirit...
It's not the place that makes one a true worshipper of God, it is what comes from the heart of the worshipper.
Consider the circumstances of the Jewish nation during the time of Daniel given. The Israelites were in captivity, their temple had been destroyed, their temple services suspended. Their religion had centered in the ceremonies of the sacrificial system. They had made the outward forms all-important, while they had lost the spirit of true worship. . . . God allowed the people to be taken into captivity, and to suspend the services of the temple, in order that the outward ceremonies might not become the sum total of their religion. . . . The outward glory was removed, that the spiritual might be revealed.
The power of Christ alone can work the transformation in heart and mind that all must experience who would partake with Him of the new life in the kingdom of heaven. "Except a man be born again," the Saviour has said, "he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3. The religion that comes from God is the only religion that can lead to God. In order to serve Him aright, we must be born of the Divine Spirit. This will lead to watchfulness. It will purify the heart and renew the mind, and give us a new capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us willing obedience to all His requirements. This is true worship. CD 38
Jesus words to the Samaritan woman indicating a place does not make one's worship true, God wants people to worship Him in spirit and in truth, were actually a continuation of the dialog with Nicodemus. In order to worship God in true worship, we need to experience the new birth -- be born again!
It's a continuation of Christ's cleansing of the earthly temple -- ridding a form of worship of all it's confusion to bring back true worship.
God dwells in humanity, and through saving grace the heart of man becomes again His temple. God designed that the temple at Jerusalem should be a continual witness to the high destiny open to every soul. But the Jews had not understood the significance of the building they regarded with so much pride.
They did not yield themselves as holy temples for the Divine Spirit. The courts of the temple at Jerusalem, filled with the tumult of unholy traffic, represented all too truly the temple of the heart, defiled by the presence of sensual passion and unholy thoughts.
In cleansing the temple from the world's buyers and sellers, Jesus announced His mission to cleanse the heart from the defilement of sin,--from the earthly desires, the selfish lusts, the evil habits, that corrupt the soul. "The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver." Malachi 3:1-3. {DA 161.1}
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17.
No man can of himself cast out the evil throng that have taken possession of the heart. Only Christ can cleanse the soul temple. But He will not force an entrance. He comes not into the heart as to the temple of old; but He says,
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him." Revelation 3:20. He will come, not for one day merely; for He says, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; . . . and they shall be My people."
"He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." 2 Corinthians 6:16; Micah 7:19.
His presence will cleanse and sanctify the soul, so that it may be a holy temple unto the Lord, and "an habitation of God through the Spirit." Ephesians 2:21, 22. {DA 161.2}
Overpowered with terror, the priests and rulers had fled from the temple court, and from the searching glance that read their hearts. In their flight they met others on their way to the temple, and bade them turn back, telling them what they had seen and heard. Christ looked upon the fleeing men with yearning pity for their fear, and their ignorance of what constituted true worship. {DA 162.1}
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 06/14/23 11:09 PM
John 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah is coming, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
4:26 Jesus said unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
4:28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
This Samaritan woman believed the Messiah would come! What did they believe?
The Samaritans accepted only the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy) as Scripture, they did not accept the other writings held by the Jews.
Was the coming of the Messiah prophesied in the books of Moses?
Genesis to Deuteronomy has many verses pointing to the coming Promised One.
There was to come the seed of woman (Gen. 3:15), the seed of Abraham (Gen. 22:18), and Shiloh of Judah (Gen. 49:10).
Additionally, the coming Christ was typified in: Abraham's call to sacrifice his son, but a substitute was provided, (Gen 22) the king-priest Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18-20; Heb. 7:15-17), the Passover lamb (Ex. 12; Jn. 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7), the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16), and the brazen serpent in the wilderness (Num. 21:6-9; Jn. 3:14).
Jesus told the disbelieving Jews:
"They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. ... If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Luke 16:29.31
Jesus told the two travelers to Emmaus:
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27
The Samaritan woman was drawn to Christ, here was one Who knew her sins, but did not condemn her, only offered her hope and the living water of Salvation!
A question arose in her mind, maybe this was the long-looked-for Messiah? She said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming, which is called Christ: when He is come, He will tell us all things."
The Holy Spirit had been preparing her mind to receive more light. She had been studying the Old Testament promise, "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken." Deuteronomy 18:15. She longed to understand this prophecy. Light was already flashing into her mind. The water of life, the spiritual life which Christ gives to every thirsty soul, had begun to spring up in her heart. The Spirit of the Lord was working with her.
Jesus did not hide His identity from her.
Jesus answered, "I that speak unto thee am He."
As the woman heard these words, she did not sit back in shock, instead faith sprang up in her heart. She accepted the wonderful announcement in complete faith!
Jesus could not say such a plain statement to His own people, the Jews. He was far more cautious when He spoke to them. They would have mobbed Him, as they did in Nazareth , trying to throw Him over a cliff. That which had been withheld from the Jews, and which the disciples were afterward enjoined to keep secret, was revealed to a Samaritan woman.
Jesus knew how she would respond and make use of her knowledge in bringing others to share His grace. Already the water of life was bubbling over within her as she rushed back to the city to urge everyone to come out and meet the Messiah!
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 06/20/23 05:48 AM
John 4:27 And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, ?What do You seek?? or, ?Why are You talking with her??
28 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, 29 ?Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?? 30 Then they went out of the city and came to Him.
Why did the disciples marvel?
Jesus was not following Jewish customs!
First, Jesus was talking with a Samaritan (Acts 10 : 28) someone of a despised nation;
second, because He was talking with "a woman". A rabbinical prejudice prevailed, to the
effect that woman is not capable of profound religious instruction.
Yet this woman is much quicker to understand and believe, than the learned Pharisee, Nicodemus.
THAT which Jesus had withheld from the Jews was distinctly opened before the inquiring woman of Samaria; for He who knew all
things perceived that she would respond and make a right use of her knowledge, and be the means of leading others to the true faith."
This woman gave the same invitation to the people in Sychar as Christ gave His first disciples and Philip gave to Nathanael (John 1:39,46) It was no debate or argument. it was simply:. "Come and see!" Come and see for yourself !
THE disciples were good men, but they went into Sychar judging the Samaritans good enough to trade with, but never dreaming of telling them that the Messiah was outside their town. They must have been ashamed to find how much more capable an apostle the woman was than they."
Posted By: Kevin H
Re: The Gospel According To John - 06/22/23 04:16 AM
Thank you dedication!!! Excellent points!!!
