Category: 43 – John

John’s Gospel is rather different from the other three. He confers events not detailed in the others. The author states his main purpose clearly in 20:31: “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Whoever Drinks

On By TimIn Eternal Security, Jesus, John 04Leave a comment

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water that I shall give him will become in him a well of water springing up into eternal life.”

John 4:13–14 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

There was a recent discussion using this passage. In it, someone mocked the idea of a person taking just a sip of the water Jesus gives, and that being enough to never thirst. The scorned idea centers on the assertion that salvation can be lost.

What do you think can be gleaned from this selection as to what Jesus is really saying?

I want to draw attention to one particular verb used two ways. The verb is translated to the English ‘drinks.’ But the underlying Greek reveals something substantial we might miss.

In the first instance, the Greek verb translated ‘drinks’ is present tense in a nominative mood. In essence, it is saying that every time one drinks of this water, thirst will return.

In the second instance, the verb translated as drinks is changed to aorist tense in a subjunctive mood. The aorist tense is best understood as a once-and-done action that carries forward. In other words, it is similar to the present perfect like he is born. The birth happened and the effect it caused carries forth. The birth is not undone, nor does it have to be repeated or continued.

That second instance is also in a subjunctive mood. This can convey a potentiality in the verb, which is translated correctly in the above quotation, whoever drinks.

What we can deduce logically, since no minimum quantity is given by Jesus to qualify how much is needed, a sip suffices to satisfy the thirst forever. He did say never thirst. Think of the thief on the cross.

This coincides with what Jesus continues to say. That one drink will become a well in the saved person that springs into eternal life. Eternal life doesn’t end or go away.

Hidden in typology is the Holy Spirit pictured as the Living Water. It is He Who gives life. This coincides with the Spirit’s ministry in the life of the believer… Keeping such saved because He never leaves.

You cannot buy this Water. Jesus gives it freely to anyone who wants.

You cannot earn this Water, it’s given freely.

One sip suffices forever… But keep drinking in and sharing!

I Will Not Leave You Fatherless

On By TimIn Fruitfulness, John 15Leave a comment

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that bears no fruit, He takes away. And every branch that bears fruit, He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean through the word which I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, neither can you, unless you remain in Me.

John 15:1–4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I am. The statement Jesus makes has a deep significance. He is proclaiming His bona fides, that is authentication to His identity.

In this, we also get another analogy that is agrarian in nature. It would be something easy for those hearing to understand. In it Jesus references Himself as the true vine. The one vine that bears fruit. That idea sets the tone here. It establishes context.

That context isn’t about salvation at all. As Jesus clearly stated that His disciples (His immediate audience) were already clean. (Even before this, that statement was made.) They were already saved by the Word He spoke to them.

Jesus encourages His followers to remain in Him. This isn’t about salvation, remember. The remaining in Him is to bear fruit. The Father wants you to bear fruit. There is only one way to do it, and that is by remaining in Jesus. That’s the work on our part. It’s not to keep being saved or to live right. Bearing fruit is to reproduce in kind… To make disciples. It is to be of use to the Father.

But what happens if you don’t bear fruit?

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who remains in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit. For without Me you can do nothing. If a man does not remain in Me, he is thrown out as a branch and withers. And they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

John 15:5–6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It’s a simple thing. Without Jesus, we can do nothing useful for the Kingdom. If we remain obstinate, not wanting to do the will of the Father, there are grave consequences. Just as unproductive branches are removed from the vine and destroyed, a saved Christian can be removed from the vine and destroyed.

That destruction isn’t about Hell or perdition. Even with the mention of being burned, this isn’t saying folks go to Hell.

If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it shall be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

John 15:7–8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It’s going to be a tough night for these men. Jesus is preparing them with an encouraging message to stay the course. It’s not to discourage them at all.

Remember that greater context that comes before those where Jesus speaks of the promised Holy Spirit.

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Counselor, that He may be with you forever: the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, for it does not see Him, neither does it know Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you fatherless. I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see Me no more. But you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.

John 14:15–19 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It’s all part of the same message. It’s gonna get tough for these guys tonight. Jesus speaks to them at length.

