Systematic Bible Study

[GWH]

John 9:1-41. Upon seeing a man blind from birth the disciples asked Jesus whether it was because he sinned or his parents. Jesus said it was due to neither, but in order that the work of God might be displayed. He added that today we must do God's work, because the night is coming, when no one can work. He concluded by saying, "I am the light of the world", which echoes John 8:12 (cf. John 1:4-9), signifying eternal life (John 3:16).

Then Jesus spit on the ground and made mud, which he put on the blind man's eyes, and he told the man to go wash in the pool of Siloam (which means "sent"). The man obeyed and was able to see as he went home. Some of his neighbors claimed that he was a different man, but he insisted that he was the one who had been blind. When they asked how he had been made able to see, he told them what Jesus had done. When they asked where Jesus was, the man said he did not know.

The neighbors took the man to the Pharisees, to whom the man retold what had happened, prompting some to accuse Jesus of not being from God, because he had healed the man on the Sabbath, while others asked how a sinner could perform miracles. When they asked the blind man his opinion, he said that Jesus was a prophet. The Jews sent for the man's parents to testify, and they affirmed that the man was their son who was born blind, but they refused to opine about who Jesus was because of fear they would be expelled from the synagogue, so the Jews asked the man a second time, accusing Jesus of being a sinner.

The man replied that he did not know whether Jesus was a sinner or not, but he did know that he once was blind but now he can see. The Jews asked again about how the miracle was performed, and the man said he had already explained what happened, asking whether they wanted to become his disciples. The Pharisees became angry and accused the healed man of being Jesus' disciple, whereas they were disciples of Moses (cf. John 5:45-46 & 8:39-40), and they added that they did not even know where Jesus was from
(cf. John 7:28-29).

The man said it was remarkable that they would say they did not know Jesus was from God, because we know God does not listen to sinners but only to those who do his will, so if Jesus were not from God, he would not be able to perform miracles, whereupon the Jews accused the man of being a sinner from birth and excommunicated him from the synagogue. When Jesus heard this, he found the man and asked him, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" (cf. John 6:27, 40, 53 & 62).

When the man asked who the Son of Man is, Jesus replied "the one speaking with you". The man said, "Lord, I believe" and worshipped him. Jesus proclaimed that it was for judgment that he came into the world (cf. John 3:17), so that "the blind will see and those who see will become blind". Some Pharisees asked whether he meant them, and Jesus added, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin, but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains" (cf. John 3:18).

 

[GWH]

John 1:1-5, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

John employed metaphorical/figurative language to express ultimate/spiritual reality. The Word is described as a person who is both God and with God simultaneously, who co-created all things that are not God, and who is incarnate in Jesus as the Son of God in John 1:14-18, thereby implying that God is a Binity of God and Word/Son.

The Word metaphor is not used to explain how God created, but only that creation was through Him or by His will, including life. The Word is further described as being the source of life, which is referred to by another metaphor for the Word, "light", also meaning divine truth or the Gospel in some Scriptures (e.g., John 8:12 & 1John 1:7), which has guided humanity to salvation throughout history, although darkness--opposition to God/the Word--tries to overcome it.

 

[GWH]

John 10:1-21. Jesus told the Pharisees that anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate is not the shepherd. The gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. John noted that this was a figure of speech used by Jesus, which Matthew might have called a parable (cf. the previous post). When the Pharisees did not understand what he meant, Jesus said that he is the gate for the sheep, and whoever enters the pen through him will be saved and have life to the full.

Jesus also said that he is the good shepherd, willing to sacrifice his life for the sheep, whereas a hired hand would abandon them when the wolf attacks, because he does not care about the sheep. Jesus knows his sheep and the sheep know him, just as the Father knows the Son and he knows the Father. Jesus said that he lays down his life for the sheep--not only in this pen, but also other sheep. All of the sheep will be one flock with one shepherd (cf. John 17:20-22).

Jesus added that the Father loves him because he freely gives his life, although he will take it again (be resurrected), because he has that authority from the Father. Upon hearing this speech the Jews were divided, with some saying he was mad/demon-possessed but with others saying that a demon could not cure the blind.

With hindsight and the help of Rom. 3:21-5:1 and other NT passages, truthseekers can know the meaning of these words is that Jesus will atone for the sins of humanity, so that whoever believes in him as Messiah and Lord will be justly forgiven by God and resurrected to heaven at the Judgment.

