John Chapter 1 - Commentary

1-5 The Eternal Genealogy of Christ

Genealogy of John’s Gospel:

• Matthew describes the genealogy of Christ as the “Lion of Judah”, from Abraham through the royal line to Joseph to show Christ’s legal right to the throne of David.

• Mark’s focus on Christ as the servant makes a genealogy irrelevant.
• Luke’s emphasis of Jesus’ humanity takes the genealogy back from Mary (the reference to Joseph the son of Heli is actually Mary’s father).
• John focuses Jesus’ pre-incarnate eternal state as God, who has no ancestors.

Attributes of the Word

logos denotes a thought or purpose (we learn of 7 divine attributes of the Word):

• Eternal – there was “nothing” before Him; He just “was…”

In the beginning is better translated “first was the Word” arche or “before anything”.

was God is known as a durative imperfect, meaning continuing action from “before”.

The world was created with time, as time is a property of this universe.

• Deity – Christ was divine in and of Himself – the I AM (Exodus 3:14). Verse 14 and 18 emphasize qualitatively that He is the One and Only Son, distinct from all others. He wears the title “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:16).

• Person – distinct from the Father, you can’t be “with yourself”. John 17:24 describes how in eternity past, the Father, Son and Spirit enjoyed loving fellowship. Note Isaiah 44:6 where Christ is mentioned as a separate person:

⁶“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.

• Creator – anything that was made (caused to “be”), He made. He wasn’t made.

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”

In the Hebrew: B’raisheet barak Elohim hashmam yat’hardz

notice Elohim is plural but the verb “barak” is singular. This is an intentional syntactical error to highlight that more than one “person” was involved in the process of creation.

Colossians 1 describes Christ’s power as the sustainer of the universe:

¹⁶For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

• The Life – created things do not have life of themselves, but are animated. He is the Living One, with power over death, as described in Revelation 1:

¹⁸I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

• The Light – a title for Jesus, showing His character of revealing the truth to men. (John 1:18)

God created light ( phos – phoôs) and life (zoe - zoe), and spiritually, they are synonyms. Their opposites are Darkness and Death. The spiritually dead are also blind, likewise, those with the life, can see and apprehend God. Light and darkness cannot co-exist; darkness cannot “stand” or “possess” light. See also John 12:44-45.

• Became Flesh – incarnation identified in verse 14. Yet He is the fullness of Deity in bodily form (Col 2:9). He is both perfect as God, and yet completely man, born for the purpose of dying for us as our kinsman redeemer.

The Perfect Representation of the Father

Christ is the perfect image of the Father (Col 1:15), and Jesus emphasizes this is His mission in John 14:9 – anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. John defines these attributes around seven key “I AM” statements Jesus makes later in the gospel:

• Bread of Life - John 6:35, 41, 48, 51
• Light of the World - John 8:12, 9:5
• The Door - John 10:7, 9
• Good Shepard - John 10:11, 14
• The Resurrection and the Life - John 11:25
• The Way, the Truth and the Life - John 14:6
• True Vine - John 15:1, 5

6-14 The WORD Revealed

[6] When did the Old Testament End?

John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament Prophets. Luke 16:

¹⁶“The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.”

[9] Christ the True Light

Can man know God without the witness of Jesus Christ? While nature proclaims the glory of God, nature is itself “fallen” and in darkness, and therefore only a distorted reflection of God’s glory. Light reveals what is hidden in darkness. For man to understand God, he would first need spiritual “light”. Christ came as the “true light” as emphasized in John 14:

⁹Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

[12] Who are the Children of God?

The European Union anthem refers to the universal brotherhood of man. If that were true, we would all be from the same parents. (Symbol of Europa, a woman riding a horse over seven hills). Jesus states that Sonship to God is not universal, but only available to those who receive Him, the Christ. This is by the will of God, as noted in verse 13. This is further explained in John 14 by Jesus:

¹⁵“If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶And I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—¹⁷the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

As adopted sons of God, we are joint heirs, as described in Romans 8:

¹⁴For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

[14] God Incarnate

“Dwelt” or some translations read “Tabernacled”, from the Greek skenoo (skenoo) means to “tent or encamp” and is the same concept as the tabernacle of Exodus 40:

³⁴Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. ³⁵And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Note the model of the tabernacle and how the materials of the tabernacle represent attributes of Christ:

