Episode 56 - A Need for Mercy, A Call to Holiness - John 7:53-8:11

John 7:53   [[They went each to his own house, John 8:1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”]]

In many English translations of this section, you will notice a footnote for it or, as in this case, there may be brackets around the text. The reason for this is that a number of scholars believe this story was not in this part of John’s Gospel, or at least not in this location. They have their reasons for that view and I am not equipped to argue one way or the other. But, whatever the answer is, no one is saying that this is not a true story. Most importantly, the story is consistent with Jesus’ actions and teaching. In this story, we find a beautiful balance of a call to living in a manner that is right and pure as well as a demonstration of grace and mercy.

The scribes and Pharisees bring a woman to Jesus who was caught in the act of adultery. (v4) They inform Jesus of the charge and tell him that the Law was given by Moses “commanded us to stone such women.”(v5) This may seem harsh to us that adultery would call for capital punishment. But, we must be careful to not impose our own cultural values upon a people two thousand years removed and half a world away. The view of adultery in the twenty-first century of Western culture is mixed. Adultery leads to much pain and divorce in many marriages. But, there are others who think nothing about it. 

When we look at the creation of marriage in the opening chapters of the Bible, we see that this is a special relationship intended by God to be a tangible expression of unity and harmony that is perfectly existing in the divine Godhead. A marriage relationship is supposed to demonstrate covenant faithfulness. Adultery is a clear and strong violation of that relationship. Therefore, it is an expression of our rebellion against the character of God. In light of that, it becomes more clear as to why God told Moses that this sin merits the death penalty. 

But, there’s a problem here. Did you notice it? They only brought one of the guilty parties. If they caught this woman in the act, did they not catch the man in the act? If so, why did they not bring him as well? The Law didn’t call for the woman to be put to death. The Law required that both of them be put to death. (See Leviticus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 22:22-24) Something is fishy here.

John tells us their motivation in bringing her to Jesus. They wanted to trap Jesus. Nothing in this story lessens the offense of the woman. However, these people who are using this woman for their own evil desires are violating the Law themselves in various ways. 

Jesus’ response is to bend down and draw in the dirt with his finger. He does it twice. What is he drawing? Some have suggested that he’s writing the sins of these accusers. Others have suggested that just as God wrote the Ten Commandments with His “finger,” Jesus is writing the Ten Commandments in the dirt. The text doesn’t tell us. But, I’m inclined to suspect this latter suggestion to be the answer. These two writings in the dirt are split by Jesus standing and telling them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”

Whether they are convicted concerning their own sin or simply smart enough to realize their objective had failed is uncertain. But, their response is simply to leave. Jesus is the lone individual who had the right to throw the first stone. According to the Law, he would have been just in doing so. But, he demonstrates mercy and does not condemn her. He also doesn’t downplay her sin. He tells her to stop sinning. 

God’s grace and mercy are never to give us a pass to do what we want. It is not God turning a blind eye to our rebellious actions. God’s grace and mercy are for us to see God’s love toward us and that we should desire to live in a manner that demonstrates God’s faithfulness, love, and mercy to others. 

Episode 55 - No one ever spoke like this man! John 7:45-52

John 7:45   The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” 47 The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

Remember that this is the last day of the Feast of Booths. Officers that had been sent to arrest Jesus returned to the chief priests and the Pharisees empty handed. What is not immediately evident is how long they’ve been gone. Had they only gone out a half an hour earlier or maybe a half day. The answer seems to lie back in verse 14 which tells us that Jesus starting teaching about half way through the feast and Jesus antagonists tried to arrest him. But, they could not. This would seem to indicate that they had been deployed on this mission for about four days. They have failed on the mission they were given. Their only response to the leaders who dispatched them was, “No one ever spoke like this man!”

This may possibly be one of the most important truths we can glean from this whole event. Why is it important? Because one of the first things John wanted his audience to understand is that Jesus is the “Logos.” He is the Word of God. He is God’s message to humanity. 

John is not the only writer of our Scriptures that communicate this truth about Jesus. Notice how the author of the book of Hebrews opens his book/letter, “Heb. 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. Jesus is God’s conclusive and most comprehensive special revelation to humanity.

In our text today, even some representatives from the antagonists cannot deny the wisdom and power of Jesus’ words. Yet, the priests and Pharisees respond with nothing but attack and lies. After suggesting that the officers had been deceived, they insist that none of them had believed in Jesus. Yet, even Nicodemus had said, “We know that you are a teacher come from God.” At least Nicodemus as well as these officers had been moved by Jesus’ words and signs.

Next, the Pharisees attacked “the crowd” by saying that they don’t know the Law and are accursed. In response to this Nicodemus asked a question that reveals that they themselves are not following the Law. He asks, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” Nicodemus seems to be arguing from a principle found in the Law such as Deuteronomy 17 and 19 which requires reasonable evidence to validate an accusation. Yet, the chief priests and Pharisees don’t seem to be concerned with following that part of the Law. This raises the question If people who don’t know the Law are accursed because they cannot follow a law they don’t know, how much more would people who do know the Law be accursed if they refuse to follow it? These guys are digging a deeper hole for themselves.

When they attack Nicodemus, one of their own, they suggest that no prophet comes from Galilee. In truth, the prophet Jonah was from Galilee. Lies or willful assertions from their own ignorance makes their attacks and justification laughable. 

It is clear that they do not really want to listen to God’s Word. That leaves us with the challenge of do we want to listen to God’s Word or do we want to dismiss Jesus’ teachings?

Episode 54 - Rivers of living water - John 7:37-44

John 7:37   On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.40   When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people over him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

Recall that the feast spoken of here is the Feast of Booths (a.k.a. Feast of Tabernacles). John mentions that it was the “last day of the feast, the great day” which has significance in connection with what Jesus is saying. The feast, as I mentioned before, was to remember their ancestors wandering in the wilderness and God’s provision for them. At this feast, there was a ritual with water. Priests poured water on the altar each day and on the last day they did it seven times. You can find scholarly discussions in commentaries as to the various meanings of this ritual. However, I think most significantly it represents God’s miraculous provision of water in that desert area for so long. 

Earlier, Jesus had drawn a connection of himself to the bread that God provided for them in the wilderness. Their ancestors had survived on that bread but ultimately died. Jesus said that he was the true bread from heaven that would give them eternal life. Here, he is telling people at the feast that he is the source of “living water.” This is similar to what he told the woman at the well. 

The translation here I think could be better. To clarify, I understand Jesus saying that he is the source of the living waters. But, it is the one who “drinks Jesus” and believes in him who will receive the living waters flowing within him or her. John explains that this living water ever springing up within the believer is the Holy Spirit would be given to believers after Jesus had been glorified.

