1.Which account in the Gospel of John best expresses the love and character of God? Explain to the other conversation participants why you find this account so captivating.

An account in the Gospel of John that best expresses the love and character of God is John 13 – the foot washing by Jesus.

Why this account is so captivating:

1. An Expression of Humble Love:

   • Jesus, the Son of God, the Master and Teacher, washes the feet of His disciples. This task was typically the lowest duty of a servant. By doing so, He demonstrates a love expressed through humility.

   • It illustrates that true greatness lies in the willingness to serve others.

2. A Model for Discipleship:

   • Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you…” (John 13:34). This love is selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional.

   • The foot washing is not just an act of kindness but a representation of how Christians should serve and love one another.

3. Forgiveness and Grace:

   • Even Judas, who would soon betray Jesus, is among the disciples whose feet He washes. Jesus acts without bitterness, showing that His love is unconditional, even in the face of betrayal.

4. The Character Traits of God:

   • The account portrays God’s love as pure, selfless, and active. Jesus reveals that God’s nature is not marked by power or domination but by care, dedication, and the willingness to take the lowest position to uplift others.

Why this account captivates us:

• Deep Emotional Connection: It is moving to see the Creator of the universe show love in such a personal and intimate way.

• Challenge to Imitate: The foot washing challenges us to be humble in our own lives and to love others without reservations, regardless of their status or behavior.

• A Picture of Divine Love: The account illustrates that God’s love does not need to be earned—it is given unconditionally. This inspires and encourages us to pass on that love.

John 13 is a vivid portrayal of God’s character, who desires to transform our lives through love and humility.

2.How should one concretely approach the search for truth?

The search for truth is a central component of the Christian life and requires a conscious and holistic approach. Here are concrete steps on how to proceed:

1. Align Yourself with God’s Word

• Bible Reading and Study: The Bible is the foundation for truth. John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” Regular Bible study helps understand God’s thoughts.

• Consider the Context: Read Scripture in context to properly understand the meaning of a passage and avoid misinterpretations.

2. Pray for Guidance

• Trust in the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit leads into all truth (John 16:13). Praying before reading the Bible helps cultivate a receptive heart for God’s guidance.

• Humility in Prayer: Pray that God removes pride and prejudices that might hinder the recognition of truth.

3. Openness and Willingness

• Open Heart: Be willing to question your beliefs and ways of thinking when the truth calls you to do so.

• Obedience: The willingness to not only recognize the truth but also act upon it is crucial. John 7:17 says, “Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”

4. Seek Community

• Exchange with Other Believers: Conversations with spiritual mentors, teachers, or other Christians can help better understand the truth and dispel doubts.

• Pray and Learn Together: Fellowship in the church strengthens faith and promotes understanding.

5. Test the Truth

• Compare with the Bible: Everything you hear or learn should be compared with Scripture to ensure it aligns with God’s truth.

• Fruit of the Spirit as a Standard: Insights that originate from God’s truth will always align with the love, peace, and grace of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

6. Remain Patient

• Truth Takes Time: Spiritual growth and deeper understanding of God’s truth do not happen overnight. It is a lifelong process.

• Accept Doubt as Part of the Search: Doubts can be opportunities to grow deeper in faith and better understand the truth.

7. Seek Truth in Life

• Live in Discipleship of Jesus: Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Discipleship means using His life and teachings as the standard for truth.

• Integrity and Honesty: Seeking the truth also means being honest with yourself and others and seeking God’s will in all things.

Summary: The search for truth begins with studying God’s Word, praying, being open and obedient, engaging in community with other believers, testing insights against Scripture, and living in discipleship of Jesus. Patience and the willingness to be transformed are essential to deeply understand and live out God’s truth.

3.Why is it generally difficult to relinquish the self as a judge of truth? Can we ever fully do so, or will our humanity always influence how we view the Holy Scriptures to some extent? Why must we acknowledge this fact, and how does humility help us subordinate our prejudices to the word of God?

Why is it difficult to relinquish the self as a judge of truth?

Relinquishing our ego and human self-perception as the standard for truth is challenging because:

1. Human Pride and Self-Centeredness:

   • The Desire to Be Right: The desire to be correct is deeply ingrained. We tend to place our opinions and interpretations above the truth.

2. Limited Perspective:

   • Influenced Perception: Our perception is shaped by culture, upbringing, personal experiences, and emotions, which can distort our view.

3. Fear of Losing Control:

   • Seeking External Truth: Seeking truth outside of ourselves means relinquishing control and relying on God’s revelation—a step that can bring uncertainty.

4. Cognitive Bias:

   • Confirmation Bias: People tend to interpret information in ways that confirm their existing beliefs, hindering the objective search for truth.

Can we ever fully do so?

No, we cannot completely eliminate our humanity and its influence on our perspective. We remain flawed beings with limited understanding. However, through the Holy Spirit and spiritual growth, we can:

1. Become More Aware:

   • Recognize Biases: We can learn to recognize and acknowledge our prejudices.

2. Seek Divine Truth:

   • Subordinate Self to God’s Word: With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can increasingly subordinate ourselves to God’s Word.

3. Progress Over Perfection:

   • Continuous Maturation: It is not about being perfect but about pursuing a path of constant maturation and correction.

Why must we acknowledge this fact?

1. Avoiding Pride:

   • Recognizing Limitations: Acknowledging that our perception is limited prevents us from arrogantly claiming absolute truth for ourselves.

2. Better Learning:

   • Openness to God’s Wisdom: Knowing our limitations makes us more open to God’s wisdom and correction through Scripture and other believers.

