Bible Study Notes – Gospel of John 3:22-36

We continue our study of the Gospel of John, “Encountering Jesus.”  The great apostle of love writes this gospel to share the human side of Almighty God whom Jesus personifies during His earthly journey.  In Jesus, we glimpse the essence of God’s unconditional love.  Jesus declares the “Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us.”  In Jesus, God identifies directly with our daily challenges.  As we study John, we will focus upon Jesus’ teachings and the life changing encounters of the people who meet him.

In this passage, John the Baptist prepares to exit the stage of ministry and life as he completes his mission and purpose.  Arguably, he is one of the most highly evolved and self-accepting persons in human history.  The son of two children of priest and a priest, John the Baptist knows beyond a shadow of a doubt what his role is.  Although gifted with many talents and formidable self-determination, John exemplifies incredible and inimitable humility as he ends his public ministry and unconditionally refers his followers to Jesus.  As Jesus appears, John utters these immortal and enduringly challenging words, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” 

Those words of John 3:30 offer a mission and purpose statement for disciples.  As we mature spiritually and develop personally, we seek the mind, heart and character of Christ rather than our selfish ambitions an ulterior motives.  Practically speaking, we become Christ’s servants in the world.  We share His love in accordance with Isaiah 61:1-3, Luke 4:18, Matthew 25 and James 1:26-27 and 2:14-26.  We are His instruments of love, messengers of grace and channels of peace.

Living faithfully as a disciple is as individual and unique as our personalities.  Accordingly, each of us needs a mission and purpose statement.  This passage and John’s example offers us a few insights on how to construct a mission and purpose statement.

Consider the following ideas and questions as you study the passage.

• A dispute arises between John’s followers and Jesus’ disciples over the rising numbers of baptisms that Jesus is doing in comparison to John.
• John utilizes this conflict to reiterate his mission and purpose about which he is steadfastly clear notwithstanding the myriad temptations to expand his influence or usurp Christ’s role.
• John teaches us the importance of specificity in crafting a personal mission and purpose statement.  Like heads and tails on a coin, John clarifies who he is and definitively states who he is not.
• In the twenty-seventh verse, John suggests a mission and purpose statement originates fundamentally from God.  “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.”  As a consequence, disciples will receive a revelation of their mission and purpose within an interdependent relationship with God.  I hasten to add this revelation need not parallel the special effects of a Hollywood blockbuster movie.  In many instances, a person’s passion, hobbies, and gifts offer vital clues.  Ideally, disciples discover their mission and purpose and choose them as the practical means of earning a living.
• In the next verse, John repeats for his followers “You yourselves bear me witness that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him.’”  Again, note the clarity and economy of the statement.
• Residually, a specific mission and purpose statement becomes a prism through which we evaluate invitations to participate in good causes.  There are many worthwhile projects we can support and undertake.  However, if they are not consistent with our mission and purpose, then we can refuse as we know Almighty God will orchestrate the selection of someone else for which this task coheres with his or her passion.  Consequently, we do not feel any guilt because we realize we cannot be all things to all people.  We can, however, doggedly pursue our passion, mission and purpose to the honor and glory of Almighty God.
• In the twenty-ninth verse, John employs wedding imagery to illustrate his joy at Christ’s arrival.  He accepts unreservedly the end of his mission as the forerunner.  He describes an indefinable joy.
• Moreover, John forthrightly and unequivocally determines he will subordinate his ministry to the rising popularity and purpose of Christ.
• John returns to the ever-present, prevalent and significant theme of Jesus’ heavenly and divine origins which undergird His earthly ministry.
• John the Baptist’s teachings about Christ’s pre-incarnate deity furthers John the evangelist theological agenda of demanding disciples believe without question that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came in the flesh.
• Acceptance of Jesus is necessary to acceptance of God and certification by God in faith.  In the secular political world, a candidate has not won an election until the Secretary of State within any state certifies the actual votes.  Likewise, authentic Christian faith necessitates a certified belief in the physical appearance of Jesus and bodily resurrection.
• John the Baptist offers a closing argument about eternal life which only Jesus Christ offers.
• Summarily, a mission and purpose statement possesses clarity, specificity, a divine and eternal objective, emerges from passion and pain and glorifies Almighty God in service to humankind.

Bible Study Notes - John 2:13-25 and 3:1-21

We continue our study of the Gospel of John, “Encountering Jesus.”  The great apostle of love writes this gospel to share the human side of Almighty God whom Jesus personifies during His earthly journey.  In Jesus, we glimpse the essence of God’s unconditional love.  Jesus declares the “Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us.”  In Jesus, God identifies directly with our daily challenges.  As we study John, we will focus upon Jesus’ teachings and the life changing encounters of the people who meet him.

Was Jesus an effeminate wimp who passively took verbal and physical abuse and looked the other way when confronted with social, economic and political injustice?  The first passage, “Jesus Cleanses the Temple Courts,” contradicts the prevalent idea that Jesus was indifferent to the pain and suffering of the masses.  As it relates to his high tolerance for verbal abuse by the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes and other religious leaders, Matthew 23 paints a picture of fierce righteous indignation in which Jesus frankly condemns their hypocrisy.  In Matthew 9:35-38, Jesus has compassion for the masses by healing, teaching and preaching.  He further instructs His disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send workers amongst the masses to encourage and empower them.  In this passage in John, Jesus forthrightly attacks the entrenched exploitation, subjugation and oppression of the masses by the priesthood and Temple cult.  At the time of Passover, Jesus goes to Jerusalem and visits the Temple like a good observant Jew.  He finds currency exchange operations of the various types of money throughout the Roman Empire.  Poor people are made to exchange their currency in order to purchase animals to make required sacrifices.  These exchanges are done at high interest rates. 

