John Chapter 1-5

Hey Family,

Last year, in addition to our family prayer, we were challenged to read the book of Proverbs and share our thoughts.  The book of Proverbs was very enlightening and helpful.  It stressed the value of wisdom, obedience, honoring your parents, and common sense. 

After we completed Proverbs, we decided to move on to the Book of John.  I have decided to share insight I have gained via email, since most of us do not visit the Cammon family blog or the Google group mom set up.  

So, if you have any other interpretations or insights, feel free to share by sending "reply to all”.

FYI:  Distractions are everywhere and the world is making it more convenient to live without God.  Researchers, Scientists, and Historians are finding ways to discredit the Bible and God.  Most Christians rarely, or occasionally, read the bible.  In 2014, Barna.org released a study that revealed skepticism toward the Bible continues to rise, 40% of Americans report being too distracted or too busy with life to read the Bible.  Moreover, approximately 19% of churchgoers read the Bible daily, exposing biblical illiteracy within the church.  It seems that Americans revere the Bible, but do not read it.  No wonder people violate God’s word so much.  God told Joshua to meditate on His word day and night.  Jesus encouraged the disciples to pray.  So, I encourage us all to find time in our schedule to connect with God through prayer and/or reading God’s word.  

So far we have read Chapter 1-5 of John:

Note: I read the NLT, so all my references are form the NLT.

John, Chapter 1

•  I have read this John 1 many times.  I used to read over verses 1-5, because I really didn’t understand what they meant. Several years ago, while I was attending West Angeles, Bishop Blake preached a sermon based on John 1:1-5.  He talked about how Jesus was there, with God, in the beginning. Which explains why God said, in Genesis 1:26, “Let US make man in OUR image”.  Jesus existed long before he manifested in the flesh.  Moreover, in Daniel 3:25, Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed he saw the "Son of God" walking around in the fiery furnace with the three Hebrew boys.  
• I did some research on these verses to better understand.  I gained some more insight:  Although scripture does not define what is meant by, “Jesus was the Word”,  it could refer to the fact that He is the personification of the written and spoken word. He revealed to the world the Word of God.  The testimony that God revealed through the prophets during the Old Testament period was now made human with the coming of Christ. Hence the Word became flesh.
• I also want to turn your attention to John’s testimony of Jesus (vs.29-34).  What’s interesting is that John states that Jesus existed long before him.  However, Elisabeth was pregnant before Mary and John was born before Jesus.  Yet, He said that Jesus existed long before he did:  “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 
• The last scriptures I want to talk about are verses 47-51. These scriptures are an exchange between Jesus and Nathaniel.  It was Jesus' s response that resonated with me: "Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will ALL see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth  I hadn’t paid too much attention to Jesus’ words before now.  However, since we are in the last days and all, I am more grateful for Jesus.  He is the way to Heaven.  

John, Chapter 2

• Chapter 2 is where God performs his first miracle:  Turning water to wine at the wedding (vs.1-12).  On the family prayer line, Mom, Pop, Phelice, and I had a discussion about whether or not it was ok for Christians to drink wine.  I, occasionally, drink wine.  So, I am not convicted about drinking wine.  However, I will not use this miracle to justify using controlled substances.  Nor do I think it is wise to say that Jesus condoned drinking wine.  This was a celebration, not an everyday occurrence.  Jesus was not turning water into wine for these people to turn up at work or after work.  Lol!  I believe God wants us to use our BEST judgment and He wants us to be the best example we can be to unbelievers.  So, I think we all know what healthy behavior looks like, so it behooves (always wanted to use that word around people that get it, lol!) to behave accordingly.  
• For me, this part of Chapter 2, is more about Jesus obeying His mother than it is about the actual miracle.  I don’t think Jesus planned to perform that miracle.  When his mother told Him that there was no more wine, he told His mother, "Dear woman, that’s not our problem.  My time has not yet come.”.  So, this informs me that even Jesus obeyed His mother. Which is in line with the 10 commandments: “Honor your father and mother….." (Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:1).
• Another thing, that stood out for me, is Jesus didn’t even touch the wine.  Nor did he have to utter any words or spell.  He wanted the water to be wine, so the water was wine.  This further proves Jesus’ creative power; just like God spoke the universe into existence.  Simply amazing.  This gives me confidence to trust God.  If he can turn water into wine to keep the celebration going, why wouldn’t he meet my daily needs.  I believe that everything God wills is going to manifest.
• If you read vs. 13-22, you will quickly discover God does not agree with shenanigans in His temple.  Jesus’ response to the retailers and money changers in the temple was ANGER.  So, I think this is an important.  It reminds us that when we step in to God’s temple/church/house/place of worship, that we honor God and show reverence.  God’s house is not a place of worldly influence or activity.
• The last vs. stood out to me, because, again, I had not paid much attention to it before.  "23 Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. 24 But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. 25 No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.  Wow, Jesus definitely knows our heart.  That’s why He is qualified to be our High Priest and make intersection for us to God. 

