Matcha Pudding and the Promised Saviour Proved (John 19:16b - 42)

While working through the Gospel of John again, it gave us shivers to think what an incredible few years John must have had with Jesus (cf John 21:24-25) - following him from place to place, hearing him preach but not understanding his full meaning, believing yet not having complete faith, the horror of Jesus being taken away by his people the Jews, hoping perhaps that Jesus might save himself, then faced with the shocking, crushing reality of Jesus, whom he called his teacher and lord and even saviour in whatever sense he could have understood, hanging, dying on a Roman cross.

Yet what shivers it must have given John later on when, recalling the details of Jesus' crucifixion and death, he realised how perfectly events beyond the control of any human comported with Scripture written by disparate authors over thousands of years, and so how, in a mind-blowing way that could not have been conceived by pea-brained humans, God had planned his Son's death before the beginning of the world.

Intro question: What do you/your friends/relatives think of Jesus' death on the cross some 2,000 years ago?

John 19:16b - 42
Q: What happens in John 19:16b - 42?
........

We remember the purpose of John's Gospel. It is not an ad nauseum of everything that he saw and heard while he was with Jesus, he chose only some to put in his book, so that his readers might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing we might have life in his name (John 20:30-31).

Q: Name the people at Jesus' trial, crucifixion, death and burial.
Trial - Pilate, soldiers, chief priests, Jews
Crucifixion and death - soldiers, chief priests, Jews, mother, mother's sister Mary wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene, John
Burial - Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus

John 19:16b - 30
Q: With all these people present, how can we be sure it was really Jesus who was crucified, who died and was buried?
Pilate, soldiers - Romans were professionals. They were not easily hoodwinked.
Chief priests, Jews - They really wanted Jesus dead and would have made sure that it was really Jesus on the cross. Their only protest was the signage on Jesus' cross (19:20-21).
Relatives and followers - They would have known if it were not Jesus. And an imposter would not have taken care to ensure that Jesus' mother was taken care of, not while he was suffering on a cross (19:26-27).

John 19:31 - 42
Q: How do we know that Jesus really died and didn't just faint away?
- the soldiers who probably had seen many crucifixions saw that he was already dead (19:33)
- blood and water poured from his side (19:34) - when a person has been dead for some time, blood serum and platelets separate.
- he was wrapped with 75 pounds (about 28 kg) of spices and left for a few days. If he wasn't already dead, he would have died from blood loss and dehydration.

John 19:35 - 42
Q: How do we know this whole account is true?
- John was an eyewitness
- John names prominent people - it would have been easy to check if this was true

Why is it important to know that it was really Jesus on the cross and that he really died?
Jesus' claims.

While it is important to establish that it was really Jesus on the cross and that he really died, why does John give us all these details?
To show that this was not a tragic failure. but that all this was in fulfilment of Scripture (19:24, 28, 36), God's eternal plan for rescuing his people from the just consequences of sin. God is in control, having planned and communicated his plan (albeit piecemeal) thousands of years before.

John 19:28-30
The words "finished" and "fulfilled" are translations of the same Greek verb "to accomplish". What has Jesus accomplished?
cf John 17:4. Same word used by Jesus in prayer. Jesus' death is not the sizzle of a damp squib that once held so much potential; rather, it is the climax and fulfilment of all Scripture. Jesus' cry is a cry of victory!

Look at Psalm 22. It is a psalm written before 400 B.C. about God's servant suffering at the hands of his enemies. But he is ultimately vindicated.
Q: What does the fulfilment of Psalm 22:18 in John 19:24 tell us about Jesus' death?

[Q: Look at Psalm 69:21.]

Look at Exodus 12:46 which was written between 1446 - 1406 B.C. and Numbers 9:12. God instructs Israel on keeping the Passover.
Q: What was the Passover supposed to commemorate?

Q: What do these verses say about the passover lamb?

Q: So what is the significance of Jesus' death on the cross?
Jesus is the true passover lamb - without blemish and broken bones. Just as God gave the Israelites a means of being spared the judgement on Egypt by the blood of passover lambs, so through Jesus' death on the cross, God gives all humankind a way of escape from his coming judgement.

Q: Look at Zechariah 12:10 - 13:1 written in 6 B.C.. For whom are the people mourning?
The one whom they have pierced = me (God) = him!