Additionally, priests and designees reject the sacrificial offerings that many pilgrims brought with them.  Thereby, they force particularly poor people to exchange currency and buy Temple approved animals at tremendous profit margins.  William Barclay, longstanding venerated Bible scholar and author of the New Testament Daily Study Bible commentaries, posits more than a quarter of a million (250,000) lambs were sacrificed each Passover in Jerusalem.  In addition, sparrows, doves and other birds and animals were acceptable depending upon income level.  Essentially, Jesus discovers a multi-billion dollar industry of sales and currency exchange in the Name of Almighty God.  This racketeering greatly offends Jesus.  He opposes it with force.

The second passage, “Jesus Teaches Nicodemus,” is a very familiar text which contains the epitomized gospel message, John 3:16-17.  A member of the Sanhedrin who marvels at Jesus’ miraculous powers, healing record, effective teaching and rhetorical flourish in preaching, Nicodemus comes in the stealth of darkness to inquire about the source of Jesus’ ministry.  Practically speaking, Nicodemus asks two straightforward questions.  “Are you legitimate?”  “How are you able to do what you?”  These questions are a plea from a jaded Pharisee who must recognize God’s approval of Jesus’ ministry but wrestles with everything he has been taught to the contrary.  Nicodemus’ questions, bewilderment and doubt represents the predicament of the average reader of the gospel.  Perhaps, he personifies your doubts about Jesus.  As we study this passage, let’s dissect this critical conversation and glean some foundational and enduring assurances as strengthen our relationships with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Consider the following questions and ideas as you reflect upon the passages.

Jesus Clears the Temple Courts – John 2:13-25

• At the time of the Passover in Jerusalem, Jesus enters the holy city to begin his passion and fulfill His destiny as the Lord and Savior of the world. 
• He finds people in the Temple selling livestock and birds and exchanging currency from the outermost parts of the Roman Empire.
• He constructs a whip out cords and drives out the moneychangers, overturns their tables and releases the livestock.
• Note the physicality of the previous verses.
• Does Jesus engage in an unprovoked act of violence?
• Biblical scholar, E. P. Sanders in his book, Jesus and Judaism, argues forcefully this scene in the temple is the major catalyst of the crucifixion. 
• Let’s analyze the social, economic, political and religious dimensions of the Temple scene.
• Jesus protests the marketplace which the Temple had become with the full sanction of the priesthood who benefited greatly from this scandal.
• The religious leaders then ask Jesus for a sign to prove his authority.
• The nineteenth verse will be used later to support the truncated charges that Jesus is a insurrectionist.  Again, Sanders argues these temple sayings along with the economic and political threats culminate in the crucifixion.
• After the destruction of Solomon’s Temple in 587 BCE, the Jews would not tolerate lightly any indictment of the Temple.
• They manipulate the temple sayings and actions to gain the support of the disinterested Roman governmental officials in executing Jesus of Nazareth.
• Let’s return to our consideration of Jesus’ potentially violent act.  How do we reconcile this story with the prevalent idea that Christians are inherently non-violent? 
• Let’s discuss civil disobedience, just war, hunger strikes, self-defense and other forms of protest.
• Plato says “Evil triumphs because good men do nothing.”
• Let’s consider the Church in Nazi Germany, slavery in the American South, segregation, Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, and apartheid in South Africa.
• The twentieth verse demonstrates the Jews ignorance of the temple to which Jesus refers which is his body which He offers as a sacrifice for the sins of humankind.  Disciples, after the resurrection, realize His message.
• Crowds hear Jesus’ message during this Passover.  They flock to Him at the chagrin of the Sanhedrin.
• Jesus, possessing omniscient powers, knows how fickle the crowd will become later in the week.  His does not allow their emotionalism to seduce him into abandoning His purpose.
• John concludes this passage by saying Jesus knows everyone.  His knowledge of the human heart enables Him to love unconditionally.  As a consequence, people who encounter Him find healing and wholeness because of His love. 