• Gold - represents the Deity and Kingship of Christ
• Acacia wood - the thorn bush of the desert, speaking of Christ’s humanity
• White linen - represents righteousness
• Porpoise skins - gray outside speaks of no form or comeliness
• Silver sockets - the entire structure rests on the blood of the lamb

The implements in the Tabernacle symbolize Christ

• One door into the Holy of Holies
• Brazen (bronze) alter – represent sacrifice (to give His life a ransom for many)
• Laver (sink for cleansing) –
• Lamps – Jesus is the light of the world
• Bread – I’m am the Bread of Life
• Incense – I pray for them (John 17:9)
• Mercy Seat – the throne of God, where the blood was sprinkled.

15-23 The Witness of John the Baptist

[19] Why did the leadership of the Jews ask John the Baptist who he was? Because one of three prophets were expected:

As the Messiah Malachi 3:

¹“Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the LORD of hosts. ²“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderers’ soap. ³He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness.

Is this the manner we would expect the coming of the Lord? As a refiner by fire?

As Elijah Malachi 4:

⁵Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. ⁶And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

Why is the coming of the Lord dreadful?

As Moses Deuteronomy 18:

¹⁵“The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear…. ¹⁸I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.

The best guess of the Pharisee’s was that Moses would return some day. This is the fulfillment of the “Two Witnesses” in Revelation.

Matthew characterizes this with John’s dismissal of the Pharisee’s, and reference to judgment as well in chapter 3:

³For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’” ⁴Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him ⁶and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁷But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, ⁹and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. ¹⁰And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ¹¹I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹²His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Jesus clarified why the leaders missed Him. They expected judgment and fury of the Lord against “non-Jews”, but Jesus explained His mission. Luke 4:

¹⁶So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. ¹⁷And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: ¹⁸“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; ¹⁹To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”^20Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. ²¹And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

What is important to note is that Jesus stopped at a comma – Notice Isaiah 61:

¹“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; ²To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,

The Jews were confused by both John the Baptist, because he didn’t fit the three possible scenarios, and Jesus didn’t come to “destroy” the enemies of Israel. He will! The Pharisee’s didn’t understand He was coming twice, first for the gospel, then later for a day of vengeance! Some scholars say that was in 70 A.D. (Preterist position).

[23] Parallel Isaiah 40:

¹“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. ²“Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’S hand Double for all her sins.” ³The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. ⁴Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; ⁵The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

The Pharisee’s missed this prophecy. John the Baptist was this proclaimer.

24-36 The Lamb of God

[25] Baptism of Jews was viewed as disgraceful, as an insult to the children of Abraham. Only proselytes were baptized with water (immersed) as a purification ceremony, and then it only allowed them to enter the outer court of the temple. John’s baptism was not of the Holy Spirit, but was a ceremonial repentance and cleansing in preparation for the coming of the Lord – showing that the Jews needed repentance and cleansing as did Gentiles.

37-51 The Calling of the Disciples

One theory is that the disciples were actually much younger, and were honored to follow a renowned rabbi, and not burdened with families or jobs, so their response is understandable.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

John Chapter 2 - Commentary

1-11 The Wedding in Cana

[1] Jewish tradition is to be married on Tuesday, because in Genesis it was “twice blessed”.

[4] Eight times Jesus states “My hour has not yet come”. Zechariah 9:9 records what that hour is, Palm Sunday, the 10^th of Nisan, 4 days before Christ’s trials and crucifixion.

[5] Good advice from Mary – “do what He says…”

[6] What is the meaning of the sign of the miracle?

• The number of water pots is significant - six represents “man”, incomplete (seven is completeness) and were made of clay, from the dust of the earth….
• They are used for “purification” in Jewish religious rituals.
• They were empty – like the dead and ceremonial religion of their day.

Using implements of a dead and ceremonial religion, Jesus shows how when the vessel is filled with the “water of life”, it is filled with joy (wine) by the power of God – to the brim

[11] John tells us why this sign is placed here - to show that Jesus symbolically reveals His mission and purpose

• Note for the miracle to take place, obedience of the servants was required and preparation had to be made – they were each several “firkin” which are goatskins of 6-8 gallons, totaling 6 large 18-24 gallon pots!
• They acted on faith taking the water to the master of the feast
• Christ rewarded them with “joy” overflowing to the brim
• So the question is what is your favorite ‘whine’?