 

[GWH]

John 11:1-44. This passage tells about Lazarus being ill, dying, entombed, and being resurrected by Jesus. The reason Jesus worked this miracle was so that he would be glorified as God's Son (John 11:4) or those who witnessed it would believe he was the way to eternal life (John 11:25-26).

Martha made the same profession of faith that Peter did in Matt. 16:16. However, Mary did not yet believe and so she wept, whereupon Jesus wept (John 11:35). And when Jesus ordered the stone to be removed from the entrance to the tomb, Martha's lingering doubt was indicated by her remarking that there would be a stench, but Jesus said IF she and the others believed, they would behold the glory of God (John 11:40-42).

Then Jesus commanded Lazarus to come out of the tomb and the others to remove his grave clothing and let him go (which is reminiscent Exo. 5:1, 9:1 & 10:3).

 

[CS1]

On CC we discuss doctrines in a rather hit and miss fashion, but I wonder whether a few of you would like to participate
as a fellowship in a systematic study of the Bible. I suggest that we begin with Paul's epistle to the Ephesians,
because much of it is on the very topic of learning and applying God's Word.

Systematic means methodically mining the text for its teaching and harmonizing it with other passages on the same topic.
For example, in EPH 1:1 we read, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God."

This verse might prompt questions including: Who was Paul? What is an apostle? Why of Christ Jesus? How by God's will?

Is anyone else interested in a prayerful exploration and congenial discussion of Ephesians?

you will this be expository in natural ?

 

[GWH]

you will this be expository in natural ?

Come again?

 

[GWH]

John 11:45-12:11. Many Jews who witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus believed in Jesus, but some chief priests and Pharisee elders called a meeting of the Sanhedrin, because they thought Jesus might spark an uprising against the Romans that would result in their removal and destruction. The high priest, Caiaphas, said that it would be better for Jesus to die than for their nation to be destroyed.

John commented that this was a prophecy that Jesus would die for both the Jews and other children of God in order to bring them together as one people (cf. John 17:20-23). As the Sanhedrin plotted to murder Jesus, he withdrew from public view to the more remote village of Ephraim (in Samaria about 14 miles from Sychar mentioned in John 4:5) with his disciples.

As the time for the Jewish Passover neared, the Sanhedrin looked for Jesus in the temple area, hoping to arrest him. Six days before the Passover Jesus went to visit Lazarus, Martha and Mary at their home in Bethany (John 11:1). While they were reclining at the table, Mary poured a pint of pure nard (an expensive perfume) on Jesus' feet and wiped them with her hair.

Judas Iscariot objected, saying that the money (a year's wages) would have been better spent as alms for the poor. John commented that Judas said this because he was in charge of the money bag and hoped to steal from it. Jesus told Judas to leave Mary alone, because her anointing signified his burial.

As they were eating, a large crowd gathered in order to see both Jesus and Lazarus, so the Sanhedrin made plans to kill him too, because many of the people were believing in Jesus because of him being raised from the grave.

 

[GWH]

John 12:12-36. The crowd at the Feast heard that Jesus was coming, so they cut branches off of palms and met him riding on a donkey in fulfillment of Zech. 9:9. They shouted, "Hosanna!" (which means "Save!") and "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" (Psa. 118;25-26), and "Blessed is the King of Israel" Only after Jesus was glorified (resurrected to heaven) did the disciples understand that these Scriptures had been written about him. Many in the crowd told others about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, which prompted them to go see Jesus, which worried the Pharisees that many would join the Jesus movement.

Some Greeks (Gentile) worshippers at the Feast asked Philip of Bethsaida if they could meet Jesus, so Philip gave this request to Andrew, who told Jesus. Jesus replied that the hour had come for the Son of Man to be glorified, comparing his impending death to a kernel of wheat being buried and producing many kernels. He also said that a man who loves his life will lose it, while the one who hates his worldly life will gain eternal life. He added that his disciples must follow his example in order to be honored by the Father. Even though contemplating his hour of death was troubling, Jesus realized that it was the reason he had been born, so he prayed, "Father, glorify your name!"