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus – John 3:1-21

• Nicodemus is a Pharisee who is a member of the Sanhedrin.  The Pharisees believe in resurrection; the Sadducees do not.
• Note the duality of light and darkness in this passage.  Nicodemus approaches Jesus at night as he receives instruction about how to live in the light of God’s love and presence.
• Nicodemus asserts Jesus enjoys God’s approval otherwise he could not perform the miracles he does.
• As a highly educated religious leader, Nicodemus has difficulty understanding how Jesus performs countless miracles, preaches to masses and teaches with authority without any formal training; particularly in light of Jesus’ humble origins from Nazareth.
• Jesus replies that a person must be born again in order to see the kingdom of God.
• What does it mean to be born again?
• Nicodemus responds incredulously, “How can this be?  Surely, someone cannot enter the womb a second time.”
• Jesus explains birth of water (baptism) and Spirit (impartation of the Holy Spirit with increasing acquisition and development of the fruit of the Spirit) is necessary to enter the kingdom of God.
• Then, Jesus distinguishes natural birth from spiritual birth.  The latter is a supernatural and mysterious process that human words cannot define.
• The wind which is invisible to the human eye but acts with tremendous force specifically in a hurricane or tornado symbolizes the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.
• Nicodemus remains perplexed.  “How can this be?”  In essence, he says “None of this makes sense.”  Given our rapidly scientific and technologically advancing world, we can relate to Nicodemus’ bewilderment and questions.  We regrettably limit “truth” and “Truth” to the scientific method or some social science version of it.
• Jesus equally replies in amazement at Nicodemus’ doubts.  He tells Nicodemus that allegiance to his presuppositions about faith, religion and spirituality inhibit his ability to understand divine mysteries.  Jesus informs Nicodemus his unwillingness to consider spiritual reality as legitimate and intellectually respectable inhibits his comprehension of them.  Notice Nicodemus’ dismissal of Jesus’ testimony about God.  Jesus chastises Nicodemus for this indifference.  If he cannot believe earthly matters, how will he be able to comprehend eternal ones?
• In John 3:13-15, Jesus foreshadows his crucifixion and resurrection with a reference to the healing serpent episode during Israel’s wilderness wandering years.  The people’s complaints and sins yielded the Lord’s wrath.  I plague of scorpions were sent to punish the evildoers.  To reverse the deadly effects of the stings, Moses lifted up a serpent on a cross.  Everyone who looked upon the serpent, repented and believed was healed.  Likewise, anyone who looks upon the risen Lord and Savior and genuinely believes will be healed of the plague of death and given eternal life.
• John 3:16 states God’s primary purpose in sending His Son.  The gift of Jesus’ life, broken body and shed blood is establishment of a new and eternal covenant for everyone who believes.  Anyone who believes will not perish but have eternal life.  Practically speaking, believers will not die.  They transition from an earthly existence to an eternal.  In the words of the apostle Paul, death transliterates eternal beings from captivity to human limitations to their eternal essence.
• Did God really mean this covenantal promise extends to everyone who believes? What about Jeffrey Dahlmer, Carla Faye Tucker, Maury Davis and other murderers who have become disciples of the Lord?
• Often, disciples quote John 3:16 without mentioning the next verse.  In so doing, they inadvertently emphasize the contrast between heaven and hell.  We evangelize by telling people they have a distinct choice between these two eternal destinations.
• John 3:17 affirms “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through Him.”  This verse asserts God’s eternal purpose of unfailing love for humankind.  Moreover, Christ comes and offers wholeness to anyone who believes.
• In the eighteenth verse, the evangelist offers two responses to God’s incredible and invaluable gift in Christ.  Those people who believe inherit eternal life.  Those persons who do not believe stand condemned already due to their lack of faith.  It is God’s perfect intention for them to know His unfailing love and actualize the unique life He offers in Christ.  Their lack of faith is a rejection of this divine love and gift.  Its practical consequence is condemnation to life’s circumstances on earth and complete, irreversible separation from Almighty God in eternity.  As each person makes this choice and determines his or her eternal destiny, there is no need to threaten someone with the possibility of going to hell.
• Using legal language, John proclaims a most regrettable verdict.  Humankind prefers its self-centered fear and self-seeking life in comparison to the light of God’s love in Christ.  People prefer evil to Christ’s love and goodness.  They fear Him as relating to Him exposed their evil deeds which they love.
• Yet, if they forsake this evil by establishing a relationship with Jesus, we become instruments of God’s love, messengers of His grace, and channels of His peace.  Essentially, we offer our lives to God for His perfect purpose and will.  The love and service we give is a sign of God’s power in us.
• The twenty-first verse resembles the command in the Sermon on the Mount to be perfect as God is perfect.  We let our lights shine so people can see our good works and glorify Almighty God.

Bible Study Notes – Gospel of John 1:43-50 and 2:1-12

We continue our study of the Gospel of John, “Encountering Jesus.”  The great apostle of love writes this gospel to share the human side of Almighty God whom Jesus personifies during His earthly journey.  In Jesus, we glimpse the essence of God’s unconditional love.  Jesus declares the “Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us.”  In Jesus, God identifies directly with our daily challenges.  As we study John, we will focus upon Jesus’ teachings and the life changing encounters of the people who meet him.

Consider the following ideas and questions as you study the passage:

