Summer Gospel

Welcome to the Summer Series – Gospel of John.

Post Classroom

The final version of the outline is available here Gospel of John Outline – Final.

Updated August 1st. Removed some errors and added these comments.

I felt a few recapitulations are in order after my presentation.

Witness focus: (Priest, Sanhedrin, Pharisee, Messiah prophecy)

Person	Importance
Joseph of Arimathea	Witness to burial (by extension death) – Member of the Sanhedrin.
Nicodemus	Witness to burial (by extension death) – Member of the Pharisees.
Mary of Magdala	Witness / Keeper of the Death Promise – John 12:7
Thomas called Didymus	Witness to incarnate resurrection.
Beloved Disciple – John	Witness and Writer of the Gospel – Member of the Priestly class.

Week Eight – Last Session

Theme: Blueberries!

Posted: Chapters 20 and 21.

I may make more changes prior to Tuesday.

Jesus makes three appearances after the resurrection. Jesus makes his final ‘From now on’ regarding the future.

Missing notes from last week chapter 19:

• Joseph of Arimathea is mentioned once. Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin and was not in accord with the decision t execute Jesus. Also, modern theologists insist that Jesus accompanied Joseph of Arimathea on trade caravans across the entire near east and Asia during the period we title as Jesus ‘Unknown years’.
• Nicodemus is only mentioned in the Gospel of John (3 times). Nicodemus also is an influential person being a member of the ruling class. Nicodemus receives the correction teaching of Jesus (ch 3). Nicodemus defends Jesus before the Pharisees (ch 7). Nicodemus assists Joseph of Arimathea in preparing Jesus for burial (ch 9).

Week Seven

Mango and Coconut Theme!

“Justice, justice, shall you pursue”; Deut. 16:20

We discussed the justice theme and the lack thereof as a central theme of chapters 18 and 19. The Great Sanhedrin exercised sweeping judicial, legislative, and executive powers and was the only court that could try “a tribe, a false prophet, and a Kohen Gadol” (Sanh. 1:5) quoted from Beit Dins and Sanhedrin BY RONALD L. EISENBERG.

And catching up form the prior week…

We reviewed the Prayer of Jesus (ch 17) in regards to his perpetual intercession seated at the right hand of the father. Remembering that this Jesus is interceding in real time with the apostles and eternally on high: (1) Inter-Trinitarian love of continuous complete self-giving of Father and Son, (2) Consecrating himself and us to the Truth, (3) Providing the double portion (the Holy Spirit); and (4) Glory and blessing from the very throne of the Father and the Son.

I think everyone loved the coconut and mango.

We review here chapter 17 as we did not get to finish it last week. The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus is an intercessory prayer. Many find elements of the Lord’s prayer in this prayer. I’ll bring out some other observations that you might have renewed adoration of Our Lord:

• v  1 – 2 – Jesus was given the Authority to decide the final end for humankind and he decided to give eternal life. This decision is in perfect union with the Father which is the Lords work. If we look anew at the story of Abraham and Issac (Gen 22) we now can see Isaac (Israel) as the one who had Authority and decided.
• v 13 – But now I am coming to  you – Jesus has entered his own Exodus and at v  17 Consecrates them in the Truth. We can see the parallel in the ratification of the Covenant Exodus chapter 24 (specifically 24:6-11) with the sprinkle of the blood of the Covenant.
• v 24 – I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. The transfer of the mantle from Elijah to Elisha and x-ref to Jn 14:12.

Week Six

Beginning the Book of Glory! Chapters 13, 14, 15, and 16. We will have to do chapter 17 next week as we didn’t get that far.

The Peaches Theme – Which was better? (1) baked peaches with brown sugar ;or  (2) the peach cobbler? Send me your reply in the comments section.

Being invited into the Inner Life of God.

