
- Prologue 1:1-18
- vs. 1-13 The Eternal Word came bringing light, with two results
- v. 1-2 The preexistent Word
- In the Beginning was the Word
- cf. Gen 1:1
- on Logos, cf. Psa 19:1-4; Gen 1:3,9,11,15,24 etc., Psa 33:6; 107:20; 147:15, 18; Isa 55:10-11
- The Word was with God
The Word was God - Emphasis- This one was in the beginning
- (This one was) with God
- v.3 The Creator Word as the source for all
- All things exist through Him
- Not one thing which is exists without Him
- clarification - no exceptions - all things means ALL THINGS
- v. 4-5 The Life/Light invades the darkness
- In Him was LIfe
- The LIfe was the light of men
- The light shines in the darkness
- cf. Gen. 1:4-5, 7-9, Isa 9:2;42:6-7; 49:6; 60:1-5; Mal 4:2
- The darkness has not overcome it
- v. 6-8 A Witness to the light
- There was a man
- Sent from God
- His name was John
- This one came to witness
- So that He may witness concerning the light
- So that all may believe concerning Him - Emphasis
- This one was not the light
- but (he came he came to witness)
- So that He may witness concerning the light
- v. 9 The Coming of the Light
- The True light
- which enlightens all humanity
- was coming into the world
- v. 10-11 The Rejection of the light
- He was in the world
- The world exists through Him
- The world did not know Him
- He came to His own
- His own did not receive Him
- v. 12-13 A possible alternative to Rejection and its result
- Receiving Him
- Whoever receives Him
- to those who believe in His Name
- "distinguishes between an illegitimate, presumptuous claim of divine sonship based on physical descent and true divine sonship based on faith, in the name of God's Messiah." Commentary OT/NT p. 422
- The Result
- He gave to them authority to be children of God
- Neg. - children NOT born
- from blood
- or from the will of flesh
- or from the will of man
- Pos. - but children born from God
- vs. 14-18 The Word became flesh - Incarnate Glory of God Himself
v. 14 The Word became present among us in glory- The Word became flesh
- The Word tabernacled among us
- We have seen His glory
- Glory of the one and only from the Father
- Full of Grace and truth
- v. 15 John's continued witness to the Word
- John Witnessed concerning Him
- He cried out - saying
- This is the one
- about Whom I said
- The one coming after me
- Is greater than me
- because He was before me
- v. 16-17 The very character of God is present in the Word
- From His fullness
- We have received grace upon grace
- The Law was given through Moses
- not negative, but first positive step to becompleted by next positive step
- cf. OT giving of Law
- Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ
- cf. Exo. 34:6
- Climax of God's revelation which began in the law
v. 18 The Word is the revealer of God Himself- No one has ever seen God
- The one and only God
- Who is near the heart of the Father
- Has made Him known
- Public ministry (Book of signs) 1:19-ch.12
- From John to Jesus 1:19-51
- John's witness to Jesus 1:19-34
- His identity 1:19-24
- This is the testimony of John
- testified, did not deny, testified, I am not the Christ, not Elijah, not the prophet of Dt. 18
- Isaiah's preparer for the Lord's coming - cf. Isa 40:3
- When Jewish leaders question him
- His mission
- why do you baptize?
- witness to the one
- you do not know him
- Coming after me
- I am not worthy - expression of extreme humility
- Historical detail - shows authentic eyewitness
- The Lamb of God - taking the sins of the world
- ref to passover and sacrificial system
- see also Isa. 53:3-6
- This is the one I said - after, yet before, but greater
- Circle back, reason for baptizing is to testify to Him
- so that HE may be revealed to ISRAEL
- testified by presence of Spirit remaining
- Spirit comes down from HEaven - theme
- Spirit remains on Him - theme
- Spirit on Him OT theme of Suffering Servant/Coming Messiah
Key verse - "I have seen and I have testified that this One is the Son of God - theme
- Jesus gains disciples 1:35-51
- through witness of John 1:35-39
- Again John testifies to the Lamb of God- 1:35-6
- Two Disciples
- follow Jesus, -polite way to ask to spend time with Jesus
- Come and See Jesus
- and remain with Jesus - all themes
- through witness of friends/relatives 1:40-51
- Andrew to Peter
- Andrew and ? - John?
Andrew testitied to Peter - we have found the Messiah- He brought him to Jesus
- Got a name change
- Phillip to Nathaniel
- Philip called by Jesus
Philip testified to Nathaniel - we have found the prophet that Moses wrote about -cf. J the B's denials- Nazareth?!?
- Come and See - cf. v. 39
- Nathaniel a TRUE Israelite -
- contrast Jews?
- Wordplay on "Jacob", contrast Jacob
- no guile, deceit, treachery in Him
- How do you know?
- I saw you under the tree - foreknowledge? not told
Nathaniel's confession - Key verse - You are the Son of God, the King of Israel- Jesus - you ain't seen nothing yet - to those who believe He gives/shows more
- Theme of believe
- Theme of greater things
- You will see the angels coming down and going up from heaven on the Son of Man - ref. Jacob's ladder - Gen 28:12
- Theme of going up and coming down
- The Cana cycle of signs 2:1-4:54
- Water to wine 2:1-12
- First sign at wedding in Cana 2:1-11
- Wedding feast with mother there - Disciples and Jesus invited
- wine ran out - mother asked Jesus -
- why? conjecture - possibly wedding planner
- What she expected? conjecture - possibly any help at all.
- almost certainly not expecting what she got
- Jesus distances himself - hour not yet
- Mention of stone jars used for OT cleansing ritual - Jesus superior
- Water became wine - some knew, some didn't
- Better wine than first - saved the best for last - double meaning
- 2 Baruch ch. 29:3,5,8 Abundance of wine sign "that the Messiah shall then begin to be revealed" v. 8 talks about then Manna being revealed from heaven cf. ch. 6
This was first of signs- revealed His glory
- The disciples believed in Him
- Cf. purpose statement
- transition statement 2:12
- Jesus and the temple 2:13-25
- Jesus clears the temple 2:13-17
- Almost Time of Passover
- Jerusalem
- Drove out the sellers etc. with whip
- Issue was His Father's house being a market - notice "My Father"
- Confirmation of Scripture - Psa 69:9
- Controversy and the temple of His body 2:18-22
- Jews ask for "sign" regarding "authority"
- Jesus answered - Destroy temple and I will rebuild in 3 days
- Misunderstanding/ double meaning
- John's editorial clarification from hindsight of resurrection
- Temple is His Body
Disciples remembered, believed Scripture, Believed Jesus' words
- Inadequate belief 2:23-25
- Many saw the signs and believed
- Jesus did not entrust selves to them
- same word as believe - helps define belief
- He knew - theme
- Did not need man's testimony - theme, has better testimony
- He knew what was in man
- Hinting that their belief in the miracles was belief, but incomplete, inadequate belief
- There must be more to beliving
- Jesus and Nicodemus 3:1-21
- Conversation with Nicodemus (The "How" of eternal life) 3:1-15
- Nicodemus comes to Him
- Comes at night - don't press significance
- Believes in signs - inadequate faith?
Jesus replies - You must be born again- No one can see the Kingdom of God
- Unless He is Born anothen
- Double meaning
- again, repeat
- from above - pointing to heaven
- Nicodemus misunderstands
- sees first meaning - again
- BTW, that is often the only meaning we see, why we so often miss the significance of these verses
- why so many people claim to be 'born-again" and live no differently
- They think (Because they have been told) That all we have to do is pray a prayer, etc. and we will change our own life and get a fresh start . Just buy my book, donate to my ministry, pray holding my special prayer shammy and follow my 5 easy steps and your life will be totally changed by the end of the week
- Obvious objection - cannot go back into Mother's womb - what are you talking about? How can this be?
- Jesus clarifies
- Born of Water and Spirit - Ezek 36, Isa 32,44
- Flesh to flesh - Spirit to spirit
- Rant on doing ministry in the flesh
- Criticizes Nic for not getting reference to born from above
Spirit is Sovereign in salvation- illustration/double entendre of wind/Spirit
- Blows where it wants
- Don't see it directly
- See the effects
- Nicodemus doesn't understand
- Nicodemus asks how can this be?
- repeat of same language - "how able"
- Jesus challenges his unbelief/inability/misunderstanding
- you are a teacher OF ISRAEL and you don't get it?
- Jesus cuts to the heart of the matter - disconnect between heaven and earth
- disconnect with testimony
- Jesus knows and speaks, testifies what He has seen
- Nicodemus does not receive His testimony
- Jesus tells him earthly things and he does not believe
- How will he believe if Jesus tells him heavenly things
- Nic just not able to hear
- Disconnect with ability to reconnect
- Nic not able to bridge the Gap
- Jesus is able to bridge the Gap
- The one from heaven has come down - the Son of man
- Jesus is in process of making a way
- Just as Moses lifted up the snake
- in shape of what was killing them
- all who looked at it were healed
- The Son of Man must be lifted up
- double meaning - ultimately pointing to the cross
- shape of what is killing us - guilt of sin - everything else just a symptom - rant
- all who look and believe are healed
***Purpose*** So that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him
- Comment/Application 3:16-21
God Gave His Son (life and death) 3:16-18- God has given His Son to save
- God loved the World in this certain way
- first use of word "love" in this Gospel
- The Result: He gave His Son to save the world
- General: He gave His Son that those who believe are saved
- He gave His one of a kind Son
- Those who believe are saved
- Neg.: Those who believe shall not perish
- Pos.: Those who believe shall have eternal life
- Specific: He sent His Son for the purpose of saving those who believe
- Neg.: He did not send to condemn
- He did not send His Son into the world
- For the purpose of condemning the world
- Pos.: He sent His Son to save
- [He sent His Son]
- For the purpose of saving the world through Him
- The Implication: Those who believe in the Son are saved
- Pos.: Those who believe in Him are not condemned
- Neg.: Those who don’t believe are condemned
- Those who don’t believe stand condemned already
- Reason: Because they have not believed in the Name of God’s One & Only Son
- The Judgment (light and darkness) 3:19-21
- The judgement
- The light came into the world
- Men loved the darkness instead
- Reason: their deeds were evil, wicked, worthless
- The underlying principle
- Everyone who practices evil
- hates the light
- He does not come to the light
- So that his deeds are not exposed
- The one who does the truth
- Comes to the light
- So that his works might be manifest
- - not prideful, but that they are done in/by God
- John's witness to Jesus 3:22-36
- John witnessed to Jesus 3:22-30
- Intro Setting - 3:22-26
- historical eyewitness details 3:22-24
- Controversy - concerning ceremonial cleansing (same word as 2:6) 3:25
- Seemingly unrelated (but related in John's mind) Jesus is becoming more significant than J the B 3:26
- John's response - 3:27-30
A man is not able to receive anything except it is given to him from heaven - double meaning, foreshadowing 3:27- You can testify about me that I have already testified: 3:28
- I am not the Christ
- I was sent for this reason:
- Illustration of the bridegroom 3:29
- Wedding Metaphor is messianic
- I am the bestman, not the groom
- The bride belongs to Him
- I rejoice in the groom
- Therein is my Joy fulfilled
It is necessary for Him to be greater and me to be less 3:30
- Comment/Application 3:31-36
- One from heaven vs. one from earth
- One coming anothen
- One from above is above all- superior in status
- One being from the earth is from the earth
One coming anothen is above all
- The testimony from above
- He testifies about what He has seen and heard
- No one receives His testimony
- The one who accepts it proves that God is true
- The One sent from God
- Sent one speaks for God -
- b/c Spirit without limit
- Father loves Son and entrusts Son with everything
Same twofold choice with attending rewards
- Jesus and the Samaritan woman 4:1-42
- Jesus travels through Samaria 4:1-6
- Jesus is superior to John
- more disciples and baptisms
- Jesus Himself didn't baptize
- Left Judea toward Samaria
- Not afraid of the Pharisees
- Not afraid of conflict
- Not yet time for conflict with Pharisees - perfect divine timing
- "It was necessary" for Him to go through Samaria
- came to Sychar, region which Jacob gave to Joseph, where Jacob's well was
- Jesus sat by the well, being tired, about noon
- Jesus speaks to the woman at the well 4:7-26
- Opening dialogue about water to drink 4:7-9
- Woman comes to draw water
- Jesus asks her for a drink -
- breaking social convention - acceptance
- Building bridges with people on their own terms
- made self vulnerable/let self be served
- parenthesis that the disciples were gone for food
- Woman responds curious that he would break convention/prejudice and ask for a drink
- Dialogue turning to Spiritual water to satisfy 4:10-15
- Jesus replies to her (I can give living water) 4:10
- if she knew the gift of God
- and who it is who is asking her for a drink
- she would ask Him
- and He would give living water.
- On living water see Jer 2:13, Ezek 47:1-23, Isa 49:10; 55:1, Jer 17:13, Joel 3:18, Zech 14:8
- The woman misunderstands/inquires (How can you give water?) 4:11-12
- Like Nicodemus misses the point
- she is only thinking literally,
- when Jesus is speaking figuratively/spiritually/metaphorically
- Objections to His ability to give water
- How can you get water
- you don't have a bucket
- the well is deep
- From where are you going to get this living water?
- Are you greater than Jacob? (expects negative answer)
- Jacob our father - hint at greater Father
- He gave us the well
- He drank from it
- His sons drank from it
- His animals drank from it
- Jesus replies (My water satisfies unto eternal life) 4:13-14
- This (literal) water does not satisfy
- everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again
- My (figurative) water does satisfy
- whoever drinks from the water that I give
- will not thirst forever
My (figurative) water becomes a spring leaping up into eternal life- The water which I give to him
- will become in him
- a spring of water
- bubbling up into eternal life
- The woman misunderstands/asks for water 4:15
- Give me this water
- So I won't thirst
- So I won't have to hike to the well to get water
- She could only see according to her 'felt needs' and would have missed the better satisfaction
- Jesus graciously, gently, but firmly confronted her real needs
- Evangelism must steer people away from what they think they want to what they really need or it is not loving and is not true evangelism.
- sometimes witness needs to tear down in order to build up
- kill earthly dreams to give heavenly dreams
- kill self-esteem/self-centered/self to give real life - Christ-centered
- kill tyranny/idolatry of slavery to desire/self to give that which truly satisfies.
- You are settling too low - set your sights higher
- Dialogue about her personal life/husband 4:16-18
- Jesus tells her to call her husband and come back there
- She replies that she doesn't have a husband
- Jesus replies
- You have spoken well that you do not have a husband
- for you have had five husbands and the one you have now is not your husband
- This you have said truly
- Dialogue about worship 4:19-24
- She dodges with theological/tradition question
- I see that you are a prophet
- Settle the controversy of where we should worship: on this mountain or in Jerusalem?
- Jesus replies about worship
- Believe me, woman - double meaning "Believe in me"
- Not external ritual
- Because of the "hour"
- the place/external rituals of worship are no longer important
- worship is to the Father
- Knowing God/ good theology is important for worship
- you worship The One you do not know
- we worship The One we know
- Double meaning
- remember Jesus is to make God known
- Jesus is qualified to make God known because He Knows God
- Salvation is from the Jews
True worship is Spirit and Truth- because of the "hour"
- The true worshippers
- will worship the Father
- in Spirit and Truth - one prep. one concept in two words
- i.e. two parts of the same thing - unseparatable
- If not in Spirit, not in Truth
- if not in Truth, not in Spirit
- If missing either, not true worship
- probably means/manner - "by" Spirit and Truth, "with/using" Spirit and Truth
- #1 tool for worship is not a guitar or video or drama
- #1 tool for worship is Spirit and Truth
- Def. of Spirit and Truth?
- debated
- in immediate context
- Spirit = inward reality as opposed to outward place/tradition/ritual
- Truth = correct doctrine/understanding of God as opposed to Samaritan false/mistaken/partial understanding/knowing of God
- in larger context
- Spirit = Spirit of God, Spirit of Truth - the coming helper who will mediate God's presence and empower all future believers
- Truth = Jesus is the truth, the "true" one who is the fulfillment of all
- Spirit is Sprit of truth who leads us by all truth into all truth
- The Father is seeking these kind of worshippers
- God is Spirit
- Those who worship Him
- It is necessary to worship in Spirit and Truth
- Dialogue about Messiah 4:25-26
- She dodges with feigned agnosticism -
- I know Messiah is Coming (called Christ)
- When Messiah comes,
- He will announce/report/explain all things
- Jesus replies about His identity
I Am (the Messiah)- The one speaking to you (announcing/explaining all things)
- The woman witnesses to Samaria 4:27-30
- The disciples return and wonder at Him conversing, but no one asks Him why
- The woman leaves
- leaving her water jar - found more important water
- went into the city
- Told the people
- Come, see - cf. Andrew and Philip
- A man told me everything I have done
Could this be the Christ? (expecting negative answer)
- Jesus teaches the disciples about the harvest 4:31-38
- Discourse about food 4:31-34
- The disciples ask Him to eat something
- He answers, I have bread to eat which you do not know - theme
- Disciples misunderstand - theme
- Has someone brought Him food?
- Jesus explains: My food is:
- to do the will of the One Who sent me
- and to complete His work
- Discourse about harvest 4:35-38
- Proverbial saying: there is a wait until the harvest - call for patience
- But I say - call for action
- lift up your eyes
- see that the fields are white for harvest already
- The harvester is receiving his reward
He is gathering fruit into eternal life- The planter and harvester rejoice together (Father and Son?)
