Ansible-One

This week we only briefly discussed last week’s topics.  Few revisions were made to the previous post.  Dr. Underwood’s handout was riddled with formatting issues and typos so I have corrected some of these.  Again, the outline and questions are posed by Dr. Underwood and the commentary in blue is mine.

 Discovery Class – Week 2

John 2

John 1

• He is God
• John announces his coming
• John explains his role (baptize with the Spirit)
• John identifies his purpose (“behold the Lamb of God”)
• John 1:49 Nathaniel uses Messianic phrase that identifies him as the Messiah
• Holy Spirit settles on Jesus which identifies him as the promised Messiah/King
• All aspects of John 1 lead us to conclude that Jesus is God, the promised Messiah, and the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant.
• “Son of Man” vs. 51 (emphasizes divine authority of Jesus); Dan. 7:13

John 2:1-11 (The first miracle)

• The ultimate embarrassment: __________
  Running out of wine at the wedding
• Mary asked Jesus to change water to wine because __________
  She knew that He was the son of God.
• “It is not yet my time” suggests __________
• Jesus did this miracle at a public venue because __________
  He wanted there to be no doubt in who He was
• Wine in the NT is symbolic of __________
  The blood of Jesus Christ
• Why all the witnesses? __________
• What is the significance of “you have kept the good wine until now?”
  Traditionally, the best and strongest wine was used first.
• The typology of the Jewish wedding and Messiah is __________
  In the Jewish wedding tradition, the bride does not know when the groom will come and take her to the wedding.  No one knows when the Messiah will come to take the believers.
• As we consider the first miracle of Jesus we should conclude: __________

John 2:12-17 (The misplaced story?)

• This is an event that probably took place at the end of Jesus ministry.
• Why is it here?  Jesus quotes Jer. 7:11 & Isa. 56:7 in the synoptic gospels.
  John is packaging the story to inject that Jesus shares the emotions of God from the OT.
       Isa. 1 (the indictment)
• God hates insincere worship and perversion of the faith.
• Jesus demonstrates He is exactly like God (the Father) Col. 1
• John’s point:  Jesus is __________
  God.

John 2:18-19

• The prediction to the Jewish leaders

John 2:23-25

• “Many people believed in his name because they saw the miraculous signs he was doing”

Questions:

1. Based on what they witnessed, how should the people who were at the wedding react?
   They should be completely shocked.  It has been hundreds of years since the prophets of the OT foretold the coming of Jesus.  Even still, some would have known of John the Baptist by this point as well.  Some would had to have been in awe at the sight, but would would have to beleive and know that He was someone special and of God at very least.
2. Based on the facts we see in John chapters 1 & 2, how should we respond?
   That Jesus is the Messiah.  Prophesized in the OT and witnessed by those in the NT.

Jim Underwood 2009

We attending a new class and taught by Dr. Jim Underwood.  For my benefit I will be logging notes and comments from the discussions as we progress through the class.

Below are questions he gave us to go though.  I will put my best efforts to answer them here and then come back to the post to add any comments or corrections after each class.  I usually use BibleGateway.com for my reading and references, but this time I will also use Bible.org since it was referred by Dr. Underwood.

I am really excited about this series mainly because it is focused entirely in John and the theology that makes up the book and our faith.  Also, because I was on the cusp of being schooled on the Committed Critic blog.  Maybe if I can expand my knowledge a bit I can contribute more to the discussions in the future.  To see that discussions, click here: http://www.committedcritic.com/2009/08/20/confusion-and-explanation-in-john-6/

Discovery Class Outline – Week 1

John 1

John 1:1-5

Who is the “Word”?

God.
Additional reading into the word “Word” here shows it uses the Greek word logov or logos.  The word has a history dating even further back into Jewish history.  Bible.org even lists a definition that points back to John.

3) In John, denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the
personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in
creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the
world’s life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement
of man’s salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the
Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth
conspicuously from His words and deeds.
-Bible.org

What role has “the Word” played in the history of the world?

The Word has been since the beginning and before creation.  It connects the Word to Jesus and therefore Jesus to the beginning.

What is the significance of “life”?

zwh (zoe)* is life but it can be used to mean more than just life from birth to death as we know it in English.  zwh would be everlasting life in this case.  An existence spent in eternity.  So Jesus has a life that surpasses anything known inside of creation.

What is the significance of “light”?

The light is the knowledge or maybe the understanding who Jesus was.  He dwells in us.  I will likely need to revise this one, but it seems that if the darkness cannot understand the light then the light can lead us past anything the darkness puts in our way.

What’s the point of this passage?

This passage begins the book by showing that Jesus is God and establishing Him over all creation.

John 1:5-13

What is the significance of “sent from God”?

This is almost a contradiction in a way.  How can God send Himself?  However, you can also say that God was taking Himself into creation from His place in majesty. 

Where did this guy “John” come from? (Luke 1:7)

In Luke 1 near vs7 John’s parentage is described.  Zechariah was a priest, his wife was a descendent of Aaron.  “Both were upright in the sight of the Lord.” Luke 1:6.  John was their son.