12-23 The Cleansing of the Temple

[15] Realize that the outer court was a large outdoor area that was patrolled by temple guards. This was not a trivial event, and must have been widely discussed among the million or so Jews in the city for Passover. What is the relationship between the cleansing of the temple and the recounting of the miracle at the Wedding in Cana?

• Jesus was preparing the vessel for worship and the place of worship by cleansing
• The very glory of God that hovered over the mercy seat in Solomon’s temple had returned to the temple in visible form, but they could not see Him as He was.
• The religion of man is always joyless, empty, and ultimately meaningless. God cleanses us, gives us real purpose and a reason to worship with joy because we have hope.

[17] The whole point of an outer court “for the Gentiles” points to the failure of the Jews. God intended “all nations” to worship Him, but the Jews ceremonially isolated themselves based on outward sign (of circumcision) and genealogy.

How does our worship today reflect on us? Is it adoration of God or of ourselves? Do we prepare our minds and meditate on God’s Word in worship, or is fellowship and music the focus? Repentance and cleansing is always associated with praise in scriptural worship.

Be reminded that Christ wrote the today’s churches about correct worship. Revelation 3:

¹⁴“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: ¹⁵“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. ¹⁷Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—¹⁸I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. ¹⁹As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

[19] The Pharisees intentionally distorted the meaning of this phrase during one of the illegal trials (Matt 26:61). Here, they display willful blindness. Remember John 1:

⁹That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ¹¹He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him

[22] Jesus knew the temple would be destroyed, and while the Jewish leadership had placed their pride in Herod’s temple, standing among them was the creator of matter, time and energy. That temple has been replaced by the “true” temple of the church. Ephesians 2:

¹⁹Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, ²¹in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, ²²in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

[25] Who testified of Jesus? John the Baptist, His disciples, and the signs He performed.


Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

John Chapter 3 - Commentary

1-13 Jesus with Nicodemas

[1] Nicodemus

The Talmud records he was one of the four richest men in Jerusalem, and possibly the Nicodemus ben Gorian, the brother of historian Josephus. Later he was reckoned a disciple of Jesus and lost his wealth. His position as a Pharisee was of great esteem. It is likely he represented a faction of the Pharisee’s who were open to considering Jesus the Messiah, partly due to his acknowledgment of Jesus’ signs. He had “everything” the world could offer, a sharp mind, wealth, prestige, position, power; every reason to be self-assured.

[3] Born “again”..

an'-o-then “from above”, “from the first”, “anew”. Unless you are regenerated anew from above is a valid translation. Nicodemus asked “what do you mean?” rhetorically, focusing on how an old man can change his ways. “Born again” by water and spirit reflects the “death, burial, and resurrection” of repentance, baptism and receipt of the Holy Spirit. Anything else is not “from above” or truly “regenerative”. Without this, one cannot perceive or understand the things of God.

[8] The wind blows…

Play on words from pneuma, which can mean spirit, breath, or wind. The Spirit is at work in the lives of believers, but those without the light cannot understand His ways. I Corinthians 18:

⁸For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

The Spirit is not known by a visible sign, but by the effect on those who He indwells.

[9] How can this be? Asks Nicodemus – yet he should have known these concepts as a “teacher of the law”.

Ezekiel 36:

²⁴For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. ²⁵Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. ²⁶I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Jeremiah 31:

³³But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. ³⁴No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Jesus was implying that this time had come – that through Him this covenant was about to be fulfilled – something sincere Jews were fervently looking forward to. Remember Luke 2:

²⁵And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, ²⁸he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: ²⁹“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; ³⁰For my eyes have seen Your salvation ³¹Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, ³²A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

[11] You do not receive the witness

We are told that men are blinded by the god of this age (II Cor 4:4), so how does the light of the gospel penetrate the hearts of the blind. It is not for us to “prove” Christianity, but the witness of the Holy Spirit, that will regenerate (replace) a heart of stone with a heart of flesh.

[13] From heaven…

Christ is NOT a great teacher. He is either delusional, a great liar, or God, Yahweh. He claims His origin was heaven 8 times in John: 3:13, 6:33, 6:38, 6:46, 6:51, 6:62, 8:23, 8:42

14-35 Christ’s Role Symbolized as the Serpent on the Pole

[14] Recall in Numbers 21:9, where no remedy devised by man can save, but only trust in the payment made by Christ on the cross. Man wasn’t told to fight the serpents, treat the wound, offer ceremonial sacrifice – just to the sign of God’s redemption.