- This saying is true
- One is the planter
- Another is the harvester
- I am sending you
- to harvest what you have not worked for
- Another has worked and you are entering into His fruit -
- poss. pointing to Spirit as the one who brings life
- cf. a narrative of surprising conversions -
- dropped into lap
- No room for boasting
- The Samaritans believe 4:39-42
- Many from the city believed
- because of the woman's word/testimony
- That Jesus told her all that she did
- They asked Him to stay and He stayed two days
- Many more believed because of Jesus' word
- Contrast two words
- no longer we believe because of the woman's word
- We have heard this one
We know that this one is the Savior of the World
- Jesus back in Galilee (2nd sign) 4:43-54
- Transition back to Galilee 4:43-35
- He went back to Galillee after two days
- Jesus testified that a prophet is not honored in His own hometown
- The Galileans received Him
- When He came into Galillee
- They received Him
- not yet the kind of receiving John is recommending
- They had seen the things (signs) which He did in Jerusalem at the feast
- For they also had come to the feast
- Healing the official's son 4:46-54
- He returned to Cana, where He made water into wine
- There was a royal, whose son was ill in Capernaum
- Probably refered to someone in a royal household (official)
- prob. official in Herod Antipas' court
- Poss. gentile, but not certainly
- He heard that Jesus was in the region
- He went to Him
- He asked Him to come down and heal his son, because he was about to die.
- Jesus responds
- seems like a harsh response to a reasonable request
- If you do not see signs and wonders
- "You" is plural - not just this guy, but people in general
- rant on signs for signs sake or for selfish sake
- Signs are to see Jesus
- You will certainly not believe
- not proving necessity of signs and wonders
- but criticizing their lack of faith without them
- He will later bless those who believe based on testimony - re:Thomas
- The man responds
- Jesus responds
- Go, your son will live
- puts him in a faith challenge - do I trust His promise?
- The man responds
- He believes His word- John's purpose
- He went home
- The result
- While he was going, his servant met him
- He said, your son is living
- He asked the hour when his son got better
- He was told the hour when the fever left his son
- The man knew that this was the hour when Jesus said, "Your son will live"
He and his whole house believed
The summary: This was the second sign which Jesus did, coming from Judea into Galilee
- The Feast cycle of signs 5:1-10:42
- Healing of the lame man and Sabbath controversy 5:1-47
- Healing of the man at the pool 5:1-9
- Setting
- Jesus went to Jerusalem at a feast of the Jews - cf. Jewish festival setting of this whole section
- Background information about the pool and infirmed people who were there
- there was a certain man there 38 years in his sickness
- Jesus saw him and KNEW
- Jesus initiated - Do you want to be well/whole/healthy - double meaning
- Man responded - misunderstanding
- I have no one to throw me in
- when I get there it is too late
- Jesus responded -
- "Take up your mat and walk"
- Why did Jesus tell him to carry his mat?
- Possibly to show that he was healed
- more probably because Jesus was purposefully picking a fight
- The man immediately became well
- healed before he did anything, not waiting on his response before healing
- Man responded - "He took up his mat and walked"
- Controversy over the Sabbath 5:9-18
- foreshadowing of controversy: That day was the Sabbath
- the Jews confronted the man who had been healed
- It is the Sabbath
- It is not allowed for you to "Take up your mat"
- Not actually breaking OT Law, but breaking their traditions that had surrounded the law
- In the same way, Jesus does not break the Law, but their traditions
- The problem with Pharisaism is not that they are zealous to keep the law, as if licence were the cure
- Their problem was substituting human traditions and rules for God's standard and right understanding of its purpose and the heart behind it. Jesus said as much in Mk. 7 honor with lips, hearts far away, worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Forsaken the commands of God and hold to the tradition of men.
- Throwing away God's laws and making up new traditions that better suit our depraved, self-centered culture is not evan an improvement over pharisaic legalism
- Best way is the Christian way - Joyously, motivated by gratitude for grace given and faith in future grace and trust in God's holiness, we don't set aside the Law, but rather uphold the law. We demonstrate to a watching world that slavery to God brings more freedom, than the counterfeit freedom of doing whatevery you want, which is not freedom, but slavery to sin.
- Man responded
- The one who make me whole
- Said "Take up your mat and walk"
- they responded
- Who is this man
- Who told you "Take up and walk"?
- notice blatant repetition
- irony/misunderstanding
- They noticed the rule breaking, but missed the obvious - the guy was healed
- Augustine "They sought darkness from the Sabbath more than light from the miracle."
- the man did not know
- irony/misunderstanding - how could he not know?
- Jesus had withdrawn and there was a crown in the place
- Jesus followed up
- found him later in the temple
- told him: You are healed, no longer sin so that something worse doesn't happen to you
- Stop sinning
- You have new physical life
- Now get new spiritual life
- not a threat to take back the healing
- not so much a threat at all
- but a promise touching eternity
- so therefore, yes, a loving, hopeful, compassionate threat
- The man tattled
- He went
- He reported (testified) that Jesus is the one who make him well
- The result
because of this, the Jews persecuted Jesus- because he did these things on the Sabbath
- Jesus responded
- Not dialogue with His opponents, just monologue
- My Father is still working
- Jewish tradition agrees that God is constantly working without breaking sabbath Exoc. Rab. 30:9
- Similar to Synoptics - God is a merciful healing God, therefore mercy and healings are not only permitted, but manditory
- And I am still working
- Jesus is doing what is right and compassionate and good
- Following in His Father's character and way
- The result
because of this, the Jews sought to kill Him- because, not only did He break the Sabbath
- but also He said God is His own Father
- objected to His terminology, ignored His Godlike character
Thereby making Himself equal with God- One of John's major points/themes
- Not just from the mouth of Jesus or disciples, but from opponents
- They did not misunderstand His claim, the recognized it, but rejected it.
- Jesus and the Father 5:19-30
Share Work- The Son is not able to do anything from Himself if He does not see the Father doing
- Because what ever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things
- For the Father loves the Son
- And reveals to Him what He is doing
- And greater works than these He will reveal to Him
- This is a model for us
- All of these things- dependence, submission, abiding in, receiving revelation, being loved, doing greater works are said of disciples in relationship to Jesus later in the Upper Room discourse
- Just as Jesus looks to the Father and the Father works through the Son, so also we look to Jesus and Jesus works through us
so that You may marvel, be astonished, extraordinarily impressed- more than ooh and ah, but life changing/shaking
Share ability to give life- What greater works? Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life
- So also the Son will make alive whomever He wills
- For Jews, God alone could give life and raise the dead (rightly so)
- For Jesus to claim this for Himself was a big deal
Share judgment- The Father judges no one
- The judgment of all, He has given to the Son
Share honor- So that all may honor the Son
- Just as they honor the Father
- The Father who sent him
- Response to the Son is response to the Father
Twofold choice- The one hearing my word
- And believing the One who sent me
- has eternal life
- And will not come into judgment
- but he has been permanently transformed from death into life
- Now hour coming and is
- The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God
- Those who hear will live
Delegated life- Just as the Father has life in Himself
- So also He gave the Son to have life in Himself
- (implied and authority to give life)?
Delegated judgment- He has given authority to the Son to do judgment/justice
- because He is the Son of Man
don't marvel at this
Twofold choice- Coming hour
- All in the tombs will hear His voice
- Those doing good will come out into resurrection of life
- Those practicing wickedness into resurrection of judgment
- cf. Dan 12, Jn 3:16-21
Summary- I am not able to do anything from myself
- Just as I hear, I judge
- and my judgment is right/righteous
- because I do not seek my own will
- but I seek the will of the One who sent me
- The witnesses to Jesus 5:31-40
- Not Myself (only)
- If I witness to myself, my testimony is not true (valid, genuine, acceptable cf. 2 or 3 witnesses)
- Another is testifying concerning me
- I know His testimony is valid/true
- which He testifies concerning me
- John
- You sent to John
- He testified to the truth
- I don't rely on human testimony
- I say this so you might be saved
- This one was the light - burning and shining
- You were willing to rejoice in his light for a while
- Works from the Father
- I have a greater witness than John
- The works which my Father gave me so that I would complete them
- The works which I do testify concerning me - that the Father sent me
- cf. Nicodemus "We know you are from God"
- Father
- The sent me Father, this one testifies concerning me
- You have not heard His voice or seen His form - cf. 1:18
- His Word does not remain in you - cf. 1:10-11
- because you do not believe the One He sent
- Scripture
- You search the Scriptures
- You think you will have eternal life in them
- These are the ones witnessing concerning me
- (Like John pointing away from self to Jesus)
- And still you do not come to me
- so that you may have life
- Every witness is good and true
- They sort of receive witness from all of these, but make disconnect because they don't follow to the conclusion that they are pointing to
- Glory and accusation 5:41-47
- Glory
- Jesus' glory
- I don't receive glory from man
- You don't receive my glory
- but I know you(pl.)
- That you do not have the love of God in yourself
- I have come in the Name of My Father
- and you have not received me
- If someone else comes in his own name, you receive him
- Opponents' glory
- How are you able to believe?
- receiving glory from another
- and you do not seek the glory from the Only God
- Accusation
- don't think that I accuse you before the Father
- Moses is the one accusing you
- the one in whom you hope
- If you believed Moses, you would believe in me
- For he wrote about me
- If you don't believe these Scriptures
- How will you believe my words?
- Bread of Life and Words of Life 6:1-71
- Jesus feeds the 5000 6:1-15
- Setting
- Across the sea of Galilee
- Crowds followed because they saw signs - incomplete faith
- Up the mountain with His disciples
- It was near the Passover
- Jesus feeds 5000
- Saw the crowds
- Tested Philip - misunderstood
- Fed them with loaves and fish - very similar story to synoptics with completely different wording, cf. independent eyewitness account
- Everyone fed and more leftovers than they started with food
- People's conclusion
- seeing the sign
- They said - this is truly the prophet who was coming into the world
- Jesus' escape
- left because they wanted to make Him King
- He was already King and they misunderstood His Kingdom - foreshadow to Pilate
- Jesus walks on water 6:16-21
- Account similar but different from Synoptics
- Nothing much remarkable in the storytelling (except the obvious)
- He said to them "I AM - Do not fear"
- probably not "I AM" statement, but cannot fail to hear echoes - cf. double meaning
- Then they were willing to receive Him into the boat and immediately the boat landed at the destination (2 miracles)
- Remarkable for no editorial addition where you would have expected it,
- no disciple reaction or confession -
- building to bigger conclusion
- Actually downplaying the miraculous on its own
- Rather pointing to the significance of the miraculous as more important
- Bread of Life discourse 6:22-59
- The crowds find Jesus 6:22-25
- They looked for Him and didn't find Him
- Eventually found Him and asked how He got there
- Highlight the place was described as the place where they ate the bread blessed by the Lord
- hint that there is where their interest really was
- The true bread from Heaven 6:26-34
- Jesus confronts their motivation for seeking Him
- already downplayed seeking signs in favor of seeking the true significance of Jesus
- They are not even to the level of seeking signs
- They only seek Jesus because they ate bread and were satisfied - don't get it
- Like Israelites grumbling in the desert
- This whole section parallel to the Israelites in the desert
- Jesus encourages them to find better bread
- Don't work for bread that is destroyed,
- Note, bread is not a side dish, but the staple
- No bread = starve to death
- but for the bread that remains into eternal life
- Theme of remain
- eternal life theme
- Which the Son of Man will give you
- This one the Father - God has verified - cf. 3:33
- They misunderstand
- What should we do to do the work of God
- Jesus recommends faith
- The work of God is that you would believe in the One that He sent
- They ask for a sign - stupid
- What sign will you do so that we will see and believe you? What work?
- (how about the many signs you have already seen? How about the testimony?)
- They recommend a good sign for Him -
- Rabbis taught that when the redeemer appears, he will cause manna to descend like Moses
- but their request probably rose no higher than "fill their bellies again!"
- Our fathers ate manna in the desert
- OT quote - bread from heaven
- why this quote? - Jesus will respond highlighting what really came down from heaven - any guesses based on the prologue and ch. 3?
- Jesus responds
- The true bread isn't the bread from Moses
- My Father is giving (present) you the true bread from heaven
- The bread of God is the One coming down from heaven and giving life to the world - cf. prologue
- They misunderstand
- they say give us this bread
- Typical in John Jesus is speaking figuratively/metaphorically and people mistakenly take Him literally
- The key to understanding this section is to realize He is picking up on their request for bread and following the metaphor consistently to speak of spiritual/eternal things, not literal things
- i.e., this coming section is not about communion - at least not primarily
- misunderstand this section and communion if you try to connect the two
- Jesus is the bread of life 6:35-40
"I AM the bread of Life
Coming to me parallel to believing in me - both lead to satisfaction - cf. ch. 4- "Coming to me" is connected to being given by the Father, (connected with will not perish and not being cast out), being drawn by the Father and hearing and learning from the Father
- eating and drinking connected with coming and believing - key to metaphor of this whole section - protect from misunderstanding
- Accusation - you don't believe, even though you've seen
- Everyone whom the Father gives, comes and is not thrown out
- because I came down from heaven - cf. prologue and ch. 3
- not to do my will
- but the will of the One who sent me
- This is the will of the One who sent me
- everyone whom He gives me I will not destroy/lose from Him
- But I will raised him up at the last day
- this is the will of My Father
- All who see the Son and believe
- will have eternal llfe
- And I will raise him up at the last day
- The Jews grumble and the reason they can't believe 6:41-47
- The Jews grumble because He said "I AM the bread that came down from heaven"
- They misunderstand
- because they know His earthly origin
- They assume they know His origin
- irony - they miss His ultimate heavenly origin
- You'll see this a few times in the next few chapters
- Jesus never responds and addresses His dual origin directly - already told divine origin
- Always presses to look with better eyes
- The Father brings people to Jesus - cf. flesh and spirit
- don't grumble
- connection with following is following is reason for their unbelief
- They have not been drawn by the Father - flesh profits nothing
- No one is able to come to me if not the Father Who sent me draws him
- And I will raise him up at the last day
- Scripture proof - they will be taught by God
- The one who listens to God and learns come to me
- Disclaimer, not that anyone has direct access to God,
- except the One who came from God
- This One has seen the Father
Whoever believes has eternal life
- Jesus is the (better) bread of life 6:48-51
- "I AM the bread of Life"
- The fathers ate manna and died
- This is the bread coming down from heaven that someone may eat and not die - superiority of Jesus
- "I AM the bread of life that came down from heaven"
- If someone eats this bread, he will live forever
This bread is my flesh which I give for the life of the world - cf. 3:16, 1:14
- Receiving/Feeding on the bread of life 6:52-58
- The Jews misunderstand again by taking literally
- Jesus responds by affirming must eat and drink His flesh and blood or not have life
- already connected with coming to Him and believing in v. 35
- not pointing to communion, but the reality to which communion points - crucifixion and faith - don't get hung up on the middle man
- but the one who does eat and drink has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day
My flesh is the true bread and my blood is the true drink- contrast to incomplete and inadequate earthly food (even manna from heaven)
- Jesus is superior
- Those who eat and drink remain in me and I in him
- Just as the living Father sent me, and I live through the Father,
- So also the one eating me will live through me
- This is the bread that came down from heaven
- Not like those who ate manna and died
- Historical setting teaching in synagogue in Capernaum 5:59
- Separating the true disciples from the crowd 6:60-71
- Jesus challenges their unbelief 6:60-65
- Many of the disciples hearing said this is a hard saying, who can hear (receive) it?
- Jesus knew that the disciples were grumbling
- even the disciples struggle with half- faith
- he challenges them - presses them to full belief
- You will not learn this in church growth conferences
- Normal temptation is to coddle people so they don't leave (opposite mistake is just as much a mistake)
- Rather, some times (graciously, with love) need to say get in with both feet or quit pretending to be a Christian
- God loves us enough to let us keep lying to ourselves and profaning His Name
- God regularly lets the church go through trial and persecution to weed out the half-hearted or strengthen them to full hearted
- the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church
- Easy believism is the poison of the church
- Are you scandalized? what if you see the Son of Man going up where He was before
- The Spirit gives life, the flesh profits nothing
The words I spoke are Spirit and Life- But some of you do not believe
- Jesus knew from the beginning that some did not believe and who would betray Him
- He told them - for this reason I said no one is able to come toward me if it is not granted to him from the Father
- God/spirit is sovereign in salvation - no getting around it
- Climactic word to many of these sections
- Some disciples go, some disciples stay 6:66-71
- Many of the disciples left and no longer followed Him
- He asked the 12 if they wanted to leave as well
Peter answered for the group- Where would we go?
