GN-DBRP_182 1KI.13 1KI.14 PSA.119.145-160 JHN.8.1-30

1KINGS 13-14:
Solomon was the wisest of men. So how could he make such stupid choices?! Part of the answer is the corruption caused when one has too much power. And there is something truly sticky about sexual sin. The Lord’s judgment is evident in what happened with the division of the country, and what happened in the northern kingdom. Note also how the people Judah followed all the bad parts of Solomon’s example, which again will lead to judgment.

PSALM 119:145-160:
I like the last three verses of yesterday’s reading:

Ps. 119:142 Your righteousness will last forever,
and your law is always true.
143 I am filled with trouble and anxiety,
but your commandments bring me joy.
144 Your instructions are always just;
give me understanding, and I shall live.

JOHN 8a:
The temple guards were ordered to arrest Jesus, but when they came back empty handed they simply said, “We have never heard anyone speak like this.”

There is a fascinating little detail I just saw in John 7:17-18 as translated by GNT. Jesus said, “Whoever is thirsty should come to me, and 38 whoever believes in me should drink. As the scripture says, ‘Streams of life-giving water will pour out from _his_ side.’” First I want you to know that the word translated ‘side’ can be translated as belly or intestines. But since that word was also used as the seat of emotions, it can also be translated in English as ‘heart’— which is the word we used for the seat of emotions. But for now, let’s keep the word ‘side’. Streams of life-giving water will pour out from ‘his side’. Whose side is Jesus meaning?! Here’s one of those double meanings I mentioned as a feature of this Gospel. As most often understood and translated, streams of living water will flow from the believer’s inner being. But when Jesus was stabbed by the spear in chapter 19, John made a big deal that he saw both water and blood flow out. The ‘his side’ that Jesus could be meaning in this OT quote could be his own side! Jesus could have meant either, or He could have intentionally given one of the most precious double meanings of all! In either case, the water is a sign for the Holy Spirit.

GNT Translation notes:
11 “No one, sir,” she answered. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin again.”]

NLT Translation notes:
1Kings 13:15 Then [the old prophet//he] said to the man of God, “Come home with me and eat some food.”
29 So the [old] prophet laid the body of the man of God on the donkey and took it back to the town to mourn over him and bury him.
31 Afterward the [old] prophet said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in the grave where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones.
====
John 8:9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left [[0//in the middle of the crowd] with the woman.
[This was new to me today! This is the first time I have noticed that perhaps not everyone left (as I have seen in the movies), but just the accusers. This makes good sense, actually. According to the grammar of Greek, I believe that the previous speakers (the Pharisees) would be the logical subject of ‘hearing this’.]
28 So Jesus said, “[I am the Son of Man, and] When you have lifted [Me] up [0//the Son of Man] on the cross, then you will understand that I AM he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me.
43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even [listen to//hear me!

Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP_182 1KI.13 1KI.14 PSA.119.145-160 JHN.8.1-30

1KINGS 13-14:
Solomon was the wisest of men. So how could he make such stupid choices?! Part of the answer is the corruption caused when one has too much power. And there is something truly sticky about sexual sin. The Lord’s judgment is evident in what happened with the division of the country, and what happened in the northern kingdom. Note also how the people Judah followed all the bad parts of Solomon’s example, which again will lead to judgment.

PSALM 119:145-160:
I like the last three verses of yesterday’s reading:

Ps. 119:142 Your righteousness will last forever,
and your law is always true.
143 I am filled with trouble and anxiety,
but your commandments bring me joy.
144 Your instructions are always just;
give me understanding, and I shall live.

JOHN 8a:
The temple guards were ordered to arrest Jesus, but when they came back empty handed they simply said, “We have never heard anyone speak like this.”

There is a fascinating little detail I just saw in John 7:17-18 as translated by GNT. Jesus said, “Whoever is thirsty should come to me, and 38 whoever believes in me should drink. As the scripture says, ‘Streams of life-giving water will pour out from _his_ side.’” First I want you to know that the word translated ‘side’ can be translated as belly or intestines. But since that word was also used as the seat of emotions, it can also be translated in English as ‘heart’— which is the word we used for the seat of emotions. But for now, let’s keep the word ‘side’. Streams of life-giving water will pour out from ‘his side’. Whose side is Jesus meaning?! Here’s one of those double meanings I mentioned as a feature of this Gospel. As most often understood and translated, streams of living water will flow from the believer’s inner being. But when Jesus was stabbed by the spear in chapter 19, John made a big deal that he saw both water and blood flow out. The ‘his side’ that Jesus could be meaning in this OT quote could be his own side! Jesus could have meant either, or He could have intentionally given one of the most precious double meanings of all! In either case, the water is a sign for the Holy Spirit.

GNT Translation notes:
11 “No one, sir,” she answered. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin again.”]

NLT Translation notes:
1Kings 13:15 Then [the old prophet//he] said to the man of God, “Come home with me and eat some food.”
29 So the [old] prophet laid the body of the man of God on the donkey and took it back to the town to mourn over him and bury him.
31 Afterward the [old] prophet said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in the grave where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones.
====
John 8:9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left [[0//in the middle of the crowd] with the woman.
[This was new to me today! This is the first time I have noticed that perhaps not everyone left (as I have seen in the movies), but just the accusers. This makes good sense, actually. According to the grammar of Greek, I believe that the previous speakers (the Pharisees) would be the logical subject of ‘hearing this’.]
28 So Jesus said, “[I am the Son of Man, and] When you have lifted [Me] up [0//the Son of Man] on the cross, then you will understand that I AM he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me.
43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even [listen to//hear me!

Check out this episode!

GN-DBRP_181 1KI.11 1KI.12 PSA.119.129-144 JHN.7.25-53

1KINGS 11-12:
Yesterday we heard interesting glimpses of Solomon's international relations and commerce. Notably, the queen of Sheba came to listen to Solomon's wisdom and to ask questions of him.