At that point a voice in heaven thundered, which some thought was an angel speaking, and which John understood as granting Jesus' prayer. Jesus said the voice was a witness to encourage his disciples rather than him at this time of judgment for the world and its prince, when Jesus is lifted up from the earth and draws everyone to himself. John commented that this showed Jesus would be crucified.

Some in the crowd said that Messiah would remain forever, so they asked why Jesus said the Son of Man must be lifted up, and who is he? Jesus replied that they would have the light just a little longer, so they should walk before being overtaken by darkness and lose their way. By trusting the Light they could become sons of light. Then Jesus left and hid from them.

 

[biblestudent78]

On CC we discuss doctrines in a rather hit and miss fashion, but I wonder whether a few of you would like to participate
as a fellowship in a systematic study of the Bible. I suggest that we begin with Paul's epistle to the Ephesians,
because much of it is on the very topic of learning and applying God's Word.

Systematic means methodically mining the text for its teaching and harmonizing it with other passages on the same topic.
For example, in EPH 1:1 we read, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God."

This verse might prompt questions including: Who was Paul? What is an apostle? Why of Christ Jesus? How by God's will?

Is anyone else interested in a prayerful exploration and congenial discussion of Ephesians?

How does studying anything legitimately require one to cross reference it to with other data that confirms your conclusions? Is Christianity just a way of delivering and confirming our predetermined dogmas and ancient orthodoxies? What does one gain in knowledge and insight when every scripture is just a means of confirming what we were taught to believe as children?

 

[GWH]

How does studying anything legitimately require one to cross reference it to with other data that confirms your conclusions? Is Christianity just a way of delivering and confirming our predetermined dogmas and ancient orthodoxies? What does one gain in knowledge and insight when every scripture is just a means of confirming what we were taught to believe as children?

Coming to a conclusion regarding a car accident scene necessitates harmonizing all of the reports,
prioritizing eye-witnesses. Pygmies describing an elephant must pool/harmonize their information.

Determining the correct description of ultimate truth or Scripture is similar: one must harmonize the
discrepancies as well as possible both within the canon and compared with secular sources including science.
This is what the PP summarizes (1Thes. 5:21).

The only predetermination should/must be desire to know the truth per 2Thes. 2:10.
Just because we were taught that 1 + 1 = 2 as children does not mean it is not true.

Confirmation increases confidence, but it does not obviate/nullify faith regarding ultimate reality (2Cor. 5:7).
As fallible humans with incomplete information, we cannot attain inerrant certainty this side of heaven (1Cor. 13:9-10).

 

[GWH]

John 12:37-50. Even though Jesus performed miracles as a sign of His Messiahship, most of the Jews refused to believe in him, which John said fulfilled Isa. 53:1 and 6:10. It is important to note that when Jesus quoted the latter passage in Matt. 13:14-15, he corrected the wording so as not to blame God for their willful spiritual blindness/callous hearts (cf. Acts 28:26-27).

John said that many even among the Jewish leaders believed in Jesus but were afraid to confess their faith lest they be expelled from the synagogue. This may be compared with the healed blind man's parents in John 9:22 and contrasted with Peter's courage in Acts 4:18-20 & 5:29).

Jesus said that when a soul believes in him, he also believes in God, because God sent him to be a light in this world of spiritual darkness (John 1:4-9). Jesus also said that he did not come to judge unbelievers, but to save them. However, the truth Jesus speaks will judge unbelievers on Judgment Day, because he is revealing the words of God (John 3:16-21).

 

[GWH]

John 13:1-30. Jesus knew the time for his departure from this world was near, and he wanted to show his disciples how much he loved them. (The devil had already tempted Judas to betray him.) So after the meal he got up, poured water into a basin and began to wash their feet. Peter protested, but Jesus told him that he would understand later. When Peter continued to protest, Jesus said that unless Peter let him wash him, he would have no part with him, whereupon Peter invited Jesus to wash his hands and head also, but Jesus said that was unnecessary--except for one among them who was not clean (part of him).

Jesus then returned to his place at the table and asked whether the disciples had understood what he had done for them: He, their Lord, had exemplified that they also should serve one another in order to be blessed (cf. Eph. 5:21). Jesus quoted Psa. 41:9 to prophesy that one of them would betray him, so that when it happened, they would believe that "I am He" (God's Messiah). He added that whoever accepts his apostles (Matt. 28:19-20), accepts him, and whoever accepts him (as Messiah), accepts the One (God the Father) who sent Jesus (and therefore is accepted by God, who sends; sinners may accept or not).

