What struck me first about the chapter was Jesus' reaction to meeting Simon Peter. He immediately saw who God created him to be rather than pointing a list of things he needed to work on before before being qualified for leadership.
The second thing came like punch in the gut, in a good way...if that's possible. A punch of grace. I needed it and still do.
My punch came from the message version. He made us to our true selves, our child-of-God selves if we just believe and do what he says. These are the God-begotten.
"God-begotten" for me means that he is doing this thing, not me. I spend so much time in a self-begotten experience instead of resting in his power.
I also felt so much relief when reading (this time in the NLT), "So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us." I just can't get past that. It's so amazing, even without the next verse that says, "He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness." Even if he wasn't perfect, just the fact that he left perfection to come down here and suffer with us, is breathtaking. As I type this I feel the security in believing in his unfailing love. A security I have always wished I found in my mother, but didn't. HIS love is unfailing. AND he came to live among us.
I think I always make so much more "progress" when I am focusing on what he has done for me rather than on what I can or should do for him. Even in entering his presence. Striving to "get into that place" is much more frustrating than striving to get past the distractions to realize he is already here with me.
Ok. I'm not sure how this is supposed to work. I'm going to just read and say what comes to me. (I have a Bible with no chapter or verse marks so this may include more than just chapter one).
1. The word "Word" has often been translated to mean the Bible and that Jesus is somehow equal to the Bible. Which is weird. I don't get that anywhere out of this passage.
2. Wow. Everything in the universe flowed through Jesus. He had his essence in every single element or particle.
3. Life is contained in Him. All life is from Him. There is no life apart from him.
4. That life (Jesus' life force) gives light to the entire world. I don't know if that means literal light or just spiritual light but, either way: cool.
5. The sudden jump from Jesus (who was, incidentally, never named - not sure why) to John tells me that the story of John is important to the audience of the author. That his arrival on the scene is of some consequence to them.
6. I would guess (maybe badly) that the phrase, "coming into the world" referring to Jesus' light, means something akin to "was continually flowing into the world."
7. I used to think that "that which was his own" was referring to the Jews but now I think it is referring to those who received their life force from Jesus. In other words, His life force didn't recognize that He was its source. That would be like your own child not recognizing you. Although you "created" them and gave birth to them. Maybe how a biological parent of an adopted child feels? Great pain there.
8. Not only did they not recognize their source, they received Him not. Double ouch. To not recognize is one thing. But to reject is another. Greater pain.
9. But some DID both recognize and accept His "fatherhood" to them.
10. There is something about believing in His NAME. Which I have never really understood. Why his name? Why not his identity or person or something?
11. Anyway, those who received him now have the right to be God's kids. Cool. Not because some man got all hot and bothered and went after a woman. Not because of human lust or desire. No. This was ALL God. This is all about the life of the creator of the universe flowing through us because of HIS will. And us accepting that as His will. It's not even about our will. Only His. Only Him.
12. Dude, all this imagery is about having babies. Because now he says, "The Word became flesh." That's more human skin, baby-being-born imagery. How do we become flesh? We get born.
13. He created a new habitat for himself. Here. With us. No longer in "the womb" but here. In person. A new habitat. Not folded up and protected in God in Heaven. But down here.
14. Because he chose a new habitat, we get to see his GLORY! That's a big deal. Before, we didn't get to see God's glory. But now we do. Again, the father/son/birth imagery is used.
15. Jesus was full of grace as well as truth. That's cool. He got here that way from His father. So God must be full of the same things. This might have been a revolutionary concept to them. I don't know.
16. Back to John again (must have meant something to them). Maybe these folks really respected John or revered him? That would be my guess.
17. Now back to Jesus again. Out of his fullness (I see pregnancy imagery here), we get more grace than we already had! This is like "replacement grace." Why?
18. Moses was the symbol for the law (the "previous" grace) but Jesus was the symbolization of grace and truth. I guess this relates back to when he told them, "Jesus was full of grace and truth. Just like God is." Maybe they didn't recognize that God had given them both old and new grace?
19. Nobody has seen God with skin on. Until now. He's seen God (been inside of him/was one with him) and is closer to Him than anyone (inside of Him) and now he came to reveal that unknown God to all of us in his new habitat. Cool.