PSALM 119:129-144:
How precious the Word of God is to us! A favorite verse from yesterday’s portion is verse 127: “I love your commands more than gold, more than the finest gold.

JOHN 7b:
We left the story in John 7 yesterday with Jesus already having some hot exchanges with the people at the Festival of Shelters. Today we will hear Jesus shouting to the crowds at the festival, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” It is likely that Jesus waited for the climax of the festival to give that message— when water was poured out before the Lord.

NLT Translation note:
John 7:33 But Jesus told [the crowd//them], “I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me.

Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP_181 1KI.11 1KI.12 PSA.119.129-144 JHN.7.25-53

1KINGS 11-12:
Yesterday we heard interesting glimpses of Solomon's international relations and commerce. Notably, the queen of Sheba came to listen to Solomon's wisdom and to ask questions of him.

PSALM 119:129-144:
How precious the Word of God is to us! A favorite verse from yesterday’s portion is verse 127: “I love your commands more than gold, more than the finest gold.

JOHN 7b:
We left the story in John 7 yesterday with Jesus already having some hot exchanges with the people at the Festival of Shelters. Today we will hear Jesus shouting to the crowds at the festival, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” It is likely that Jesus waited for the climax of the festival to give that message— when water was poured out before the Lord.

NLT Translation note:
John 7:33 But Jesus told [the crowd//them], “I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me.

Check out this episode!

GN-DBRP_180 1KI.9 1KI.10 PSA.119.113-128 JHN.7.1-24

1KINGS 9-10:
The temple was completed! And yesterday we heard Solomon’s very wise prayer asking God to fulfill his promises and help the people of Israel. In his prayer, he recognized that the people of Israel would not be able to remain faithful to the Lord, but that they would sin and then need to repent. Solomon asked God to forgive and to hear the people in situations of sin and desperation because of the Lord's punishment upon them.

PSALM 119:113-128:
Yesterday we read one of the frequently memorized verses from this psalm:

Ps. 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.

JOHN 7a:
I hope you noticed the deep meaning in John 6:56 and the application which Jesus’ listeners could not understand— that is to the Lord's Supper. Jesus says,

“Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains [joined to//united with//in] me, and I [remain joined to//united with//in] him.” (NLT)

This is the same meaning of ‘in Him’ that we will see in John chapter 15. And Jesus also said,

58 I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but [anyone who eats this bread] will live forever.”

And Peter made one of his best and most quotable statements when Jesus asked the twelve if they also would leave:

68 … Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

NLT Translation note:
John 7:33 But Jesus told [the crowd//them], “I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me.

Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP_180 1KI.9 1KI.10 PSA.119.113-128 JHN.7.1-24

1KINGS 9-10:
The temple was completed! And yesterday we heard Solomon’s very wise prayer asking God to fulfill his promises and help the people of Israel. In his prayer, he recognized that the people of Israel would not be able to remain faithful to the Lord, but that they would sin and then need to repent. Solomon asked God to forgive and to hear the people in situations of sin and desperation because of the Lord's punishment upon them.

PSALM 119:113-128:
Yesterday we read one of the frequently memorized verses from this psalm:

Ps. 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.

JOHN 7a:
I hope you noticed the deep meaning in John 6:56 and the application which Jesus’ listeners could not understand— that is to the Lord's Supper. Jesus says,

“Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains [joined to//united with//in] me, and I [remain joined to//united with//in] him.” (NLT)

This is the same meaning of ‘in Him’ that we will see in John chapter 15. And Jesus also said,

58 I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but [anyone who eats this bread] will live forever.”

And Peter made one of his best and most quotable statements when Jesus asked the twelve if they also would leave:

68 … Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

NLT Translation note:
John 7:33 But Jesus told [the crowd//them], “I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me.

Check out this episode!

GN-DBRP_179 1KI.8 PSA.119.97-112 JHN.6.25-71

1KINGS 8:
Yesterday we heard lots and lots of details about the building of the temple. A man from Tyre, Huram, must have been an efficient and artistic technician in working with bronze casting. He corresponds to the two craftsmen who designed and constructed the first tabernacle.

PSALM 119:97-112:
Again we are focussing on what God’s Word means to us. A favorite verse from yesterday’s portion is verse 89:

Ps. 119:89 “Your word, O Lord, will last forever; it is eternal in heaven.”

JOHN 6b:
There is an important play on words between Jesus and the crowd in Capernaum which does not come out clearly in either the NLT or the GNT. It involves the word ‘work’. Observe verses 27-29:

John 6:27 GNT Do not work for food that spoils; instead, work for the food that lasts for eternal life. This is the food which the Son of Man will give you, because God, the Father, has put his mark of approval on him.”
28So they asked him, “What [work] can we do in order to do [the work//what] God wants us to do?”
29 Jesus answered, “[The work//What] God wants you to do is to believe in [me,] the one [whom] he sent.”

The irony captured in this play on words is that normally the act of believing is not considered a ‘work’. In fact, in later NT writings there is a strong contrast between working for salvation vs. believing for salvation. (As we have said before, this is not really a contradiction.) I bring this up to remind us that ‘believing’ is an act of the will. It is something one can choose to do, and therefore it can be called a ‘work’.

GNT Translation notes:
John 6:33 PET I am that bread from heaven, because I came down from heaven to give true life to the people in this world.”
46 [PET There is no one who has ever seen the Father except Me, who came from Him. I am the only one who has seen Him.//This does not mean that anyone has seen the Father; [I who have come from God am//he who is from God is] the only one who has seen the Father.]
53 Jesus said to them, “I[— the Son of Man] am telling you the truth: if you do not eat [my/the] flesh [0//of the Son of Man] and drink [my/his] blood, you will not have life in yourselves.
56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood live in [union with] me, and I live in [union with] them.
[Another word that might be used is ‘joined to’. We are talking of the kind of union that a branch has with a tree, like in John 15.]
65 And he added, “This is the very reason I told you that [[no one among you//no people] can come to me unless the Father makes it possible for [you//them] to do so.”