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael – John 1:43-50

• Jesus leaves Galilee and finds Philip. Jesus’ call to Philip is very direct, simple and straightforward.  “Follow me.”
• “Fellow me” actually means be my disciple which practically means spend your life learning my teachings and modeling your life after my example.
• The forty-fourth verse discloses the close familial and geographical relationships amongst the disciples.  Peter, Andrew and Philip were from the town of Bethsaida. 
• Philip then finds Nathanael and declares we have found the Messiah, the One about whom Moses wrote in the Law and the prophets.  For thousands of years, these people expected a Messiah in the form of King David.  For generations, these people had ulterior motives about the coming of the Messiah, his identity and mission and purpose. 
• The miraculous powers of Jesus potentially foreshadow divine sanction of a forthcoming monumental military conflict with Rome.  Certainly, Jesus is the ideal person to lead this conflict as he will invoke his miraculous powers if the Roman army proves too difficult.  Finally, Israel will overthrow her Gentile oppressors and regain the glorious days of David and Solomon.  Consider Acts 1:6-11.
• Philip specifically identifies “Jesus of Nazareth – the son of Joseph.”  Nathanael rebuffs Philip’s declaration as he reasons nothing or no one worthwhile originates in Nazareth.
• Many disciples can relate to Nathanael’s question as they were told that even Almighty God could not do anything meaningful with someone who hails from their humble origins.  Consider the lives of Bill Clinton, Ben Carson, Quincy Jones, Abraham Lincoln, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, John H. Johnson, and Mary McLeod Bethune.
• Philip simply replies, “Come and see.”  As we introduce people to Jesus, we first tell our personal story of encountering Him and how transformative it is to know Him.  Then, we encourage people to establish their own personal relationship with Jesus.
• Upon encountering Nathanael, Jesus characterizes him as a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit.  Being in the presence of Jesus who personifies divine light and holiness starkly reveals the darkness of a person’s character.  His brilliancy of character forces a person to change.
• Nathanael desires to know how Jesus knows him.  Jesus observes Nathanael from a distance thereby symbolizing His willingness to see the potential within us rather than the defects of our character.
• Nathanael responds with a confession of faith.  “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”  Each disciple makes a similar confession of faith.  Interestingly, Nathanael uses the title for Teacher first.
• Jesus encourages Nathanael to resist the temptation of basing his belief on a miracle.  Its memory will fade in time.  Then, it is easy to question its authenticity.  Doubts arise.  Cynicism emerges.  Faith decreases.  Instead, disciples are to be open to greater works of God and relying genuinely upon the Word of God.

Jesus Changes Water into Wine – John 2:1-12

• John records a story in which Jesus attends a local wedding in his home region of Galilee in a village or area called Cana.  Chances are He knew the bride and groom and their families.  Since his mother was in attendance, Jesus’ family probably knew these two families.  Additionally, the disciples were all in attendance.  As they hail from the same place, the disciples knew these families too.  This wedding of an unnamed bride and groom was a gathering of extended families and friends.
• When the wine runs out, Jesus’ mother approaches Him to perform a miracle.  This brief conversation equates with a prayer request.  The lack of wine symbolizes a deep human need.  Mary appeals to a power greater than any human being.  She does so with complete expectation of divine grace and benevolence.  You will recall Mary treasures in her heart all of the possibilities for Jesus’ life and ministry (Luke 2:19).
• Jesus’ question to Mary alludes to divine timing in answering prayer.  God operates in kairos, the perfect eternal present in which He mysteriously and majestically orchestrates daily minutia to fulfill His sovereign purposes.  For us, often God appears to delay or forget because He does not work quickly within chronos, the period of human history and present. 
• “My time has not yet come” also means Jesus’ earthly ministry has not been inaugurated officially in accordance with the Father’s grand plan of salvation.
• In response to Jesus’ inquiry, Mary instructs the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them.  Her practical direction teaches us the importance of acting upon divine revelations that emerge in prayer and meditation.
• There are six jars sitting adjacent to Jesus.  Six symbolizes human work.  In this miracle, John uses these symbols to demonstrate the limitations of human effort.  The host and hostess offer the best wine and wedding reception of which they are capable financially.  Yet, the wine runs out.  As a consequence, they need divine help. 
• Note also that the jars resembled the kinds used for ceremonial washing.  Again, this represents the fallacy of human attempts to achieve righteous in the presence of Almighty God.
• Nonetheless, Jesus tells the servants to fill the jars with water.  They do so by filling them to the brim.  They are then told to take some of it out and share it with the master of the banquet.  Flabbergasted, he asks why the best wine was saved for the end of the banquet instead of the beginning.  Ordinarily, the host serves the best wine at first and the worst wine at the end.  Then, the guests are so drunk that they cannot tell the difference.
• This exchange reveals Jesus’ power to satisfy any human thirst.  The wine of the gospel exceeds the water of the Law.
• The miracle of turning water into wine was the first sign in which Jesus displays His glory to His disciples.
• Again, this miracle demonstrates the enduring power of the gospel and Almighty God’s covenantal love with humankind.  Anyone who drinks water will be thirsty again.  Despite the vast oceans of the water, it appears we have a limited supply of clean water for drinking.  As water is essential to life, this limited supply threatens the lives of millions of people each day.  The people of biblical times lived with similar daily challenges. 
• John uses this natural image to demonstrate the limited value of worldly philosophy and offerings.
• Psalm 100 offers the divine assurance that God’s faithfulness and truth extends to all generations.  His covenant with Abraham which Genesis 12 records extends to any believers in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:29).  John uses wine imagery to remind his readers of God’s enduring covenant with humankind.  This eternal promise greatly exceeds any human promise.
• Additionally, John uses the scene of this wedding to foreshadow the wedding between Christ and the Church to which all disciples are invited as a consequence of their genuine faith in Him.

