The Gospel of John has a long section of teachings just before Jesus gets crucified, compared with the Gospel of Marks. Jesus uses many metaphors to describe the relationships between him, God and sometimes his disciples. For example in verse 15:1, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” This shows how Jesus is lead by his Father. How the Father raises Jesus. I think the important point here is that Jesus describes himself as a living instead of some kind of material. He has the potential to grow depending on God.
Another difference is that Jesus actually personally talks to God. In John he has only talked to God when he needs some miraculous power and just before being crucified. It starts in verse 17:1, “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:” And he keeps on informing the God about his mission he has completed. He has probably done this because he is dutiful than the Jesus in Mark.
Finally, the last verse, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.”(21:25) of the Gospel of John was original. It is written in first person that is not Jesus neither God. It is from a prospective of someone that is a follower of them, someone that is learning from them. This has never come up in John.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Dear John Where Did You Go?
One of the differences between Mark and John is the characters that they put the focus on. First of all, it doesn’t talk that much about the disciples as Mark did. And this totally new type of person came up. A perfect follower that has perfect faith on Jesus and God. We can see this in verse 11:27, “She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” It is the first time in which Jesus didn’t say any kind of lesson back as a response.
Also, it is the first time in which I saw Jesus not saving someone that is sick. In verse 11:4, “When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” Is this to balance out death and life? Or did God said to Jesus to let Lazarus die because he knew what would happen later on? Who knows, except God.
Finally, I would like to share this commandment of Jesus that I thought it was sweet, whether or not I liked it. It is presented in verse 13: 34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” This line never came up in the Gospels of Mark. Jesus probably said this because he thinks love unite people and produce “light” as he describes himself. I was so surprised to hear love each other and not love God.
Also, it is the first time in which I saw Jesus not saving someone that is sick. In verse 11:4, “When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” Is this to balance out death and life? Or did God said to Jesus to let Lazarus die because he knew what would happen later on? Who knows, except God.
Finally, I would like to share this commandment of Jesus that I thought it was sweet, whether or not I liked it. It is presented in verse 13: 34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” This line never came up in the Gospels of Mark. Jesus probably said this because he thinks love unite people and produce “light” as he describes himself. I was so surprised to hear love each other and not love God.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
All About John Begins Right Here
The version of John has another focus of area than the gospels of Mark. John focuses more on how and why people should believe in Jesus and how to find the way to receive eternal life or forgiveness from God. For example in John 3: 8,
“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
What this wants to say is that the re-birth of the spiritual life is something that you can’t earn only by seeking for it. I thought this was quite a radical idea compared with the beliefs Jesus taught previously. I mean, he has always taught that faith is the only and absolute power humans can posses.
Also in verse 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Jesus talks about God and eternal life, in which Mark hasn’t mentioned about it as much. Mark has focused more in events in which shows that Jesus is the chosen one. He describes how he teaches his twelve sometimes naughty disciplines and followers and how faith and his ability make him be so powerful and confident.
Another description of God is mentioned in verse 4: 24, “God isa Spirit: and they that worship him must worship himin spirit and in truth.” For the first time I read an explanation of Him that is related to physical conception. This line has surprised me a bit actually. I had a misconception that one of the unique and an important characteristic of the Bible is that it has many rules and regulations. For example, in order to be a faithful follower of God, you need follow I-don’t-know-what rule. However, that is not it. One of the most faithful followers you can be is by being faithful inside your own heart. That the decorations you would have outside yourself is not as important as the real state inside of you.
“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
What this wants to say is that the re-birth of the spiritual life is something that you can’t earn only by seeking for it. I thought this was quite a radical idea compared with the beliefs Jesus taught previously. I mean, he has always taught that faith is the only and absolute power humans can posses.
Also in verse 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Jesus talks about God and eternal life, in which Mark hasn’t mentioned about it as much. Mark has focused more in events in which shows that Jesus is the chosen one. He describes how he teaches his twelve sometimes naughty disciplines and followers and how faith and his ability make him be so powerful and confident.