Finally, Jesus stated plainly that one of those present was going to betray him. Peter asked the "disciple whom Jesus loved" (John?, cf, John 21:20) to ask Jesus which one it would be, which he did. Jesus answered that it was the one to whom he will give this piece of bread, and he gave it to Judas, telling him to do it quickly/immediately, so Judas went out into the night. (The disciples thought Judas went to buy something for the feast or to give to the poor.)

This situation prompts questions regarding the role of Judas: Why was he unclean if what he did was necessary in order for Jesus to atone for humanity's sins? Was his betrayal against God's will (John 19:11, Matt. 26:50)? Does his remorse in Matt. 27:3-5 indicate that he repented and will be in heaven?

 

[GWH]

John 13:31-14:14. After Judas left, Jesus said that God is now glorified in the Son of Man, who will be with his disciples only a little longer before he departs this world for a place they cannot come. The apparent meaning with the teachings of Paul as context is that the death of Jesus will fulfill OT foreshadowings of atonement for the sins of humanity (Rom. 3:21-5:11), and the resurrection of Jesus will mean the possibility of heaven for all who believe in him as Messiah (1Cor. 15:19-57).

Then Jesus gave them a new command: Love one another as he has loved them. IF they obey, the world will believe they are his disciples. Love is the basis of spiritual unity, for which Jesus will pray in John 17:20-21. It also summarizes God's moral commandments per Matt. 22:37-40, which is implicit in the Golden Rule Jesus cited in Matt. 7:12.

Peter asked Jesus where he was going, but Jesus merely repeated that Peter cannot follow him now, although he will later. Peter asked why not and vowed that he would die for Jesus, but Jesus said that Peter would disown him thrice before the rooster crowed. Jesus comforted them by encouraging them to trust in him and in God and by saying that in God's house there are many rooms, apparently referring to heaven. Jesus also said that he was going to prepare a place for them and then come back to take them there with him, adding that they know the way.

Thomas asked how they could know the way, when they didn't know where Jesus was going, to which Jesus replied, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." This statement prompts the question about how people might be saved who never heard of Jesus, but Jesus left it to Paul to answer in his epistles (such as Rom. 1:20, 2:6-16, 28-29 and 4:16-17).

Jesus added that they know the Father because they have seen himself (John 1:18, 6:46, 1John 4:12, cf. 1Tim. 6:16), but Philip did not understand and so he asked Jesus to show them the Father, whereupon Jesus reiterated that anyone who has seen himself has seen the Father, because he is in the Father and the Father is living in him and doing His work, including the miracles he had done.

Jesus said that those who have faith in him will do even greater things after he goes to the Father. Whatever the disciples ask in his name, Jesus will do in order to glorify the Father. This sounds like prayer is a blank check, but Jesus also taught that we should pray for God's will to be done (Matt. 6:10, Luke 22:42), which means moving metaphorical mountains, such as hatred, into the sea (Mark 11:23) via cooperating with the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5, 1John 4:7-21).

 

[GWH]

John 14:15-31, 15:26 and 16:7-16. Jesus stated that those who love Him as Lord will want to cooperate with his will, and he announced that such disciples would receive the Spirit of truth/HS to be their counselor, who will be the way Jesus returns to them after his physical death. Then they will realize that God lives in/indwells believers/reveals Himself to them via spiritual teaching. Therefore they should not be afraid but rather be glad that the Father permitted the prince of this world to crucify him.

This prophecy regarding the HS/Spirit of truth will be reiterated in John 15:26 and 16:7-16. The last reference is the most complete description of the HS's roles, which include convicting souls of sin, righteousness and judgment/condemnation and guiding Christians into all spiritual truth/GW. Again Jesus indicated that he would be seen by his disciples when they received the HS, which would be revealed following his resurrection and ascension on the day of Pentecost per Acts 1:4-2:4.

 

[GWH]

John 15:1-26. Jesus employed metaphorical language, calling himself the true vine and those who remain in him fruit-bearing branches. Those who do not remain in Jesus will be thrown into the fire of hell (cf. Matt. 3:10, 7:16-20), but those in whom the words of Jesus remain may receive what they desire. The words Jesus specified (following his commands to remain/persevere, cf. Matt. 10:22, 1John 2:27) were "love for each other" (John 13:34), and he said that those who obey his command (possibly even laying down their life for friends, cf. Rom. 5:6-8) will be joyful--presumably during eternal life in heaven (John 3:16-19&36).