Q: Yet, what will happen on that same day?
Fountain for God's people to cleanse themselves from sin and uncleanness opened (Zechariah 13:1).

Q: What is the significance of Jesus being pierced in the side? (John 19:34,37)
He is God. His death will allow God's people be free from the boggy mire of sin and uncleanness!

Q: How much more does this add to your understanding of Jesus' cry of victory in John 19:30?!

Jesus' death is neither a tragic end to a young life so full of potential or promise, nor is it such an orgy of gore and pain (a la Mel Gibson's The Passion of Christ) that we are emotionally arm-twisted into believing in Jesus "since he has gone through so much for us". Rather, John tells us of God's sovereign control throughout history. Every detail in the death of the King of the Jews occurred in accordance with God's will, not least the robustness in the execution of God's mercy mission to provide a way out from the coming judgement of our sins and a means by which we can be cleansed from our sins.

Q: John wrote all of this so that we may also believe (19:35). How does this account enable you to believe and go on believing in Jesus and his good news?


"Just Looking" Studies
Just Looking Study 1 (John 20:30-31, John 1:1-18)
Just Looking Study 2 (John 3:1-21)
Just Looking Study 3 (John 4:1-30) - from-a-Christian-family version
Just Looking Study 4 (John 5:1-29)
Just Looking Study 5 (John 11:1-57)
Just Looking Study 6 (John 18:28-19:16a)
Just Looking Study 7 (John 19:16b-42)
Just Looking Study 8 (John 20)

Wake me up when September ends. John 18:28 - 19:16a.

Green day.

A thin but meaty section in this particular "Just Looking" series.

John 18:28 - 19:16a

Jesus' innocence
Q: By whom was Jesus arrested? Why?
John 18:14, 11:45-57, 18:35

Q: What accusation did the chief priest and officers of the Jews bring against Jesus?
18:30 - nothing specific at first

Q: What was Pilate's verdict? How was this emphasised?
Jesus was innocent (18:38, 19:4, 19:6, 19:12).

Guilt of the Jews
Q: What do the accusers know about Jesus' claims?
All too aware that he claims to be king and to be the Son of God (18:33, 19:7).

Q: Yet how do the chief priests and officers respond each time Pilate pronounces Jesus to be innocent?

Q: How can we tell from this passage that the chief priests and officers were not looking for a fair trial?
They just wanted Jesus killed by the Romans (18:31, 19:6, 19:15).

Q: What occasion were the Jews celebrating?
Passover (18:28).

Q: In what way were their scruples about cleanliness (18:28) ironic?
Concerned about ritual uncleanness but are getting their hands/hearts very filthy indeed.
Passover itself is about to be made redundant by slaughter of true Passover Lamb which they are in process of engineering.

Guilt of Pilate
Q: How does Pilate react to Jesus' claims?
Nonchalance, then some fear (but not enough to overcome his fear of Caesar) (18:38, 19:8-13).

Guilty parties
Q: Even though Jesus seems to be on trial, it is actually his accusers and Pilate that are on trial. How so?
18:37 presents all with a choice.

Q: In this scene, who are the guilty parties?
Pilate, accusers, who put to death an innocent man. Perversion of justice.
Pilate, accusers, who reject their real king.

[Q: When will they be judged?
Not in this world (but one assumes in the next where Jesus is king).]

Q: Even though Jesus' kingdom is in the next world, how do we know that he/God is in control even in this world?
18:32, 12:32-33

Q: The choice presented to us then is stark. We are either on the side of the false accusers and perverters of truth (of which the postmodern passiveness of Pilate is complicit) or we can choose to acknowledge Jesus as king. Just as the chief priests, the officers and the rest of those who were meant to be God's people could not see that Jesus was king in their time, because his servants did not fight for him in the present, so it is not explicitly obvious to us that Jesus rules. How do we know that he is king? How do we choose to listen to Jesus' voice now?

Q: History tends to depict the leaders of the Jews as the baddies. Yet, perhaps one could argue as one says of many of one's compatriots in church that "they had a good heart". After all, they were trying to protect their nation. What was the tragedy? How can we avoid the same fate for ourselves and our friends?


