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In John 10:19-21, we see how the Jewish people responded to Jesus claim to be "the Good Shepherd" (in John 10:11-18).

In the response to Jesus's words in John 10:19-21 , we see (1.) Division over Jesus, (2.) Options about Jesus and (3.) Evidence for Jesus's self-claims.

Jesus always divides; because people have to decide about His claims. See the previous divisions about Jesus in John 7:20, 43 and 9:16. Craig Keener says that the first readers of John's Gospel would have been aware of divisions about Jesus in their day. And today, many people are still divided about Jesus; and what His words claim about Him.

Jesus's claims are expressed in His words.  And so the battles always centre around Jesus's words. 

In John 10:19-21, we see the battle about Jesus's words (and claims) as follows:

John 10:19 says; "There was again a division among the Jews because of these words".

In John 10:20, people asked; "Why listen to him?”

The divisive words of Jesus in this passage refer to what Jesus has just said (and claimed) about Himself in earlier parts of John 10, that He is "the Good Shepherd" (John 10:11,14). Jesus is not claiming just to be 'a' good shepherd. Jesus did not see Himself as just another of the many leaders, or prophets, who God had sent to help His people. Jesus is saying that He is "THE Good Shepherd". The One and Only Shepherd. The Promised Shepherd. The Divine / Human, Davidic, Shepherd promised in Ezekiel 34.

Ezekiel 34:11-12 says; 11 “For thus says the Lord GOD (yhwh): Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness". 

This is about the Shepherd as God (yhwd) Himself.

Ezekiel 34:23-24 says; 23 "And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the LORD (yhwh), will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince (nasi’ - king) among them. I am the LORD (yhwh); I have spoken". 

This is about the Shepherd as a human King, a son of David.

Ezekiel 34 promised that God (yhwh) Himself, as a Human, Son of King David, would one day become "THE Shepherd" of His people Israel. And, in John 10:11 and 14, Jesus claims to be this unique (Divine, Human, Davidic) Shepherd of Ezekiel 34.

The Jewish people were divided "because of these words" and claims of Jesus (John 10:19). People today are still very divided over the words and unique claims of Jesus. People still divide over whether Jesus is God in human form, the promised Davidic Shepherd King, who came to rescue God's lost people (His scattered sheep).

John 10:20 says; 'Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?”'

There seem to be three options about Jesus and His words / claims to be "the Good Shepherd" of Ezekiel 34; as follows:

a.) Option one is that Jesus is bad. "He has a demon".

b.) Option two is that Jesus is mad. "And is insane".

c.) Option three is that Jesus is worth listening too. "Why listen to him?” Answer: Because there is evidence to support Jesus's astonishing self-claims.

John 10:21 says; 'Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” 

This verse points to two huge pieces of evidence to support the self-claim of Jesus to be the Divine, Human, Davidic Good Shepherd of Ezekiel 34, as follows:

a.) There is the evidence of the awesome words of Jesus - “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon".

There is a 'ring of truth' about the words of Jesus, wrote J.B. Philips, who translated the NT.

 The following is from ChatGPT:

‘In the preface to his translation ‘The New Testament in Modern English’ (1958), Phillips wrote about the extraordinary impression Jesus’s sayings made on him during translation. He said that as he worked directly from the Greek, he felt Jesus’s words had “a ring of truth” and a power unlike anything else.

Here’s the fuller idea in Phillips’s own words (paraphrased for clarity):
    •    Translating the Gospels gave him the sense that Jesus’s words carried an authenticity that could not be invented.
    •    He remarked that Jesus had “the ring of truth,” something that “disarms criticism and demands a personal response.”

Here is a quote from J. B. Phillips in ‘Ring of Truth: A Translator’s Testimony’ where he describes his experience and uses phrases like “strangely alive,” etc.:

“Although I did my utmost to preserve an emotional detachment, I found again and again that the material under my hands was strangely alive; it spoke to my condition in the most uncanny way. I say ‘uncanny’ for want of a better word, but it was a very strange experience to sense, not occasionally but almost continually, the living quality of those rather strangely assorted books. To me it is the more remarkable because I had no fundamentalist upbringing, and although as a priest of the Anglican Church I had a great respect for Holy Scripture, this very close contact of several years of translation produced an effect of ‘inspiration’ which I have never experienced, even in the remotest degree, in any other work.”  