Bible Study Notes – Gospel of John 1:19-42

We continue our study of the Gospel of John, “Encountering Jesus.”  The great apostle of love writes this gospel to share the human side of Almighty God whom Jesus personifies during His earthly journey.  In Jesus, we glimpse the essence of God’s unconditional love.  Jesus declares the “Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us.”  In Jesus, God identifies directly with our daily challenges.  As we study John, we will focus upon Jesus’ teachings and the life changing encounters of the people who meet him.

In this passage, John identifies Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  The religious leaders from Jerusalem send a delegation to the countryside to ascertain the rising population of John the Baptist.  They interrogate him to determine the impulse behind the increasing crowd.  They ask John to explain his appeal and authority.  As an Essene adherent, John preaches about purification and offers a baptism of cleansing and repentance.  However, with the arrival of Jesus, John freely and unequivocally announces the completion of John’s purpose.  Jesus’ baptism eliminates any further need for ritualistic cleansing.  His sinless life will atone for the totality of human sin, past, present and future.

Consider the following ideas and questions as you study the passage.

·         The evangelist puts John the Baptist on center stage.  A group of priests and Levites leave Jerusalem’s urban setting and journey to the Judean countryside to find out who John the Baptist is.  Ironically, these learned religious leaders from a booming metropolis travel to a rural area to ask an uneducated spiritual leader how to interpret Old Testament prophecy.

·         Specifically, they ask him of he is the Christ, Elijah or the Prophet.  Although endowed with a most formidable ego, John humbly acknowledges he is not any of these persons.  

·         Rather, John clearly identifies himself as the forerunner of the Messiah in accordance with Isaiah’s prophecy.

·         Then, the Pharisees who had the equivalent of a contemporary law degree or earned doctorate question John’s baptisms if he is not the Christ.

·         John responds with contrasting the worth of his baptism with the forthcoming work of Jesus Christ.  John’s baptism enables adherents to maintain right relationship with God through ritualistic cleansing and observance.  Repetition is necessary. 

·         In contrast, Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit who will bestow the internal power (mental, emotional and spiritual) to cultivate the willingness and choices to remain in right relationship with our Lord.  The repetition of religious rites and practice of rituals are no longer the sole basis for developing a relationship with God.

·         Parenthetically, I hasten to add observing Holy Communion can digress to personal religiosity and self-righteousness if disciples fail to see its observance as a means of developing a greater relationship with our Lord instead of outwardly demonstrating Christian attributes.

·         John utilizes a very graphic image to contrast his role in the eternal plan of salvation.  His subordinate role does not even yield the right to stoop to the ground and untie Christ’s sandals.

·         Essentially, John tells the Pharisees that Messiah has come in the Person of Jesus Christ.  He, John, straightforwardly fulfills his eternal purpose in making this declaration.

·         The next day, John encounters Jesus whom John declares is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

·         Jesus is the great Passover Lamb whose pure blood atones for the sin of humankind and eliminates the possibility of death.

·         In the next few verses, John verifies God revelation of Himself in Christ. He details God’s sanction on Christ as the Spirit descends upon Him with the sign of a dove.

·         In the thirty-fourth verse, John testifies straightforwardly “And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

·         On the next day, John and two of his disciples observe Jesus walking.  Again, John proclaims “Behold the Lamb of God!”  In response to John the Baptist’s characterization of Jesus, these two disciples of his leave and begin following Jesus.

·         The evangelist utilizes this scene to depict vividly John’s role as the forerunner for Jesus.

·         This transfer of authority, power and allegiance clearly demonstrates John firmly understands his role.  In no wise does he ever attempt to usurp Christ’s role or expand John’s own role.  He adheres steadfastly to the mission and purpose for which John is born.

·         The two followers who leave John the Baptist and begin following Jesus must answer a question which Jesus poses to them.  “What do you seek?”

·         Interestingly, anyone who comes to the Lord Jesus must answer this question!  People who backslide from the Christian faith inevitably came to the Lord with ulterior motives.  Disciples who persevere in the personal process of developing genuine spirituality face continually the challenge of seeking the will of God and desiring relationship with Christ for their intrinsic worth.

·         Incredibly, one of the two of John the Baptist’s followers who became a disciple of Jesus is Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter.  Both of them become one of the eleven original apostles of the Christian faith.

·         In fulfilling his role as the forerunner, John the Baptist actually prepares two of the original apostles of the Christian faith.  I marvel at John’s ability to remain focused and yield center stage in accordance with God’s perfect plan.

·         This passage concludes with Andrew witnessing to his brother.  Andrew’s example shows us the importance of fulfilling “The Great Commission.”

Bible Study Notes – Gospel of John 1:1-18

We begin a study of the Gospel of John, “Encountering Jesus.”  The great apostle of love writes this gospel to share the human side of Almighty God whom Jesus personifies during His earthly journey.  In Jesus, we glimpse the essence of God’s unconditional love.  Jesus declares the “Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us.”  In Jesus, God identifies directly with our daily challenges.  As we study John, we will focus upon Jesus’ teachings and the life changing encounters of the people who meet him.