⁶ The LORD sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. ⁷So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. ⁸Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.” ⁹And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.

Jesus “became” the serpent, symbolizing the sin of our lives, in our place and was judged in our stead. See Isaiah 53.

[16] The Gospel in one verse. God suffered to redeem us. To carelessly ignore this sacrifice is to further injure the Father with ingratitude.

[17] Christ came to the world in incarnate form to redeem us. He didn’t need to do that if He simply wished to condemn and punish us.

[19] Men “agapao” the darkness – the alternative to John 3:16

Strange that this word, “agapao” appears here, which is best translated as “totally given over to”. Men condemn themselves, they choose to hate that which could give everlasting life.

[20] “Judge Not, Lest Ye Be Judged”.

While this is shoved in our faces when evil is exposed, the fact is man is already judged. We are to be the Light of the World – which by nature demands evil is exposed, and truth is spoken, even if that means we will be rejected. Christ creates a great moral divide between mankind – those who accept Jesus as their savior and those who choose to disbelieve. Unbelief is not passive, or the absence of faith, it is a willful act of disobedience.

Psalm 53:

¹The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”




Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

John Chapter 4 - Commentary

1-26 The Samaritan Woman

[10] Living water is the Holy Spirit

[14] No appetite in this life will ever be satisfied.

Comparison between the meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well and Nicodemus:

Nicodemus	Samaritan Woman
Man of prestige and learning	Woman of poor reputation and unlearned
Came to Jesus	Jesus came to her
Came in darkness	Came at noon
A leader of the Jews	An outcast of a despised class of people
Prejudiced and proud	Unprejudiced and humble
Looking to justify himself	Admitted her sin and shortcomings
Jesus was blunt	Jesus was tactful
Nicodemus was silenced	The woman confessed to her neighbors
Water of baptism	Water of Life
Chastised for not understanding	Tried to understand, if imperfectly
Was not convinced Jesus was Messiah – needed more information	Sir, give me this water – asked without waiting to understand all the details
No record of bearing fruit	Bore fruit in her village

Similarities:

Jesus used metaphors they would both understand if their heart were open.

Water and Spirit, worship is not a physical process but spiritual

Christ testifies to His position as the Messiah

Both acknowledged Jesus was a great teacher or prophet

Christ will have audience to all people, famous or not, rich or poor, esteemed or outcast.

3 “musts” – Be born again, the Son must be lifted up, God must be worshipped in spirit.

27- 42 The Harvest is Near

[36] Testifying for Christ will be rewarded, and is to be honored. Missionaries especially.

43- 54 Jesus in Galilee

[54] This is the second sign in Galilee, as if John has a point for us to note.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

John Chapter 5 - Commentary

1-16 Healing the Paralytic at Bethesda

Bethesda means ‘house of mercy’. The pool was designed for washing animals.

[4] An angel stirred the water?

[6] Do you want to be made well?

Simple question, but the response was excuses why he “couldn’t” become well. Do we make excuses for why we can’t be made well? Do we really want to become well?

The man was first spiritually sick – avoiding responsibility for being made whole.

He had self-pity – so much so he missed the point of Jesus’ question.

• Jesus calls him to “Get up!”,
• Take up your mat – take responsibility
• Go – make the right faith choices even if you don’t “feel” like it

He immediately faced opposition and persecution (Matthew 5 – blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven).

He grew in knowledge, and witnessed to others. Jesus sought him out to exhort him to sin no more. Jesus seeks us, showing compassion.

Sometimes we wait until we think we have “full knowledge” of God’s will – we get so lost in the seeking that we forget we should be seeking the lost. (Note Chapter 4’s reference to the harvest being white, and he sent us to reap.)

[11] Healing on the Sabbath

Do we have equivalent biases? Do we attack fellow workers in the Kingdom because they aren’t doing something the way we think they should? The Sabbath is not needed by God (Isaiah 40:28 – The Father wearies not).

17-21 Christ and the Father are as One

[17] The Pharisees clearly understood Jesus intent when he refers to “My Father” to mean He claimed Divinity.

[20] Christ is in relationship to the Father –

Christ models the role of a Son to a Father. That relationship should be in our families.

• Submits to the authority of the Father
• Has affection and displays open love for the Son
• They have fellowship
• The Son honors the Father

22-38 Jesus is the Righteous Judge

[22] The Father has committed all judgment to the Son. This makes Jesus equal to God, worthy of worship, and honor.