- You have the words of eternal life
- We have believed (Pf. tense) and we have known (Pf. tense) that you are the Holy One of God
- Model of true belief, confession and witness
- Jesus said, I chose you twelve and one of you is a devil (judas who would betray Him)
- Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles 7:1-8:59
- Part 1 - Teaching at the feast with some controversy 7:1-52
- Will Jesus go to the feast? 7:1-9
- Jesus avoiding Judea because the Jews were trying to kill Him
- again, not afraid, but prudent, perfect timing
- Feast of Tabernacles near
- feast of wilderness wandering and God's provision
- Also associated with harvest and God's provision
- Cf. Jesus' superiority to Moses
- Unbelieving brothers try to push Him into the spotlight
- Go to Judea and show off your works - miracles
- Brother's unbelieving advice parallels satan's temptations in synoptics - do God's work with worldly methods
- No one does in secret if he wants to be revealed - irony
- Reveal yourself to the world - irony
- Jesus is not revealing Himself, but the Father
- Not pointing to signs, but signs pointing to Him and the Father's mission to save
- His glory is not revealed in spectacular productions seeking to impress sinful sensibilities and gain approval from men
- His glory is revealed in the shame, pain and self-giving service of the cross
- Let's follow Him in that way of service and avoiding the circus/self promotion model of ministry
- For His brothers did not yet believe in Him - danger of pandering to unbelievers who don't even know what they want, let alone what they need
- He replies -
- My right time is not yet
- cf. similar response to His mother in ch. 2
- Your time is any time
- The world is not able to hate you - introducing a theme
- the world hates me
- because I testify about it that its works are evil
- You go to the feast
- I am not going to this feast (right now)
- Because my right time is not yet fulfilled
- Having said this He remained in Galilee
- Jesus goes to the feast 7:10-11
- After his brothers went to the feast
- He went - not openly, but in secret - same words from His brothers - but opposite
- the Jews sought Him in the feast
- Questions of Jesus' identity 7:12-13
- there was much grumbling about Him in the crowds
- Some said that He is good
- Other say "No, He deceives the crowd"
- No one dared to speak openly about Him because they feared the Jews
- good leaders inspire confidence and respect and accountability, but not servile fear and pushing away
- Jesus teaches and challenges opponents 7:14-24
- In the midst of the feast, Jesus went to the temple and taught
- The Jews marveled at His teaching - wondered how He knew the Scriptures, not having been taught
- misunderstanding/irony- taught by God
- The one and only God/ eternal Word in the bosom of the Father, the only One who has come down from heaven does not need to be taught
- Jesus replied, the teaching is not mine, but from the One who sent me
- If someone wants to do His (God's) will, he will know that my teaching is from God, not from myself
- revelation comes to the obedient
- If you want to hear from God, obey what you have already heard and He will give you more
- Seeking glory
- The one speaking from himself seeks his own glory
- the one seeking the glory of the One who sent Him is true and no unrighteousness is in Him
- Following Moses
- Moses gave the law and you don't do the law
- Evidence - you are seeking to Kill me
- The crowds answered - He has a demon, who is seeking to kill you
- Introduction of an accusation that He was crazy
- irony - they didn't know, but He did
- they were in fact trying to kill Him
- Jesus answered -
- I did one work and you marveled
- This whole section points back to the healing of ch. 5
- Moses gave you circumcision, not from Moses, but from the fathers
- And you circumcise a man on the Sabbath - no big deal
- If you circumcise a man on the Sabbath to not break the Law of Moses
- Why are you angry at me because I made a whole man healthy on the Sabbath
do not judge according to eyes, but judge the right/just/correct judgment- double meaning - controversy because people don't see deeper, John's purpose that readers see deeper significance
- Questions of Jesus' identity 7:25-29
- Questions about His identity 7:25-26
- Some Jerusalemites spoke
- Isn't this the one they are trying to kill?
- Yet He is speaking freely and no one says anything to Him
- Is it possible that the rulers have concluded that this One is the Christ?
- they sense the incongruity of the previous two statements and are trying to find an explanation
- Question/doubt about His origin 7:27
- But we know where this One is from.
- When Christ comes - no one will know from where this One is.
- Why did they have this assumption?
- Jesus answers question about His origin 7:28-29
- Important issue regarding origins
- Doesn't address the falseness of the tradition
- Doesn't address that He was really born in Bethlehem, not Galilee
- Not stressing earthly origin, but heavenly
- Jesus cried out while teaching in the temple
- You know me
- You know where I am from
- Yet I do not speak from myself
- But the One who sent me is true, Whom you do not know
I know Him because I am from Him- This one sent me
- two origins -
- they knew the intermediate origin, which was not as important
- and they didn't even know that correctly
- they did not know His ultimate origin, which was most important - cf. prologue
- cf. Jn 8, where He contrasts them being from Abraham (earthly origin) with the devil being their father (ultimate origin)
- Attempt to arrest Jesus 7:30-32
- They tried to arrest Him, but were unsuccessful 7:30
- They sought to arrest Him
- No one put their hands on Him
- because His hour had not yet come
- recurring scene - God's perfect timing and sovereign control of the situation
- Many believed 7:31
- Many from the crowd believed in Him
They said, When the Christ comes - will He do greater signs than this One is doing?
- They sent to arrest Him 7:32
- The Pharisees heard that the crowds were grumbling these things
- They sent soldiers to arrest Him
- Seek and not find (foreshadowing) 7:33-36
- Jesus replies 7:34-35
- I am with you still for a short time
- Then I am returning to the One Who sent me
- You will seek me and not find me
- possible ironic echo of 'seek and you will find' from the synoptics
- Where I am, you are not able to come
- The Jews react/misunderstand 7:35-36
- They said among themselves:
- Where is He about to go that we will not find Him?
- He is not about to go to the Diaspora among the Greeks to teach the Greeks, is He?
- irony, Greeks would come in ch. 12
- connected to His death
- After His glorification, He would go to Greeks and Romans and to the ends of the earth
- What does He mean when He says:
- You will seek me and you will not find me
- and where I am, you are not able to come
- Jesus promises living water 7:37-39
- Setting of the last (greatest) day of the feast
- see Sukkah 4:9
- cf. Zech ch. 14
- connected with thankfulness for rain
- cf. Bruce p. 181ff.
- poured out water on each day of the feast as a sign of thankfulness for God's provision of rain and asking for continued rain
- Apparently, this ritual did not take place on the last day of the feast - would point to Jesus' superiority to OT - when their water runs out, come to Him for unending supply
- Jesus stood and cried out
- If someone thirsts, let him come to me and drink
The one who believes in me - - A river of living water will flow out of His innermost being
- Just as Scripture said
- cf. Ezek 47; Jer 2:13, 17:13; Isa 12:3, esp. Zech 14:8
- John's interpretive clarification
- He said this concerning the Spirit whom the ones who are believing in Him are about to receive
- For the Spirit was not yet sent
- Because Jesus was not yet glorified
- sending of the Spirit tied to the atonement of the cross
- Cross makes presence and fellowship possible
- Questions of Jesus' identity 7:40-44
Therefore, some from the crowd heard this word and said "This One truly is the Prophet"
Others said, "This One is the Christ"- Others said,
- "The Christ will not come from Galilee"
- "Don't the Scriptures say that The Christ will come from the seed of David and from Bethlehem the village that David was from"
- There became a dispute among the crowd because of Him
- those who believed, believed because of His words
- those who didn't believe, did so because of their earth bound thinking
- But some wanted to arrest Him, but no one put their hands on Him
- Rejection by the Jewish leaders 7:45-52
- The soldiers' view
- The soldiers returned to the chief priests and pharisees
- They said to them - Why didn't you bring this One (arrest Jesus)
- The soldiers answered - No one ever spoke like this man
- The leaders' view
- they asked "are you deceived as well?"
- No one from the leaders or the pharisees has believed in Him
- But only the crowds, who do not know the law - they are cursed
- cf. ch. 5 Jesus on the testimony of the law to Him
- notice pride of the Pharisees who despised the common people and thought themselves better
- Nicodemus' view
- Nicodemus described
- the one who came toward him earlier
- one from among them
- Nicodemus defends
- Our law does not judge a man
- without first hearing from/about him
- and knowing what he is doing
- basic fairness and wisdom - cf. judge with right judgment v. 24
- The leaders were not submitted to the law, though they thought they were
- Leaders respond
- Are you also from Galilee - intended to be an insult
- Search and see that no prophet comes from Galilee
- not true - Jonah, possibly others
- Part 2 - Controversy at the feast with some teaching 8:12-59
- Jesus is the light of the world 8:12
- see Sukkah 5:1-3
- Huge golden lamps lit at time of tabernacles
- There was not a court in Jerusalem that was not illuminated by the lights of the water-drawing (Suk 5:2 ROD)
- contrasted that ancestors turned their back on the temple to worship the sun, and they looked toward God Himself for light
- I AM the light of the world
- "I AM" saying
- cf. prologue
- The one who follows me will certainly not walk in the darkness
- continually follows ( present tense) cf. v. 31, the one who remains in my teaching
- Gk. double negative "certainly not"
- but will have the light of life
- Testimony about Jesus 8:13-20
- The Pharisees challenge Him
- You are witnessing about yourself
- cf. 5:31 Jesus said "If I testify about myself, testimony not true"
- Your witness is not true
- misunderstanding Jesus' previous claim not to testify concerning Himself - about having more witnesses than just himself - cf. 2 or 3
- Jesus' reply
- My testimony is true
- Even if I testify concerning myself
- substantiating testimony, not only testimony
- Source of testimony
- because I know where I have come from and where I am going
- cf. from above vs. from the earth, cf. prologue
- You do not know where I have come from and where I am going
- cf. questions about Jesus and misunderstandings in ch. 7
- judgment - different senses of judge (discern and legal sentence) interchanged
- You judge according to the flesh
- cf. from above vs. from the earth
- I am judging no one
- cf. ch. 5 will judge and does judgment, people judge/condemn themselves by rejecting Jesus
- If I judge, my judgment is true
- because I am not alone
- but the Father who sent me (is with me)
- In your law it is written that the testimony of two men is true
- I am the One testifying to myself
- And the Father who sent me is testifying concerning me.
- They asked - Where is Your Father?
- Jesus answered
- You don't know me or my Father
If you knew me, you would know my Father as well- cf. ch. 5 unity of Son and Father, honor Son and Father
- Historical context/details
- He said this while teaching in the treasury area of the temple
- No one arrested Him
because His hour had not yet come
- Jesus challenges His opponents' unbelief 8:21-30
- He said to them again cf. 7:33ff.
- I am going and you will seek me
- And you will die in/by your sins
- Where I am going you are not able to come
- the Jews respond
- He is not going to kill Himself is He?
- irony, in one sense, He is going to die by His own planning and doing
- he was referring to His death
- repeat what He just said as reason for previous -
- emphasis by repetition

- theme of difference between His ability to go to heaven and their inability - cf. from above and below
- He responds
- You are from below
- I am from above
- You are from this world
- I am not from this world
- note that He will soon tell the disciples that they are not of this world, even though in the world
- note that Jesus is giving the opportunity to bridge the gap between this world and His Father's Kingdom by believing in Him who is the one come down from above
- You will die in/by your sins
- reason
- if you do not believe in me
- Lit. "unless you believe that I Am..." , I AM statement
- cf. Isa 43:10 "You are my witnesses, declares the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me."
- you will die in/by your sins
- They respond
- Who are you?
- Theme of identity of Christ
- he responds
- I have already told you from the beginning - cf. 1:1
- I have many things to say and to judge
- But the one who sent me is true
- only by God's perfect timing
- Whatever I hear from Him this I speak to the world
- John's explanation
- they did not know that He was talking about the Father
- lit. he was speaking the Father to them
- Jesus continues
When you lift up the Son of Man- double meaning
- lift up as exalt
- lift up as crucified
- which is lifting up as the snake (ch. 3)
- which is the means of His greatest glory and exaltation
- cf. Isa 52:13-14 - both suffering and exaltation - "See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him - his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness.
Then you will know that I AM- and from myself I do nothing
- but just as the father taught me, these things I speak
- And the One Who sent me is with me
- He has not left me alone
- Because i do the things that are pleasing to Him always
When He said these things, many believed in Him
- Question who is whose Father 8:31-47
- Slave or free? 8:31-36
- If you remain, you will be free disciples
- Jesus said to those who believed in Him
- cf. v. 30 apparently half, but not complete believe, cf. theme
- If you remain in my word
- theme of remaining
- continual faithful following the ideal for belief, not one time easy believism
- you will truly be my disciples
- and you will know the truth
- notice repetition of 'truth' language - theme
- notice in some sense, commitment and faithfulness precedes fullness of knowledge
- "I believe, that I may understand" - Augustine
- "Earthly things must be known to be loved, heavenly things must be loved to be known" - Pascal
- And the truth will set you free
- notice that the truth is the source of freedom, not ritual or superstition or experience
- understanding, embrace, experiential knowledge and application of the truth (the One who is true) by the power of the Spirit of Truth is the only way to true freedom
- Any claimed method to freedom that does not center here will not lead to true lasting freedom, but just a change of masters
- Rom. 6, Exodus "Let people go so that they may serve me" - only true freedom is slavery to God
- Our culture's view of freedom as freedom to do what I want always leads to bondage
- Christian view of freedom as freedom to do what is right is true freedom and leads to eternal life
- They resent, react to the suggestion that they are not free
- We are descendants of Abraham
- And no one has ever enslaved us
- irony, they were under Roman rule
- irony, they were under satan's rule
- How can you say that "you will be free"
- Jesus clarifies that they are slaves to sin and proves it
- Truly I say to you that everyone who is doing sin is a slave to sin
- The slave does not remain in the house forever
- But the Son, remains forever
- double meaning - THE SON, and also the children of God
- theme of remaining
- If the Son frees you, you are truly free
- periphrastic - you are being free
- emphasis reality and finality of freedom
- Child of God or Child of the devil? 8:37-47
- I know that you are Abraham's descendants
- But you don't bear Abraham's likeness
- you are seeking to kill me
- because there is no room for my word in you
- same word in 2:6 and 21:25 for capacity to contain in water jars and whole world of books
- possibly go forward, make progress - my word makes no headway in you
- possibly accept, as in make room for - cf. Mat. 19:11-12, 2 Cor. 7:2
- I have spoken what I have seen in the presence of the Father
- Therefore you are doing (or imperative, do) what you have heard from the Father
- ambiguity - imperative or indicative
- ambiguity - which Father is He speaking of
- 'from the F/father' is two different Gk. constructions in this phrase and previous phrase - significance?
- if connected to previous context - referring to God the Father
- if connected to following context - referring to their real father the devil
- Text critical issue - "your" added in some manuscripts to clarify or take away ambiguity
- They react with resentment - "Abraham is our father"
- misunderstand His statement
- don't really interact with His statement, just restate their position
- Jesus says- "You don't resemble Abraham but your real father"
- If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham
- What is the work that Abraham did?
- He believed God! - Gen 15:6 - theme of John
- But now you are seeking to kill me
- a Man Who spoke the truth to you
- truth which I heard in the presence of the Father
- Abraham did not do this
- You are doing the works of YOUR father
- They defend themselves offensively
- We were not born from fornication
- probably stab at His own birth which was probably rumored to be illegitimate
- cf. question of origins - they misunderstand His earthy origin as well as His heavenly origin
- We have one Father - God Himself
- they up the ante and claim God to be their Father
- Jesus says - "You don't resemble God either, but your real father"
- If God were your Father, you would love me
- This is what God does, Father loves the Son
- cf. 3:35, 5:20
- reason - Jesus from God
- Because I went out from God and have now come cf. from above theme
- I have not come from myself
- But this one sent me - 'sent' theme
- Why don't you know/understand my speech/speaking to you?
- reason - because you are not able to hear my word - cf. 6:44
- reason - you are from the devil
- you are from your father the devil
- and you want to do the desires of your father
- you resemble your father's character
- This one was a murderer from the beginning
- and he does not stand in the truth
- because the truth is not in him
- when he speaks a falsehood
- he speaks from his own character
- because he is a liar and the father of it
- because I spoke the truth, you do not believe me
- Who can convict me of sin
- If I speak the truth, why do you not believe me?
- Bottom line - from God or not
- The one from God hears the words from God
- because of this, you do not hear, because you are not from God
- Jesus testifies about Himself 8:48-59
- They accuse Him again
- Have we not spoken rightly about you
- that you are a Samaritan
- and you have a demon - i.e. you are crazy
- He responds to their accusation
- I do not have a demon
- But I honor my Father
- And you dishonor me - cf. 5:23
- I am not seeking my glory
- But there is one who is seeking it and judging
- He promises eternal life as an alternative
- I tell you the truth
- If someone keeps my word
- theme of obedience
- Jesus models obedience throughout the Gospel - What I see/hear, that I do
- he will certainly not (double neg.) see death forever
- They misunderstand and object
- Abraham died
- The prophets died
- And you say
- if someone keeps my word
- he will certainly not taste death forever
- you are not greater than our father Abraham and the prophets, who died?
- expecting negative answer
- irony - He is greater
- theme - Jesus is greater
- Who do you think you are?
- at least they are asking the right question
- theme question - identity of Jesus
- Jesus answers in a true, yet not boastful way
- Jesus' glory
- If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing
- My Father is the one Who glorifies me
- Whom you claim that He is our God
- And you do not know Him
- Jesus' relation to the Father
- I know Him
- If I said I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you
- But I do know Him, and I keep His Word
- Jesus' relation to Abraham
- Abraham your father rejoiced that he would see my day
- He saw
- And he was glad
- They misunderstand and object
- you are not yet 50 years old
- and you have seen Abraham?