The gospel of John divides into two halves: The Book of Signs (chapters one to twelve) and The Book of Glory (chapters thirteen to twenty-one).  In the first half, John renders a portrait of Almighty God in the Person of Jesus Christ in which He utilizes miracles, signs and wonders to empathize directly with human suffering and limitations.  Jesus performs seven supernatural acts to demonstrate God’s unfailing love for humankind.  Each miracle shows God’s abilities to overcome daily adversities.  At the wedding at Cana, Jesus turns water into wine; thereby demonstrating human thirst of the soul can only be satisfied with the Word of God.  Second, Jesus heals a Roman official’s son.  In this miracle, Jesus shows his followers that God’s love and power extends to everyone who genuinely believes.  Third, he heals a lame man at the pool of Siloam who lives in that condition for thirty-eight years.  In so doing, he shows only God can heal deep, longstanding and pervasive human brokenness.  Fourth, he feeds five thousand hungry men not counting women and children.  In response, Jesus teaches his disciples that physical hunger lingers throughout a person’s natural life but spiritual hunger which is far greater will only be satisfied by a relationship with Almighty God. 

Next, Jesus walks on water to demonstrate God’s infinite abilities which transcend natural laws of which God is the Author.  Within His sovereign prerogative, He suspends natural law to accomplish His purposes and even glorify Himself.  Sixth, Jesus heals a man born blind who is forty years of age.  This healing reflects the spiritual and existential blindness of average people although they have physical sight.  The religious leaders could not see the grace and love of God in this miracle.  Their allegiance to tradition, theology and Law blind them from seeing God’s love and mercy.  Lazarus’ resurrection from the dead is the seventh and final sign.  It is the supreme miracle!  In Christ, Almighty God conquers death and permanently relieves humankind of our greatest fear.  These seven miracles redress human thirst, brokenness, hunger, natural challenges, blindness and death.  Actually, the children of Israel face similar adversities during their four decades wandering in the wilderness.  As the Word becomes flesh and dwells amongst us, Jesus demonstrates God’s to journey with us during our earthly pilgrimage.  John paints a portrait of a loving Father and Son who walks beside us.

The Book of Glory contains Jesus’ main teachings before His arrival in Jerusalem enroute to the Cross of Calvary in which He suffers His passion as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the whole world.”  In the thirteenth chapter, Jesus teaches the disciple about servant leadership as he washes their feet in the midst of the Passover meal.  He also deals with betrayal and denial as he foreshadows God’s faithful forgiveness of all sin.  Jesus teaches about the Holy Spirit in the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth chapters; as he prepares the disciples for his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension to heaven.  He tells them He must leave in order for the Holy Spirit to come but the Spirit will be their Comforter, Counselor and Friend.  Further, He will lead and guide them into all truth and remind them of Jesus’ teachings.  More specifically, in the fifteenth verse, Jesus instructs the disciples to remain connected to the “True Vine” because apart from Him they cannot accomplish anything. 

The great and tremendous “High Priestly Prayer” is the seventeenth chapter.  On the night of His betrayal and denial, Jesus spends an extensive period of time in prayer seeking divine empowerment to fulfill His destiny.  Remarkably, in this prayer, Jesus prays even for twenty-first century Christians!  After his arrest, Jesus undergoes religious trial in which the Sanhedrin convict Him of blasphemy and a secular trial in which the Roman governmental authorities convict Him of insurrection in trumped up charges.  The nineteenth chapter records Jesus’ crucifixion as his disciples completely desert Him; the fickle crowds who received countless free healings give their assent; and his women followers watch in total powerless silence.  Mary Magdalene symbolizes each disciple, past, present and future, who encounters our resurrected Lord and Savior; in the twentieth chapter, John offers his account of the resurrection.  He wants the reader to know a similar fate awaits him or her if he or she believes unconditionally.  Finally, John concludes his gospel with an unfailingly loving account of Peter’s restoration.  Again, each disciple has the assurance of a similar restoration after genuine repentance.  Summarily, the Book of Glory depicts a grand canvass in which God fulfills His covenant with humankind in the Person of Jesus Christ.  Accordingly, anyone who believes on His Name enjoys abundant life on earth and shares in Christ’s glorification in eternity.

This week’s passage, The Prologue, offers an introduction to the Gospel of John in which the apostle depicts Jesus as fully God and completely human.  The opening eighteen verses illustrate Jesus’ divine origins although the Gospel reveals His empathy with human pain and suffering.  John reveals Jesus as the Word of God who participates in creation.  Actually, He creates everything as nothing is made without Him.  For disciples, this means the Father always intended salvation, healing and wholeness for each of us.  He further intended to send Jesus, though the infidelity and disobedience of our father Adam temporarily thwarted the His desire for blissful communion with humankind, to perfect the plan of creation through the gift of His life as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the whole world.”

Consider the following ideas and questions as you study the passage.