"Just Looking" Studies
Just Looking Study 1 (John 20:30-31, John 1:1-18)
Just Looking Study 2 (John 3:1-21)
Just Looking Study 3 (John 4:1-30) - from-a-Christian-family version
Just Looking Study 4 (John 5:1-29)
Just Looking Study 5 (John 11:1-57)
Just Looking Study 6 (John 18:28-19:16a)
Just Looking Study 7 (John 19:16b-42)
Just Looking Study 8 (John 20)

Porn's and the Partial Kingdom

Really enjoying the vast sweep through human history with Vaughan Roberts' God's Big Picture as guide, a few hundred years between spoonfuls of dessert. We're still in Genesis so the best is yet to be. But already we can see the pattern of God's dealings with man and man's less-than-adequate response to God, and hence the characters of both God and man.

Some quick questions we used. Not terribly good but mildly useful for pointing out bits here and there on our speedy tour through Genesis:
Recap:
Genesis 12
Q: Who was Abram worshipping when God called him?
cf Joshua 24:2

Q: What were God's promises to Abram?

Q: What did Abe do to deserve them?

What seemed to stand in the way of the fulfilment of promises?

Genesis 12 - 20
Q: In what ways did Abe show his trust that God could/would fulfil his promises?

Q: In what ways did Abe show his distrust that God could/would fulfil his promises?

Q: How did God respond each time?

Q: What purpose did God have in fulfilling his promise to make Abraham a great nation?
Genesis 18:18-19

Genesis 21
Q: Coming hot on the heels of distrust of Genesis 20, what does Genesis 21 show about God?

Q: On which of Abraham's would God's promises rest? Why?
Isaac. Because God decided so. The son who was given by God, not the son made by Abraham. Genesis 17:17-19, 21:12.

Genesis 22
Q: So Abraham and Sarah were pleased to announce the birth of their first born. Mother and baby were healthy. All seemed on track for a short while until Genesis 22. What does God ask Abraham to do?

Q: How would this hinder the fulfilment of the people promise?

Q: Why then did God ask this of Abraham?
Sacrifice son. Test if Abraham feared God or feared losing his son (22:1, 22:12, 22:18)

Q: Why did Abraham obey God? What exactly did he have faith in?
Hebrews 11:17-19

Genesis 24
Q: So Isaac grows up without being a burnt offering. They lived amongst the Canaanites, having left the Sin-worshipping Ur of the Chaldeans. Why did Abraham insist on his servant getting Isaac a wife from his own people but not allow the servant to bring Isaac back?
Genesis 24:7

Q: So Isaac gets Rebekah. But what hindered the fulfilment of the people promise?
Genesis 25:21 - Rebekah was barren for 20 years.

Q: Who did they depend on to clear roadblock to fulfilment?
God

Q: Rebekah conceived and had only two sons. On which son did the promises rest? Why?
Jacob (He who cheats)(27:27-29, 28:3-5). Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew (25:29-34). Jacob tricked Isaac (Genesis 27). God chose Jacob before he was born or had done anything to deserve it (25:23, Romans 9:10-13).

Genesis 29-30
Q: So we look at Jacob's line. How did God's people promise work out in Jacob's life?
Due to trickery by Laban, Jacob gets two wives for double the price. A progeny competition results in twelve sons (cf 35:22-26).

Genesis 35
Q: Jacob & Co. certainly didn't see much further than their current circumstances. Who were they worshipping when the LORD came to Jacob?
35:2.

Q: In light of this, what was so surprising about what God said when he met Jacob?
35:9-15. Reiteration yet expansion of promises to Abraham, esp kings.

What was the assurance/basis for the promise?
35:11.

Genesis 37
Q: What happened with Jacob nka Israel's youngest son?

Q: One would have thought that the promises would continue through Joseph's line but instead, Matthew 1 tells us that Jesus was of Judah's line, emphasising the incident with Tamar. What part did Judah play in Joseph's captivity?
37:1-28.

What do we learn about him in the Tamar incident?
Genesis 38. Ee-yur.

Genesis 38-45, 50
Q: Meanwhile, how was God working out his people promise through Joseph?
45:5-8, 50:19-21. God sent Joseph to preserve the people so that there would be many survivors through the famine. What they meant for evil, God meant for good.

So Israel & Co. moved to Egypt.

