John 7:37-8:30

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7;37-39
Jesus here explains that He is the fulfillment of and significance of the ceremony. 
This living water is the life, strength and joy and the renewing work of the HS within the believer. 
Jesus here seems to say that this joy and strength will flow out of us to those thirsting for life. 
Are we a life-giving or taking sourced for others around us? Do we build each other up or not? If not how can we give life/build each other up?

7:39
I think all 3 members of the Trinity are here in this passage. All 3 persons are involved in our salvation. 
What is HS’s role in our lives? Or rather what is His purpose in our lives?
How is the Father, Son, and HS involved in our salvation?

7:40-44
They seem to be correct on both points just confused. Jesus was born indeed in Bethlehem because that\’s where David was born and He was of the lineage of David. 
Curious, how was y\’alls Christmas? What teachings/insights did you receive about Jesus this Christmas? 

7:45-53
This is the second time we hear of Nic. Here it seems that he was no coward. He was speaking in defense of a hated enemy of his colleagues. Nic here reminds these self-righteous men that they were violating their own law. The Law requires justice to be done; every man would have the right to a fair legal trial and the accusation would be established by 2 witnesses. 
v.52
Interesting because Jonah came from Galilee and maybe even Hosea and Nahum.

7:51
They challenge His origins, not his on what He does.

8:1-11
Story found in the 12-century copy but no earlier. A 4th-century Coptic copy didn’t have this story at all. I will study this passage however and let y’all decide for yourself. 
What is the lesson here? 
Much in the same way, the woman experimented Jesus\’ grace in her life so is the same for ours. And having experimented His grace we dare not abuse it and sin again. 

8:12
To follow Jesus means to trust and obey Him/believe in Him. We follow His words, and His example and when we do this it illuminates our life and is the very source of our life. 

Belief is necessary for salvation. It is not enough to merely “act as God exists”. Because belief changes the heart and the change of heart naturally changes our actions and produces good fruit. You can act as if God exists all you want. But God looks at the heart and only He can change that. You take away the belief you take away God. By merely acting as He exists is to deny Him all the more because it\’s to fence sit and say that He hasn’t revealed Himself enough already but just in case I\’ll try and appease you. 

v.15 
They judge by the flesh. That is they compared His earthly appearance with their ideas of a worldly Messiah. 
8:29

God sent Jesus to die and Jesus does all that pleases the Father. Therefore, it pleased the Father to enact justice for us upon His Son.  

John 7:1-36

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So what do y’all think the point of this passage is? What lessons are taught here?
Jesus\’ bothers give him some worldly advice on how to carry out his mission and Jesus answers their advice by informing them that He is acting according to His purpose and His Fathers plan.

7:1-4
I\’m not sure why Jesus bothers would advise Him on His ministry when they didn’t even believe in Him. However, I do think there is an important lesson for us here. When it comes to our own ministry/faith I would advise Y\’all never to seriously consider the advice of heathen. It could come from a “right place” if you will, but it is ultimately foolish to follow their advice at all because they have no fear of God in them. 

7:5-6
Why should we be hated?
This faith, contrary to common belief, ain\’t easy and ain\’t all “blessings” and happiness all the time. This faith, our belief is real and it will show in our actions to others. The Lord clearly had a strong backbone when preaching we should be likewise when in conversation about the faith to heathen and believers alike. 

7:5 
It must have been discouraging for Jesus\’ own fam not to believe in HIm.how do we deal with discouragement in life?

7:9 
Why did Jesus not want Himself to be publicly revealed yet? ?

7:12
Who do you say Jesus is?
John here is clearly saying that thinking Jesus is a good man or teacher, isn’t enough. Why is that?

7:13
Fear is often the most common struggle in evangelism. Do y’all fear lose of friends or popularity in evangelism? How do y’all combat this fear? 

7:16
Worldly wisdom may very well have its place. But we must teach that which is taught/shown to us by God or it counts for nothing for the kingdom. Moreover, it is important to be sent by God and not ourselves. For if we are sent of God then we can’t fail. 

7:24
Jesus argument here is that if they permit this work of circumcision to be done on the Sabbath that the Law of Moses is not broken then how can they be so unrighteous as to prohibit the man merely to keep Sabbath regulations but the Sabbath was given for man’s benefit. There are principles and action which are higher than most suppressed Sabbath regulation. God works on the Sabbath by giving us life the sun the rain thus it was proper that the Son of God heal and teach on the Sabbath.  

How are we to judge?

Not hypocritically, or unfair, but wisely honestly both of men and doctrines. We as followers of Jesus must judge doctrines and teachers to root out the falsehood that doesn’t glorify God. 

7:27

Here, Jesus points to His divine origin rather than an earthly location. Here, is an important reminder that it matters not what sins we have committed because God is a God full of grace and will use any and all He so wills; including you. How has God used you recently?  