- He clarifies by stating His identity clearly
- truly, truly I am saying to you
- Before Abraham was
- I AM - clear statement of divinity, identity, I AM statement
- They did not misunderstand, but objected
- they picked up stones
- to throw at Him - (kill Him for blasphemy)
- Jesus was hidden and leaves the temple
- Healing of the man born blind and Sabbath controversy 9:1-10:21
- Healing of the blind man 9:1-12
- Setting/background
- Notice this whole chapter parallels and contrasts with the healing of the lame man in ch. 5
- No explicit change of time or scene, closely connected thematically with preceding light/darkness, for/against
- Described as blind from birth to show the magnitude of the miracle
- Disciples asked reason for blindness and stated common Jewish belief that misfortune direct result of sin
- partly right - all suffering in general is the result of sin in general
- partly right - some specific suffering is the direct result of specific sin
- partly wrong - not all suffering is so directly connected to sin
- partly wrong - supposed that we can always know the reasons and God can't do things for His own good purposes in a way that defies our ability to understand
- Purpose of revealing the works of God - God uses bad things for the good, includes bad things in His plan, yet is not the direct author of evil
- Doing the works of God
- It is necessary for US - includes the disciples in His ministry - beginning to pass the baton
- do the works of the One who sent me - again God is described as the sending one
- while it is day - theme of light/darkness
- night is coming, when no one is able to work - foreshadowing of cross - hinting that He will not always be with them
while I am in the world, I am the light of the world - repetition from 8:12
- Healing
- spit and made mud
- put mud on eyes
- told to wash in pool of Siloam
- What is the point of all this?
- could have instantly healed with word
- picking fight with Pharisees
- healing involved obedience of the blind man
- focus on "sent"
- No coincidence that is is the pool from which the water is drawn for the water pouting ceremony at the feast of Tabernacles - Jesus is still superior to all that
- The man went and washed and came away seeing
- Question of identity - cf. earlier questions of Jesus' identity
- his neighbors and those who had seen him begging asked:
- This is not the one who was sitting and begging, is it?
- Others said, this one is the one
- Others said, no, it is another who looks like him
- The man said,I am the one - cf. I AM language
- Question of how
- They asked him, "How were your eyes opened?"
- He answered - "The man called Jesus made mud and smeared it on my eyes and said go to Siloam and wash. Therefore, when I went and washed, I saw."
- They asked - "How is this?"
- He answered, "I don't know."
- The investigation of the miracle 9:13-34
- First round 9:13-17
- background
- They brought the formerly blind man to the Pharisees
- It was the Sabbath
- reminded again that Jesus made mud and opened the blind eyes - repetition like "take up and walk"
- just as they saw take up and missed the walk
- now they see the making mud and miss the opened eyes
- The Pharisees ask how he is seeing
- He answers - He put mud on my eyes and I washed and I see
- The Pharisees make a wrong judgment -
- This one is not from God - source cf. 8:38
- because He does not keep the Sabbath
- Others make a right judgment -
- How is a sinful man able to do these kinds of signs
- i.e. He is doing the signs, therefore He cannot be a sinner like you suppose
- There was a schism/ division of opinion among them
- The blind man testifies pt. 1 partial -
- They ask the blind man again
- What do you say concerning Him?
- because He opened your eyes
He said - He is a prophet
- The parents testimony 9:18-23
- The Jews did not believe that hew was blind and was healed
- Until they sent for the parents of the man who now sees
- difficult to translate - throughout this section the man is referred to as the man blind from birth or the man seeing (again)
- They asked his parents 3 questions
- Is this your son?
- whom you say he was born blind?
- How therefore is he seeing now?
- The parents answer the first 2 and dodge the third
- we know that He is our son
- and he was born blind
- we do not know how he sees now
- we do not know who opened his eyes
- ask him - he is of age - he can speak for himself
- John's comment on their answer
- His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews
- For the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confesses Jesus to be the Messiah, they would be put out of the synagogue
- For this reason, His parents said He is of age, ask him
- All of these answers were true
- In a sense they were unqualified to answer the question of how he was healed
- But John criticizes them for being unwilling to come to the obvious conclusion and believe because of their fear fo the leaders
- John wants his readers to be bold in belief
- John wants his readers to realize and confess that Jesus is the Messiah even if they get kicked out of the synagogue
- Second round 9:24-34
- They called the man a second time - again he is "the one who was blind"
- Give glory to God - solemn oath, constrains a person to tell the truth
- We know that this man is a sinner
- directly contradicting the solid argument of v. 16
- They already had made up their mind, would not be bothered with evidence
- foreshadowing of the trial theme, where people who think they are judging are thereby being judged because of their miscarriage of justice in their wrong judging
- Blind man plays dumb and highlights the fact of the miracle
- whether his is a sinner I don't know
- I do know that I was blind and now I see
- simple testimony effective
- stop quibbling over details of tradition and recognize the clear significance of the miracle
- They press him to somehow betray Him with his testimony
- consistently in John, people are not allowed to be wishy-washy when it comes to Jesus
- What did He do to you?
- How did he open your eyes?
- They admit that He performed a miracle, but trying to nitpick in the way that He did it - irony in their blindness to the obvious
- He points out their hypocrisy
- I have already told you
- And you did not hear - theme
- Why do you want to hear again?
- You don't want to become His disciples too, do you? - expecting negative answer
- They attack the formerly blind man
- They reviled/insulted him
- They said, "You are His disciple" -
- disallowing his testimony as prejudiced -
- note, does not make it untrue
- in some cases/questions, you cannot be a true witness unless you are passionately committed to what you are convinced of
- Try to claim superiority of Moses over Jesus
- "We are disciples of Moses"
- not true
- If they learned from Moses, they would come to Christ
- because Moses spoke about Christ - see ch. 5
- "We know that God spoke to Moses"
- true
- But they have been told all along that Jesus is speaking just what the Father is saying
- Jesus has closer, superior revelation than Moses
- "We don't know where this one is from"
- not true
- they have already claimed that they know where He is from as an excuse not to believe in Him
- trying to play both sides of the fence
- "He can't be the Christ because we know where He is from"
- "He can't be from God because we don't know where He is from"
- He has clearly told them where He was from through all of chs. 7-8
- they just refused to listen
- He calls them on their faulty logic
- This is amazing/a marvel
- that you don't know where He is from
- (not counting the fact that He has been trying to tell them all along)

- and He opened my eyes
- We know that God does not listen to sinners (in this way)
- But if someone is godly and does God will, God hears this one
- reminding and reinforcing testimony of Jesus' character as the One Who does God's will
- from eternity we have not heard of someone opening the eyes of a man who was born blind
If He was not from God, He would not be able to do anything- cf. 5:19 Jesus can do nothing except what He sees the Father doing
- cf. 15:4-5 Without abiding in Jesus, we can do nothing
- in both cases, with Jesus, with the Father, we can do something!
- Formerly blind man has definitely gotten off the fence and is giving testimony to Jesus and is a model for John's readers of coming to the right conclusion and belief in Jesus
- they rejected his testimony
- couldn't refute his logic, so they resorted to power move and personal abuse
- They said - you were born completely in sin - cf. disciples question in v. 1
- incorrect assumption as already stated at v. 1
- doesn't account for the fact that he was healed - by that logic does this mean that he is no longer a sinner?
- You are not qualified to teach us
- pride and obstinacy
- He was right, they were wrong, yet they refused to listen
- God will occasionally rebuke you through the mouth of a nobody, through your children, through an unbeliever - make sure you are humble enough to hear
- And they threw him out -
- excommunicated him from the Synagogue -
- cut off from religious and social benefits
- True sight vs. true blindness 9:35-41
- True sight 9:35-39
- Jesus heard that they excommunicated him and found him
- Asked him "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"
- He asked, "Who is the Son of Man so that I may believe in Him?"
- Jesus said "both you have seen Him and the one speaking with you is He"
- sorry for tortuous English, trying to bring out significance of original
- First - you can see because of Him
- both physical sight
- and now coming to spiritual sight as well
- Second - The One talking to you now is the Son of Man - the One you should believe in"
- his twofold response
- tremendous model for John's readers (including us)
- "I believe, Lord"
- Believe in Him
- submit to His Lordship - become a disciple - one learning under His command
- And he worshipped Him
- Notice the progression of his testimony
- I was blind, now I see - v. 15, 25
- He is a prophet, v. 17
- He is from God v. 31, 33
- Lord, I believe and I worship v. 35-38
- Jesus' summary
- I have come into this world for judgment
- not to judge - cf. ch. 3
- but for judgment - His presence creates a response for or against
- in one sense, people pass judgment upon themselves by their response to Christ
- beware passing judgment on (writing off) people by their initial response to Christ, God may be working on them through a long process.
- two sided purpose
- so that those not seeing may see
- and so that those "seeing" (with air quotes) would become blind
- cf. Isa 6, Psa 135 "be seeing but never perceiving - reference to judgment for idolatry
- cf. Isa.35 et al "opening eyes of blind" as salvation from idolatry and new life
- Jesus challenges a response -
- get in or get out
- You either get more sight or more blindness - no middle ground
- No 'Jesus is just a good teacher' nonsense - too often just a dodge that is really a smokescreen hiding increasing blindness to the reality of Who Jesus truly is.
- True blindness 9:40-41
- some of the Pharisees with him heard these things
- They said "Not us! We are not blind also!
- Jesus answered -
- "If you were blind, you would not have sin" -
- literal blindness that is not self inflicted
- but now that you say you have no blindness, the sin remains -
- self-inflicted blindness by refusing to see
- while claiming 20/20 vision
- cf. I Jn 1 - if we say we have no sin...
- True shepherds vs. false shepherds 10:1-6
- bad chapter break -
- Continuing the conversation of blindness
- Speaking to Pharisees who thought they were leaders, but He is about to call them false leaders
- difference in the way they enter
- thief and robber
- does not enter through the door
- climbs in another way
- shepherd
- enters through the door
- the doorkeeper opens to Him
- difference in the response of the sheep
- shepherd
- the sheep hear His voice
- cf. ch. 6 contrast those who hear and those who don't
- He calls His own sheep to Him and they come to Him - those who don't hear are not His sheep
- When all of His own go out, He goes before them
- cf. shepherding in those days
- did not chase sheep via dogs, etc.
- led sheep via voice
- thief and robber
- They certainly do not hear (double neg.) another
- but they flee from him
- because they do not know the voice of the other one
- Jesus spoke this figure of speech to them, but they did not understand what He was saying to them - misunderstanding
- Jesus is the entrance 10:7-10
- Jesus said - I am the gate of the sheep
- I AM statement
- entrance to the sheepfold -cf. 'way' in 14:6
- shepherds would often lie across the entrance to the pen to protect the sheep at night
- All who came before me were thieves and liars
- not referring to Moses and prophets, etc. although these are inadequate, not bad
- referring to bad leaders, cf later context
- but the sheep did not listen to them
- I AM the door/gate
- If anyone enters through me, He will be saved
- good leaders will lead people to Jesus as the way in, not to themselves - cf. J the B's testimony away from himself
- he will go in and go out and find pasture - picture of fullness of blessing
- contrast with the thief
- thief only comes to kill steal and destroy
- probably been taught that the thief is the devil - true, but inaccurate
- but here the emphasis is bad, selfish leaders, who are being called to account
- But I have come so that they may have eternal life
- and they may have it abundantly/fully/completely/way beyond what is normal or necessary
- that is not just the life that we have to look forward to in all eternity
- that is the kind of life that we can have (in part) in the here and now
- but don't think of this as material/physical abundance
- we are promised strife and hardship in this world
- Jesus is the good shepherd 10:11-18
- I AM the Good Shepherd
- cf. Psa 23
- cf. esp. Ezek ch. 34
- I AM statement
- The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep
- contrast to the Ezekiel shepherds and Pharisees who took from the sheep for their own life and convenience
- Good Shepherd gives even to His own death
- contrast the hireling
- the hireling (who is not the shepherd, the sheep are not his own)
- when he sees the wolf coming, he forsakes the sheep and flees
- and the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them
- he flees because he is a hireling and does not care for the sheep
- I AM the Good Shepherd
- I know my sheep
- and they know Me
- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father
- and I lay down my life on behalf of the sheep
- I have other sheep which are not from this flock
- it is necessary for me to lead them
- and they will listen to my voice
- And there will be one flock, one shepherd
- cf. Ezek 34:23-4 "And I will set over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be thier shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them."
- other sheep, not from this flock refers to Gentiles, who will come to Jesus after He is glorified by laying down His life for His sheep cf. 11:52
- My Father loves me because I lay down my life
- so that I can again take it up
- No one takes it from me
- but I lay it down of my own accord
- I have authority to lay it down
- and I have authority to pick it up again
- I have received this command from my Father
- Questions about Jesus' identity 10:19-21
- There was again a schism/division among the Jews because of these words
- Many said - He has a demon and is crazy, why listen to Him?
- Others said - These words are not from a demonic/demonized person
- A demon is not able to open the eyes of the blind - conclusion to section started at 9:1
- recurring theme of Questioning Jesus' identity
- Jesus' identity clearly stated and rejected by the Jews 10:22-42
- Jesus identity clarified 10:22-30
- setting
- It was the feast of rededication feast of lights (Hanukkah) in Jerusalem, it was winter
- Possibly seen as greater than this feast as well - cf. I am the light of the world
- Jesus was walking in Solomon's portico in the temple
- Jesus and the Jews
- The Jews ask Jesus' identity
- They crowded around Him and asked
- How long will you keep our souls suspended (lit.) - keep us in suspense
Are you the Christ?- Tell us plainly/boldly/without hindrance
- they have already been told very plainly enough - for some people, no amount of proof is enough proof
- Each time they ask for His identity, He points to the Father, and points to the Works
- Jesus criticizes their unbelief
I told you and you do not believe
The works which I did in the Name of the Father, they are testifying to me- In the Name of the Father = Jesus' representation of the Father
- characterized by obedience, dependence, relationship
- clarifies what it means to pray in Jesus' Name
- Pray in the context of obedience, dependence and relationship
but you are not believing
- The reason for their unbelief
- because you are not one of my sheep
- conclusion - because you don't hear and follow, you are not my sheep
- Jesus and the sheep
- my sheep hear my voice
- and I know them
- and they follow me
I give my sheep eternal life- and they will certainly not (double neg.) be destroyed into forever
- and someone will not snatch them from my hand
- The Father and the sheep
- The one who gave them to me
- He is greater than all
- No one is able to snatch them from His hand
- Jesus and the Father - I and the Father are One
- unity of purpose and result with reference to the sheep
- Unity of purpose and result with reference to everything - cf. ch. 5
- Unity of nature/identity/deity - cf. prologue
- Monotheism - cf. Deut 6:4
- Not identical, Father different from the Son, not modalism or Oneness
- Jesus is the Son of God 10:31-39
- the Jews' reaction -
- they picked up stones to stone Him (for blasphemy)
- Only two choices - He is God or blasphemer
- Liar, Lunatic or Lord - get off the fence
- not our option to design and pick the Jesus we want - Only one Jesus, take Him or Leave Him
- Jesus' response
- I have shown you many good works from the Father - testimony of works
- For which of these words are you stoning me
- Brilliant exposure of their hypocrisy and blindness -cf. "if not from God, could not do works"
- Jews' answer
- we are ignoring the good works (not denying them, therefore implicitly acknowledging them)
- but were stoning you for blasphemy
- because you make Yourself God, even though You are a man (they recognized Jesus' claim, but rejected it)
- Jesus' response
- Somewhat unexpected - defusing, while showing their hypocrisy/blindness and also soliciting deeper consideration/response
- Lesser example
- In the Scriptures, people who were not God are called 'gods'
- If these people, who were judges, giving judgment (presumably by hearing from God and His Word) and standing in God's place of judgment
- If these people were called 'gods'
(And the Scripture cannot be broken)- Jesus' testimony to inerrancy
- You are not upset that they are called 'gods'
- No ammo here for Mormons or others who want to argue the deity of mankind - complete misunderstandin
- Arguing to greater
- (Why are you getting your shorts in a bunch?) - loose translation
- The greater One, whom the Father set apart and sent into the world
- You say I blaspheme because I said "I am the Son of God"?
- Teeth of the argument
- I have proved that you are not upset about the language used (that language can be/has been used completely innocently)
- What then are you upset about?
- You are rejecting me! because you don't believe me!
- Warning/application of the argument
- If I have not done the works of my Father, don't believe me
- But if I do them, and you don't believe me (which you should)
- You still have no excuse, because you should believe the works (which you can't deny)
- believe the works (miracles)
- so that you may know and understand (be knowing)
- that the Father is in me
and I am in the Father- testimony of works, unity of Father and Son
- Their rejection
- They sought again to arrest Him
- And He went out from their hands
- The culmination of John's witness 10:40-42
- setting - he went to the place where John was first baptizing and he stayed there
- comparison to John the Baptist
- John did not do signs
- All that John said about Him is true
Many believed in Him there
- The Climactic Sign and preparation for that to which the signs point 11:1-12:36
- The climactic sign - Raising of Lazarus 11:1-54
- Lazarus is sick, Jesus lets him die 11:1-16
- setting
- Lazarus of Bethany was sick, from the village of Mary and Martha his sisters
- Mary was the one who anointed Jesus with myrrh and wiped His feet with her hair
- foreshadowing in story to a past even known to readers, to be told in ch. 12
- Her brother Lazarus was sick
- The sisters sent to Jesus
- saying Lord, the one you love is sick
- Jesus' response
- When Jesus heard, He said, this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God
- so that the Son of God may be glorified through it
- Jesus loved Mary and Martha and Lazarus
- THEREFORE when He heard that he was sick, He stayed where He was for two days
- sometimes God lets our dreams die because He loves us
- His timing is better than our timing
- if left 2 days earlier, would have been 2 days late
- if left 2 days earlier, would not have been as glorious a miracle
- Jesus prepares the disciples
- Then after this time, He said to His disciples - let's go into Judea again
- The disciples are cautious
- Rabbi, the Jews are seeking to stone you
- and You are going there again?
