Hahah, you thought John been allowed to go off for a rest, but no such luck..!
Still working hard on understanding his writing.
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La plupart de Jean chapitre 8
Firstly, please note:
Owing to the fact that the first 11 verses of John's 8th chapter are contentious in their placement, I have let them go for the moment.
Yes, they have things to teach me.
Yes, they say relevant things about knowing God, & knowing what He wants for me to be & do, think & say.
Yes, I believe it's a genuine historical incident recorded here.
But I also agree with a number of commentaries & footnotes, which seem to feel that that eleven-verse chunk doesn't actually belong between the words of Jesus in ch. 7 & ch. 8 - whereas the recount of the blind man (ch.9) fits in much more seamlessly..
..
..
Sorry, getting ahead of myself again!
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8e chapitre (v.12-)
Five times here, Jesus emphasises that God the Father sent Him (16, 17, 26, 29, 42).
God the Sender - who takes steps towards people - seeking us before we seek Him?
Why does Jesus need to say this so often? Are the ones to whom He speaks really so much "thicker than a yard of lard" (thanks to Discworld novelist, Sir Terry J. Pratchett, for that phrase)? In other passages of Scripture, God only says something three times, & that's enough to get the point across.
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Une idée en français(e)
Being able to refer to a French Bible really adds to my study at times (I suppose that's my version of the gift of interpreting tongues!).
In English, another huge standout idea in this passage is somewhat lost in translation - the idea of the Son & the Father's testimony, testifying, witnessing.
That is, "témoignage" in French;
a witness translates to "témoin"; and
the action verb testify/witness is rendered "témoigner".
In the space of seven verses (from v.12 to v.18), this idea appears 7 times! (Which means something to those who know what the Bible does with certain numbers..)
It seems that knowing & responding rightly to God involves accepting His testimony, as the Father, about Jesus - in addition to accepting what Jesus testifies about Himself.
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Les croyances
Those Jesus is talking to will not believe what He says about Himself. Once again, the concept of believing in Jesus - abiding in, hearing & keeping His Word - pops up constantly (like this mad mole-bashing toy game that I was playing with the youngest of 3 kids on Saturday night while babysitting, only you don't hit the Word with a plastic hammer when it lights up!!).
To verify what I'm saying here, check out 8,31; 8,43-47; also 8,51-55.
Oh, and that Word is truth (v.14,16,32,40,45-46).
My impressions of this section overall are that knowing God has everything to do with knowing Jesus (see also v.19 & 55); AND as reinforced constantly in the preceding chapters).
That being a disciple of Jesus is about abiding in His Word (sticking with His Word?).
That what God wants means recognising our slavery to sin before Him (vv.32-36);
loving (v.42), honouring (v.49) & glorifying Him (v.50);
accepting Him, & accepting the One He sent.
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Still common themes. And this is not a comprehensive study. Haven't even focused on the light-darkness comparison. Yet the patterns I've been tracking have continued recurring thus far.
And next chapter, there will still be unbelief towards Jesus. Oh, and increasing hostility. And yet - one blind man, who will truly see..
But that's for later.
{To Be Cont'd}
L/T.
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