John 6:31-70

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So here Jesus introduces Himself as the bread of life. He makes several claims to deity in answer to their misguided requests for a fleshly sign. And promises not to lose His followers that are drawn to Him by God. 

6:31
Notice how often the ppl ask for a sign and yet Jesus uses it wisely to preach to the ppl rather than giving in to their materialism. Let us be sure not to cast our perils before swine. 

6:32
What\’s it mean that Jesus is the bread of life? He is the bread that gives life. Bread, now and then, was a rather common thing. Their bread would’ve been a circle and thin shaped and usually torn apart at supper and used as a napkin to clean up the table. Jesus uses this commonality to show the ppl that He is to be torn apart and by that used to cleanse His ppl. 


6:38
Do we submit to the will? 
Are we obedient to God? 

6:40
Have y’all ever gone through a valley in life or in your spiritual walk and left like God forgot or didn’t care about you? What did you do to get out of the valley? 
The Lord here says that the Father wills whoever looks/seek Jesus to have life and raised up in the last days. The Father wills/wishes for our relationship with Him to be deepened/stronger. 
How do we do this? Reading, prayer. 
Are we doing this? Why or why not?


6:48
Bread of Life: Jesus\’ body being broken in love for us. Life is found in death. Partake in the same sufferings as Jesus and have life.
So if we don’t participle in Jesus\’ suffering, that is, have no suffering because of the faith/love for God we have no part in Jesus.

What are some sacrifices and sufferings you’ve had for the faith? Friends? Family? 
Are you holding on to something that should be sacrificed? Is there any area of your life where you are ashamed of Jesus?

6:55
“Real” That is true in that it is the truth and that it satisfies like food but more so. 

6:58

So again Jesus here shows Himself and superior Moses and shows that He is the true leader of the Israelite people.  

John 6:1-30

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6:1-15
What do y’all notice in these passages?

6:5-6
Notice how the Lord tested Philip\’s faith. And how this test resulted in a great blessing for many ppl.
Does the lord test us today? How and why?
Often the Lord does test us in many ways so that He can grow our faith in Him and in turn be a greater blessing for others. 

6:11
“gave thanks” implying that He gave thanks to God. Even in the middle of a test, it is important to remember to thank God for the test and His provision in the test. 
What things are you thankful for? Worldly or godly things? 

6:12-13
Some would say that the ppl were full of Jesus\’ teachings and that this wasn’t an actual miracle at all but these verses clearly state that this is a real miracle with real food by a real person. 

6:14
This is the goal of anyone’s/our ministry. that is for ppl not to look to us and say “what a great ___” but “what a great God/savior we have”
Thanksgiving to God is a good way to combat pride or selfishness in any form

6:15
It\’s interesting that Jesus never really fits into our vision of what He’s gonna do. Too often we make our plans and ask Him to bless them when He has totally different plans from our wholesale. And His plans are always better than ours. This King rules differently than any other king/person ever and yet is the best outta all of them. 

6:16
Here is an interesting story that is also included in Matthew and Mark where
Matthew mentions Peter’s attempt to walk on water
Mark mentions Jesus seeing their distress while still a ways off
John mentions that it was dark and that they rowed 3-4 miles

This is a story I’ve struggled to find a meaning to. Why do y’all think John put this story here and what could it mean? (Bread and walking on water-related to Passover? Perhaps related to Genesis 1 where Spirit was over the water?)

6:25
So here it is revealed that the ppl only were seeking Jesus for an easy meal and not for Him or to seek knowledge. “They walked by taste and sight” not by faith.

I think it\’s wise to for us to ask why we seek Jesus? Righteous before God, truth, life, love or material/worldly gain. 
Jesus made it clear that God has sealed Him to be the source of spiritual life. “seal” means that God sent Him, confirmed his commission through signs.

Faith is a kind of work where man submits his will to the revealed will of God and acts in accord with the commandments of the will of God. Saving faith must be manifested by obedience to the commands of God through His Son.  

John 4:27-5:47

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4:27-42
The main point of the text?
Jesus gained fulfillment of the father’s will. Much in the same way we do as well. and we still live in an age ripe for harvest. It is clear from the passage that our work is to tell others of Jesus Christ/gospel. Others have told/planted the seeds of this truth for us now we go out and reap the harvest. 
Its also interesting most of the fruits of our labor go unseen by us ever. But the Lord uses them and us regardless. 

42 “the Christ savior of the world”
what\’s interesting here to me is that they use His title then His purpose/mission even after Jesus had revealed all that the woman had ever done. Jesus knows what we’ve done, good and bad, true and disgusting, and yet Jesus still saves us. 
Christ crucifix is a proclaim to the Christian that we are indeed sinners and have sinned greatly. Don’t ignore the skeletons in your closet but take them up look at them dead in the eye and say that Jesus died, God forgave even such action/sin as this. Our sins now speak to the goodness/forgiveness of God.