Exodus 1
Q: What glorious sight greets us in Exodus 1:1-7?
The people promise certainly looks closer to fulfilment.

But the land filled with Abe's people was Egypt and not their own land. Jingoism, xenophobia, oppression and genocide followed.

Akan datang!

What we have seen so far though, is that God takes the initiative to have relationship with his people. No one deserves the blessing that are given to them. But despite their disobedience and failure to worship him, God continues to workout the fulfilment of his promises in people's lives.

We'll see how God manages to get this lot out of a land that isn't their own and into their promised land, so that they can do what God had always meant them to do - worship him.

Jeremiah for Breakfast

Having chunks of Jeremiah for breakfast this week has been as tasty and satisfying as (though much less visually unappealing than) ham cheese mushroom spinach muffin tumours.

If you missed D.A. Carson at the recent Project Timothy Evening Expositions, The Gospel Coalition has a bunch of his old talks up from when he gave them at At The Castle in December 2007:

Jeremiah 1:1-3:5
Jeremiah 3:4-4:4
Jeremiah 11-15
Jeremiah 30-31
Jeremiah 37-39
Q & A

Thereafter, this comprehensive list of Don Carson resources and these free pdf books should keep an army fed for the next few months.

The Needs of Gospel Ministry

Greatly challenged by D.A. Carson's talk on The Needs & Challenges of Gospel Ministry, at a Ministry Matters conference organised by Project Timothy. Reckon this isn't just for people in/contemplating full-time paid ministry but all who serve God's people.

From my notes (which, hopefully, don't misrepresent his words*):

One can address the need of gospel ministry on several angles:

• the need that springs from the lostness of men and women can constitute a kind of call. That's why Paul asks the rhetorical question "How shall they hear if no one preaches?". If you have any genuine recognition that without the gospel, men and women are eternally lost.
• Christian men and women in service of any kind, whether vocational or not, are like poor beggars telling other beggars where there is bread. There is no condescension of any kind. This is the least response after receiving such grace.
• the need that springs from the Great Commission. Jesus does not say "Those of you who feel like it, if you are not too busy with other stuff, go and make disciples of all nations." So you should be asking yourself what frame of reference/in what domain should i be exercising this, but you cannot count yourself as exempt because you are busy with something else.
• ecclesiological necessity - there are posts to be filled in church and needs amongst the people of God. People who begin to love the church and measure their significance on whether Christ says to them on the last day "Well done good and faithful servant" will buck sociological trends for prestige and success.
  

But Carson wanted to speak on the need for certain kinds of people in gospel ministry.

1 Timothy 3:1-7
In New Testament, elder = pastor = bishop = overseer. The distinction between the terms came only in the second century after the New Testament was already written. All three words give some insight into what is required. "Pastor" is the Latin root word for shepherd - read Tim Laniak's "Shepherds after my own heart". Shepherds feed the flock, protect the flock. The priests were the shepherds of Israel and when they were corrupt, then God said I will be their shepherd. Christ is the good shepherd and we are the undershepherds. "Elders" comes from synagogue and village life - those more senior in age, experience, wisdom. "Overseer" means there is some direction to the job, some oversight.

The first thing to observe of this list is the unexceptional character of all this. Not to get drunk (not about having a high IQ). The list is remarkable because it is unremarkable. Every entry in the list save 1/1.5 is somewhere mandated of all believers. Which means that the first thing that is required of pastors, elders and gospel ministry leaders is consistency of exemplifying the values required of all believers in the Bible.

"Above reproach" - that means blameless in a certain sense. Not perfect but no obvious inconsistency or flaw of character that everyone points out.

"Husband of one wife" - does not mean have to be married. Paul was single during his ministry and elucidates value of being single (1 Corinthians 7). In my view, it just means not being a polygamist, because although polygamy was not common in Roman world but aristocracy tended to polygamy.

"Temperate" - clear-headed, self-possessed, not extremist.

"Self-controlled" - not loosing it, not flying off the handle.

"Respectable" - sounds very bourgeois. Mark Driscoll isn't respectable in an upper middle class sense. All these words mean the good things without the negative. Dignity, gravitas, integrity, weight, not silly, not always joking.

"Hospitable" - not hermit or recluse or who can't stand people, not someone who always wants to be alone, not "the church i love the people i don't".

