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

 

 

This past July the family and I accompanied the Youth group to Glorieta, NM.  Our job was to drive a van and provide additional chaparone support as needed for the group.  The past several years I have gone as part of the team so to speak so this year was quite a change.  As it turns out, we were needed.  There was an emergency situation that required my wife heading in one direction to the hospital while I stayed behind to provide authority if needed.

All of that aside, Glorieta is awesome.  We played, worshipped God, and studied in the Word.  We will definately return as a family.  It is easy to relax and enjoy God’s creation and to be renewed by His spirit.

At home, it is nearly impossible to explore and experience raw creation like you can at Glorieta.  Everything is city.  Parks are small, and the larger ones are dangerous simply because people can be dangerous.  Not that I would let my son roam free at camp, but the attitudes of the people around us were quite different.

For example, the first thing the kiddo wanted to do was climb a mountain.  He ran to the back door of our building pointed through the glass and said, “that’s the one I am going to climb.”  The next morning we go out and start looking at our assigned challenge.  No paths.  No trails.  No sign any human had picked this spot to start climbing.  So we intrepidly dive into the woods up the slope.  We had made it maybe 20 feet when the volunteer building manager came out onto the back porch.

Instantly I’m thinking, here it comes, she’s going to tell us not to go this way or we can’t do this.  She asked if we are going on a hike?  After about 30 seconds of exchange she said, “Well, have a great time!”

I was floored.  Not that there wasn’t some part of me that expected her to just give us the thumbs up, but the whole conversation was genuine and direct.  None of the positioning and rationalizing that normally happens.  Off we go into the woods.

About an hour in we spot a road obviously used by horses and work trucks so we start to follow it.  (NOTE: it is nearly impossible to get lost.  Glorieta is at the bottom of the slope and the bell tower chimes every 30 minutes.)  In a few minutes we see a truck coming and we move out of the way so they can pass.  Friendly smiles and waves pass us and we keep on walking.  A few minutes later the truck is back.  I slip back to my “city” mode and think this guy is here to gripe at us for being there.

The worker asks if we are looking for a particular trail.  Since we weren’t looking for anything we asked there were any nearby we could check out.  He not only described the trail but when he drove away he motioned toward it as well.  Again just like the woman, this man was genuine.

I don’t know if was just the mountains or the camp, but after that morning I didn’t care about where I was or who I was talking to the rest of the time.  I know it is easy to see God’s presence in the midst of camp “spiritual highs”, but there is something to be said when Christians are acting like Christians.  If at home, church, or far away at camp we should always remember to love one another.

For the last couple years I have been lucky enough to join the youth at our church as they go on their mission trips during the summer.  This year I get to tag along again.  What is different this time is that my real purpose is to just be a driver.  Unfortunately there are no guys going but there are enough girls that the youth minister still wanted me there to drive and help with any chaperon type duties.

I offered that I bring my family along this time and they accepted.  This actually really helps for numbers.  We will have three adults able to drive and cover various duties as needed.  While my family is there, we will be doing separate activities from the rest of the group however.  This works well too.  Most of the activities at the camp are geared for high school ages and my sons is about a decade shy of being able to enjoy them.

So wifey and I are planning out various educational\homeschool things that we would want to hit while we are in Glorieta.  We are also planning on time that we can devote our full focus to God and the marvelous things he has done.  In addition to that we are planning meals, car activities for the kiddo, and a ton of other things.  Planning, planning, and more planning.

I know that we aren’t alone.  There are some that go bonkers about planning for trips.  Others don’t plan at all.  Life isn’t exactly a perfectly orchestrated adventure.  But when it comes to the Kingdom of Heaven, what’s the plan?  Thankfully God’s plan IS perfectly laid out for us.  Jesus teaches us how to love, and by loving God and each other we are fulfilling his command.  Everything else in this world flows around that.  So make plans, but realize that God’s plan is the one that always works.

What a beautiful morning!  As I drove into work I watched the sun rise and the haze created a truly picturesque setting.  Traffic started build, ok no problem.  I exited and took the back way into work.

Right after I exited, I noticed a big white truck in front of me with a series of bumper stickers that all retorted some sarcastic or aggressive statement.  Then I noticed one on the bottom of the tail gate.  A bit more difficult to see, on purpose of course, this one was the most offensive of them all.  Using a curse word that is a favorite of many people I work with and commonly used on TV.

Well, it fit the profile of the truck.  Big white truck, insulting stickers on the back, it is Texas after all.  Our paths continued to parallel as I approached work.  At the next light I saw another sicker that prompted me to take the picture in the post.  It read, “Nerds for Jesus.”

Well, it could be anything, I know, but how does having 4 or 5 offensive messages posted on the back of your truck have anything to do with Jesus?  One of the greatest struggles Christians are dealing with today is hypocrisy in our ranks.

I searched out Nerds for Jesus on the net and found a small site.  They have the right idea.  Geeky people are Christians too.  Have a community, attract others, plant seeds, grow.  But the story of this truck gets worse.  As I pass the truck, I see the father inside tending to the child in a car seat in the back.  Now my heart sinks another notch.  All I can think now is the kid and how that duplicity will be built into how he is raised.

Maybe they should reread James chapter 3.  I reread the whole chapter, but these verses really stood out for me.

James ch 3:9-10 NIV
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

I censored the picture, but here it is anyway.  You get the idea.  If you really want the whole thing I will email it to you.

Can you see how this hurts Christians?
Will you see how it hurts God?
Make an effort to control your tongues!