4:46-54
It seems, based on the man’s reaction in 49 that he didn’t care about Jesus or belief in Him just that his son be healed. 
Do we go to Jesus for stuff or Him? Do we want the blessings of God or God? If we just want the stuff of God but not God we dishonor Him. If a husband just wants sex from his wife but not the wife he dishonors her. 

Notice John records that Jesus word healed the son. This could be John’s way of affirming Jesus\’ divinity. Much in the same way that God spoke and so it was so Jesus spoke and so it was. 

5:1-30
Notice the utter helplessness of these two healings, Jesus worked when there was no other alternative. For 38 yrs this man was hopeless and without help.  Due to Jesus saying to him in 5:14 it seems that his disease was brought on by sin. So for 38 yrs, this man had been lifted hopeless and lame because of His sin. What a long time for the conviction of sin to set in. This fella is a great example of the work of Jesus because Jesus was his only hope/way for healing and freedom from this sin. But Jesus gave this man help and hope when there was none.
God often works best when we are at the end of our own rope.  

I think often we think that the Christian life is about avoiding sin trying our best not to do the same thing again (how often does that really work?). Jesus by His death brought us a victory from sin in our lives. We now have direct access to God to supply us all our needs in temptation and trial. We fight sin in our lives not by trying harder but by belief in Jesus and His victory for us. We fight sin and all demonic forces from a place of victory, and godliness, not a place of works-righteousness. 

17-30
Jesus proves His divinity. According to Mosaic law, you needed 2 witnesses to testify to an even Jesus here provides 4. 
What does it mean to honor God in the context of this passage?

In what way did Moses write about Jesus?  

John 3:22-4:26

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3:22-36
What\’s happening?
Jesus\’ ministry popularity increases. The Baptist’s disciples exhibit jealousy over this and The Baptist shows humility, joy and devotion to Jesus in refusing to be jealous of Him. 

3:26
Do y’all think this dispute was really over purification or something more? Jealously? 
Jealously probably given “and all are going to Him!” bit. 
But it is possible, however unlikely, that the Jew and John’s disciples did wish for a final say on the matter because they address John as “Rabbi” (3:26)

Notice John’s reply; he replies that authority is divinely given. In God’s eternal scheme of things, everyone has a purpose/place and John knew his place-preparer/forerunner for Jesus. 

What is our place in God’s plan? What are we to do with our lives? 
I think John has an answer for us in this illustration and in 3:30. 

So here the Baptist uses a familiar OT illustration to explain his secondary position to Jesus. The bride is expressive in the OT of the ppl of Israel in their close relationship to God. The bride belongs to the bridegroom. Jesus is the bridegroom and His ppl are the bride (Eph 5:32). In the Jewish marriage ceremonies, the friend of the bridegroom often had certain duties to perform in advance of the final union. The friend would then stand and wait for the approach of the groom. Upon hearing the groom’s voice the best man could rejoice in a completed day and rejoice again when the groom voices his joy upon receiving the bride. Thus, the bridegroom, Jesus, is receiving His bride with joy and the friend of the Bridegroom also rejoices. 

3:30
The answer to “what are we do with this life?” is here. The Baptist spent his ministry, probably his whole life is prepping for the Christ and now his joy, gladness is full. We are to live our lives like John here did-serving Christ and in that, we will be full of joy/satisfied. God is the only way to satisfaction. Sin might promise much but only leaves sadness/emptiness because it never fulfills its promises. All things outside of Jesus are vain attempts at satisfaction! It is only in Jesus we have all we need/want. Jesus satisfies. Have Jesus and live!

3:31-36
If these are the word of the Baptist then his last words were of the trustworthiness of Jesus as God’s representative. And those that don’t receive God’s representative are calling God a liar. 

Application:
3:36 
How would you describe your Christian life? Boring? Dry? Joyful? Exciting? 
The Baptist here says we, believers of Jesus, have life and contrasts us with they that don’t receive Jesus. All they have is the just wrath of God on them. 
So how is your Christian life and how does one gain life in Jesus?

John 3:25-26 are we more concerned with how we look/appear when evangelizing/ministry and boasting of ourselves? OR are we genuinely concerned for the person we’re talking to? 
John’s joy was in Jesus (3:29) where is our joy? Ourselves/our ministry or Jesus? What does it mean to have joy in Jesus?

4:1-26
So what\’s happening here? And what do y’all think is the main point of the passage?

