John – Douglas Jacoby: Recent Episodes
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Why should you join in the daily Tour through John series? Listen to the short explanation (3 minutes) to find out. The 2018 series is A Tour Through John. Length: 50 days. Units average about 20 minutes, just right if you have to go to work early, or want to listen as you commute. (Each lesson Read More
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Jesus speaks to the apostles in chapters 13-16, on the eve of his death. For an excellent study on John 13:31-17:26, read The Last Discourse, by James Greig. Even though he knows that Judas is about to betray him, Jesus remains focused. In these final moments with his disciples he shows the true nature and quality of his Read More
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We continue to read the story of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman -- a story that could easily be titled "The Stranger." Click on the arrow to play the podcast (20 minutes), or right click here to save and listen later. 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Read More
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The story of the Samaritan woman is well known. She is a stranger to Jesus, as he is to her. But his interaction speaks volumes about what it means to be a Christian. Click on the arrow to play the podcast (22 minutes), or click here to save and listen later. 4:1 Now when Jesus learned that Read More
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Click on the arrow to play the podcast (18 minutes), or right click here to save and listen later. 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Again (from yesterday), the context of John 3:16 is the Read More
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We come to the ever-popular John 3! While most who profess Christ know only verse 16, the entire chapter is chock-full of incredible passages. For example, verse 16 requires faith for salvation, while verses 21 and 5 require repentance and baptism, respectively. And verse 30 is an amazing passage on humility. Click the arrow to Read More
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Click on the arrow to play the podcast (20 minutes), or right click here to save and listen later. Recap of lesson 5 (Water to Wine) Time out for a wedding: Shows us how Jesus related to others, valued them, connected with them Timing ("My time has not yet come."): Jesus was acutely aware that the clock Read More
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Click on the arrow to play the podcast (24 minutes), or right click here to listen later. Introduction Jesus' core group of disciples, his apostles, has grown. In chapter 2 he takes them to a wedding in Cana, in Galilee. This was also the home of Nathanael, about whom we read in 1:46-51; see also 21:2. Wedding Read More
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Click on the arrow to play the podcast (20 minutes), or right click here to listen later. Last time we looked at the first two days; today we will read about the third and fourth days. A lot is compressed into one chapter. Since the fourth day spans verses 43-51, it is not clear how 2:1 takes Read More
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Having set the stage with his prologue (vv.1-18), John the evangelist now begins the story proper. In this lesson (22 minutes), we cover John 1:19-34, which details the first two of four "days" compressed into the narrative frame of chapter 1. Click on the arrow to play the podcast, or right click here to listen later. Read More
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In this lesson (20 minutes), we will finish our study of the prologue (1:1-18), which sets the stage for the entire gospel. Click on the arrow to play the podcast, or to listen later, right click here and then click 'save target as' or 'save link as'. Comment: A prologue is important -- like the Read More
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In this opening lesson (15 minutes), we will consider the nature of John's gospel, and then probe the important prologue (1:1-18), which sets the stage for the entire gospel. Click on the arrow to play the podcast, or to listen later, right click here and then click 'save target as' or 'save link as'. The Read More
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Sunday Message at North River Church of Christ - April 10, 2016 http://bit.ly/1Sho5NH
The post Miracles of the Messiah appeared first on Douglas Jacoby.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the Read More
The post JOHN 1 – A appeared first on Douglas Jacoby.
19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." 21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you Read More
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29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' 31 I myself did not know Read More
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1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4 And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. Version: NRSV.
COMMENTS
General:
- Jesus' core group of disciples, his apostles, has grown. In chapter 3 he takes them to a wedding in Cana, in Galilee. This was also the home of Nathanael, about whom we read in 1:46-51; see also 21:2.
- Wedding parties in the Bible normally lasted 1-2 weeks (Genesis 29:27; Judges 14:12), so this was no half-day affair! Jesus did not place relationship building in opposition to preaching or ministry; they flowed together naturally.
- A new character enters the stage: Mary, the mother of Jesus. Interestingly, in this gospel her name is not even once mentioned. Several other Marys appear, however. (Can you locate them?)
- The wine gives out (v.3ff).
- What does Mary want Jesus to do?
- Is Jesus' mother taking charge, pressing him (consciously or not) to exercise his powers as the Son of God? If so, her pressuring him is premature.