[24] Avoiding judgment

The only way to escape judgment is given here. In fact, we’re resurrected at that very point. Christ is the giver of life, both here and eternally. This is underscored by Paul in II Corinthians 5:

¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad ¹¹Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men

[30] Qualities of a righteous judge – do any of these apply to earthly judges?

• Authority earthly judges authority is conferred by appointment, and decisions are based on precedents of others’ decisions
• Concerned with right and wrong (law is only a reflection of “justice”. The “dispassionate” judge only interested in the facts is not scriptural.
• Discerns the Truth, and loves wisdom.
• Executes righteous sentence. Correctly chastening sinners to be repentant. Moral indifference, is a sin. God will reveal His righteousness in judgment Rom 2:5.

[38] The Word did not abide in the Pharisees

God isn’t interested in adherence to ceremonial religion. Christ ignored the Talmud, but fulfilled the Torah. The Pharisees display a form of idolatry by holding up man’s rules over God’s plan.

39-47 The Witness to Jesus’ Divine Calling

[39] Why read the Old Testament?

The scriptures attest to Christ – where can you find Him?

Augustine – “the New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed, the Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed”.

• The Father
• John the Baptist
• Miracles and Signs (not just miracles, but time & place of birth, lineage, etc)
• The description of the coming Messiah in the OT

Some of the witnesses of the Old Testament the Pharisees should have noticed or learned about Jesus:

Line of Judah                Genesis 49:10

Line of Jesse                 Isaiah 11:1

Line of David                2 Samuel 7:12-16

Born in Bethlehem         Micah 5:2

Forerunner (JTB)          Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1

Escaped to Egypt          Hosea 11:1

Herod kills the children  Jeremiah 31:15

Called Emmanuel          Isaiah 7:14

Taught in parables         Psalm 78:2

Zeal for God                Psalm 69:9

Cleansed the temple     Malachi 3:1

Ministry in Galilee         Isaiah 9:1-2

Ministry of Miracles      Isaiah 35:5-6

Would be ridiculed      Psalm 22:7-8

Stumbling block to Jews Psalm 118:22

Rejected and Killed      Isaiah 53

Sold for 30 pieces of silver Zechariah 11:12

Crucified with thieves     Isaiah 53

Hands and feet pierced  Isaiah 53

Buried in wealthy tomb  Isaiah 53

[44] Moses serves to condemn unbelievers with the Law

The Old Testament serves as condemnation to those who will not accept Jesus. This puts many in a very awkward position that claim to believe the OT but don’t accept Christ….

There is religion, then there is salvation. The two rarely have any relationship.

Religion is man’s attempt to save himself. Salvation is a trusting relationship is Jesus Christ.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

John Chapter 7 - Commentary

1-13 Jesus and His Brethren

Some time after the discourse in Capernaum, Jesus is confronted by His family. Again, John focuses on the controversy that builds to a point of confrontation. Jesus always draws the listener to a point of decision, and those who reject Him are not neutral – but rather hostile. The human heart has not changed to this day

[2] The Feast of Tabernacles (Booths)

Tabernacle in Greek is skenopegia meaning “booth”.

Hoshanah Rabah on 21 Tishri (17 Oct 2003) is the final day of this feast, a special shabbat, where the Jewish faithful celebrated returning from temporary dwellings to their “permanent” homes. Many went to Jerusalem, and celebrate the coming in of the harvest. The priests would form a procession to the pool of Siloam and pour the water out in the temple in memory of the living water that came forth from the Rock (Exodus 17).

Prophetic nature of the 3 mandatory feasts of Israel

• Passover commemorated and foreshadowed the crucifixion of Christ
• Pentecost commemorated and foreshadowed the church
• The Feast of the “Ingathering” implies the gathering up of the church….

[3] The brethren of Jesus

His own brothers did not believe him (and at least two sisters) see verse 5.

Psalm 69 says “I will be a stranger to my brothers and an alien to my mother’s children”.

[6] The world hates a “whistle blower” and doesn’t want a conscience.

[8] I do not go to the Feast….

Deuteronomy 16:16 notes this is a mandatory feast, where able bodied men went to Jerusalem. A better rendering of the text is that “now is not the appropriate time to go to the feast”. Jesus is on God’s clock, submitting to what the Father has ordained. Man’s time is what seems best to him given the current circumstances and what he pleases.