And here is another passage from the same work, where he concludes with the expression — “the ring of truth”:

“It is my serious conclusion that we have in the New Testament words that bear the hallmark of reality and the ring of truth"'.

Jesus's words are the very best moral teaching the world has ever seen. Like "Love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44).

There is something wonderful about Jesus's words, as we see in the following quiotations:

John 3:16-17  says;“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him". 

John 14:1-2 says; “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?"

John 14:8, 10 says; 'Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us". ..... 10 (Jesus replied) "Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works". 

These words in John 14:8 qnd 10 are saying that Jesus's words, are also God the Father's words, at work. And therefore, these words of Jesus "show us the Father". We get to know God through Jesus's words whicj show us God the Father.

These words of Jesus, quoted above, sound amazing and comforting, revealing and true.

b.) There is the evidence of the healing works of Jesus - "Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”  

Ezekiel 34:15-16 says that the  'the Lord GOD (declares); "I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured'. This binding up hints at the work of healing. 

Isaiah promises that when God comes as the Shepherd of His people (Isaiah 40:10-11), then His people will be healed.

Isaiah 35:4-6  says; " ..... Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you.” 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy".

Healing, the opening of blind eyes, was a sign of the coming of the Good (Divine, Human, Davidic) Shepherd.

Conclusion.

To promote Jesus as the Good Shepherd, as He claimed, we need to be doing the following;

a.) Proclaiming the amazing words of Jesus, which have "a ring of truth" about them.

b.) Praying for people to be healed, in the name of Jesus. Healing is a sign that Jesus is who He claimed to be. 

Thursday 24th April 2025

Last Sunday we celebrated Jesus’s Resurrection, and in this blog, I would like to focus on what Romans 6:4 is saying about Christ’s Resurrection.

This passage answers three questions:

Did Christ’s Resurrection really happen? Answer: Yes, it's a FACT.

How did it happen? Answer: It was an ACT of God.

Why did it happen? Answer: To IMPACT our lives.

To set this verse in its context in Romans 6, we note that Paul is taking about “baptism”; which is mentioned in v4, which says that "were buried therefore with him by baptism into death". Explaining what Paul is referring to regarding “baptism”, the Zondervan Bible Commentary (1 Vol.) says that ‘in the early Church when baptism generally followed hard on the heels of a (person’s) accepting the gospel, baptism and the divine renewal behind faith could naturally be regarded as the outside and inside of the same thing. Baptism by immersion is a dramatic mime of what God has done with a (person). It is to this enacted parable of salvation that Paul appeals’.

For three chapters in Romans 3-5, Paul has consistently taught about salvation by faith in Christ (See Romans 3:22,25,28; 4:5,24-25; 5:1). He wouldn’t suddenly change his mind and say it’s by the instrumentality of a ritual act of water baptism. No, baptism in Romans 6 refers to baptism as an expression of faith for salvation.

And Paul is saying in Romans 6:4 that faith (expressed in baptism) relates us to Christ’s “death” and also to the fact, the act and the impact of Christ’s resurrection.

Romans 6:4 says that "Christ was raised from the dead". This is stated as a plain fact of time and space history.

A fact is a 'thing that is known or proved to be true. A reality.'  The opposite of a fact is a lie or fiction. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fact, not a lie or fiction. We could spend time reminding ourselves of the fact and truthfulness of the resurrection; but I think that many of us are convinced believers in the resurrection of Jesus, right? For the few who may not be sure, let’s quickly summarise some of the strong evidence for the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. 

Michael Green said that for Jewish people, like the authors of the New Testament, resurrection meant the physical body of the dead person coming to life. (Michael Green, The Message of Matthew: The Kingdom of Heaven; The Bible Speaks Today Series).

Did the bodily resurrection of Jesus really and truly happen? Answer: Yes. And there are various great arguments for the resurrection. I will briefly mention three: the empty tomb of Jesus, the resurrection appearances, and the world mission of His followers.