Now there may also be an additional layer to this story. In the TANAK, a theme is meeting a wife at a well. We find King Saul off to a bad start of meeting women at the well but being so focused on finding his donkeys that he misses the opportunity. While not in recent years, when I was younger I'd hear sermons and classroom lectures where it was pointed out that the Samaritans came from five different countries, where they all had their own national gods. When the Assyrians took them into exile and placed them in the north, that there were lions that killed many, so priests of YAHWEH were sent to teach them about the God of that land.
Thus, the Samaritan people as a whole had five gods, five husbands, but was now living with a husband, the God of that land, but who technically was not their God, not their husband.
Jesus is here playing the role of Abraham's servant who came to the well and asked for water to bring a wife to Isaac. Jesus is arranging for the Samaritans to marry this God who they were living with, but not really their God. This is the moment where Yahweh becomes the God, not only of the Jews, but of the Samaritans too, leading towards becoming the God of the whole world: Jew, Samaritan and Gentile.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 06/22/23 09:27 PM
Interesting analogy.
I have heard it before but slightly different.
The one above I assume is the Jewish version as it comes from the Tanak.
The one I've heard seems to be the Christian version.
It goes like this:
Yes, five national pagan gods.
Then they were to unite under the "God" of the territory -- so yes, the Israelite religion (though rather legalistic picture of God) was taught but it was a mixed version. (six being the number of mankind trying to get right with God on their own merits and plans)
But the Christian (or Adventist) version presents Jesus, as the seventh. (Seven being the perfect number)
Christ the true bridegroom coming to propose to His bride and offer salvation.
His invitation to His bride includes all nations:
To the Jews first (story of Nicodemus)
To the Samaritans (story of the Samaritan woman)
To the Gentiles (story of healing centurion's son)
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 07/07/23 12:01 PM
John 4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
4:30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
4:31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
4:32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
4:33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him [ought] to eat?
4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and [then] cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
The Samaritan woman was all excited, she had found the Messiah! He had talked with her!
She leaves her water pot, and runs back into the city, and within minutes has everyone curious. "Come and see" she cries and they come, streaming out of the city to see Jesus.
The disciples have just returned from that city carrying their grocery shopping, and offer Jesus food.
But Jesus isn't interested in food, He sees the townspeople emerging out of the city gates and coming toward him.
"I have food to eat that you know nothing about." The disciples were perplexed and confused, where had Jesus found food?
Had someone already gave him food to eat?
But Jesus is not talking about natural food any more than he had talked to the woman about natural water. This was an opportunity to teach the disciples an important truth.
His food "is to do the will of him who sent Him and to finish his work."
There is needed nourishment beyond the natural meaning.
John 6:35 Later "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.
Jesus says to them, "open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest."
A very gratifying moment had arrived.
Jesus wants us to understand the urgency as well as the rich blessings of His mission (and it should be our mission as well). People hungry for the truth, ready to receive His salvation, were coming to Him; therefore, the right time for harvesting is now. Harvest time might have been four months distant in the natural world, but the moment for spiritual reaping had arrived.
The final harvest of the earth is nearly ripe in our time.
Soon Jesus will come again to harvest the earth.
The time for His people to go out and reap for Jesus, bringing people spiritual bread and water, is now.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 07/09/23 07:12 AM
Would we consider this story setting in Samaria a likely place for successful evangelism?
Let's consider:
The people of that culture were pretty antagonistic to Jews (Jesus, the evangelist, was a Jew)
The one advertising the meetings was a woman of questionable standing.
The evangelist's helpers were questioning the wisdom of the endeavor.
There were no miracles performed.
No real prep work done.
Obviously those are some pretty serious handicaps. But yet this was one of Christ's greatest victory in soul winning. The whole town believed.
What made this meeting such a success?
Notice the personal touch Jesus used to first enlist the woman of Samaria.
1. Simple request -- can you help me?
In asking a favor, the petitioner places Himself on the same level as the woman. Not as a great rabbi, but as a tired, thirsty traveler.
2. He arouses curiosity. -- If you knew (basically telling her there is something important she doesn't know, and would probably like to know)
3. He makes a promise pertaining to common need.
A thirst that would never be satisfied with natural water or worldly pursuits, would be satisfied by the "water" He would give her.
4. He addresses a moral problem, yet His words suggest He has the answer to her spiritual needs.
5. What is true worship -- no not the forms she now wishes to debate, but a relational worship with the One true God.
6. He tells her God is seeking true worshippers. And she can become one!
7. The great announcement. I, Jesus am He.
Her personal testimony brought the whole city to Jesus!!!!
There is never reason to say -- it's not worth the effort. Jesus tells us the fields are ripe for harvest.
As the song goes the fields are ripe but the reapers are few.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 07/13/23 07:49 AM
John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
4:36 And he that reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit unto life eternal: that both he that sows and he that reaps may rejoice together.
4:37 And herein is that saying true, One sows, and another reaps.
4:38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
Jesus is not speaking of a physical harvest here, for it is not yet ripe. As the townspeople stream out of the city toward Him, Jesus uses this "picture" to teach.
People are ready to hear the gospel! All on account of one woman's testimony.
"He that reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit unto life eternal: that both he that sows and he that reaps may rejoice together." [John 4:36.]
We are to study these verses because they outline God's plan for witnessing.
What is that plan?
Those who sow the seed, sharing the message where ever they can, are people who believe in the truth for this time.
But it is not always easy and often frustrating as they may not always be able to gather the harvest.
Often the Lord's workers meet with a lot of opposition.
They do their best; earnestly and methodically sowing the good seed of the gospel. But the opposition becomes fiercer and fiercer.
The witnessing person may even think their student is ready to accept the truth, but the students are intimidated by the opposition, and they don't have the courage to acknowledge their convictions.
That was Jesus experience in Jerusalem, even Nicodemus who seemed to be very interested was afraid to step out in faith at that time.
The lives of the workers may even be endangered by those who are controlled by Satan. They should follow the example of their Master, who left Judea and went to Samaria for a short time, go to another place. "Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel," Christ said, "till the Son of man be come." [Matthew 10:23.] So if things get too difficult in one place, the messengers of truth find a new place to witness. The new place may be an easier and more successful opportunity for work, with seeds of truth being successfully sown and ripening for the harvest.
The report of success may find its way back to the place where the work was apparently unsuccessful, and the next messenger of truth who goes there may be more favorably received. Maybe the first person to share the message will also reap someone in their new place, who received truth from someone who witnessed there before them, but sometimes the two who sowed the seed of truth never actually meet and someone else does the reaping.