• John 1:1 parallels Genesis 1:1.  The apostle of love assures his readers and followers that Jesus is God.  He is with the Father from the beginning.  Actually, Jesus is the architect of creation and the universe.  As a person encounters Jesus, he or she receives a gracious opportunity to recreate himself or herself into Christ’s character.
• John emphasizes, in the third verse, nothing is made without Jesus.  Anyone who encounters Jesus has access to the same creative power that yields an infinite universe.
• The fourth verse of this passage resembles Colossians 1:15-20.  The fullness of the godhead dwells in Jesus in bodily form.  In the paradox of the Incarnation, Jesus perfectly personifies divine love, holiness, mercy and grace.  As the teaching of the Law and the preaching of the Prophets proved insufficient to motivate humankind to give fidelity and obedience to Almighty God, He sends Jesus into the world to demonstrate His love.  Jesus is the light of God which refuses to be extinguished by the sin of humankind.
• John essentially summarizes the prophecy of Isaiah in the next three verses.  John the Baptist is the forerunner of whom Isaiah speaks when he proclaims a voice will cry out in the wilderness.  “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight His paths.”  In a sense, John the Baptist is the last prophet as he heralds the coming of Christ and the new “Law of Divine Love.”
• It is significant that John clarifies the role of John the Baptist who is not the Messiah but the one who announces His coming.  Later in the gospel, John the Baptist says “I must decrease so that He may increase.”  John the Baptist is one of the most self-actualized people in human history.  He knows his purpose and mission and he unconditionally accepts himself. 
• Liberation theologians take particular interest in the next couple of verses.  The true light of divine love, truth and justice manifests itself in the world through the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.  However, the world does not recognize the most supreme revelation of God in human history.  Arguably, the world did not recognize Jesus because He comes to earth as an illiterate, uneducated carpenter born into a very poor family in a village that people disdain.  For thousands of years, the Israelite people expect a Messiah in the image of King David who would restore Israel to her former military and political glory.  Understandably, they would not receive a carpenter as their Messiah.  However, liberationist theologians posit Jesus’ incarnation proves God’s preferential treatment for the poor and insistence upon justice and equality in all segments of society to enable the poor to actualize their inheritance as children of God.
• More regrettably, Jesus’ own people did not receive Him.  They become the human instruments through which His unjust crucifixion occurs.  You can imagine the disillusionment of Jesus as He considers this hard reality.  His own people whom He came to save reject Him!  In one gospel account, Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem because of their rejection of the Law, Prophets and Him.
• Human history is replete with visionaries who are rejected and betrayed by their own racial and ethnic brothers and sisters: Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, The Black Panther Party, Denmark Vesey, Gabriel Prosser, Michael Collins, Che Guevara, Oscar Romero, etc.
• John 1:12 offers abundant and eternal life to anyone who believes.  “Yet to all who receive Him, who believe on His Name; He gives the right to become the children of God.”  Genuine faith in Jesus Christ affords the benefits of God’s covenant with humankind to anyone regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, language, or origin.  Jesus initiates a new covenant which includes anyone who believes.  Each celebration of Holy Communion reminds recipients of God’s mysterious gifts of this new and everlasting covenant. 
• As he concludes his book, the author of Hebrews issues a benediction in which he prays his readers will receive bountiful blessings from the God of peace who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep.  From creation, God in His infinite foreknowledge designs a plan of salvation utilizing Christ’s blood as the seal of an everlasting covenant.
• Inheritance as a child of God is not a matter of human biology but a matter of faith in God’s redemptive plan accomplished by Jesus Christ.  God graciously gives abundant and eternal life to any person who has faith.  God gives rebirth to any disciple who asks.
• Moreover, God manifests Himself in flesh to join our earthly and human journey.  “The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us.”  Literally, Christ pitches a tent with us during the wilderness of life.  John’s writing conjures the imagery of Israel’s wilderness wandering years between liberation from Egypt and entrance into the Promised Land.  In Christ, Almighty God identifies meticulously and directly with the daily challenges of human existence.  Christ is Emmanuel, God with us.
• The evangelist utilizes the fifteenth verse to remind his readers of John the Baptist’s pivotal role as the forerunner of the Lord.  John the Baptist alludes to the pre-existence of Christ who from the beginning of time, as the architect of creation, would fulfill the divine plan of salvation.  As Christ exists before John’s conception, Jesus is preeminent.  With enviable humility, John the Baptist fulfills his purpose of announcing the arrival of Jesus in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
• From the fullness of Christ, each disciple receives God’s infinite grace.
• Indeed, God gave His Law through Moses to reveal His divine character and perfect holiness.  Yet, humankind remains incapable of adhering to the Law.  The burden of nearly 7000 commands overwhelms the average person who earnestly seeks a closer relationship with God.  However genuine a one’s desire to obey, one will violate inevitably one or more of these laws; thereby impeding one’s heartfelt intent of developing a greater relationship with God.
• Through Jesus Christ, God bestows grace and truth upon humankind.  The gospel through grace accomplishes the restoration between God and humankind that the Law is unable to do.  Moreover, Jesus personally reveals God’s unfailing love, unmerited favor and enduring truth to all generations.
• The evangelist concludes this incredible Prologue to the Gospel with a summary statement of the eternal nature of Jesus Christ who is the One and Only Begotten Son who has seen God and more significantly submits to human existence to reveal God’s character and love.

Bible Study Notes – 3 John

Having completed our study of 1 John and 2 John, it is appropriate to complete our study of John’s epistles.  Again, the beloved disciple who leads the “beloved community” in his old age utilizes these letters to reaffirm the foundational teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  John addresses the third letter to a very close friend and brother in the Lord, Gaius.  Commentators debate whether he is the same person mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament.    Tradition and scholarly consensus holds Gaius is a personal friend of the beloved disciple and distinct from any other references and usages of this name. 

