Official Blog of HIST/REL 492, Christian Apologetics
Saturday, June 14, 2014
The Gospel of John
John's gospel is in part an extended meditation on belief and unbelief. Skim through the Gospel of John, reading more closely the first and last chapters. Cite here an example John uses to explain why some believe and some don't.
The Gospel of John is focused on a lot of the reason to believe. In the first chapter, we read on how John the Baptist is "preparing the way of the Lord", leading up to the coming of the Lord to John for His baptism, and many of John's followers go and follow the Lord. As for the last chapter, it demonstrates something that sets Christianity apart to an extent - the act of mercy and forgiveness. I especially point to Peter's re-instatement (after Peter disowned Jesus 3 times after the rooster crows) and that Christ, after asking him 3 times if he loves Him (coincidence? :) ) He is commissioned to lead the Church here on Earth. Kent Johnsen
I think John seems to say that a person's heart must be right in order to receive the gift of faith to believe. This was not confined to the Jews of Jesus' day or Christians today; every religion has some form of The Golden Rule, because as Romans 1:19-20 states, "What has been known of God has been plain to them [the unrighteous] because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world.” And Romans 2:15 adds, “The work of the law is written on their hearts.” In other words, those who seek truth, no matter who, will be able to find it. John 7:17 says, “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching if from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.” John 8:43 asks, “Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.” Jesus tells the Jewish leaders, in John 5:39-40, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” Many people prefer a set of rules to follow, thinking that following them gives them the license to otherwise do whatever they want
John 20:29: “… because you have seen Me, you have believed …” Throughout John, there are multiple examples of people having personal encounters with Jesus. John 21:14 says, “This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples …”, while in the first chapter of John, Nathanael is convinced of Jesus when Jesus says he saw him under the fig tree even before Philip called to him.
Now, plenty of people saw Jesus while he was alive on earth, heard him speak, maybe even touched his body, and didn’t end up believing in Him. Seeing does not always equal believing. But for many people, it sure helps. I think a lot of people’s faith is affected by their experiences and what they *think* they have seen or encountered, and some, whether or not they are right, are convinced that they have not seen any evidence of Jesus/God.
I think in the first Chapter of John is a good example of the teaching and words of Christ spilling out of John the Baptist. In verses 19-28, John was approached by priests as well Pharisees. The first question they asked is are you the Messiah? He denies that his is the Messiah as well as the great prophet Elijah. John says "I am the voice shouting in the wilderness Clear the way for the Lord is coming". You can see here that even when the teachers are trying to get him to think that he is no one his belief in the Lord is guiding him to a greater purpose and he later is baptizing people in the name of the lord. Also, you can see how people don't believe like the Pharisees they only saw John as a crazy man who is spitting words that go against their laws.
Right away in John, I was met with an example of why people do not believe in God. In verse 18 it reads, "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." Not only does this lead a lot of people to be confused, since no body had actually seen God the Father, so they had no evidence to show that God actually exists. In chapter 21, a good example of why some people came to believe in Jesus is the fact that the fisherman did not catch anything one night, but then Jesus told them to cast their nets off of the right side of their boat and they caught a lot of fish. This helped people to believe in the Christ.
I want to point to John 1:29-36 to defend why many believe. Here John supports why he believes that Jesus Christ is the true Messiah. His evidence is based on the prophecy he has been given, which has taken place. In other words, John believes because he has seen what he needs to see to believe. Many believe simply because they have seen it. All self-claimed Christians can say they believe because they see. Of course, that depends on what you mean by seeing, but I think of the most straightforward nature once you turn to Christ, you change, and it is with struggle, but often in ways many could never change on will or self-thought alone.
However, on the contrary, I point to why some will not believe, and that is because they see, but sin gets in the way. Many walk away from the faith even though they know what religion brings. This is not generally because of what they have received but rather what they have yet to. John 21:21-25 is an excellent explanation for this. Of course, here, Peter struggles because he thinks Jesus has given him an unfavorable outcome. He was given a death which likely drove fear inside himself. Then turning to his companion, he says well, what of him? Jesus then offers John an outcome that sure seemed more favorable. So many today struggle to believe because while they can see, the lack of blessings dentures them. They know good exists, but they are unwilling to follow for the later reward because they do not have it now. A silly mistake not to offer a life of struggle for a reward of eternity. However, that is from me with a trusting heart; a heart without trust can see but may not be able to follow.