Jesus’ words obviously resonated with people as some said that he was surely the Prophet and others claimed that he was the Christ. But still, there were those whose reason over-ruled God’s revelation. They were aware that he had come from Galilee. But, they didn’t bother to investigate his genealogy as both Mary and Joseph can be traced back to David’s lineage. Matthew and Luke both record that he was born in Bethlehem.

It seems to me that our takeaway from this section is that Jesus provides an infinite supply of what we need for the eternal and abundant life that God offers. We need to “consume” Jesus. We need to believe what he did and said and internalize it as much as possible. 

Episode 53 - Jesus confounds the Pharisee - John 7:32-36

John 7:32   The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him. 33 Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. 34 You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.” 35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What does he mean by saying, ‘You will seek me and you will not find me,’ and, ‘Where I am you cannot come’?”

The Pharisees recognized that some of the people were believing that Jesus was truly the Messiah (Christ). They could not tolerate this. Jesus was challenging their “comfort zone.” How could a man with no learning (in their opinion) be superior to themselves? So, they send officers to arrest Jesus. 

Jesus says something that is truthfully manifested in multiple ways. When he tells them that they won’t be able to find him, this appears to be proven multiple times as they either “seek to arrest him” or to even kill him right where they are standing. John keeps pointing out that they were not able because his “hour had not yet come.” At the end of chapter eight, John records that the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but he “hid himself.” The point over and over throughout this book is that no one can do anything to Jesus that is not allowed by the Father. The repetition of this theme should enforce in our minds that if nothing can happen to Jesus outside of the Father’s control, then we can be confident that nothing can happen to us outside of the Father’s control. We may not like what is happening. But, if we believe God loves us and has everything under his control, then we must trust that there is an ultimate good in what he allows to happen. Remember, He allowed his Son to die on the cross.

The primary point in Jesus’ words is that he is prophesying his death, resurrection, and ascension to the Father. Jesus would be crucified, buried, and raised on the third day and many people would see him alive before he would ascend to heaven over a month later. Those who had plotted his death and had unsuccessfully conspired to guard his tomb would not be able to find him. Why? Because he was going to the place from where he came with the Father. That is in heaven. These evil and unbelieving people did not belong there and would not be able to go there unless they repented of their unbelief.

There is some ironic humor in this text. When the Jews are asking themselves where Jesus might go, they suggest that he might go “among the Greeks and teach the Greeks.” What is ironic about it is that later in this book it is the Greeks who find Jesus. It was God’s intent all along for salvation to be made available to the world and the Greeks represent people outside of the Jews that are fulfilling this in part. 

It is because of God’s grace of wanting to offer salvation to everyone that we have the opportunity to place our faith in Jesus Christ as well. What a blessing!

Episode 52 - When Christ comes, will he do more than this one? John 7:25-31

John 7:25   Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 27 But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” 28 So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29 I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” 30 So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”

Notice the ironic humor here. A few verses earlier Jesus asks the Jews “Why do you seek to kill me?” And the response is, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” They are denying it and insinuating that Jesus is demon-possessed or crazy to save face. But the crowd clearly knows what is happening. They say, “Is this not the man whom they seek to kill?” It would seem that Jesus has appeared in the temple at a time when he could reveal their motives and inconsistencies and would cause the crowd to question their complaints against him. The people recognize that they are not following through when they have an opportunity. In other words, if they had a legitimate accusation, they should arrest him. Instead, it causes them to wonder if they know that he really is the Christ (Messiah). 

Unfortunately, even these people resort to their own reason and sense of wisdom and conclude that he cannot be the Christ. Jesus’ response here is interesting, “You know me, and you know where I come from.” Is he speaking about their knowledge that he grew up in Nazareth and, like Nathaniel’s original doubt whether “anything good” could come from Nazareth or is he suggesting that they’ve witnessed enough of his teaching and his miracles that they “know” his heavenly origin? Given the occasions of which John, the author, uses double-entendre, I’m inclined to believe he meant both. But, his words that follow lead us to understand he is focusing on his divine origin. He says, “I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” He’s speaking of God the Father, not Nazareth. But, I think Jesus is saying, “You know enough about me to believe my words. You know that my earthly home has been in Nazareth. But, you’ve witnessed the miracles and know my true origin is from the Father in heaven. Remember that Nicodemus already said, “We know that you are from God.”

Jesus’ indictment that they did not know the one who sent him apparently ignited their pride because they sought to arrest him. But, they could not. John says that “no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.” Imagine what that might have looked like. Jesus is within sight and perhaps within their grasp. But, they could not take him. How did they reconcile that among themselves? It’s humorous to consider. 

Verse 31 is a breath of fresh air at the end of this crazy scene. John writes that “Many believed in him.” They said, “When Christ comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?” Some people were accepting God’s revelation over their own reason. This is the essence of faith. This is what is required of us and what we are to invite others to do when we share the message of who Jesus is and what he has done on the cross.

Episode 51 - Judge with Right Judgement - John 7:14-24

John 7:14   About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

In the last episode John specifies that Jesus would not go to Judea because the Jews (Jewish leaders) were seeking to kill him. One might think that they’d kept that a private matter. But, they’re motivations certainly became known judging by the fear that existed among people to even speak about him. In verse 13, John wrote that “for fear of the Jews, no one spoke openly about him.” This reality needs to be kept in mind as we interpret the passage at hand for this episode. 

Verse 14 picks up the narrative when Jesus has finally arrived in Jerusalem at the Feast and they are about half-way through the seven day feast when Jesus goes to the temple and begins teaching. I’m assuming that the Jewish leaders did not attempt to take him at this point because it would have caused a scene and perhaps drawn the attention of Roman soldiers. Instead, they listen to him teach people and they are amazed at his teaching. They do not understand how he has such understanding having never studied under them. Jesus either hears them or knows what they’re thinking. Perhaps they say it loud enough in order to cast doubt into the minds of listeners that his teaching is truthful or substantive. Whatever, Jesus responds that his teaching is not his own. He has said this before back in chapter five. Jesus always points people to the Father and that he, Jesus, is not here to simply make a claim on his own behalf like others had before or like those do today. We see a point here that is important for us. Our objective should never be to impress people or to gain followers of ourself, but to point people to Jesus. 

Jesus transitions from saying that he is following the direction of his Father in heaven to Moses, the one whom the Jews claim to be following. He tells them that they are not obeying what Moses gave them because Moses gave them the ten commandments and they are disobeying the Law because they are wanting to kill Jesus. At this point they deny that anyone wants to kill him. But, John has already tipped us off that it was known among other Jews of their real motivations.