Guarded and sealed with a large stone but God emptied the tomb of Jesus!  The earthquake and the angel are intended as God’s witness to his action here (See Matthew 28:2-3). Despite the lie which the Jewish authorities made up (Matthew 28:11-15), stealing Jesus’s body would not have been possible because of the guard on the tomb. It is also impossible to think that these apostles stole the body of Jesus and later were then willing to die for what they knew to be a lie. Most of the first apostles of Christ died for their faith in the risen Christ.

J. Gene White has written that ‘one prevalent theme in the Gospel narratives is the initial skepticism of the witnesses about Christ’s resurrection. ….There is no rush to conclude that Jesus is resurrected (Luke 24:4). (For example), when Peter and John see the empty tomb they do not connect it with Christ’s teaching about His resurrection (John 20:8‒9). … Mary Magdalene is convinced that someone has stolen the body of Jesus (John 20:13‒15). The apostles do not believe the women’s testimony about seeing the risen Christ
(Luke 24:11 and Mark 16:11). …...The clear testimony we have in the Gospels is that the witnesses were not gullible followers wanting to believe their teacher had come back to life. They were not zealots, bent on creating a resurrection myth. Most, if not all, of Christ’s disciples initially dismissed any thought of His resurrection and rejected claims to that effect; however, they were later convinced through personal contact He was alive. The
apostles became changed men. Rather than being deniers and deserters as they were before the
crucifixion, they now proclaimed Jesus as Messiah. Because of the resurrection, the apostles were so
convinced of His message that most died for their beliefs. Their changed behaviour is additional testimony
to the truth of the resurrection.…. The integration of four different (Gospel) accounts, based on multiple eyewitnesses, by four different writers, without collusion or coaching, adds enormous credibility to the resurrection story. The combined Gospels are an accurate historical record of the resurrection of Jesus Christ’. (From: https://theologue.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/harmony-resurrectionofchrist-jgenewhite.pdf. Viewed on 04/04/2025).

The resurrection transformed Jesus’s disciples from “a frightened rabble to an apostolic force” (Michael Green). The resurrection started the world mission of Jesus (through His followers) which continues to this day. There is no other real explanation for the global impact of Jesus though his followers. The message and mission of the Risen Christ, through his followers, has had a huge impact on the entire world. 

Some talk about ‘the flood-tide of Christ’, referring to how the teachings of Jesus, spread everywhere by his followers, have come to saturate and shape our mindset in the West (Tom Holland, Dominion). Many of the good things we take for granted in our western culture, like justice and education for all, and care for the poor and the sick, are a direct result of the teachings of Jesus, spread by his followers down the ages.

Romans 6:4 says that “Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father".

The term “glory” here refers to the outward manifestation of the majestic power of God. (Excerpt From Romans by Frank S. Thielman and the Zondervan Bible Commentary (1 Vol.) (cf. Deuteronomy 5:24).

That's how it happened ("by the glory of the Father"). And it means that the Father did it in a way that showed his "glory" or splendour. We might say it was God 'showing off'. Not much shows off the "glory" of God like the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Think of the glorious power involved to perform this ACT of Resurrection:

Ephesians 1:19-20 speaks of the resurrection as being "according to the working of his (God the Father's) great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead".

Further on in Romans, we note that God’s Spirit was also involved in this glorious ACT of the Resurrection. Romans 8:11 seems to hint at the ‘Spirit’ being the One "through" whom the Father "raised Jesus from the dead".

(“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you”).

The resurrection was an ACT of God the Holy Trinity. mJesus was raised, by the Father, who employed the Spirit to actually do it.

The FACT (of the Resurrection) was produced by a mighty ACT (of God).

Romans 6 is about the impact of both Jesus's Cross and Resurrection. 

Cross.

Romans 6:4 speaks of the believer having been "buried ... with him by baptism into death".

This is about how Jesus's Cross (and subsequent burial) brought about the believer's death to the reigning power of sin (See Romans 6:12).

Resurrection.

Then Romans 6:4 also says that "Christ was raised from the dead … [in order that] we too might walk in newness of life."