20. More about John now. What was John's story? Was HE the Messiah? No. Apparently these people had heard rumors of such?
21. This whole inquisition by the priest and levites reminds me of Senate hearings. They needed answers for their "constit'ency" (think Oh Brother Where Art Thou here). Give us answers! The people want to know!
22. John replied cryptically in true Rabbi fashion apparently. :o) Jesus did that a lot too. Maddening.
23. John calls Jesus, "the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Wow. Just wow. Thank you Jesus.
24. Notice the recurring thematic language: "I myself did not know him" hearkens back to the opening statements about the world not knowing Him. (I don't think this means that John didn't "know" his cousin. I think it means he didn't recognize the life source as such.)
25. God spoke directly to John and told him that Jesus was Messiah (or, really, the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit). Actually, it doesn't say that. We are assuming that "the one who sent me to baptize with water" was God. It could have been an angel. Or, really, a man. Was it an angel? Weird.
26. This is like a legal trial. This is John's testimony. He is really trying to reassure these folks of the truth of these things.
27. Did they talk that day? It doesn't say. AUGH!
28. Jesus came by again the next day. John's disciples left him to go follow the lamb of God. I love how straightforward Jesus is. Whaddayawant?
29. They hung out at Jesus' crib.
30. Andrew got really excited because he had "discovered" the Messiah that everyone was looking for. He went and told his bro and dragged him over as well. Jesus apparently knew him before they were introduced.
31. Jesus defined Peter. He spoke of his present (you are Simon), his past (son of John), and his future (you will be called). I think Peter means "rock." So Jesus was also defining his character for him. If only we could only hear His voice to define our character.....
32. Day 3: Andrew and Peter had searched out Jesus and now Jesus searches out Philip. So Philip goes and grabs his buddy as he is also very excited about finding Messiah. (how the heck did Jesus know to go looking for some guy name Philip? Had they met before? Why did Philip go? Maybe he was also a disciple of John's? Maybe John's ministry was to prepare disciples for Jesus to grab?)
33. Nathanael is painfully honest. Jesus likes this. It's probably refreshing to Him. He prophesies to Nathanael. He starts getting all cryptic. "You will see angels ascending and descending on me." What the heck does that mean?? You will see heaven open? What? Clearly, Nathanael doesn't see those things on Earth, right? Is he talking about in heaven? IS this Jewish code for something else?
Ok. That's probably the end of chapter one or somewhere close to it.
Hung up on the light thing... The life was the light of men. 9) The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
1John:5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.
So he is the Light and if we walk in him we will have fellowship...
I keep thinking about that part in 1John about fellowship. I find it really strange I don't remember ever hearing that verse preached on or taught. I'm sure it probably does get covered in a "we should all get along" kind of way. I've never thought about fellowship being a direct result of being in the light. I've certainly never heard it emphasized. I've never read it any discipleship materials either. It's always about get saved, go to church, read your Bible, tithe, witness. Where's the fellowship?
I love how John emphasizes in verse 18 that Jesus and the Father are one. No one has seen God except for God himself - who is at the Fathers side.
Vs 19 thru 28. John the Baptist was a genuinely humble man. No one could accuse him of being self-centered and no one could deny he was a prophet. Yet when then the priests and Levites asked him if he was a prophet he said "No". I wonder if that was to avoid the scrutiny that one claiming to be a prophet would go through. Or he didnt want the pharisees to take him and try to convince him to mislead the people - as if he would. Either way I don't think he wanted to to open a can of worms.
