John 20

I don't care how many times I read the resurrection story.  I love it every time.  There is not very much that needs commenting here, but I will point out a couple things.  I do find it interesting how John tells the story about he and Peter running to the empty tomb (John runs faster than Peter--but Peter goes in farther right away).  This next little detail I heard or read somewhere, but I can't remember where, so I apologize for not giving proper credit for the following:

Look at verse 15.  Mary Magdalene is crying at the tomb, thinking that Jesus' body has been stolen.  Jesus comes up to her and asks why she is crying and for whom she is looking.  Then John writes "Thinking he was the gardener..." Mary asks Jesus a question.  But I want to key in on the fact that Mary mistakes Jesus for the gardener.  Who originally received the occupation of gardener?  The answer is in Genesis 2:15 -- The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.  So Adam was the first gardener.  How did he do?  Genesis 3 tells that story, but I think John is at least hinting (again) here that Jesus is the "redo" of Adam in the respect that where Adam blew it, Jesus came through.  Paul writes something similar in 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 -- But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  That's awesome!

Many have written about this episode in Thomas' life (for the sake of curiosity, "Didymus" means "twin").  I will shorten my comment to this: Thomas' response to Jesus is as direct a "prooftext" as you can get for the divinity of Jesus Christ (which some cults--like Jehovah's Witnesses--deny).  

It is also interesting to note verses 30 and 31.  John didn't write down everything, but what he did write down he did so that we might believe and in doing so have life in His name.  A friend of mine puts it this way.  The Bible was written to tell us everything we need to know, not everything we want to know.

John 19

Sometimes it is tempting to just gloss over a story so familiar, but let's take the time read through it. On a closer reading, verse 11 sounded familiar. Paul wrote something very similar in Romans 13:1. Perhaps Paul was thinking of Jesus before Pilate as his perfect example when writing to the believers in Rome.

In verse 19, we read that Pilate uses his authority to cause a notice to be written on the cross concerning Jesus. The fact that he refuses to change it when asked by the chief priests is probably more to spite them than it is a profession of faith on Pilate's part, but it is interesting nevertheless.

In the next section, John points out several things that happened so that Scripture might be fulfilled: The dividing of Jesus' garment by lots (Psalm 22:18) and none of Jesus' bones being broken (in which John may have been referring to a number of things, Exodus 12 and Numbers 9--the Passover Lamb, or Psalm 34--The righteous man). There is another one between them which John doesn't explain completely. In verse 28, John wrote: Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." Unlike a few verses before, John doesn't tell us exactly which verse he's talking about. Some scholars suggest that Jesus was reciting from the Psalms as He hung on the cross. This would certainly fit with His identity as a rabbi, since rabbis sought to learn, teach, live, pray, and die by the text of God's Word. In that light, perhaps Psalm 22 may be referred to again: My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

(v. 30) Jesus said, "It is finished." The Greek word here is "tetelestai" and while "it is finished" is not a bad translation, the word has great depth of meaning. In one sense, it is an accounting term, written at the bottom of paid debts or bills and in that sense means not only "it is finished" but "paid in full." But it also is broader than that. It can be used referring to the completion of a purpose or calling. That is, "I have completed exactly what I set out to do." That is the sense of Jesus on the cross. Accomplishing exactly what He set out to do--providing fully for our great debt.

John 18

Much has been written about the first six verses of this chapter, prompted by the question, "What could prompt a group of soldiers armed with torches, lanterns, and weapons to draw back and fall to the ground in fear at the apparently simple utterance of a few words?"  I'll summarize my opinion here: As the crowd approaches, John mentions that Jesus knew all that was going to happen to him, so He asks the crowd, "Who is it you want?"  They reply, "Jesus of Nazareth," and Jesus response, as recorded in Greek, was "Ego eimi."  The NIV translates this "I am he," which is not a bad translation, but perhaps a more straightforward translation is simply: "I am."  I believe that this phrase has a clear connection to Exodus 3:14, where Moses is given God's very personal name.  Biblical scholars who don't think that Jesus' use of "Ego eimi" in John is a clear reference to Exodus 3:14 will trace it back to Isaiah 43:10, which also refers to the Name of God.  Either way, in His answer to the crowd, Jesus is telling His audience that He is the Lord.  Then either because the crowd (sent from the chief priests) knew what He was saying or because the veil was pulled back and Jesus' divine nature was revealed even just for a moment, they drew back and fell down.

For 18:10-11, see the comment on Mark 14:43-72.  Since I made that comment, someone pointed out to me that Perhaps Peter did mean to cut off this man's ear, which would have rendered him unable to serve in the temple without killing him.  I don't know what to do with that exactly, but perhaps I've been giving Peter too little credit for his skill with a sword assuming that he hit an ear instead of someplace more crucial.  But I'm not sure it is a huge deal for the story.  

In verse 18, there is an interesting detail about a fire by which Peter is warming himself.  The Greek word is anthrakia.  It is not a common Greek word, and as far as I can find, it is used only twice in the New Testament.  This is the first time.  More on this later--for now, just remember that John links this word with Peter's denial of Jesus (oh the suspense!).

Look at verses 37 and 38.  Pilate asks Jesus a question: "What is truth?"  And walks away.  Considering that Jesus' self-stated purpose for coming into the world was to "testify to the truth," Pilate asked the most pertinent question ever to the best authority on the subject ever and walked away from the answer.  In what way did Pilate ask the question?  We really don't know.  The impression most people get is that he asked his question rhetorically and perhaps sarcastically, and that fits, but the bottom line is that we just don't know.  

John 17

Take a close look at Jesus' prayer in this chapter.  First of all, in my Bible, the paragraph heading says , "Jesus prays for Himself."  My initial reaction was that since Jesus prayed for Himself, it must be okay for us to pray for ourselves, too.  But closer at the prayer: Jesus is praying for himself only the things that will bring glory to the Father.  Too often, my prayers can tend toward a "grocery list" and I wonder if sometimes we treat God like a great cosmic vending machine.  I believe we can pray for ourselves, of course, but perhaps we should pay closer attention to Jesus' model and pray more specifically for things that will bring glory to God.  

Next, Jesus prayed from His disciples.  Notice one of the things that He says: (v.15) My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  

Finally in this chapter, Jesus prayed for all believers; that's us, too!  Think about the gravity of that--Jesus in Jerusalem the night before He went to the cross prayed for you.  The very first thing Jesus prayed for us is that we might be one.  Unity!  I don't think that means we have to always agree with everything that any other Christian says, but considering the value Jesus placed on unity in His prayer for us, perhaps we should consider it more often, especially considering the purpose of being unified (look at v. 23).  

John 16

I don't have much to say about this passage.  The first part was confusing for the disciples, and I find it interesting that Jesus chides them a little bit (16:31) for believing only when he speaks "clearly" and without figures of speech.  But notice how John 16 is framed at the beginning and the end with the words "I have told you..."  In verse 4: I have told you this so that when the time comes... (notice "when" the disciples experience persecution, not "if").  In verse 33, however, despite the persecution, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world, you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."

John 15

A few things that stick out as I read it this time through:
(15:2) The branches that do bear fruit are pruned so that they bear more fruit. So God has designed for us to continue to become more fruitful--the status quo in our lives is never the goal for the future.
(15:4) No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.
(15:15) I have called you friends -- this is a word that a Rabbi might use to address his talmidim. This goes along with what Jesus says in verse 16 about Him choosing them, and not the other way around. Remember that this was not the way the Rabbi/talmid relationship usually started...
Verses 18-27 are strange and wonderful words of both trouble to come and comfort.