Friday, December 27, 2013

BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON
                                   For the week beginning Sunday December 29, 2013                                 
____________________________________________________________

AUTHORITY ACKNOWLEDGED
(Submitting fully to JESUS’ authority)
John 2

The, now famous, “wedding at the village of Cana” in Galilee, that is recorded in John chapter 2, is regarded as the site of the first of the “seven signs, or miracles of the MESSIAH” that are recorded in his Gospel account. It was a “private miracle”, known only to Jesus’ disciples, a few wedding servants and quests, and, to Mary, the mother of JESUS.
Perhaps this event is unique to the Gospel of John, because, of the four Gospel writers, only the Apostle John was actually present at this wedding. John, perhaps, uses the word “sign” (semeion), instead of “miracle” (teras), in order that he might draw away from the spectacle of the event, so that we may be better able to focus on the significance of the event.
The turning of the water into wine is also the first of any of the “35 miracles of JESUS” that are recorded in all of the four Gospel accounts, combined. It occurred three days after JESUS’ calling of Philip and Nathanael. JESUS’ disciples, HIS mother, and, HIS brothers were all invited. A wedding feast of this nature would typically last for seven days, and it would begin following the groom’s taking of his bride to his home, or, to his father’s home, for consummation of the marriage.
After all of the wine had been consumed (v. 3), JESUS’ mother, Mary, turned to HIM for help. In verse 4, JESUS’ response, and use of the word “woman” to respond to HIS mother, in those days, was a polite term, even though it may not be for us today. The expression “What have I to do with thee”, also in verse 4, in the Greek, was “a common expression that referred to a difference in relations, or realms”. It also can be translated, “How does that concern you and me?”, which would seem  more likely what JESUS was stating.
According to Jewish custom, the host at a wedding feast always treated the guests with wine, and the guest’s name was mentioned when the wine was poured. The statement spoken by JESUS, “MY time has not yet come” (still in verse 4) may simply mean nothing more than, “It is not MY turn to treat”. Of course, it may also mean that “the time of HIS manifestation was up to GOD the FATHER, and no one else”.
JESUS did “treat”, however, and the water was miraculously turned into the best wine of all. Six large stone water pots were there, that were normally used for Jewish ceremonial purposes. Each pot could hold twenty to thirty gallons of water. JESUS instructed the servants to fill the pots with water. After the pots were filled to the brim with water, JESUS told them to dip some out and take it to the master of ceremony. When the master of ceremony tasted the water that had now been transformed into wine, he called the bridegroom over and said to him, “Usually the host serves the best wine first, then, when everyone is full and doesn’t care, he brings out the less expensive wines. But you have kept the best until now”.   
Some scholars believe that all of this was a clear signal that Mary must now face the fact that her SON JESUS was now committed totally to the will of HIS FATHER GOD, and to the completion of HIS mission here on earth. And although she had given birth to HIM, and raised HIM from a child, she must now submit herself to JESUS as her LORD and SAVIOR, just like all the rest of humanity would have to do, in the process of time. And while she did not completely understand this at the time, she had decided, from that moment on, to trust in HIM completely.
The, significance of this miracle is explained by John, in verse 11 as “the initial manifestation of the glory of CHRIST to men here on earth”. JESUS’ first miracle of transforming water into wine at a joyful event such as this wedding was “a sign of the joy that HE would bring to all mankind, through a transformation of hearts”. HIS ministry would be a transforming one, and the transformation that HE would bring, would come by way of the HOLY SPIRIT.
Taking up at verse 13, of chapter 2, we see that, unlike the three Synoptic Gospels Matthew, Mark, and Luke, John’s Gospel account of JESUS’ cleansing of the temple at Jerusalem comes at the beginning of JESUS’ ministry, rather than near the end. This fact, and, the differences in their narrations, leads most scholars to believe that there were probably two temple cleansings performed by JESUS, during HIS three-year ministry, one at the beginning, which caught the people by surprise, and a second in the third and final year, probably during HIS “passion week”. This second cleansing probably contributed more heavily to the Jewish leader’s plans and desires for JESUS’ death.