FROM FRANK: Forgive my writing S I am doing this on iPhone drugged up with a large coffee and am too lazy to edit much
I think it's interesting that Jesus says he saw Nathanial sitting under a fig tree when really he didn't. Must have been a vision. Is this a miracle or is this Jesus first sign that he is something special. I like the verse "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." This seems to be in the present tense. Does this still apply today. I say yes. I think we believe we understand God. But how are we smarter than those of years past. I doubt we are. I fear and believe we have much to learn and years from now we will Look at today's version if Christianity and shiver at our actions as individuals and society The verse "What do you say about yourself? He said, I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said." Also jumped out at me. As part of today's society as Christians we don't cry out enough. If we lose a loved one or feel unfair about simething we tend to think we should be over it and "trusting" in the lord and believing as Romans 8 says that the lord plans prevails." Bull hockey" I say we should morn more cry out more tear our tunics in mourning. Why is it cool to" get over it" so fast. I say the longer we mourn and cry out the more we loved what was lost. Overall though Chapter 1 is boring and too basic to excite me (I'm working on my honesty, so there you go). I feel little excitement any more about Jesus and what he did on the cross. Seems to basic. I'm past that excitement stage. I notice s lot of Christians stay there for perhaps their entire walk. I think I desire more how am I supposed to live now versus my salvation which I've already been excited about the day when I accepted Christ
Frank - your last statement about what Jesus did on the cross being boring caught me by surprise at first but I thought of Hebrews 6:1... (I had to look up the address) Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,and of faith in God,instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment...
Frank, I was shocked to read that you are not excited about Jesus, and then I read the rest of the sentence. I'm excited to start learning from the way He lived and not just about what He did on the cross. Of course, without Him dying on the cross, we wouldn't have the power to live like Him even a little.
About mourning, I totally agree. I remember how appalled I was at how everyone's lives went on as normal when my friend's son was dying in the hospital. The world should have stopped, but it didn't. I remember going to church and feeling panicked that it was a waste of time. I wanted to get everyone out of there and to the hospital to pray for him. No one really cared, and I was far too trapped by what was expected over what I knew I should be doing...going there to pray instead of going to church.
Taking time to mourn when Judah died was one of the healthiest things I've ever done. I feel like I never have mourned my grandmother dieing this past December. Life is too busy, but I think about her all the time. It's so sad; so sad that I don't take the time.
Frank, it might help to read or listen to the chapters in an unfamiliar version like the Message. It has helped shake me out of the boredom with scriptures I've heard over and over.
What struck me first about the chapter was Jesus' reaction to meeting Simon Peter. He immediately saw who God created him to be rather than pointing a list of things he needed to work on before before being qualified for leadership.
ReplyDeleteThe second thing came like punch in the gut, in a good way...if that's possible. A punch of grace. I needed it and still do.
My punch came from the message version. He made us to our true selves, our child-of-God selves if we just believe and do what he says. These are the God-begotten.
"God-begotten" for me means that he is doing this thing, not me. I spend so much time in a self-begotten experience instead of resting in his power.
I also felt so much relief when reading (this time in the NLT), "So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us." I just can't get past that. It's so amazing, even without the next verse that says, "He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness." Even if he wasn't perfect, just the fact that he left perfection to come down here and suffer with us, is breathtaking. As I type this I feel the security in believing in his unfailing love. A security I have always wished I found in my mother, but didn't. HIS love is unfailing. AND he came to live among us.
I think I always make so much more "progress" when I am focusing on what he has done for me rather than on what I can or should do for him. Even in entering his presence. Striving to "get into that place" is much more frustrating than striving to get past the distractions to realize he is already here with me.
Yikes! Too many typos. Must proof read next time!
ReplyDeleteOk. I'm not sure how this is supposed to work. I'm going to just read and say what comes to me. (I have a Bible with no chapter or verse marks so this may include more than just chapter one).
ReplyDelete1. The word "Word" has often been translated to mean the Bible and that Jesus is somehow equal to the Bible. Which is weird. I don't get that anywhere out of this passage.
2. Wow. Everything in the universe flowed through Jesus. He had his essence in every single element or particle.
3. Life is contained in Him. All life is from Him. There is no life apart from him.
4. That life (Jesus' life force) gives light to the entire world. I don't know if that means literal light or just spiritual light but, either way: cool.
5. The sudden jump from Jesus (who was, incidentally, never named - not sure why) to John tells me that the story of John is important to the audience of the author. That his arrival on the scene is of some consequence to them.
6. I would guess (maybe badly) that the phrase, "coming into the world" referring to Jesus' light, means something akin to "was continually flowing into the world."
7. I used to think that "that which was his own" was referring to the Jews but now I think it is referring to those who received their life force from Jesus. In other words, His life force didn't recognize that He was its source. That would be like your own child not recognizing you. Although you "created" them and gave birth to them. Maybe how a biological parent of an adopted child feels? Great pain there.
8. Not only did they not recognize their source, they received Him not. Double ouch. To not recognize is one thing. But to reject is another. Greater pain.