He continues with his line of reasoning from the Law by saying that Law requires people to honor the Sabbath Day to keep it holy AND the Law requires all male children to be circumcised on the eighth day. Since the eighth day after a child has been born may be the Sabbath, Jesus points out that they will circumcise a child on the Sabbath and they interpret it as acceptable to actually do something commanded in the Law because it’s the sign of the Mosaic Covenant even though it requires doing something. So, he continues, why should it be wrong for him (Jesus) to actually heal someone on the Sabbath Day when circumcision is a form of injury?

This is another learning moment for us. If we feel there are options in a decision of what we should do or not do, we should ask ourselves if there is a principle associated with one that informs us it is the better or greater option to honor the Lord. Our motivation MUST be based upon wanting to obey the Lord over to obey a list of rules. The rules may be good. But, there are truths in the Scriptures that inform us regarding the greater principles of our faith. 

NOTE: In verse 21, Jesus said, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it.” He is NOT saying that he has performed only one miracle. He’s saying that the miracle of healing the lame man on the Sabbath is the one in particular for which they were wanting to kill him.

Episode 50 - Jesus' hour has not fully come - John 7:1-13

John 7:1   After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him. 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

John 7:10   But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.

The setting here is another feast in Jerusalem. In chapter six, there was the Passover feast which is around April. This feast, the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles, was one of the major feasts that people were expected to attend. It is in October of our calendar. It is essentially a harvest festival and a time for the Jews to remember their ancestors wandering in the wilderness. In this text, the expectation by Jesus’ brothers and the people at Jerusalem is evident. 

What is also evident is that Jesus’ brothers have the same kind of attitude about Jesus’ identity as the Jews in chapter six. John says outright that “not even his brothers believed in him.” Something that struck me about his brothers’ attitudes was how their words to him parallel the same kind of challenge the devil through at Jesus in his temptation recorded in both Matthew 4 and Luke 4. The devil and his brothers are both saying, “If you are who you claim to be, do this!” They both want to have control over him and for him to submit to their demands. It’s a subtle form of mocking and they are mocking God. We should take note of that to not let anyone or anything provoke pride to do something. 

What most strikes me about this text however, is that twice Jesus says “my time has not yet come.” (vv. 6,8)  We’ve seen this before in John’s gospel. In the second chapter when Jesus and his disciples attend the wedding in Cana and Jesus’ mother tells him they’ve run out of wine. There is an expectation that he might do something. His response reveals not just to her but to his disciples and to us that his ultimate authority is from the Father. Jesus’ time is the hour of his death on the cross and his purpose is solely focused upon doing exactly what the Father wants, when the Father wants it done, and how the Father wants it done. Jesus knows that the cross awaits him in the not too distant future.

So, Jesus is telling his brothers, “I will be revealed to the world in the Father’s time, not yours and not anyone else’s.” Then, in verse 8 he tells them to go to the feast and that he is not going up to “this feast.” In the Greek text, it could be translated, “I am not ascending to this feast.” I strongly suspect that this is another one of those expressions of Jesus in which a prophetic truth is stated, yet it’s expected that the unbelievers would misunderstand it. Just like when Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up,” the Jews thought he was speaking of the temple building where they were standing. But, John points out that he was speaking of the temple of his body. In the same way, Jesus will ascend to a feast. But, it’s not the one planned by earthly leaders with evil motives. 

This helps us understand what is going on when he tells his brothers he is not going to this feast, but shortly after they leave, he also goes to the feast at Jerusalem albeit privately. He has not lied. He is going to go up to a feast, but in going to Jerusalem to the Feast of Booths at the temple is all under the direction and plan of the Father and not of the people with unbelieving and evil motives.

I find great encouragement in seeing how God carefully orchestrates His plan and carries it out and people cannot manipulate it. It’s the light that is not overcome by darkness.

Episode 48 - Are you offended? - John 6:60-65

John 6:60   When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

Did you notice something? Up to this point, we’ve seen “the Jews” as those who are not receiving or believing in Jesus even though they’ve seen evidence and recognize the divine source of what Jesus is saying and doing. But now, even many of Jesus’ disciples are letting their reason and pride get in the way of faith and an appropriate response to God’s revelation through Jesus. Through their unwillingness to accept what Jesus is telling them about himself, they are saying that no one can accept his teaching. 

I love Jesus’ response to them. “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” Where is that? Where was Jesus, the Son of Man, before? Answer: With the Father in Heaven. I’m not certain. But, I think there is an element of sarcasm in Jesus’ words. Basically, he’s saying that they’ve seen him work miracles and recognized those miracles as indicative of Jesus being the Prophet like Moses. They recognize a divine source or authority in what Jesus is doing. But, they are rejecting it. So, Jesus is saying, “If I do something more significant and more that testifies of my origin from heaven itself, you will reject even more.” Wow!

This is why in verse 63 he says, “the flesh is no help at all.” Jesus is telling them that their eyes, and all their senses with their human reason does not help them have faith. “It is the Spirit who gives life” and “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (v63) They need to trust Jesus' words. He is explaining to them that by saying that they need to “eat his flesh” and “drink his blood” it is a spiritual message and not literal cannibalism. They need to internalize everything that he says and trust him because they are the eternal life giving power from God. 

Then, he says, “But, there are some of you who do not believe.” (v. 64) John adds that Jesus knew all along who did/would believe and who wouldn’t. He even knew who would betray him. Yet, he still called them to follow him. How could he possibly know this? Answer: He’s from heaven. He is God. Despite everything that God already knows, He demonstrates His grace by inviting people to hear Jesus’ words and to believe him.

This section closes by Jesus telling these people that no one can come to Jesus unless granted by the Father. The point of this statement is to emphasize the reality that people do not get to heaven by their own schemes and efforts. All the credit goes to God who leads people to Jesus. They need to trust in him.

Episode47 - "Eat my flesh and drink my blood" - John 6:52-59

John 6:52   The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

The Bible has some hard things to understand. Jesus’ words in this section  are certainly difficult for those listening. Furthermore, if you read Christian scholars of our current era, you’ll discover there are still differing opinions about this section. 

In our last episode, I pointed out that the people who ate the “miracle food” and had identified Jesus certainly as the Prophet like Moses that was to come, and wanted to make Jesus their king had, like the Israelites during the Exodus from Egypt, started grumbling. In verse 52 they’ve declined even further into arguing amongst themselves about what Jesus is saying. They are clearly moving to a point of rejecting Jesus and his claims. Their question, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” appears rhetorical. Essentially, if they can’t understand with their own reason, they are going to reject it. 

Jesus’ response is to assert that if they do not eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, they “have no life” in them. This is an indication that Jesus is speaking in a manner that is not to be taken in a pure literal sense. Why is that? Because clearly Jesus understands that they are living beings. But, Jesus’ point is that it’s not the true kind of life that he is offering them. Furthermore, the Law prohibited cannibalism and drinking blood. Jesus would not violate the Law.