3. Honest Approach to Scripture:

   • Preventing Distortion: Recognizing our limitations guards us against distorting the Bible with preconceived opinions.

How does humility help us subordinate our prejudices to the word of God?

1. Humility Opens Us to God’s Guidance:

   • Receptive to the Holy Spirit: Acknowledging that we do not know everything makes us more receptive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and God’s truth.

2. Learning Through Correction:

   • Admitting Misinterpretations: Humility allows us to admit our misinterpretations and learn from them instead of clinging to false beliefs.

3. Alignment with God Instead of Self:

   • Acknowledging God’s Authority: Humility helps us recognize God as the highest authority and align ourselves with His plan rather than fitting Him into our own thinking.

4. Fostering Community:

   • Learning from Others: Humility enables us to learn from others and protects us from isolation and self-righteousness.

Conclusion:

It remains difficult to relinquish the self as the judge of truth because our humanity always influences us to some extent. However, acknowledging this fact prevents pride and error. Through humility, we can recognize our prejudices and subordinate them to God’s Word. The willingness to be corrected by the Holy Spirit and Scripture is key to a mature, truth-oriented faith.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/lesson-13-epilogue-knowing-jesus-and-his-word-13-7-questions-themes-in-the-gospel-of-john-living-faith/

December 28, 2024

DAILY BIBLE READING – 2 Corinthians Chapter 2

¹ But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

² For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

³ And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

⁴ For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

⁵ But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

⁶ Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

⁷ So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

⁸ Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

⁹ For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

¹⁰ To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

¹¹ Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

¹² Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,

¹³ I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

¹⁴ Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

¹⁵ For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

¹⁶ To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

¹⁷ For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

King James Version. Public Domain

 

Commentary

Introduction

In the second chapter of the second letter to the Corinthians, Paul shares his deep inner struggles, his concern for the church in Corinth, and his desire for reconciliation and love. This chapter is divided into two main themes: Paul’s motivations for his written admonitions and the importance of forgiveness within the church, as well as the portrayal of the proclamation of the Gospel as the triumphant victory of Christ.

Commentary

Paul exhibits a very human side in the first section, characterized by sorrow, compassion, and responsibility. His letters to the Corinthians are not intended to sadden the congregation but to encourage them toward love and unity. Particularly noticeable is the emphasis on forgiveness: a disciplined church member should not be permanently excluded but should be readmitted to the community through love. This underscores the central value of reconciliation in the Christian faith. Paul reminds the Corinthians that a lack of forgiveness could provide space for the workings of Satan.

In the second section, Paul turns his attention to the greatness and glory of the proclamation of the Gospel. He describes it as a “good fragrance,” which means life for believers but death for unbelievers. This metaphor emphasizes the profound impact of the Gospel, both positive and negative, depending on the heart attitude of the listener. In doing so, Paul presents himself as a faithful servant of God who delivers the word pure and untainted.

Summary

The chapter provides insight into Paul’s pastoral care. He writes with great emotional depth to urge the church toward forgiveness and love. At the same time, he highlights the triumphant nature of the Gospel, which brings both life and judgment. Through these words, it becomes clear that Paul aims not only to protect the unity and purity of the church but also to emphasize the glory and power of the Gospel, which he proclaims with integrity and in the authority of Christ.

 

 

WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING – Ellen White | The Desire of Ages
Chapter 82—“Why Weepest Thou?”
This chapter is based on Matthew 28:1, 5-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18.
Read online here

 

Commentary

Introduction

Chapter 82: “Why Are You Weeping?” describes the wonderful moment of Jesus’ resurrection and the encounter of the women and disciples with the risen Lord. Based on the Gospels, it is shown how the sorrow and despair of the believers are transformed into joy and hope as they realize that Jesus is alive. This chapter emphasizes the central significance of the resurrection for the Christian faith and invites believers to embrace the hope of eternal life.

Commentary

The Women at the Empty Tomb:
The women who had accompanied Jesus up to His death came with spices to honor His body, unaware that the promise of His resurrection had already been fulfilled. Their deep sorrow was transformed into awe when they saw the angel who proclaimed the good news: “He is risen.” Their spices became unnecessary because the Savior was alive.

Mary Magdalene and Her Encounter with Jesus:
Mary Magdalene, whose grief was particularly great, experienced a personal encounter with the risen Jesus. Her inability to recognize Him immediately reflects the despair that kept her from the reality of His resurrection. However, Jesus’ loving “Mary” opened her eyes. This scene illustrates how Jesus reveals Himself uniquely to each individual.

The Disciples’ Doubts:
The disciples initially reacted with disbelief to the women’s message. Their doubts and fears prevented them from accepting the truth of the resurrection. Nevertheless, Jesus did not reject them but revealed Himself to strengthen their faith and restore their hope. Especially Peter received personal assurance of forgiveness through the mention of his name.

The Message of Hope:
Jesus’ words “Why are you weeping?” and the angels’ exhortation to spread the good news are still relevant today. The resurrection is the foundation of our hope and joy because it demonstrates that death has been overcome. The call to shift our focus from sorrow to the living Christ is an invitation to live in faith and hope.

Summary

Chapter 82 depicts the encounter of the women and disciples with the risen Jesus and highlights the transformative power of the resurrection. It shows how sorrow, doubt, and despair can be transformed into joy, hope, and faith. The central message is clear: Jesus is alive, and through His resurrection, He grants all believers the hope of eternal life. This chapter calls believers to grow in faith and joyfully share the message of Jesus’ victory over death.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/28-11-2024-2-corinthians-chapter-2-believe-his-prophets/