Romans 6:4 is saying that Jesus's Resurrection should have an IMPACT in terms of our "walk in newness of life."”.

The (Zondervan Bible Commentary (1 Vol.) says that ‘walk is a Biblical idiom for behaviour.’ "Walk" translates the Greek word, 'peripateō'. Peri means through and pateo means path. This is figurative of how we live. How we journey through the path of life. The Resurrection of Jesus should IMPACT our whole (path through) life. Our behaviour. The way in which we live. Each step of our path through life, should be IMPACTED by the FACT that Jesus was raised by the ACT of God.

Because He was raised, we should never "walk" in the same old ways (under the reigning power of death) again. Our lives, each step of the way, should be traveling in a new direction, along a new path.

The Zondervan Bible Commentary (1 Vol.) say that this means ‘to behave in keeping with the new era and not the old’. The resurrection of Jesus is the beginning of the new creation era. The bringing forward, into our time, from the future, the new life of the final day of resurrection. The resurrection impacts our behaviour in terms of the need to live now the life of the future resurrection age.

"Newness" translates the Greek word 'kainotēs' (from kainous); which means new in quality, made new , freshness, renewed. (As against the Greek word, noen, which means new in time, or brand new).

Frank Thielman says; “The term “newness” (καινότης) connotes startling freshness, a quality in something that makes it unlike anything else of its type. …. Paul’s focus … lies on the qualitative break between the believer’s old life under the reign of death and sin (Rom 5:17, 21) and the new life of union with Christ (cf. Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15; Eph 2:15; 4:24).” (Excerpt From Romans by Frank S. Thielman)

The Resurrection should IMPACT our lives with this quality of "newness", and startling, unique, freshness (and renewal).

Further on in the letter, in Romans 8:10, Paul goes on to say that “if Christ is in you (another blessing of our faith in Him) although the body (our physical body) is dead (and dying) because of sin, the Spirit is life (in us) because of righteousness (Christ’s righteousness credited to us by faith)”. In other words, this “newness of life” (Romans 6:4) introduced by Christ’s resurrection (actually) comes into our “walk” (our lives and behaviour) by the impact (and energising power) in us of God’s Spirit. 

Also, in 2 Corinthians 4:6, Paul pictures 'the dawning of the new creation', saying;  'For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” (the God of creation) has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ". (ESV Study Bible Notes), 

Conclusion.

As we conclude, let’s notice the “with Him” in Romans 6:4, which says that "we were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life”.

In due course, we may need be express our faith in “baptism”. (If not yet baptised). But right now, we can make sure that we are “with Him” by faith  in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 4:24-25). And we can invite Christ into our lives by welcoming His Spirit of life (in line with Romans 8:10).

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you that you died (and were buried) for our sins, representing me on the Cross. And you rose from the dead, representing me, “in order that” (I) “might walk in newness of life”. I am 'with You' by faith. And I invite you into my life, by your Spirit (Romans 8:10). Please make me a living part of your new creation era which began when you rose from the tomb. And, Holy Spirit, please help me to “walk in newness of life”, today and every day, going forward. Help me live out a daily practice of resurrection.

Come, Holy Spirit.

John 7:43 says that "there was a division among the people over him (Jesus)". 

Today there is still a lot of division over Jesus. To some, he is irrelevant, to others, a swear word. To some he was good man, or a prophet. And then for some Jesus is the divine Messiah, the true King. 

Who is Jesus to us (to me and you) today? We still live in a world which is highly divided over Jesus.

Let's look at what John 7:40-52 teaches about this sort of division over Jesus, and what this passage teaches us about how to resolve the conflict, and find the truth about Jesus.

In verses 40-43,  there were three divided opinions about who Jesus was, as follows;

• Some people saw Jesus as "the Prophet" (of Deuteronomy 18:15-18) like Moses. (v40). Some saw this as a 'prophetic forerunner of the Messiah' (Zondervan Bible Commentary).  The ESV Study Bible Notes says that 'this “Prophet” and the Messiah were held to be different persons by some in first-century Judaism. Jesus is both'.

• Others saw Jesus as "the Christ" (v41). There were people who did see Jesus as the promised Messiah.