- But there is another possibility. She may be reminding Jesus that his decision to be a wandering rabbi, followed by equally penniless disciples, has put the family in the embarrassing situation of not being able to meet the needs of the guests at the wedding celebration. Whichever interpretation is right, Mary is shifting responsibility onto Jesus.
- The Catholic view that we Mary is special influence over her son -- and hence we may petition her -- is not supported by this passage, but refuted. He says to her, in effect, "Don't push me around. I will do what I need to do. Leave it to me."
- For why Jesus replies so directly to her, click here.
- Jesus turns water to wine.
- Stone jars were used instead of clay pots for two reasons. They were more durable. And if something unclean fell into them (say, a lizard), the jars did not have to be broken (Leviticus 11:33); they would survive for future service.
- The total amount was easily 150 gallons -- an enormous quantity!
- For a picture of a large Galilean stone water jar, click here.
- It is clear that Jesus is following the Father's timing (v.4). For more on this theme, see 7:30; 8:20; 12:23; 13:1; 17:1. (This only a partial list.)
- Jesus will perform another miracle in Cana in chapter 4.
- What does Mary want Jesus to do?
- The famous cleansing of the Temple takes place in the second part of this chapter (tomorrow).
Advanced:
- About wedding feasts, see also Tobit 10:7: "...Now when the fourteen days of the wedding celebration had ended that Raguel had sworn to observe for his daughter, Tobias came to him..." Jewish wedding feasts could last 1-2 weeks.
- About the miracle of the water turned to wine:
- Some believe this was his 10th miracle (by comparing this passage with the chronology of Matthew, Mark, and Luke).
- In John's gospel it is his first "sign" -- not just a miracle, but a miracle with a special significance. 2:23 shows that Jesus had been doing a number of miracles, although 4:54 is the "second" John describes.
- Thus the common claim that this was his first miracle is false.
- This is an example of subversion of the social order. If Jesus created 500 liters of wine (perhaps more, perhaps less, based on the capacity of the stone water jars), and then the wine was diluted with water at a ratio of 1:1, there could have been 500 persons present at the banquet. In ancient banquets, the best wine was not only presented first; it was also served to the most important guests. (Ancient writers like Pliny and Martial complained about the inequality of such a practice.) By allowing all to enjoy the best wine, Jesus is implicitly placing everyone on the same level.
- But there is a deeper significance. The miracle has to do with the difference between the old way and the new way, the old covenant and the new covenant, Judaism and Christianity. They are different, though related. At first you think the new "wine" is better than the old, finer. But then you realize that, in comparison to the new, the old resembles water. Consider 1:17: the law comes with ritual (cleansing from ritual defilement, e.g.). The wine of the good news is much better!
- Jesus is signaling that the Messianic age is beginning. See Isaiah 25:6. Water for purification, such as that preserved in the stone jars, was part of the old order. This was being superseded by the new order, the nature and quality which was far superior.
- The 7 signs
- Demonstrate Christ's ultimate power over quality (water to wine), distance (healing of official's son), quantity (feeding 5000), nature (on the Sea), misfortune (blindness), and death (Lazarus).
- Are time-sensitive (wine running out; son at point of death; paralytic incapacitated for 38 years; too late in the day to arrange food; short-cut across Sea of Galilee; healing of a man blind all his life; raising of a man buried long enough ago that "he stinketh" [John 11:39 KJV]).
- Point towards Christ resurrection, the eighth and greatest sign, offering the promise of being ushered into the new order of things.
- Chapters 2-11 have been called by scholars "The Book of Signs," since they contain and are structured around seven "signs." Following this, chapters 12-21 have been dubbed "The Book of Glory."
Thought questions:
- Jesus took time out for a wedding. Are there activities whose importance I tend to minimize, perhaps wrongly considering them to be "less productive" than other, more "spiritual" endeavors?
- In my thinking (feelings based on my Bible study), how do the OT and the old covenant compare with the NT and the new covenant? As with the wine, does the new seem superior? If so, why? How might I explain my thinking to someone instructed only in the Law of Moses?
The post JOHN 2 – A appeared first on Douglas Jacoby.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there a few days. 13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at Read More
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1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken Read More
The post JOHN 20 – A appeared first on Douglas Jacoby.
19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 And when He had said this, He showed them Read More
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Our Teaching About John 15 For many years in our movement we have heard that the fruit Jesus describes in John 15 is the making of other disciples. Often we are told that the choice in this passage is between that interpretation and the idea that fruit is the fruit of the Spirit. We have Read More
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