Then of course, today with all the technology being used to witness, the one seeking to find people responsive to the gospel may find many in whom the seeds of truth have already been sown.
The plan is for the people of God to sow the seeds of truth and reap people for Jesus without worrying who sowed the first seeds and if they can actually be the one to see the person baptized, but simply to work for the Lord, sharing and encouraging people to hear and respond to the gospel of Christ.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 07/22/23 06:06 AM
We've studied almost everything in the first four chapters of John
What has John revealed about Jesus?]
Jesus is the Word
The Word is with God and the Word is God (1:1)
He created everything that was created (1:3)
He is the light of the world (1:5,9)
In Him is life 1:4
He became flesh like us (1:14)
Fullness of grace 1:16)
Grace and truth come through Him
He is the son of God (1:34)
He is the Lamb of God (1:36)
The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (1:29)
He is zealous for proper worship (2 :17)
He knows all men, He knows what is in them (2:24)
He tells us heavenly things (3:12)
He is the son of man come down from heaven (3:13)
He gives eternal life to all who believe in Him (3:15)
Through Him salvation is available for all in the world that believe in him that they might be saved (3:17-18)
He is the one and only begotten Son of Gods (3:16,18)
He brought light into the world (3:19)
He is the bridegroom (3:29)
He is above all (3:31)
He speaks God's word (3:34)
He experienced the physical feelings of humanity (4:6)
He offers living water to humanity (4:10)
Jesus is the promised Messiah (4;26)
He knows everything we have done (4:29)
His great satisfaction comes when people accept his gift of salvation (4;33)
There are more. How many do you find in the first four chapters of John?
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 07/25/23 07:42 PM
Two of the great themes in the book of John --
1. To show who Jesus really was --
The One who was with God, and is God, the Creator of everything. (John 1:1-2) The Promised Messiah.
This in turn also reveals the Father, His character, for Christ and the Father, though two personages, yet are One. Jesus told the disciples if they have seen Christ, Jesus tells them, they have seen the Father. "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Show us the Father? "
(see John 14:7-10)
2. The second theme concerns the sharing of the Gospel. Study His methods.
For He " sends you to reap" for "the fields; they are white already to harvest." " gather fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together".
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 08/08/23 05:56 AM
In our study of the book of John we are still in chapter four.
In verse one, Jesus was seeing conflict arising in Judea, so He "departed again into Galilee", " he must needs go through Samaria" where the encounter with the Samaritan woman took place, and "many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him"
John 4:43 Now after two days he departed from there, and went into Galilee.
44 For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet has no honour in his own country.
45 Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.
46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he had made the water wine.
After two days in Samaria ministering in a city where most believed He was the Messiah, he continued on His journey and went into Galilee.
That is, into the country or region of Galilee: but not to His hometown, Nazareth, where he had spent his childhood and youth. It was especially in that town that he had no honour.
To those in Nazareth, He was just another person like themselves: "Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?" What makes Him think he is someone special??? They were ready to throw Him over the edge of the cliff!
And therefore he passed by Nazareth, and went to other towns.
Christ's sorrowful words, "a prophet has no honour in his own country, he must seek it abroad" included more than Nazareth. Jesus had gone abroad from Galilee to Jerusalem. He was there during a feast, and Galileans who heard him speak at the feast in Jerusalem, and saw His miracles performed there, were now more receptive to Him..
"when he was come into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast:"
These Galileans " for they also went unto the feast." were back home in Galilee and welcoming Jesus in a way in which they would not have done earlier, for they too, were accustomed to deny a home grown prophet.
How about us? Is it possible that we too can be so used to hearing about Jesus, we think we know it all and His Word has nothing more to offer? Could it be true that the very common access to the Bible causes people to ignore its value, and think of the gospel as only a common, self evident thing, and lose their thirst and hunger for God's Word, while people in far off lands soak up the gospel like thirsty deer, for to them it is something wonderful and precious they hadn't heard before?
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 08/14/23 01:46 AM
John 4:46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
4:47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.
4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
4:49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
4:50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
John seems to be beginning a new theme on faith here which we will see more of in the following chapters.
To BELIEVE ....
Is our belief based on signs and wonders.
4:48 Except you see signs and wonders, you will not believe?
John, in the texts just previous, told us the reason the Galileans were happy Jesus was in their midst was because they had seen Him preform miracles in Jerusalem during the feast there. They weren't really hungering for truth, they were drawn by the signs and wonders.
How about this nobleman who now comes to Jesus.
Jesus challenges him -- do you believe in me or are you here just because you saw some signs and wonders?
The nobleman doesn't argue, he is hoping Jesus signs and wonders are strong enough to heal his son who is dying. and begs Jesus to "come down ere my child die".
But Jesus doesn't go with him.
He tells the man, "Go on home, your son lives"
A test of faith!
The man believes, without first seeing any evidence, in faith heads home.
How can we strengthen our faith, to believe, even if the evidence is not seen at the time.?
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 08/22/23 12:14 AM
John 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
4:49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
4:50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
4:51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told [him], saying, Thy son liveth.
4:52 Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.
4:53 So the father knew that [it was] at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.
What an exciting testimony! Jesus is life and healing! His power to give life and heal all manner of diseases was demonstrated during His earthly life. Do we believe?
The problem we face: what happens to our belief and faith when the ones we pray for are not healed? After reading these miracles, we may envy those who had Jesus walking and healing right there in their midst. We may exclaim like Martha, "Lord, if only you would be here .... my loved one would be restored to health, he would not have died".
The question -- is our belief based on signs and wonders?
Do we still believe when our loved one, or even we ourselves, are sick and we pray, and have others pray, and have anointing service, but there is no healing. Do we still believe when we've prayed earnestly for our loved one to be healed, but they die?
The truth is that through the Holy Spirit, Jesus IS HERE! And He lost none of His power or willingness to do the impossible for us today.
So why, are prayers for healing not always ?
Jesus longs to heal us all, He has the power to do so, but there is a greater purpose in this whole controversy between good and evil. And it must be allowed to play out. But God will restore health and wonderous life to all who trust and believe !
God has our best and eternal interest at heart. His great purpose for us, is that we are fitted for eternal life. We tend to focus on immediate things, like how can we go on without our loved one who, in spite of all our prayers, now rests in the grave.