Reminder for further study. When reading gospel of John chapters 13, 14 – 17:

1. Jesus predictions (prophecy) ‘from now on’.
2. Context of the Advocate (introduction, person, function, interplay with Jesus – the other advocate).
3. The Dwelling or Tabernacle – promises (a critical concept) including aspects of the Abraham, Moses and Elijah relationships.
4. The Name, the Way, the Truth, the Life – repeated in many contexts.
5. Father-Son-You love – the Trinity and the invitation to live in the interior of God.

Three worthy quotes I did not include in the outline but are added here for you to consider as we move forward.

From Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger: (later Pope Benedict XVI, now emeritus)

“For this reason, if we speak of the ministry of the Word, the intra-Trinitarian relationship is also understood.” Rightly then we notice the fundamental difference between the preaching of Jesus and the lessons of the rabbis consisted in this: that the “I” of Jesus, that is Himself, is at the center of his message. At the same time we should not forget that Jesus considered characteristic of his preaching the fact that he did not speak “in his own name” (John 5:43; cf John 7:16): his “I,” open to the “Thou” of his Father, is not closed in on itself, but bears the whole dynamic of Trinitarian relations. This means for the Christian preacher, that he does not speak of himself, but he becomes the voice of Christ, to make way for the Logos and lead to communion with the living God by means of communion with the man Jesus.
International Symposium on the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Promulgation of the Conciliar Decree Presbyterorum Ordinis (23-28 October 1995)

From Pope John Paul II:

According to the Gospel of John, the prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper has the following main appeal: “That they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” ( Jn 17:21). We must recognize that, in the course of time, Christians have not honored this supreme desire of the Lord, and those divisions which Jesus feared and which do not bear good witness to the world, still continue.

From Professor Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg:

An example of this connection between Jesus and his followers with the temple is found in John’s gospel (John 1:14), where Jesus’ incarnation is described in terms of God, “tabernacling among us.” However, the clearest connection with the eschatological Temple described by Ezekiel can be found in the words Jesus uttered during the priestly watering-pouring ceremony during the Feast of Tabernacles (Jn 7:37-39, my note).

Jesus declared: “He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38) The Scripture to which Jesus is undoubtedly referring describes the river that makes the desert green and all dead things alive again. That river flows directly from the belly of the Temple that Ezekiel saw in his vision (Ezek. 47:1-9).

Week Five

Cinnamon Theme!

We’ll start with Chapter 8 retouching Light, Ambassador and Abraham. There is a difference between an Ambassador and Prophet where the scope of an Ambassador’s portfolio is much broader.

This week completes the Book of Signs.

Week Four

Lemon Theme! It was delicious. The lemon donuts were supreme.

We had a good week four and no doubt some surprises.

Knowing that the story of the Woman Caught in Adultery (Chapter 8) is a recapitulation of the story in the Prophet Daniel Chapter 13 – Susanna’s Virtue.

Susanna was put on trial and about to be stoned. Daniel intervenes and with a simple challenge able to prove the unworthiness of the Elders and the innocence of the woman.

Jesus saves the Woman from an unfair trial (lots of technical problems with the accusation, verdict and punishment in John 7:53-8:1-11). It would seem Jesus is sparing her that which he himself is about to experience – an unfair trial.

The problem of stoning (the most severe part of the law) continues to be prominent in the Gospel going forward (John 8:5, 7; John 10:31, 33; John 11:8). I added to the Scripture Reference for these three activities: Stoning, Arresting and Killing.

Related teaching on Woman Caught in Adultery: a-short-teaching-on-oils-verses-stones

Week Three

We had an intense week three! We addressed the depth of the in-gathering invitation to the Samaritan Jews through the faith of the Samaritan Woman at the well of Jacob. We also covered the two cure signs (ill man – 4th and blind man – 6th) as a twin in-gathering. In the first instance, from idolatry to return to faith and in the second instance from faith to a deeper and intimate faith. The outline gives you a way to explore these stories side-by-side.

We had S’mores and ice pops for treats. Next week treats…. a Lemon theme.

Next week is the 4th of July (Thursday) our FOUR SUPPLICATIONS:

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood.