NLT Translation notes:
John 6:27 [Don’t//But don’t] be so concerned about perishable things like food. [Work instead to gain//Spend your energy seeking] the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”
53 So Jesus said again, “I [, the Son of Man,] tell you the truth, unless you eat [my flesh//the flesh of the Son of Man] and drink [My/his] blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.
56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains [joined to//in] me, and I [remain joined to//in] him.
62 Then what will you think if you see [Me, the Son of Man, ascending//the Son of Man ascend] to heaven again?
68 Simon [who is also called] Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.
71 He was speaking of Judas, son of [the] Simon [that was from the village of Cariot//Iscariot], one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.

Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP_179 1KI.8 PSA.119.97-112 JHN.6.25-71

1KINGS 8:
Yesterday we heard lots and lots of details about the building of the temple. A man from Tyre, Huram, must have been an efficient and artistic technician in working with bronze casting. He corresponds to the two craftsmen who designed and constructed the first tabernacle.

PSALM 119:97-112:
Again we are focussing on what God’s Word means to us. A favorite verse from yesterday’s portion is verse 89:

Ps. 119:89 “Your word, O Lord, will last forever; it is eternal in heaven.”

JOHN 6b:
There is an important play on words between Jesus and the crowd in Capernaum which does not come out clearly in either the NLT or the GNT. It involves the word ‘work’. Observe verses 27-29:

John 6:27 GNT Do not work for food that spoils; instead, work for the food that lasts for eternal life. This is the food which the Son of Man will give you, because God, the Father, has put his mark of approval on him.”
28So they asked him, “What [work] can we do in order to do [the work//what] God wants us to do?”
29 Jesus answered, “[The work//What] God wants you to do is to believe in [me,] the one [whom] he sent.”

The irony captured in this play on words is that normally the act of believing is not considered a ‘work’. In fact, in later NT writings there is a strong contrast between working for salvation vs. believing for salvation. (As we have said before, this is not really a contradiction.) I bring this up to remind us that ‘believing’ is an act of the will. It is something one can choose to do, and therefore it can be called a ‘work’.

GNT Translation notes:
John 6:33 PET I am that bread from heaven, because I came down from heaven to give true life to the people in this world.”
46 [PET There is no one who has ever seen the Father except Me, who came from Him. I am the only one who has seen Him.//This does not mean that anyone has seen the Father; [I who have come from God am//he who is from God is] the only one who has seen the Father.]
53 Jesus said to them, “I[— the Son of Man] am telling you the truth: if you do not eat [my/the] flesh [0//of the Son of Man] and drink [my/his] blood, you will not have life in yourselves.
56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood live in [union with] me, and I live in [union with] them.
[Another word that might be used is ‘joined to’. We are talking of the kind of union that a branch has with a tree, like in John 15.]
65 And he added, “This is the very reason I told you that [[no one among you//no people] can come to me unless the Father makes it possible for [you//them] to do so.”

NLT Translation notes:
John 6:27 [Don’t//But don’t] be so concerned about perishable things like food. [Work instead to gain//Spend your energy seeking] the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”
53 So Jesus said again, “I [, the Son of Man,] tell you the truth, unless you eat [my flesh//the flesh of the Son of Man] and drink [My/his] blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.
56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains [joined to//in] me, and I [remain joined to//in] him.
62 Then what will you think if you see [Me, the Son of Man, ascending//the Son of Man ascend] to heaven again?
68 Simon [who is also called] Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.
71 He was speaking of Judas, son of [the] Simon [that was from the village of Cariot//Iscariot], one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.

Check out this episode!

JoySightings_038

Three parables by Safed the Sage (William E. Barton):

The Collection of Geniuses

The Catalogue of Flowers

The Different Kinds of Seed

Check out this episode!

GN-DBRP_178 1KI.6 1KI.7 PSA.119.81-96 JHN.6.1-40

1KINGS 6-7:
Yesterday we heard of the incredible size and wealth of Solomon's dominion. His wisdom in organization is evident. During his reign, Israel was prosperous as never before or afterward. Solomon contracted with King Hiram of Sidon to get the materials needed for the construction of the temple.

PSALM 119.81-96:
God is telling us how important His Word is! Here are two favorite verses from yesterday’s reading:

Ps. 119:72 The law that you gave means more to me than all the money in the world.
78 May the proud be ashamed for falsely accusing me; as for me, I will meditate on your instructions.

JOHN 6a:
In John yesterday we heard of Jesus' relationship with God, His Father, and that God has given authority to the Son to judge all mankind. The Son has also been given the authority to give life after death. Jesus talked about the various entities who witness or give testimony about Himself. This is important because in Jewish Law and culture, assertions needed to be supported by at least two witnesses. The witnesses who support Jesus are John the Baptist, his miracles, his teachings, and in the background, his Father and Moses.

GNT Translation notes:
John 6:28 Jesus answered, “What God wants you to do is to believe in [Me,] the one He sent.”

NLT Translation notes:
John 6:27 [Don’t//But don’t] be so concerned about perishable things like food. [Work instead to gain//Spend your energy seeking] the eternal life that the Son of Manf can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”
53 So Jesus said again, “I [, the Son of Man,] tell you the truth, unless you eat [my flesh//the flesh of the Son of Man] and drink [My/his] blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.
56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains [joined to//in] me, and I [remain joined to//in] him.
62 Then what will you think if you see [Me, the Son of Man, ascending//the Son of Man ascend] to heaven again?
68 Simon [who is also called] Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.
71 He was speaking of Judas, son of [the] Simon [that was from the village of Cariot//Iscariot], one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.

Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP_178 1KI.6 1KI.7 PSA.119.81-96 JHN.6.1-40

1KINGS 6-7:
Yesterday we heard of the incredible size and wealth of Solomon's dominion. His wisdom in organization is evident. During his reign, Israel was prosperous as never before or afterward. Solomon contracted with King Hiram of Sidon to get the materials needed for the construction of the temple.

