Henry: Welcome To Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience.
Day 66.
immersed in John,
the Jewish leaders announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah
would be expelled from the synagogue, a generation after Jesus lived on earth.
His followers continued to face threats like this one
recorded in the gospel of John.
And this is one key reason why the book was written.
For Jews living throughout the Roman Empire, the local synagogue gave them an
ongoing connection to their ancient story.
And people expulsion from the synagogue meant being cut off from
the community that had embodied God's covenant people for centuries.
But John's Gospel assurers, followers of Jesus that they have
not been excluded from God's story.
Jesus embodies the deepest meaning and ultimate fulfillment of Israel's most
vital symbols, festivals, and practices.
The Gospel's opening line in the beginning echoes the opening words
of Genesis, revealing that John is telling a story of new creation.
God's ongoing work to restore his world through Abraham's
family finds its continuity in the work of Jesus the Messiah.
John's Gospel reads very differently from the other three being less
a narrative biography and more a portrait of Jesus drawn against
the backdrop of Israel's history.
Its purpose is to invite readers, both ancient and present to be confident
in their belief that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, the author
of the book, traditionally considered to be the Apostle John, though he
doesn't identify himself by name.
Tells the story of Jesus' life in two major parts.
The first part has seven sections.
Each relates what happened when Jesus took a journey and explores
his identity in light of a key element from Israel's story.
The centerpiece of this part of the book is the fourth section.
The other six sections are paired with one another thematically from the
outside in as described in the following.
One, Jesus, in light of the new creation.
Two.
Jesus in relation to the temple, three.
Jesus, in light of the Sabbath and in conflict with Jewish
religious leaders, four.
Jesus as the new Moses against the backdrop of the Exodus.
Three.
Jesus.
In light of the Festival of Shelters and in conflict with
Jewish religious leaders, two.
Jesus.
In relation to the Temple Dedication Festival, one.
Jesus, in light of the resurrection, Near the end of each section, the
author describes how people did or did not believe in Jesus after
everything they had seen and heard.
A recurring theme in the Gospel of John is the number seven for Jews.
This number indicates a consummate work of God and recalls the completeness
represented by the seven Days of creation, often called the book of signs.
This first part of the gospel details how Jesus performed seven mighty
signs that revealed his glory.
The gospel also contains seven discourses, which are longer speeches in which
Jesus unveils more about who he is.
Finally, we find Jesus presenting seven I Am statements and the gospel.
These statements draw on a rich stock of imagery from the First Testament,
including the bread of life, the good shepherd, the gate, and the vine.
The second part of the book essentially tells the story of Jesus' final days.
It begins with his last Passover meal with the disciples, followed by a long
presentation of his instructions to them.
Jesus speaks of the meaning of his death as a battle against the ruler of
this world, and he prays to the Father for the unity of his followers, which
will enable the world to believe their message about Jesus after he departs.
Jesus then enters into his glory through his obedient death, which
is why this part of the gospel is often called the Book of Glory.
Before its brief epilogue, the gospel closes by telling of Jesus'
resurrection on Sunday morning, the first day of the week.
Jesus brings life and peace into this broken world, along with
hope for its ultimate renewal.
The gospel, according to John,
in the beginning, the word already existed.
The word was with God, and the word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him and nothing was created except through him.
The word gave life to everything that was created and his life
brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it.
God sent a man John the Baptist to tell about the light so that everyone
might believe because of his testimony, John himself was not the light.
He was simply a witness to tell about the light.
The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone
was coming into the world.
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him.
He came to his own people and even they rejected him.
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the
right to become children of God.
They are reborn, not with a physical birth, resulting from human passion or
plan, but a birth that comes from God.
So the word became human and made his home among us.
He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness, and we have
seen His glory, the glory of the Father's one and only son.
John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds.
This is the one I was talking about when I said someone is coming after
me who is far greater than I am for.
He existed long before me from his abundance.
We have all received one gracious blessing after another for the
law was given through Moses.
But God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God, but the unique one who is himself, God
is near to the father's heart.
He has revealed God to us.
This was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and temple assistants
from Jerusalem to ask John, who are you?
He came right out and said, I am not the Messiah.
Well then who are you?
They asked, are you Elijah?
No.
He replied, are you the prophet we are expecting?
No.
Then who are you?
We need an answer for those who sent us.
What do you have to say about yourself?
John replied In the words of the prophet Isaiah, I am a voice
shouting in the wilderness.
Clear the way for the Lord's coming.
Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him, if you aren't the
Messiah or Elijah or the prophet, what right do you have to baptize?
John told them, I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd
is someone you do not recognize.
Though his ministry follows mine, I'm not even worthy to be his slave
and untie the straps of his sandal.
This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan
River where John was baptizing.
The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, look, the lamb
of God, who takes away the sin of the world, 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.
I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water
so that he might be revealed to Israel.
I.
Then John testified I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove
from heaven and resting upon him.
I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he
told me The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one
who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the chosen one of God.
The following day, John was again standing with two of his disciples.
As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, look, there is the lamb of God.
When John's two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.
Jesus looked around and saw them following, what do you want?
He asked them.
They replied, rabbi, which means teacher, where are you staying?
Come and see.
He said it was about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him to
the place where he was staying and they remained with him the rest of the day.
Andrew Simon Peter's brother, was one of these men who heard what
John said and then followed Jesus.
Andrew went to find his brother Simon and told him, we have found
the Messiah, which means Christ.
Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus.
Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, your name is Simon, son of John, but you
will be called Cipha, which means Peter.
The next day, Jesus decided to go to Galilee.
He found Philip and said to him, come follow me.
Philip was from Beth Sayda, Andrew and Peter's hometown.
Philip went to look for Nathaniel and told him, we have found the very person
Moses and the prophets wrote about.
His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth, Nazareth, exclaimed Nathaniel.
Can anything good come from Nazareth?
Come and see for yourself.
Philip replied As they approached, Jesus said, now here is a genuine son
of Israel, a man of complete integrity.
How do you know about me?
Nathaniel asked.
Jesus replied, I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.
Then Nathaniel exclaimed, rabbi, you are the son of God, the King of Israel.
Jesus asked him, do you believe this?
Just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree.
You will see greater things than this.
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.
The next day there was a wedding celebration in the
village of Cana in Galilee.
Jesus' mother was there and Jesus and his disciples were
also invited to the celebration.
The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus' mother
told him they have no more wine.
Dear woman, that's not our problem.
Jesus replied, my time has not yet come, but his mother told the
servants, do whatever he tells you.
Standing nearby where six stone water jars used for Jewish ceremonial washing,
each could hold 20 to 30 gallons.
Jesus told the servants fill the jars with water.
When the jars had been filled.
He said, now dip some out and take it to the master of ceremonies.
So the servants followed his instructions when the master of
ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come
from, though of course the servants knew he called the bridegroom over.
A host always serves the best wine first, he said.
Then when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine.
But you have kept the best until now.
This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his
glory and his disciples believed in him.
After the wedding, he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother,
his brothers, and his disciples.
This concludes today's Immer Reading experience.
Thank you for joining us.