- Jesus replies (cf. ch. 9 - God's perfect timing
- There are 12 hours in a day
- If someone walks in the day, he will not stumble
- because he sees the light of this world
- If he walks at night, he will stumble, because the light is not in him - cf. prologue - light/darkness
- i.e., when you are walking in God's ways, you are invincible (qualified by God's good will, don't be stupid)
- Jesus predicts the miracle
- Lazarus our friend is sleeping
- but I am going so that I can wake him up
- The disciples misunderstand
- sleeping is a common euphemism for death - they would have understood it
- but He said He would wake him up - which threw them off
- They said - If he is sleeping, he will get well
- John's comment
- Jesus was talking about his death
- They thought He was talking about natural sleep
- Jesus corrects their misunderstanding
- he said to them plainly - Lazarus died
- and I rejoice because of you
- so that you may believe
- notice that even the disciples have room to grow in their belief
- don't ever think that you have arrived and don't need to grown in faith
- because I was not there
- but let's go to him
- His delay was purposeful - trust God's timing
- Thomas - called the twin said, let's go with Him so that we may die with Him
- somewhat fatalistic/pessimistic, but very brave as well
- Jesus is the resurrection and Martha's confession 11:17-27
- setting
- Jesus came and found him being four days in the tomb
- Bethany was near Jerusalem and may Jews had come to console Mary and Martha
- Jesus is the Resurrection
- When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to Him, Mary stayed in the house
- Martha said to Jesus
- Lord if you would have been here, my brother would not have died - faith
- I know that whatever you ask from God now, He will give it to you - faith
- Jesus replies
- Your brother will rise/resurrect
- ambiguous - drawing out
- Martha misunderstands
- I know that my brother will rise in the final resurrection
- everyone will rise at the final resurrection - or possibly a promise that her brother would take part in the resurrection of the righteous
Jesus makes an astounding claim- I AM the Resurrection and the life
- The one who believes in me, even if he dies, he will live
- and all those living and believing in me will certainly not (double neg.) die into forever
- Do you believe this? - challenge/drawing out her faith
- Martha's confession
- She makes the confession John wants his readers to make
- Yes Lord
I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the One coming into the world- same wording as John's purpose statement
- Jesus' comfort and compassion 11:28-37
- After she said this she went and called Mary her sister
- she secretly told her - The teacher is near and He is calling you
- Mary got up quickly and went to Him, because Jesus had not yet come into town
- The Jews thought she was going to mourn and followed her - to comfort her
- Martha addressed Jesus the exact same first statement as her sister - If you would have been here, my brother would not have died - faith
- but does not say the second -?
- When Jesus saw her and those with her weeping, he was deeply moved/angered and troubled
- possibly at their unbelief - prob. not
- possibly with compassion - true, but not whole story
- possibly hatred of death - true, but not whole story
- possibly foreseeing His own dealing with death
- he said - where have you placed him
- She said - Come and see%%%
- Jesus wept - humanity, compassion
- The Jews noted how much He loved Lazarus
Some wondered that One who could open blind eyes could not have kept Lazarus from dying- irony - he could have
- they are about to see something better
- Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead 11:38-44
- Jesus again had an intense strong feeling (anger/compassion/pissed off at sin and death) as he came to the tomb
- it was a cave with a stone over the entrance
- he said take away the stone
- Martha said
- described as the sister of the dead man
- less common word for dead - stresses the finality of death
- it's going to stink
- because it has been four days
- Jewish tradition - based on occasion resuscitation of person thought to be dead
- spirit hovers around the body for a few days, until it smells the rotting and leaves for good
- Common belief, if a person is dead for four days - beyond all hope for resurrection - that is why Jesus waited two more days
- Jesus said
- I told you - If you believe
- you will see the glory of God
- everyone there would see a miracle, if they believed or not
- Jesus invites them (and us) to look beyond the obvious -
- to see the miracle as a sign that points to His glory and see His glory
- They took away the stone
- Jesus prayed
- Father, I thank You that You hear me
- I know that You always hear me
But I said this because of the crowds, so that they may believe that You sent me - signs as testimony
- Jesus cried out with a great voice - Lazarus, come out
- Then the dead man came out -
- lit. the man who had died and was dead -
- irony - He was dead, but was no longer dead
- he was still wrapped in his embalming clothes
- Jesus said to unwrap him and let him go
- My comment - Jesus rocks - how could anyone not believe by this point? - Yet many don't still
- The plot to kill Jesus 11:45-54
- Many of the Jews believed in Him because they say what He did - hard to miss
- some went to the Pharisees and tattled on Him - hard heart
- They gathered and plotted what to do because of Him doing many signs
- If we permit Him to go on this way, everyone will believe in Him
- the Romans will come and take away our place and our nation
- cared more about their stuff than truth
- cared more about protecting their privilege than God's doing
- Caiaphas the high priest said
- full of irony and double meaning
- you don't know anything
- It is better for one man to die on behalf of the nation
- than the whole race/people be destroyed
John's comment- he did not say this on his own
- but being high priest he prophesied
- Jesus was about to die for the race/people
- but not for the Jewish race only
- but also so that all the scattered children of God could be gathered into one
- foreshadowing the Gentile mission
- cf. Gentiles big stumbling block to Jews converting to Christ
- From this day they plotted to kill Him
- therefore, Jesus no longer went about openly in Judea, but went into the countryside near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where He stayed with His disciples
- Jesus moving toward the passover 11:55-12:36
- Pasover crowds looking for Jesus 11:55-57
- Setting
- The passover of the Jews was near
- Many ment up to Jerusalem to prepare themselves for the passover
- They sought Jesus
- They said to one another while standing in the temple
- What do you think?
- He certainly won't come to the feast, will he? - expecting negative answer
- the chief priests and Pharisee had given an order
- that if anyone knows where He is
- They should report it
- So that they could arrest Him
- Jesus anointed for burial at Bethany 12:1-8
- setting
- six days before the feast
- came into Bethany - town of Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead
- we know who Lazarus is, but John highlights Jesus' greatness, like the former blind man is called the former blind man
- they made a feast for Him
- Martha served
- Lazarus was one of the ones reclining at the table with him - close fellowship to share a meal
- Mary anointed Him
- foreshadowed in ch. 11
- Mary took very expensive pure perfume and anointed His feet and dried them with her hair
- The house was filled with the smell of perfume
- Judas shows his character
- Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve
- Who was about to betray Him
- he said - Why wasn't this perfume sold for a lot of money and it given to the poor?
- John's comment
- he didn't really care for the poor
- but he was a theif an helped himself to the money bag
- charity scams deserve a special pit in hell - to be shared with people in ministry who are unethical with funds - beware, guard your heart
- Jesus defends her and explains
- Leave her alone - permit her
- so that she may preserve it for the day of my burial
- for the poor you will always have with you
- You will not always have me
- relativises compassion ministry
- doesn't make it unimportant at all
- but doesn't make it absolute
- The plot to kill Jesus and Lazarus 12:9-11
- many crowds knew/found out that He was there
- they came to Him
- not only because of Him, but also because of Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead
- Therefore the cheif priests also plotted to kill Lazarus
because many defected from the Jews and believed in Jesus because of him- hard hearted and wicked - almost childish and spiteful
- The Triumphal Entry 12:12-19
- The big crowd coming to the feast heard that Jesus was coming into Jerusalem
- They took palm branches and went out to meet Him
- Palm branches a National Symbol
- Like Canadians waving Maple Leafs or beer
- For them it was Kingly - Messianic
- they shouted
- Hosanna
- Blessed is the once coming in the Name of the Lord
- and the King of Israel - i.e. Messiah
- all of these are Messianic
- cf. Psa. 118:25-26
- Thought of Jesus only in terms of Davidic Kingship - mistake hinted at in ch. 6, but will come out much more in the trials
- Jesus rode a young donkey
- found a young donkey and sat on it
- just like Scripture said - quote from Zech 9:9
- Don't fear daughter of Zion
- Your King is coming to you
- seated upon a colt of a donkey
- Again Messianic - clearly seen as such by Judaism of the time
- This highlights the rejection and crucifixion of the Jewish Messiah
- God's new people would not be = ethnic Israel, but faithful remnant from both Israel and Gentiles
- sign of kingship, but humble, peaceful kingship
- cf. part of Zech not quoted, "righteous, having salvation, humble
John's comment- The disciples did not understand at first
- But when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things happened
- and they realized that these things were written about Him
- The testimony about the Lazarus miracle
- The crowd that had been there when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead
- they testified
- therefore the crowds came to meet Him because they had heard that He had done this SIGN
- The Pharisees grumbled
- look, this is profiting us nothing (gettin us nowhere)
- the world is going after Him
- Jesus death = Jesus' glorification 12:20-26
- setting
- there were Greeks who went up to Jerusalem to worship at the feast
- These approached Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee)
- They asked him, saying - We want to see Jesus
- Philip got Andrew involved
- Philip and Andrew told this to Jesus
- Jesus anounces His HOUR has come
- the Hour has come (pf. tense)
- so that the Son of Man may be glorified
Jesus connects His hour with His death with His glory- If a seed of wheat does not fall to the ground and die
- it remains alone
- if it dies, it bears much fruit - cf. ch. 15
- The loving his life destroys it
- The one hating his life in this world keeps it for eternal life
- Rant on this hard
- do not love the world
- do not store up your treasure in this world
- Think of things above, not things below
- Your life is hidden in Christ - only when Christ is revealed will you know yourself
- Life is short - eternity is long
- He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to obtain that which he cannot lose
- If someone is my servant, he will follow me
- And where I am, he will be - i.e. at the cross/on the cross/washing feet
- If someone serves me, the Father will honor him
- The testimony of the Father 12:27-33
- Jesus' internal wrestling
- flowing from previous, still thinking about His impending death
- Jesus says, "Now my soul is stirred up/disturbed,
- and What will I say?" - rhetorical question
- Shall I say "Father, save me from this HOUR"? - rhetorical question
Answer - (NO) I came to this HOUR for this reason
- Jesus' prayer
Father, glorify Your NAME
- The Father's answer
- A voice came from Heaven
- I have glorified
- And again, I will glorify
- The crowd's response
- The crowd there heard
- Some said "It thundered"
- Others said "An angel spoke to Him"
Jesus' explanation- The voice did not come for my sake
- but for your sake
- Now is the judgment of this world
- Now the ruler of this world will be thrown out
- And if I am lifted up from the earth
- cf. 3:14, 8:28, 12:34
- double meaning
- I will draw all things to myself
- cf. ch 6, esp. v. 44
- all kinds of people - including Greeks
- Jesus finally answers the question above - only after He is glorified will He go to the Greeks
- cf. Spirit waits till after glorified/crucified
- John's explanation of Jesus' explanation
- He said this indicating (signing) what kind of death He was about to die
- cognate word to semeia used
- Questions about Jesus' identity 12:34-36
- The crowd asks about The Christ remaining forever
- They probably connected the "Son of Man" with the "Christ"
- When Jesus spoke about the "Son of Man" dying, they were confused and thought that He was disconnecting the two and so they asked
- We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever
- from the Law, and not tradition
- True - the Messiah and the Davidic promises were eternal
- cf. esp. 89:4, 36-37, 2 Sam. 7:12-16, Psa. 110:1 et al
- Incomplete understanding of how it comes about - through death and resurrection
- And how can you say that is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up?
- Who is this Son of Man?
- Jesus answers - Christ is here now! Get Him while you can
- The light is in your midst still for a short time
- Walk as you have the light
- so that the darkness does not overcome you - same wording as 1:5! - cf. I Thes. 5:4
- And the one walking in the darkness does not know where his is going
- As you have the light - believe in the light
- So that you become sons (children) of light
- Jesus leaves
- having said these things
- Jesus was hidden from them, by leaving
- Conclusion - rejection by the Jews 12:37-50
- Final Rejection by the Jews and its Theological reason 12:37-43
- The final rejection, despite many sufficient signs12:37
Having done many great signs before them- They did not believe in Him
- cf. wilderness generation, who had seen tremendous miracles at the Exodus, but who still doubted God
- From one standpoint - Jesus' public ministry was a failure
- Jesus would not be asked to headline a church growth conference
- The reason for their unbelief - from Isaiah 12:38-41 - cf. Dt. 29:3-4
- so that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled (53:1), which he said:
- Lord, who has believed our message?
- And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
- first instance of 'fulfill' which will come up a lot later - every aspect of Jesus' crucifixion fulfills Scripture
- For this reason, they were not able to believe
- because Isaiah again says (6:10):
- He blinded their eyes - cf. ch. 9
- and He hardened their hearts
- so that they would not see with their eyes
- and (not) understand with their hearts
- and (not) turn
- and I would heal them
- unbelief in ch. 53 caused by hardening in 6:10
- both passages also have themes of exaltation and glory - cf. 12:32
- The reason:
- Isaiah said this because he saw His glory - Isa. 6
- and he spoke about Him - referring to Jesus - deity of Christ
- The Jewish rejection of Jesus should not be a stumbling block to John's readers
- Actually it should be confirmation - God predicted it
- Some believed, but not yet enough 12:42-43
- Nevertheless, however, many from the leaders believed in Him
- but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess - halfway belief
- so they would not be excommunicated from the synagogue - cf. 9:22
for they loved the glory of man more than the glory of God - cf. 5:44
- Jesus came to reveal the Father (with the resulting consequences of receiving or rejecting) 12:44-50
- Jesus is the way to the Father
- Jesus cried out and said
- The one who believes in me does not believe in me (only)
- but (also) in the One Who sent me
- And the one who sees me, sees the One Who sent me
- Jesus is the way to enlightenment
- I am the light that has come into the world - cf. prologue
- All who believe in me will not remain in the darkness
- Jesus is the way from judgment
- If someone hears my words and does not keep them
- I do not judge him
- for I did not come to judge the world - cf. 3:16-18
- but so that I may save the world - cf. 3:16-18
- The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has one that judges him
- The word which I spoke - this one judges him in the last day
- The reason for this
- because I did not speak from myself
- but the Father who sent me gave to me this command - what I would say and speak
- And I know that His command is eternal life
- Therefore, that which I am speaking, just as the Father has spoken to me, in this way, I speak
- Private Ministry chs. 13-17
- introduction 13:1-30
- Jesus washes the disciples' feet 13:1-17
- Jesus knew His time had arrived and His destiny was secure 13:1-3
- General
- Setting -
- before the feast of the passover
- Passover celebration was week long feast of unleavened bread before sacrifice of Passover lamb and 1 day Passover feast
Cause-- knowing that His HOUR had come
- so that He would leave this world
- toward the Father
- loving His own who are in the world
- Result -
He loved them to the end/completion/goal
- Setting/foreshadowing
- dinner was happening
- The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas - son of Simon Iscariot
- to betray Him
- Specific
Cause - Jesus knew- The Father had given all things into His hands
- He had come from God
- and He was returning to God
Result - foot washing and all that follows, including the crucifixion
- Lesson
- Our knowledge of who we are, where we came from and our future destiny
- is motivation for self giving service here
- we don't need to serve ourselves and fight to secure our future destiny and inheritance
- No need to grasp for earthy things because we have heavenly things
- Jesus washes the disciples' feet 13:4-11
- preparation
- He got up from the table
- He put off His garments
- He took a towel and wrapped it around Himself
- taking on costume of a slave
- washing
- then He poured water into a basin
- He began to wash the feet of the disciples
- and dry them with the towel that was around Him
- dialogue with Peter
- Peter objects
- when He came to Simon Peter
- he asked, will YOU wash MY feet?
- probably humble and innocent, reacting to the inappropriateness according to the social roles/conventions
- the Master does not do menial tasks for His disciples - It ain't right
- Jesus says you don't understand, but you will
- Doesn't yet address the reason, just asks for trust
- You do not yet know what I am doing
- You will know after these things
- Foreshadowing - pointing to future learning of this profound lesson
- Peter rejects
- You will never wash my feet
- no longer innocent, but lack of trust and obedience
- rejecting Jesus teaching, even though still probably has good motives
- Lesson - don't say No to God, no matter what the reason
- Jesus says you must be washed
- If I do not wash you
- you do not have a part with me/have a share with me/share with me in what I give/have/do
- double meaning
- cleansing, both physical and spiritual
- being served by Jesus and learning the lesson of servant leadership
- Peter asks for a complete washing
- Peter changes his mind and asks for the full meal deal
- not just my feet, but my hands and head as well
- Jesus says that they are mostly clean already
- The one who has bathed does not need to wash except his feet
- but is completely clean
- and you are clean
- but not all of you
- double meaning/ambiguity
- physical - you are clean, just need your feet recleaned
- spiritual - you are clean, just need maintenance cleansing -
- foreshadowing prayer ch. 17
- You are clean because of the Word that I have spoken
- spiritual - not all of you are clean - all except Judas
- John's explanation/clarification
- He knew who would betray Him
- that is why He said, not all of you are clean
- Jesus teaches about servanthood 13:12-17
- Intro
- After He washed their feet
- He put His clothes on - (outer clothes, His under clothes never came off)
- He reclined at the table again
Follow my example- He said, "Do you know what I have done for you?"
