Note: I'm sorry this is lengthy. I used it as an opportunity to give perspective on my process of reading and thinking about scripture.
I have recently been studying the Gospel of John for my work as an intern at Life Church in Huntington, IN. This week we are studying John 3 as a church body and I have some preliminary comments that have come to mind as I worked through my sermon research this week. I will first say that I will not be teaching this week, as part of my internship I study the same scripture as our teaching pastor and then we meet and talk through it as a means of helping me develop my sermon writing skills. Due to the fact that he will be preaching over this chapter on Sunday I am going to give a few comments to help prepare my own heart along with any of you who chose to follow this blog or happen to stumble upon it. After Sunday I may come back and add a few comments. I will also post a link to the sermon so that anyone who is interested in hearing will have the opportunity. Here are some of my thoughts...
First, when studying a book of the Bible, as we are in this case, it is important to keep in mind that this document is from a different time, written for a certain people, at a certain time, for a particular purpose. However, this document is also inspired by God and the writer was led by the Holy Spirit to communicate God's message to his people (his people being the immediate audience and also the two thousand years of Christians after!). When we read Scripture we too have the same Holy Spirit communicate to us through God's written word in our own time! Because of this, each book has its own story, meaning, and flow. When reading Scripture it is important to view each word within the verse it is in, each verse within the paragraph, each paragraph within the story, each story within the chapter, each chapter within the book, and each book within the Bible as a whole. In short, the Bible tells a story that has context and meaning within itself and it is important to read scripture within this context.
With that said, lets look at John chapters 1 and 2 quickly. In the first chapter of his Gospel John tells us that Jesus has been with God since the beginning. That life was made through him and in him is life which is the light of man! We also hear John the Baptist's testimony of Jesus in the first chapter. Then we see Jesus calling several of his first disciples to follow him. In chapter 2 John tells the story of Jesus turning water into wine and then we read the story of Jesus clearing the temple. Now the tricky part, both of those chapters have some heavy claims in them, but what is John's purpose for writing as he did? In John 20:31 he tells us, "...these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." John wrote his Gospel with one thing in mind, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that you may believe in his name and receive life! Knowing John's purpose, lets look at the first two chapters of his Gospel again. John first claims that Jesus was with God from the beginning. Jesus wasn't some addition to God, he is fully God and fully divine. John is pointing towards the divinity of Christ here. Next, John uses the testimony of a well respected man during that time, John the Baptist, to make the same claim. He then shows that other men believed and followed Jesus, and John also includes a story of a small miracle (or sign) at the end of chapter 1, pointing to Christ's divinity. Chapter 2 is more of the same. The water to wine story points towards Christ divinity. Jesus clearing the temple, even though it has much deeper rooted themes in Jewish perspective, can be seen as pointing towards Christ's divinity as well. He cared for his Father's house as a place of refuge not a place cheating and stealing.
Now, John 3. I don't want to say too much but I will say this. John is now going to point us towards Christ's divine purpose on this earth. He has clearly defined that Jesus is divine and that he is here intentionally with a God given task.
Clear you heart, evaluate your life and values. Ask God to reveal the true feelings of your heart. Are you ready to hear and embrace Jesus Christ, the anointed one? I believe that many of use do not see the need we have for Christ's purpose in our lives. Instead, we believe that we can do life by our own power and ability. Instead, we need to quiet our hearts and listen to the message that John is trying to convey to us in the third chapter of his Gospel.
Hope this was insightful for you. Stay tuned for my comments about John 3 and a link to the sermon!
until next time...
laterDays