9. But some DID both recognize and accept His "fatherhood" to them.
10. There is something about believing in His NAME. Which I have never really understood. Why his name? Why not his identity or person or something?
ReplyDelete11. Anyway, those who received him now have the right to be God's kids. Cool. Not because some man got all hot and bothered and went after a woman. Not because of human lust or desire. No. This was ALL God. This is all about the life of the creator of the universe flowing through us because of HIS will. And us accepting that as His will. It's not even about our will. Only His. Only Him.
12. Dude, all this imagery is about having babies. Because now he says, "The Word became flesh." That's more human skin, baby-being-born imagery. How do we become flesh? We get born.
13. He created a new habitat for himself. Here. With us. No longer in "the womb" but here. In person. A new habitat. Not folded up and protected in God in Heaven. But down here.
14. Because he chose a new habitat, we get to see his GLORY! That's a big deal. Before, we didn't get to see God's glory. But now we do. Again, the father/son/birth imagery is used.
15. Jesus was full of grace as well as truth. That's cool. He got here that way from His father. So God must be full of the same things. This might have been a revolutionary concept to them. I don't know.
16. Back to John again (must have meant something to them). Maybe these folks really respected John or revered him? That would be my guess.
17. Now back to Jesus again. Out of his fullness (I see pregnancy imagery here), we get more grace than we already had! This is like "replacement grace." Why?
18. Moses was the symbol for the law (the "previous" grace) but Jesus was the symbolization of grace and truth. I guess this relates back to when he told them, "Jesus was full of grace and truth. Just like God is." Maybe they didn't recognize that God had given them both old and new grace?
19. Nobody has seen God with skin on. Until now. He's seen God (been inside of him/was one with him) and is closer to Him than anyone (inside of Him) and now he came to reveal that unknown God to all of us in his new habitat. Cool.
20. More about John now. What was John's story? Was HE the Messiah? No. Apparently these people had heard rumors of such?
ReplyDelete21. This whole inquisition by the priest and levites reminds me of Senate hearings. They needed answers for their "constit'ency" (think Oh Brother Where Art Thou here). Give us answers! The people want to know!
22. John replied cryptically in true Rabbi fashion apparently. :o) Jesus did that a lot too. Maddening.
23. John calls Jesus, "the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Wow. Just wow. Thank you Jesus.
24. Notice the recurring thematic language: "I myself did not know him" hearkens back to the opening statements about the world not knowing Him. (I don't think this means that John didn't "know" his cousin. I think it means he didn't recognize the life source as such.)
25. God spoke directly to John and told him that Jesus was Messiah (or, really, the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit). Actually, it doesn't say that. We are assuming that "the one who sent me to baptize with water" was God. It could have been an angel. Or, really, a man. Was it an angel? Weird.
26. This is like a legal trial. This is John's testimony. He is really trying to reassure these folks of the truth of these things.
27. Did they talk that day? It doesn't say. AUGH!
28. Jesus came by again the next day. John's disciples left him to go follow the lamb of God. I love how straightforward Jesus is. Whaddayawant?
29. They hung out at Jesus' crib.
30. Andrew got really excited because he had "discovered" the Messiah that everyone was looking for. He went and told his bro and dragged him over as well. Jesus apparently knew him before they were introduced.
31. Jesus defined Peter. He spoke of his present (you are Simon), his past (son of John), and his future (you will be called). I think Peter means "rock." So Jesus was also defining his character for him. If only we could only hear His voice to define our character.....
32. Day 3: Andrew and Peter had searched out Jesus and now Jesus searches out Philip. So Philip goes and grabs his buddy as he is also very excited about finding Messiah. (how the heck did Jesus know to go looking for some guy name Philip? Had they met before? Why did Philip go? Maybe he was also a disciple of John's? Maybe John's ministry was to prepare disciples for Jesus to grab?)
33. Nathanael is painfully honest. Jesus likes this. It's probably refreshing to Him. He prophesies to Nathanael. He starts getting all cryptic. "You will see angels ascending and descending on me." What the heck does that mean?? You will see heaven open? What? Clearly, Nathanael doesn't see those things on Earth, right? Is he talking about in heaven? IS this Jewish code for something else?