But Jesus says, "I am with you, I will uphold you with my own right hand, I will comfort you." (see Is. 41:10)
"I am the resurrection and life, do you believe?" "In this life you will have sorrow and trouble, but be of good courage, I have overcome the world, (John 16:33)
"He that believeth in Me," said Jesus, "though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die (the eternal death). Do you believe this?"(John 11:25)
Those wonderful stories in the book of John, of Jesus healing ministry are shared with us that we may be encouraged and look up. John did not write them to make us envious, or to make us think that God favored past generations more than us. What we simply must realize is that God has not only infinite power to heal and infinite love for each person, He also has INFINITE WISDOM.
So we present our petitions before Him, we are encouraged to do so boldly. but also in trusting humility, believing that God's infinite wisdom, and infinite love, will choose for us what is best.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 08/25/23 04:04 AM
I guess no one else has ever faced this problem:
" what happens to our belief and faith when the ones we pray for are not healed? When in spite of earnest prayers, anointing service and believing Christ can heal, still they die?"
As there are no comments.
But it seems Jesus preformed those miracles so people would believe He was the Messiah.
In our day we have enough evidence that Christ is our Savior, in all the little miracles in each day showing us God cares, and we need to believe even if there are no momentous signs and healings.
But let's move on:
John 4:53 So the father knew his son was healed at that very same hour in which Jesus said to him, Thy son liveth. And he himself believed, and his whole house.
Many see this account as the same one recorded in Matthew 8:13 "Then Jesus said to the centurion, ?Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.? And his servant was healed that same hour.
If it is the same healing miracle, then we see John in chapters three and four, covering all people as receivers of Christ's blessings. Jews, Samaritans and Gentiles. People in high standing and questionable reputation. Young and old.
1. The Pharisee Nicodemus, a man of high standing, a Jew.
2. A woman of questionable reputation, a Samaritan.
3. A child of a Gentile.
John 4:54 This is again the second miracle [that] Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.
Seven Signs Pointing to Jesus as the Messiah
The first half of John?s Gospel shows that Jesus is the Messiah by way of seven signs:
Changing water into wine 2:1-11
Healing the official's son 4:46-54
Healing the invalid 5:1-15
Feeding the multitude 6:5-13
Walking on the water* 6:16-21
Healing a man with a birth defect (blindness) 9:1-9
Raising Lazarus 11:1-44
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 08/28/23 08:10 AM
CHAPTER FIVE
John 5:1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
A couple chapters earlier, we read of Jesus going to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. (2:13)
A big sale of livestock was talking place in the temple courts, which Jesus chased out. The encounter with Nicodemus took place, in which Jesus spoke of being lifted up (implying the cross) by which all would be drawn to Him. We saw the relationship of the Passover symbolism being expressed.
He had stayed in the Judean area for several weeks, and then began his journey back to Galilee, travelling through Samaria.
In Galilee He was received a little more joyfully, as people had heard some of the reports of what Jesus had done while He was there in Jerusalem.
But now He is leaving Galilee once again -- and again to attend a feast.
Which feast is Jesus now attending in John 5:1?
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/06/23 07:56 PM
It is suggested by some scholars that this feast is a fall feast. (feast of trumpets, atonement, tabernacles)
John seems to show Jesus relate the characteristics of the feast in progress to His ministry of salvation.
The feast of trumpets happens 10 days before the Day of Atonement, presenting a solemn time of spiritual renewal and preparation for the day of atonement.
Do we see the theme of renewal and judgment in chapter five. I believe we do!!
It begins with the account of the man by the pool of Bethesda.
John 5:2-4 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep [market] a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
5:3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
5:4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
The pool of Bethseda was located just north of the temple complex, it was fed by an underground stream which probably explained the "troubled water" occasions.
What is significant here is the large number of people who need renewal. A great multitude of people with all manner of disabilities, longing for renewal! Kind of reflects the condition of all people on earth struggling with the deadly virus of sin with all its manifestations, looking to some promise for renewal only to be disappointed.
There was no magic in the troubled waters of pool called Bethesda (house of mercy).
Legend had it that healing was available to anyone who was able to enter the pool first, when there was bubbling disturbance in the water for they believed an angel stirred the water.
It is also suggested this pool was used for various cleansing rituals as well. Cleansing from various " defilements".
But none of it cleansed, renewed, healed --
But then we see Jesus -- He is the true "house of mercy" the healer, renewer, the living water of life.
And, as we will see as we progress into the chapter, it also deals with Day of Atonement subjects, like judgement.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/08/23 07:52 AM
John 5:5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
5:6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
5:7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
The poor man was helpless; he had not used his limbs for thirty-eight years. He had lain there by the pool for many years, hoping somehow he could dip into that water and be made whole.
To be made whole! That was why he was there, but the hope was dim, nearly dead. He had tried, or yes, he had tried again and again, but some others always got their first.
How does that compare with our lives?
We find ourselves no more capable of living a holy life than was the impotent man capable of walking. Oh, we try, making plans, resolutions, but just don't have the strength to stand against the sins that so easily beset us. "There are many who realize their helplessness, and who long for that spiritual life which will bring them into harmony with God; they are vainly striving to obtain it. In despair they cry, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death?"
There is a Savior. There is One that can make us whole.
"Do you want to be whole" to be healed of sin, to stand blameless, victorious before God?
Ephesians
2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, (totally helpless in sin) has quickened us (awakened us to spiritual life) together with Christ, by grace ye are saved;
2:8 Yes, by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
2:9 Not by your own efforts, lest any man should boast.
2:10 For we are his workmanship, (placing our will under His will) created in Christ Jesus unto good works, (Yes, by His power and guidance) which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/11/23 08:31 AM
John 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
5:9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath
While the water in the pool of Bethesda could not heal and left the paralytic frustrated and discouraged, Jesus, with just a word, heals the man completely. "RISE, take up your bed and walk"!
The paralytic did not stop to argue, he believed Christ's word, believed that he was made whole, and he made the effort at once; he willed to walk, and he did walk. He acted on the word of Christ, and God gave the power. He was made whole. He got up (something he had not done in 38 years) and walked. He took up his bed and walked.
When we look at this story in a spiritual sense, we find ourselves as the helpless person, overwhelmed with sin, in a situation where it seems impossible to live the life scripture seems to demand of a child of God. The thought of God's judgement terrifies us, as the "cleansing waters" seem too far away, and our sin stained lives tie us down.
But when we see Jesus and hear His words "Do you want to be healed". He can heal us!
By grace we are saved and not by works, it is a gift!
Our sins are taken from us and we are made new!
And what does Jesus say?