"Able to teach" - knowledge of content (the truth) and ability to communicate it. Some have superior scholarly competencies, a good grasp of the bible, but could not communicate their way out of a paper bag. Some have the gift of the gab but no content and so manage to communicate a whole lot of nothing.

"Not given to much wine" - not just free from drunkedness but free from addiction of any kind. God's servant cannot be a servant of any other thing.

"Not violent but gentle" - 2 Timothy 2. Even in midst of conflict in the church, must act with gentleness to persuade people. They must respect for older men etc.

"Not quarrelsome" - not contentious. There are some people who fight for the truth because they like to fight, it just happens that the truth is their domain of fighting. Instead of contending for the faith they are being contentious. Don't want people who are afraid of contending because there will be lies and error. Read 2 Timothy 2:23ff.

"Not a lover of money" - Christ promised enough for all of our needs, not all of our greeds.

"Must manage own family well" - principle of talent - show that you are faithful in one domain and therefore charged with greater domain of service.

"Not recent convert" - depends on context of service. If there are Christians who have been there for 50 years, you don't want a pastor who has been a Christian only 18 months. But in some churches, the most senior saint may be only 18 months. What a novice means is relative to situation on the ground. Paul and Silas' trip was only 2 years and they appointed elders on their return journey. But the principle is important, too rapid promotion may make the novice lifted up by pride.

"Must have good reputation with outsiders" - not one of the boys but has integrity, courteous, is well-respected even though Christianity that he promotes is not well-liked.

Outside of this list,
1 Timothy 5:21 - avoid favoritism, partiality. Do nothing out of favoritism because tensions will arise in congregations. If pastors have favourites then seen not to be acting out of independent understanding of Scripture; they are just cronies like in government or in business. The cost of this is a kind of aloneness because you will not be in anybody's pocket.

2 Timothy 2:3-7, 2:15, 3:10-15, 4:5 - expect serious difficulties and be persistent in face of them and utterly committed. Easy to have a romantic view of ministry - a revival under your ministry. But very few people go through ministry without hard knocks. Question is if you are so committed to the gospel that you will persevere. Gospel realism.

teaching is an astonishing balance between authority to command and godly exemplification: teach with authority and also exemplify in your life. So Timothy is told to command those who are rich to be generous, confute errors of false teachers (1 Timothy 6:17-19, 4:11-13). 1 Timothy 4:12, 1 Peter 5:1-4 - insistence that we ourselves exemplify and entreat.

Intriguing that two other themes are interwoven - doxology (praise of God) and eschatology (living in the light of the end). 1 Timothy 6, 2 Corinthians 4:7ff. Living in light of eternity, in sight of God. As long as you are thinking of gospel ministry for personal advancement, promote ambitions, you will be corrupt and will not endure, or you will succumb to the most massive self-idolatry. What will keep you going is the passion for the glory of Christ. You are not to measure work by signs of respect from your peers, how much you are loved, but loving praise of Christ on the last day. If you have to have praise now, you will not last in gospel ministry.

Not doom and gloom. There will be rewards in ministry - one generation passing on to another generation etc. But at the end of the day, you're not even looking at that kind of approval but the Master's approval.

(Some other relevant bits from the second talk on the challenges of gospel ministry:
In the domain of the Bible:
the person who would be a good bible teacher/preacher must be a good bible student. If you do not enjoy studying the word of God, you are disqualified. There must be a real hunger to study word. Not as if it were an end in itself but a hunger to know God that you may teach it to others.

there is also learning Hebrew and Greek, biblical and other theology, primary sources in the history of the church - Ignatius, Irenaeus, Tertullian, John Chrysostom, Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Smegley?, Jorger la Pateus?, Jim Packer, John Stott. Not all are brains of the same sort. You then get a sense of belonging to the Church of the Living God, not merely doing the bible study before the next cell group. You yourself are anchored in the tide and sweep of the whole church. Merely adjunct to studying the word of God itself.

must hierarchilise biblical content and organise biblical material and yet, must know details. Do you know the names of the twelve tribes of Israel? Not important in some sense but yet, how could you not know the names? You're Christian!

The domain of the personal: not merely an intellectual exercise. How you are growing in grace, prayer life, personal relationships, integrity, love for truth, gentleness, humility of mind, faithfulness, hunger for eternity, care for people.

