This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. John 2:11 NLT
John uses the noun glory doxa nearly 20 times and uses the verb doxaxo more than 20 times with the general meaning to glorify. Obviously this is a significant idea to Johns gospel.
John 1:14 introduces this to us: So the word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Fathers one and only son. NLT
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. NKJV
The word for made his home among us or dwelt which is in other translations is used in the Greek OT for the tabernacle of God. In other words, Christ is the locus of Gods dwelling with Israel as he had dwelt with them in the tabernalce in the desert (Ex.25:8,9). Hence the glory of God, once restricted to the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34) is now visible in Christ. ... this glory is not merely a display of power. for John the deepest irony is how glory is to be found in suffering and humiliation, for in this gospel, the corss of Chirst is again and again described as jesus glorification. 1
In John 2:11 God affirms through a sign that He is at work in Jesus and is in Him.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. NKJV
For John, glory is the exalted expression of god's being n Jesus, revealing grace and truth. His meaning may be understood by considering the Hebrew expression "goodness and truth" (hesed we' emet Ex. 33-35) When God shows His glory to Moses He give His words ot Moses and proclaims that He is abounding in goodness and truth (Ex. 34:6,7) 2
God displays the full manifestation of His goodness and truth in time and place that results in the renewal of His covenant with His people. He relates to Moses and His people not in the way that they deserve, but according to His own personal and immediate nature and capacity. Likewise, Jesus manifests God's immediate, personal presence to the people with grace -- understanding thier condition (2:24, 25) Jesus represents God's compassionate response to His peoples fallen and alienated condition. (17:5, 5:17) 3
1 The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary, general editor, author: Craig A. Evans p 42
2 Spirit Filled Life New Testament commentary Series, John: Jonathan D. Huntzinger pp 65,66
3 Spirit Filled Life New Testament commentary Series, John: Jonathan D. Huntzinger p 66
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
We are simply witnesses, we are not the light
God sent a man, John the Baptist, 1:6 NLT
to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 1:7
John himself was not the light; but he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 1:8
God sent a man - it is a man that God uses to tell about the light. God is sending men today to tell people about the light.
The men are not the light themselves - God uses us to tell others, He uses us sometimes in miraculous ways. Our place is not to glory in this, it is to glory in the light. We are not to be puffed up thinking that their is any life in us or anything that has come from us to make this happen. It is the life that is in Him that we draw on that enables miracles, that enable signs, that enables us to have a testimony.
We are simply a witness - we are light reflectors, we are branches in the vine. We are messengers but not the King himself. It is a simple thing that we are witnesses.
to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 1:7
John himself was not the light; but he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 1:8
God sent a man - it is a man that God uses to tell about the light. God is sending men today to tell people about the light.
The men are not the light themselves - God uses us to tell others, He uses us sometimes in miraculous ways. Our place is not to glory in this, it is to glory in the light. We are not to be puffed up thinking that their is any life in us or anything that has come from us to make this happen. It is the life that is in Him that we draw on that enables miracles, that enable signs, that enables us to have a testimony.
We are simply a witness - we are light reflectors, we are branches in the vine. We are messengers but not the King himself. It is a simple thing that we are witnesses.
The Life Giver
In Him was life and the life was the light of men John 1:4 NKJV, NASB
In Him was life and that life was the light of men. 1:4 NIV
The word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 1:4 NLT
Life comes from the word. Jesus was the word come in flesh. John's gospel shows this life being manifested among men.
The signs of Jesus are the visible manifestations and embodiment of the life giving work of God. These miracles are a continuation of the work of God in creation. 1
Source:
1 Gerd Theissen (The Miracle Stories of the Early Christan Tradition, ed John Riches, trans. Francis McDonagh. This is found in The God of the Gospel of John by Merianne Meye Thompson. p 120,121
In Him was life and that life was the light of men. 1:4 NIV
The word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 1:4 NLT
Life comes from the word. Jesus was the word come in flesh. John's gospel shows this life being manifested among men.
The signs of Jesus are the visible manifestations and embodiment of the life giving work of God. These miracles are a continuation of the work of God in creation. 1
Source:
1 Gerd Theissen (The Miracle Stories of the Early Christan Tradition, ed John Riches, trans. Francis McDonagh. This is found in The God of the Gospel of John by Merianne Meye Thompson. p 120,121
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Giving life
The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. John 1:4 NLT
Life and light were both a part of creation and new creation. The Word was involved in the first creation and continues his work in the new creation.
John uses the word life 36 times. No other NT book uses this term more than 17 times. Rev has 17 mentions, Romans 14 and 1 John 13, so John has more than 1/4 of the mentions of life. It is a key concept in John's gospel. 1
John gives a preview in this verse of a theme seen throughout this gospel, Jesus if the life giver and light imparter.
Sources:
1 The Gospel according to John, Leon Morris p 73
Life and light were both a part of creation and new creation. The Word was involved in the first creation and continues his work in the new creation.
John uses the word life 36 times. No other NT book uses this term more than 17 times. Rev has 17 mentions, Romans 14 and 1 John 13, so John has more than 1/4 of the mentions of life. It is a key concept in John's gospel. 1
John gives a preview in this verse of a theme seen throughout this gospel, Jesus if the life giver and light imparter.
Sources:
1 The Gospel according to John, Leon Morris p 73
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)