11/01/08: John 19
Jesus was crucified on the day of Preparation of Passover week (John 19:14,31). This was the day that the Passover lambs throughout Israel were slaughtered (Exodus 12:6). Jesus had to die on Passover, because He was the world's Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7)--something that had been predetermined, by God, from the creation of the world (Revelation 13:8).
Tradition dictates that Jesus was crucified on a Friday: Good Friday. I disagree; I believe that it was in the middle of the afternoon on Thursday, a few hours before sunset, at which time Friday began (since a Jewish 24-hour day begins at sunset). To read why I believe this, see Good Thursday.
Tradition dictates that Jesus was crucified on a Friday: Good Friday. I disagree; I believe that it was in the middle of the afternoon on Thursday, a few hours before sunset, at which time Friday began (since a Jewish 24-hour day begins at sunset). To read why I believe this, see Good Thursday.
11/01/08: John 14
Jesus spoke about "many rooms" in His Father's house that He would prepare for those who believed in Him (John 14:2). Most Bible versions say "mansions" instead of "rooms." Many believe this refers to big rooms or mansions in heaven that Jesus has constructed for all believers, where they will live after Jesus returns in the clouds (at the Rapture) and takes them away to be with Him there. I have a different view. Read Are the "mansions" Jesus is preparing for us actual buildings in which we will dwell while in heaven? to see more.
11/01/08: John 11-13
"Jesus wept" (John 11:35) is the shortest verse in the entire Bible.
There was one disciple that Jesus favored above all the rest. He was referred to as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23--see also 19:26, 20:2, 21:7,20). This disciple is the one "who testifies to these things and who wrote them down" (21:24)--that is, John.
Interestingly, it was John under whose care Jesus put His mother while He was on the cross (John 19:26,27). Decades later, it also was John to whom Jesus appeared, when John was a very old man, and revealed the future time of the end, as written in the Book of Revelation. Also, John was one of three who were eyewitnesses to Jesus' transfiguration (Matthew 17:1,2). Furthermore, John described whom Jesus actually was and is, in much greater detail, in his Gospel book than did any of the other Gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).
I have read varying commentaries trying to explain why Jesus would have "loved" John more than all the rest of His disciples. There are various types of "love" mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible. I see the "love" that Jesus had for John simply as a special affinity toward Him, perhaps because John had the most faith in whom Jesus was: the Son of God and the Messiah/Savior of the world. I believe history shows that all of Jesus' disciples died untimely and unpleasant deaths except for John, who most likely died of simple old age.
There was one disciple that Jesus favored above all the rest. He was referred to as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23--see also 19:26, 20:2, 21:7,20). This disciple is the one "who testifies to these things and who wrote them down" (21:24)--that is, John.
Interestingly, it was John under whose care Jesus put His mother while He was on the cross (John 19:26,27). Decades later, it also was John to whom Jesus appeared, when John was a very old man, and revealed the future time of the end, as written in the Book of Revelation. Also, John was one of three who were eyewitnesses to Jesus' transfiguration (Matthew 17:1,2). Furthermore, John described whom Jesus actually was and is, in much greater detail, in his Gospel book than did any of the other Gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).
I have read varying commentaries trying to explain why Jesus would have "loved" John more than all the rest of His disciples. There are various types of "love" mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible. I see the "love" that Jesus had for John simply as a special affinity toward Him, perhaps because John had the most faith in whom Jesus was: the Son of God and the Messiah/Savior of the world. I believe history shows that all of Jesus' disciples died untimely and unpleasant deaths except for John, who most likely died of simple old age.
10/29/08: John 8-9
Ted: Jesus claimed, in several places, "I am" (John 8:24,28,58), which was a claim to be God (the name God used for Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14). When He explained to the Jews that "before Abraham was, I am!" they picked up stones to stone Him (John 8:58,59), because they understood that this was a claim by Him to be God, and they felt that He was guilty of blasphemy, the penalty of which was being stoned.
Just before Jesus healed a man blind from birth, His disciples asked Him if the man had been born blind because the man had sinned or because his parents had sinned (John 9:1,2). Jesus indicated that neither of these was the reason, but rather so that God's work (i.e., the man's miraculous healing) could be displayed (9:3). Because of this, many have assumed that sin, of any type, never is a factor in anyone's being born with a physical disability or ailment. Some even go so far as to insist that nothing bad that happens to any of us is ever a result of sin.
I disagree with all of that. Jesus, very specifically, answered questions addressed to Him. For this particular man, to whom Jesus was going to give sight that he'd never had before, sin evidently was not a reason why he was born blind. However, we cannot automatically assume that sin never is involved in anyone's infirmities, ill-health, or bad things that happen to them/us. In fact, the Bible is full of examples of bad things that happened to people because they sinned, which probably is what prompted the disciples to ask Jesus what they did in the first place, about the blind man.
Just before Jesus healed a man blind from birth, His disciples asked Him if the man had been born blind because the man had sinned or because his parents had sinned (John 9:1,2). Jesus indicated that neither of these was the reason, but rather so that God's work (i.e., the man's miraculous healing) could be displayed (9:3). Because of this, many have assumed that sin, of any type, never is a factor in anyone's being born with a physical disability or ailment. Some even go so far as to insist that nothing bad that happens to any of us is ever a result of sin.
I disagree with all of that. Jesus, very specifically, answered questions addressed to Him. For this particular man, to whom Jesus was going to give sight that he'd never had before, sin evidently was not a reason why he was born blind. However, we cannot automatically assume that sin never is involved in anyone's infirmities, ill-health, or bad things that happen to them/us. In fact, the Bible is full of examples of bad things that happened to people because they sinned, which probably is what prompted the disciples to ask Jesus what they did in the first place, about the blind man.
10/26/08: John 1
Ted: Jesus, the Word of God, was with God (the Father) at the beginning (John 1:1,2) of the universe and of time. All things were made through Jesus (1:3), which means He is co-Creator with God the Father. He is part of the Trinity of God.
Jesus came to His own (the Jews), but they did not recognize Him (John 1:10); that is, they (most of them) did not understand that He was the prophesied Messiah. This is because, from ancient times, their eyes and ears were closed to the truth (Isaiah 6:10).
Jesus came to His own (the Jews), but they did not recognize Him (John 1:10); that is, they (most of them) did not understand that He was the prophesied Messiah. This is because, from ancient times, their eyes and ears were closed to the truth (Isaiah 6:10).