Jesus called those who obey his command to love each other his friends rather than servants (cf. Matt. 20:25-28), because they know the Father's business (saving sinners per Rom. 3:20-5:11). Then he said that they might be hated and persecuted by the world, because the world hated him first, but they do not belong to the world now that he has chosen them. If Jesus had not spoken God's words (revealed God's requirement for salvation as in John 3:16) to the Jews, they would not be guilty of sin (rejecting Messiah), but those who heard him and hate him have no excuse for their sin and hate the Father as well, especially because they have also seen him work miracles.

Jesus said that those who hate him fulfilled what was written in their law: "They hated me without reason" (Psalm 35:19 & 69:4, cf. John 8:42-48). This chapter concludes with Jesus reiterating the coming of the Holy Spirit of truth (that was cited in connection with John 14:26).

 

[GWH]

We interrupt this study of John to share again the study of the parables conducted previously.

In order to develop a doctrine regarding the parables of Jesus, one must conduct a systematic study of every parable recorded in the gospel of Mathew in order to learn their meaning and purpose. The first parable is The Parable of the Seeds in Matt. 13:1-23, which sets the stage for all of the others.

In this parable a farmer sowed seed on four types of soil: a path, rocky ground, thorny ground, and fertile soil–with appropriate results. Discerning the meaning involved understanding the metaphors that were used, most of which were explained by Jesus in v.18-23: seed = GW re the KOH, understands = believes, healed = saved, ears = normal adult souls, hear = be good seed. The apparent meaning of the parable per v. 9 is thus, “Let all accountable souls be allowed to hear and be saved.”

However, this meaning is made problematic by what Jesus told his disciples between relating the parable and then explaining its meaning (v.10-11) regarding his purpose of speaking in parables: “The knowledge of the secrets of the KOH has been given to you (disciples), but not to them (the rest of the people).” Jesus said (in v.14-15) the people fulfilled IS 6:9-10, which says in part, “you will be ever seeing but never perceiving, for this people’s heart has become calloused… Otherwise they might… turn, and I would heal them.” In v.12 Jesus said, “Whoever has will be given more… and whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

A person might interpret what Jesus said regarding the secrets to mean that he wanted them to remain unknown except by his disciples, but a few verses later in Matt. 13:34 it says that Jesus spoke in parables in order to fulfill “what was spoken through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world”, which implies that he wants to share the secrets with the people.

Thus, unless these statements (Matt. 13:10-17 & 13:34-35) can be harmonized, one must choose between two contradictory interpretations: 1. Jesus purposefully hid knowledge from some while revealing it to others according to His will, or 2. Jesus allowed souls to reject saving knowledge or to accept it and be his disciples. Deciding which understanding to adopt necessitates considering the second parable of Jesus, The Parable of the Weeds in Matt. 13:24-30.

In this parable a man sowed wheat seeds in his field, but his enemy came while folks were sleeping and sowed weeds among the wheat. When it became apparent that the field was contaminated, the owner’s servants asked whether they should pull up the weeds, and he told them to wait until the harvest, at which time the weeds should be burned and the wheat gathered into his barn.

Later in the privacy of a house Jesus explained the meaning of this parable, saying that the good seed was sown by the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed stands for those who belong to the kingdom, the weeds are those who belong to the evil one, the enemy who sowed the bad seed is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. At the end of the age the Son of Man will send angels to weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and everyone who does evil and throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, while the righteous will shine in the kingdom of their Father. Jesus concluded by saying, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

The mention of Judgment and the opposite destinies of happiness or hell indicates that Jesus employed parables as a means of pre-sifting souls by showing who would understand/believe or not. Some people opine that God/Jesus causes people to believe or not, but notice that in Matt. 13:10-15 Jesus did NOT say that he prevents people from becoming his disciples or that he causes people’s hearts to be calloused, so let us be careful not to pre-sift ourselves by projecting our own hatred onto the all-loving Christ. Understanding God/Christ to be all-loving is gained by searching the Scriptures for insight rather than implicitly accusing Jesus of hating his enemies, which borders on blasphemy against the loving Holy Spirit. The omnilove of Jesus is indicated by such Scriptures as Matt. 23:37, in which Jesus lamented over Jerusalem’s lack of repentance or rejection of his preaching (cf. Matt. 22:39, John 3:16, Rom. 5:6-8, 1Tim. 2:3-4).

