John 8:31-47 Believing and Discipleship

Let me say from the beginning, this passage has pierced me to the heart. Therefore, I will attempt to convey my personal journey in this post. I hope it helps prod you to move deeper in your relationship with HIM. - Dan

John 8:31-47

Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, From this opening statement, we are tied to the preceding paragraph, specifically verse 30 when many Jews believed Him as He spoke. Therefore this paragraph is one of two paragraphs containing the dialogue between Jesus and those who believed Him. Interesting, "believed Him," not "believed in Him." Literally, πρὸς τοὺς πεπιστευκότας αὐτῷ Ἰουδαίους means 'to the Jews believing Him.' Their 'belief' was perfect (past, with present results) and active tense. Their 'belief' was not any different than mine. They had Jesus speaking with them in flesh. Yet, I have the Spirit as a fulfillment of Jesus' finished work on the cross and the resurrection. "If you abide in My word, 'If" introduces a conditional clause. I may and I may not. 'Abide' communicates a wellspring of meaning consistent with my posture towards 'His word." It is the Greek word, μένω, meaning 'continue, lodge, wait for, remain, live, stay, stand fast, tarry, abide, expect, long for.' The tense of this verb is aorist meaning the my 'abiding' is punctiliar not present as in 'on-going,' and not past as in 'been there, done that.' My 'abiding', even though I don't know the results of my 'abiding' is to be 'continuing simple acts which are dependent or connected to each other. Each single act of 'abiding' stands on its own and will produce the result, no matter what it is. The term 'word' could relate to this written word we call the Bible, the very spoken word(s) of Jesus or the teaching(s) of Jesus. Of these three options the written word, the Bible, is the most objective. Therefore, does that, describe my Bible Study time, my devotional life, my time of listening to God, my thought patterns throughout the day? When someone asks me where I live, do I say, "In His word?" When someone asks me what I am waiting for, no matter the circumstance, am I ready to reply, "In His word?" then you are truly disciples of Mine; 'Then' gives me the result of me 'punctiliarly abiding.' If my Bible study, devotional time, listening time, is characterized by 'longing for,' then I am a true disciple of Jesus. If I do NOT, then I am NOT. I may believe, but I am NOT a true disciple (ἀληθῶς μαθηταί μου ἐστε). At this point, it is fair for me to ask myself, "Am I a true disciple of Christ?" Sometimes 'yes,' and sometimes 'no.' Sometimes 'waiting, longing, expecting,' and sometimes not. I 'believe' but I waffle in the 'punctiliar abiding' in the word of Jesus. How can I get the 'waffling' abiding developed into 'punctiliar abiding?' Honestly, there is no better motivation than knowing the results of my actions. What does 'punctiliar abiding' produce in me? What does NOT 'punctiliar abiding' result in me? Knowing the answers to these questions should motivate me to be a ἀληθῶς μαθηταί. and you shall know the truth, There it is, a result of me be a 'true disciple.' I shall 'know.' The term 'know' is from the Greek word, γινώσκω, meaning 'know, especially through first-hand experience.' It has prominent occurrences in the Bible, Luke 1:34 and Genesis 4:1 which highlight "sexual intimacy" as distinguished from 'mentally knowing.' Therefore, as a result of 'punctiliarly abiding' in His word, I will be a 'true disciple' and will 'first-hand experience the truth.' Not 'A truth',' but 'THE truth' (τὴν ἀλήθειαν). and the truth shall make you free." FREEDOM! THE truth will make me free. I cannot make myself free. But, I can make a decision to 'punctiliarly abide' in His word in order to be free through the 'first-hand knowing' of THE truth. My freedom is directly tied to two things: 1. My habitual abiding in His word, and, 2. 'first-hand' experience of the truth. I purpose to do the first and the second is a result that is all about me being free. Free from what? As one who believes, how am I in bondage? How am I a slave? How am I tied up or restricted? How am I stuck?

They answered Him, "We are Abraham's offspring, They, the believing Jews answered Him. Aw, the all to familiar response to someone's talk about freedom and my potential slavery. My first response, like theirs, is "I am a Christian. I am a Believer. I am a Child of the King. I am Redeemed. I am Forgiven. I am covered in the Blood." Look at all of my 'I am....s.' Not one 'He is.....' or mention of the word 'disciple' or 'true disciple' or 'waiting' or 'longing' or 'expecting' or ....... Do I defend my free/bondage state with my family relations? These Jews were resting on their forefather and his favor with God. I am reminded that God has no grandchildren. and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; The beauty of denial. These Jews, these believing Jews were defending their free/bondage state of being with their recollection of the past, how well they 'knew' their own history. No enslavement, really? What about the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and currently the Romans? The beauty of denial. how is it that You say, 'You shall become free'?" They, like me, are interested in freedom. But, I so often, front load my attraction to resulting freedom instead of focusing on the first element of the process leading to freedom which is 'punctiliarly abiding'. I want to be free from the things I know and the things I do not yet know. But, I must not focus on being free. I must not bring my positions and relations to my defense. There is only one option. I must focus on 'punctiliarly abiding' in His word and then, through first-hand experience of the truth, the truth will make me free. I cannot make myself free. The truth will make me free. My ability to defend myself based on relationships and simply not able to recall any instances of bondage are lame responses to being a disciple of Jesus. In fact, having those behaviors and NOT 'punctiliarly abiding' in His word has its own outcome.

Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin, and the slave does not remain in the house forever; Jesus responds to the believing Jews as He responds to me in that my enslavement is due not to physical bondage or relational misfortunes but in whole due to me committing sin. I am drawn to two words: 'commit' and 'sin.' For whatever 'commit' is I do not want to do it. And, whatever 'sin' is, I do not want to do it. For the 'committing of sin' leads to forever bondage. The Greek word ὁ ποιῶν (Present Active Participle from ποιέω) literally means to 'do, make, act, construct, manufacture, cause, create, bring into existence, compose, invent, describe, represent, bring about, or procure. Okay, with the broad range of meaning in ποιέω there is room for good and evil. For there is nothing wrong with 'doing, making, constructing, etc.' The only warning to myself is that I am not 'The Inventor, The Maker, The Constructor, The Creator, etc.' Hence, the next word. The Greek word for 'sin' is τὴν ἁμαρτίαν (from ἁμαρτία) meaning: missing the mark, fault, failure, sinful deed, error in judgment. Straightforward! W. E. Vine (Expository Dictionary of N.T. Words) states "It is the most comprehensive term for moral obliquity." Do not 'cause error in judgment.' Do not 'cause fault.' Do not 'construct sinful deed(s).' For in being the one who ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν I am a slave (δοῦλός). I personally know that sin hurts God. For my disobedience to His perfect will for me is often worked out in my mistrusting of Him. In sinning I do not believe what He says is truly good and the best for me. I trade His love for the love of other people and things. I trade listening to Him for listening to myself and other people. I trade waiting on Him for succumbing to myself and the so-called expectations of others. In all this I trade freedom in Christ for bondage to sin. I do that which I do not want to do and I don't do that which I should be doing. Who can rescue me from this 'bondage to sin?' That was Paul's question in Romans. the son does remain forever. If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. YEAH! Only the Son of God can rescue. For only one who is free can rescue. He makes me free! I cannot unbind myself. So much for 'self help books.' The Bible is the 'He helps book.' I must not turn to anything but the Son of God for freedom. Therefore, I know that you are Abraham's offspring; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. Apart from my dependence on the Son of God and His word, I will rely on my heritage of all sorts, legitimate or illegitimate. Any deterrence from the Son of God and His word will result in my total opposition to the Son of God and His word. He knows my sin. Therefore, why hide behind excuses. Oh, but how tempting it is to leave the God I love and resist His loving call to return. I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father." The lines of legitimate heritage are clearly drawn. Jesus speaks of what He has seen. And I will do that which I heard. Who's your daddy? They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." I must be careful of my familial proclamations especially when 'slavery,' 'bondage' and 'freedom are at stake. Jesus said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham. But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. You are doing the deeds of your father." This is sometimes true of me as a believer as it was of them. I believe but I find myself retracting to illegitimate relations and behaviors. John,in the Revelation, wrote Jesus' words to a Church in which He wish they were either hot or cold. But, they were neither, so He will spew them out of His mouth. I am in treacherous territory when I believe but perform mutinous deeds. Sin, an absence of total trust, can be eradicated only by the Son of God. They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." I cannot honestly use this defense. However, when I sin or verbalize my tendency to defend my slavery on familial grounds, I must NOT defend myself. If I do I will find myself, as they did, digging a deeper hole. They claimed identity with the Father through birthright, but neglected the Son of God and His offer of freedom. Do I take my position in the Father lightly? May it never be. Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. Jesus responds with words that deeply warn me. He makes the connection between relationship and love. I claim to be of the Father, but do I love Jesus; not just believe Him or in Him? He is ...... Do I understand? If I do not love (not believe) then I cannot hear, much less understand, His word. It is impossible to 'punctiliarly abide' is His word if I cannot hear and understand. Hence the reason why. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. If I do not love the Son as a result of being of the Father, abiding in His word by being able to hear and understand, then my true father is the devil, even if I say otherwise. Is my life full of murder, falsehood and lies? Then, this is so. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God." Jesus speaks the truth and His words stand faithful for me to spend all of my days 'punctiliarly abiding.' I believe and there is nothing wrong with Jesus. He is without sin. Therefore, it is possible to believe or to believe in Jesus without being a 'true disciple' and also without being 'of God.' My love for Jesus, the Son of God will reveal if I am truly a disciple, believing Him and of God.