RISE -- look up to Jesus in faith, believe. If you believe the promise,--believe that you are forgiven and cleansed,--God supplies the fact; you are made whole, just as Christ gave the paralytic power to walk when the man believed that he was healed, He will give you power to walk in newness of life.
RISE, AND WALK
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him." Colossians 2:6.
He gives the strength, it is so if you believe it.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/14/23 07:45 AM
John 5:9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
5:10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
5:11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
This man had faith. A very immature faith, but still he had faith like a mustard seed. Small but powerful. And immediately -- right away, when Jesus said "Rise, take up your bed and walk" he immediately gathered those legs that had not walked for 28 years, underneath him, and stood up, and WALKED! He was made whole!
What does this story teach us as to the deeper meaning. What thoughts passed through that man's heart and mind before he picked up his little bed and walked away with it? It is basically the same action of mind and heart by which a person trapped in sin, who knows that Christ is his Redeemer, grasps this truth and trusts his soul to Him. He stands up in the power of Christ.
But then -- no sooner had the man began his walk in newness of life, when he was assaulted!
He is accused of sin! " It's not lawful for you to carry your bed on the Sabbath." You are a sinner.
The Pharisees and their friends were not awed by the miracle; there was no rejoicing that this poor man, suffering for 38 years, was now whole! Instead they saw a man carrying his light couch on the Sabbath day, and with the true narrow instinct of the legalist, they lay hold only on the fact their Rabbinical restrictions had been violated.
But the man, walking in the renewed strength of the Lord, answered those Pharisees,
"He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed and walk."
He is basically saying: 'The One Who gave me the power to get up and walk, has the right to tell me what to do with that power. It was His gift that even gave me the strength so I could obey and get up and lift my bed. He that has given me the ability to walk, asked me to take my bed.
Several lessons here:
1. The Sabbath commandment is NOT about petty rules and regulations. Christ is Lord of the Sabbath Mark 2:27, and those who are made whole by Christ are eager to meet with Him in a special way each Sabbath. It's a relationship. Legal formalities will complicate a lot of God's commands. The real issue is, where is the heart -- Who has the heart?
2. God didn't promise it would always be easy -- the devil tends to turn up the heat to discourage, especially when he sees us, by God's strength getting up to stand and walk with Christ.
We need to remember how God has led us in the past and have faith to go and do where He sends.
Posted By: Garywk
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/14/23 02:43 PM
This is a nice series od studies. Thanks.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/17/23 09:30 AM
John 5:11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up your bed, and walk.
5:12 So they asked him, ?Who is this man who told you to pick up your bed and walk??
5:13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
5:14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, ?See, you are made whole. Sin no more or something worse may happen to you.?
5:15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him whole.
The man who was made whole, fully healed, had no idea who had healed him.
Jesus had simply disappeared in the crowd.
Why did Jesus disappear?
Why did He tell the man to take up his bed?
This was one time when Jesus wanted to draw attention to the miracle. He chose the Sabbath for performing this sign. On His first trip to Judea He cleansed the temple (John 2:13-16) of its commercial trafficking. Now, on His second trip, He seeks to cleanse them of their false security in their traditions and laws, by awakening in them the realization of their need for a Savior to cleanse them in order to stand in the day of judgment.
Jesus withdrew as the newly healed man walked through the crowds carrying the very bed that had so long been the symbol of his infirmities. The bed drew the attention of the Jewish leaders. How would they respond to this miracle? Did they desire to know who the healer was? But for these leaders they did not see a healed man upon whom Divine mercy had been bestowed. They did not desire the Healer. They saw only a man who broke their traditions and encouraged people to disregard those traditions, and this needed to be punished.
Notice their question; "Who is this man who told you to pick up your bed and walk?" They did not ask, "Who made you whole?"
Later Jesus finds the healed man in the temple. The man evidently had gone to the temple to thank God for the great mercy. Jesus says, "See you are made whole." Given a new lease on life, the old deformities stripped away. And now he admonishes the man, "don't go back to your old life of sin", it will only make you sick again, probably worse than before.
This is what grace is all about! Pardon! The guilt of sin is wiped away, and the person is raised to newness of life in Christ; to no longer serve sin, but in Christ to walk in the paths of righteousness.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/22/23 08:00 PM
John 5:15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath dayThe man healed and made whole, at first did not know who Jesus was. He just knew He had been healed by a mighty Healer, whom he recognized as Divine. When he found out it was Jesus, he was excited and wanted to let everyone know the good news. Naively he runs back and tells the Jews who had asked him "Who is this fellow that told you to take up your bed and walk", that it was Jesus!
Those Jewish leaders knew all along who had healed the sick man. They just wanted verbal confirmation. They had been looking for an excuse to destroy the influence of Jesus.
In order to maintain their own power, these leaders determined to break down the influence of Jesus.
If they could only take him to court before the Sanhedrin, and pronounce an open condemnation upon Him and His teachings, they hoped to turn the people away from listening to Him. The people still had great reverence for their religious leaders. Whoever dared to condemn the rabbinical requirements, or attempt to lighten the burdens they had brought upon the people, was regarded as guilty, not only of blasphemy, but of treason. On this ground the rabbis hoped to excite suspicion against Christ. They represented Him as trying to overthrow the established customs, thus causing division among the people, and preparing the way for complete subjugation by the Romans. {See DA 205}
The curtain is drawn back, for these Jewish leaders had another leader.
There were intense forces, not of flesh and blood, but of principalities and powers determined to thwart Christ's mission.
But the plans which these rabbis were working so zealously to fulfill originated in another council than that of the Sanhedrin. After Satan had failed to overcome Christ in the wilderness, he combined his forces to oppose Him in His ministry, and if possible to thwart His work. What he could not accomplish by direct, personal effort, he determined to effect by strategy. No sooner had he withdrawn from the conflict in the wilderness than in council with his confederate angels he matured his plans for still further blinding the minds of the Jewish people, that they might not recognize their Redeemer. He planned to work through his human agencies in the religious world, by imbuing them with his own enmity against the champion of truth. He would lead them to reject Christ and to make His life as bitter as possible, hoping to discourage Him in His mission. And the leaders in Israel became instruments of Satan in warring against the Saviour.
Jesus had come to "magnify the law, and make it honorable." He was not to lessen its dignity, but to exalt it. The scripture says, "He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth." Isaiah 42:21, 4. He had come to free the Sabbath from those burdensome requirements that had made it a curse instead of a blessing. {DA 205-206}
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 09/26/23 08:21 AM
16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
17 But Jesus answered them, ?My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.?
18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules.