Jesus is saying the Holy Spirit is promised. When the Counselor comes, He will be with them forever. Jesus says He won’t leave them fatherless. Those things are sure.

If you’re saved, get to bearing fruit. You can only do that in Jesus. And if you are in Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit in you. He won’t leave. Jesus promises to not leave you fatherless.

Considering that, why do you think Jesus the Son promises them a Father forever?

What Sign do You Show Us?

On By TimIn Jesus, John 02, ResurrectionLeave a comment

Then the Jews said to Him, “What sign do You show us, seeing that You do these things?”
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

John 2:18–19 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

We arrive upon this seen after Jesus has just cleared the outer temple courts by means of a whip. He forcefully removed the merchandising trade that was happening in the place for worship. This outer court was the place for Gentiles to come and worship. Having trade happening in that space displaced the Gentiles and prevented them from drawing near to God.

This bit of intrigue draws the attention of the religious authorities of the day. They obviously understand Jesus acts with authority. They want to identify that authority. It provoked them to question Jesus. It wasn’t about the origins of the authority, as that is silently assumed by the question. They wanted a sign from God to prove the godly authority Jesus used was indeed from God.

Signs and Belief

As we read a bit further, it’s clear how the signs Jesus did provoke a response of belief. The direct relation between belief and signs is evident.

Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.

John 2:23 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

He came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

John 3:2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The signs Jesus did were the assurance to some of the people that He was from God. Jesus even spoke of the necessity of these people to see signs.

Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe.”

John 4:48 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

What Sign?

In other words, by what sign will you prove yourself?

One can read on in the book of John. And as recorded in that book, a similar question was posed to Jesus a bit later in His ministry.

Therefore they said to Him, “What sign do You show then, that we may see and believe You? What work will You perform?

John 6:30 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Here, the unbelieving religious folk ask for a sign. For them, seeing a sign would allegedly let them believe the words of Jesus. (Remember how Paul spoke of the foolishness of preaching?)

The folks asking for a sign here have already been witnesses to one. Jesus fed them from a few loaves and fishes. They ate their fill as they witnessed the sign. Yet they are wanting a sign. As it would be recorded, the very next line from these folks should have reminded them of what they experienced. They were fed bread in the wilderness from the Father.

Our fathers ate manna in the desert. As it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

John 6:31 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Jesus did not directly answer this question. At least not in the forthright manner He did when it was first posed. He did point them to the bread perhaps hoping they might remember the sign that filled their bellies the day before.

In Three Days

That is the key. When Jesus directly answered the question, it was always to draw attention to the end of His life… His death, burial, and resurrection. Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

It’s a simple answer.

We know from other Gospels this is the sign of Jonah. John never referenced the prophet Jonah in his writings. I find the absence interesting.

It is my opinion that the Gospel of John is the Gospel written primarily for the Gentile mind. Mind you, the context is very Jewish-centric of necessity. But things are written in a way for an outsider to understand.

In the same way, the prophet Jonah was sent to a Gentile city, Nineveh. It was to these people that he ministered. When the prophet entered the city, he proclaimed the coming judgment. It is that foolishness of preaching. He didn’t use any signs. These Gentiles believed him. They repented, and God relented.

Why Jonah?

The other Gospel writers recorded similar demands for signs to Jesus. In every answer, Jesus again pointed to His death, burial and resurrection. Except it always included a reference to the sign of Jonah.

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from You.”
But He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. And now One greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And now One greater than Solomon is here.

Matthew 12:38–42 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The Pharisees and Sadducees came and, testing Him, asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.
He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and overcast.’ O you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” So He left them and departed.

Matthew 16:1–4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Even those that had the benefit of witnessing the miracles of Jesus firsthand didn’t believe. Though some did because of the other signs. And some did because of the preaching. Some wouldn’t believe it even if someone came back from the dead.

Jesus did rise from death after three days in the grave. It is the sign He pointed all toward. He gave what they asked.

Jesus was highlighting the one thing that saves, His being raised up after death. It wasn’t immediate, but His body was three days in the grave. Yet He lives today.

It’s because He lives that any of us could be saved. And being saved is as easy as believing the witness Jesus gave and highlighted, the sign of Jonah.