America! America!

God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

America! America!

May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!

America! America!

God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood.

Week Two

We had a great second session. The watermelon and delicious scones break at the midpoint was a nice childhood summertime memory. We joked that a lawn sprinkler out front to run through would be good too.

I am hatching a new treat idea for next week in keeping with the summer fun theme.

We covered the Wedding at Cana and the Cleansing of the Temple. Noting again that the cleansing of the temple is the first step. The temple is not ready for use again until the blood sacrifice (of Jesus). Jesus asserts lordship over the elements and lordship over worship. He is the authority the Temple authorities wish they were.

We also covered the dialog with Nicodemus, witness of the Baptist and the second sign at Cana. Basically chapters 2 and 3 with the last section of chapter 4. Treatment of the Samaritan woman is a separate night.

I provided a chart grid in the outline so you can see the lecture in a table format. You can see there that Jesus’ comment that Nicodemus should have been able to understand being reborn/renewed ‘from above’. For the Samaritan audience I provided the equivalent text from the Torah. Therefore any reader (Samaritan, Pharisee, Gentile) should from ancient sacred text be able to understand Jesus’ comments.

Equally we spent time talking about what belief if Jesus actually means in its fullness. It is not a mere acceptance of the testimony of Jesus of who he is and why he came but to live the prescription of life he offers. See scripture references as updated.

Touching on the companion second sign at Cana the healing of the royal official son in Capernaum we see the second of seven signs of Jesus. Here Jesus adds to his command revelation (Lordship). The second Cana sign also points toward the eventual sacrament of anointing of the sick not as a rite proper but as an imperative of the faith to heal the sick.

• First Sign Cana – Water to Wine – Lordship over the created space (Earth/Elements).
• Second Sign Cana – Curing Illness – Lordship over humanity (Wellness of body and evidence of spirit/faith). Note again believing comes from doing.

Outline updated with new references and content and ready for reprint. This includes the Nicodemus dialog analysis and Torah references.

Week One

Our kick-off went well.

Having the social in the middle was perfect so we’ll repeat that. Summer time treats of ice-pops and chips hit the mood. Next week we’ll have a different summer treat!

We’ll review chapter one (prologue) to start week two and quickly proceed to chapter two and stay on schedule.

Here are the items I want to mention RE chapter one before leaving the prologue:

• Word – flesh (a little deeper)
• Glory – introducing the Glory theme (Father and Son)
• Grace/Law – proper orientation.
• Calling disciples – intended as a primer for Gentiles.
• Introducing the Nathanael dialog which states clearly Son of God and King of Israel and more to our vector focus – Jacob’s ladder. Jacob (beloved of the Samaritans) plays a critical role in the writing of the Gospel of John. Jacob and Joseph are really, really, really important to Gospel of John.

Going Beyond: (extra credit – this is for contemplation while sitting under a fig tree)

I introduced the idea that the Gospel of John has a threaded theme of correcting the use of water in practice, worship and theology. John deliberately keeps this theme throughout. In every case Jesus is correcting the use or understanding of water in the divine plan. I will cover these things but not as primary content.

• Baptism of Water, Baptism Water and Spirit.
• Ceremonial Washing Water
• Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s Well
• Living Water
• Sheep Gate with Bethsada pool of Water (the Asclepeion – healing God Asclepius)
• Walking on Water
• Living Water (#2)
• Pool of Siloam (contrast to the story of the Bethsada pool event)
• Washing Disciples Feet
• Blood and Water

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Cumulative Outlines: (new outlines posted weekly)

Gospel of John Outline – Final with concluding edits.

Gospel of John Outline – Final

Gospel of John Outline – Week 8

Gospel of John Outline – Week 7

Gospel of John Outline – Week 6

Gospel of John Outline – Week 5

Gospel of John Outline – Week 4

Gospel of John Outline – Week 3

Gospel of John Outline – Week 2

Gospel of John Outline – Week 1

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