• And there were those who saw Jesus as an Imposter because they thought that he did not fulfil what Scripture said about where the Messiah would come from (vv41-42). Micah 5:2, which predicted the Messiahs' birthplace in Bethlehem was in their minds. 'The irony is apparent, for they did not realise that Bethlehem was in fact Jesus’ birthplace`' (ESV Study Bible Notes).

Craig Keener says; 'Although John included no birth narratives, the conjunction of Matthew, Luke and widespread Christian traditions known by the early second century (to pagans interrogated by Hadrian) suggests that John’s readers know that Christ was born in Bethlehem. They would thus regard Jesus’ opponents here as ignorant'. (IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament).

Today people are still rather opinionated about Jesus. And quite a lot of what people think about Jesus is either wrong or a misunderstanding of Scripture.

Verses 45-46 mentions "officers" who were temple police (see John 7:32). And v46, we read that 'the officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”' It was the words of Jesus which so impressed these temple officers.  Craig Keener, says that 'the temple guards would have heard many teachers in the temple, yet they are particularly impressed by this one'. (IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament).

Morris says that "this" (in v46. "this man") 'puts the emphasis on the manner rather than the content of his teaching'. Morris quotes Lenski, who wrote; "The authority, majesty, and power of the speaker restrained these officers"'. (Leon Morris; The Gospel According to John; The New International Commentary on the New Testament).

In a footnote, Morris quotes Barrett, who said; 'The stress appears to lie on the last word ("man"). The speech of Jesus is not the speech of a man. The constables were cowed by his superhuman authority'. (Leon Morris; The Gospel According to John; The New International Commentary on the New Testament).

There is so much about Jesus that is very impressive. 

Nicodemus was impressed by the miraculous "signs" which nJesus performed (John 3:2). 

These temple officers were impressed by his more than human words (v47. See also Matthew 7:28-29). 

What might there be about Jesus which most impresses us? Hopefully we also find his superhuman teachings amazingly impressive. His "words of eternal life" (John 6:68). His words which offer the "rivers of living water" (John 7:37-39).

Verse 44 says that 'some of them wanted to arrest him'. And sadly, there have always been people who have wanted to get rid of Jesus. Who find Him a threat for various reasons.

Verse 47 says that 'the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? The Pharisees saw Jesus as a "deceiver" or misleader. In John 7:12, Jesus is accused of misleading people. Keener says that to deceive 'was a serious charge, applied to those who led other Jews to idolatry or apostasy. Deuteronomy 13 prescribes death as the penalty, and some rabbis even felt that such persons should be given no chance to repent, lest they be able to secure forgiveness though their followers had perished. Some Jewish sources as early as the second century charged Jesus with this crime'. (IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament).

Verse 48 says; "Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?" These "authorities" were the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, a group which is distinguished from "the Pharisees". People could belong to both groups, like Nicodemus did (John 3:1). Both groups were said to be against Jesus. Keener says that the claim )in verse 48) that no one in authority "believed in him" was a mistake. And Keener says that 'John uses irony, a common ancient literary technique, to underscore his point: Jesus’ opponents are closed-minded and dense'.  (IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament).

Sadly, today there are still some religious leaders, who should know better, who choose to oppose the true Jesus and His kingdom message and mission. They share theological mistakes which are against Jesus as the true King and His true Biblical purposes.

Verses 50-51 say that 'Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” Nicodemus was a Pharisee and one of the Jewish authorities, ("one of them", says v50. See also John 3:1). But Nicodemus goes against the majority Pharisee opinion and defends Jesus. Nicodemus defends Jesus because he "had gone to him (Jesus) before" (v50). 

This personal encounter with Jesus, face to face (John 3:1-15), had possibly convinced Nicodemus that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. In this earlier conversation with Jesus, Nicodemus had acknowledged Jesus as special, saying; "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him" (John 3:2). And it is possible that Nicodemus had become a committed, but secret, follower of Jesus, like Joseph of Arimathea (See John 19:38-42).