Then Jesus tells them, “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life . . . “ Once again Jesus made it clear that he is claiming to be the “son of man”; the eschatological figure spoken of in Daniel 7:13 who is led before the Ancient of Days and granted honor and authority and would have an eternal kingdom. Furthermore, he’s saying if you want eternal life and to be in this eternal kingdom, you must eat his flesh and drink his blood. Whoever does that, he says “has eternal life.” Jesus follows that by promising, “I will raise him up on the last day.” That indicates that Jesus is not saying your body won’t physically die. He is saying that even though you will physically die, you still have eternal life and Jesus will raise you up to experience that life for eternity. So, what does he mean by eating or feeding on his flesh and drinking his blood?

In the following verse, he says that his flesh is “true food” and his blood is “true drink.” Some people believe this text is speaking of Lord’s Supper, Communion, Eucharist, or whatever one’s tradition calls it. I don’t want to discount the possible significance this text may have to the Lord’s Supper. But, I’m inclined to think that the primary thing Jesus is communicating to people at this point is that he, Jesus, is the only source of eternal life and that we cannot think of Jesus as a decoration in our home or church. We cannot value him as another person who was a good and helpful teacher with morals. We MUST internalize everything about who he truly is and his purpose as intended by the Father. He is the true Son of God who came down from Heaven and took upon himself the punishment for our sins in order that we could receive  his righteousness upon ourselves and be acceptable before God throughout eternity. The flesh as food and the blood as drink is powerful imagery because it is easy for us to understand how food becomes digested and broken down within our body in order to provide energy and life throughout our whole body. When Jesus is internalized in our lives, it is “true food” and “true drink” for eternal life.

In verse 56, he repeats the phrase “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood” but then continues with “abides in me, and I in him.” That phrase reinforces the notion of feeding on Jesus flesh and drinking his blood is really about internalizing Christ, isn’t it? He abides in us and we abide in him.

Verse 57 provides the reasoning why he can offer eternal life to us. It is because the living Father sent him and he lives because of the Father and we can live if we feed on him. It emphasizes that our hope of eternal life is based upon our faith in the eternally living God who created life and sent “true food” in his Son Jesus.

This last verse of this section explains the “figurative nature” of what he is saying. He says this “bread from heaven” is NOT like the bread their fathers ate. Why? Because they died. The “true bread” sent from Heaven is not something you put in your mouth. So, where does this leave room for our ordinance of the Lord’s Supper? The Lord’s Supper is something Jesus gave us that tangibly reminds us of eating his flesh and drinking his blood. It reminds us of the Incarnation of the Son of God and most of all, it reminds us of the cross. We must feed on these truths and let it be internalized within us.

Episode 46 - The Bread from Heaven Gives Eternal Life - John 6:41-51

John 6:41   So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

If you’ve followed along in this study, you are aware that occasionally I’ve pointed out “evidence” that John, as he writes about Jesus, is frequently pointing us back, directly or indirectly, to the Old Testament (a.k.a. Hebrew Scriptures) to reveal that not only are those Scriptures historical, but they are also a prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus. The point is to show through what Jesus says and what he does and the circumstances that unfold have parallels to what has happened before and that these cannot be contrived or coincidental for people to accept them as historical truth and start a new world religion in such a short time as happened with Christianity.

Here again in this passage is evidence of that connection with what God has done before to what is happening at this current time. Remember, that Jesus said, “If you believed Moses, you would believe me because he wrote about me.” Not long after that Jesus, like Moses, was an agent of feeding a large multitude of people in a wilderness area where there was not food readily available. Miracles happened during the Exodus and near the Sea of Galilee with Jesus. These people recognized the significance of what he did just like the Israelites recognized Moses as God’s prophet who God used to part the Red Sea and so many other signs. How did the Israelites respond? In Exodus chapters 15-17 there are seven occurrences that mention how the people “grumbled.” Some texts say they “grumbled against Moses and Aaron.” But, Exodus 16:8 make it clear that they are really grumbling against the Lord.

So, what are these people doing after being miraculously fed by Jesus, proclaiming that he is the Prophet like Moses who is to come, and want to make him their king? They are grumbling. Jesus tells them that he is the bread of life that has come down from heaven. All of a sudden, he is not worth trusting or listening to. Regardless of the revelation that has been given them, they ignore that and reason from their previous limited knowledge of him and they let their pride over rule what God has revealed to them. Knowledge does NOT necessarily lead to acceptance, belief, faith. Faith requires knowledge of God’s revelation. But having that knowledge does not necessarily lead to faith. So, what’s the secret of that knowledge affecting faith? I think Jesus answers that question right here. 

In verse 44, he says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” There is a necessity of God working to open the hearts and minds of people in order to receive His truths. This is what John meant in his prologue when he wrote, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13) Why is this important? It reveals that people don’t just come to God on their own or, in other words, don’t find their own way to heaven. More importantly, it should evoke an attitude of thankfulness that God is drawing us to Him; that he loves and cares about us to give us everything we truly need. It should humble us to realize that we are no better than anyone else; that we somehow have not earned or deserve God’s grace because He has done what we need to be right with him and be made His children.

Jesus pushes against their thinking and their bias. He responds to their so-called knowledge of their ancestors and their desire for food and their request to “give us this bread always” by telling them that the miraculous food their ancestors ate in the wilderness was only adequate for so long. They still died. But, the bread of life that he was offering is his flesh that gives eternal life to those who eat of it and Jesus will raise them up from the dead on the “last day” and they will live forever. That’s an amazing claim. Do you believe that?

Episode 45 - Jesus will not lose anyone who comes to him - John 6:35-40

John 6:35   Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Jesus had just spoken to these people whom he’d miraculously fed. They saw this and they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”  When they come looking for him, Jesus tells them, “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” (vv. 33-34) Now, Jesus tells them that he is the “bread of life.” He promises that those who come to him will never hunger or thirst. 

Notice the context is speaking of eternal life. Personally, I believe God is concerned about the physical needs of this life. In Matthew 6:25-33 Jesus taught the people to not worry about what they will eat, drink, or wear. He suggests that if God cares for the birds enough to provide for them, he cares for us as much or more. But, there is something more important than our needs for this life and that is our needs for eternal life. This life is temporary. But, in our text for this episode, Jesus is telling these people that he is the “bread of life.” He is what they really need to consume for eternal life.

Then, Jesus says something that I believe should provide tremendous encouragement to everyone who trusts him. He says (again) that his sole purpose is to do what the Father wants him to do and the Father wants him to lose no one that the Father gives to him. He promises that anyone who comes to him will not be rebuffed and under no circumstances will he lose any whom the Father gives him. Even death itself cannot break the grasp Jesus has on those who trust in him. He promises that those who trust in him and then die, he will “raise up” on the last day. He repeated this promise in verse 40 by saying it’s the Father’s will that everyone who looks upon Jesus and believes in him will have eternal life and Jesus will raise him up. 