In John 1:7 we find John testifying in the wilderness.

Is the above important?

It was prophesied in the OT.  In Isaiah I think.  I will need to look it up later.

Hmmm…seems like verses 12 & 13 are important. Why?

John clarifies his statement my eliminating other ways to be born.  The “true light” was able to give the right to mankind to become children of God.  Being born into God began a new life.  Not a life created by man.

John 1:14-18 (The testimony of John)

I wonder what “only begotten” means…?

The dictionary says several things, but each basically means; to come from oneself.  So “only begotten” would mean God’s only child or creation.  Around the time John was written, I believe many Christians were searching and waiting for the messiah to return.  Many would begin to follow false prophets claiming to be the Christ.  (I can probably find references to back this up, but those resources are readily available to me at the moment.)  If John is writing to reach some of these people they may understand it to mean, Jesus was the only and only one to come.  All others would be pretenders.

John 1:18 (What is John saying?)

That Jesus has seen God and existed along side of God.  Not just making Jesus equal to God, but more literally making Jesus God.  They are one in the same.

John 1:19-34

Why is verse 23 so important?  What is the “prophetic motif”?

John the Baptist is quoting Isaiah directly in fulfillment of the prophecy.  The motif is the Messiah is coming.

Why is John baptizing (verse 28)

 So the Messiah would be revealed to Israel.  I believe this was part of the prophecy in Isaiah as well.  I really need to find that reference!  Under the old law, the sacrifice was cleaned or baptized before the offering. 

“Behold” (verse 29)

In the NIV it just says “Look”.   Behold really conveys the feeling though.  Again I went back to the Greek available on Bible.org.

I think the word used was “blepei”* or “see” followed by “ton” which is similar to “that”.  “See that!”  I can almost see John talking to the Pharisees and pointing directly at Jesus with a half crazed half amazed look on his face.  I certainly cannot image talking to what appeared to be a nut case on the street corner and he points behind me saying, “That’s God!  Right there!”

“Spirit” verse 32; What does this mean? (Zech. 7) (Saul)

The kings of the OT had Holy Spirit with each them.  When the Holy Spirit stays with Jesus it makes him the king.  On hearing this I doubt the Pharisees were impressed.  This seems to be just another point in passage that is reinforcing the validity of the sovereignty of Jesus.

John 1:35-51 (The testimony of Jesus)

What does the word “call” generally mean in the NT?  (vs. 39; 43)

 Someone would call to the another.  To tell or to direct.  Jesus called the disciples.  Philip called Nathanael.

Its an offer that cannot be refused.

What is God’s lesson for me from this chapter of John?

 Jesus is God.  His sovereignty is supported by scripture and prophecy.

Jesus fills the roles of prophet, priest, and king.

Jim Underwood 2009
Outline of Questions

*Looks like my fonts were not right when I initially wrote this.  It should have dawn on me that ancient greeks didn’t use English characters.  Duh.  Install the fonts from this site…  http://net.bible.org/fonts.php

Then go here to see John 1 in Greek…  http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Joh&chapter=1&tab=grkheb

 

 

Recently I taught the youth group at church since the director was unable to be there.  She gave me the material to look through for Sunday and I began to prepare for the class.

Needless to say, I was nervous.  I have taught little ones before, but had yet to teach the upper age groups.  Despite the number of reasons one might dream up for me teaching that day, it all really just comes down to me helping my sister by filling in.

The lesson was on The Shema.  Here is a very little bit of Jewish tradition and biblical history for you.  The Hebrews escaped from Egypt and then wondered in the wilderness for 40 years.  As the time approached for them to claim Canaan as God had promised, Moses needed to reiterate the law.  The book of Deuteronomy details these laws.

Shema in Hebrew is “hear” or “listen.”  Moses repeated addresses the people Shema Yisrael.  Hear O Isreal.  The Shema is the greatest commandment of these laws.  Jewish tradition will uses these verses as a pray in the mornings and at night.  As Christians, it’s a base line principal that we all should be living our lives by.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NIV)
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

You should have heard something like this by now.  Golden rule, Greatest Commandment, etc.  We use them in songs and in prayer.  But how committed are we? That was the real point of the lesson.  The commitment.  God promised to give the land of Canaan to his children.  They were are verge of entering that land and taking all it had to offer for themselves.  All God asked them to do, all he asks us to do, is love.  Let’s read on for just a bit.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (NIV)
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Moses plainly gives ways for the Israelites to be committed.  We do some of these things today.  Have you ever seen a T-Shirt or desk calendar with these words on it?  Of course.  One of the most important would be passing your commitment to your children.

Deuteronomy 6:10-12 (NIV)
When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Finally.  Moses gets to the point.  Here he reminds them that yes, God made a promise, and He is keeping it.  So also, we should never forget what He has done for us.  His Son, a sacrifice for our sins, because He loves us.  To sanctify our hearts so we can be with our creator forever.