14-23 Jesus Teaches at the Feast of Tabernacles

[16] Note “doctrine” is singular.

The rabbis assumed since Jesus did not attend formal seminary, that He was self-taught. Jesus gives them a third option – the Word of God directly.

[17] The key to understanding Truth

¹⁷If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

This says that if you first decide to believe in Christ and follow Him then you will gain understanding. The agnostic reverses that – if first I understand, then I will believe.

Yet, without faith, even if you possessed supernatural knowledge (Satan?), you cannot please God - Hebrews 11:

⁶But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

How do we respond when faced with truth that is in conflict with our current beliefs?

Honest people instinctively realize the truth of God’s word, it is ultimately a moral decision, not intellectual. Remember Psalm 53: ¹The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” and I Corinthians 18:

⁸For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

[25] Confusion of the people

Some thought he as speaking with the blessing of the leaders

Some thought he was a fraud because they “assumed” he was born in Nazareth

Some thought he was a good man and were amazed at his miracles

All their confusion was based on a superficial knowledge of the scriptures.

[29] Christ’s claim of Deity

²⁸Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. ²⁹I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.”

[30] The Pharisees completely understood the meaning of His claim based on their reaction. The entire time, Christ was in control – he could not be harmed until the time was fulfilled. This holds true through the crucifixion.

[34] A time will come when it is too late...

[37] Again Jesus uses the metaphor that He is the Living Water.

He appropriates the meaning of the procession described that commemorates the water from the rock in Exodus 17. During the procession, the crowds sang from Isaiah 12:

¹ “O LORD, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me,

Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.

² Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid;

‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’”

³ Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.

⁴ And in that day you will say: “Praise the LORD, call upon His name;

Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted.

⁵ Sing to the LORD, For He has done excellent things;

This is known in all the earth.

⁶ Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion,

For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”

[43] So there were divisions – Christ came to bring us to a decision, one that not all will agree on. Luke 12:

⁵¹ Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; ⁵² for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. ⁵³ They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

[45] The guards' excuse: He talked fancy to us!

He has spent four days saying He is equal with God, enraging the Pharisees and Sadducees, and when they send a Temple guard detail to arrest him, nothing happens! It wasn't the time yet.

[48] Have any rulers believed Him? “We know the Law, that will save us”

[52] Their arrogance blinded them, or the “teachers of the Law” didn't know their own material.

At least two prophets came out of Galilee, Nahum for which the village Capernaum is named, and Jonah. Perhaps they were ignored as prophets because they preached to gentiles….

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

John Chapter 6 - Commentary

1-15 Jesus Feeds the 5,000

Jesus and His disciples cross the Sea of Galilee, leaving Capernaum (which means village of Nahum) See map. Here is an example of Harmony of the Gospels, where John doesn’t tell you why the people were already there in Bethsaida when Jesus arrived. Mark 6:

³¹And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. ³²So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. ³³But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. ³⁴And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.

This same miracle of the loaves occurred in the Old Testament, see II Kings 4:42-44.

[5] Where shall we buy bread?

Philip responds as the world would, here’s the facts.

Andrew responds in faith, here Lord is my meager contribution, with You, it is possible.

[6] Why is Jesus testing them? Here is an interpretation in Luke 9:

¹Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. ²He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. ³And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece….⁶So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere….¹⁰And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.

¹¹But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. ¹²When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.” ¹³But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.”….

Had they learned anything from their missionary trip?

[9] Do you realize the little boy’s sacrificial gift came before he knew a miracle would occur?

Note that God works with those who come prepared, however meagerly.

[10] There was much grass….

Note that Christ had everyone to sit down in “green pastures” by still waters... and prepared a feast for them. (somebody quote Psalm 23).

[15] The Prophet has come

The multitude had been fed like Moses had fed them with manna. (Deuteronomy 18:15), that is why Jesus uses this allegory to explain that his bread is eternal.

Note the arrogance of man – to “make” Him become their king – how do you do that?

The next time we see Jesus with bread and fish is John 21, where He commands His followers to “feed My sheep”. This means spiritually, feed the flock with the Word. Do we spend our time in committees for the Lord, or serving tables? (see John 6:25-69)

16-25 Jesus Walks on Water

The disciples in the boat, tossed to and fro in the dark, are a metaphor for the church today. We row in our own strength, wearied that we are unable to meet the goals set for us by God.

