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

 

 

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!

God is so awesome. Seriously think about it for a second. God, created…everything. Pretty simple. This week has been a rough road for my family. I’m low on sleep. Wife gets sick so I take the kid to dance class. She is still sick the next day. So kiddo and I run an errand. Car breaks down and it’s…expensive. The next day, kiddo gets sick.

Normally, this would have been a rough week for me. But the Spirit moved me and worked in my life throughout this period. While waiting at dance, I decided to take in my Bible to read. I finished reading Daniel. Talk about a guy that was burdened. God revealed images of the end times to that man. Can you imagine trying to get through a week after seeing what will happen to the world in the future?

Yesterday, I was able to sit in on the Bible study at church. This is one of the first ones I have been to in ages. Normally, I am trying to down dinner before choir practice or leaving work late. Hopefully I can continue to study with that group.

I fear that Christians are failing to spend time in the scriptures. 100 years ago the number of distractions was far fewer. So pulling out the KJV was just part of the evening. Read your Bibles. Read stories to your kids. It will make a difference in your life and help you to recognize when God gives you a little push now and then.

Yahoo Article

Well…we can either start passing blame or blame ourselves, but it really doesn’t matter.  Obviously Christians are not getting in their Bibles and not learning anything in their churches.
There is not an alternative way to salvation.  Jesus died for my sins so I can have eternal life.  “50% still agreed that other faiths might offer a path to eternal life”.  What?  Are you people kidding me!
Our Christian culture and society is losing this subvert war.  “Christian” is no longer someone that is saved by Christ and has faith, etc.  It is now simply any nice person.  Oh, she must be a christian because she helped the guy cross the street.  Wrong! 
Take a moment to read Rev 3:14-19.  (I’m going to read into the Church in Laodicea.  Sounds a bit familiar.)

Scripture Reference;

I was telling my wife about a new PC game I have been playing called Sins of a Solar Empire (SoaSE).  There is a game feature that allows you to passively defend and attack other space empires.  Oddly enough, its called Culture.  Basically we watched an entire movie together one night as I left the game running and unattended.  To my pleasant surprise, the majority of the map was covered by my empires culture and I had great wealth stored.  All I had to do to finish the game was wipe up a few planets with my overwhelming fleets.

After reading this article, here is her reply…

[15:01] k: It is like your game
[15:02] s: with culture? ya.
[15:02] k: Satan plays the game and then sits back and lets his cultural destroy everything

Yeah, she hit the nail on the head.  That’s why I love her so much and thank the Lord everyday for her being in my life.

The big difference is that this is real life.  And billions of souls hang in the balance.  The good news is that God never looses.  I’ve picked a side.  Jesus Christ saved me.  He saved you.  You just need to accept it.  There is no other way to be saved.