Many of us are committed believers in Jesus as the divine Messiah King. And many more could be convinced and committed to Him if they took the trouble to engage with Jesus. Because Jesus is ascended, people can engage with Him by reading the Gospels (John 20:30-31) and by praying to Him (Acts 9:5). 

The Pharisees were wrong about Jesus because they misread Scripture. In verse49, the Pharisees said; "But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” They thought that the "law" (torah), the first five books of Scripture, would point people away from believing in Jesus as Messiah. These Pharisees were trained in rabbinic study of the 613 torah laws as interpreted by the oral tradition. This level of study went far beyond what "this crowd" would have known about God's word (says Morris). The Pharisees despised the crowd as "accursed" law breakers (See Deuteronomy 27:26). But this Pharisaic study and interpretation of Scripture in the light of the oral law, had led to the misunderstanding of Scripture in favour of tradition. (See Mark 7:1-13).

We see that Nicodemus pointed out the Pharisees failure to follow what the law required, when, in v51, he asked; “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” (See Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15).

In v52, we see that the Pharisees made blatant mistakes regarding the teachings of Scripture, when they said; "Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee". The ESV Study Bible Notes say; 'Contrary to the Pharisees’ implication, prophets occasionally did arise from Galilee, such as Jonah (2 Kings 14:25), and possibly Elijah (1 Kings 17:1) and Nahum (Nah. 1:1). The Pharisees may simply have been reflecting current bias against Galileans, or John may be reporting their willingness even to distort the facts in order to make their arguments against Jesus (see John 8:44, 55)'. 

Having the Scriptures, and even claiming to love and study the Scriptures, is no good to us if we misinterpret and misapply them. And maybe also read them in the light of our traditions.

Finally, we see that the correct way to resolve issues about Jesus is by turning to what the Scripture actually said. Verses 41-42 say; 'Some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” These people correctly knew that various Old Testament passages taught about the Messiah as the offspring of David from Bethlehem (See 1 Samuel 20:6; 2 Samuel 7:12ff.; Psalm 89:3-4; Micah 5:2).And there are many more Old Testament prophecies which point us to the truth about Jesus.  What "the Scripture said" (properly understood) is what will lead us to the truth about Jesus.

In John 7, Jesus's ministry in the temple (John 7:14), at the feast of Booths (John 7:2), reached the high point "on the last day of the feast" (John 7:37), when Jesus promised the flowing river of God's Spirit to those who believingly "come to" Him and "receive" ("drink"). 

This offer of God's Spirit like flowing rivers of water related to the use of water in the feast of tabernacles (booths).

Craig Keener says that 'for at least the first seven days of the feast, priests marched in procession from the Pool of Siloam to the temple and poured out water at the base of the altar. Pilgrims to the feast watched this ritual, which Jews throughout the Roman world thus knew; it was even commemorated on souvenir jars they could take home with them'. (IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, on John 7:37). Jesus used this symbolic pouring of water during the feast to announce His offer of the rivers of God's Spirit'.

Leon Morris says that “the words of Isaiah are associated with these (feast of Tabernacles water) ceremonies: "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation" (Isaiah 12:3). .... (Jesus) takes the water symbolism of the feast and presses it into service as he speaks of the living water that he will bestow. The people are thinking of rain and of their bodily need. He turns their attention to the deep need of the soul and to the way he would supply it. In (John) chapter 4 we have had references to the living water, but here only is the explanation given in terms of the Holy Spirit.” (Leon Morris; The Gospel According to John: The New International Commentary on the New Testament).

Let's look at Jesus's great promise of the waters of God's Spirit in John 7:37-39; which says;

37 'On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified' (ESV) .

John 7:37-39 (ESV) 37 'On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit .....'

This is seen in the way in which "Jesus stood up and cried out" (v37). He made a loud and public offer because this promise of the Spirit is so important. Leon Morris says that “the Master's posture as well as his voice called attention to his words as important. Moreover, he was thus in a position to make the maximum number of people see and hear him.” (Leon Morris; The Gospel According to John: The New International Commentary on the New Testament).

Jesus cried out, "If anyone thirsts" (v37). 