At the time of the annual Jewish Passover, JESUS went up to Jerusalem, as was HIS custom, and visited the temple, most likely to teach and preach. However, in the “court of the Gentiles”, the outermost court of the temple, the Jews had begun a tradition of buying and selling animals used for sacrifices at the temple, during Passover. They rationalized these activities, as providing a convenience for the pilgrims, who had journeyed into Jerusalem from afar, and needed lambs, or doves, or, needed their currency changed over to the local currency so that they could participate in the Passover rituals and celebrations. 
Unfortunately, like all of the best-laid plans of men, abuses soon developed, and pilgrims became, more often than not, victims of scams and high prices, by corrupt dealers and merchants. For instance, they had even begun to charge an admission fee, or dues, in order to enter into the temple during Passover.
When JESUS saw all of this corrupt activity, taking place in the House of GOD, HE made HIMSELF a whip from some ropes and chased all of the merchants and moneychangers, and their livestock, out of the temple. HE then walked over to those who sold doves and instructed them to take their birds and leave the temple also, because they were turning the house of GOD into a marketplace that was attracting robbers and thieves.
When the angry Jewish leaders, who were, no doubt, getting their cut from the temple proceeds, asked JESUS, “What right did HE have to clear the temple?”, and, to show them a miraculous sign if HIS authority came from the LORD, JESUS responded by telling them to “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”.
Now it had been 46 years since King Herod the great had started rebuilding on the temple that Zerubbabel and his crew had constructed, following the Israelites 70-year stint in Babylonian captivity. Herod had decided that he would restore the temple back to the glorious state that King Solomon had brought to it, during his prosperous reign. However, the temple that JESUS spoke of was the temple of HIS OWN body, a statement that the spiritual-less Pharisees were incapable of hearing, and actually, so too were HIS disciples, at that time. The disciples, however, did recall this statement after JESUS’ Resurrection, and because of the many miraculous signs and wonders that JESUS performed at the Passover, many other people were also convinced that HE was truly the MESSIAH. However, JESUS didn’t trust them, because HE knew what people were like. After all, HE was present at the beginning of creation (John 1:1), and so no one needed to tell HIM about human nature.
JESUS disrupted the ungodly activities that were taking place at the temple in Jerusalem because it had become a den of robbers and thieves whose greatest sin was, that, they were blocking the poor, who couldn’t afford their services, from worshiping GOD in the temple during Passover.
Notice how differently JESUS handled those who sold doves (John 2:16). The dove was mostly used by the poor as an acceptable sacrifice for Passover worship, but their product may have been hard for the poor to acquire because of temple admission fees, and the exorbitant money exchanging fees, that were required before the purchase. JESUS was not protesting against the sacrificial system itself, however, here the purpose of the sacrifices was being lost to the criminal element. Then too, the merchants were also transacting their business inside the temple in the only area where the Gentiles were permitted to enter, thus, they were also blocking their opportunity and right to worship peacefully.
And so, even though the dove merchants were providing a similar temple service for the poor, they were still, in tandem with the other merchants, blocking another segment of GOD’s people from worship, in this case, the Gentiles. Here in this passage, JESUS is clearly showing us that GOD will not hold blameless, anyone, who blocks another human being, made in HIS spiritual image, from worshipping HIM, at any time, not in the Christian Church of the first century, and certainly not in the Christian Church today. And JESUS’ authority will be acknowledged, in HIS OWN Church, and eventually, in all the world.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                 
                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website