The Gospel of John is focused on a lot of the reason to believe. In the first chapter, we read on how John the Baptist is "preparing the way of the Lord", leading up to the coming of the Lord to John for His baptism, and many of John's followers go and follow the Lord. As for the last chapter, it demonstrates something that sets Christianity apart to an extent - the act of mercy and forgiveness. I especially point to Peter's re-instatement (after Peter disowned Jesus 3 times after the rooster crows) and that Christ, after asking him 3 times if he loves Him (coincidence? :) ) He is commissioned to lead the Church here on Earth.
ReplyDeleteKent Johnsen
I think John seems to say that a person's heart must be right in order to receive the gift of faith to believe. This was not confined to the Jews of Jesus' day or Christians today; every religion has some form of The Golden Rule, because as Romans 1:19-20 states, "What has been known of God has been plain to them [the unrighteous] because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world.” And Romans 2:15 adds, “The work of the law is written on their hearts.” In other words, those who seek truth, no matter who, will be able to find it.
ReplyDeleteJohn 7:17 says, “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching if from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.” John 8:43 asks, “Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.” Jesus tells the Jewish leaders, in John 5:39-40, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” Many people prefer a set of rules to follow, thinking that following them gives them the license to otherwise do whatever they want
John 20:29: “… because you have seen Me, you have believed …” Throughout John, there are multiple examples of people having personal encounters with Jesus. John 21:14 says, “This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples …”, while in the first chapter of John, Nathanael is convinced of Jesus when Jesus says he saw him under the fig tree even before Philip called to him.
ReplyDeleteNow, plenty of people saw Jesus while he was alive on earth, heard him speak, maybe even touched his body, and didn’t end up believing in Him. Seeing does not always equal believing. But for many people, it sure helps. I think a lot of people’s faith is affected by their experiences and what they *think* they have seen or encountered, and some, whether or not they are right, are convinced that they have not seen any evidence of Jesus/God.
I think in the first Chapter of John is a good example of the teaching and words of Christ spilling out of John the Baptist. In verses 19-28, John was approached by priests as well Pharisees. The first question they asked is are you the Messiah? He denies that his is the Messiah as well as the great prophet Elijah. John says "I am the voice shouting in the wilderness Clear the way for the Lord is coming". You can see here that even when the teachers are trying to get him to think that he is no one his belief in the Lord is guiding him to a greater purpose and he later is baptizing people in the name of the lord. Also, you can see how people don't believe like the Pharisees they only saw John as a crazy man who is spitting words that go against their laws.
ReplyDeleteRight away in John, I was met with an example of why people do not believe in God. In verse 18 it reads, "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." Not only does this lead a lot of people to be confused, since no body had actually seen God the Father, so they had no evidence to show that God actually exists.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 21, a good example of why some people came to believe in Jesus is the fact that the fisherman did not catch anything one night, but then Jesus told them to cast their nets off of the right side of their boat and they caught a lot of fish. This helped people to believe in the Christ.
I want to point to John 1:29-36 to defend why many believe. Here John supports why he believes that Jesus Christ is the true Messiah. His evidence is based on the prophecy he has been given, which has taken place. In other words, John believes because he has seen what he needs to see to believe. Many believe simply because they have seen it. All self-claimed Christians can say they believe because they see. Of course, that depends on what you mean by seeing, but I think of the most straightforward nature once you turn to Christ, you change, and it is with struggle, but often in ways many could never change on will or self-thought alone.
ReplyDeleteHowever, on the contrary, I point to why some will not believe, and that is because they see, but sin gets in the way. Many walk away from the faith even though they know what religion brings. This is not generally because of what they have received but rather what they have yet to. John 21:21-25 is an excellent explanation for this. Of course, here, Peter struggles because he thinks Jesus has given him an unfavorable outcome. He was given a death which likely drove fear inside himself. Then turning to his companion, he says well, what of him? Jesus then offers John an outcome that sure seemed more favorable. So many today struggle to believe because while they can see, the lack of blessings dentures them. They know good exists, but they are unwilling to follow for the later reward because they do not have it now. A silly mistake not to offer a life of struggle for a reward of eternity. However, that is from me with a trusting heart; a heart without trust can see but may not be able to follow.
Tanner Simon