4:4
Y’all ready for a biblical geography lesson cuz you’re about to get one!
Jesus didn’t need to go thru Samaria at all to get to Galilee at all. It looks like it may have even been out of His way to go to Samaria to Galilee. Now Jesus could’ve gone thru Samaria for one of two reasons 
1) He wasn’t restricted by the prejudices of the Jews or 
2) He purposely passed thru there to plant the seed of the gospel that Philip would later reap (Acts 8). 
It is also worth noting that this place has extreme historical value. This conversation happens were God first revealed Himself to Abram AND where Jacob and Esau reconcile after years of dispute. Both Abram and Jacob set up an altar to God at this location. God promises Abram Genesis 12:3 that He will bless those who bless Abram and that thru Abram he will be a blessing to the whole world. Here, Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise where He is a blessing to someone outside His own tribe. Moreover, this is where Jacob and Esau reunited and had peace with one another and I think Jesus is about to reunite these two tribes under a new banner/truth/covenant and may them His very own “tribe” if you will, His own bride. 
Notice we are Jesus\’ bride. Think about the depth, the intimacy of that statement. We must know God and God knows us. What are we, just dust, that God should know us at all? Let alone want to know us. 
So much in the same way that God revealed Himself to Abram and Jacob and Esau reconcile so Jesus. being God reveals Himself as such to a wayward daughter of Abram kinda like Jacob and Esau and this wayward Samaritan woman has reconciliation with God thru Jesus. And I think that\’s the importance of the location of this event. 

4:6
While John’s gospel is the gospel of Deity it is also the Gospel of Jesus\’ humanity. The Lord was tried and needed refreshment to continue on in His journey/mission.
Application: Let us never think too highly of ourselves to think we are above the most simple things of life. For even Jesus Himself took a sit so we must be simple and truthful in our mission/purpose here on Earth. Hebrews 4:15-16 the author reminds us that the Lord experienced all these things so that He could help us in our time of need and He delights to help us in our trials. The Lord will indeed give you rest; if He needed it then you will too. And the Lord is about to show us how to rest.

“6th hour” the heat of the day and late in the day. It was uncommon that anyone would be at the well at this time because of the heat. Moreover, most, if not all, ppl would’ve gotten their water for the day already and refilled on their supply tomorrow in the colder part of the day. But this woman goes when no one else is there. Given her, rather adulteress life it can be assumed she was a social outcast of sorts. 

4:9
It seems even the woman was shocked that Jesus, a Jew, and a man, would talk to her at all. 
Notice how she Identifies herself, “a Samaritan woman”. that\’s it. That\’s her whole Identity and beyond that even we don’t know that much about her. 
Application: what\’s our identity? What is our chief characteristic/attribute? Or rather how do we define ourselves? 
I don’t think it\’s a coincidence that The Baptist just talked about his purpose and now we have a little discussion on Identity. Because once we know our purpose we can properly know/have our Identity. 

4:9
Insert study note about Jews and Samaritans here to explain why they don’t deal with each other

4:10
What\’s Jesus saying here?
“If you only know (but you don’t) who it is…He would have given you living water (but He cannot because you know Him not).”
No one receives this living water until they know Jesus. Faith comes by hearing of the word of God (Romans 10:17). Jesus is the source of eternal life/true life and we take this life thru Him/knowing Him.

“living water” refers to Isaiah 12:3 “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation”. Water, here in John, refers to salvation. Living refers to its life-giving to us. Water can quench the physical thirst but here Jesus refers to the soul’s thirst. Jesus claims to be the fulfillment of the OT prophecies concerning salvation/living water.

4:15
Here it seems that the woman may have thought of the living water as physical not something spiritual. (Shame??)

Throughout this conversation, Jesus continues to press into this woman’s life. Jesus cannot give the woman the living water/salvation until she thirsts for it/realizes her need for it. Thus Jesus forces the woman to see herself as one who needs this life-giving water with the phrase “go get your husband” to which she says she has none. Then Jesus goes in hard and tells her she is correct because she is in an adulterous relationship. Jesus then proceeds to tell her the story of her life. In all this Jesus has shown this woman her unrighteousness and her need for living water. 

Then she realizes His supernatural power and does not deny His accusation but is then conceived that He is a prophet. Then she asks a question of worship to Jesus. To which He answers that the question of worship will not be of place/where but a question of how.


What does it mean to worship in spirit and truth?
To worship is a matter of the heart, will, and emotion and not a physical place and to worship in accordance with the revealed will of God in the bible. True worship is when the spirit, the immortal and invisible part of man speaks to and meets with God who is immortal and invisible. God wishes willing and obedient worship from His followers. 

Notice the woman’s reaction when Jesus shows Himself the Messiah to her. She tells others just as we should too.  

John 3:1-21

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Pray.

So what are Jesus and Nicodemus talking about here?
Nicodemus comes to Jesus and is convinced that He is a teacher from God and likely to ask more on who Jesus is. Jesus tells Nicodemus that the Kingdom of God belongs to those born of water and of Spirit and uses the wind to illustrate His teaching. 

3:2 
why do y’all think Nicodemus went to Jesus by night? 
privacy or John could be telling us that Nicodemus is still “in darkness”
Notice that Jesus didn’t rebuke Nicodemus for his night visit. The Lord will always welcome those who seek Him.

3:3 
it seems Jesus knew exactly why Nicodemus was visiting Him and cuts directly to the chase. Often when Jesus is asked a question, in John’s gospel, He uses it as a springboard to teach a deeper truth to the person. 