They had on record that Nehemiah (see Nehemiah 13:19) had forbade the Jews to bear burdens on the Sabbath day. Of course Nehemiah was referring to merchants bringing loads of merchandize into the city on Sabbath to sell, however the rabbis had gone far beyond this and manufactured all types of rules as to what could or could not be carried on the Sabbath.
Here's just an example:
On Sabbath one may not carry or transfer objects between a house to a public place. Six feet was the limit anything could be carried, even if it's in one's pocket or in a carriage. Now some exceptions could be made, if one made an enclosed passage the day before to enable a person to carry something a short distance outside on the Sabbath.
Obviously, a man carrying his matt on Sabbath was in conflict with these rules. This would raise the question of what it was lawful to do on the Sabbath, and would open the way for Christ to denounce the restrictions of the Jews in regard to the Lord's day, and to point out the true meaning of the Sabbath Day.
Jesus answers the charge of disregarding the Sabbath rules by saying, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."
God does not withhold His benefits and care upon the Sabbath. The sun still shines, the rain still falls, the angels are sent from heaven to minister to people. It is in harmony with the God's Sabbath law to do works of mercy.
Yes, as God ceased His labor of creating, and rested upon the Sabbath, so people are to leave their occupations and daily work and spend the day resting in Jesus and doing deeds of mercy.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/01/23 08:43 PM
John 5:16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
Did Jesus break the Sabbath? No, he challenged man made rules concerning the Sabbath.
Why do people set up a lot of rules and treat them as "holy" laws?
Why do people have a rather striking tendency to major in minors, while they neglect the weightier matters of the issue?
As Christians, it appears we want to be recognized for our growth in sanctification and for our righteousness. What is easier to measure, how many steps we took on Sabbath, or where our thoughts and hearts were during the Sabbath hours? What is easier to achieve, a ritual that shows our friends we are part of the group, or a life that is surrendered to the will of God and in constant connection with God?
There was much "pious show" in Jerusalem, whether it was in their strict Sabbath rules, or dropping large bags of money in the offering container, but Jesus valued a heart surrendered to God and growing in true righteousness, not vain pious show to elicit human applause.
The problem with majoring in minors is that it can deaden ones sense of need for Christ to make them whole. They rest their assurance of salvation on their performance of certain rituals. The weighty things of salvation -- like being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, and exhibiting the gifts of the Spirit -- are misunderstood and neglected.
Majoring in minors tends to make the person proud of his achievements (I did it, I deserve God's blessing)
Majoring in minors tends to make the person critical of others (I achieved why don't they?)
Majoring in minors tends to negate the gospel and unfit us to stand in the judgment.
That's why Jesus met this issue head on, it had to be dealt with to open the way for the gospel to enter people's minds.
Thus we see the first part of this chapter, before it moves to the Judgement scene, develops the conditions that will allow a person to stand in that judgement.
1. Jesus asks -- "Do you want to be made whole?" Do we desire this? He is the only one who can make us whole!
2. Once the man was made "whole" he was asked "Sin no more". Give up the sinful life style, don't turn back.
3. A show of piety is not the righteousness that enables anyone to stand in the judgement.
Resting on ones own performance of a list of rules is only a mask covering up the real problem of a sinful heart. Jesus was stripping away the mask as useless, what a person really needs is for Christ to make them "whole" and to follow Him, giving their lives and hearts to Him.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/24/23 05:47 AM
John 5:18 "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making himself equal with God."
The whole nation called God their Father, and if Jesus had done this in the same sense in which they did, the Pharisees would not have been so enraged. But they accused Jesus of blasphemy, showing that they understood that Christ claimed God as His Father in the very highest sense. {EGW Review & Harold, March 5, 1901 par. 9}
"Christ, the surety of the human race, works with uninterrupted activity. He speaks of himself as working in the same way as the Father. the Guardian of the universe.
Christ worked untiringly for the people of Israel. He sought to lead them to trust in Him who can save to the uttermost all who come to Him. Christ is the light which lighteneth every man that cometh into the world. From Adam, through the patriarchal age, this light made plain the way to heaven. To it gave all the prophets witness. In mysterious procession future things swept before their vision. In every sacrifice Christ's death was pointed out. His righteousness ascended to God in every cloud of incense. His majesty was hidden in the holy of holies. {RH March 5, 1901)
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 10/30/23 05:49 AM
John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for what ever things He does, these also does the Son likewise.
5:20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that himself does: and he will show him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. The priests had realized Jesus was making "himself equal with God". (They thinking to condemn Him)
But Jesus tells them that He is the full manifestation of the Father. He is the manifestation of His Father?s work. He does not act separately. He has come to show them the Father!
He and the Father are one. Whatever the Father does, He does.
As we read in John 1:1 -- [color:339999]He was with God and He was God, and He was with God.[/color] What they saw Jesus doing is exactly what the Father does and He will reveal even greater things concerning the work of God.
Jesus is the exact representation of the Father. He is God manifest.
We find this same truth a few chapters later where we read the following description:
14:7 (Jesus said) If you had known me, you should have known my Father also: and from now on you do know him, and have seen him.
14:8 Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it suffices us.
14:9 Jesus said to him, Have I been this long time with you, and yet you have not known me, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the Father; and so why do you say, Show us the Father?
14:10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak to you aren't just words from myself: but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works.
14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Hebrews also confirms that Jesus fully manifests God to the world.
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Heb 1:2-3One day all will acknowledge that Jesus is who He claimed to be. He is One with the Father and someday every knee will bow before Him.
As we read in scripture
Isa. 45:21-23 There no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Philippians 2:10-11 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, all in heaven, and all in earth, and all under the earth; that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The Lord Himself has come to reflect upon men the light of heaven. He has announced Himself as one with the Father, full of grace and truth, God manifest in the flesh.
The Lord Jesus, who is the image of the invisible God {1SM 402
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 11/09/23 10:19 PM
JOHN 5:21-23
5:21 For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens [them]; even so the Son quickens whom he will.
5:22 For the Father judges no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
5:23 That all [men] should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honours not the Son honours not the Father which has sent Him.
Here we see the two main Divine activities Christ claims He is doing with God the Father. Jesus wasn't just claiming to imitate the work of salvation which God the Father is doing, He was asserting that His work was identical to that of God the Father. Those who reject him are also rejecting the Father.
Christ is the Life Giver (as He illustrated by healing the paralyzed man by the pool)/
But this work isn't just to give physical life, He is also the source of spiritual life and renewal. He is the One Who can make us WHOLE.