Motives will never be completely pure. But how impure is too impure? John Newton helpful: "I am not what i want to be. I am not what i ought to be. I am not what one day what i will be. But i am not what i was. By the grace of God I am what I am." So when you check your motives in ministry, you must see some growth. 1 Timothy 4:15 - so that everyone may see your progress. Someone must be saying that you have progressed in life and doctrine.

2 Timothy 3-4. Last days are between first and second coming of Christ. This is now. Horrible list then by contrast, the charge to Timothy - hold on to the right mentors. Can you say to a young Christian, "Do you want to know how to live a Christian life? Then watch me!" Didn't Paul say be imitators of me as I am of Christ? You need to look out for men and women who are mature, who have faced suffering and persevered and ask them to teach you. There is a great deal of maturity that is caught as well as taught.

Biblical realism. Be appalled but do not be shocked by astonishing sin.

Hold on to the Bible.

Hold the Bible out to others.)

The Nature of the Call
Here "if any one wants to do the work of an overseer" - this comes out of the person's own desire. The bible says there are some standards that must be met.

Elsewhere, the call comes from different domain. 2 Timothy 2 - there might be a tap on the shoulder from someone more senior, more experienced. This in itself does not constitute a call but it means you should think about seriously and give up your small ambitions.

Some might claim a Damascus Road experience. But it may be that no one else thinks that they are qualified. There is also some responsibility for the local church to recognise the gifts of those who think they have them. On one hand, obey those who have rule over you because they watch over your soul. There is a sense in which elders, pastors, overseers have authority. On the other hand, 2 Corinthians 10 - 13, Paul tells the church to turn out those who have authority over them because they are preaching a false gospel. The New Testament does not preach either a democratic model, nor a hierarchical model, because either side can go bad. There is a certain tension. Pastors and elders' authority is exercised through the ministry of the word; not by dint of standing on own office. Things can go wrong - moral disaster, slipping towards false teaching, developing bitter nasty spirit etc. So the church has responsibility to discipline leaders who have gone astray.

*a copy of Don Carson's full talk (including the second bit on the challenges of gospel ministry) may be had by writing to media@projecttimothy.com.

Hopes and Expectations. Black Holes and Revelations. John 5:1-29.

As we work through the Gospel of John, we are in awe of the persistence and insistence of God in calling people to himself, and so simultaneously, the great tragedy that the Jews, to whom were given the promises of blessing and the symbols of future rescue would be the ones who would kill the promised Christ.

But perhaps even now, anywhere in the world and at any point of time, people can gather united in the name of God, yet the great tragedy might be that even a premier bible-teaching church may reject the very Saviour they claim to proclaim.

Read John 5:1-29
Q: It's a remarkable thing to heal a man who has been lame for 38 years with just a word. But what was the special significance of the healing of the lame man to a Jew?
Read Isaiah 35:3-7. Isaiah prophesised that when God came to rescue his people, inter alia, the lame man would leap like a deer. This was a sign that God's Saviour had come.

Q: What was significant about the day on which the healing took place?
Read Deuteronomy 5:12-15. Sabbath was a day of rest instituted by God when God's people were meant to remember God's rescue of them from slavery in Egypt (and a future rest/rescue). It should have been doubly significant for them that the sign of the Messiah should occur on the day set apart by God to point to his past (and future) rescue.

Q: Remember that John wrote his Gospel so that we would believe that Jesus is the Christ and by believing have life in his name (John 20). How does this convince us that Jesus is the Christ?
.....

Q: But how did the Jews respond instead?
They wanted to kill him (John 5:18).

Q: What did the Jews find so offensive?
Healing on the Sabbath and making himself equal to God (John 5:18).

Q: What was so tragically ironic about what they found offensive?
They were offended by the very thing they claimed to be waiting for, the person whom all this pointed to.

Q: Jesus explained why they should not be offended. Why did Jesus do what he did?
The Father commissioned him to do this work. He is acting in imitation of and obedience to the Father. (John 5:19-23)

Q: We have seen in past studies that Jesus was with God in the beginning and that he is the only one to have seen God. What else do we know about his relationship with the Father from this passage?
Close, open (to each other) relationship. Obedience from Jesus. Love from Father.