This means that everyone who believes in Jesus now has eternal life now. Nothing in this text suggests that we will have eternal life only after we’ve been raised. Those who have placed their trust in Jesus have eternal life at that moment. That’s his promise. He does not deny that people will still die physically. He’s simply saying that our life in Christ is eternal and the full experience of that will result in a resurrection and eternal presence with God. Death cannot undo eternal life. That is good news!

Episode 44 - The True Bread that gives eternal life - John 6:22-34

John 6:22   On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

John 6:25   When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

There is so much here that we could probably write multiple episodes about the response of the people who’ve been miraculously fed. But, let’s see if we can focus on a few important things that we can draw from this section. First of all, remember how these people recognize the significance of Jesus’ miracle of which they had received the benefit. They correctly deduced that Jesus was the prophet like Moses. We also see in verses 22-24 that they’d observed the disciples leave in the boat without Jesus, that Jesus was nowhere to be found where they’d last seen him, and the next day had followed the disciples over to Capernaum. When they arrived they were shocked to find Jesus there and wondered when he’d gotten there. They see things with their eyes. But, the significance of these things is not having the appropriate impact on their lives. Jesus calls them out on this.

In verse 26 he responds to them that they were only following him because they were interested in having their stomachs full. They wanted to make him king because they viewed him more as a free food plan than the God who could give them eternal life. Jesus tells them their priorities need to be set on “food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.” Personally, I see this as a clear claim to these people that he is the Son of Man. I would argue that the crowd understands this claim as is evidenced in their response. Essentially, they are saying if you are the Son of Man sent from the Ancient of Days who has been given this eternal kingdom where we are to serve you, tell us what God expects from us; “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” (v.28) 

Remember back in chapter five, verses 28-29 Jesus also claimed to be the Son of Man who would someday speak and the dead would rise and he says, “those who have done good to the resurrection of life.” (5:29) I asked the question then if Jesus were suggesting that salvation was by good works. This crowd seems to think it does. But, Jesus’ response in chapter six, verse 29 is “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” You see, this makes it clear that the priority of God for us is not attempting to please God through our own efforts. The most important thing is to believe in Jesus. 

This is the point where they should respond positively. But, instead, they ask for another sign so that they can believe in him. They even suggest what he should do by referring to Moses and the manna in the wilderness. They want more food to put in their mouth. They may believe that he has power to work miracles. But, they really don’t believe he is the Son of God. They want him to be subject to their own desires and not for themselves to be subject to the will of God.

Jesus tells them that it wasn’t Moses who really gave them the bread, but that his Father has sent the true bread that gives life to the world. In a manner reminiscent of the Samaritan woman, they ask him for this true bread. But, do they really want it?

The thing that strikes me most about this section is mankind’s need to not approach God with a spirit of looking to get from God what we want or think we need. We just need to trust that Jesus really is God’s Son who knows best about what we need. It is only by faith in him that we have eternal life and everything we truly need.

Episode 43 - Jesus walks on water

John 6:16   When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

So far John has given us four “signs” or miracles that Jesus performed; although he mentions at times that he’s worked many others. At the end of this book, John will say that the books of the world could not contain everything Jesus did. But, John is careful to select seven in the first half of this book to show who Jesus is. They are:

1. Jesus turning the water into wine.

2. Jesus healing the official’s son.

3. Jesus healing the lame man on the Sabbath near the the pool.

4. Jesus feeding the 5,000+.

Now the fifth miracle is Jesus walking on the water. That is an amazing thing and we would recognize that to be miraculous. The question is however, “What is it about this miracle that John decides it will be one of the few that he selects to give us detail.

In giving you my belief as to why, let me remind you that prior to the feeding of the multitude, Jesus told his antagonists that Moses wrote about him. Then, immediately after John tells us that, he tells us about how Jesus, in a manner even greater that Moses, miraculously fed this large multitude of people in a wilderness area. The people themselves noticed this because they said so and they wanted to make Jesus king. 

The scene here that John gives us is of the disciples getting into a boat on the Sea of Galilee without Jesus. (We are left to wonder whether Jesus told them to or whether they made an executive decision to leave without him.) Their intended destination is Capernaum on the other side of the sea. Scholars believe this may have been about seven miles from where they started. They are halfway across, a strong wind has come up making the water rough, and John says in verse 17, “It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.” 

Did you see that? They left Jesus. It was dark. Jesus (the light of the world) had not yet come to them. I don’t deny that this was what happened. But, it seems to me that John is giving us this detail to indicate that the darkness they were in was not just because of the hour of the day or clouds obscuring any natural light. This physical reality also represented their own ignorance and perhaps lack of trust in Jesus still. They needed Jesus to come to them to give them His light.

When they are in the middle of the sea, Jesus comes walking on top of the water toward them and they are frightened. A few things I notice about this:

1. These men got a head start and were collectively rowing toward their intended destination. Yet, Jesus caught up with them walking; wind and water were no impedance to him.

2. Moses, God’s prophet, also came to a large body of water. God instructed him to hold out his staff and God parted the water so that Moses and the people could walk through on dry ground. Jesus, the Prophet like Moses, just walks over the top of it. 

3. In response to their fear, Jesus, the Light of the world, and also the Word of God speaks to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” This could also be understood as “It is I am; do not be afraid.” Maybe I’m reading too much into this. But, the fact of the matter is that this book is loaded with double-entendres and I personally believe that’s what is happening here. Clearly, they hear his voice and understand that Jesus is identifying himself. However, I think John, after the fact, realizes God’s providential intent in Jesus’ words to also say, “I am (the Creator, Redeemer God of your ancestors) here with you. You do not need to be afraid.”

When Jesus said that, John says they gladly took him into the boat. But, the last little note puts the icing on this cake. John writes that when they took him into the boat, they were “immediately at the land to which they were going.” Don’t forget that they were only halfway across the sea when Jesus appeared to them. When he got in the boat, they were immediately at their destination. Wow!

If we see the same things in this text, I think we have a better picture of why John included this miracle. It’s evidence that Jesus is the Prophet like Moses. But, he’s so much more. He is the Light of the world. He is the Word of God. He is “I am” meaning, he is God.

We need Jesus in our boat don’t we. We need him on our everyday journey. We need to trust him and knowing that he is with us, we don’t need to be afraid.

Episode 42 - Jesus, a reluctant king?

