The woman at the well

John 8:1-11 ESV (1) but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. (2) Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. (3) The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst (4) they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. (5) Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" (6) This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. (7) And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." (8) And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. (9) But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. (10) Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" (11) She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."

While studying this the other day, I came across something I’d never heard before.  Read this from Matthew Henry:

c. Perhaps he refers to the trial of the suspected wife by the jealous husband with the waters of jealousy. The man was to bring her to the priest (Num. 5:15), as the scribes and Pharisees brought this woman to Christ. Now it was a received opinion among the Jews, and confirmed by experience, that if the husband who brought his wife to that trial had himself been at any time guilty of adultery, Aquae non explorant ejus uxorem—The bitter water had no effect upon the wife. “Come then,’ ’ saith Christ, “according to your own tradition will I judge you; if you are without sin, stand to the charge, and let the adulteress be executed; but if not, though she be guilty, while you that present her are equally so, according to your own rule she shall be free.’ ’ ~Matthew Henry

The Pharisees had brought the woman but not the man caught in adultery thus showing their hypocrisy and violation of the Law which requires both parties to be put to death.

Leviticus 20:10 (ESV) “If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Deuteronomy 22:22 (ESV) “If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.

From this insight of Matthew Henry, we better understand why they left so quickly – if they had been guilty of adultery themselves they were in no position to judge this woman.

I love learning nuggets like this from the Scriptures!

Another Gem in John

I have been studying lately in the gospel of John and have just discovered another (to me anyway) gem concerning the deity of Christ.  I’ve never heard any sermons or teachings on this so maybe I’m not alone in having missed this.

John 8:12 (ESV) Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

There are two reasons that Jesus’ statement was radical:

1.  One of the names of God is “Light” so in claiming this title for Himself, Jesus was claiming to be God.

1 John 1:5 (ESV) This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Psalm 27:1 (ESV) The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Isaiah 60:19 (ESV) The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

2.  “Light” was a term for the Messiah.  In claiming this title for Himself, Jesus was emphatically saying that He was the Messiah.

Isaiah 42:5–7 (ESV) Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

Isaiah 49:6 (ESV) he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Isaiah 60:1–3 (ESV) Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

It pays to dig a little deeper!

Jesus walks on the water

Read this from John:

John 6:16-21 ESV
(16)  When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,
(17)  got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
(18)  The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.
(19)  When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened.
(20)  But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."
(21)  Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

Now this section of Psalms 107:

Psalms 107:23-30 ESV
(23)  Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters;
(24)  they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep.
(25)  For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
(26)  They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight;
(27)  they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end.
(28)  Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
(29)  He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
(30)  Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.

Have you ever noticed this before?  It’s almost an exact prophecy of Jesus’ miracle of walking on the water.  Now notice in Psalms – they cried to the LORD – when in all caps it is God’s personal name – sometimes rendered Yahweh or Jehovah. To me, this passage is a clear teaching on the deity of Jesus.  Only God can calm the seas and Jesus did just that, therefore Jesus is God!

Who is God?

…if not the Creator?

Genesis 1:1(ESV) In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

I have been thinking about the importance of taking the book of Genesis literally and seriously.  Starting in verse one, the bible declares that God has always existed and furthermore, He created the heavens and the earth.

For those who don’t take Genesis chapter one seriously, exactly who do you think God is? What kind of God do you worship?  Think about this – if Genesis 1:1 isn’t true then:

• God hasn’t always existed.  Obviously there is someone greater than Him that created Him.
• He isn’t all powerful – only a real God would have the power to create.
• He lied in the very first verse of His letter to us which would make Him unholy.
• Nothing He says in the rest of His word would be trustworthy.
• Such a God would not be worthy of worship.
• Such a God would have no moral authority to tell creation His laws.

Basically you are left without a God.  Those who don’t believe in God don’t believe in Jesus either.  Says so in John:

John 5:19-24 (ESV)
(19)  So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
(20)  For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
(21)  For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.
(22)  The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,
(23)  that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
(24)  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

So tell me again how do you call yourself a Christian and yet don’t believe in Genesis 1:1?

Jesus is the One

While studying John chapter three yesterday, I stumbled upon something that amazed me.  Look for a minute at these verses:

John 1:18 (NET) No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known. 6:46 (Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God – he has seen the Father.) 8:47 The one who belongs to God listens and responds to God’s words. You don’t listen and respond, because you don’t belong to God.”

1:18 θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο.

6:46 οὐχ ὅτι τὸν πατέρα ἑώρακέν τις εἰ μὴ ὁ ὢν παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, οὗτος ἑώρακεν τὸν πατέρα.