Another description of God is mentioned in verse 4: 24, “God isa Spirit: and they that worship him must worship himin spirit and in truth.” For the first time I read an explanation of Him that is related to physical conception. This line has surprised me a bit actually. I had a misconception that one of the unique and an important characteristic of the Bible is that it has many rules and regulations. For example, in order to be a faithful follower of God, you need follow I-don’t-know-what rule. However, that is not it. One of the most faithful followers you can be is by being faithful inside your own heart. That the decorations you would have outside yourself is not as important as the real state inside of you.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Mr. Invulnerable
One of the most crucial stories of the Bible came up in the last chapters of Mark. The reborn of Jesus. He has suffered a lot through the whole process of being crucified. And yet, God didn’t punish the ones who caused harm on him, just like he tried to do to the three friends of Job. However, Jesus got to sit peacefully on the right side of God. So I guess it is all good.
In those chapters about the death of Jesus, I was forced to realize the power of a crowd as you can see in verse 15:15,
“And soPilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him,to be crucified.”
People become so powerful and scary when they loose their self control and become as one. It is non-stoppable. It is way scarier when these people are manipulated by some malicious person. For example the Nazis in the Holocaust. (I am truly aware that the Holocaust is a way more complex problem.)
One of the things that surprised me was in verse 16:11, “And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.” Jesus is mad because his disciplines didn’t believe the others when they said Jesus has come back to life. When he was the one who said to not believe anyone even if they say that he has come back from the death. Or is this part of the faith moral?
In those chapters about the death of Jesus, I was forced to realize the power of a crowd as you can see in verse 15:15,
“And soPilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him,to be crucified.”
People become so powerful and scary when they loose their self control and become as one. It is non-stoppable. It is way scarier when these people are manipulated by some malicious person. For example the Nazis in the Holocaust. (I am truly aware that the Holocaust is a way more complex problem.)
One of the things that surprised me was in verse 16:11, “And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.” Jesus is mad because his disciplines didn’t believe the others when they said Jesus has come back to life. When he was the one who said to not believe anyone even if they say that he has come back from the death. Or is this part of the faith moral?
Mr. Faith-Is-Absolute
I was so surprised to see Jesus respond with confidence to any kind of trick question. Furthermore, he even made those malicious people nod and feel defeated. I was about to say, “High five Jesus!” but found that it might be quite disrespectful so I didn’t. Maybe one of the reasons why Jesus has such power over people is because he is truly the chosen. Because he has faith, he has confidence, that there is no way to trick him. I would like to be strong like him, some day.
Another thing that I have attracted my attention was a line of Jesus from verse 9:23, “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” He has said this over and over again throughout the whole section of Marks in the bible. However, it was not until this time, that the message has truly come to me. In Japan there are several sayings that talks about one’s mind. One of them is, “Most illness is psychosomatic.” Or “Salvation will come to those of who have faith.” Even in Ishmael there was this axiom that was about one’s mind; “The way will be found when there is will.” I think what Jesus wants to say is something similar to the ones mentioned above but more religious. Our mind is the core of all our actions, which means they affect our actions immensely. Therefore, I believe we can do most of the things that we think we can. (And off course appropriate amount of effort always comes along with the will.) But I never thought those included cursing. (“And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.” 11:21)
One thing I found contradicting was this verse 10: 29,
“And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,”
He has also said that in order to be good, one needed to respect and take care of his/her family. However, by leaving them, they are making his/her families suffer. I mean, the family member would need to work more in order to fill the space of that person. Or is this sacrifice of your own family necessary to save the rest of the people in the world?