We can see that deciding which understanding of the purpose of parables to adopt involves rejecting or accepting Scriptures teaching that God loves everyone, not only the elect or disciples of Jesus. Thus, the doctrine of parables is related to the doctrine of election as a subcategory. I choose to accept the teachings that God is omnilove or loves everyone and wants all to be saved but allows volition and thereby moral accountability to exist, so that souls may reject the Gospel and put faith in I-dolatry. I note that Jesus explained the Parable of the Seeds in plain language, and that the Parable of the Tenants passage indicated his enemies understood he was being critical of them.

 

[GWH]

John 16:1-33. Jesus said that the reason he was warning his disciples that the world would hate them is so they would not go astray. Haters would excommunicate them and even murder them, thinking it was the will of God. (Paul was among those who did this per Acts 26:9-11.) As in John 8:42-44, Jesus said those who opposed him do not know the Father. Then Jesus again revealed that when he went away, the Spirit of truth would be with them and guide them into all truth. In this way Jesus would be revealed to the disciples.
(See the commentary regarding John 14:15-31 and 15:26, which began to be fulfilled after his ascension per Acts 1:5-8 on the day of Pentecost per Acts 2:1-12.)

Jesus noticed that the disciples did not understand what he was saying regarding "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me", so he assured them that their grief (presumably because of his death) would turn to eternal joy, comparing it to the anguish of a mother in labor becoming joy after the birth of her child. He said they would ask the Father and they would receive joy.

Jesus acknowledged that he had been speaking to them figuratively, but then he will speak plainly, again referring to them asking the Father in his name, who loves them because they have believed he came from God and is returning to Him. At this point the disciples thought they understood Jesus to be speaking clearly and literally, and they saw that Jesus knew all things because he came from God.

Jesus said, "You believe at last!", but a time is coming when they would be scattered to their homes, leaving him alone with the Father (cf. John 18:15-27 & 20:10). Then he concluded by telling them to have peace and courage, because he has overcome the world. This truth is cited in Phil. 2:5-11, and it motivated Paul's ministry per Acts 26:12-29.

 

[GWH]

John 17:1-26. Jesus prayed for the Father to glorify His Son, so that his disciples would know the Son and receive eternal life. Then he declared that they did know every word he has spoken came from the Father. In one phrase Jesus said they know with certainty that he came from the Father, and in the next phrase he said they believed the Father sent him, so perhaps he meant they have confident faith.
Jesus said he prayed only for those disciples the Father has given him, that they would be protected so that they may be one, as he and the Father are one. The only one lost was the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled, obviously referring to the impending treachery of Judas (in John 18:2-5).

Jesus prayed that his disciples would have the full measure of his joy, even though they are hated by the world (cf. John 15:11), and that they would be protected from the evil one, which echoes part of the Lord's sample prayer in Matt. 6:13//Luke 11:4b (cf. Eph. 1:17-19, Phil. 1:9-11, Col. 1:10-12, Jam. 4:2, 1:5,12-13, Matt. 27:41//Mark 14:38//Luke 22:40&46).

Finally, Jesus prayed that they would be sanctified by God's truth or word (cf. John 4:23-24, 14:10). Biblical synonyms for God's Word include: Spirit, truth, light, life, wisdom, power and love (John 6:63, 1John 5:6, John 1:4, Pro. 8:1&35, Jer. 10:12, Eph. 3:16, Gal. 5:14).

Then Jesus said that he has sent his disciples into the world, just as he was sent, and he prayed also for those who will believe in him through their message (possibly referring to his commission in Matt. 28:19-20), that they also would be completely one in the Father and Son, so that the world may believe he was sent by the Father and that the Father also loves them, as he loved the Son before the creation of the world. Spiritual unity was the miracle for which Jesus prayed.

Jesus concluded his prayer by saying again that he has revealed the Father to his disciples and will continue to do so (per what he said about sending the Spirit of truth in John 14-16) in order that the love the Father has for him will be in them as he may be in them (per Rev. 3:20). Paul alluded to this love in Rom. 5:5.