PSALM 119.81-96:
God is telling us how important His Word is! Here are two favorite verses from yesterday’s reading:

Ps. 119:72 The law that you gave means more to me than all the money in the world.
78 May the proud be ashamed for falsely accusing me; as for me, I will meditate on your instructions.

JOHN 6a:
In John yesterday we heard of Jesus' relationship with God, His Father, and that God has given authority to the Son to judge all mankind. The Son has also been given the authority to give life after death. Jesus talked about the various entities who witness or give testimony about Himself. This is important because in Jewish Law and culture, assertions needed to be supported by at least two witnesses. The witnesses who support Jesus are John the Baptist, his miracles, his teachings, and in the background, his Father and Moses.

GNT Translation notes:
John 6:28 Jesus answered, “What God wants you to do is to believe in [Me,] the one He sent.”

NLT Translation notes:
John 6:27 [Don’t//But don’t] be so concerned about perishable things like food. [Work instead to gain//Spend your energy seeking] the eternal life that the Son of Manf can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”
53 So Jesus said again, “I [, the Son of Man,] tell you the truth, unless you eat [my flesh//the flesh of the Son of Man] and drink [My/his] blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.
56 Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains [joined to//in] me, and I [remain joined to//in] him.
62 Then what will you think if you see [Me, the Son of Man, ascending//the Son of Man ascend] to heaven again?
68 Simon [who is also called] Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.
71 He was speaking of Judas, son of [the] Simon [that was from the village of Cariot//Iscariot], one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.

Check out this episode!

GN-DBRP_177 1KI.4 1KI.5 PSA.119.65-80 JHN.5.24-47

1KINGS 4-5:
Yesterday we heard David's final instructions to Solomon. They contained a few messy details, and Solomon managed to finish all of those issues. David noted Solomon's wisdom as he gave him those instructions, and later Solomon (at his finest hour) asked God for wisdom to rule the nation of Israel well, and God gave it to him.

PSALM 119:65-80:
God is telling us how important His Word is! I highlight this verse (62) from yesterday’s portion, “In the middle of the night I wake up to praise you for your righteous judgments.”

JOHN 5b:
Yesterday we heard of Jesus healing a man who had been sick for 38 years. Persecution ramped up because this healing was done on the Sabbath. Jesus replied to his critics, “My Father is always working, and so am I.”

GNT Translation notes:
John5:28 Do not be surprised at this; the time is coming when all the dead will hear [the voice of the Son of Man, my voice,//his voice]

NLT Translation notes:
1Kings 4:9 Ben-deker, in Makaz, [including] Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elon-bethhanan.
12 Baana son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, [including] all of Beth-shan near Zarethan below Jezreel, and all the territory from Beth-shan to Abel-meholah and over to Jokmeam.
====
John 5:19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, [I, as the Son//the Son] can do nothing by [myself//himself]. [I only do what I see//He does only what he sees] the Father doing. Whatever [my//the] Father does, [I also do//the Son also does].
[It is very unnatural in almost every language to have someone talking about himself using ‘he/him’ instead of ‘I/me/my’. In some languages this is flat out ungrammatical. This is why a Bible translator is justified in changing the pronouns and footnoting the fact that he has made these changes. We should observe that there were special reasons why Jesus was both concealing and revealing his identity when talking of himself as the Son of Man. It is, however, impossible to duplicate this in the minds of the modern translation’s readers. ]
20 For [my//the] Father loves [Me//the Son] and shows [Me//him] everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will [involve Me in doing//show him how to do] even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished.
21 For just as [my//the] Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so [I, his Son give//the Son gives] life to anyone [I want//he wants].
22 In addition, [my//the] Father judges no one. Instead, he has given [Me//the Son] absolute authority to judge,
23 so that everyone will honor [Me as his//the] Son, just as they honor [my/the] Father. Anyone who does not honor [Me as his//the] Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent [Me/him].
25 “And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live.
26 The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to [Me,] his Son.
27 And he has given [Me/him] authority to judge everyone because [I am//he is] the Son of Man.
28 Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear [my voice,] the voice of God’s Son,
29 and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.
30 I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.

Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP_177 1KI.4 1KI.5 PSA.119.65-80 JHN.5.24-47

1KINGS 4-5:
Yesterday we heard David's final instructions to Solomon. They contained a few messy details, and Solomon managed to finish all of those issues. David noted Solomon's wisdom as he gave him those instructions, and later Solomon (at his finest hour) asked God for wisdom to rule the nation of Israel well, and God gave it to him.

PSALM 119:65-80:
God is telling us how important His Word is! I highlight this verse (62) from yesterday’s portion, “In the middle of the night I wake up to praise you for your righteous judgments.”

JOHN 5b:
Yesterday we heard of Jesus healing a man who had been sick for 38 years. Persecution ramped up because this healing was done on the Sabbath. Jesus replied to his critics, “My Father is always working, and so am I.”

GNT Translation notes:
John5:28 Do not be surprised at this; the time is coming when all the dead will hear [the voice of the Son of Man, my voice,//his voice]

NLT Translation notes:
1Kings 4:9 Ben-deker, in Makaz, [including] Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elon-bethhanan.
12 Baana son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, [including] all of Beth-shan near Zarethan below Jezreel, and all the territory from Beth-shan to Abel-meholah and over to Jokmeam.
====
John 5:19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, [I, as the Son//the Son] can do nothing by [myself//himself]. [I only do what I see//He does only what he sees] the Father doing. Whatever [my//the] Father does, [I also do//the Son also does].
[It is very unnatural in almost every language to have someone talking about himself using ‘he/him’ instead of ‘I/me/my’. In some languages this is flat out ungrammatical. This is why a Bible translator is justified in changing the pronouns and footnoting the fact that he has made these changes. We should observe that there were special reasons why Jesus was both concealing and revealing his identity when talking of himself as the Son of Man. It is, however, impossible to duplicate this in the minds of the modern translation’s readers. ]
20 For [my//the] Father loves [Me//the Son] and shows [Me//him] everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will [involve Me in doing//show him how to do] even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished.
21 For just as [my//the] Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so [I, his Son give//the Son gives] life to anyone [I want//he wants].
22 In addition, [my//the] Father judges no one. Instead, he has given [Me//the Son] absolute authority to judge,
23 so that everyone will honor [Me as his//the] Son, just as they honor [my/the] Father. Anyone who does not honor [Me as his//the] Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent [Me/him].
25 “And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live.
26 The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to [Me,] his Son.
27 And he has given [Me/him] authority to judge everyone because [I am//he is] the Son of Man.
28 Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear [my voice,] the voice of God’s Son,
29 and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.
30 I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.