John, Chapter 4:1-42

• Questions for this passage:

1.  What does this event show about Jesus’ attitude toward people of other races? Jesus does not discriminate.  God showed His love towards ALL through Jesus; Jesus was sent into the world for everyone.  By interacting with this Samaritan woman (which was taboo at the time), Jesus represented all that God is: accepting, loving, available for all, wills that none perish. 

2.  What was the living water that Jesus offered? Spirit of God; Holy Spirit - never ceases, always flowing.John 7:38-39 “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

3. What request did the woman make, and what shows that she was still confused about Jesus’ meaning?  11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”  15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

4.  What are some examples of worship that is not in spirit or that is not in truth? Idol worship; Idolatry is the worship of an idol or a physical object as a representation of a god.

5. What lessons can this story teach Christians, especially Christian women, about saving the lost? Don't count people out; Don’t assume based on what you think you know.  It is worth it to share the living water with everyone, it can save and change lives. 

• Scriptures that resonated with me:

10 “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe[e] for harvest. 36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! 37 You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. 38 I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”

42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”

John, Chapter 4:43-54

1. To what town did Jesus return, and what miracle had He already done there?  He returned to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine.

2. What man made request of Jesus, and where was the man from? There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick.

3. What problem did the man have, and how serious was the problem? He begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.4. What observation did Jesus make in v48? Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?” 5. Describe what Jesus said and did to bring about the requested healing? Jesus simply told him his son would live. As soon as Jesus spoke it, it was done. 50 Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home. 51 While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well.  (Think: Why do the miracle this way? How did this strengthen the impact of the miracle?). This miracle proved that Jesus was from God.  To be able to heal someone that was not in His presence based on the words he spoke, was DIVINE.  6. How did the nobleman confirm that the healing was the result of what Jesus did? 52 He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” 53 Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” 

7. What effect did this have on the man and his family? The Government Official was a witness.  He was with Jesus when His son was healed, they were in another town.  So, not only did His faith increase, his family’s faith increased.

John, Chapter 5:1-18

1.  List 3 characteristics of this miracle that are characteristics of all miraculous healing: impossible task, witnesses present, instantaneous effects, required faith,  no other explanation

2. On what day did this healing occur? What objection did some Jews raise as a result (v10)? The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”

3. What should Jesus’ miracle have taught these men? (Think: What does this tell you about their intentions?) That He was sent from God and speaking the truth; Jesus posed a threat to the Jewish leaders.  If Jesus was the truly the Son of God, they had to accept his message and teaching.  His message and teachings exposed their corrupt desires.  They had too much to lose.

4. Did Jesus ever violate God’s law? Give Scripture for your answer. Yes, but according to Jesus, God breaks the Sabbath as well.   When the religious leaders accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath he is response: "In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working”.   When Jesus, violated the Sabbath, He did it to meet the needs of man, according to God’s will.  Just like David, who ate consecrated bread, or the priest who work on the Sabbath, but are innocent (Matthew 12:1-13/Luke 6:1-11/Mark 2L23-28).  

5. Note that open conflict had begun between Jesus and the Jewish leaders. What can we learn from this example about Christians’ involvement in conflict? Stick to the scripture.

Note:  Some manuscripts add an expanded conclusion to verse 3 and all of verse 4: waiting for a certain movement of the water, 4 for an angel of the Lord came from time to time and stirred up the water. And the first person to step in after the water was stirred was healed of whatever disease he had.One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. 



John, Chapter 5:19-47

• Jesus is identified Himself as the Son of God, but in v19-23, He humbly states that He can do nothing without the Father or by Himself.  Jesus if just like God and God loves Him  So, He told the religious leaders, "if you of not Honor me, you do not honor God”.  He also stated, “In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge”.  

• Of course, I have no need of human witnesses, but I say these things so you might be saved. 35 John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. 36 But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face,38 and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you.  39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40 Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life. 41 “Your approval means nothing to me, 42 because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. 43 For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. 44 No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.  45 “Yet it isn’t I who will accuse you before the Father. Moses will accuse you! Yes, Moses, in whom you put your hopes. 46 If you really believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But since you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”

Note: “Son of Man” vs. “Son of God” - Son of Man (defined in Daniel 7) is a title Jesus used for himself, nobody else called Him the Son of Man; In Daniel 7, Son of Man is a very exalted figure: not just a human figure but an exalted figure. It was Jesus' favorite self-designation.  The more common understanding is that Jesus was a Son of Man, that is, a human being. And He is the Son of God, in that he has always existed as the Eternally Begotten One who comes forth from the Father forever. He always has, and He always will.