We made some headway into John this past week and I'm happy to report that I feel that we are on schedule to go through the book. I know I'm going quickly through the sections and PowerPoint slides so I will keep in mind that you are taking notes and give time for you to jot down your thoughts as I talk.
I'm glad you are beginning to ask questions and that makes for a more interesting class indeed. I want us to be challenged by what John writes and so wrestle with the person of Jesus. John is making it clear that more than the crowds that flocked to Jesus for what He could give them, He is looking for those that will believe in what He has come to do in our lives and in the life of humanity as a whole. What qualifies one to be a disciple is having encountered Jesus and told others about Him. [Samaritan Woman at the Well]
I hope you are noticing the progression of story that John is writing in these chapters we are in. As we saw in the woman at the well, her progression from being offended, to skeptical, to curious, to ashamed and amazed to changed is something that John wants us to see in contrast to how the event affected His disciples. These storyline contrasts have a lot to say to us about the character of discipleship and change that Jesus is looking for.
Bottom line, Jesus came to change our hearts and to give us new life. That new life changes the way we see ourselves, everyone and everything around us. We will look on the reality in John's gospel that the focus of discipleship is not regarding being "good." It focuses on going from death to life. Belief in Jesus is to receive what He has to give. What He has to give focuses on dealing with evil and freeing us to live the life God has always intended for us to live. This is the eternal existence that God the Father has achieved for us in Jesus. We will see this become more intense as we look toward chapters 5, 6 and 7 this coming Tuesday.
Portico John Lecture Chapter Two - Not What They Expected
Portico John Lecture Chapter Three -The One From Above
Portico John Lecture Chapter Four - Sowing Seed for Eternal Harvest
Hi Everyone, I really enjoyed the review of sin through the old and new testament - or what is the problem Christ came to solve. I look forward to seeing those notes online and the audio.
ReplyDeleteDerek
Luc, one point you have made consistently through all the classes on John was how wrong the Pharisees got the first coming of the Messiah (Jesus). They did not see the suffering Messiah, and generally did not interpret the Law correctly. One of the topics I have studied since the late 70’s is Eschatology and I got to thinking how surprised will we be on what we get wrong about the second coming?
ReplyDeleteI think we collectively, believe we have it all so together, we have this whole end times thing figured out and “know” what his second coming will look like. Will we be taken off guard and surprised? When/if it is not at all what we thought it would be yet still fulfill all the scriptures?
Derek