Another thing that I have attracted my attention was a line of Jesus from verse 9:23, “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” He has said this over and over again throughout the whole section of Marks in the bible. However, it was not until this time, that the message has truly come to me. In Japan there are several sayings that talks about one’s mind. One of them is, “Most illness is psychosomatic.” Or “Salvation will come to those of who have faith.” Even in Ishmael there was this axiom that was about one’s mind; “The way will be found when there is will.” I think what Jesus wants to say is something similar to the ones mentioned above but more religious. Our mind is the core of all our actions, which means they affect our actions immensely. Therefore, I believe we can do most of the things that we think we can. (And off course appropriate amount of effort always comes along with the will.) But I never thought those included cursing. (“And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.” 11:21)
One thing I found contradicting was this verse 10: 29,
“And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,”
He has also said that in order to be good, one needed to respect and take care of his/her family. However, by leaving them, they are making his/her families suffer. I mean, the family member would need to work more in order to fill the space of that person. Or is this sacrifice of your own family necessary to save the rest of the people in the world?
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Mr. Miracle
Have you heard of the saying, “Think before you speak/act”? The one that since you heard it too many times, you no longer pay attention to it? The one that sounds so obvious and easy but actually a hard one? I think the king that appears in chapter 6 have never heard of it and therefore ended up in a situation like that he would need to regret. “And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.” (Mark, 6:52)
Actually, I think this type of mistake is unavoidable. The problem here was that he made a mistake in the timing of doing that gaffe. This story about the sinful king was a great lesson. I mean I learned that to be careful of when to make the inevitable mistakes.
Another I thing I thought was that I think Jesus has a high expectations on the Son of Man. He wants his disciplines to be like him and be disappointed, “For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.” (Mark, 6:52) He expects them to be delighted when they are in danger of starving. Moreover, not likely Jesus, they don’t have the ability to cause miracle. Or “And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.” (Mark, 5: 43) Jesus has said this after experiencing people not making their promises of not telling anyone so many times.
Jesus said something like Gilgamesh in Mark, verse 8: 35, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” He is mainly saying that one needs to live for the fame and not be afraid. It is just like the line Gilgamesh said when they were leaving to fight against the monster that protects the forest. Is it that the Bible was somehow influenced by Gilgamesh or is it something like the spontaneous invention? (The time in history that similar architecture was built around the same moment around the world.)
Actually, I think this type of mistake is unavoidable. The problem here was that he made a mistake in the timing of doing that gaffe. This story about the sinful king was a great lesson. I mean I learned that to be careful of when to make the inevitable mistakes.
Another I thing I thought was that I think Jesus has a high expectations on the Son of Man. He wants his disciplines to be like him and be disappointed, “For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.” (Mark, 6:52) He expects them to be delighted when they are in danger of starving. Moreover, not likely Jesus, they don’t have the ability to cause miracle. Or “And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.” (Mark, 5: 43) Jesus has said this after experiencing people not making their promises of not telling anyone so many times.
Jesus said something like Gilgamesh in Mark, verse 8: 35, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” He is mainly saying that one needs to live for the fame and not be afraid. It is just like the line Gilgamesh said when they were leaving to fight against the monster that protects the forest. Is it that the Bible was somehow influenced by Gilgamesh or is it something like the spontaneous invention? (The time in history that similar architecture was built around the same moment around the world.)
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Mr. Jesus
Jesus. Is like a revolutionary. First of all, his abilities are supernatural. His teachings are radical compared with what people have been taught of. For example in verse 2: 27 & 28, “And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” One can clearly see that he has some confidence in his words. Jesus has something that makes him not be afraid for what he says, for his actions. Not afraid to commit sins because man can forgive each other.
The reason why Jesus is so confident is because he has faith, according to him. I mean he said, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark, 4: 40) When they were in the middle of a storm, drowning. But I think faith is not the only reason why Jesus is so confident. The supernatural abilities that he has, is doing some kind of help to his certainty, I believe. I think since he knows he can do something about it, he doesn’t need to be scared at all.
Jesus is like a hero that came on Earth to save the sinners and the unfortunates. He forgives them, and cures them. He tries to pass down the teaching through parables, etc. I think the whole point is to straighten the world and make it full with ‘good’ people. He even encourages people to enjoy the happiness they have now, “No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.” (Mark, 2:21) Or more likely, to appreciate what they have.
Well, I will learn more about Jesus later on, I suppose.
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