Ok. That's probably the end of chapter one or somewhere close to it.
Cathy, James thinks that the last part about heaven opening up and seeing angels going up and down in referring to the Jesus' ascension.
ReplyDeleteHung up on the light thing...
ReplyDeleteThe life was the light of men. 9) The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
1John:5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.
So he is the Light and if we walk in him we will have fellowship...
I keep thinking about that part in 1John about fellowship. I find it really strange I don't remember ever hearing that verse preached on or taught. I'm sure it probably does get covered in a "we should all get along" kind of way. I've never thought about fellowship being a direct result of being in the light. I've certainly never heard it emphasized. I've never read it any discipleship materials either. It's always about get saved, go to church, read your Bible, tithe, witness. Where's the fellowship?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI love how John emphasizes in verse 18 that Jesus and the Father are one. No one has seen God except for God himself - who is at the Fathers side.
ReplyDeleteVs 19 thru 28. John the Baptist was a genuinely humble man. No one could accuse him of being self-centered and no one could deny he was a prophet. Yet when then the priests and Levites asked him if he was a prophet he said "No". I wonder if that was to avoid the scrutiny that one claiming to be a prophet would go through. Or he didnt want the pharisees to take him and try to convince him to mislead the people - as if he would. Either way I don't think he wanted to to open a can of worms.
better get to work...
@Amber: How does the 1 John verse read?
ReplyDelete@James: What do you think about my thought that "the light" refers to like "life force," either physical or spiritual?
Has anyone seen my husband?.....
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCathy, it's in James' first comment.
ReplyDeleteFROM FRANK:
ReplyDeleteForgive my writing S I am doing this on iPhone drugged up with a large coffee and am too lazy to edit much
I think it's interesting that Jesus says he saw Nathanial sitting under a fig tree when really he didn't. Must have been a vision. Is this a miracle or is this Jesus first sign that he is something special.
I like the verse
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
This seems to be in the present tense. Does this still apply today. I say yes. I think we believe we understand God. But how are we smarter than those of years past. I doubt we are. I fear and believe we have much to learn and years from now we will
Look at today's version if Christianity and shiver at our actions as individuals and society
The verse
"What do you say about yourself? He said, I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said."
Also jumped out at me. As part of today's society as Christians we don't cry out enough. If we lose a loved one or feel unfair about simething we tend to think we should be over it and "trusting" in the lord and believing as Romans 8 says that the lord plans prevails." Bull hockey"
I say we should morn more cry out more tear our tunics in mourning. Why is it cool to" get over it" so fast. I say the longer we mourn and cry out the more we loved what was lost.
Overall though Chapter 1 is boring and too basic to excite me (I'm working on my honesty, so there you go). I feel little excitement any more about Jesus and what he did on the cross. Seems to basic. I'm past that excitement stage. I notice s lot of Christians stay there for perhaps their entire walk.
I think I desire more how am I supposed to live now versus my salvation which I've already been excited about the day when I accepted Christ
Frank - your last statement about what Jesus did on the cross being boring caught me by surprise at first but I thought of Hebrews 6:1... (I had to look up the address)
ReplyDeleteTherefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,and of faith in God,instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment...
I feel ya, man. Lets get on with the gettin on.
Frank, I was shocked to read that you are not excited about Jesus, and then I read the rest of the sentence. I'm excited to start learning from the way He lived and not just about what He did on the cross. Of course, without Him dying on the cross, we wouldn't have the power to live like Him even a little.
ReplyDeleteAbout mourning, I totally agree. I remember how appalled I was at how everyone's lives went on as normal when my friend's son was dying in the hospital. The world should have stopped, but it didn't. I remember going to church and feeling panicked that it was a waste of time. I wanted to get everyone out of there and to the hospital to pray for him. No one really cared, and I was far too trapped by what was expected over what I knew I should be doing...going there to pray instead of going to church.
Taking time to mourn when Judah died was one of the healthiest things I've ever done. I feel like I never have mourned my grandmother dieing this past December. Life is too busy, but I think about her all the time. It's so sad; so sad that I don't take the time.
Frank, it might help to read or listen to the chapters in an unfamiliar version like the Message. It has helped shake me out of the boredom with scriptures I've heard over and over.
ReplyDelete