- His position
- you call me teacher and master
- you are right to do so
- because I am your teacher and master
- His example
- If I, even though I am your teacher and master
- I wash your feet -
- example of humble service at the point of need
- even involving lowly, inconvenient, dirty service
- His charge
- you also ought to wash one another's feet
- For I have given you an example
- just as I have done for you
- you also should do
- You are not greater than me, but can be like me
- A servant is not greater than his master
- neither is one who is sent greater than the One who sent him
- double meaning
- Jesus is the One sent and the Father is the sending One
- Very soon, the disciples will be sent by Jesus
- If you know these things (about humble servanthood)
- you will be blessed if you do them
- Blessed is the one who Knows AND Does - both integrated
- Jesus predicts His betrayal 13:18-30
- Jesus knew all along who is His 13:18-20
- Jesus clarifies who He is talking about
- I am not saying these things concerning all of you
- I know whom I have chosen
- Scripture explanation/proof
- So that the Scripture might be fulfilled
- The one eating my bread - close companion
- has lifted up his heel against me - attacked me/betrayal
- reason for the prediction
- I am telling you now, before it happens
so that when it happens, you may believe that I AM- I am saying
- Jesus foreknowledge/supernatural knowledge sign of His deity - seen throughout Gospel
- All these things are planned and sovereignly controlled by God - perfect timing and perfect plan
- Implication -
- double meaning/ambiguity
- reiteration of 2-fold choice
- application to disciples of humble service and reception/rejection
- The one receiving the one I send, receives me
- The one receiving me receives the one who sent me
- by implication - the disciples should not take it personally if they are received or rejected, because it is not them who is received or rejected
- by implication - the readers should receive the testimony of the apostles, because it is not just the apostles that they are receiving
- Jesus predicts His betrayal 13:21-26
- Jesus predicts
- After Jesus said these things
- He was troubled/disturbed in spirit
- He testified and said
- One of you will betray me
- ambiguous term - hand over, entrust
- He meant the bigtime betrayal which Judas was about to do by handing Him over to His enemies
- Disciples ask
- themselves
- they look at one another
- b/c they were perplexed who He was talking about
- Jesus
- The disciple that Jesus loved was reclining next to Him - very close intimacy with no hint of being weird
- Peter motioned to ask who He was talking about
- He leaned over and asked - "Who is it?"
- Jesus answers
- The one to whom I dip the morsel and give the bread -
- sign of gift, generosity, loving gesture
- somewhat ambiguous/able to be misunderstood,
- almost parallel with the Psalms quote
- but also very clear - clarified by immediate action
- Jesus points out Judas
- He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot
- Jesus sends Judas away 13:27-30
- After the morsel satan entered into Judas
- Jesus told him to do what he was going to do quickly
- sovereign control
- perfect timing
- The disciples misunderstood
- no one at the meal understood what He was saying
- alternate explanations because judas kept the money
- thought He told him to buy supplies for the meal
- thought He told him to give to the poor - custom at Passover
- judas immediately went out, having taken the morsel
- IT WAS NIGHT
- on one hand, it was night
- on the other hand - light/darkness theme
- the hour had come when darkness would do its best to overcome the light - how successful do you think it will be?
- judas was doing the work of the night
- now in hindsight, we can be more open to the possibility of symbolic significance that Nicodemus came to Him at night, but still cautious
- Upper room discourse 13:31-16:33
- Introductory thoughts
- spiraling discourse - typical
- weaving and returning to themes
- Jesus' continuing mission after His departure
- leaving back to the Father
- sending the Spirit - His tasks and ministries
- their tasks and ministries
- their reception
- Passing the torch 13:31-38
- Glory, leaving, love command, love witness 13:31-35
- In one sense, this is almost an outline of the discourse, briefly introducing major themes
- Glory
- After judas left, Jesus said
- Now the Son of man is glorified
- and God is glorified in Him
- If God is glorified in Him [the Son]
- Also God will glorify Him [the Son]
- and He will glorify Him immediately
- (less than a day before the crucifixion)
- leaving
- Children - intimate term
- I am with you a small time
- You will seek me
- Just as I told the Jews, I am telling you - same inability to go to heaven
- where I am going, you are not able to come
- (Unlike the Jews, He will later tell them that they will be able to come where He is, but only through Him)
- love command
- I am giving you a new command
- in one sense, not new - OT command
- in another sense, new/fresh because of the new model and standard
- love one another
- just as I loved you
- humble service of washing feet
- self sacrifice of laying down lives for one another
- so also you should love one another
- love witness
- in this way (loving one another) all will know that you are my disciples
- if you have love for one another
- notice, not just a feeling (if even a feeling)
- but an action
- easy to say I love you
- easy to have loving feelings when loved
- harder to lay down your life for someone who doesn't deserve it
- Misunderstanding and Prediction of Peter's denial 13:36-38
- Peter asks - where are you going? - decent question
- Jesus answers
- where I am going, you are not able to follow me now
- cf. 8:14 and 13:33 - same thing said to Jews and disciples earlier
- notice qualifier NOW - huge promise
- you will follow later
- HUGE promise - Disciples can go to the Father, where no one is able to go - cf. what Jesus told Nicodemus
- as we will see, only can go through Jesus
- bittersweet promise to Peter and disciples and us
- because Jesus expects us to follow Him to glory through the pathway of humble service, rejection, laying down our lives and taking up our cross on the way to glory
- in ch. 21, Jesus will tell Peter what sort of death he will die in order to follow Him
- but it will be totally worth it, no matter what we have to go through to get there!
- Peter said, I am ready to follow now, no matter the cost
- Why can't I follow you now
- I will lay down my life for you - cf. Jesus in 10:15,17
- Well meaning, but misguided and somewhat boastful promise, confident in self
- Jesus answered, no you are not ready to follow
- You will lay down your life?
- As a matter of fact, you will certainly deny me three times before the rooster crows (matter of hours)
- Jesus is the Way 14:1-14
- Jesus is the Way to the Father 14:1-7
- Do not let your heart be disturbed/troubled
- same word when Jesus was deeply moved at the tomb of Lazarus 11:33
- Same word 12:27 Jesus troubled looking forward to the crucifixion
- same word 13:37 Jesus troubled when one of His friends was about to betray Him
- same word here and in v. 27 - we are not to be troubled, b/c Jesus takes the trouble on Himself
- see the connection with ch. 13 - just told Peter he would deny and probably got a negative reaction - reassuring
- your is plural, not talking just to Peter but to all the disciples
- You believe in God and you also believe in me
- could be statement of fact or command or one of each
- equation of God and Jesus
- believe = trust,
- trust God and Jesus, even in the darkest times
- It's Friday, but Sunday's coming
- I am going to take you to the Father
- In my Father's house, there are many rooms/dwelling places,
- if there were not, Would I have told you
- That I am going to prepare a place for you
- cf. coming from God and going to God
- now going so that we can go
- and if I go and prepare a place for you
- I will come again and receive you to myself
- so that you can be where I am
- Jesus is the way to the Father
- Jesus says, you know the way where I am going
- Thomas says, we don't even know where you are going, how can we know the way?
- Jesus replies
- I am the way
- the path to the Father
- answering Thomas' question about how to get to the Father
- Jesus is how to get to the Father, because He is the eternally existing Word, the One and Only Son from the Father's side who has made God known - cf. 1:18
- and the truth
- God is full of grace and truth
- All who love the truth come to Jesus
- All who worship God do so in spirit and truth
- You will know the truth and the truth will set you free
- Jesus testifies to the truth - Himself
- more on the truth to follow
- and the life
- eternal life
- life abundant
- opposite of death
- All of these things are centered in Jesus Himself -
- not just hovering around Him,
- but He is the embodiment of these things
- cannot have life or truth or way to the Father without Jesus
- He cannot give you them separate from Himself, because they are Him
- If your vision of eternal life is not focused on Him, you are mistaken
- If you think you could be happy in heaven even if Jesus were not there, you are probably not going
- Explanation/elaboration
- NO ONE comes to the Father except through me
- yes it says no one
- cannot get to the Father through Buddha or Mohamed or Joseph Smith or Dr. Phil- we cannot be ashamed of that fact
- If you have known me, you know the Father
- and from the now on, you know Him and have seen Him
- Jesus is the revealer of the Father 14:8-11
- Philip asked
- Show us the Father
- and that will be sufficient for us
- Jesus replied
- How can you ask that question?
- How long have you been with me and don't know me, Philip?
- The one who has seen me has seen the Father!
- How can you say, "Show us the Father?"
- question makes no sense if you knew who I am
- Jesus had already said "I and the Father are one"
- Believe that I reveal the Father because we are One
- Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me
- there are more levels of belief to which Jesus is calling the disciples
- don't think that you have arrived
- Reasons to believe this
- the words which I spoke to you, I did not speak from myself
- repeating what He has said many times to the Jews about being from the Father
- now the disciples need to get it as well
- the Father who REMAINS in me is doing His works
believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me- If not, believe because of His works
- cf. 10:37-38 same challenge to Jews
- God will be glorified through greater works and answered prayer 14:12-14
- Greater works
- The one who believes in me
- he will do the works that I am doing
- he will do greater works than these
- testifying to Jesus and the Father
- more people have believed in Jesus after His ascension than before
- any 'greater works' that draw attention to us and not to Jesus are phony
- because I am going to the Father
- answered prayer
Whatever you ask in my Name, I will do it- So that the Father may be glorified in the Son
If someone asks me in my Name, I will do it- key to understand is that Jesus comes in the Father's Name
- characterized by submission, obedience, doing and saying what the Father is doing and saying
- so also, our asking should be characterized by these things or we should not expect answers - not a magic spell
- when our prayer is characterized by these things - WE SHOULD EXPECT OUR PRAYERS TO BE ANSWERED BECAUSE GOD PROMISED
- Preparing for His departure 14:15-31
- Love, the Spirit and the Commands 14:15-24
- Keep my commands
- If you love me,
- you will keep my commands
- beware of letting the love of God become a nebulous feeling, love of God is precise and active
- and I will ask the Father
- and He will give you another Paraclete
- another
- Jesus' replacement
- Just as Jesus was with them, leading, guiding, protecting, revealing the Father, parakleting in general, so also the other Paraclete will do the same kind of things
- everything the paraclete will be described as doing later in this discourse, Jesus has already been described as doing earlier in the Gospel, teaching, leading to truth, revealing the Father, etc.
- parakletos
- helper, one who works on another's behalf
- somewhat ambiguous word - helps in whatever needs helping, but without defining
- can be comforter when comfort needed
- can be advocate, i.e. lawyer, when that is needed - cf. 1 Jn 2:2
- can be a strengthener, when strength is needed
- can be mediator, when mediation is needed
- So that He will be with you forever
- great comfort when preparing them for His departure,
- they will never be alone
- The Paraclete
- The Spirit of Truth
- cf. 14:6 Jesus is the truth, Spirit characterized by truth
- contrast false spirits, which come from the father of untruth
- the world is not able to receive Him
- because it does not see Him
- and does not know Him
- you know Him
- because He is remaining with you
- and He will be in you
- cf. Jn 7 living waters from midst - re Spirit which had not yet been given, is about to be given
- I will not leave you
- I will not forsake you as orphans
- I will come to you (via the Spirit)
- Soon the world will not see me
- but you will see me
- because I live and you will live
- In that day, you will know that I am in the Father and you are in me and I in you
- mind blowing!
- Just as Jesus said earlier (14:11) He is in the Father and vice versa
- So now, in a smaller way (no delusions of divinity) we are included in that fellowship via the Spirit
- Keep my commands
- The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me
- The one loving me will be loved by my Father
- And I will love him
- And I will reveal myself to him
- Keep my Word
- Judas (not Iscariot) asked
- Lord, how will it be that you will reveal yourself to us
- and not to the world?
- Jesus responds
- Whoever loves me will keep my Word
- and my Father will love him
- and we will come to him
- and we will make our dwelling with him - same word as v. 2
- The one who does not love me does not keep my Words
- The Word which you hear is not mine, but from the Father who sent me
- Preparing the disciples for His departure 14:25-31
- Holy Spirit will speak to you
- I have spoken these things to you while REMAINING with you
- The Paraclete - the Holy Spirit
- whom the Father is sending in my Name
- This One will teach you all things
- And He will remind you of all the things which I said to you
- I am leaving you peace
- Peace I am leaving with you
- My peace I am giving to you
- I am not giving as the world gives
- I am going to the Father
- Don't let your heart be troubled or afraid - cf. v. 1
- You heard that I said to you
- I am going and I am coming toward you
- If you love me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father
- Because the Father is greater than I
- I am telling you in advance
- And now, I have told you before it happens
- so that when it happens you may believe
- I'm almost done here
- I no longer have many things to say to you
- For the ruler of the world is coming
- and he has nothing in me
- but so that the world may know that I love the Father
- and just as the Father commanded me, this I am doing
- get up, let's go from here
- Remaining/Abiding 15:1-17
- Remaining/Abiding in Christ 15:1-8
- Remain in Him to be fruitful 1-7
- Metaphor of vine and gardener 1-4
- The metaphor 1-3
- God's ways are like a gardener with a vine
- Jesus is the vine
- I am the true vine
- cf. Isa 5:1-7, Psa 80:16, Jer 2:21
- Father is the gardener
- 2 possibilities
- He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit
- He prunes/cleanses every branch that bears fruit so that it is more fruitful
- You are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you - cf. 13:10
- The implications 4
- Command to remain in me and I in you
- Reason: we cannot bear fruit apart from Jesus
- Comparison with literal fruit
- branch is not able to bear fruit
- if it does not abide in the vine
- application - in the same way
- you cannot bear fruit
- if you do not remain in me
- Metaphor of vine and branches 5-7
- Jesus is the vine, we are the branches
- Therefore be connected
- general principle
- The one remaining in me bears much fruit
- Reason - apart from me you are not able to do anything
- Specific - 2 possibilities
- no abide = thrown out
- if someone does not abide in me
- He will be discarded like a fruitless branch
- thrown out
- dried up
- gathered
- thrown into the fire
- burned
- abide = answered prayer
- If you remain in me and my words remain in you
- Ask and it will be given
- Reason - My Father is glorified
- when we bear much fruit
- And prove to be Jesus' disciples
- These two go hand in hand
- Remaining in the Father via love 15:9-17
- like Father/Son, so Master/disciples
- just as the Father loved me
- also I loved you
- remain in my love
- If you keep my commands
- you will remain in my love
- Just as I keep the commands of my Father
- and I am remaining in His love
- The Purpose
- I have spoken these things so that my joy may be in you
- And your joy may be full
- The Command to love
- This is my command
- That you love one another
- Just as I loved you
- No one has greater love than this:
- that someone will lay down his life for his friends
- No longer servants
- you are my friends if you do what I commanded you
- I no longer call you servants
- because the servant does not know what his master is doing
- I have called you friends
- because everything I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you
- Chosen to bear fruit
- You did not choose me
- But I chose you
- and I appointed you
- so that you would go and bear fruit
- and your fruit should last/remain/abide
so that whatever you ask the Father in my Name He will give to you
- The Command to love
- This is my command to you: that you should love one another
- Rejection by the World 15:18-16:4a
- Rejection by the world and the reason for it 15:18-25
- The world hates you because you are not from the world
- If the world hates you
- know that it hated me first
- If you were from the world
- The world would love its own
- but you are not from the world
- But I have chosen you out of the world
- For this reason, the world hates you
- Expect the same treatment
- Remember the words I spoke to you
- A servant is not greater that his Master
- If they persecuted me, they will persecute you
- If they kept my word, they will keep yours
- The reason: they hate God
- But they will do all these things to you because of My Name
- because they do not know the One Who sent me
- They have been proven to be of the darkness
- If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin
- Now they have no excuse for their sin
- The one hating me also hates my Father - cf. 5:23 equal honor for Father and Son
- If I did not do the works among them, which no one else did
- They would not have sin
- Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father
- cf. ch. 3 hate the light and go to the darkness because their deeds are evil
- Scripture proof
- This is to fulfill the word in the Law - they hated me without cause
- cf. Rom 3:24 "justified freely" same word "without cause"
- The witnesses to Jesus 15:26-27
- Testimony of the Spirit
- When the Paraclete comes
- Whom I will send from the Father
- The Spirit of Truth
- Who is going out from the Father
- This One will testify concerning me
- Testimony of the Disciples
- And you will testify
- Because you are with me from the beginning
- Preparing the disciples for their rejection 16:1-4a
- Be prepared
- I have spoken these things to you so that you will not be scandalized
- They will persecute you
- They will put you out of the synagogue - what some people feared
- An hour is coming when all who kill you will think they are doing a service to God
- do not expect rational sane opposition, but satanic blindness
- They will do these things because they do not know The Father or me
- Remember and believe
- But I have spoken these things to you so that when the hour comes, you will remember that I have told you these things
- The Spirit 16:4b-15
- The Spirit to replace the presence of Jesus 16:4b-11
- Jesus has been with them
- I did not speak these things to you from the beginning
- In context this is the prediction of their rejection and suffering
- also leading into next section
- because I was with you
- Jesus is now leaving them
- Now I am going toward the One Who sent me
- And no one of you asks me "Where are you going?"