8:47 ὁ ὢν ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ θεοῦ ἀκούει· διὰ τοῦτο ὑμεῖς οὐκ ἀκούετε, ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἐστέ. ¹

Ex 3:14 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεὸς πρὸς Μωυσῆν Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν, καὶ εἶπεν Οὕτως ἐρεῖς τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ Ὁ ὢν ἀπέσταλκέν με πρὸς ὑμᾶς.²

Who did Jesus say that He was? Over and over He said “I am the One".”  To a first century Jew who was familiar with the Septuagint and who prayed the Shema every day – His words could not have been more clear. Jesus was claiming to be the great “I AM” of Exodus.

Here is John 3:13 in the Greek TR

13 και ουδεις αναβεβηκεν εις τον ουρανον ει μη ο εκ του ουρανου καταβας ο υιος του ανθρωπου ο ων εν τω ουρανω ³

^Footnotes:

¹Aland, K., Black, M., Martini, C. M., Metzger, B. M., Robinson, M., & Wikgren, A. (1993; 2006). The Greek New Testament, Fourth Revised Edition (with Morphology) (Jn 8:47). Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.

²Septuaginta: With morphology. 1979 (electronic ed.) (Ex 3:14). Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.

³Robinson, M. (2002). Elzevir Textus Receptus (1624): With morphology (Jn 3:13). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Don’t think that way!

Matthew 5:17-18 ESV
(17)  "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
(18)  For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Jesus said very specifically “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law…”  So why is it that so many Christians think exactly that way?  Jesus makes His point very clear when He says He didn’t come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it.  Obviously, abolish and fulfill are polar opposites.

I’ve even heard of some who don’t read the Old Testament because “Jesus did away with that.”  Really?  Matt 5:17 is in the New Testament right?  Let’s look at verse 18 shall we?  Has the earth passed away yet? Nope – then not one dot, not one small mark is nullified.

Romans 3:20-24 ESV
(20)  For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
(21)  But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it--
(22)  the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
(23)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(24)  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

When Paul talk about the law usually it is in the context of being made righteous with God and how the law is unable to make us righteous.  The gracious gift of Jesus Christ and His atonement for our sins is contrasted with trying to obey a list of laws and thinking that you can make yourself good enough.  It is in that sense that we are “freed from the law.”

We are justified by faith in the free gift of Jesus yet that doesn’t give us a license to do whatever feels good.  The first 39 books of the bible are given to us to instruct us in the way of righteousness so that after we have believed we may know how to live.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 ESV
(14)  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
(15)  and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
(16)  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
(17)  that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

What Scriptures was Timothy acquainted with?  What we now call the Old Testament – Genesis through Malachi.  These Scriptures are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is useful for teaching and doctrine. Let’s read it all, amen?

Tattoos

 

Leviticus 19:28 ESV
(28)  You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the LORD.

The human body was designed by God, who intended it to be whole and beautiful. Disfiguring the body dishonored God, in whose image the person was created. Cutting one's flesh for the dead and tattooing (or perhaps painting) one's body had religious significance among Israel's pagan neighbors. In Israel, such practices were signs of rebellion against God. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary

Genesis 1:27 ESV
(27)  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

The bible is quite clear on this matter.  Mankind is created in God’s image – to mar our bodies in any way is to say that God didn’t get it right the first time or that we know better than God how we should look.  Such is rebellion.

Literal or not?

What keeps theology interesting and the discussions thereof endless – is that serious students of the bible all claim to believe every word of the bible “from Genesis to maps” literally.  Here are a few examples of verses that some take literally while the opposing camp explains them away yet both appeal to be bible literalists.

1 Timothy 2:12 ESV
(12)  I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.

1 Corinthians 11:5 ESV
(5)  but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.

Those who quote 1 Timothy as saying that women can have no role during a worship service conveniently ignore 1 Cor 11 where Paul tells women to wear head coverings while prophesying.

Acts 18:26 ESV
(26)  He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

This verse also clearly shows a husband and wife team teaching a man with Priscilla’s name mentioned first. Is the case against women speaking in church air tight?  Of course not – and those who believe in either side are not justified in calling the other heretics for simply disagreeing.

Here is another example:

Romans 5:18 ESV
(18)  Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

Both Armenians and Calvinists would agree that Adam’s sin lead to all men being sinners.  But did Jesus’s sacrifice lead to justification for all men?  Throw this verse into the middle of any good debate and watch how quickly some will tell you that “all means some” and still claim to take the bible literally.

Discussion: shouldn’t we all be just a bit more honest and agree that we take some scriptures literally and massage others in an attempt to fit our own distinct theological beliefs?  And can we please quit calling the other side of the debate non-biblical just because they don’t believe as we do?