Q: The miracle that it was, the healing of the lame was nothing compared to two greater works that God has given Jesus to do. What are they?
To give life and to judge the world.

Why did God give Jesus this work to do?
So that they would honour him like they honoured the Father (John 5:23). Because he is the Son of Man (John 5:27) - not a new commission but because of who Jesus already is.

How should people honour God?
Believe him. (John 5:24)

How should people honour Jesus?
Hear his words (John 5:24-25) - believe him.

[Q: Who has the right to give life and to judge the world?
Only God since he created life and since he is the one sinned against.]

Who is Jesus that all people should respond in this way?
.....

Was this good news or bad news for the Jews?
Supposed to be good news but their response makes it very bad news indeed.

What are the consequences of not believing God/Jesus?
Judgement, death. (John 5:24-28)

What was going to happen to those Jews who were so zealous in defending God's rest day and God's name?
Judgement, death.

Even as people who call ourselves Christian, our response to Jesus is very important. We can be enthusiastic about church, serve in many ways, lead ministries, give to the poor etc but without a saving relationship with Christ, we will still face judgement and eternal death.
Q: Think through a typical day in your life. How have you believed God/Jesus from the time you got out of bed until you climbed back in at night?
Q: How have you believed God/Jesus in participating in abjectly Christian activities?

Breakfast - Dinner

"Just Looking" Studies
Just Looking Study 1 (John 20:30-31, John 1:1-18)
Just Looking Study 2 (John 3:1-21)
Just Looking Study 3 (John 4:1-30) - from-a-Christian-family version
Just Looking Study 4 (John 5:1-29)
Just Looking Study 5 (John 11:1-57)
Just Looking Study 6 (John 18:28-19:16a)
Just Looking Study 7 (John 19:16b-42)
Just Looking Study 8 (John 20)

MoominValley under the Pink Cloud of Rainbow Sprinkles and "Just Looking" Study 3 (John 4:1-30)

Even this cheerful scene is far too banal to accompany the loveliness of J.S. Bach's Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, a work of such (probably very subjective) intricate beauty that one might weep on first listen. Yehudi Menuhin and David Oistrakh have a nice saw-through of it here, here and here.

In John 4:1-30, God does a far greater and infinitely more wondrous thing (that can be appreciated by a much wider audience).

Quick notes for study with someone brought up in a Christian family.

Intro Questions
Q: What sort of people do you think God saves?
Q: What is the proper worship of God and what is the wrong worship of God?

Read John 4:1-30.

1. What we can tell about the woman at the well?
- from her heritage

Samaritan - Jews have no dealings with Samaritans (John 4:9). Later in John 8:48, the Jews intended to insult and discredit Jesus by calling him "a Samaritan".

From 1 Kings 16:24, we know that King Omri named the new capital of the northern kingdom "Samaria". From 2 Kings 17:24 – 31, we know that the king of Assyria brought foreign people to settle in Samaria in 722 B.C.. Over time they intermarried with some Jews who remained in the area.The Samaritans, of partly Jewish and partly Gentile ancestry, were disdained by the Jews. The Samaritans had their own version of the Pentateuch, their own temple on Mount Gerizim (see John 4:20), and their own rendering of Israelite history. Tensions often ran high between Jews and Samaritans - Josephus recounts fighting between Jews and Samaritans during Claudius's reign in the first century A.D. being so intense that Roman soldiers were called in to pacify (and to crucify) many of the rebels (Jewish War 2.232–246).

Woman had somewhat suspect heritage.

- from her actions
Sixth hour refers to noon, when it would have been hot and time to rest. Normally, women would draw water in the morning or evening when it was cooler (Gen. 24:11; cf. 29:7–8). That the woman was drawing water at noon when there was one else around suggests that she was trying to avoid being seen and/or interacting with other people. Her marital status tells us why.

- from her marital status
The woman had had five husbands who had either died or divorced her. When Jesus says the one you now have is not your husband, he implies that they were merely living together immorally.

So this woman is not only of a despised race, but even other members of that race considered her despicable. Lowest of the low, scummiest of the scummy.

2. What is so surprising about Jesus' interaction with Samaritan woman
- Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Samaritans would have been considered unclean. Drinking water from this woman's water jar would have been Jesus ceremonially unclean. Horrors.

