Please read Chapters 11-22 of John's gospel.Your 4th MT study question notes that, while the Gospel of John is in some ways very different from the synoptic gospels, it often complements and suplements the synoptics.
Choose a verse or passage from the assigned chapters and a "parallel" verse or passage from one of the synoptics on the same subject (e.g., money, leadership, faith, etc.). Compare and contrast the two verses or passages.
The gospel of John includes an account of the Last Supper but John includes an account of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. Jesus washes their feet and Peter protests to allowing Jesus to do such a thing since it is a lowly servant's job. But Jesus insisted that he wanted to serve them. He wanted to do everything that he could for them and he would be serving them differently very soon as he went to the cross. Jesus was showing that he was there to turn the world on its head; he was there to serve and to do what no one else could do and he proved that he would do what no one else would do by doing a servant's job and willingly dying on the cross for his friends and all people. Jesus playing the part of a servant is a nice supplement to the story. -Zach Kuhlman
ReplyDeleteNaturally John includes Peter's denial, but in comparison to Luke, I much rather prefer Luke. John 18:27 states, "Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow." However, Luke 22:60-62 states,"Peter replied, 'Man, I don't know what you are talking about!' Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him, 'before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly." John's version seems very short, sweet, and to the point, but it doesn't really capture my emtions. Luke's version however, captures my emotions, especially with the words, "the Lord looked straight at Peter' and '...he went outside and wept bitterly.' Luke's version helps us feel exactly what Peter was feeling at the time and, therefore, helps us better understand the crucifixion and resurrection.
ReplyDelete-Melinda Quade
There are many stories of death in the Bible. The raising of Lazarus and the raising of the little girl; Lazarus is in John’s gospel and the little girl is in Mark’s. Two very similar stories, but how do they relate to each other? Simple, each one shows that when you have unyielding faith in Christ anything is possible. In both stories people mock Jesus and tell him that it is not possible and yet he raises them both anyway. It is this simple fact that makes Jesus seem all the more powerful. As long as we have faith anything can be accomplished. Both stories enhance the idea of faith and how much of a role it needs to play in our lives. They may not seem like they play off of each other, but if one looks close enough they really increase one’s faith. -Kelly Longden
ReplyDeleteIn John 15:1-6, Jesus' discussion on the vine and branches comes into play again.
ReplyDelete“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”
In Luke 6:43-45 we have something similar.
“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."
In both of these passages, Jesus tells us that if we are a good tree, or part of His vine, then we will produce good fruit. This good fruit is made evident by the lives that we help save and influence.
In John, this passage is similar to that found in Luke and Matthew, but includes a longer message, and focuses more/has more imperative set on living a life in Christ. This is consistent with scripture specific to John, as he typically focuses more on the aspect of eternal life through Jesus rather than the types of messages Matthew and Luke have already written.
(Note: this passage in Matthew can be found in 7:15-20)
In John 15:26-27 says "I will send you the Helper from the Father; he is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me, and you also must tell people about me, because you have been with me from the beginning.
ReplyDeleteIn Luke 12: 11-12 says " When you are brought into the synagogues before the leaders and other powerful people don't worry about how to defend yourself or what to say. At that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say."
I found it really interesting how in both they say that the Holy Spirit when preaching the word about Jesus will be there to help you, one just has to have faith and allow the Spirit in. Also in both they say how they will be judged for being followers of Jesus, but are told not to worry for have faith in the Holy Spirit to help you in your ways.
However John addressed how to approach those who hate Jesus, while Luke spoke of how to speak of Jesus in the synagogues. But both of them strongly state to not be ashamed and to be overly proud of Jesus.
The Last Supper is in both the Gospels of Luke and John, but they have very different approaches. John focuses more on what Christ has to say during this time than what Luke did. Luke doesn't even give this area a full chapter, whereas John is writing several chapters on what Christ said before the betrayal. John gives a warning, but a reassurance that it will be alright. Luke doesn't show all of those things. Luke and John both include Peter's denial of Christ.
ReplyDeleteIt blows my mind at how much these two books have different perspectives on what was written.
Jesus naming his betrayer occurs in both Luke and John, although there are some distinct differences. in Luke, Jesus says that on of his disciple will betray him right after the Last Supper, after they have all eaten with him. In John, however, he says is after he has washed his disciples feet. interestingly, both stories don't appear in the other gospels, even though they both connect to a major event. -Sean M.
ReplyDeleteThe Gospel of John makes a point to complement the synoptic Gospels by showing Jesus predicting his own death in John 12:20-26. Again John shows Jesus as more of a divinity as opposed to the synoptic gospels by saying "The time has come for the son of Man to be Glorified." He also makes no point of the chief priests being involved in his death, but mentions that his sacrifice would be a the ultimate one and help establish his church essentially.
ReplyDelete-Zack Krage
Peter's Denial Predicted in both Gospels. In Luke, even though it is a short passage, Jesus is, in a way, asking that Simon and everybody else's faith be with them. In John, Simon is asking why can't he go where Jesus is going. Jesus then replies that now is not his time. This was also the part where Jesus had told him that Simon will deny him three times before the cock crows. Even though the wording is different, they pretty much mean the same thing.
ReplyDelete-Cheryl Hansen
For my parallel I actually find a similar theme brought up in two different passages at two different times. In John one of the great last moments with Jesus at the last supper, Jesus washes his disciples feat after being questioned by John and Jame's mother, "who will sit at your right and left in heaven." This is also displayed when the disciples ask Jesus in Luke Ch. 9, "who will be the greatest." This is a question which I believe has great impact on pastors of today, in the respect that people long for significance. Jesus responds by saying "unless you become like a child, you will never achieve the kingdom of heaven." This goes to show a similar aspect of denying one's self the option of seeking personal gratification and significance! This is both a very challenging, and critical theme in the gospels no matter where the differ!
ReplyDelete-Greg Fred