Told in Luke 9, Mark 6, and Matthew 14….

[20] Be not afraid

Why did Jesus send them ahead? Did He know a storm would frighten them?

Why did Jesus walk on the water? Why didn’t He just appear in the boat?

What is the tie-in between the Feeding of the 5,000 and then this episode? Mark 6:

⁵¹Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. ⁵²For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.

25-58 Jesus is the Bread of Life

This section ties into the previous thought where Jesus feeds the 5,000. The story continues with Jesus explaining the spiritual principle behind the sign.

[26] Amen, Amen

Jesus makes a special statement beginning with “amen, amen” eight times in John, to state a very important truth. Amen means “firm” or “trustworthy”. What you are about to hear you can take the bank… This first was John 5:25

²⁵Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. ²⁶For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,

Now the second in John 6:26

²⁶“You follow me for what you want, not what I offer you”. You desire material comforts, that which is temporary. I offer what is eternal, but you must work for it…you must believe in He who was sent by the Father.

What did Jesus say to Satan when he was tempted in the wilderness? Deuteronomy 8:

²And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. ³So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.

Do you see a parallel between the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness and the Jews 40 years in the desert?

[30] What sign will you perform?

Their memory fades as their appetites returned. They didn’t get it, because their minds were on worldly things, just as their ancestors. Their reference to manna is worth noting. Only the Jews referred to the bread from heaven as “manna”. Numbers 11:

⁴…so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat? ⁵We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; ⁶but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!” ⁷Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its color like the color of bdellium. ⁸The people went about and gathered it, ground it on millstones or beat it in the mortar, cooked it in pans, and made cakes of it; and its taste was like the taste of pastry prepared with oil. ⁹And when the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.

¹⁰Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and the anger of the LORD was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. ¹¹So Moses said to the LORD, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me? ¹²Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You swore to their fathers? ¹³Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ ¹⁴I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me.

Manna is actually a derogatory word that means “stuff”. Like when you ask what’s for dinner and the answer is “stuff”… And then, as now, when it is offered, people will reject God’s provision for the lamest of reasons.

[32] Third Amen, Amen

The bread from heaven didn’t come from Moses, but from God. The sign that Jesus was sent from God was that he could make bread miraculously. This sign revealed that Jesus had the power to offer the true bread – the gift of everlasting life; for it is Christ who will raise His own on the last day.

[41] Finding fault

Then the “Jews” complained because Jesus said He comes from heaven. Whenever John refers to the “Jews” it is implied as the leadership, the Pharisees, Sadducees and Levites, all professional religionists. Jesus sets them straight by explaining only He is the way to salvation, which inflames the religious leaders.

[47] Fourth Amen, Amen

Those who believe in Christ will live – “are” in a state of everlasting life.

[53] Fifth Amen, Amen

You must eat my flesh and drink my blood…. Clearly symbolic of the spiritual act of accepting Life into our hearts.

“Verily, Verily” Recap:

1. The spiritually dead will hear My voice, and those who respond to Me will live.
2. Many don’t want what I offer, only what satisfies their earthly appetites.
3. Many try to give credit to anyone or anything but God for blessings I provide.
4. Those who do accept My offer, “have” eternal life now.
5. If you don’t not accept my offer, there will be no other.

59-71 Jesus Teaches His Disciples

This section ties into the previous thought where Jesus explained to the throngs of people only interested in miracles and earthly kingdoms, that to partake in the kingdom of God, they must take of Jesus, His body and blood.

[65] A decision must be made (Isaiah 7:15 – “choose good”)

⁶⁵And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” ⁶⁶From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. ⁶⁷Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”⁶⁸But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Jesus divides. He does not promote “diversity” agenda we hear so much about today. There is One Door, One Gospel, One Doctrine of salvation, and He is the Only Begotten Son of God. He forces a decision on each of us, His goal was not peace, but division. Jesus’ own words recorded in Matthew 10:

³⁴“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. ³⁵For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; ³⁶and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’

Jesus continues to instruct His followers in Matthew 7:

¹³“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

This thread has been consistent throughout the Old Testament.

Deuteronomy 30:

¹⁵“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, ¹⁶in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess….¹⁹I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; ²⁰that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days;

Joshua 24:

¹⁴“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! ¹⁵And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

I Kings 18:

²⁰So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. ²¹And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.