Saturday, December 21, 2013

BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON
                                   For the week beginning Sunday December 22, 2013                                 
____________________________________________________________

JESUS IDENTIFIED
(The first disciples)
John 1:29-51

The phrase, “The LAMB of GOD”, that is used by John the Baptist to identify JESUS in chapter 1, verse 29, in the Apostle John’s Gospel account, reflects the true atonement value of GOD’s only begotten SON. John, by way of the HOLY SPIRIT, and through Old Testament analogies, saw JESUS as the “sacrificial victim” who came to give up HIS human life to atone for “the sins of the world”.
Here John quickly identifies JESUS and connects HIM to the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah, some 700 years earlier. JESUS is the “Suffering Servant” in Isaiah 53:7, and HE is the recognized sacrifice that was provided by GOD as a propitiation for our transgressions. No animal sacrifice could qualify as a ransom to permanently remove the stain of sin and death from mankind. Only JESUS could fulfill the role of the “Suffering Servant of GOD”.
In verse 31, the Apostle John records that John the Baptist uttered the unusual statement, “I did not know HIM”, in reference to JESUS. This statement can be easily explained by a quick visit to two of the three other “synoptic” Gospel accounts. The Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:26-38) tells us that JESUS’ mother, Mary, was a cousin of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and so the two had to be related (cousins), and even we have relatives whom we do not know, or have never met. Therefore, the word “know”, in this instance, means “recognize”. Apparently John did not recognize his cousin JESUS as the ONE WHOM GOD had sent to be the SAVIOR of mankind.
The Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 3:14), on the other hand, hints that John must have known JESUS quite well, and in fact, knew HIM so well that, at first, he refused to Baptist HIM, because he knew that JESUS was not a sinner like the others he had baptized. John’s baptism was for sinners, and he knew JESUS, WHO was without sin, had no reason for repent, and thereby, had no need for his baptism. He probably felt that, to baptize the MESSIAH, at best, would be an insult, and at worse, would be blasphemous.
And so, even though he knew of the prophecy of a “coming SAVIOR”, he certainly did not know, beforehand, that the coming SAVIOR would be a relative of his. That particular information had previously been withheld from John the Baptist, by GOD. He knew only that GOD would identify such a person by the descent of the HOLY SPIRIT, in the form of a dove, upon the man whom HE would send (John 1:32-34).
The initial contact that JESUS made with the men, who would later become HIS disciples, was made when John the Baptist pointed the SAVIOR out to two of his own students. The two men curiously followed after JESUS, and when the MESSIAH looked around and saw them, HE asked them what it was that they wanted. The two men requested to know where it was that JESUS was staying, and JESUS invited them to come and see.
It was about four o’clock in the afternoon, and they went with JESUS, and abided with him for the remainder of the day. One of these men was named Andrew, and he was the brother of Simon Peter. After spending the afternoon with JESUS, the first thing Andrew thought to do was to bring his brother, Simon Peter, on board by giving him the good news about CHRIST. He ran and told his brother that he had found “the long-awaited MESSIAH”, and then, he took him back to meet JESUS.
Those three men were the first to get to know JESUS, in the literal sense. Today we get to know JESUS through HIS written word, and, by associating with HIS people, or, those who genuinely believe on HIM. John the Baptist knew JESUS spiritually, (He saw the doves descend on JESUS and remain with HIM) and because of that, he recognized JESUS was without sin.
The next day JESUS decided to go to Galilee, where HE found Philip and invited him to be HIS disciple. Philip was a native of Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown. Now the first thing Philip does, is, go and find Nathanael, who was “an honest man”, to tell him the good news about CHRIST. After learning that JESUS was from Nazareth, a curious Nathanael asks, “Can anything good come from there?”
After coming face to face with JESUS, JESUS shows Nathanael a bit of HIS supernatural knowledge by telling him of HIS knowledge of Nathanael’s character and reputation for being an honest man. JESUS also discloses to him that HE had already seen him “underneath a fig tree”, an expression that often meant “in a place of safety and leisure”. Impressed by JESUS’ knowledge of him, Nathanael was prompted to confess JESUS as both the “SON of GOD” and the “KING of Israel”.
Throughout the Holy Scriptures, JESUS refers to HIMSELF as the “SON of Manmore than 80 times, and in this particular passage, we are presented with one of those occasions (v.51). It is a term that speaks of HIS humanity and suffering, and, of HIS work as the ideal man. In other words, JESUS sought to convey to us, that, HE had come to be a living, “100 % human example” of what the life of every man, who wishes to worship GOD in Spirit, and in Truth, should be like.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                 
                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website


Friday, December 13, 2013

BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON
                                   For the week beginning Sunday December 15, 2013                                 
____________________________________________________________