- Because I have told your these things, Sorrow has filled your heart
- The Paraclete replaces Jesus
- But I am speaking the truth to you
- It is better for you that I am going
- Because If I do not go
- The Paraclete will not come to you
- If I go
- I will send Him toward you
- (partial) Job description of the Paraclete
- And when this One comes,
- He will expose/convict/convince the world concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment
- concerning sin - that they have not believed in me
- concerning righteousness - that I am going to the Father and you will not see me
- concerning sin - that the ruler of this world has been judged and stands under judgment
- discussion of two meanings of hoti, here not because, but that (content of conviction, not reason for it)
- The Spirit to reveal/mediate Jesus to the disciples 16:12-15
- My revelation is not yet complete
- I have many things to say to you
- but you are not able to bear/carry/endure them yet
- you can't handle the truth
- b/c Spirit not yet sent b/c Jesus not yet glorified
- The cross changes everything - never forget it
- My revelation will be completed
- when this One comes - the Spirit of Truth
- He will lead you in/with/by all the truth
- The M.O. of the Spirit of Truth
- For He will not speak from Himself
- But whatever He hears, this He will speak
- And He will tell you the coming things
- may refer to the future
- In this context, refers to immediate future - i.e. crucifixion
- This One will glorify me
- Because He will take from what is mine
- And He will tell it to you
- Father>Son>Spirit>Disciples
- All which the Father has is mine
- Because of this I said that He will take from what is mine and He will tell it to you
- Prediction of Victory 16:16-33
- Grief will turn to joy 16:16-22
- Not see, then see
- Jesus announces "Small time"
- Small time and your will no longer see me
- and again a small time and you will see me
- The disciples don't understand what He means
- The disciples said toward one another
- What is this that He is saying
- "small time and you will not see me
- and again small time and you will see me"
- and "because I am going toward the father"
- therefore they said,
- what is this that He is saying
- "the small time" - asking about that word
- we do not know what He is saying
- Jesus knew that they wanted to ask - He said to them
- You are seeking with one another concerning this
- because I said
- small time and you will see me
- and again small time and you will see me
- note near ridiculous amount of repetition - making a point, highlighting
- grief to joy
- Truly I say that you will weep and mourn
- while the world will rejoice
- You will be grieved
- but your grief will turn to joy
- illustration of woman giving birth
- The woman has pain/affliction/grief when giving birth
- because HER HOUR HAS COME
- But when the child is born
- she no longer remembers the tribulation
- because of the joy that a child has been born into the world
- Application to the disciples
- therefore, you also will have pain/grief now
- but I will see you again
- and your heart will rejoice
- cf. Isa 66:14 - in context of eschatological judgment
- "When you see this, your heart will rejoice and you will flourish like grass; the hand of the LORD will be made known to his servants, but his fury will be shown to his foes."
- And no one will take your joy from you
- Access to the Father 16:23-27
- Answered prayer to the Father
- And in this day, no one will ask me-
Truly I say, Whatever you ask the Father in my Name- He will give it to you
- Until now, you have not asked anything in my Name
- Ask and receive, so that your joy may be completely fulfilled (perfect periphrastic)
- that is - they are going directly to the Father (Through Jesus and the Spirit), no longer going directly to Jesus - i.e. Jesus has revealed the Father to them
- Speaking plainly of the Father
- I have said these things to you in figures of speech
- There is coming an hour when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech
- But I will plainly speak to you concerning the Father
- The disciples will ask the Father
In this day, you will ask in my Name- And I am not saying to you that I will ask the Father concerning you
- For this same Father loves you
- Because you have loved me
- and (because) you have believed that I came from the Father
- Jesus is going to the Father 16:28-33
- Jesus is leaving
- I have come from the Father and I came into the world
- again I am leaving the world
- And I am going to the Father
- Disciples believe
- His disciples said
- Behold, now you are speaking plainly to us
- And you are no longer saying figures of speech
- Now we know that you know all things
- And you have no need to have someone ask you anything
- In this we believe that You have come from God
- Jesus challenges their belief
- Do you now believe?
- An hour is coming, and now is
- when you will be scattered each into his own place
- cf. Zech 13:17
- "Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered
- and you will forsake me all alone
- And I am not alone
- Because the Father is with me
- Jesus encourages them
- I have spoken these things to you so that in me you may have peace
- You will have tribulation in the world
- but be courageous - "Firm or resolute in the face of danger or adverse circumstances" BDAG
- I have overcome the world
- cf. prologue darkness has not overcome the light
- darkness never will overcome the light
- so be steadfast even in the midst of persecution, be on the side of the light
- Prayer ch. 17
- Concerning Personal relationship with the Father 17:1-5
- Glorify Your Son
- Having spoken these things, Jesus lifted up His eyes to Heaven and said
- Father, the hour has come
- Glorify Your Son
- So that Your Son can glorify You
- Just as the Son gives Eternal Life
- Just as You Gave Him authority over all flesh
- So that all who you gave to Him, He may give them eternal life
- This is eternal life - that they may know You, the only True God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent
- I have glorified You
- I have glorified you on the Earth
- The works which You gave me to do, I completed
- Glorify me
- And now, glorify me, Father, with Your own glory
- The glory which I had with You before the world existed
- Concerning the First Disciples 17:6-19
- Only three actual requests in this section
- The rest is statement/description about the disciples
- The disciples are Yours
- I revealed Your Name to the men whom You have given me from the World
- They were Yours
- And You gave them to me
- And they kept Your Word
- Now they know that all which You have given to me if from You
- Because I gave them the words which You gave to me
- And they received them and know truly that I have come from You
- And they believed that You sent me
- They are Yours in the midst of the World
- I ask concerning them
- I do not ask concerning the world, but concerning those You have given me
- because they are Yours
- And all that is mine is Yours
- And all that is Yours is mine
- and I will be glorified in them
- And I am no longer in the world
- and these are in the world
- and I am coming toward You
- First Request - keep them by Your Name
Holy Father, keep them in Your Name which You have given to me- referred to as Holy Father in a context where He will talk about Sanctifying them from the world
- Name is shorthand for all that God is and does, not just a title
- So that they may be one, just as we are one
- when I was with them, I kept them in Your Name, which You have given to me
- and I have guarded them
- and none of them has been destroyed except the son of destruction
- cf. 6:39, 70
- "this is the will of God, that I shall lose none that He has given me
- I chose you 12, yet one of you is a devil
- so that the Scripture may be fulfilled
- cf. Psa. 41:9, Jn 13:18
- But the Scripture will be fulfilled, He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me
- They are being left in a hostile world
- Now I am coming toward you
- And these things I am speaking while in the world
- so that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves
- I have given them Your Word
- And the World has hated them
- Because they are not from the World
- Just as I am Not from the World
- Second request - Keep them from evil
- I do not ask that You would take them from the world
But that You would keep them from the evil (one)- They are Not from the World
- Just as I am not from the World
- Third request - Sanctify them by the truth
Sanctify them by the truth- Your Word is truth
- They are being sent into a hostile world
- Just as You sent me into the world
- So also, I am sending them into the world
- I am making a way for them
- On their behalf, I am sanctifying myself
- referring to the Crucifixion
- So that they also may be sanctified in/by truth
- Concerning all Future Disciples 17:20-26
- I also ask for future disciples
- I don't ask only concerning these ones
- but also concerning those who will believe in me because of their word/witness
I ask that they may be one- So that they all may be one
- What does it mean to be one?
- Much more than just unity between people/churches/denominations
- May happen without that
- In this context defined as the kind of unity of purpose/dependence/that the Son has with the Father and calls us to have with the Godhead
- If Christians/churches/denominations will ever find unity, it will begin by getting in line with God's purposes like Jesus has modeled
- just as You Father are in me and I in You
- So that these also may be in us
So that the world may believe that You sent me
- I have shared the glory to be one
- And I have given them the glory, which You gave me
- So that they may be one, just as we are one
- I in them and You in me
- So that they may be perfected into one
So that the world may know that- You sent me
- and You loved them
- Just as You loved me
I want them to see my glory- Father, I will that those You gave me may be where I am with me
- So that they may see my glory,
- which You gave me
- Because You loved me before the creation of the world
- I have given them eternal life, which is to know You
- Righteous Father, The world does not know You
- But I have known You
- And these ones know that You sent me
- And I have made Your Name known to them and I will make it known
- So that the love with which You loved me may be in them, and I may be in them
- Passion ministry chs. 18-20
- Arrest 18:1-11
- Setting - in the garden
- Jesus, Having said these things
- He went out with His disciples
- across the Kidron valley
- where there was a garden/orchard/olive grove
- Jesus and His disciples went into this garden
- judas - the one who betrayed Him - also knew this place
- because Jesus often went there with His disciples
- Therefore judas, taking soldiers and officers from the chief priests and the pharisees, went there with lamps and torches and weapons
- Jesus met them with authority
- Therefore, knowing all the things coming to Him (the things about to happen to Him)
- Jesus went out and said to them, "Who do you seek?"
- They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth"
- He said to them, "I AM"
- judas- the one who betrayed Him - was standing with them
- As Jesus said to them "I AM"
- They "went into the behind" -NIV drew back and fell to the ground
- significance - fell backward? fear?
- fell forward? worship?
- in any case, Jesus has more power and authority - they are not able to overpower Him if He did not let them
- Again He asked them, "Who are you seeking?"
- They said, "Jesus of Nazareth"
- Jesus answered, "I told you that I AM"
- Jesus protects the disciples
- If you are seeking me, let these go
- so that might be fulfilled the word which He said
- Those you gave me I will not lose one of them.
- cf. 17:12
- Note Jesus words quoted like Scripture.
- Peter tries to protect Jesus
- Simon Peter, having a sword
- drew it and struck the servant of the high priest
- and cut off His right ear
- and His name was Malchus
- - notice eyewitness detail
- Jesus rebukes him
- Jesus said to Peter
- Put your sword into its holder
- Shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given me?
- double negative strong rhetorical statement
- expects a negative answer (positive - "I shall drink")
- The Jewish trial and Peter's denial 18:12-27
- Taken to Annas 18:12-14
- Therefore, the soldiers and the commander and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him
- And they led Him toward Annas first
- who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas
- who was the chief priest that year
- High priests were supposed to be for life
- Romans would not allow, but made the job pass around regularly
- Jews got around by having one functional High Priest - Annas
- and many figureheads to please the Romans
- Many of Annas' sons and relatives had served under his functional leadership
- This Caiaphas was the one who advised the Jesus that it is better for one man to die on behalf of the people
- Peter's first denial 18:15-18
- Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus
- This other disciples was known to the high priest and went into the court of the High Priest with Jesus
- note a few places in this last section, the disciple that Jesus loved will be in companion with Peter
- And this disciple will always look better/superior in very small ways
- But Peter stood by the door/gate outside
- The other disciple who was known by the High Priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in
- The maidservant at the door asked Peter, "You are not one of the disciples of this man, are you?" mildly expecting a negative answer
- Peter said, "I am not"
- The servants and officials were standing by a fire they had made because it was cold, and they warmed themselves
- Peter was also standing with them, warming himself
- blending in, avoiding persecution = denying
- The High priest sits in judgment of Jesus 18:19-24
- The High Priest asked Jesus concerning His disciples and concerning His teaching
- Jesus answered,
- "I spoke publicly/freely to the world.
- I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple, where all the Jews were gathered.
- And I said nothing in secret.
- Why are you asking me?
- Ask those who heard what I said to them.
- See, these ones know what I said."
- When He said these things, one of the officials standing near struck Jesus
- He said, "Is this the way you answer the High Priest?"
- Jesus answered him
- "If I have spoken wrongly, testify concerning the evil"
- but If I have spoken good, why did you strike me?
- Therefore, Annas sent Him, still bound, to Caiaphas the High Priest
- Summary/application
- Note no plausible argument against Him, and Jesus openly asserts HIs innocence, with no contradiction, but still punished
- already have verdict, not bothering with evidence - hatred and rejection, not justice
- By their hatred and rejection, they are not judging Jesus, but judging themselves - cf. running theme
- Peter's second and third denials 18:25-27
- Simon Peter was standing and warming himself
- They said to him, "You are not also one of His disciples are you?"
- Peter denied it and said, "I am not"
- One of the servants of the High Priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off said, "Didn't I see you in the garden with Him?"
- Again Peter denied - not quoting Peter's response, but calling it a denial, cf. 13:38 where Jesus predicts his denial, using the same word
- And immediately the rooster crowed - just like Jesus predicted
- The Roman Trial 18:28-19:15
- Jewish Accusation before Pilate 18:28-32
- brought to Pilate
- Therefore, they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium (headquarters)
- It was early in the morning
- and the Jews did not go into the Praetorium
- so that they would not be defiled but could eat the Passover
- huge irony here
- rejecting the Lamb of God who fulfills the Passover
- Scruples about ritual uncleanness while murdering an innocent man
- Pilate went out to them and inquired, "What accusation do you bring against this man?"
- They answered (dodged) "If He were not an evildoer, we would not have turned Him over to you."
- Pilate answered, "You take Him and judge Him by your own law"
- recognized that it was about religious stuff, not Roman stuff
- possibly spoken with contempt - doesn't want to get involved
- They answered "We don't have authority to put anyone to death"
- This is so that Jesus' word would be fulfilled in which He SIGNIFIED what kind of death He was about to die
- cf. 3:14, 8:28, 12:32-33
- Jewish execution by stoning would not fit predictions of 'being lifted up"
- Roman execution by crucifixion fits well with these predictions.
- First Private Interview with Pilate 18:33-38a
- Pilate went into the Praetorium and summoned Jesus
- He asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"
- Messianic term
- cf. Questions of Jesus' identity
- Jesus said, "Do you say this from yourself, or did someone else tell you about me?" - challenge to faith
- Pilate answers with contempt,
- "I am not a Jew,
- Your own nation and Cheif Priests have given you over to me.
- What did you do?"
- Jesus answered,
- "My Kingdom is not from this world"
- picking up Messiah identity
- but redefining it correctly, what kind of King He is
- Not a King to be served and to conquer with sword
- But a King who conquers by serving and dying
- If my Kingdom was of this world, My officers would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jews
- But Now my Kingdom is not from here
- Pilate replied - Therefore, "You are a King?"
- Jesus answered,
- You have (rightly/correctly) said that I am a King
- I was born for this purpose
- And I came into the world for this purpose
- Purpose: That I may testify to the truth
- Everyone who is from the truth hears my voice
- Pilate responds
- "What is truth?"
- Doesn't wait for answer
- Obviously not honestly seeking the answer
- But rather rejecting the concept
- typical politician cares about expediency over truth
- In the long run, truth is always the most profitable, even if not immediately expedient
- irony that the One standing before him is the One who could say, "I AM the Truth" cf. 14:6
- First Public Rejection by the Jews 18:38b-40
- Pilate went out again to the Jews
- First pronouncement of innocence -
- he said, "I find no reason/accusation/grounds for guilt in Him"
- First attempt to free Jesus
- It is your custom that I release one prisoner to you in the passover
- Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you
- First Public Rejection by the Jews
- They cried out, "Not this one, but Barabbas"
- Barabbas was a theif - John's editorial note
- Irony - Barabbas means "son of the father" they rejected the true Son of God for Barabbas
- Irony - they rejected the Messiah and requested a thief - same word as 10:10
- irony - they rejected life and life abundantly in favor of steal, kill, and destroy
- irony - Judging rejection of Jesus is really judging rejection on self - readers of John's Gospel take note!
- Flogging 19:1-3
- Then Pilate took Jesus and has Him beaten
- doesn't explain the details to people who were familiar
- Sometimes us sheltered people need something like Mel Gibson's movie to help us see the reality of some of these things surrounding the physical punishment of crucifixion
- But don't overplay the physical suffering, because the Spritiual sufffering of being forsaken is the most horrible part of this by far.
- The soldiers mocked Him as a King
- And the soldiers twisted together a crown out of thorns and placed it on His head
- And they put a purple garment around Him
- And they came to Him and said, "Hail, King of the Jews"
- And they hit Him in the face
- Irony - they mocked Him as a pretend King - the One who actually is the King
- Irony - they mocked Him as a conquered King - the One who was conquering by suffering mockery
- irony- they mocked Him as a powerless King- the One who has all power and authority
- Second Public Rejection by the Jews 19:4-7
- Pilate went out again and brought Jesus
- Second pronouncement of innocence
- I am bringing Him out to you
- So that you may know that I find no reason/accusation/grounds for guilt in Him"
- Scourging was often meant to bring about a confession - no go there
- Possibly done to say - this punishment should suffice, or bring sympathy for one who has suffered so much
- Second attempt to free Jesus
- brought Him out with the crown of thorns and the purple garment
- and he said, "Behold the Man"
- Probably preying on sympathy, compassion and even Nationalism
- Second Public Rejection by the Jews
- When the Chief Priests and officers saw Him
- they cried out, "Crucify, Crucify"
- Third attempt to free Jesus
- Pilate said, "You take Him and You crucify Him"
- Third pronouncement of innocence
- for I do not find in Him any reason/accusation/grounds for guilt.
- Third Public rejection by the Jews
- they answered,
- We have a Law and according to the Law He ought to die
- because He made Himself the Son of God
- again they recognize and understand Jesus' claims
- They just reject Jesus' claims
- Second Private Interview with Pilate 19:8-11
- When Pilate heard this, He was even more afraid
- Again went into the Praetorium
- Asked Jesus, "Where do you come from?"
