The Letter Kills (John 7:14-24; Genesis 17:9-14)
/Jesus, using the question abou the source of his teaching, begins to introduce the reality that this world brings only death and hope comes only from beyond this world.
Jesus, using the question abou the source of his teaching, begins to introduce the reality that this world brings only death and hope comes only from beyond this world.
This world is not our own and therefore, we live as aliens and strangers in a world that hates us, even as it hated our Lord.
Jesus is the stone of offense that will cause all to stumble except those the Father gives to Him.
Jesus not only sets the pattern for ministry, but is the substance of our ministry, given through his Word, by his Holy Spirit.
Jesus declares the answer to man’s problem as being in his giving of his flesh and blood to give the eternal life of the resurrection to all who eat and drink.
Jesus proclaims himself to be the Messianic Son of Man who is able to forgive sins because of his divinity and the provision he has made in his death and resurrection.
The Jews, in their sin, not being taught by God, are not content with Christ, and they seek to replace him with that which perishes.
Jesus responds to the crowd’s claim that they will believe if only they can see a sign, with the reality that belief is given by the Father, not miracles.
Jesus makes it clear that the crowd has come from the wrong reason and that the purpose of the signs he performs on behalf of the Father are to lead us to faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of Man.
Jesus reveals himself to his disciples as God and effectually calls them to faith, resulting in salvation.
he baptism of Jesus Christ, by John the Baptist was intended to show the purpose and end of his ministry on earth – namely, to suffer the judgment of the Father on the cross and to rise again for our salvation.
John uses the feeding of the five thousand on the mountain to show us that the Lord’s Supper is a Spiritual, or heavenly meal, that is intended to feed our souls rather than our bellies
Jesus, having proven himself to be the Lord, now show’s himself to be the people’s shepherd who supplies his people’s need as he gathers them into a new and better Israel.
At Christmas we remember the humiliation of Christ, that is the day that God humbled himself and took on the flesh of humanity and entered into his own creation – and that for our salvation.
Jesus reenacts the history of Israel to show that he is bringing about a new and better (spiritual) Exodus.
Jesus focuses his own testimony and that of the Father against the Jewish community for their abuse of the Law of Moses in seeking life through their own obedience, rather than by faith alone in Him.
Jesus brings four or five witnesses before his accusers, which all amount to the testimony of the Father on Jesus behalf – justifying his claim to equality with the Father.
Biblical gratitude is a thankfulness which pursues holiness with the entire life by living out of the reality that we have been seated with Christ in the heavenly places.
Judgment and life belong to the Son, both today and on the last day.
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