JESUS IDENTIFIED
(The first disciples)
John 1:29-51

The phrase, “The LAMB of GOD”, that is used by John the Baptist to identify JESUS in chapter 1, verse 29, in the Apostle John’s Gospel account, reflects the true atonement value of GOD’s only begotten SON. John, by way of the HOLY SPIRIT, and through Old Testament analogies, saw JESUS as the “sacrificial victim” who came to give up HIS human life to atone for “the sins of the world”.
Here John quickly identifies JESUS and connects HIM to the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah, some 700 years earlier. JESUS is the “Suffering Servant” in Isaiah 53:7, and HE is the recognized sacrifice that was provided by GOD as a propitiation for our transgressions. No animal sacrifice could qualify as a ransom to permanently remove the stain of sin and death from mankind. Only JESUS could fulfill the role of the “Suffering Servant of GOD”.
In verse 31, the Apostle John records that John the Baptist uttered the unusual statement, “I did not know HIM”, in reference to JESUS. This statement can be easily explained by a quick visit to two of the three other “synoptic” Gospel accounts. The Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:26-38) tells us that JESUS’ mother, Mary, was a cousin of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and so the two had to be related (cousins), and even we have relatives whom we do not know, or have never met. Therefore, the word “know”, in this instance, means “recognize”. Apparently John did not recognize his cousin JESUS as the ONE WHOM GOD had sent to be the SAVIOR of mankind.
The Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 3:14), on the other hand, hints that John must have known JESUS quite well, and in fact, knew HIM so well that, at first, he refused to Baptist HIM, because he knew that JESUS was not a sinner like the others he had baptized. John’s baptism was for sinners, and he knew JESUS, WHO was without sin, had no reason for repent, and thereby, had no need for his baptism. He probably felt that, to baptize the MESSIAH, at best, would be an insult, and at worse, would be blasphemous.
And so, even though he knew of the prophecy of a “coming SAVIOR”, he certainly did not know, beforehand, that the coming SAVIOR would be a relative of his. That particular information had previously been withheld from John the Baptist, by GOD. He knew only that GOD would identify such a person by the descent of the HOLY SPIRIT, in the form of a dove, upon the man whom HE would send (John 1:32-34).
The initial contact that JESUS made with the men, who would later become HIS disciples, was made when John the Baptist pointed the SAVIOR out to two of his own students. The two men curiously followed after JESUS, and when the MESSIAH looked around and saw them, HE asked them what it was that they wanted. The two men requested to know where it was that JESUS was staying, and JESUS invited them to come and see.
It was about four o’clock in the afternoon, and they went with JESUS, and abided with him for the remainder of the day. One of these men was named Andrew, and he was the brother of Simon Peter. After spending the afternoon with JESUS, the first thing Andrew thought to do was to bring his brother, Simon Peter, on board by giving him the good news about CHRIST. He ran and told his brother that he had found “the long-awaited MESSIAH”, and then, he took him back to meet JESUS.
Those three men were the first to get to know JESUS, in the literal sense. Today we get to know JESUS through HIS written word, and, by associating with HIS people, or, those who genuinely believe on HIM. John the Baptist knew JESUS spiritually, (He saw the doves descend on JESUS and remain with HIM) and because of that, he recognized JESUS was without sin.
The next day JESUS decided to go to Galilee, where HE found Philip and invited him to be HIS disciple. Philip was a native of Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown. Now the first thing Philip does, is, go and find Nathanael, who was “an honest man”, to tell him the good news about CHRIST. After learning that JESUS was from Nazareth, a curious Nathanael asks, “Can anything good come from there?”
After coming face to face with JESUS, JESUS shows Nathanael a bit of HIS supernatural knowledge by telling him of HIS knowledge of Nathanael’s character and reputation for being an honest man. JESUS also discloses to him that HE had already seen him “underneath a fig tree”, an expression that often meant “in a place of safety and leisure”. Impressed by JESUS’ knowledge of him, Nathanael was prompted to confess JESUS as both the “SON of GOD” and the “KING of Israel”.
Throughout the Holy Scriptures, JESUS refers to HIMSELF as the “SON of Manmore than 80 times, and in this particular passage, we are presented with one of those occasions (v.51). It is a term that speaks of HIS humanity and suffering, and, of HIS work as the ideal man. In other words, JESUS sought to convey to us, that, HE had come to be a living, “100 % human example” of what the life of every man, who wishes to worship GOD in Spirit, and in Truth, should be like.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                 
                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website


Saturday, December 7, 2013

BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON
                                    For the week beginning Sunday December 8, 2013                                  
____________________________________________________________