3:4 
Nicodemus, being a well-learned religious leader rightly asks Jesus “how?” this is to happen. Jesus, in John’s gospel, seems to answer a lot of questions new followers of his may have. What questions did you have for Jesus when you came to faith? Or, perhaps, what questions do you have now that you’re struggling with?

3:5 
What\’s it mean to be born again? 
How does Jesus say we are to be born again? And what does that mean? 
“Spirit” We must be born of God. Made anew by God. We are given new life from above. We cannot “improve” ourselves with God but must be born of God to receive the Kingdom/salvation. We cannot birth our selves the first time nor do we do so the second. 
It is God who does this work in us and we become His/adopted into sonship and He cares for us/loves us fully for He is now our Father. 

“water” Could mean baptisms or natural birth (given 3:6). 
I take the view of baptisms because of the previous chapter. 
This is the clear command for salvation by God to receive and have proof of new life. This is what is required of every believer. 

“Kingdom of God” Meaning what? Define?
The essential idea is the reign of God over the lives of men. Or rather the rule of God in the hearts (our whole being) of man. It could depend on context, mean the complete submission of individual life to the rule of God, or a whole community of slivers that obey God on earth or a reference to Heaven itself. Also depending on context, these meanings could overlap somewhat. Thus, if one is to have entrance into Heaven one is to be born of water and Spirit AND if one is to know God at all they must be born of water and Spirit. 

3:6-8 
we are of flesh so a physical rebirth would do us no good anyhow. We must be born of Spirit. 
Here Jesus uses the wind to illustrate His point. It’s worth noting just so simply the Lord was; using the littlest things to illustrate spiritual teachings. 
In chapter 4 we’ll see Jesus use a cup of water to explain the gospel to a young woman. 

Do we see God in the everyday-ness of our lives? Do we repent of even our “little” sins? Do we have a desire to please God/know God? 

We observe the action of the HS in our lives and other’s but not the Spirit Himself; just like the wind even today. 

3:9-10 
Nicodemus, being confused about this teaching continues to ask how. 
Jesus\’ reply is somewhat provoking to me. Jesus seems to think that Nicodemus should’ve been already aware of a re-birth. The only text they had was the OT at the time. 

Where do you see a re-birth in the OT? 
Noah, Exodus. David was even given a new anointing/calling when he was first called. Ps 51:10-12 \”Create in me a pure heart, O God,& renew a steadfast spirit w/in me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation & grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

3:11 
Who is the “we” here? 

3:14
Numbers 21:4-9
Ok, so Jesus uses this story because it speaks of Him. Much in the same way that the bronze snake was the ONLY means of a cure so Jesus is the ONLY means of salvation/cure for sin. God provided both remedies for sin and anyone who looked to the snake is saved/likewise, anyone who merely looks to Jesus is saved. We look to Jesus no the cross and realize what work was done there and are saved. In Numbers, it seems not one Israelite held back from looking to the snake and yet we hold back refusing to trust in God for our mode of salvation. The Israelites were saved not because they understood God’s requirement, but because they trusted God and His command to be saved. The lesson here is trust and obey for there is no other way and this is the message we are to give to all who would listen. 

3:16
Why do y’all think this verse is so popular/well known?
Augustine wrote “Love is the highest characteristic of God, the one attribute in which all other harmoniously blend. Although our finite minds cannot grasp the limitlessness of His love, we are informed of it in His revealed Word. God’s love for men is declared in both the OT and NT”.

3:18 
Jesus didn’t need to condemn the world for it had already condemned itself in Adam.
Notice here also that Jesus divides the whole human race into 2 groups and that is the only acceptable/biblical means of dividing the world.

3:19 
let\’s go into application some. What must a lover of light do? hate darkness. Why? Because they are contrary to one another.

3:20 here we have an insight into man. Man does not want the light and drives himself further not the dark into to avoid the light. Thus hardening their hearts toward the light. 

So given all of this, given this chapter on the working and love of God, what is the nature of God’s love? Sacrificial and saving. So should our love be toward others.  

We are ultimately from above, so trials and loneliness are to be expected here because this isn’t our home. Any pain we experience in this life is to make us long for heaven/God even more and thus giving us more of God/knowing Him more.  

John 2

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Pray.