Check out this episode!

GN-DBRP_176 1KI.2 1KI.3 PSA.119.49-64 JHN.5.1-30

1KINGS 2-3:
Yesterday we heard of Adonijah’s almost successful bid to become the next king. The prophet Nathan’s intervention saved the day.

PSALM 119:49-64:
God is telling us how important His Word is! In yesterday’s reading I find NLT’s rendering of this verse interesting:

Ps. 119:45 I will walk in freedom,
for I have devoted myself to your commandments.

Note that following God’s commandments does not violate freedom.

JOHN 5a:
To me it was meaningful to read yesterday that, “The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life.” The fields are certainly ripe. And I note, with wink and wry smile, that Jesus is talking of _heavenly wages_, because we missionaries don’t get top wages here on earth. But we remember that Paul said, “The difficulties we face on earth are nothing to be compared with the glories that await us.”

About the meeting between Jesus and the official, I want to give this observation: Observe how often it happens that Jesus speaks about or encourages believing in Him before his miracles of healing. The implication is clear: Belief is important in healing.

GNT Translation note:
John 5:28 Do not be surprised at this; the time is coming when all the dead will hear [the voice of the Son of Man, my voice,//his voice]

NLT Translation notes:
John 5:19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, [I, as the Son//the Son] can do nothing by [myself//himself]. [I only do what I see//He does only what he sees] the Father doing. Whatever [my//the] Father does, [I also do//the Son also does].
[It is very unnatural in almost every language to have someone talking about himself using ‘he/him’ instead of ‘I/me/my’. In some languages this is flat out ungrammatical. This is why a Bible translator is justified in changing the pronouns and footnoting the fact that he has made these changes. We should observe that there were special reasons why Jesus was both concealing and revealing his identity when talking of himself as the Son of Man. It is, however, impossible to duplicate this in the minds of the modern translation’s readers. ]
20 For [my//the] Father loves [Me//the Son] and shows [Me//him] everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will [involve Me in doing//show him how to do] even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished.
21 For just as [my//the] Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so [I, his Son give//the Son gives] life to anyone [I want//he wants].
22 In addition, [my//the] Father judges no one. Instead, he has given [Me//the Son] absolute authority to judge,
23 so that everyone will honor [Me as his//the] Son, just as they honor [my/the] Father. Anyone who does not honor [Me as his//the] Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent [Me/him].
25 “And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live.
26 The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to [Me,] his Son.
27 And he has given [Me/him] authority to judge everyone because [I am//he is] the Son of Man.
28Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear [my voice,] the voice of God’s Son,
29 and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.
30 I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.

Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP_176 1KI.2 1KI.3 PSA.119.49-64 JHN.5.1-30

1KINGS 2-3:
Yesterday we heard of Adonijah’s almost successful bid to become the next king. The prophet Nathan’s intervention saved the day.

PSALM 119:49-64:
God is telling us how important His Word is! In yesterday’s reading I find NLT’s rendering of this verse interesting:

Ps. 119:45 I will walk in freedom,
for I have devoted myself to your commandments.

Note that following God’s commandments does not violate freedom.

JOHN 5a:
To me it was meaningful to read yesterday that, “The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life.” The fields are certainly ripe. And I note, with wink and wry smile, that Jesus is talking of _heavenly wages_, because we missionaries don’t get top wages here on earth. But we remember that Paul said, “The difficulties we face on earth are nothing to be compared with the glories that await us.”

About the meeting between Jesus and the official, I want to give this observation: Observe how often it happens that Jesus speaks about or encourages believing in Him before his miracles of healing. The implication is clear: Belief is important in healing.

GNT Translation note:
John 5:28 Do not be surprised at this; the time is coming when all the dead will hear [the voice of the Son of Man, my voice,//his voice]

NLT Translation notes:
John 5:19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, [I, as the Son//the Son] can do nothing by [myself//himself]. [I only do what I see//He does only what he sees] the Father doing. Whatever [my//the] Father does, [I also do//the Son also does].
[It is very unnatural in almost every language to have someone talking about himself using ‘he/him’ instead of ‘I/me/my’. In some languages this is flat out ungrammatical. This is why a Bible translator is justified in changing the pronouns and footnoting the fact that he has made these changes. We should observe that there were special reasons why Jesus was both concealing and revealing his identity when talking of himself as the Son of Man. It is, however, impossible to duplicate this in the minds of the modern translation’s readers. ]
20 For [my//the] Father loves [Me//the Son] and shows [Me//him] everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will [involve Me in doing//show him how to do] even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished.
21 For just as [my//the] Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so [I, his Son give//the Son gives] life to anyone [I want//he wants].
22 In addition, [my//the] Father judges no one. Instead, he has given [Me//the Son] absolute authority to judge,
23 so that everyone will honor [Me as his//the] Son, just as they honor [my/the] Father. Anyone who does not honor [Me as his//the] Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent [Me/him].
25 “And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live.
26 The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to [Me,] his Son.
27 And he has given [Me/him] authority to judge everyone because [I am//he is] the Son of Man.
28Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear [my voice,] the voice of God’s Son,
29 and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.
30 I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.

Check out this episode!

