Monday, May 19, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Favorite Resources in John so far
These are sources that I glean the most from in my own study of the Gospel of John
Commentaries
•C. K. Barrett’s, The Gospel According to John *
•G. R. Beasley-Murray, John, *
•F.F. Bruce, The Gospel of John *
•Kostenberger, Andreas J. John (BECT) *
•Morris, Leon Morris, The Gospel According to John *
Other Related Books with insight into the Gospel of John
•Andrew Murray, The True Vine *
•T Austin Sparks, Discipleship in the School of Christ *
•T Austin Sparks, The School of Christ *
•Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, Volume II (The writings of John) *
•Bruce Wilkinson, Secrets of the Vine *
Commentaries
•C. K. Barrett’s, The Gospel According to John *
•G. R. Beasley-Murray, John, *
•F.F. Bruce, The Gospel of John *
•Kostenberger, Andreas J. John (BECT) *
•Morris, Leon Morris, The Gospel According to John *
Other Related Books with insight into the Gospel of John
•Andrew Murray, The True Vine *
•T Austin Sparks, Discipleship in the School of Christ *
•T Austin Sparks, The School of Christ *
•Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, Volume II (The writings of John) *
•Bruce Wilkinson, Secrets of the Vine *
The Private Miracle
I would entitle the changing of the water to wine the private miracle.
Kostenberger says it like this: the entire event served as a foil for Jesus revelation that his "time had not yet come" (2:4; cf. later 7:30, 8:20; and the arrival of the "hour in 12:23, 27, 13:1; 17:1) Nevertheless, Jesus finds a way not to "blow his cover": he performs a miracle "behind the scenes," without stealing the spotlight that properly belonged to the bride and groom, selflessly meeting the need of the hour.
Encountering John, Kostenberger p 73
Kostenberger says it like this: the entire event served as a foil for Jesus revelation that his "time had not yet come" (2:4; cf. later 7:30, 8:20; and the arrival of the "hour in 12:23, 27, 13:1; 17:1) Nevertheless, Jesus finds a way not to "blow his cover": he performs a miracle "behind the scenes," without stealing the spotlight that properly belonged to the bride and groom, selflessly meeting the need of the hour.
Encountering John, Kostenberger p 73
2:4
Woman or gunai has no harshness or disrespect in the vocative form
C. K. Barrett, p159
gunai has caused needless perplexity. While it is an unusual mode of address to one's mother, it also may be affectionate.
Beasley-Murray, p 34
Jesus response shows depths of feeling and earnestness in him. It was the customary style of address for the time.
Lipscomb p 36
Mary probably failed to realize adequately that since her Son had left home (some months before) something had happened which must make a difference to their former relationship. He had been anointed with the Holy Spirit and had received power to undertake the special work which his Father had given him to do. Now that, after the long 'silent years' at Nazareth, he had entered on his public ministry, everything (including family ties) must be subordinated to this... When the NEB makes him say 'Your concern, mother, is not mine', it misses the point, which is that 'mother' is precisely what he did not call her. If she sought his help now, she must not seek it on the bais of their mother-and-son relationship.
F.F. Bruce p 69
C. K. Barrett, p159
gunai has caused needless perplexity. While it is an unusual mode of address to one's mother, it also may be affectionate.
Beasley-Murray, p 34
Jesus response shows depths of feeling and earnestness in him. It was the customary style of address for the time.
Lipscomb p 36
Mary probably failed to realize adequately that since her Son had left home (some months before) something had happened which must make a difference to their former relationship. He had been anointed with the Holy Spirit and had received power to undertake the special work which his Father had given him to do. Now that, after the long 'silent years' at Nazareth, he had entered on his public ministry, everything (including family ties) must be subordinated to this... When the NEB makes him say 'Your concern, mother, is not mine', it misses the point, which is that 'mother' is precisely what he did not call her. If she sought his help now, she must not seek it on the bais of their mother-and-son relationship.
F.F. Bruce p 69
John 2
C.K. Barrett gives this short overview of the changing of the water into wine in Cana of Galilee.
A wedding feast, attended by Jesus, his mother, and his disciples, is the scene of the first miracle. Jesus, though he will not be hurried or dictated to, even by his mother, supplies handsomely a lack of wine by transforming the contents of six water pots. After the miracle, which is represented as taking place privately and as known only to a few servants and to the disciples, Jesus goes down to Capernaum to await the appropriate moment for beginning his public work.
The Gospel according to St John, C.K. Barrett p 156-157
Barrett points out a couple of interesting facts about this scene. He says Jesus public ministry opens at 2:13 and that 2: 1-11 is a private miracle. This insight helps me understand why Jesus would say my hour has not yet come yet go ahead and perform a miracle. It seems Jesus understood that his public ministry, his hour, was about to begin. He was waiting on the fathers timing. Turning water into wine in a private setting was not the beginning of the hour. No doubt it was a powerful sign to the new group of disciples about just who this man Jesus really was.2
A wedding feast, attended by Jesus, his mother, and his disciples, is the scene of the first miracle. Jesus, though he will not be hurried or dictated to, even by his mother, supplies handsomely a lack of wine by transforming the contents of six water pots. After the miracle, which is represented as taking place privately and as known only to a few servants and to the disciples, Jesus goes down to Capernaum to await the appropriate moment for beginning his public work.