As the One WHO gives life and offers spiritual birth and renewal to people, He is also qualified to judge, both in the present judgment for which He came into the world and in which people choose for themselves either for or against life, by either rejecting Him and His gospel, or come to Him for renewal and life, (see John 3:18-19) and in the investigative judgement, when He presents before the Father and the angels, (see Rev. 3:5,and 1 John 5:5) all the names of all Who overcame in His name and power.
Posted By: Garywk
Re: The Gospel According To John - 11/10/23 11:45 AM
I guess I'm surprised that more people don't comment on John 17. In my book it is one of the more important chapters of the Bible. In it we find that knowing God is life eternal. And the entire chapter is dedicated to God's love for us and dwelling within us.
John 17: 1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 11/10/23 06:35 PM
Yes, chapter seventeen is an awesome chapter.
Showing Jesus as the link between fallen mankind and restoration to God. Jesus prayed," That they (that is us) all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
In Christ were united the Divine and the human. The Son of God took upon himself man's nature, that with his human arm he might encircle the children of Adam in a firm embrace, while with his Divine arm he grasped the throne of the Infinite, thus uniting earth to heaven, and man to God.
It will be great to study it verse by verse when we reach chapter seventeen.
Right now we are still on chapter five, which I find is also an awesome chapter.
Taking time to look at each verse or pair of verses as we go through the book of John has been a great blessing for me.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 11/10/23 07:00 PM
John 5:24
5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
We can see in this verse thoughts building up to Christ's last prayer (found in chapter 17) The whole book points us to Jesus as the Divine link between God and mankind, the One come from the center of the Godhead to reveal God to us and bring us back from the realms of sin and death into the heavenly realms of life and glory.
Yet this verse has often been used for debate rather than to glean the truths. Yet when we look back at the passages John wrote previous we see the theme building up as well.
John 3:16 God so loved the world that He sent Jesus -- why? So we won't have to perish in the everlasting death, but have everlasting LIFE.
John 1:4 him is life; and the life is the light of mankind,
But the sad note in John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Chapter five began with a question : "Do you want to be made whole?"
And by Jesus, the paralytic was made whole, not just physically, but given spiritual life as well!
Do we want to be made "whole"? -- that's why Jesus came.
Sin has left mankind tattered, and full of sorrow and death. BUT
Jesus has opened the door and provided the ladder for us to escape this condemnation brought by sin and evil. When we DO come to the light and love the light of truth revealed in Christ and God, and walk in the light as He is the light, then we need not perish.
He came so that we need not perish, and when we believe (truly believe) yes, we pass from death unto life.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 11/18/23 06:17 AM
John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Jesus is the reality of a resurrection that NOW IS, which is also the guarantee of the resurrection which is to come.
How do we understand this dual resurrections.
We need a resurrection NOW, we need to embrace eternal life NOW.
But -- it is still coming as well?
John 5:24 He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life
That verse speaks of NOW.
Then in verse 5:25 Christ speaks of raising people from the dead, This activity has been presented both in the present NOW IS and future IS COMING
.
Christ is now the Source of spiritual life and renewal. He alone can heal the morally impotent, dead in sin, humans and raise them from spiritual death to spiritual life. .
Just as Paul also writes:
Ephesians 2:1 And you He has made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins:
Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has made alive together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (That can happen NOW)
But there is also the resurrection when Jesus comes again in the clouds of glory! That is future.
So Jesus is saying
He is NOW calling people to a spiritual resurrection. Without Him all are dead in sin, He is the power raising them to spiritual life. Hear, believe, respond, rise to spiritual life in Him!
And in the hour to come all who died the physical death, which is the lot of all, will experience a physical resurrections.
As John continues to share Christ's words of explanation in verse 28-29
5:28 the hour is coming, (that is in future) in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, (who have experience the spiritual resurrection in this life) will be raised unto the resurrection of life;
and they that have done evil, (did not respond to Christ for the spiritual resurrection in this life) will be raised unto the resurrection of damnation.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 11/26/23 09:05 PM
Judgment in John
Those who reject Christ have judged themselves.
But those who believe are assured of eternal life.
John 3:18 He that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
3:36 He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.
John 5:22 For the Father judges no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Jesus, He is Life, and He paid the price needed to forgive sins and redeem sinful mankind. Jesus, Who experience human life with it's trials and frustrations, thus can understand our needs.
He only is worthy to be our judge.
Only He knows Who actually believes, and who are following their own agenda.
Matt. 7:21 Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.
7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
,Luke 1:25 Those who stand without, and knock at the door, saying,. Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
13:26 Then shall they begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and You have taught in our streets.
13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity
So what does it mean to BELIEVE?
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 01/07/24 08:38 AM
John 5:22 For the Father judges no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
5:27 And has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
So who makes the decisions?
5:22--The Father gives judgment to Christ
Yes, Christ is our judge. Other verses say the same thing. (Acts 10:42; 17:31, Romans 2:16; 2 Timothy 4:2; 4:8) Yet the Father and Son work together in this. For the verses before this say "The Son does nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do." (5:19) Further in the book Jesus says, "My judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true." (8:16,17)
This corresponds to the great investigative judgment scene in Daniel 7 where the "Ancient of Days takes His seat, the books are opened, the court is seated, and the Son of Man comes with clouds to the ancient of Days. They do work together in judgment.
That is the investigative judgment
Now comes the executive judgment
5:27-- The Father...has given him (CHRIST) authority to execute judgment ALSO.
Before executing judgment the sentence was already determined in the investigative judgment. The time is soon at hand when Christ will execute judgment.
What does that look like?
5:29-- They that have done good will be raised in the resurrection of life.
Compare with Revelation 14:13
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from now on: they may rest and their works do follow them.
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that takes part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power.
This first resurrection is the grand trumpet that awakens the sleeping saints, who, with the living saints will all rise together to meet our Lord and Savior in the air.
Forever they will be with the Lord!
5:29-- They that have done evil will be raised in the resurrection of damnation.
Revelation 20 says the rest of the dead live not until the 1000 years are over. Then they rise and try to take God's city by force. But fire comes down from heaven to destroy them. Revelation calls this the second death.
But before the second death, (the death from which there is no resurrections) there is a final scene of judgment before the white throne where God reveals His justice to them as to why they could not be in that glorious city.
God does nothing in secret. He lays everything out in the open so all may see His justice in dealing with sin. Before He executes judgment at the second coming, He investigates. Before He executes the final judgment, He again makes plain to all, the justice of the act which must be performed to cleanse the earth of sin forever.