- could be a political question
- likely a superstitious/existential question
- Jesus gave no answer
- Pilate challenged His silence
- You won't give me an answer?
- Don't You know that I have the authority to free you or to crucify You?
- cf. 1:12 on God giving authority to be children of God
- Jesus challenged his idea of authority
- No one has authority over me if it has not been given from above
- cf. 10:18 Jesus has authority to lay down His life and take it up again
- cf. 17:2 Jesus has authority to give eternal life
- cf. 6:37 No one comes to Jesus unless given to him by the Father
- cf. 3:27 A man only has what has been given to him from Heaven
- cf. 3:3 on "from above" = anothen, helps us define "born anothen" as from above
- Because of this, the one who gave me over to you has greater sin
- cf. 15:22-24 "if not seen what I did, would not be as guilty"
- Forth Public Rejection by the Jews 19:12
- Fourth attempt to free Jesus
- From this point Pilate sought to free Him
- Fourth Public Rejection by the Jews
- but they shouted, saying, "If you free this man, you are not a friend of Ceasar"
- Becasue everyone making Himself a King speaks in opposition to Ceasar
- irony and hypocricy of those who hated Ceasar and were longing for the Messiah to overthrow Ceasar
- Notice that Pilate is put in the position to choose between Jesus Whom he knows is innocent and Ceasar
- theme challenge to half belief
- Jesus vs. Ceasar
- Jesus vs. Synagogue
- Jesus vs. adversion to suffering persecution
- Jesus vs. world/flesh/devil
- The Verdict and Final Rejection by the Jews 19:13-15
- Upon hearing these words - they found the key to Pilate
- Pilate led Jesus outside and sat on the judgment seat in the place called the stone pavement
- It was the preparation day of the passover, the sixth hour
- Pilate said, Behold your King - irony/Messiah
- Final Public Rejection by the Jews
- They cried out, Take Him away, Take Him away, Crucify Him
- cf. 1:29 same word for take away the sins of the world
- Pilate said, Should I crucify your King
- more irony - Jesus is more of a King by being crucified - Foolishness of crucifixion is height of God's wisdom according to Paul in I Cor. 1
- ancient saying, "The cross is a throne, He reigns from the tree"
- The chief priests answered , "We have no King but Ceasar
- irony- denying the Messiah
- Digression on Anti-Semitism
- Some claim that John made this up as slanderous to Jews
- For those of us that believe the Bible, it is not fiction but history
- Some take this then as ground for slander and hatred of all Jews
- some reject this because some have taken it as ground for slander and hatred of all Jews
- clarify that this is speaking of a few specific people who were Jewish, not claiming this reaction applies to all Jews
- 2 opposite errors
- one claim that the stereo types apply to no one
- there is usually a reason for stereotype
- There are black/white/Chinese/American/Canadian people who do act like the stereotype, no matter what it is
- two claim that the steriotypes apply to everyone
- cannot be blanketly applied as grounds for rejection
- there are some black/white/Chinese/American/Canadien people who are NOT like that
- Dream that not be judged by color of skin, but by content of character
- Remember that Jesus and all the early disciples were Jewish
- Has nothing to do with Jewish ethnicity, but what do you do with Jesus
- Death and Burial 19:16-42
- The Crucifixion 19:16-22
- Then Pilate gave Him over so that He would be crucified
- again does not dwell on the realitiy of it because already known, but not spoken of in polite company
- They took Jesus
- Carrying His own cross, He went out to the place called place of the Skull, Golgotha in Hebrew
- They crucified Him there
- And with Him two others, on His right and left, Jesus in the middle
- Pilate wrote the title and placed it on the Cross
- It was written, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews"
- irony - He really was King of the Jews and the whole world
- Many read the title
- b/c the place where He was crucified was near the city
- And it was written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek - every ethnic group that was there was covered, cf. mission to the Greeks when He was lifted up
- The chief preists object
- don't write "The King of the Jews"
- but write that, "This One said, 'I am the King of the Jews"
- irony, I AM statements never claimed that, but claimed much more, they rejected
- Pilate rejects them - he said, "What I have written, I have written"
- The Fulfilled Scripture 19:23-24
- The soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his clothes and they divided it into four shares
- each soldier got a share - typical custom, bonus pay for a lousy detail
- but His tunic was seamless from top to bottom
- Therefore, they said to one another, "Let's not tear it, but let's decide by chance (lot/gambling) who will get it
- So that the Scriptures will be fulfilled, which say
- cf. Psa. 22:18
- cf. surrounding context - always read surrounding context of OT quotes
- amazing that this prediction was fulfilled with so much accuracy, but full context shows even greater meaning
- They divided my garments and cast lots for my clothes
- Therefore, the soldiers did these things
- The Provision for His Mother 19:25-27
- There were four women standing near the cross
- Jesus' mother
- Jesus' aunt (His mother's sister)
- Mary the wife of Cleopa
- Mary the Magdalene
- (apparently Maria/Mariam was a popular name that year)
- Jesus saw His mother and the disciple that He loved standing near
- He said to His mother, Woman, behold your son
- He said to the disciple, Behold your mother
- Basically transfering responsibility to take care of His mother to John's household because He was no longer going to be able to do it
- From this day, the disciple took her into his own household
- The Fulfilled Scripture 19:28-29
- After these things, knowing that all things had been fulfilled
- so that the Scripture may be fulfilled
- He said, "I thirst"
- cf. Psa 22:15
- Isa 41:17 forsaken people thirst, but God hears and helps
- cf. ch. 4 & 7 He promises living water and provides by submitting to deprivation of thirst
- promise that we would never thirst because He did
- A jar full of sour wine was there
- Therefore, they filled a sponge with sour wine and lifted it to His mouth
- cf. Psa 69:21 "They gave me vinegar for my thirst
- The Death of Christ 19:30
- When He had received the sour wine
- He said, "It is Finished/completed/fulfilled"
- all the work that the Father had sent Him to do, He completed
- And lowering His head, He gave up His Spirit
- Complete control to the end, no one took it from Him
- The Fulfilled Scripture 19:31-37
- No broken bones and peirced side
- Because it was the day before the Sabbath
- so that the bodies would not remain on the crosses on the Sabbath
- for this Sabbath was a great day
- again irony - scruples about ritual cleanness and social decorum while murdering the Messiah
- They asked that the legs may be broken (thus speeding death) and the bodies be taken down
- The soldiers broke the legs of the two men crucified with Him
- But when they came to Jesus, knowing that He was already dead, did not break His legs
- But one of the soldiers pierced His side with his spear
- And immediately blood and water came out
- John's testimony
- And the one who has seen has testified
- And his testimony is TRUE
- And this one knows that he speaks the TRUTH
- So that you also may believe
- Fulfilled Scripture
- These things happened so that the Scripture may be fulfilled - "Not one of His bones will be broken"
- cf. Exo. 12:46 and Num 9:12 speaking of Passover lamb sacrificed
- cf. Psa 34:20 speaking of God protecting the righteous man
- And again another Scripture says
- They will look upon the one they have peirced
- cf. Zech 12:10 - in context of Jerusalem repenting and coming back to the Lord, and God pouring out His Spirit and cleansing them from sin.
- The Burial of Jesus 19:38-42
- After these things Joseph from Aramathea asked Pilate
- Joseph was a secret disciple of Jesus because of fear of the Jews - halfway disciple
- He asked that he could take the body of Jesus
- with PIlate's permission, he came and took His body
- Nicodemus also came with him - the one who went to Jesus at night earlier in the story
- now it looks like he is a disciple, though still possibly secret, now less secret
- Nicodemus brought a lot of spices - an amount appropriate for a royal burial
- The two of them took Jesus' body and wrapped it in linen and spices as was the custom of Jewish burials - wrapped up tight
- There was a garden/orchard in the place where He was crucified
- And in the garden was a new tomb in which no one had ever been placed
- They placed Jesus there
- because the tomb was near
- and because of the preparation day of the Jews - time was running out before the Sabbath
- The Resurrection and appearances 20:1-29
- Resurrection report - Mary, Peter and John 20:1-10
- The first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came very early, while it was still dark
- symbolism of darkness - she did not yet know that He was risen
- She came to the tomb and saw the stone rolled away from the tomb
- She ran and came to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved
- She said to them, "They took the Lord from the tomb and I do not know where they have put Him.
- Peter and the other disciple went out and went to the tomb
- John brags that he ran faster than Peter and got to the tomb first
- He bent down and saw the strips of linen lying there, but did not go in
- Peter then arrived and went into the tomb and he saw the strips of linen lying there
- And the cloth that was on His head, was not lying with the strips of linen, but was folded up in one place separately
- significance?
- if someone stole the body, they would not have left the linen like this
- if somehow He wasn't dead and came back to consciousness and unwrapped Himself, He would not have left the wrapping like this
- It seems like the body disappeared and the linen dropped down right where it was - resurrection
- Then the other disciple who came to the tomb first saw and BELIEVED
- maybe not full significance - (see next verse)
- but he knew something was going on
- He did not yet know the Scriptures that it was necessary for Him to rise from the dead
- The disciples then went again to their place
- Resurrection appearance to Mary 20:11-18
- But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping
- As she wept, she looked into the tomb
- She saw two angels dressed in white, seated one at the head and one at the feet (where His body was laid)
- These said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?"
- She said, "They have taken my Lord and I do not know where they have put Him"
- notice she is so distraught with mourning that angels do not phase her
- When she said this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus
- Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" - same question, "Who do you seek?" new question
- Thinking that He was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you put Him and I will take Him."
- Jesus said to her, "Mariam" (her name)
- cf. 10:3 His sheep know His voice and He calls them by name
- She turned to Him and said in her native language "My Rabbi", which means teacher/master
- corresponding term to Rabbi is disciple, teacher/learner
- confessing herself to be His disciple
- Jesus said to her, Stop clinging to me, for I have not yet gone back up to the Father
- cf. chs. 14-16 better If I go so that I will send the Paraclete
- Go to my brothers and tell them
- I am going up to my Father and your Father, my God and your God
- for the first time includes them in this designation b/c of the accomplished atonement
- cf. the coming from heaven and going back to heaven b/c accomplished all that He came from Heaven to do
- Mary Magdalene went and told these things to the disciples
- That she had seen the Lord
- and that He had said these things
- Resurrection appearance to the disciples 20:19-23
- It was evening of the first day of the week and the doors were locked where the disciples were because of the fear of the Jews
- Jesus came and stood in their midst and greeted them "peace to you"
- When He said this, He showed them His hands and His side
- Therefore, the disciples rejoiced greatly upon seeing the Lord
- Jesus again said "Peace to you"
- More than just a greeting
- Peace means fullness of prosperity
- Means a lot coming from a guy who was raised from the dead
- He promised that their grief would turn to joy
- He promised to give them a peace that the world could not take away
- He is delivering on His promises, just like He will deliver on every other promise
- Just as the Father sent me, I am sending you
- As He said this, He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit"
- not yet Pentecost, but symbolically pointing forward to Pentecost, just like promised
- The Holy Spirit is the Presence of Jesus, the connection from the Father through Jesus, through the Paraclets, through the disciples to the world
- If you leave/forgive someone their sins, it will be forgiven to them, but if you hold forgiveness back, it is held back
- you is plural, this authority is on the whole church, not individuals
- This action is tied to the presence of the Holy Spirit
- The verbs are in the perfect tense (already completed) meaning that we are ratifying what God has already done
- Any one is plural, therefore refers to groups of people, not just individuals
- this authority is given in the context of the mission of the church - the proclamation of Christ weeds out by peoples's response to Christ
- These from MOrris, Reflections pp. 710-12
- Resurrection appearance to Thomas 20:24-29
- Thomas (called the twin), one of the twelve was not with them when Jesus appeared
- The other disciples testified to him, "We have seen the Lord"
- He said to them
- If I do not see the mark of the nails in His hands
- and put my finger into the nail marks
- and put my hand in His side
- I will certainly not believe (double negative)
- Why is this story here?
- Gospel of John is about beliving via the testimony of the discples to the signs and events
- None of the Gospel readers would have the opportunity to do what Thomas insisted on doing
- Should the readers have this kind of skepticism?
- lets read the rest of the story
- After eight days, the disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them
- Jesus showed up, even though the door was locked and stood in their midst
- He said "peace be with you"
- He said to Thomas -
- put your finger here
- and see my hands
- and put out your hand and place it into my side
- and don't be unbelieving, but believing
- advice not just for Thomas, but for the Gospel readers
- Thomas responds
- My Lord and My God
- goes beyond and confesses Jesus divinity
- Jesus said
- because you have seen me, you believe
- condescended to Thomas' need for proof
- blessed are those who do not see, yet believe
- cf. sign faith is good, but not good enough
- some people need evidence and God is gracious to provide
- God calls us to believe on adequate testimony and sends His Spirit to bear witness and give faith
- God is gracious to those who genuinely are open and seeking the truth
- God will not jump through hoops for the hard hearted who are throwing up roadblocks to belief - Lk. 16 if they don't believe the Law and Prophets, they won't believe even if someone raises from the dead
- Purpose of the Book 20:30-31
- Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples
- Which are not written in this book
- These things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
- and by believing, you will have life in His Name
- Epilogue ch. 21
- Reveals Himself in the miraclulous catch of fish 21:1-14
- The fishing trip
- After these things, Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples again by the sea of Tiberias (Galilee)
- He revealed Himself in this way:
- The disciples were together
- Simon said, "let's go fishing"
- probably not recreation, but they were going back to old way of life
- purposeless even after the resurrection, but that is about to change
- The disciples went with him
- They got in the boat and caught nothing all night
- The miraculous catch
- When it was the break of day, Jesus stood on the shore
- But they did not know that it was Jesus
- He said, do you have any fish? They said "no"
- He said, throw your nets on the right side of the boat and you will find some
- Similar to Lk. 5 at the very beginning of their ministry - their call
- Jesus is bringing them back to square one and reinstating Peter
- Reviewing and reinstating the call to be fishers of men
- They threw the net and were not able to pull it in because of the fullness of fish
- The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord"
- Peter got dresses and jumped in the water (to swim to Jesus)
- The other disciples came with the boat, for they were not far from the shore, dragging the net full of fish
- When they came to shore, they saw a fire and fish and bread
- same meal in ch. 6 reminder of miracle
- Jesus said, bring some of the fish you have just caught
- Simon went up and dragged the net onto the shore
- There was full of a large amount of fish - 153, yet the net did not break
- just like Lk 5
- notice the eyewitness detail
- The meal
- Jesus said, "Come and have breakfast"
- None of the disciples dared to examine/scrutinize Him, saying "Who are You?" because they knew that it was the Lord
- Jesus took the fish and gave it to them and likewise the bread
- This was already the third time Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples after He was risen from the dead
- Recommissions Peter 21:15-19
- Jesus reverses Peter's threefold denial by drawing out a threefold expression of love, followed by a threefold commision to Jesus' mission
- round 1
- When they finished breakfast, Jesus said to Peter
- Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?
- love me more than you love these fish
- love me more than you love these disciples
- love me more than the disciples love me
- all grammatically possible
- Peter replied, Yes, Lord, You know that I love you
- Jesus said, feed my lambs
- cf. ch. 10 good shepherd discourse
- round 2
- Jesus said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
- Peter said, Yes Lord, you know that I love you"
- Jesus said, shepherd my sheep
- round 3
- Jesus said to him a third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me?
- Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, do you love me?
- there is two different words for love being used here
- I vascilate each time I read this whether there is significance to the change
- Very likely, they are used interchangeably, with no significance in the change - John often interchanges with no significance
- possibly, Peter is using a lower sense of love and in this third question Jesus is lowering the question to the level that Peter has been answering
- more likely Peter is grieved because He had to ask 3 times to match the 3 times that Peter denied
- Peter said, Lord, You know all things, You know that I love You
- Jesus said feed by lambs
- Jesus predicts Peter's gaining glory for Christ by his death
- I tell you the truth, when you were younger, you dressed yourself and went where you wanted
- When you are older, you will stretch out your hands, someone else will dress you and bring you where you do not want to go
- perfectly normal prediction that would fit many elderly people who need assistance
- but in light of what actually happened to Peter - double meaning
- Peter was crucified for being an apostle, asked to be crucified upside down because he was not worthy to die in the same way as Christ
- Jesus said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God
- having said this, Jesus told him, "Follow me"
- back to original commission - reinstatement
- Peter and John 21:20-23
- Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following - the one who leaned back on Him and asked, "Who is the one who will betray You?"
- Therefore, Peter, seeing him, asked, "Lord, what about this one?"
- Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me."
- in other words, don't worry about John, follow me
- John clears up a rumor - possibly because he knew he would soon die
- A rumor went out among the brothers that this disciple would not die
- a rumor that was probably strengthened as John survived the torture of being boiled in oil
- John clarifies what was truly said
- Jesus did not say that he will not die, but that If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?
- Postscript - verifying testimony 21:24
- This one (John- the beloved disciple) is the disciple who is testifying concerning these things
- And the one writing these things
- And we know that his testimony is true
- Postscript - unfinished witness 21:25
- There are also many other things which Jesus did
- Which if every one were written
- I suppose the world itself could not contain the books being written