He makes His offer to those who have a sense of need; those who are dissatisfied with, and unfulfilled in, their situation in this life. People who are not "thirsty" for (more of) God will never find the offer of Jesus appealing. They are already so satisfied by what they receive in this world. (See Isaiah 55:2; Revelation 3:17).

Leon Morris says that “there is the implication that the thirsty soul will find that Jesus fills the need that cannot be supplied elsewhere. ..... His primary reference may be ... to the supply of water from the rock in the wilderness. That water supplied the physical needs of the Israelites, .... The festal observance has included an acted prayer for water and Jesus is proclaiming the answer to the prayer in a way the worshipers would never have expected.” (Leon Morris; The Gospel According to John: The New International Commentary on the New Testament).

Jesus's offer of the living water of God's Spirit is "as the Scripture has said" (v38).

Various Old Testament passage may lie behind what here Jesus offers concerning the flow of God's Spirit of life. The following passage may have be in Jesus's mind regarding the Spirit: Isaiah 12:3; 55:1; 58:11; Ezekiel 47:1-12. And also Proverbs 4:23 may have been in Jesus's mind regarding a flow from the human heart. ESV Study Bible Notes say; "Although there is no specific Scripture passage from the OT that matches Jesus’ words here, he is apparently giving a summary of the teaching and implication of several passages that picture the inward work of God in a believer as a river of water flowing out to bring blessing to others (see Prov. 4:23; Isa. 58:11)". (And also Isaiah 12:3; and 55:1).

Craig Keener says; "The public reading of Scripture at this feast included the one passage in the Prophets that emphasised this feast, Zechariah 14, which was interpreted in conjunction with Ezekiel 47. Together these texts taught that rivers of living water would flow forth from the temple ... bringing life to all the earth .... Jesus fulfills the Scriptures read at the feast, as the foundation stone of a new temple, the source of the water of life (cf. John 19:34; Rev 22:1). (IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament).

John 7:39 (ESV) 'Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified' 

John refers to the giving of the Spirit in a new way as a result of Jesus being "glorified" on the Cross.

The Spirit was already at work in creation (Genesis 1:2) and in various ways in Old Testament times (See Genesis 6:3; 41:38; Exodus 31:3; Numbers 11:25; 27:18; Deuteronomy 34:9; Psalm 51:11; Ezekiel 2:2; 3:24; Dan. 4:8–9, 18; 5:11; Micah 3:8; 2 Peter 1:21). The Spirit was also at work in the times of Jesus before the event of the Cross (Luke 1:15, 41, 67; Matthew 12:28). 

What John refers to here in v39 is how the Holy Spirit was given in a new way as a result of Jesus's work on the Cross and in the Resurrection. Jesus also refers to this new sending of God's Spirit in John 16:7f and John 20:22.  And we see this new coming of God's Spirit from the day of Pentecost onwards (Acts 2:1f). The ESV Study Bible Notes say that "this verse must ... mean that “the Spirit had not been given” in the full and powerful sense that was promised for the new covenant age (see Ezekiel 36:26, 27; 37:14; Joel 2:28–29; cf. John 20:22; Acts 2:1–13).

The Zondervan Bible Commentary (1 Vol.) says that "the reference is to the Spirit who would come in all His cleansing and refreshing power after Jesus was glorified through death and exaltation (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Leon Morris says that “this probably points to the period after Pentecost. The gift of the Holy Spirit to the infant church that day transformed everything, so that all that followed might be called the era of the Spirit. The Bible does not speak of the Spirit as totally inactive until that point; there is much about him in the Old Testament and the Gospels. But nothing can compare to his activity in the apostolic age. Then it "was Spirit" in a way it had never been before. John tells us that it was the work of Jesus that made the difference.” John "views the atoning work of Christ as the necessary prelude to the work of the Spirit. While we must not try to dissect the believer's experience too minutely, it is yet plain that sin must be dealt with before we can enter life in the Spirit. It is repeated in this Gospel that the Spirit could not come during the time of Jesus' earthly ministry (John 16:7). But when that work was consummated the Spirit was given (John 20:22; Acts 2)". (Leon Morris; The Gospel According to John: The New International Commentary on the New Testament).

John 7:39 points to a new giving of the Spirit which was made available "because Jesus was ... glorified". 