GN-DBRP_175 1KI.1 PSA.119.33-48 JHN.4.25-54

1KINGS 1:
Like 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles were originally each one book instead of two. The books of Kings and Chronicles have many similarities. One difference is that the books of Kings seem a bit more secular in their outlook, whereas Chronicles seems to have been written by a priest. Henrietta Mears says that both sets have these things in common: 1. They begin with King David and end with the king of Babylon. 2. They open with the building of the Temple and end with the burning of the Temple. 3. They open with David’s first successor to the throne, Solomon, and end with David’s last successor, Jehoiachin, released from captivity by the king of Babylon.

Mears also gives these three rather odd meta messages in these books. I think they might be interesting to look for as we go through:

1. God does not show favoritism. Acts 10:34
2. When our all is on the altar, God never keeps us waiting for the fire.
3. The final captivity was because of disobedience to God. This was clearly prophesied long before.

PSALM 119:33-48:
God is telling us how important His Word is! A favorite verse from yesterday’s reading is verse 18: “Open my eyes, so that I may see the wonderful truths in your law.”

JOHN 4b:
When I have opportunities to pray a blessing over people in Indonesia, I often have prayed John 4:14 for them. Jesus said, “those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

And John 7 says: “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”

GNT Translation notes:
Joh  4:45 [Yet surprisingly,] When he arrived in Galilee, the people there welcomed him, because they had gone to the Passover Festival in Jerusalem and had seen everything that he had done during the festival.
50 Jesus said to him, “[You may go.//Go;] your son will live!” The man believed Jesus' words and went.

NLT Translation notes:
John 4:21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, [0//dear woman], the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.
[I don’t think there is any good equivalent in English for the Greek here. One option runs the risk of sounding terribly rude, and this one runs the risk of misunderstanding the ‘dear’ness of the woman to Jesus.]
27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to [him//her]?”
45 Yet [, suprisingly,] the Galileans welcomed him, for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen everything he did there.
48 Jesus [said//asked], “Will you [people] never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”
[It is important to show that the Greek is you-plural here, otherwise Jesus seems overly frustrated with just the one man.]

Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP_175 1KI.1 PSA.119.33-48 JHN.4.25-54

1KINGS 1:
Like 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles were originally each one book instead of two. The books of Kings and Chronicles have many similarities. One difference is that the books of Kings seem a bit more secular in their outlook, whereas Chronicles seems to have been written by a priest. Henrietta Mears says that both sets have these things in common: 1. They begin with King David and end with the king of Babylon. 2. They open with the building of the Temple and end with the burning of the Temple. 3. They open with David’s first successor to the throne, Solomon, and end with David’s last successor, Jehoiachin, released from captivity by the king of Babylon.

Mears also gives these three rather odd meta messages in these books. I think they might be interesting to look for as we go through:

1. God does not show favoritism. Acts 10:34
2. When our all is on the altar, God never keeps us waiting for the fire.
3. The final captivity was because of disobedience to God. This was clearly prophesied long before.

PSALM 119:33-48:
God is telling us how important His Word is! A favorite verse from yesterday’s reading is verse 18: “Open my eyes, so that I may see the wonderful truths in your law.”

JOHN 4b:
When I have opportunities to pray a blessing over people in Indonesia, I often have prayed John 4:14 for them. Jesus said, “those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

And John 7 says: “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”

GNT Translation notes:
Joh  4:45 [Yet surprisingly,] When he arrived in Galilee, the people there welcomed him, because they had gone to the Passover Festival in Jerusalem and had seen everything that he had done during the festival.
50 Jesus said to him, “[You may go.//Go;] your son will live!” The man believed Jesus' words and went.

NLT Translation notes:
John 4:21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, [0//dear woman], the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.
[I don’t think there is any good equivalent in English for the Greek here. One option runs the risk of sounding terribly rude, and this one runs the risk of misunderstanding the ‘dear’ness of the woman to Jesus.]
27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to [him//her]?”
45 Yet [, suprisingly,] the Galileans welcomed him, for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen everything he did there.
48 Jesus [said//asked], “Will you [people] never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”
[It is important to show that the Greek is you-plural here, otherwise Jesus seems overly frustrated with just the one man.]

Check out this episode!

GN-DBRP_174 2SA.24 PSA.119.17-32 JHN.4.1-26

2SAMUEL 24:
Yesterday we heard David’s final words and the listing of the 38 mighty warriors who loyally helped David in his victories. Note that Uriah the Hittite was so poignantly included at the end of the list. And this 24th chapter seems like a postscript.

PSALM 119:17-32:
Yesterday’s reading included two of the most famous verses from this psalm:

9 NLT How can a young person stay pure?
By obeying your word.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.

JOHN 4:
Yesterday in John 3 we heard the words of John the Baptist at what I consider his finest hour. That was where he said, “He (Jesus) must grow greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” This is a worthy goal for all of us.

GNT Translation notes:
John 4:10 Jesus answered, “If you only knew what God gives and who [I am who//it is that] is asking you for a drink, you would ask [Me, and I//him, and he] would give you life-giving water.”
21 NLT Jesus replied, “Believe me, [0//GNT woman//NLT dear woman], the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.
[I don’t think there is any good equivalent in English for the Greek here. GNT runs the risk of sounding terribly rude, while NLT runs the risk of misunderstanding the ‘dear’ness of the woman to Jesus.]

NLT Translation notes:
2Sam. 24:16 But as the [death//0] angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented and said to the [0/death] angel, “Stop! That is enough!” At that moment the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
====
John 4:21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, [0//dear woman], the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.
[I don’t think there is any good equivalent in English for the Greek here. One option runs the risk of sounding terribly rude, and this one runs the risk of misunderstanding the ‘dear’ness of the woman to Jesus.]
27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to [him//her]?”
45 Yet [, suprisingly,] the Galileans welcomed him, for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen everything he did there.
48 Jesus [said//asked], “Will you [people] never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”
[It is important to show that the Greek is you-plural here, otherwise Jesus seems overly frustrated with just the one man.]

Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP_174 2SA.24 PSA.119.17-32 JHN.4.1-26

2SAMUEL 24:
Yesterday we heard David’s final words and the listing of the 38 mighty warriors who loyally helped David in his victories. Note that Uriah the Hittite was so poignantly included at the end of the list. And this 24th chapter seems like a postscript.

PSALM 119:17-32:
Yesterday’s reading included two of the most famous verses from this psalm:

9 NLT How can a young person stay pure?
By obeying your word.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.

JOHN 4:
Yesterday in John 3 we heard the words of John the Baptist at what I consider his finest hour. That was where he said, “He (Jesus) must grow greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” This is a worthy goal for all of us.

GNT Translation notes:
John 4:10 Jesus answered, “If you only knew what God gives and who [I am who//it is that] is asking you for a drink, you would ask [Me, and I//him, and he] would give you life-giving water.”
21 NLT Jesus replied, “Believe me, [0//GNT woman//NLT dear woman], the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.
[I don’t think there is any good equivalent in English for the Greek here. GNT runs the risk of sounding terribly rude, while NLT runs the risk of misunderstanding the ‘dear’ness of the woman to Jesus.]

NLT Translation notes:
2Sam. 24:16 But as the [death//0] angel was preparing to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented and said to the [0/death] angel, “Stop! That is enough!” At that moment the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
====
John 4:21 Jesus replied, “Believe me, [0//dear woman], the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.
[I don’t think there is any good equivalent in English for the Greek here. One option runs the risk of sounding terribly rude, and this one runs the risk of misunderstanding the ‘dear’ness of the woman to Jesus.]
27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to [him//her]?”
45 Yet [, suprisingly,] the Galileans welcomed him, for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen everything he did there.
48 Jesus [said//asked], “Will you [people] never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”
[It is important to show that the Greek is you-plural here, otherwise Jesus seems overly frustrated with just the one man.]

Check out this episode!

GN-DBRP_173 2SA.23 PSA.119.1-16 JHN.3

2SAMUEL 23:
Yesterday we read David’s long poem of praise for God giving him victory and deliverance from his enemies.

PSALM 119a:
This psalm is famous for being the longest chapter in the Bible, and it is an acrostic psalm with a difference. In this psalm, every line of each stanza starts with the same letter of the alphabet, instead of every line with a different letter. The psalm has 22 stanzas, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. And this psalm has a clear theme: God’s Word— or a synonym for it, is mentioned in almost every verse.

Re-reading JOHN 3:
One of the features of John's Gospel is that he breaks in with commentary without warning. Because of the lack of quote marks in ancient Greek, there were no overt signs marking the end of Jesus' speech and John's comment, or at the end of this chapter, John the Baptist's speech and John's comment. I personally don't think that John 3:16 is Jesus' words about himself, but is the start of John's explanation of Jesus' enigmatic words: “as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so [I,] the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in [Me/him] will have eternal life.” We have read that story in Numbers 21. Imagine that all one had to do to be healed of a snake bite was to look at the bronze snake which Moses had put up on a pole. Do you think any of the people who were bitten refused to look up at that bronze snake? (Don’t miss that the shape this cast would have been very much like the shape of a cross.)

GNT Translation notes:
John 3:13 And no one has ever gone up to heaven except [Me,] the Son of Man, who came down from heaven.”|
14  As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the desert, in the same way [I,] the Son of Man[,] must be lifted up,
[Exegetes and commentators disagree on where to stop Jesus’ quoted conversation with Nicodemus. Ancient Greek didn’t have mark quotes. GNT stops the quote at the end of 13, which is quite early compared with other translations. Note that inserting unmarked parenthetical comments or teachings is a feature of John’s style. To me, I feel it makes most sense that John 3:16 is John’s explanation of Jesus’ very figurative saying in verse 14-15. There is another example of the difficulty of placing quote marks in this chapter. I think that John the Baptist’s quote ends at verse 30 not at the end of the chapter. So I differ with NLT’s quote marks for the last paragraph.]
20 Those who do evil things hate the light and will not come to the light, because they do not want their evil deeds to be [revealed//shown up].
[The meaning is definitely not the newer ‘show up’ meaning (surpass)!]
32 He tells what he has seen and heard, yet [so few accept//no one accepts (hyperbole)] his message.

NLT Translation notes:
John 3:11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you [refuse to//continue to//won’t] believe our testimony.
13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But [I,] the Son of Man[, have// has] come down from heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so [I,] the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15 so that everyone who believes in [Me/him] will have eternal life.
16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
[Exegetes and commentators disagree on where to stop Jesus’ quote. I believe that verse 16 and following is John’s narration. John suddenly breaking in with narration is a frequent feature of his Gospel. There is another example in this chapter. I think that John the Baptist’s quote ends at verse 30 not at the end of the chapter. So I differ with NLT’s quote marks for the last paragraph.]
18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in [the Son//him]. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.
29 It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I [(like the best man)] am filled with joy at [Jesus’//his] success.
30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.   [end quote]
[Ancient Greek has no quote marks. I feel John the Baptist’s quote ends at verse 30, and 31-36 are the writer’s narration.]
34 For [Jesus, the One//he is] sent by God[, //. He] speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit.
36 [0/And] anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

Check out this episode!

NL-DBRP_173 2SA.23 PSA.119.1-16 JHN.3

2SAMUEL 23:
Yesterday we read David’s long poem of praise for God giving him victory and deliverance from his enemies.

PSALM 119a:
This psalm is famous for being the longest chapter in the Bible, and it is an acrostic psalm with a difference. In this psalm, every line of each stanza starts with the same letter of the alphabet, instead of every line with a different letter. The psalm has 22 stanzas, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. And this psalm has a clear theme: God’s Word— or a synonym for it, is mentioned in almost every verse.