John 6:15   Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

In the past episode I called attention to how the large multitude, that Jesus fed by a visible miracle, made a connection of the Prophet like Moses with Jesus. (See Deut. 18:15-19)  Just like God used Moses to guide and provide for the Israelites in the wilderness coming out of bondage into the Promised Land, Jesus’ miracle seems to fill what they expect. I wanted you to notice how this development comes immediately after Jesus told his antagonists, “If you believed Moses, you would believe me because Moses wrote about me.” (John 5:46) I am suggesting that John has not given us an account of coincidental events. He is helping the reader understand that what God did in times past was not only historical and significant, it was often prophetic; pointing toward God’s greater fulfillment through His Son, Jesus. So, just like Jesus said, the Scriptures are a witness to who he is.

Notice that in this single verse John tells us the people realize that Jesus is the Prophet. On the surface it might look like a good thing. Jesus perceives that the people are so convinced by this realization that they are going to “take him by force to make him king.” He is the “King of Israel” isn’t he? That’s what Nathaniel recognized in John 1:49. Isn’t this what we would hope would happen that they would want to make him king?

But, Jesus withdrew to the mountain by himself. In fact, it looks like he sent his disciples back to the boat perhaps as an elusive measure. Thinking that Jesus would be with the disciples, people would look for Jesus among the disciples. But, he went by himself up the mountain. Why? Why would he not have wanted them to make him king? I believe the answer lies in Jesus’ statement to his antagonists that he “can do nothing of his own accord” (John 5:19) Just like David was not allowed to take the throne from Saul, but wait for the Lord to install him on it, Jesus, a descendent of David, must wait for the Father’s time and not allow the will of any person or crowd prevail. Jesus recognized the crowd’s motivations were not based on the Father’s will but on their own. We will see how this works out in coming episodes.

The fact that John tells us he withdrew back up the mountain by himself is also a reflection of him being the Prophet like Moses. Moses alone was welcomed by God to the top of the mountain to speak with God. I think Jesus went there to communicate with his Father. 

What can we learn from this? I think it’s easy to look at circumstances sometimes and draw deductions and decide that we’re going to help God out because we think we know God’s will and timing. Then, other things come along to confuse us. We need to trust God that His ways in His time are always best.

Episode 41 - Moses wrote about Jesus (Feeding of the 5000)

In the last episode we read how Jesus told his antagonists that Moses wrote about him (Jesus). If you are like me, you might be thinking to yourself, “I’ve been back and forth through the first five books of the Bible and don’t have a clue where Moses writes about Jesus. In this episode, I’m going to suggest one area that is likely intended by Jesus to support this claim. There is probably much to learn or discuss concerning the details of this passage; things like the significance of twelve baskets of leftovers. But, I think it’s more important to recall that prior to this miracle, John has given us an account of Jesus making this claim. This miracle will lend itself to the defense of that claim. Let’s read it.

John 6:1   After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

We see how Jesus and his disciples go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. We aren’t given a reason why. The account just seems to indicate that it’s a remote area but many people followed him because of the signs he was working. The account says about 5,000 men. That may not include numbers of women and children. Jesus goes up a mountain with his disciples. Now this is interesting to me because Moses himself went into a wilderness area followed by a large group of people. Moses then went up Mount Sinai to speak with God.

Jesus poses a question to the disciples about how all these people are going to get fed. One disciple indicates that it would cost too much money to afford to feed all these people. Andrew observed that there was a boy in the crowd who had five loaves of bread and two fish, “but what are they for so many?” he asked. 

These men had been present when Jesus turned the water into wine. They had also witnessed other miracles. I can’t tell whether Andrew’s response was searching in hopeful expectation that Jesus might provide enough food with these fews loaves and fish or whether he himself was still doubting. Due to the number of people, it would be easy to suspect that it might be beyond what could be done. 

Jesus instructs the disciples to have all the men sit down. Why is this important? For one, it would allow for an orderly distribution of food. Secondly, it would make it easy for people to observe Jesus working a miracle before their eyes. 

It works. Jesus takes the loaves and fish and multiplies this food until everyone has eaten as much as they wanted AND the leftovers were far more than what was originally available in the original source of food. Jesus has miraculously fed a large multitude of people in a wilderness area. Moses also fed a large multitude of people in a wilderness area by the divine power of God as well didn’t he. Is this a coincidence? Am I reading into this something that is not there? All I can say is that this appears to be how the people who were fed responded to the miracle having seen it themselves. They say, “This is indeed the Prophet that is to come into the world.”(v. 14) They recognize that what Moses wrote about in Deuteronomy 18:15-19 has come about through Jesus. 

Deuteronomy 18:“15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16 just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 17 And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.

This is John’s way of helping his audience understand and believe that Jesus is fulfilling the Scriptures and that Moses truly wrote about him. 

Episode 40 - The Witnesses Testifying About Jesus

John 5:30   “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. 31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

There seems to be quite a bit here in this text. But, let’s see if we can break this down to the basic argument of what Jesus is saying. Notice that the main thing is Jesus' argument about who he is and the “witnesses” testifying to his claim. Finally, Jesus charges them with their refusal to accept the testimony and reasons for it.

The witnesses are important because in Deuteronomy 19:15 Moses writes, “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.” Jesus is following the Law and telling these antagonists, “I’m not doing anything by my own initiative or will.” Remember also that John has told us that these people want to kill Jesus. The Law also says, “On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.” (Deut. 17:6) 

Jesus begins to offer his witnesses by saying, “If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.”(v. 31) To paraphrase, “If there are no other witnesses, do not believe me.” His first witness then is John the Baptist’s testimony. (vv. 33-35) Jesus’ point is that, “You followed John and liked much of what he said and did. John pointed people to me. So, why aren’t you following through and trusting in me?” 

In verse 36, Jesus calls his second witness, the works (signs/miracles) the Father has given him to do. Through Nicodemus’ own words, “We know that you have come from God because no one can do these things unless the Father is with him.” Jesus’ antagonists have heard about and seen the things Jesus has been doing and in their minds, they cannot deny the ultimate source of his works. 

Jesus then says that the Father himself has borne witness about him (v. 37). This statement evokes a little more uncertainty in my mind as to what he means by this. Perhaps this draws reference from John the Baptist’s statement in John 1:33-37 “. . . the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’” Maybe Jesus is referring to how the voice from heaven spoke at his baptism by John saying “This is my beloved Son . . .” (Matt. 3:17) Those would be instances that I would understand the Father testifying about Jesus. Later on, a similar message would come from heaven at Jesus’ transfiguration. John the apostle and the author of this book was a firsthand witness to that event. So, John certainly agrees with Jesus that the Father has testified on Jesus’ behalf.

That’s three witnesses already. But, Jesus says there is another; the Scriptures that they search and claim to know. Jesus says the Scriptures testify about him. In fact, in verses 46-47 he says that Moses wrote about him. Jesus is claiming that Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy testify about him. He charges, if you really believed Moses, you would believe me. Obviously, this evokes the question, “Where did Moses’ writings speak of Jesus?” I’m going to begin to address that question in our next episode.