5.30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
Yes, every knee will bow and acknowledge God's justice. His judgment is just, we can depend upon that.
The understanding of a just and fair court case brings assurance to the hearts of Christ's true followers. As long as our lives are hid in Christ and we are abiding in Him and bringing forth the obedient fruits this abiding produces, we have nothing to fear. But apart from Christ condemnation is equally certain.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 01/10/24 09:07 AM
John 5.30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
In this chapter Jesus has demonstrated that He is doing the same work as His Father.
God's will is His will!
Giving life (vs. 20,21, 25,28,290
Work of judging (vs. 22,27,30)
And executing judgment (vs 27-29)
Jesus affirms His deity by claiming five times His equality with God
(vs 17-18, (said that God was his Father, making himself equal with God)
19-20, (The Father and the Son are at one in the work)
21, (The Father and Son have the power to resurrect and restore life)
24-29, (Father and Son are the source of life)
30 (Judgment of the Father is the same as that of the Son}
23 (One cannot honor one without honoring the other)
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 01/11/24 07:05 AM
CHRIST'S WITNESS
John 5:31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
5:32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesses of me is true.
5:33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
5:34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
5:35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me.
For legal validation, scripture points out that two or three witnesses are needed. (See Duet 17:6, and 19:15)
If I bear witness of myself my witness is not true, or rather it is not legally valid, it doesn't stand up in court.
It's not that Jesus witness of Himself is somehow faulty, but rather that it won't hold up in a judicial setting. Witnesses are needed.
So Jesus gives them four witnesses.
1. The first is John the Baptist's witness. He was a light shining forth truth and for a short time the Jews rejoiced, because the prophetic spirit, which had so long ceased, seemed to be again revived in him.
John's mission had been to prepare people to receive Jesus the Messiah. And as we saw in previous chapters, John pointed people to Jesus. He bore witness unto truth.
However, Jesus makes it plain that even the testimony of this great prophet was still the witness of a mere man, and he was not dependent upon that. Yet, though Christ cannot depend upon John's testimony, it should have had weight with his hearers.
They should have seen the truth of John's words in the works of Christ
Jesus had greater witness than the words of a man!!!
2. His works bore witness to all he had said.
The miracles God the Father had given Him to do.
The life and teachings He was giving, all testified that He was the Son of God, the Messiah.
But an even greater witness yet:
3. The Voice of God spoke, "This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased" Mattthew 3:17
4. And a final witness was the Word of God, the scriptures.
There was so much written in the Old Testament pointing to the work of Christ, which should have alerted people when and as to what to look for, so to recognize him, that if they had considered those things, they would have been conviction that Jesus was the Christ, and that he was sent of God.
But the words of scripture, though their minds knew the scripture, had not reached the heart. The word of God did not abide in them.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 01/15/24 08:19 AM
John chapter five is such a powerful chapter.
Jesus is in Jerusalem trying to reach the hearts of the leaders of the nation.
It starts with the story of the sick man at the pool of Bethesda.
Jesus asks the all important question. This question has deep meaning for every person in this sin sick world.
DO YOU WANT TO BE MADE WHOLE?
Jesus is the only ONE who can make us whole!
The Jewish leaders took offense and started laying plans to silence Jesus.
This so sadly reflects the attitude of our times. Why do so many people try so hard to silence the truth, and take God out of the picture, when HE is life, light and the only hope for mankind.
Jesus is straight forward with them.
He makes it clear that He is doing the same work as God the Father! If they reject Him, they are rejecting God the Father as well! Everything He is doing is the will of the Father.
"He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him. "
He has the same power as the Father
to make people WHOLE.
To raise them from the dead, and give them life.
To judge and execute judgement.
Jesus appeals to them, saying, don't just take my word for it, check it out.
Here are the witnesses that what I claim is truth.
1. A human witness-- John the Baptist told them the truth about Christ.
2. God's own voice at His baptism "This is My beloved Son"
3. Christ's works
4. The prophecies of scripture.
5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify (witness concerning) me.
And then the sad words:
5:38 But you (even though you know the scriptures) do not have God's word abiding in you: for whom He has sent, you do not believe.
5:40 And you will not come to me, that you might have life.
5:46 If you had believed Moses, you would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
5:47 But if you didn't believe his writings, how shall you believe my words?
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 01/25/24 08:34 PM
John 5:38-42 And you have not his word abiding in you: for the One whom he has sent, him you do not believe .
5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
The Word of God, (the scriptures) are a primary witness of Christ.
Search the scriptures, Jesus says, they testify of Me.
Jesus points them to Moses and the Prophets whose writings were held in high regard by the people in Jerusalem. The words of Moses and the Prophets condemn those who reject Jesus, for those scriptures have pointed the people to find the source of life and salvation in the Messiah.
And you have not his word abiding in you. Which means that you have no inner appropriation of the word. Scripture becomes just a dead letter that may have been read and even memorized, but until it becomes part of one's life and being, God's word is not abiding in you.
The scriptures were not a fresh testimony different from anything they had heard before, they had read the scriptures looking for life. Yet if God's word would have been abiding in them, then seeing Christ's works and life would have found a strong confirming response in their mind. He was the promised Messiah! The testimony of Scripture pointed to Christ as the Messiah.
Because him (Christ) whom he (the Father) sent, him (this One) you believe not. In other words, this is the proof that you do not have God's word abiding in you, you do not recognize the One sent from God the Father. Though you may claim to worship God the Father, yet ?Every man that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me (Jesus);? (John 6:45) and in seeing the Son they see the Father; (John 14:9),
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. meaning: you are not willing to come to Me.
Scriptures are a witness of the Life Giver, they point us to the Life Giver, but we must be willing to come to the Life Giver! The choice is ours. It is only in Christ that we may find and receive eternal life!
.
Posted By: dedication
Re: The Gospel According To John - 04/01/24 11:10 PM
It's been awhile since we looked at this study.
There are still a few more verses in chapter five.
What do they mean for us????
5:42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only?
5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is [one] that accuseth you, [even] Moses, in whom ye trust.
5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
5:47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
John chapter five is a gold mine for those wanting to understand the judgment!
Some of these gold nuggets have been brought forward in the studies on the previous verses, but they only scratch the surface.
What does "having the love of God in us" have to do with the judgment?
How does the "name" connect to judgment?
How does "the one we honor" relate to the judgment?
What does Moses have to do with judgment?
All these questions, have answers that lead to important concepts that fill in details of the judgment.