He died for your sins. He was buried and He rose again to give you new life.

Do you believe that?

If so, tell someone.

Where I Am Going, You Cannot Come

On By TimIn 43 - John, Heaven, Israel, John 08Leave a comment

Again, Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and you will die in your sins. Where I am going, you cannot come.”

John 8:21 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

That simple truth is a stumbling block for many. Jesus said it to the very leaders of His chosen people, Israel. Their leaders were told that where Jesus is going they cannot come.

It wasn’t an outright prohibition to them, nor were these born condemned for that destiny. Quite the contrary, they were born Jewish, with all of the privileges that entail. (Paul outlines these in the first few verses of Romans 9.) Jesus was really saying… Where they could not go is heaven.

In this verse are some important things we can glean about salvation and election. Most importantly, they aren’t the same. Election doesn’t guarantee salvation.

Israelites are elect. They are God’s people. But clearly, being chosen isn’t enough to get one into heaven.

In the conversation preceding Jesus’ statement we’re considering, He is telling these Pharisees that they do not know the Father. Nor do they know Him. Consider that. The Father’s (and the Son’s) chosen didn’t know Him.

Furthermore, because they did not know Him they cannot know where He is going. He is going to heaven. They wouldn’t know where.

It’s not that Jesus condemned them to such a fate either. Jesus explained that succinctly to Nicodemus.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned. But he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:17–18 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The apparent condemnation Jesus proclaimed over these Pharisees wasn’t from Him. It was because they didn’t know Him. Not knowing Him means they would not know the Father. Jesus said so (John 8:19.)

Jesus told them He would go away. After He left, these Pharisees would seek Him but not find Him. They would die in their sins.

Many today are in that same condition… In danger of dying in their sins because they refused to believe Jesus. Many still seek Him. Some do it in vain, they never believe. Others believe and are saved.

Of which are you?

The ones who seek Jesus and never find Him, because one doesn’t believe they themselves have fallen short and are in need of rescue.

Or…

Of the redeemed, who know Jesus and the Father. They know where Jesus was going. Therefore they are going there, too.

Jesus has been Gifted Everything

On By TimIn John 05, Resurrection, Salvation1 Comment

For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. The Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all men should honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

John 5:21–23 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Everything the Father has is given to Jesus; just as we see here, Jesus even has the power to raise the dead. More importantly, Jesus has the power to give life!

Maybe you’ve never thought that through. Yet right here… Jesus is making a bold statement. Wait, you’ve never really thought that Jesus is God?

That first statement is an attestation to that simple fact.

The Son Gives Life to Whom He Will

Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.

Genesis 2:7 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I get it. The Father has to draw. The Father has to grant life. That is also given to Jesus.

He gave life to you! How do I know?

You’re breathing and reading this. He breathed the breath of life into you. Furthermore, the Father wants all of me to honor the Son. So that they may have access to the Father.

He who believes in the Son has eternal life. He who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

John 3:36 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)
That Judgment Thing

God has even given the authority to judge solely to Jesus. He is the One Who chooses. He is the One Who judges.

Yet Jesus would have you honor Him just as any of us would honor God. Remember, He chooses.

All of us have had the wrath of God on us. Some may still be under that encumbrance. Yet we know the Father and the Son don’t want that for you. Don’t believe me. It’s right there…

“that all men should honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. ”

All men is better understood as all humans. He chose to give you life by sending His Son for you to believe and believe in.

The math is simple… Those that want to honor the Father must honor the Son. There is simply no other way.

If you think Jesus was a good man and a great Hebrew, that’s not good enough.

If you think Jesus was a great teacher and an example to follow, that’s not still good enough.

If you think Jesus came to teach us how to love others, that won’t work.

Even if you think Jesus died on a cross thousands of years ago, neither is that good enough.

You must honor Jesus as you honor God. And we do that by first believing He is Who He said He is… God. We can then believe His death was personal… Sufficient for each of us. Proven in that we’re still breathing.

The Father sent the Son to save the world; thus giving everyone enough time to understand these things. All who inhabit the world ought to honor the Son and be given life… Eternal life.