- a single man speaking to a single woman at the well (cf John 4:27)

3. What amazing gift does Jesus offer her?
...

4. What do we know about this "living water"?
- Jesus in John 7:37–39 identifies this “living water” as the Holy Spirit dwelling within a believer. He will never be thirsty again because person's deepest spiritual longing to know God personally will, amazingly, be satisfied forever (cf Ezekiel 47:1-12, 43:1-12).
- "will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" is reminiscent of Isaiah 12:3 (see also Isaiah 44:3; 55:1–3).
- eternal life and the pouring out of God's Spirit in the day of God's salvation (Isaiah 44:3, 55:1-3)

5. What did Jesus say Nicodemus needed? What is similar about the Samaritan woman's needs?

Yet, what a contrast to the very respectable Nico! Nico male, learned, powerful, respected, training, a Pharisee, member of ruling council. Night and day! (geddit?)

By placing one episode after another, John is showing that offer open to both.

6. John 4:26 - Who does Jesus say he is?
Messiah, the Christ.

7. How did Jesus demonstrate this to the Samaritan woman?
Inside goss on her deepest darkest (John 2:27).

8. So in what way is "salvation from the Jews"?
God promised salvation through Abraham's offspring. Very specific promise. And so the whole world is taught about salvation through the Old Testament, which was from the Jewish people. The Messiah himself came from the Jews and not from the Samaritans or from the Gentiles.

9. Read Ezekiel 37:15-28. On what authority is he offering the gift of God, the living water?
He is the Messiah, the Christ. The king promised by God - one king to rule them all, one king to find them; one king to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

(Joseph, as father of Ephraim (see Genesis 48:5, 8–20), here represents the northern kingdom of Israel (where Samaria was). Judah represents the southern kingdom (cf. Psalm 78:67–68).)

10. John 4:4 - Why Jesus as Messiah have to pass this way?
- geographically shortest route (see Josephus).

- “had to” translates Gk. dei, “to be necessary,” which always indicates divine necessity or requirement elsewhere in John: 3:7, 14, 30; 9:4; 10:16; 12:34; 20:9. Because he is the Messiah and his work is to unite and save his people from backsliding and cleanse them, and enable them to obey God.

11. Whom does God seek?
True worshippers, whatever their race or background, who worship in spirit and in truth.

12. What does worshipping "in spirit and in truth" mean?
Not separate characteristics.

truth:
- worship centered not in a place but in a person - Jesus, in all places and at all times
- worship not based on something they thought up ignorantly but based on what has been finally and ultimately disclosed by God through Jesus (cf first two studies on John 1 and 3 - no one has seen God...)

and so spirit: anywhere, since God is spirit

13. How would the "living water" offered by Jesus fulfil God's purposes?
Living water = Spirit -> enabled to worship in spirit and truth

Jesus is the Christ - Spirit given through him to enable true worship
Jesus is the Christ - God seeks true worship focused in him

Jesus also = God, Word of God, life, light, Son of the Father, rabbi, Son of Man.

(Q: How does unity of all God's people come about from true worship?
...
NB: it's not unity that makes community. Rather, when people were gathered and enabled by the Spirit to worship God truly, unity was a natural consequence.)

So...
Q: What sort of people is God's offer of salvation open to?

Q: If we say we have the Spirit, how can we go about truly worshipping God in spirit and truth?
- what are the implications for church life, church buildings, services?
Worship without necessary ties to particular holy places

- what are the implications for time at home, in office, at school?

Not being the dreaded "Sunday Christian" isn't merely about not being hypocritical. If we have had such a drastic thing to have happened to us as having been born again, if we have been cleansed and given living water - the Spirit to enable us to not to sin (John 3:6) and to truly worship God in spirit and in truth as God intended long ago, then why aren't we?


Just Looking Studies
Just Looking Study 1 (John 20:30-31, John 1:1-18)
Just Looking Study 2 (John 3:1-21)
Just Looking Study 3 (John 4:1-30) - from-a-Christian-family version
Just Looking Study 4 (John 5:1-29)
Just Looking Study 5 (John 11:1-57)
Just Looking Study 6 (John 18:28-19:16a)
Just Looking Study 7 (John 19:16b-42)
Just Looking Study 8 (John 20)