John wishes the very best for his brother in the Lord.  The magnanimity of his prayer on Gaius’ behalf reveals the importance of their friendship and fellowship.  This prayer for prosperity remains a very controversial verse in modern Christian preaching and teaching.  For adherents to the “Word of Faith Movement,” this verse symbolizes the chief cornerstone in a building.  The question remains, “What did John mean when writing this verse and what did his followers hear?”  Then, John discusses hospitality, betrayal even within the Church and integrity. 

Although a personal letter to a beloved brother in the Lord and friend, John’s third epistle could equally be addresses to any modern day disciple.  Let’s apply this technique as we uncover the riches embedded in this letter.

Consider the following ideas and questions as you study the passage.

• As the last surviving disciple of the original twelve men who followed the Lord Jesus Christ during the three and a half years of his earthly ministry, John rightly refers to himself as the “Elder.”

• John says he loves Gaius in the truth.  Can you think of Christian brothers and sisters whom you love dearly because of your great admiration and respect for them personally and their faithful service to our Lord?  If so, you can relate to John’s abiding and heartfelt affection for this fellow believer.
• In the second verse, John prays that Gaius enjoys health, favorable circumstances in life and a healthy soul.  This is foundational for those believers who “ask it, name it and claim it.”  They translate it to mean faithful disciples enjoy good physical health, wealth and all other forms of prosperity for the balance of their earthly journeys.  Is this reading of the verse true to the apostle’s original intent?
• How do we balance this current interpretation with the Lord’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount?  “The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike.”
• In commending Gaius for his faithfulness in discipleship development, John challenges the readers of this letter to imitate his friend’s example.  The lack of faithfulness is the main indictment rendered against the seven churches of Asia Minor in the opening chapters of Revelation.  Admittedly, the oppression of Rome was fierce and intense.  Deranged leaders had no qualms with feeding Christians to the lions because their allegiance to Christ interfered with the prevalent Emperor worship mandated by the government.  Gaius personifies a steadfast spirit which encourages John as he prepares to exit the stage of life.  As the last original apostle, John wishes to die with the blessed assurance that the church he leaves will last until the Lord’s return.  The news from other disciples about Gaius’ perseverance relieves John’s anxiety.
• In the fourth verse, John says he has no greater joy than to hear this type of news.  Anyone who teaches whether professionally or as parents and in other walks of life can share John’s exuberance about his protégé’s spiritual progress.  Long-term disciples enjoy watching the personal development and spiritual progress of new believers.
• In the next paragraph of the letter, verses five to eight, John commends Gaius for his Christian hospitality which he demonstrates to strangers within the church.  Gaius shows Christ’s love by ensuring his fellow believers leave the beloved community with adequate provisions as they build the Lord’s kingdom.  John finds in this disciple a person who fulfills the new law of love.
• In sharing his resources (time, talent, tithe and temperament), Gaius honors the Lord.  A debate rages in the contemporary Church about whether tithing is binding for Christians.  Whereas I believe it is, I contend we give to spread the gospel and ensure the Church possesses resources to share the Lord’s love in practical and direct ways.  Each natural disaster affords the Church an opportunity to share Christ’s love without expecting anything in return.  Furthermore, we give to people who cannot repay us.  When we respond selflessly, we demonstrate Christian hospitality in accordance with the new law of love.  However, to do so, the Church must have financial and other resources.
• John reminds Gaius that his fellow believers are leaving to spread the good news of the Name of Jesus Christ who offers abundant and eternal life.  Not surprisingly, believers cannot expect the secular world to endorse or finance the work of local church ministry.  We who believe must demonstrate our commitment by undergirding it with our resources.
• He concludes this paragraph by mentioning how vital hospitality is to evangelizing and spreading the word of truth.  Consider Matthew 25 as a component of “The Great Commission.”
• John then turns to a difficult subject, betrayal in the Church.  As he writes to a close and trusted friend, he specifically discloses the dastardly deeds of Diotrephes.  Apparently a rather egotistical man, he insists on the honor of first place.  This demand violates the Lord’s teachings about humility.  To accomplish his objectives, Diotrephes spread “malicious nonsense” and refuses to admit anyone into the church that he believes will not adhere to his personal preferences.  Obviously, gossip, rumors, half truths, duplicity and innuendoes were as prevalent in the first century church as they are today.
• Diotrephes goes even further in violating the spirit of Christian love by objecting when other disciples want to do so.  He even forces them out of the church.  He is a stark contrast to Gaius. 
• Diotrephes betrays Christ’s teachings as he clings unreservedly to his self-seeking ways.
• John encourages Gaius to adhere to what is good as such a lifestyle demonstrates a genuine knowledge of Almighty God.   Knowledge of God is most evident in our actions not our verbal professions.  Our most reliable knowledge of God is relational and experiential.  The Spanish language has two words for “to know.”  Conocer means relational and experiential knowledge.  Saber means theoretical knowledge.  As disciples, demonstrate our knowledge of God through a lifestyle that reflects His holiness and truth.
• John commends another disciple, Demetrius, who is well respected throughout their region of the Church.
• His references to these other disciples show how important relationships were in the early Church.  Similarly, genuine friendships are just as significant in today’s Church as relationships are the foundation of good ministry.
• Again, John states his preference to relate in person rather than through writing.
• As a final act of encouragement, he offers greetings to Gaius from the believers in Asia Minor.