Good People

On By TimIn Daily Walk, John 071 Comment

I have a question I would like to pose to you. I want you to answer it honestly.

Do you think of yourself as a good person?

Let’s really examine what it means to be good. Remember, that Jesus told us that we really ought to judge… And do it correctly.

Do not judge according to appearance, but practice righteous judgment.

John 7:24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Jesus said this after He selflessly healed another on Shabbat. He mercifully rescued someone, showing the real purpose of the law and what others missed. We cannot be good by keeping it.

We know it is mercy that triumphs over judgment (James 2:13.) The principle is that the measure we offer to others will be given back to us in multiples. It is this sowing and reaping principle, as planting a seed the harvest is expected to be many more seeds.

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will men give unto you. For with the measure you use, it will be measured unto you.”

Luke 6:37–38 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The principle Jesus is using in the way we judge is to give. In so doing receive the good measure which is returned to us. In the market at those times, when one bought grain, a good measure was done like this: Grain would be ladled into a container until full. The container would then be pressed down, and more grain added. Then the vendor would tamp the container on a hard surface a few times. His would provide even more room. The vendor would finally ladle more grain into the container until it piled up and overflowed the sides.

That is a Good Measure.

Most of us, if not all, would have no problem meeting judgment to ourselves like this. Some of us will struggle to do that with some of our friends. I think the problem grows exponentially when we judge others by what they do that we do not like. It really is an unfair system.

And yeah, I am talking to myself, too.

What do We Do?

So let’s set out and esteem others better than ourselves like Paul instructs.

Let nothing be done out of strife or conceit, but in humility let each esteem the other better than himself. Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:3–4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The task can be daunting at first. But with practice (and the indwelling Holy Spirit,) it gets easier. You cannot do it without the Spirit in you. I promise.

But back to that question.

A certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good, except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother.”

Luke 18:18–20 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Think about the answer now. Do you still think you are a good person?

I don’t want to beat you up (or myself for that matter.) I want to encourage all of us to really expect that good measure from ourselves, the same as we would expect it in return from others.

When it comes to judging ourselves against the law and being asked a question like I posed, we would immediately bring to mind all of our foibles. In light of the law, we would esteem ourselves as something less than good.

Brothers and sisters… If we are saved, we are good! We are good in Jesus’ name. It is His gift of righteousness — His, that He freely gives to us.

Let’s think of ourselves rightly. We are good people… Only in Jesus’ name.

He’s a Good, Good Father.

On By TimIn 43 - John, John 10, The FatherLeave a comment

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. But he who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and runs away. So the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and am known by My own. Even as the Father knows Me, so I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep who are not of this fold. I must also bring them, and they will hear My voice. There will be one flock and one shepherd. Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I received this command from My Father.”

John 10:11–18 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd. There is only One. He is the One Who lays down His life for the sheep. When danger comes, this Shepherd won’t run but will give wholly of Himself.

These words were spoken by Jesus before He laid down His life. And that for the greatest danger to any of us, that is the just death due for sin, and passing from this world without the gift of eternal life. He took that curse away for the sheep. In the direct context given, Jesus is speaking to those believing sheep of Israel. Those are the ones to whom He was promised.

Note, too; His Father sent no hireling. No mere employee would lay down his life for another. A hired hand doesn’t love. The Father has to send a member of the Family Who owned the sheep.

More than that, the Father sent the Good Shepherd as He knew His sheep and was known by them. Those believing Israelis did know the Messiah when they encountered Him. Even Paul knew Who was speaking to him on the Road to Damascus.

The Good Shepherd follows the commands given Him. He was sent by His Father for the believing sheep in Israel, and the believing sheep from another fold… That is, not of Israel.

The Good Father here knows just Who to send to gather the lost sheep. It is One Who would do anything to gather them, even to the point of laying down His Own life. The Good Father also gave the Good Shepherd power to take up His own life again. And He did.

The Good News to each of us is that God erased the writing of judgments against us, taking it away and nailing it to the cross. This respite gives us each time to enter the sheepfold by the One Open Door… Jesus Christ.

How do you enter?

Simply by believing it is true and it is for you.