This "being "glorified" in John's gospel refers to Jesus's work on the Cross (John 12:27-33; 13:31-32).

It is very important to remember that we do not have to achieve something worthy to receive the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is given as the free and undeserved gift of Jesus's glorious work on the Cross. (See Galatians 3:1-5).

John 7:37-39 (ESV) '... Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive ...'

The thirst satisfying "living water" is identified as "the Spirit" who believers in Christ receive. In v38, Jesus teaches about the "living water". And in v39 John explains that 'this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive'. The Holy Spirit is the thirst satisfying water of life, received by those who believe in Christ. 

And (in these verses) this Spirit receiving believing in Jesus is described in a number of practical ways, as follows:

Jesus describes this Spirit receiving, trusting faith as to "come to (Him) and drink" (v37). Then in v38, Jesus says that this refers to "whoever believes in me". Coming "to" and believing "in" Jesus are descriptions of a personal trusting in Jesus. The ESV Study Bible Notes say that "to come to Jesus and drink means to believe in him, to enter into a trusting, ongoing personal relationship with him. Both the image of “coming” to Jesus as one would come to a person and the image of “drinking” imply not mere intellectual assent but a wholehearted personal involvement and participation".

To "drink" (v37) refers to the activity of taking in the "water" which is offered. It symbolises more than a mere acknowledging that the "water" is available. It refers to an action of appropriation. 

This sort of active, appropriating, taking by faith is found in Mark 5:27-34, where we see a sick woman touching Jesus's garment and taking, or appropriating, healing power "from Him".

'The verbs— believe, come and drink—are present tense and could be translated, “Keep believing, keep coming, keep drinking"'. (https://lifecenter.net/joes-blog/2020/spiritual-dipsomaniacs/. (Viewed on 13/03/2-25).

In John 7:37-39, Jesus refers to more than just a once off drink from the Holy Spirit. The passage is about an ongoing coming to Jesus and continuing to believingly keep on drinking and experiencing an ongoing flowing of the rivers of God's Spirit.

In v38, Jesus speaks of how believers will receive and then share the Holy Spirit with others. He says; "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water”. The "rivers" of God's Spirit "will flow" "out of" the Spirit filled believer's "heart".

The Zondervan Bible Commentary (1 Vol.) says '"that rivers of living water will flow from within them" (v38), meaning that others may slake their thirst at the overflowing bounty of life in the believer'.

 Leon Morris says that “while it is true that the living water has its ultimate source in Christ, yet the believer is mediately a source to others. .... Believers are not self-centered. As they receive the gift of God, so they pass it on to others. ..... Here we must think of the gift as divine in origin, but as channeled through believers”. (Leon Morris; The Gospel According to John: The New International Commentary on the New Testament).

To be those who believingly receive the "living water" from Jesus; and also pass God's Spirit on to others, as we minister to them, in Jesus's name. 

Saturday 15th february 2025

WhaT IS THE FOURFOLD PATTERN OF GOD'S KINGDOM

A SIMPLE definition of the fourfold pattern of God’s kingdom centres around four key words: reign, rescue, remove and restore.

The Bible teaches that the kingdom of God is the active reign of God to rescue God’s believing people, remove God’s evil enemies, and restore God’s good creation.

The fourfold pattern of God’s kingdom, pictured in the Exodus, is summarised in Psalm 78:51–55 which says:

"He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the first fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham. Then he led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. And he brought them to his holy land, to the mountain which his right hand had won. He drove out nations before them; he apportioned them for a possession and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents".

Theses verses summarise and picture the fourfold pattern of God’s kingdom in the Exodus as follows:

REMOVE

Egypt represents evil, which God defeats and removes (see Psalm 78:51, 53b, 55a).

RESCUE 

Israel represents believers, God’s faithful people, who are rescued by God (see Psalm 78:52–53). 

RESTORE

Canaan represents creation, and “the mountain” represents the Garden of Eden, which God restores and makes “holy” for the benefit and blessing of His people (see Psalm 78:54–55).

REIGN

God’s dynamic reign as Shepherd King does it all (see Ps. 78).