...and my father is the husbandman.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of you mind that you might know that good and perfect will of God.
God is the head gardener of the vine. The gardener decides where the vine is to be planted, which direction to grow the vine in, for when and how much to prune the vine, how and how much it is to be watered and nurtured.
Jesus was dependent upon Gods choices for all these things. The vine is our example. Everything in the natural has a supernatural correlation. So as Jesus was totally dependent on God for where he was planted, when he was pruned, how he was fenced in, how and when he was watered, when he was to be challenged by outside forces, so we are dependent on these things.
As we pursue Gods will by renewing our minds on Gods word, we recognize that our planting is not our choosing. It is the choice of the master Gardener, God himself.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
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
Friday, April 18, 2008
More on Pruning
In pruning a vine, two principles are usually observed.
1. All dead wood must be ruthlessly removed. Dead wood is a container of insects and disease. These can cause the vine to rot, to decay and to be more unproductive.
2. the live wood must be cut back drastically. Live wood has to be trimmed back in order to prevent such heavy growth that the life of the vine goes into the wood rather than into bearing fruit.
In the springtime the vineyard is comprised of barren and bleeding stumps, but in the fall they are filled with luscious purple grapes.
In a believers life the cutting back of live wood can seem almost cruel, yet those who have been willing to suffer most often are the ones who bear much fruit.
John the Gospel of Belief, Merrill C. Tenney pp 227,228
1. All dead wood must be ruthlessly removed. Dead wood is a container of insects and disease. These can cause the vine to rot, to decay and to be more unproductive.
2. the live wood must be cut back drastically. Live wood has to be trimmed back in order to prevent such heavy growth that the life of the vine goes into the wood rather than into bearing fruit.
In the springtime the vineyard is comprised of barren and bleeding stumps, but in the fall they are filled with luscious purple grapes.
In a believers life the cutting back of live wood can seem almost cruel, yet those who have been willing to suffer most often are the ones who bear much fruit.
John the Gospel of Belief, Merrill C. Tenney pp 227,228
The Right Stuff
Five points of resemblance between the vine and believers.
1. The Right Stock - Jesus said I am the true vine - The first essential in planting a vineyard is having the right stock. A nurseryman who sells stock guarantees the plant he sells is true to type. Jesus is the true stock, the one true vine, He is the one and only original from which all others must come from.
2. The Right Expert - My father is the husbandman - Great vineyards are taken care of by experts. An expert who knows when to prune as well as how much to prune and when to fertilize as well as how much to fertilize. He knows how to produce a maximum crop. This spiritual vineyard is taken care of by God himself the foremost expert on training and developing the maturity of man.
3. The Right Culture - Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit - to keep the culture pure pruning must take place.
4. The Right Contact - Abide in me, and I in you -
5. The Right Fruitage - the same beareth much fruit - the expert keeps the right stock with the right culture connected to the right contact bearing the right fruit.
The Gospel of Belief, Merrill C. Tenney p 227
1. The Right Stock - Jesus said I am the true vine - The first essential in planting a vineyard is having the right stock. A nurseryman who sells stock guarantees the plant he sells is true to type. Jesus is the true stock, the one true vine, He is the one and only original from which all others must come from.
2. The Right Expert - My father is the husbandman - Great vineyards are taken care of by experts. An expert who knows when to prune as well as how much to prune and when to fertilize as well as how much to fertilize. He knows how to produce a maximum crop. This spiritual vineyard is taken care of by God himself the foremost expert on training and developing the maturity of man.
3. The Right Culture - Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit - to keep the culture pure pruning must take place.
4. The Right Contact - Abide in me, and I in you -
5. The Right Fruitage - the same beareth much fruit - the expert keeps the right stock with the right culture connected to the right contact bearing the right fruit.
The Gospel of Belief, Merrill C. Tenney p 227
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Gods Names and Attributes in John
My (Jesus) Father - used by Jesus in 15:1
the vinedresser - 15:1
the one who sent Jesus - 7:33, 8:18, 8:29, 8:42
the Father bears witness of Jesus - 8:18
the Father taught Jesus - 8:28
The Father is with Jesus - 8:29
The Father honors Jesus - 8:54
The Father knows Jesus - 10:16
the vinedresser - 15:1
the one who sent Jesus - 7:33, 8:18, 8:29, 8:42
the Father bears witness of Jesus - 8:18
the Father taught Jesus - 8:28
The Father is with Jesus - 8:29
The Father honors Jesus - 8:54
The Father knows Jesus - 10:16
Aseity of God in John
I am reading through the Gospel of John and Christian Theology edited by Richard Bauckham and Carl Mosser. This week I am reading the article by D. Jeffrey Bingham called Christianizing Divine Aseity: Irenaus Reads John.
The article points to Irenaus conviction of the Aseity of God and the reason for his focus was to combat Gnostic teachings of the time. Aseity or adversus haereses reveals Irenaeus's deep conviction of God's self-sufficiency.