John 2:1-12
So here Jesus and his disciples all attend a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee. Mary seems to have been anxious for Jesus to declare Himself. Jesus warns His mom that she is not to lead Him but to follow Him. 
It is unknown why Jesus was at the wedding/who was invited. It could’ve been Nath or Mary or Jesus. We don’t know. But, regardless, the point was for Jesus to show His glory to His disciples so that they would believe Him. 
According to the customs of the time, it would’ve served as an embarrassment to run out of wine or food in the middle of a wedding banquet. We don’t know what Mary expected Jesus to do. Its speculated, based off of his answer in v 4 that she expected Him to show Himself as the Messiah to all. But Jesus declines to do so because ‘his hour hadn’t come’. 
What does that mean \”his hour hadn’t come\”? 
it referred to His time of suffering and death. Thus, Jesus is asserting that His Father must determine the timetable of His earthly ministry. 
“Woman” holds no rebuke or disrespect here but it is how Jesus referred to Mary in John 19 at the cross as well most tenderly. But there is rebuke in the following when he basically says “This is my affair, not yours.” He had to follow His Father’s will. Not His Mothers. Mary, at the rebuke, recognizes this and submits to Jesus and tells the other servants there to do as He says thus fully trusting Him fully.
What do y’all think this sign might mean? Whats it symbolizes?
John makes note that this jar was to be used for cleansing before and after a meal. (This was a rule that was added by the Pharisees and was not prescribed by the law of Moses.) They did this in a religious ritual.
This miracle signifies the transformation of the old order associated with Moses (symbolized by the stone waterpots used for ceremonial washing and the new (wine standing for joy, eternal life in God) thru Jesus. The abundant fruitfulness of food and wine was to be characteristic of the coming new creation of the latter days. Those at the wedding celebration who knew that the wine came from Jesus and who had eyes to see would have realized that the end-time new creation was breaking in thru Him. 
Here is an illusion of the Law. The old Law of Moses is about to be filled and a new joy and new Law is about to take its place. And this one is to sweeter, more joyful than the last. Jesus\’ blood is the wine and by giving of the wine we share in his death and in His death we are brought life and that life is sweeter than anything. A new law here the religious rites of old are done away with and replaced with a fuller sweetness of life and joy found in the new law of loving like Jesus did. 
2:13-25
So what happens here? Why is Jesus so upset?
Jesus goes up to the Passover to worship. He finds the Temple being desecrated and he manifests His wrath at such hypocrisy. His disciples interpret it as a fulfillment of messianic prophecy. 
Notice the placement of these 2 stories. John offers an important key to the whole of Jesus\’ ministry. In these events are signaled replacement of the old order (water of ceremonial cleansing) with the new (the wine of salvation, the risen Lamb as the new temple). That is a new temple and a new sacrifice are about to take the place of the old rituals via Jesus\’ death. 
Passover? why is that significant to the chapter?
it was the most important of all the festivals because it commemorated the Israelite deliverance from Egyptian bondage and, moreover, the passing over of the angel of death in Exodus. It is believed that about 3 million Jews were in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. 
Basically: The priests sold the animals for sky-high prices and make a business out of worshipping God rather than being concerned with doing their priestly duties. 
Application: Do we have a zeal for God? Do we angry/response when God is used for personal ends? Do we hate that which drives others from God?

Paul writes that we are temples of the HS. Given Jesus\’ reaction of anger to a lesser physical temple, what would JC’s reaction be to have you treat your temple? Is it used in a God-honoring way? etc. 


[Explanation of \”Son of Man\” from Desiring God
  • Son of Man: John uses this phrase to show Jesus’ “Son of God”-ness and His “Son of Man”-ness 
    Daniel 7:13-14 “As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.\”
     The common understanding is that \”Son of God\” implies his deity—which it does—and that \”Son of Man\” implies his humanity, which it does too.
    He was a son of man, that is, a human being. And he is the Son of God, in that he has always existed as the Eternally Begotten One who comes forth from the Father forever. He always has, and he always will. He is the Second Person of the Trinity with all of the divine nature fully in him.
    He is born of a virgin. He had a human father but he didn\’t have sex with this virgin until Jesus was conceived. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary. Thus he is human—fully human. The Bible wants to emphasize that he is fully human.
    So that\’s a common understanding: he is both divine and he is human—two natures, one person.
    If you do a study of the term \”Son of Man\” in the Gospels you\’ll see that he didn\’t refer to himself most often as Son of God but as Son of Man. He said things like, in Mark 10:45, \”The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.\” So he calls himself Son of Man very often.
    I think the reason he did so is that, on the face of it, Son of Man is an ordinary phrase for \”human being.\” He was born of a man. And there\’s no offense there: who isn\’t a son of man? But those with ears to hear could hear Daniel 7, in which he was claiming a very exalted role in the history of redemption. And he meant to do it.
    Jesus was very subtle in that he was always opening his identity to those with eyes to see, but he wasn\’t opening it so blatantly that everybody would come and make him king. He had to steer a very narrow course in disclosing his identity, not just openly saying, \”I\’m the Messiah, I\’m the King of the World. Come and acknowledge me as King.\” He didn’t talk like that. So I hope that helps. \”Son of Man\” has the double meaning of human being and, according to Daniel 7, the exalted heavenly one. And Jesus means to communicate both of those.]

John 1:35-51

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1:35-42
What do y’all notice in this passage? 
Who are the characters and what are they doing? 
So 2 of the Baptist’s disciples set about investigating the One whom he points out as the Lamb of God. Having conversed with Him they are convinced that He is the Anointed One of Israel. They allow no delay in leading their brothers to Him. 