 

[GWH]

John 18:1-11. Jesus and his disciples went across the Kidron Valley to an olive grove (called the Mount of Olives in Matt. 26:30, where they prayed in a place called Gethsemane per Matt. 26:36-46), where they were met by soldiers and Jewish officials led by Judas, who identified him with a kiss per Mark 14:45 and Matt. 26:49 (cf. Luke 22:48), but who stood aside per John 18:5. Jesus asked them who they wanted, and they replied, "Jesus of Nazareth". When he said, "I am he", they drew back and fell to the ground, because they knew this was God's self-appellation (John 13:19, cf. Exo. 3:20).

Jesus repeated that he was whom they were seeking, so he said to let the others go, which John noted fulfilled Scripture (cf. John 17:12, 6:39). Although the OT reference is not apparent, it might refer again to Psa. 41:9, as it did in John 13:18. At this point Peter drew his sword and cut off the right ear of the high priest's servant named Malchus, but Jesus healed him (per Luke 22:51) and said he could call upon legions of angels to help him, but the Scriptures must be fulfilled (in Matt. 26:53-54).

Jesus referred to his impending ordeal as drinking "the cup the Father has given me", which surely is what was “finished” on the cross (John 19:30). Elsewhere in John’s gospel Jesus called doing his Father’s will/work His “food” (John 4:34). Jesus also spoke of His coming obedience unto death (TOJ #54) as a “baptism” (cf. TOJ #2, Luke 12:50, Mark 10:38-39, 14:36).

TOJ #2: Obey God’s will. [MT 3:15] Notice that the accounts of Jesus’ baptism in the other gospels (Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22, John 1:31-34) omit this teaching. However, it is a major theme in John’s gospel. {John 5:17, 17:4} (See TOJ #34 & #153.) By being baptized Jesus taught John and others present that He obeyed God’s will for Messiah to identify with sinful humanity.

TOJ #54: Jesus died to atone for sinners. [Matt. 9:15//Mark 2:20//Luke 5:34-35] Jesus showed an awareness that He would die {Matt. 26:1, Luke 9:22, 17:25}, which is probably one reason He promised to send a Comforter for those who mourn (TOJ #11). He spoke {in Luke 12:50} of His impending suffering and death as a baptism. His most complete statement was on the journey to Jerusalem {Matt. 20:18-19//Mark 10:32-34//Luke 18:31-33}. However, it remained for Paul to explain the rationale for Jesus’ death (in Rom. 5:6-11). Paradoxically, although the death of Messiah seemed to be the devil’s victory, actually it was the moment when evil was judged (TOJ #195). Christ died for all—for Hitler as well as for his victims—but only those who satisfy GRFS benefit from the atonement, because divine forgiveness is conditional upon repentance.

 

[GWH]

John 18:12-40. Jesus was arrested, bound and taken first to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas the high priest, who had said it was better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to perish (John 11:49-50). Peter followed Jesus with another disciple who was known to the high priest and therefor admitted into his courtyard, but when the girl at the door asked Peter whether he was a disciple of Jesus, Peter said that he was not.

While Peter was standing around a fire that had been made to provide warmth, the high priest questioned Jesus about his teachings, and Jesus replied that he had taught openly, so those who heard should be asked what he said, whereupon an official struck him in the face for insolence, but Jesus asked, "if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?" Meanwhile someone else asked Peter whether he was one of Jesus' disciples, and Peter again said he was not. However, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off asked, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" For the third time Peter denied knowing Jesus, and a rooster crowed.

Then the Jews led Jesus to the entrance of the Roman governor's palace, where Pilate asked them what were their charges. They said Jesus was a criminal, so Pilate told them to handle the matter themselves, but they objected by saying that they had no right to execute anyone. Pilate went inside the palace and summoned Jesus, asking "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus asked Pilate where he had gotten that idea, and Pilate indicated that it was from those who handed him over, asking what Jesus had done.

Jesus replied by saying that his kingdom was not of this world, but from another place, prompting Pilate to ask, "You are a king, then?" Jesus answered as though Pilate had made a statement rather than asked a question, saying "You are right in saying I am a king... I came into the world to testify to the truth." Pilate asked, "What is truth?" Then he went out to the Jews and said he found no basis for charging Jesus, so did they want him to release their "king". The crowd shouted, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" (Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.)