According to my count, Jesus has given four witnesses. In other words, he is saying there are multiple witnesses testifying to who Jesus is. So, what is their problem?

Jesus’ own assessment of why they don’t believe him is first, they don’t have the love of God in them (v. 42) and they seek glory from each other rather than from God (v. 44). Lastly, they are putting their hope in Moses rather than in Jesus (v. 45). 

I wonder what we put our hope in and whether we’re more concerned about having others pat us on the back rather than being concerned about doing what God wants us to do. This is a matter for prayer, isn’t it. We can ask God to help us not be concerned about pleasing others and direct our priorities on doing what He wants us to do. That’s what Jesus did.

Episode 39 - Son of God AND Son of Man

John 5:25-29

John 5:25   “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

In verse 25, we observe the third “Truly, truly . . . “ statement. Think about how bold of a statement it is; “the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” How many of us think we can go to a cemetery and call out the name of a loved one and expect for them to hear us? But, if that weren’t enough, how many of us would expect that person to return among the living? If you do believe you have that kind of power, you probably don’t share that belief with anyone, knowing that they will think you are crazy. Is this what Jesus is claiming?

In this section Jesus uses the term “Son of God” and “Son of Man.” Bible scholars are quick to point out that the Hebrew Scriptures (a.k.a. Old Testament) spoke of God’s anointed king as His Son. Read Psalm 2:4-9 for an example of this. The point is that the people of that time prior to the time of Jesus did not necessarily equate the term “Son of God” with deity. Yet we just recently read how the Jewish rulers wanted to kill Jesus not only for breaking the Sabbath according to their rules, but for calling God his own father, making himself equal with God. My point here is that what Jesus has communicated already about his own identity has been understood by others that he’s not just claiming to be a king. It seems to me that with John already having made that known to us, then John is showing us here that Jesus is claiming to have the power to raise the dead back to life simply by speaking. Notice that the emphasis on the Word of God speaking and something happening has already become a theme in this book, hasn’t it?

If there is any ambiguity concerning what Jesus means, he seems to clear it up in the next few verses. Notice in verses 26-27 when Jesus says that the Father has granted the Son to have life in himself AND to execute judgement. Jesus’ audience believed that the Father had power to give life. They had read Genesis 1. Jesus is claiming to have been granted the same authority and power by the Father. This statement continues to emphasize the perfect harmony of will and purpose within the Godhead. 

In Daniel 7, (vv. 9-14) Daniel’s vision is that of a heavenly court scene and one “like a son of man” is led before the “Ancient of Days” and is granted authority to judge and rule in a kingdom that will never end. Jesus is saying to his audience, “You know about the son of man from the prophet Daniel. I am telling you that the son of man is one and the same with the son of God.” John is leading his audience to understand that Jesus is making a claim to be God with all authority and power to perfectly judge humanity and to give them life or condemn them. But, John has already pointed out in John 3:18 , “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” The judgement is neither arbitrary or partial. 

Jumping down to the last two verses of this section when Jesus says, “Do not marvel at this . . ,” he’s saying (my paraphrase) “Don’t be surprised when the dead come out of the tombs alive.” No, this is not a prophecy of a Zombie apocalypse. This is a prophecy of the end times when the Son of God/Son of Man returns to earth and speaks and the dead will rise. ( I told you this was a bold claim.) This can only happen when the One who is God and has power to give life and perfect judgment for good and evil returns to affect just that. Notice the statement about the judgement of all these called forth. Those who have “done good” to a resurrection resulting in life. But, to those who have “done evil” to judgment. 

This is one of those passages that people like to argue over. Don’t many Christians say, “All have done evil. The apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans, ‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’” (Rom. 3:23) That’s true. So, are all without hope? This text would seem to indicate that there is hope. How so? The other argument some might make is “See this Scripture tells us that salvation and hope of eternal life is based upon our good works and that if we’re good enough, we will be given eternal life.” But, again the Scripture tells us that there is “none righteous, not one.” (Rom. 3:10) This is one of those times when I going to jump ahead in our study and show you the answer to this dilemma that comes straight from Jesus himself. In the very next chapter (John 6:28-29) Jesus is speaking to people whom he has fed by a miracle. They come to him and ask him what works of the Father they must do. Essentially, they are asking Jesus what they can do to please God. His response in verse 29 is, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 

This is the bottom line. We must trust God about who Jesus is because he is the one whom the Father has sent. He is both the Son of God with all qualities of deity and he is the Son of Man who is given authority to judge humanity, but was  “lifted up” (crucified) (John 3:14-15) so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Episode 38 - Honor God by honoring the Son

Episode 38 - John 5:19-24

John 5:19   So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

The rest of chapter five is Jesus speaking to these Jewish leaders who want to kill him because they believe he broke the Sabbath and committed blasphemy by calling God his own father. I’m going to break this up into three episodes to call attention to details given by Jesus and how they are related to each other.

As you scan through the rest of chapter five, you’ll notice that there are three times Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you . . . “ That is a marker that we should take notice of what he is about to say because it's important. The first begins with “the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing . . . “(v19) The second begins with, “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life . . . “ (v24) The third occurrence begins with, “an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” (v25) We are going to look at these first two in this episode.

Jesus’ words “the Son can do nothing of his own accord,” may seem to create a problem when we consider the fact that the author has already clearly expressed and shown that Jesus is God. If that’s true, how can He as the Son of God and full deity “not” be able to do something on his “own accord?” God should be able to do anything on His own accord, right? The answer lies in the context that follows. He “ONLY” (my emphasis) does what he sees the Father doing. What follows then is this picture of a loving Father that shows His Son exactly what He himself does. This helps us have an idea of one aspect of our Triune God. The word Trinity in reference to God did not exist at the time of Jesus' time on earth. Yet, the human authors of our Christian Scriptures are sharing truths about Jesus to help us understand this mysterious nature of God. God is One; yet three in person; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What this shows us is the perfect will that exists between the Father and the Son. The statement that “the Son can do nothing of his own accord” is not lack of ability. It speaks of the Son’s complete dependence of will and harmony with the Father. 

Verse 21 reveals that just as the Father gives life to the dead, the Son has that authority as well. But, what He does will be in complete, perfect accordance with the will of the Father. 

Verse 22 and following reveal that the Father has given the Son responsibility and authority to judge for the purpose that people will honor the Son. This tells us that the Father’s will is for us not to think of Jesus as one who is secondary or slightly less important than the Father. The Father specifically wants us to honor His Son. In verse 23, Jesus tells them, “Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him (the Son).” This is a strong and harsh statement to Jesus’ antagonists who claim that they are honoring God because they are rejecting Jesus. My interpretation of what Jesus is telling them is, I am not coming on my own behalf. I have been sent by the Father and I am only doing what He wants me to do. If you do not recognize that and believe me, then you are not honoring the Father.