Re-reading JOHN 3:
One of the features of John's Gospel is that he breaks in with commentary without warning. Because of the lack of quote marks in ancient Greek, there were no overt signs marking the end of Jesus' speech and John's comment, or at the end of this chapter, John the Baptist's speech and John's comment. I personally don't think that John 3:16 is Jesus' words about himself, but is the start of John's explanation of Jesus' enigmatic words: “as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so [I,] the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in [Me/him] will have eternal life.” We have read that story in Numbers 21. Imagine that all one had to do to be healed of a snake bite was to look at the bronze snake which Moses had put up on a pole. Do you think any of the people who were bitten refused to look up at that bronze snake? (Don’t miss that the shape this cast would have been very much like the shape of a cross.)

GNT Translation notes:
John 3:13 And no one has ever gone up to heaven except [Me,] the Son of Man, who came down from heaven.”|
14  As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the desert, in the same way [I,] the Son of Man[,] must be lifted up,
[Exegetes and commentators disagree on where to stop Jesus’ quoted conversation with Nicodemus. Ancient Greek didn’t have mark quotes. GNT stops the quote at the end of 13, which is quite early compared with other translations. Note that inserting unmarked parenthetical comments or teachings is a feature of John’s style. To me, I feel it makes most sense that John 3:16 is John’s explanation of Jesus’ very figurative saying in verse 14-15. There is another example of the difficulty of placing quote marks in this chapter. I think that John the Baptist’s quote ends at verse 30 not at the end of the chapter. So I differ with NLT’s quote marks for the last paragraph.]
20 Those who do evil things hate the light and will not come to the light, because they do not want their evil deeds to be [revealed//shown up].
[The meaning is definitely not the newer ‘show up’ meaning (surpass)!]
32 He tells what he has seen and heard, yet [so few accept//no one accepts (hyperbole)] his message.

NLT Translation notes:
John 3:11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you [refuse to//continue to//won’t] believe our testimony.
13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But [I,] the Son of Man[, have// has] come down from heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so [I,] the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15 so that everyone who believes in [Me/him] will have eternal life.
16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
[Exegetes and commentators disagree on where to stop Jesus’ quote. I believe that verse 16 and following is John’s narration. John suddenly breaking in with narration is a frequent feature of his Gospel. There is another example in this chapter. I think that John the Baptist’s quote ends at verse 30 not at the end of the chapter. So I differ with NLT’s quote marks for the last paragraph.]
18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in [the Son//him]. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.
29 It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I [(like the best man)] am filled with joy at [Jesus’//his] success.
30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.   [end quote]
[Ancient Greek has no quote marks. I feel John the Baptist’s quote ends at verse 30, and 31-36 are the writer’s narration.]
34 For [Jesus, the One//he is] sent by God[, //. He] speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit.
36 [0/And] anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

Check out this episode!

GN-DBRP_172 2SA.22 JHN.3

2SAMUEL 22:
We near the end of David’s story. God gave him victory over Sheba and the house of Saul. The killing of seven of the descendants of Saul seems harsh and past the ‘statute of limitations’ to us. But God arranged that revenge in response to untold injustices that were wreaked by Saul against the Gibeonites. Note: God takes notice of covenants made and wants us to do what we promise in His name.

David’s song of praise in today’s chapter includes ideas from the Psalms, but does not seem to be an extended quote from any of them, as far as I can find in my sources. Because of this long poetic section today, we skip a day reading from the Psalms.

JOHN 3:
John’s Gospel is unique in having the story of the wedding at Cana, which we heard yesterday in chapter 2. The coming to Galilee and working a miracle there seems to have been significant for John, as he later highlights when this happens a second time. John moved the story of the cleansing of the temple to the beginning of his Gospel. I think that this is because he wanted highlight the conflicts between Jesus and ‘the Jews’. Note that in verse 19, Jesus doesn't say, “I will destroy...” but “Destroy” (imperative), as a challenge to the Jewish leaders. NET's note indicates that this is a form that reminds one of some words of the prophets.

GNT Translation notes:
John 3:14  As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the desert, in the same way [I,] the Son of Man[,] must be lifted up,
[Exegetes and commentators disagree on where to stop Jesus’ quoted conversation with Nicodemus. Ancient Greek didn’t have mark quotes. GNT stops the quote at the end of 13, which is quite early compared with other translations. Note that inserting unmarked parenthetical comments or teachings is a feature of John’s style. To me, I feel it makes most sense that John 3:16 is John’s explanation of Jesus’ very figurative saying in verse 14-15. There is another example of the difficulty of placing quote marks in this chapter. I think that John the Baptist’s quote ends at verse 30 not at the end of the chapter. So I differ with NLT’s quote marks for the last paragraph.]
32 He tells what he has seen and heard, yet [so few accept//no one accepts (hyperbole)] his message.

NLT Translation notes:
2Sam.22:35 He trains my hands for battle;
he strengthens my arm [enabling me] to draw a bronze bow.
42They looked for help, but no one came to their rescue.
They even cried to [You,/the] LORD, but [You/he] refused to answer.
====
John 3:11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you [refuse to//continue to//won’t] believe our testimony.
13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But [I,] the Son of Man[, have//e has] come down from heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so [I,] the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15 so that everyone who believes in [Me/him] will have eternal life.f
16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
[Exegetes and commentators disagree on where to stop Jesus’ quote. I believe that verse 16 and following is John’s narration. John suddenly breaking in with narration is a frequent feature of his Gospel. There is another example in this chapter. I think that John the Baptist’s quote ends at verse 30 not at the end of the chapter. So I differ with NLT’s quote marks for the last paragraph.]
18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in [the Son//him]. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.
29 It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I [(like the best man)] am filled with joy at [Jesus’//his] success.
30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.   [end quote]
[Ancient Greek has no quote marks. I feel John the Baptist’s quote ends at verse 30, and 31-36 are the writer’s narration.]
34 For [Jesus, the One//he is] sent by God[, //. He] speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit.
36 [0/And] anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

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