This is going to be short today because I am headed up to "the Park" this morning and I have a wedding luncheon after that. "The Park" is our new children's area at the church and it is looking fantastic! Just some finishing touches need to be made.
In John 12 I noticed something for the first time. In John 12:19 the Pharisees note that "the world has gone after him!" Then in the very next verse it mentions "some Greeks" who are at the festival and wish to see Jesus. In verse 26 Jesus tells Philip and Andrew, "Whoever serves me, the Father will honor." There is so much we miss if we just skim through these stories.
Then Jesus begins to talk about His death, and makes references to the prophet Isaiah.
The banquet story, the last supper, has so much going on. Ancient meals had two main courses, the deipnon was the supper proper when the meal was actually eaten, followed by the symposium during which there was conversation and other entertainment. Jesus has a lot to say. And have you ever wondered about "the disciple whom Jesus loved"? People have said it was the author of the book we are reading, but I wonder if it might have been Lazarus. Just a thought. After all, he had just raised him from the dead.
There was a children's musical by Kathi Hill that I directed many years ago called "We Like Sheep" that had many passages from John in the words of the songs. John 13:34-35 is one of my favorite that was the basis of one song. I'll sing it for you next time I see you. Off to the Park for now!
My favorite is John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Jesus's gift of peace comes through belief in Him (ie. not as the world gives). When we give things over to him which we cannot control, with the belief that he will take care of them, we receive the gift of peace.
ReplyDeletere: have you ever wondered about "the disciple whom Jesus loved"?
ReplyDeleteAs the saying goes, one has to take off their own shoes before they can take a walk in someone else's moccasins, and similarly, when it comes to cases of The Bible vs. Tradition, one has to first let go of the traditions of men in order to see the truth that is hidden in plain sight in the text of scripture.
TheDiscipleWhomJesusLoved.com has a free Bible study eBook that compares scripture with scripture in order to highlight the facts in the plain text of scripture that are usually overlooked about the “other disciple, whom Jesus loved”. You may want to weigh the testimony of scripture that the study cites regarding the one whom “Jesus loved” and may find it to be helpful as it encourages bible students to take seriously the admonition “prove all things”.
Thanks bk, that was very extensive. I have not seen that much sleuthing of the Bible before. Very well done. One question I still have...how does knowing who "the disciple whom Jesus loved" is, help me be more like Jesus or at least help me do His work? What impressed me most in this part of the book of John is the way Jesus dealt with a betrayer in his close inner circle.
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