GOD REVEALED
(Knowing for sure what GOD is like)
John 1:1-34

It is the belief of most scholars that the Gospel of John is the fourth Gospel. It was most likely written sometime between A.D. 85 and 95. John’s depiction of JESUS is the most theological of the four Gospel accounts. He presents to us, a JESUS WHO existed with GOD, and, as GOD, even before the creation of the universe itself. John’s unique style confronts us with an overwhelming necessity to believe on our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, as the word, “believe” (pisteuo in the Greek), is used in his gospel account 98 times. He presents JESUS as the focus of a cosmic struggle between light and darkness, truth and deceit, love and hate, and most of all, life and death.
Each Gospel writer seems to deliberately try to emphasize a slightly different aspect of the life of CHRIST and HIS works, but none of the writers seem to observe a strict chronological order. In fact, all four Gospels are much more “interpretation”, than they are “chronicles”, with Luke’s Gospel coming the nearest to being chronologically in order.
Scripture itself gives us considerably more information about John than it does about any of the other Apostles. John Mark tells us in his Gospel that John was the brother of James, and son of Zebedee (Mark 1:19). He also tells us that John and James worked with the “hired servants” of their father (Mark 1:20). Most scholars agree that John’s mother was Salome, one of the women who observed JESUS’ crucifixion (Mark 15:40). And, if Salome were the sister of Mary, JESUS’ mother (John 19:25), then, that would make the Apostle John “a cousin of JESUS”.
John may not have been as outspoken as the Apostle Peter, but he did possess a bold personality that served him well at the time of JESUS’ death. We know this, because scripture tells us that he was the only apostle, who dared to stand at the foot of cross, on that terrible day of JESUS’ crucifixion at Golgotha.
Jewish tradition tells us that John was obedient to JESUS’ command to take care of HIS mother Mary, and he did so, while pasturing a church in the city of Ephesus, the city where Mary is said to have died. Tertullian, the great Church Historian, tells us that the Apostle John, who lived longer than all of the original disciples, was taken into Rome in his later years, and plunged into boiling oil, and was miraculously unhurt. He was then exiled to the Greek island of Patmos, where he later penned the book of Revelation, after receiving his, now famous, vision from JESUS CHRIST.
Jerome, the author of the “Vulgate”, the first Latin translation of the bible, tells us in his commentary on Galatians, that, when the Apostle John was old in age and could no longer walk, they used to carry him into the temple. At that time, his sermon consisted of one sentence; “Little children, love one another”. It is an astounding testimony to the affirmation and belief that John had in his heart, for the doctrine and teachings of CHRIST JESUS.
He was a man who was truly prepared for spiritual service to the LORD. He had thoroughly learned from the instructions of CHRIST JESUS, and he lived a long life in conformance to the will and ways of the MASTER TEACHER. And perhaps, John, with his own life, demonstrated to us more clearly than all the other disciples that, “JESUS is Faithful”, “JESUS is longsuffering”, and, most of all, “JESUS is love”.
In verses 1-14 of his gospel account, the Apostle John seeks to put the Word of GOD into perspective, and show us the true power of its meaning, and, its effect upon the world. Here John reminds us that the Word of GOD is already here, and in fact, has been with us since the beginning of time. It simply cannot be, nor will not be disregarded. We cannot ignore GOD’s Word and get away with it. It has always been, is now, and will forever be synonymous with life. It is effective and penetrating, and it absolutely scrutinizes all of our thoughts, desires, and intentions.
In the biblical Greek, the term used for “word” is “logos” (log-os), and it, more or less, emphasizes the message of that which is spoken. Here John expresses to us that our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST personifies the Word of GOD in the flesh. He is trying to get us to understand that one of the key reasons for JESUS’ first advent, was and is, for “communication”. JESUS is the “Spoken Word”, and “Living Expression” of all that which GOD ever sought to communicate to us about HIMSELF. John is saying, particularly in verse 1, that, JESUS is both, “identical” to the GOD of the Old Testament concept, and yet, is distinct from HIM.
One can imagine how stunning this must have been to the people of the first century. Even today, many people have a problem with embracing this concept, which has now become familiar, and yet still remains just as mysterious as it ever was. Here though, we can see that, while the concept may be difficult, John’s teaching seems to be very clear. He is saying that JESUS existed eternally with GOD the FATHER, as one GOD, yet, with a distinct and separate personality. Those of us, who understand the concept which unity in a family and marriage represents, can certainly grasp the concept of “unity as one” between the FATHER and the SON.
In John chapter 1, verses 6-34, the Apostle John writes of the fulfilling of the role of the “witness” (martus- mar-toos), John the Baptist, that had first been prophesied by Isaiah some 700 years earlier (Isaiah 40:3), and then again by the prophet Malachi 300 years later (Malachi 3:1). John the Baptist was born to be the “forerunner” for JESUS’ ministry, and he fulfilled his mission well. He came to announce the coming of the “bearer” of the gift of Salvation.
It is true that in human society, if someone hands someone else a gift, and that person doesn’t perceive that gift to be real, then they probably aren’t going to reach out and accept it. Our believing in GOD, in all of HIS fullness, can be likened to that. GOD is giving us the gift of eternal life through HIS only begotten SON, JESUS the CHRIST. Believing in HIM involves seeing HIM as real, and, as coming from GOD, and then, reaching out and accepting HIM. By accepting JESUS, one also accepts GOD the FATHER’s wonderful gift of eternal life in Heaven, and, at one and the same time, becomes what they weren’t before, and that is, quite simply, “a child of GOD”.
JESUS came into the world to teach us how to live our lives under GOD, and, to teach us how to die and live again with GOD. HE taught us how to give and forgive, and, HE taught us how to love, and how to give thanks. John points to JESUS as being the LIGHT of the world, a true light for all people. In HIM we see exactly what GOD is like, and only HE can usher us into GOD’s OWN glorious presence, without fear, without guilt, and, without shame.

A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander





                                 
                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website