"The Creator, he believes, stands in need of nothing and no one. The Father, with his Son (Word) and Spirit, needs no instruments to create. Through the agency and means of his Son and Spirit, the Father willingly and intentionally creates, governs and provides; creation and providence are mediated neither by angles nor any other creatures. As the Origionator of life, God does not need what he originates, for he is uncreated, without beginning or end, and separate from the creature. He does not need our possessions, our communion, our fruits, our offerings, our gifts, our oblations, our allengiance, our love, our obedience, our sacrifices, our service, our good works. Even the incarnation satiffies no need in God; God has no need.
The creature, however, stands in great need. Humans, for example, need many instruments to produce their intentions. But far more fundamentally, they need the Creator and to be related properly to him. They need revelation from the Father's Word and Spirit. They need for their own glorification, to be in communion with God, to be befriended by him, in fellowship with him. They need to offer something to God, to give gifts, to serve for their own benefit, fruitfulness, and glory, to provide oblations from the creations for their own education in gratitude and holy service which brings forth God's blessing. They need to obey for their own profit, to do good works so that God might recompense them with good things; to embrace righteousness and contrition that they might be justified, to bathe in the laver of regeneration that they might be cleansed."1
Irenaeus see this principle in John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. Or in John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you.. . Or 19:11 Jesus answered. "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."
One of the Gnostic myths of the times was that their were angelic creators.
I see why Irenaeus would establish this principle especially in light of the common teachings of the time and the popularity of some Gnostic teachings. It brings up some questions for me. How can a relationship work with one person having no need ? Can God want our love yet not need our love ? Why would that be true ? Does God just want our worship or is their any need in Him for his creation to worship the Creator. Is there any need in God for His created to become whole and fulfill what He created them to be ? These are some questions for me to chew on.
1 the Gospel of John and Christian Theology edited by Richard Bauckham and Carl Mosser p.55
The article points to Irenaus conviction of the Aseity of God and the reason for his focus was to combat Gnostic teachings of the time. Aseity or adversus haereses reveals Irenaeus's deep conviction of God's self-sufficiency.
"The Creator, he believes, stands in need of nothing and no one. The Father, with his Son (Word) and Spirit, needs no instruments to create. Through the agency and means of his Son and Spirit, the Father willingly and intentionally creates, governs and provides; creation and providence are mediated neither by angles nor any other creatures. As the Origionator of life, God does not need what he originates, for he is uncreated, without beginning or end, and separate from the creature. He does not need our possessions, our communion, our fruits, our offerings, our gifts, our oblations, our allengiance, our love, our obedience, our sacrifices, our service, our good works. Even the incarnation satiffies no need in God; God has no need.
The creature, however, stands in great need. Humans, for example, need many instruments to produce their intentions. But far more fundamentally, they need the Creator and to be related properly to him. They need revelation from the Father's Word and Spirit. They need for their own glorification, to be in communion with God, to be befriended by him, in fellowship with him. They need to offer something to God, to give gifts, to serve for their own benefit, fruitfulness, and glory, to provide oblations from the creations for their own education in gratitude and holy service which brings forth God's blessing. They need to obey for their own profit, to do good works so that God might recompense them with good things; to embrace righteousness and contrition that they might be justified, to bathe in the laver of regeneration that they might be cleansed."1
Irenaeus see this principle in John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. Or in John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you.. . Or 19:11 Jesus answered. "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."
One of the Gnostic myths of the times was that their were angelic creators.
I see why Irenaeus would establish this principle especially in light of the common teachings of the time and the popularity of some Gnostic teachings. It brings up some questions for me. How can a relationship work with one person having no need ? Can God want our love yet not need our love ? Why would that be true ? Does God just want our worship or is their any need in Him for his creation to worship the Creator. Is there any need in God for His created to become whole and fulfill what He created them to be ? These are some questions for me to chew on.
1 the Gospel of John and Christian Theology edited by Richard Bauckham and Carl Mosser p.55
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and set you aside that you should go forth and yield fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that the Father should give you whatever you ask in my name.
God understood what He was working with when He chose you and me.
God has a proven track record of using ordinary people to do extraordinary exploits.
He used a man who had committed murder to later lead his people into the promised land (Moses).
He used a convict who later became the 2nd most powerful man in a nation to bless others (Joseph)
He uses people who had made grave errors. He uses people who have human weakness.
God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for people who will admit their need and turn their heart toward Him and follow Him.
Many times human talent can be a hindrance to God using us. We rely on it instead of relying on God.
God desires to use all of us.
God understood what He was working with when He chose you and me.
God has a proven track record of using ordinary people to do extraordinary exploits.
He used a man who had committed murder to later lead his people into the promised land (Moses).
He used a convict who later became the 2nd most powerful man in a nation to bless others (Joseph)
He uses people who had made grave errors. He uses people who have human weakness.
God is not looking for perfect people. He is looking for people who will admit their need and turn their heart toward Him and follow Him.
Many times human talent can be a hindrance to God using us. We rely on it instead of relying on God.
God desires to use all of us.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)