I.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
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A.
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CHAPTER SUMMARY TO DATE.
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1.
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See notes on Study #5, p.97, for summary of Chapters 1 - 4:42.
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2.
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CHAPTER 4:43-54:
a.
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John introduces the essential element to life eternal -- full faith in Christ's Works, Word,
and Him, as demonstrated by the noble man of Capernaum.
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4:47
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b.
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People come to Jesus (the Light) out of their own darkness (pressing personal needs).
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4:53
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c.
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Jesus does not have to be personally present for one's regeneration through faith.
(However, He will ascend to the Father that He might appear to all people the world over throughout the Age.)
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5:5-6
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3.
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CHAPTER 5:
John shows us the miracle of the impotent man to demonstrate:
a.
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Salvation is by God's grace (and mercy) through faith, and
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5:22,27
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b.
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Jesus is Lord over all; and into His hand is given all judgment.
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4.
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CHAPTER 6:
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6:37
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a.
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John demonstrates with the feeding of 5,000 the scope of the gospel to include
all and exclude none who will believe, not understand, but believe.
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6:29,53
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b.
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This is the meaning of eating His body, the bread of heaven, to believe on Him and His Word.
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6:60
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c.
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He also shows one's reason to be the main obstacle to obtaining and exercising
faith, one who waits to understand before believing.
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5.
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CHAPTER 7:
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7:17
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a.
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John now teaches that faith is possible only to the one who is not blinded by the
darkness of their own heart and flawed reason.
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7:43
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b.
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The Light divides darkness, with good and evil polarizing in His presence,
causing one to be either for or against Him.
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6.
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CHAPTER 8:
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8:3
8:12
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a.
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Here, John brings together the two representative extremes of sinful man living in
darkness shown in Chs.3 & 4 in a meeting with Christ (seen here in
different people, but similar in representation -- the self-righteous Pharisee
and the sinful woman); and again He appeals for all to come to the Light.
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8:30,48
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b.
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The softhearted see but the blind continue to stumble in their self-imposed darkness.
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7.
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CHAPTER 9:
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9:3,5
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a.
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John shows Jesus fully demonstrating Himself as the Light of the world in
giving sight to the man blind from birth. All people are born into spiritual
darkness, awaiting the coming of the Savior and great Physician.
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9:25
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b.
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This demonstrates how all people live in utter darkness, from birth until they
meet this Visitor who has come to heal and reclaim His own.
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10:9
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8.
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CHAPTER 10:
He will again speak (this time more fully) to the only Door through which man must
enter the Kingdom after receiving the Light which leads his way, as introduced in
Chapter 3. Those who wish to enter will recognize His voice alone as the
authority to bid any to do so.
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9.
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CHAPTER 11:
a.
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Next, John shows the Light having power over man's total darkness and
the authority of His voice to call one from its clutches (as introduced in Ch.10).
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b.
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This demonstrates humankind as it has succumbed to the final darkness produced by the ravages of evil: Death.
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C.
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CONTEXTUAL EVENTS.
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11:53
11:54
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1.
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After raising Lazarus in Bethany and because of the official attempt now to bring about His premature death, Jesus retreats to Ephraim (12 miles north of Jerusalem)
with His disciples, no more walking openly among the Jews. (Thus closing His public ministry and withdrawing Himself from the crowds in Ch.12.)
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11:55
Lk.13:11
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2.
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About a month passes and He joins with the many pilgrims going up to Jerusalem for
the Passover by way of Jericho and Bethany. The Synoptics contain other events enroute,
e.g., Jesus healing blind Bartimaeus. Study them for further background information.
(
Lk.18:15,
Mk.10:46)
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vs.1
vs.12-19
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3.
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John tells us they arrive in Bethany 6 days prior to the Passover, thus making this (likely)
the evening (after 6 p.m.) of the last Sabbath before His crucifixion (the following Friday),
with the next day being Palm Sunday (His Triumphal Entry).
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vs.2-3
Mt.26:6
Mk.14:3
vs.2
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4.
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A supper has been prepared (likely in honor of both Jesus and the most recently restored Lazarus),
with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus present with Jesus and His disciples. Mark & Matthew tell us it
was the home of Simon the leper, probably one of the many healed by Jesus. Some have speculated
this Simon to be the husband of either Mary, or more likely Martha (implied by her busying herself
with the duties of this household), hence, possibly her home as well. It is an unimportant argument.
Since they resided in the same small town and were present at this special meal, the most we can say
from the evidence is that they were intimate friends and leave it at that, not joining together two
in post-mortem matrimony (if in fact they were not)!
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vs.12-13,23
1:29
I Co.5:7
vs.31
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5.
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Following the supper, the next day Jesus returns to Jerusalem, now in open defiance of the Jews.
His hour has at last come. He has fulfilled and is ready to relinquish His earthly role as servant
to regain His rightful place with the Father. He will submit Himself as the Lamb prepared before
the foundation of the world to be offered as the final sacrifice for the sin of the world.
He will be led as dumb before the slaughter, totally submitting to the Will and Plan of the Father.
He will not resist this time. They will have their way with Him, as He freely gives Himself.
He will exercise His Power to allow them to take Him that He might defeat death at its own game.
He is neither dumb nor powerless, as we shall see. They, not He, are playing right into His hand
and the Father's Plan. Satan hasn't a clue. He is about to be checked! No greater Chessman
has ever lived than our Lord. Satan is about to be crushed at the Cross.
(
I Pe.1:19-20,
Rev.13:8,
10:18)
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Lk.23:26
vs.27
vs.28
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6.
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The final stage of His Earthly Saga is set. All the players are present at the crucial
moment in time. Simon is on his way from Cyrene. Past and future history of the Ages is
here focused on this divine hour so chosen by the Father from before The Beginning.
This is the time and purpose foreordained that He should come into the world. Let His
Passion begin, as John tells it. He steps forward and confident in His Heavenly Father.
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