This brings us to the second “Truly, truly, I say to you . . . “ statement. Jesus has just said in verse 22 “the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son.” This should evoke in our minds the question, “what judgment would he give and on what basis?” Here is the answer in verse 24. Jesus says, “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” Jesus’ word will be in perfect harmony with the Father’s word since the Son does nothing on his own accord. That is why hearing Jesus’ word and believing him who sent Jesus are intrinsically tied together. Jesus IS the Father’s Word, the Father’s message to mankind. Anyone who has heard and believed in Jesus has already escaped the judgment of death. We’ll learn more about this in coming episodes. But, the important thing here is that once someone has believed the Father about Jesus, they have gained eternal life. This recalls John 3:18, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

Episode 36 - Do you want to be healed?

John 5:1-9

1   After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2   Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. 

The section begins the third sign that John specifically includes in his gospel account. You should notice that this one takes place back in Jerusalem. We have no idea how much time has passed since he was in Galilee. But, Jerusalem is the center of Jewish worship at the temple and we already know that the Jewish rulers are antagonists. They have heard that Jesus has become more popular than John the Baptist. By now, they’ve probably heard about him healing the man’s son in Galilee without even being present with the son. 

The details of this setting is that there is a man who has been lame for thirty-eight years and it would appear that he resides near this pool that is believed to have some power to heal people of their infirmities if they can only get into the pool in a timely manner. He has not been able to achieve that.  It is clear that he doesn’t know who Jesus is. He does not send anyone to ask Jesus to heal him. Jesus initiates the meeting. Jesus is aware that he’s been there a long time.

It seems to me that Jesus’ question to him is such an important question for everyone. “Do you want to be healed?” We might be inclined to think of that as a silly question for someone who has been lame for so long. The question expects a yes or no answer and we’d be inclined to think that everyone would answer yes. But, the man doesn’t answer yes or no. Instead, he provides an excuse as to why he’s not been able to get into the pool quick enough. It’s a “Yes, but . . .” kind of answer that leaves us wondering if he really does want to be healed. Jesus seems content with the answer. Perhaps Jesus perceives in that response a little bit of faith that he can be healed, but that the man’s expectation that getting into the pool at the right time needs to be corrected. Jesus simply commands him to get up, pick up his bed and walk. John tells us the man was healed instantly. We’re seeing a consistent pattern here, aren’t we. The Word of God speaks and God’s power and will are immediately effective. 

The final part of verse nine is John informing us that this occurred on the Sabbath. We will see in our next section why this is important. But, in this opening segment of this story, I would encourage you to ask yourself, “Do I want to be healed?” You may say, “But, I’m not lame, blind, or deaf.” But, you are dying. We are all dying; a result of mankinds’ disobedience to God. We are broken and not whole. God is offering to make us well through faith in Jesus. Do we want God to make us whole or will we make excuses about how we’ve not been able to accomplish it ourselves. The fact of the matter is that we cannot do it ourselves. We need Jesus. 

Episode 35- Believing without seeing

John 4:43-54

43   After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.

46   So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

Before we get to the heart of this healing miracle, I’d like to address something about the very last verse we read. John writes “This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.” (v. 54) At a cursory glance, one might think that John is telling us this is the second sign or miracle that Jesus worked. But, if you recall, John told us that Jesus was performing signs in Jerusalem at the Passover feast (John 2:23) . So, how do we take this? Is it a mistake? Has John quickly forgotten that Jesus had worked those miracles in Jerusalem? I don’t think so. Notice that John  qualifies this sign as the second one he did “when he had come from Judea to Galilee.” If you go back to John 1:43 we see the first time that Jesus goes from Judea to Galilee. It was while he was up there that he created the wine from the water just by speaking. Now, he returns to Galilee again from Judea via Samaria. 

With that cleared up, we could ask ourselves, “Why does John mention that it’s the second sign Jesus has worked in Galilee?” The text isn’t very clear on this. But, John’s recollection that Jesus himself had said, “A prophet has no honor in his own hometown” may give us an indication. Perhaps, this was John’s way of saying, that the people who had known Jesus all their life might have a difficult time believing that he is God’s Son. So, Jesus gave them evidence. He demonstrated more than once that he could do things no mere man could do. As we will see later in this book, Jesus points to the need for multiple witnesses to validate evidence of a truth. Therefore, he is providing multiple “witnesses” to his power and authority and by working more than one miracle he prevents any reasonable challenge that the first sign was a trick or a coincidence.

Moving on to the main part of this story, we learn that a man hears that Jesus is in Cana and he leaves Capenaum (in Galilee) to entreat Jesus to come to his home in order to heal the man’s dying son. Jesus responds in verse 48,  “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” Isn’t this a bit harsh? Does he have something against this man? What is happening is that while John records Jesus responding to the man, Jesus is actually indicting the crowd for needing a sign in order to believe. We know this because both occurrences of “you” in verse 48 are in the plural form; “unless you (all) see signs and wonders you (all) will not believe.”  The Samaritans believed his word, but not his own people. Does that remind you of John 1; “He came unto his own. But, his own did not receive him?” There is a principle here that it is better to believe without needing signs and wonders than believing by them. 

It’s an indictment against the people and it’s a challenge for the father whose son is dying. Yet, the man does not waver. In fact, I believe like the Samaritan woman, he demonstrates a little bit of faith. He simply replies, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” He demonstrates faith that Jesus is able to heal his son without Jesus actually having done it yet. Just like with the Samaritan woman, Jesus is now going to lead him farther into faith. He says, “Go! Your son will live.” John records that the man believed him and obeyed Jesus by beginning his journey home. The next day his workers met him and gave him the good news that the fever had left his son. When he inquired exactly when it began, he understood that it was the same hour that Jesus told him that his son would live. This awareness further confirmed the man’s faith and engendered faith among his household members as well. He understood that Jesus wasn’t a lucky guesser, or even someone with a special foresight. This was evidence that Jesus, the Word of God, could speak and instantly restore life and health from any distance. Jesus was so much more than he’d imagined. 

Sometimes God does things in people’s lives that seem to indicate His presence and power. But, God is calling us to trust Jesus by his word. Have you done that? Have you said to God, “God, I’m trusting you that Jesus is your one true Son, that you sent him into this world to show us who you are, that he died for our disobedient actions against you, and that you raised him from the dead giving us hope that he can and will someday speak as he did for this boy, and we who’ve had faith in him will be fully healed; even if we’ve already died. 

This sign demonstrates God’s patience to the feebleness of humans and our weak faith. It demonstrates his compassion and love. And it demonstrates his power is so great that even if Jesus isn’t physically present with us as he was with these people in Cana, he can speak and God’s actions are effective immediately.