Notice the question Jesus asks: What do you want?
Let\’s ask ourselves: Why do we follow Jesus? What do we want of him/from him?

Then they asked Him where he stayed? Why? To be with Him and converse with Him. And the Lord eagerly satisfied their sincere seeking by spending time with them. 

If you were these disciples what would you have asked Jesus?

v 40. Here we are revealed one of the two disciples. Who do you think the other disciple was? John. Because he never reveals himself. 

Andrew isn’t mentioned much in NT but Peter is a bit. Notice one of his first actions after having conversed with Jesus was to led others to Him. The Lord desires the type of evangelism from all his followers. 
Notice also Andrew got his brother-someone who was close to him. 

Who is close to us? What have we told them about Jesus?

“Jesus looked at him” The word look in Greek suggests that Jesus looked into Peter\’s heart and saw what he could/would become. In the OT name changes are used to signify a change in purpose or mission. 

What does Peter’s new name mean in regards to his mission?

1:43-51
Jesus, here, gathers 2 more disciples. Philip a neighbor of Andrew and Peter and Nathanael a true Israelite. Nathanael’s quick faith is to be rewarded by visions of Glory. 

And here John the Author continues his emphasis on personal evangelism. 

Nathanael is also known as Bartholomew in other Gospels. And he also grew up in Galilee-a town only 3 miles from Nazareth where Jesus grew up. What is interesting here is that Nathanael had never heard of Jesus till now. Suggesting that Jesus was an average guy till now/start of his ministry. 

v 45
Notice how Philip brings up the OT to support his statement of the Messiah. The OT can’t be understood without Jesus. Also, this would suggest that the word is to be used in evangelism as well. 

v 46 notice that Philip doesn’t argue with his brother but simply brings him to Jesus. Perhaps arguments are good but they are no substitute for seeing Christ himself. 

v 47
Jesus here is contrasting Nathanael and Jacob-father of the Israelites and a deceiver. Here Jesus says that Nath is of noble character. So Jesus knew how and who Nath was. Just as He still knows everything of us. 

48 
again Jesus saw Nath heart and saw that he was a man of God. It is believed that the Jews of the time would comply seek fig trees to pray and meditate under. Thus Jesus seeing Nath under a fig tree further supports the idea that Nath was a man of God waiting for the Messiah. Possibly even praying for the Messiah to come. And now having seen and thus being convicted of the Messiah-ship of Jesus Nath free proclaims that Jesus is the Son of God.

Moreover, John and Andrew were said thru the Baptist. Peter found Jesus because of Drew’s personal work. Philip was called by Jesus personally; Nath found Jesus thru Philip’s testimony. Thus, God uses different ppl and circumstances to bring ppl to His Son.

50-51
Jesus is convicted of Nath’s proclaim and promises him a reward for his faith. 
what do y’all think Jesus is saying in 51?
The garden? Maybe. but probably referring again to Jacob and his dream in Genesis 28:10-19 where Jacob dreams of a stairway/ladder between heaven and earth. Here Jesus says that he is the stairway to heaven the mediator between God and man. 
This statement has been interpreted as associating or implicating Jesus with the mythical stairway in that Christ bridges the gap between Heaven and Earth. Jesus presents himself as the reality to which the stairway points; as Jacob saw in a dream the reunion of Heaven and Earth, Jesus brought this reunion, metaphorically the stairway into reality.

John 1:16-34

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1:15
So who is John the Baptist?

Who does John speak of in the latter part of this verse?
Jesus.

Why according to the Baptist does Jesus surpass him? And in what way does he surpass him? 

Jesus is over the Baptist in that He is from eternity, thus He came before him, and Jesus outranks the Baptist because Jesus is the promised Messiah of the OT. The Baptist was merely a way preparer for Jesus and his ministry would give way to Jesus. 

1:16
“Out of his (Jesus\’) fullness…” meaning the fullness/complete/perfectness of His love, power, wisdom. 

Grace in grace already given? Means what? God gave life at birth and now gives eternal life? 

The grace of revealing himself once to Israel now reveals himself to all. God gave us grace by revealing Himself to Israel and then more fully revealing Himself by the Word. IE The animal/ritual sacrifices were a grace of God; now in Jesus God gives a full grace by giving us the ultimate sacrifice. 

1:17 
The law of Moses. it was given through Moses and it was good and holy yet it was a law of condemnation. Its purpose was to bring men to trust in God and not themselves. it was given to show that they could not be or earn their righteousness. But Jesus brought the favor of God which man could not, nor cannot, earn. We have in Jesus grace without which we stand condemned by the law. We have in Jesus truth. which is the reality of all the shadows/types that were cast in the OT by the stories, ceremonies, sacrifices. Everything in the OT was meant to point us to Jesus; including the law of Moses. 

What is grace and truth? Moreover, how did they come through Jesus? 
Grace= “the love and mercy given to us by God because God desires us to have it, not necessarily because of anything we have done to earn it” Or rather God giving us what we didn’t earn. 

