ISSL Reflections July 24 2022 John 11:17–27, 38–44 Post 1

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I.
As you spend time with this week’s focus passage, let’s pay attention first to Martha. Notice what she says and what that suggests to you about her attitude toward Jesus.

II.
John 11:17-27 (New Revised Standard Version)

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

John 11:38-44 (New Revised Standard Version)

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

III.
Does Martha seem angry to you?

Does she seem disappointed with Jesus?

Do you think there may be some “distance” between what she “feels” about Jesus and what she says she “believes” about Jesus?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections July 17 2022 John 12:44–50 Post 3

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VII.
Did you hear Jesus say, “I know that his commandment is eternal life”?

Spend time with these few sentences and notice what Jesus says about himself, “the Father,” and eternal life.

VIII.
John 12:44-50 (New Revised Standard Version)

Then Jesus cried aloud: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.”

IX.
“What I speak, therefore, I speak as the Father has told me.”

What do you hear Jesus saying about the Father?

What do you hear Jesus saying about life as the Father intends?

Do you think “eternal life” as presented here is about life this side or the other side of physical death?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections July 17 2022 John 12:44–50 Post 2

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IV.
Let’s spend some time giving this passage a slow reading, paying attention to the contrasts Jesus sets before us.

V.
John 12:44-50 (New Revised Standard Version)

Then Jesus cried aloud: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.”

VI.
Contrasts – What did you notice?

believes – believes not
light – dark
judge – not judge

What else?

Do these contrasts help (or even hinder) how you understand (or want to understand) salvation?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections July 17 2022 John 12:44–50 Post 1

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I.
In this week’s focus passage we hear Jesus say, “I came … to save the world.” Probably not unfamiliar to many of us. From this passage what do you gather as some of the marks of this salvation?

II.
John 12:44-50 (New Revised Standard Version)

Then Jesus cried aloud: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.”

III.
As you take time to notice what Jesus says about himself and saving the world, how would you characterize what one is saved to and for.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections July 10 2022 John 4:46–54 Post 3

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VII.
I have taken the liberty of making a couple of changes in our focus passage this week. I think the passage supports this contrast in “kingdoms” and want the contrast to stand out to us.

VIII.
John 4:46-54 (New Revised Standard Version)

Then [Jesus] came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was an official of the kingdom whose son lay ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus [who preached the good news of the Kingdom of God] had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my little boy dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.” The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he himself believed, along with his whole household. Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee.

IX.
In various translations the man who comes to Jesus for healing for his son is called “a royal official (NRSV),” “a certain nobleman (KJV),” “a certain official of the king’s court (The Message).”

As I was investigating what was intended by calling this man an “official” I found the Greek word behind our translations is “basilikos.” When Jesus speaks of the “Kingdom of God” the Greek for kingdom is “basileia.”

It seems fairly easy to me to notice the similarity of “basilikos” and “basileia.”

And from there I would suspect that those familiar with Jesus’ teachings might also hear this “kingdom official” is moving from a kingdom ruled by Herod Antipas and Rome to a kingdom where God reigns.

X.
Maybe Jesus asks us to acknowledge the “kingdoms” we answer to and further asks us to join him in living in the Kingdom of God.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections July 10 2022 John 4:46–54 Post 2

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IV.
In the last post I asked you to consider the “social distance” between the “royal official” and Jesus. Jesus certainly was not connected to the royal court or the government the way this official was. Does anything else come to mind?

V.
John 4:46-54 (New Revised Standard Version)

Then [Jesus] came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my little boy dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.” The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he himself believed, along with his whole household. Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee.

VI.
While some folk regarded Jesus as a prophet and even the messiah, others would only see him as a commoner from a small village, who wandered the countryside with a handful of fellows, apparently attempting to get more people to follow him. He might be teaching but he did not have any training by the leading rabbis of the day. He was certainly not connected to the court of Herod Antipas.

The religious establishment did not trust him and often tried to silence him.

The Roman government worried about anyone who seemed to be gathering a following from the common people.

My impression is that the royal official mentioned here and Jesus moved in separate worlds.

Yet the official leaves his “world” to enter Jesus’s world.

What does it take to cross social boundaries? A son or daughter deathly ill would be sufficient for some (but maybe not for all?). What else?

And maybe we should consider what prevents one from crossing social barriers?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections July 10 2022 John 4:46–54 Post 1

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I.
As we turn to this encounter of Jesus with a man begging for his son’s healing, take your time with them. Listen to the words recorded here and see if you notice also the tone of the voices and the expressions on the faces. As you can live into this scene.

II.
John 4:46-54 (New Revised Standard Version)

Then [Jesus] came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my little boy dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.” The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he himself believed, along with his whole household. Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee.

III.
Who is this “royal official”?

I don’t mean what his name is, that is beyond our reach, but what do you take as his status, his position in society, maybe even his place in government or the court of Herod Antipas? Is he a man of prestige and power? How does he usually dress and conduct himself?

How far is he willing to go to ask Jesus for help? Consider not just the geographic distance he travels, but also the social distance.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections July 3 2022 John 1:1–14 Post 3

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VII.
As you hear these words once again, what all do you hear about “the Word”?

VIII.
John 1:1-14 (New Revised Standard Version)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

IX.
In the Hebrew Scriptures we hear again and again, “… and the Word of God came to …” the prophet.

Do you think that was something the Gospel writer hoped his hearers would recall?

I have read that to the Greek mind, logos (which is the Greek word translated for us as “word” here) represented something like the organizing principle or reason inherent in the universe.

Could the Gospel writer have been “aiming” at both a Hebrew and a Greek audience?

Or what of the passage from Proverbs which speaks of “Wisdom” as present at creation and an agent in creation (Proverbs 8) –

“The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth…. then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.” (Proverbs 8:22-23, 30-31)

And then – “…the Word became flesh and lived among us …”

What do you hear in these words from the prologue to the Gospel of John?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections July 3 2022 John 1:1–14 Post 2

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IV.
Today as you return to these words let your attention be drawn to how this “light” is presented.

V.
John 1:1-14 (New Revised Standard Version)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

VI.
Several things are said about this “light.”

What grabs and holds your attention?

the life was the light of all people
the light shines in darkness
darkness did not overcome it
the true light, which enlightens everyone,
the true light … was coming into the world

The writer seems to think this “light” is all pervasive and available to everyone.

Do you think you can agree with him or not?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections July 3 2022 John 1:1–14 Post 1

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I.
With this week’s focus we move from Isaiah to the prologue of the Fourth Gospel. I suspect it is familiar to many and perhaps some regard it as I do – as one of my favorite passages.

Despite its possible familiarity, can we approach it as if we were hearing this for the first time?

So, if you are coming to this as hearing it for the first time, what stops you and holds your attention?

II.
John 1:1-14 (New Revised Standard Version)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

III.
What did you hear?

Did you hear echoes of the creation story found in Genesis?

Were you left wondering what “Word” is this? How can this “Word” be connected to God?

How does “Word” give “being” to “life” and “light”?

Are there other things that stand out to you?
charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}