Our text today takes place during the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus was teaching around Galilee when the feast came to pass. He knew the religious leaders in Jerusalem were plotting to kille him, so he avoided them in the hillside. Jesus told his half-brothers his time had not yet come, but it would within a single year of this event. Not wanting to miss out on an opportunity, however, and snuck into the city. Halfway through the feast, Jesus decided to break cover and begin teaching in the temple. Verses 14-24 are a very compressed dialogue between Jesus and all present.
Last week we spent some time examining Jesus' second greatest miracle, the feeding of the 5,000. In doing so, we covered John chapter six verses one through 15, and 22-65, but left out the very important passage of Jesus walking on the water. After the miracle which multiplied the fish and the loaves to feed thousands of people, Jesus told the disciples to take a boat to Capernaum. While they rowed, Jesus decided to walk it, just not in the usual manner. John leaves an awful lot of this story on the cutting room floor, but adds a fascinating aspect to the miracle.
The feeding of the five thousand is one of the most famous passages of the Bible, and for good reason. Beside the miracle of the resurrection itself, it is the only miracle of the Messiah that is recorded in all four gospel accounts. Most are familiar with the story itself, but do we understand it's importance? Are we familiar with Jesus' explanation of its significance? The story is told in John 6.1-15, including the fact that after the meal Jesus slipped away so that the people would not try to make him king of Israel. His ambition was something else.
Thinking about the book of John this week took me on a bit of a rabbit trail. I'd like to walk you through it as I think it will make an interesting research project after we're done working through this gospel. The trail head is John chapter two and Jesus' first miracle. Jesus turned the water in two stone vessels to wine. What happens with those vessels next? We don't know, but my mind made a connection to handkerchiefs and aprons that, after touching the apostle Paul's body, could heal sickness and exorcise demons (Acts 19.11-12).
Today we begin exploring John's fourth movement in the book, The Conflict of Men Against the Messiah, starting with chapter seven through chapter 12. John begins this section by explaining the climate toward the Messiah. One could compare Jesus' popularity with that of America's current president, Donald Trump. Jesus was very popular among the common people across the land, but reviled by religious and political powers especially those found in the larger cities of Israel. Some scholars note that John is anti-Jewish, but his explanation of events here and elsewhere show a balanced telling of true history.
While I would never desire to alienate our readers around the globe, today is a distinctly American holiday. July 4th is the day we celebrate our independence. Independence from oppressive taxes, from unjust political rulers, from being a vasal of the British Empire. I thought a lot about writing of the spirituality and miracles surrounding General George Washington, one of the men responsible for our independence and America's first President, but I think I'll save that for Laobr day. Today is a holiday in my homeland, and as such a time to be spent with friends and family.
In Act 3 of a three act story Jesus confronts the Pharisees for healing a crippled man on the Sabbath. Behind the healing is Jesus' command that the man pick up his mat and walk, an act that was not permitted on the holy day. The Pharisees were less concerned with Jesus' act of healing (something that should have signaled them that he was the Messiah) and were more exercised with his instruction which violated their own law. Jesus answers their objections with a theology lesson chock full of "solemn truth". We pick the story up in chapter five verse 16.
The end of chapter four is another story of faith, but one that differs greatly from the others we've encountered thus far. We've seen a man looking for faith, and a woman and foreign people embracing faith. Here we have a man who exhibits a developed faith. The story appears simple enough by itself, and it is, but there is more to be understood when we look at the greater context. This wider look at the story will answer questions like, where did the Roman official gain such faith in Jesus? Before we get started, read the story in John 4.46-54.
At the beginning of chapter six we are on a figurative mountain peak. The people are on a spiritual high. Jesus was in rare form while preaching throughout the day, then had fun with them and the disciples by multiplying three loaves and fish to feed thousands. The people ate until they were full, a rare occasion indeed, and everyone felt closer to the Messiah. Little did they know that their next few steps with Jesus would take them into the valley. The trip was so quick no one saw the darkness closing in, the space between them shrinking and tempers shortening.
After giving the Pharisees a theology lesson, he takes them to court. Not literally, of course, but he uses the language of a trial — "testimony" and "deeds" and "accuse" — to make the case that he is indeed the Messiah. The first line of today's passage, however, is both surprising and confusing. Jesus states, "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true." What did Jesus mean and why is his word not enough? I think the answer is in the law, and the two courts in which a person can be judged.
Once again Jesus treks to Jerusalem for a feast, probably the feast of Pentecost. There are three feasts each year on the Jewish calendar that require being in Jerusalem: Passover (which is the the last festival where Jesus overturned the money changers tables), Pentecost and, later in the year, Tabernacles. Pentecost occurs 49 days after Passover, so we know that five weeks have passed since he was last in the Holy City. Jerusalem had eight gates entering the city, and near one of these gates (the Sheep Gate) is a pool with supposed miraculous powers. The Pool of Bethesda.
John has shown his ability to be a great author. The way he weaves the conversation with Nicodemus is masterful. His juxtaposition of the conversation with Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman provokes thoughtful contemplation. So it's curious that we find an apparent contradiction, or a narrative that requires more explanation at the very least. After two days in Samaria, Jesus went on to Galilee where he apparently received a warm welcome, not only from friends but from those who saw the miracles he performed in Jerusalem. So why does Jesus say "a prophet has no honor in his own country"?