Truth= Jesus (Jn 14:6) and His ministry/what He did. Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Even more to the point: Truth is the self-expression of God. That is the biblical meaning of truth. Because the definition of truth flows from God, truth is theological.
(Truth is also ontological—which is a fancy way of saying it is the way things really are. Reality is what it is because God declared it so and made it so. Therefore God is the author, source, determiner, governor, arbiter, ultimate standard, and final judge of all truth. Of course, there cannot be any discord or difference of opinion between the written Word of God (Scripture) and the incarnate Word of God (Jesus). In the first place, truth by definition cannot contradict itself. Second, Scripture is called “the word of Christ” (Colossians 3:16). It is His message, His self-expression. In other words, the truth of Christ and the truth of the Bible are of the very same character. They are in perfect agreement in every respect. Both are equally true. God has revealed Himself to humanity through Scripture and through His Son. Both perfectly embody the essence of what truth is.)
Thus, Jesus is the grace of God because God gave us a sacrificial lamb when He didn’t have to. And truth because He has shown us who God is. 
1:18 
apart of Jesus, no one knows/sees God. God is spirit and thus apart from Jesus can’t be seen. and Jesus is continually in perfect intimacy with the father. And through Jesus incarnation, we know God or are shown God by Him. 

1:19-22
So here the Jewish leaders/Pharisees demanded to know whether the Baptist is the Messiah, Elijah or a prophet. And John denies all 3. 

Why did these leaders ask if Baptist was the Messiah? Elijah? The prophet? 
The Pharisees learned of this radical preacher in the desert and decided to pay him a visit. The Pharisees were, at the time, in fear of an up raising/revolt from the ppl. There had been several thus far and all failed. The Pharisees were trying to remain in power so they could continue to keep the ppl under control of them and not in full control of the Romans. So the Pharisees take matters into their own hands before the Romans have to take action. The consequences of that would be deadly! 

Elijah?
Who was Elijah in the OT? What did he do?
The Pharisees knew that Elijah was supposed to precede the Messiah. They expected a literal flesh and blood Elijah. But Baptist was just a type/kind of Elijah. 

The Prophet?
Moses had promised the ppl the Prophet like himself. (Deut. 18:15). Moses was their great deliver so, likewise, the Jews were in captivity yet again and yet again looking for a deliverer. 

1:22 
They didn’t seek truth or the message of John. They only wanted to please their higher-ups. Be careful not to cast pearls before swine in our day and age. 

1:23-28
So here, the Baptist answers the Jew’s question and says “I am the prophecies ‘way-preparer’ for the Lord” Then the Baptist claims that Jesus is the one they seek and stand unrecognized in the midst. 

1:23
the Baptist takes Isaiah’s prophet (Isa. 40:3-5) and applies it to himself. Which it did speak of the Baptist. The Baptist here is saying that Jesus was coming. Jesus is a king and often before a king would come there would be way preparer’s that would flatten and straighten the roads/path for the king and his journey. But remember Jesus is a spiritual king not earthly so the Pharisees weren’t looking for a spiritual preparer but an earthly one. 

What was the message that Baptist was preaching/Crying out with? 
REPENT, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Whats repentance? Why do we repent? Do we still preach repentance now? The reason for repentance as Baptist states is “FOR the kingdom of heaven is at hand” why is that a reason to repent? 

Jesus is already Lord of all anyone who hasn’t ended their rebellion/anyone who hasn’t repented will suffer the just punishment of rebelling against the true king. Thus we are to surrender and submit to the King. 

1:24-28
So why was Baptist demanding purity of life and practice of baptism? 
The Baptist answers. Baptize=in greek baptizo meaning dipped or immerse. Thus, scripture clearly states that baptisms is to be done by immersion. 
The Baptist states that he is too unfit to perform even the lowest of tasks for this for Him. The practice of removing/cleaning sandals was reserved for the lowest of servants. 
Bethany other side of Jordan= is probably where Joshua and the Israelites crossed at to get into Israel and take the promised land. Thus, God’s promises in the OT are about to be fulfilled. 

1:29-34
Here, the Baptist points the multitudes to Jesus as the Lamb of God. the Baptist then tells his God-given evidence of his testimony.

What does Baptist mean when he says that Jesus is the ‘Lamb of God”?

The lamb was a sacrifice but this Lamb was of God and could take away the sin of the world. Meaning that any kind of alienation from God is taken away by Jesus. 
Notice he says world, not Jews/Israel. So this action of Jesus is enough to bring any sinner to God.

Dove. There is always a correspondence between the sign and the reality. God here chooses to make a public representation of Jesus and his meekness by choosing a Dove. 

It would seem before Jesus\’ baptism that John didn’t know of Jesus divinity and thus it was shown to him at that time. Or at least, didn’t know His divinity. 

By this act of Jesus Baptist sees his divinity and knows him and His mission in that He is the chosen one/literally messiah of God.