The Gospel according to St John, C.K. Barrett p 156-157
Barrett points out a couple of interesting facts about this scene. He says Jesus public ministry opens at 2:13 and that 2: 1-11 is a private miracle. This insight helps me understand why Jesus would say my hour has not yet come yet go ahead and perform a miracle. It seems Jesus understood that his public ministry, his hour, was about to begin. He was waiting on the fathers timing. Turning water into wine in a private setting was not the beginning of the hour. No doubt it was a powerful sign to the new group of disciples about just who this man Jesus really was.2
Sunday, May 11, 2008
John 15: Setting
Bruce Wilkinson brings out the setting of John 15 in his book Stories From the Vineyard.
He tells of how this was part of the dying conversation of Jesus. It was part of his final words before he was to leave. This was the heart of Jesus final message to His disciples.
He tells it like this: If you've been a Christian for a while, you've probably heard a lot about the upper room -- the scene of the dramatic evening meal Jesus had with His disciples. You can easily imagine, then, the men around the table reclining on pillows, their faces turned toward the Master. You can hear the muted conversation. You can smell the aroma of freshly baked bread and of roasted lamb and onions.
It is the night before Passover, the Jewish day to remember the nation's escape from slavery in Egypt. Hundreds of thousands have come to Jerusalem to celebrate, and this year more than ever the city is buzzing with rumors about Messiah. More than one prophet has predicted that on just such a day, Messiah will arrive to deliver Israel from all of her oppressors forever.
But these men reclining around the table know something the crowds outside don't. Messiah is already here. He is with them here in the room.
The disciples have spent three year with Him, and one by one they've come to the same conclusion: Jesus of Nazareth is Messiah -- the One worth risking everything to follow. In fact, the disciples are so certain about who the events of Passover week will unfold that they have spent a good part of the journey from Galilee arguing about who will get which position of honor in the new kingdom.
Dinner begins.
Peter, pass the lamb
Hey James, let's get to the temple early. I don't want to miss ten thousands of angels teaching those Roman legions a lesson.
Psst, Matthew! I'd say our money woes are about to be history.
The disciples expect that these lamplit hours among friends in the upper room will carry on into the evening, poignant but peaceful, full of toasts to the good years to come. But things begin to unravel.
The next thing that happens is the washing of the disciples feet. Why would tomorrow's king behave like tonight's houseboy? It gets worse. Jesus tells them that one of them will betray him. Then the clincher Jesus tells him that before sunup, he will deny his Lord three times. An awful realization begins to dawn: Their whole mission is doomed.
He goes on "a little while longer and the world will see me no more,"
The disciples begin to realize that there will be no public triumph. Their continence drops. Hope has been replaced with anxiety and dread. there is emotional devastation.
At the end of this scene Jesus says "Arise let us go from here." this leads us into a portion of Jesus final words in John 15.
Secrets of the True Vine, Bruce Wilkinson pp. 10-13
He tells of how this was part of the dying conversation of Jesus. It was part of his final words before he was to leave. This was the heart of Jesus final message to His disciples.
He tells it like this: If you've been a Christian for a while, you've probably heard a lot about the upper room -- the scene of the dramatic evening meal Jesus had with His disciples. You can easily imagine, then, the men around the table reclining on pillows, their faces turned toward the Master. You can hear the muted conversation. You can smell the aroma of freshly baked bread and of roasted lamb and onions.
It is the night before Passover, the Jewish day to remember the nation's escape from slavery in Egypt. Hundreds of thousands have come to Jerusalem to celebrate, and this year more than ever the city is buzzing with rumors about Messiah. More than one prophet has predicted that on just such a day, Messiah will arrive to deliver Israel from all of her oppressors forever.
But these men reclining around the table know something the crowds outside don't. Messiah is already here. He is with them here in the room.
The disciples have spent three year with Him, and one by one they've come to the same conclusion: Jesus of Nazareth is Messiah -- the One worth risking everything to follow. In fact, the disciples are so certain about who the events of Passover week will unfold that they have spent a good part of the journey from Galilee arguing about who will get which position of honor in the new kingdom.
Dinner begins.
Peter, pass the lamb
Hey James, let's get to the temple early. I don't want to miss ten thousands of angels teaching those Roman legions a lesson.
Psst, Matthew! I'd say our money woes are about to be history.
The disciples expect that these lamplit hours among friends in the upper room will carry on into the evening, poignant but peaceful, full of toasts to the good years to come. But things begin to unravel.
The next thing that happens is the washing of the disciples feet. Why would tomorrow's king behave like tonight's houseboy? It gets worse. Jesus tells them that one of them will betray him. Then the clincher Jesus tells him that before sunup, he will deny his Lord three times. An awful realization begins to dawn: Their whole mission is doomed.
He goes on "a little while longer and the world will see me no more,"
The disciples begin to realize that there will be no public triumph. Their continence drops. Hope has been replaced with anxiety and dread. there is emotional devastation.
At the end of this scene Jesus says "Arise let us go from here." this leads us into a portion of Jesus final words in John 15.
Secrets of the True Vine, Bruce Wilkinson pp. 10-13
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)