I must expectantly hope in His word. I must love Him. I must believe Him. I must trust Him. I must listen to Him. I must NOT break His heart.


James 2:19 "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.'


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John 8:21-30 HE spoke, THEY believed

My purpose in presenting this section of the Gospel of John is to illustrate the basic principles of Bible study as taught by Dr. Howard Hendricks in his Living by the Book materials. First, I give you the text without verse designations. In my presentation of the text in this manner you will notice it also arranged as to accentuate those speaking. For this section is a dialogue. Then, I will list my notes for the three essential steps moving towards the goal of life change.

John 8:21-30
Then He said again to them, "I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come."

So the Jews were saying, "Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?"

And He was saying to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in you sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

So they were saying to Him, "Who are You?"

Jesus said to them, "What have I been saying to you from the beginning? I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world."

They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father.

So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him." As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.

STEP ONE: OBSERVATION
This the step in which we ask and answer the question: "What do I see?"

Who?

• Jesus
• the Jews
• He who sent
• Father
• Son of Man
• I AM (ἐγὼ εἰμι)
  
• Many

What?

• die
• sin
• kill
• believe
• true
• initiative

When?

• again
• the beginning
• future (go away, die, in sin, lift up, will know)
• Past (have been saying)

Where?

• I am going
• below
• above
• this world

How?

• Jesus: "...you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
• Jesus: "He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."

STEP TWO: INTERPRETATION
We ask and answer the question: "What does it mean?"
What does it mean that we will die in our 'sin' if we seek Him? Seeking after something first implies that you either do not know what you seek to know or that you do not have that which you seek to have. Therefore, the process of 'seeking' will fall short in attaining the object sought. Hence, 'seeking' after Jesus will result in death in your sin.

What does it mean that we will not die if we 'believe' Him? 'Believing' Him will result in not dying. This is juxtaposed to 'seeking' with a determinate result. 'Believing' takes hold of the object without the consistent ongoing inquisition.

What does it mean that we are to 'know' Him? We must 'know' Him. Knowing about Him is not knowing Him. Knowing what He has done is not knowing Him. He is. We must be aware of our emphasis on knowing about Him and His works as compared to knowing Him and with His works as secondary. Am I content to know Him?

What does it mean to please the Father? If Jesus is the pattern for my life then, I must be aware, from Scripture, what pleases the Father.



STEP THREE: APPLICATION
We ask and answer the question(s): "How does it work?" "So what?"
How are we to seek? HIM. However, do not let 'seeking' be my definitive act.
How are we to believe? HIM. I must believe HE IS, ἐγὼ εἰμι.
How are we to 'know?' HIM. I must know HE IS, ἐγὼ εἰμι. My knowing of HIM is greatly aided by the crucifixion, the demonstration of HIS love, covering of sin, and my penalty carrier.
What pleases the Father? I will earnestly seek from this time, to plunge into the Scripture to discover what 'pleases' the Father. Then, I will arrange those into morning by morning articulations and meditations that will result in me knowing HIM, believing HIM and seeking HIM.



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John 4:43-54 Royal Official: Healing and Faith

According to John
Chapter 4

Verses 43-45
43 After the two days He went forth from there into Galilee. 44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast.

Verses 46-54
46 Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum . 47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” 49 The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. 51 As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. 52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. 54 This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.


COMMENTARY
Verses 43-45
After the two days He went forth from there into Galilee. Remember, Jesus took a detour from the normal Jewish route, to go through Samaria. The accepted clean "non-associative" route led travelers to traverse the Jordan River when traveling from (to) Judea in the south to ( from) Galilee in the north instead of going straight through Samaria. These two days refer to the time spent with the Samaritan woman and those of her Samaritan city. That part of the story is told in the paragraphs immediately before in According to John. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. John, the Disciple, Apostle and writer of this account, gives us an interesting statement here. John remembers hearing Jesus saying this about Himself. It was more than a Jewish idiom. At its core we have the subject of "honor" introduced like a fly darting across your field of vision. "Honor" as translated in the New American Standard is τιμὴν (timen) in the Greek language. Even though it is not a major issue in this story, I would like to take this time to begin a cultivation of its meaning so we will have a foundation as we continue through John's account. From the root word, , meaning I. worship, esteem, honor, and in pl. honors, such as are accorded to gods or to superiors, or bestowed (whether by gods or men) as a reward for services, 2. honor, dignity, lordship, as the attribute of gods or kings, 3. a dignity, office, magistracy, and in pl., civic honors, 4. present of honor, compliment, offering, e.g. to the gods, II. of things, worth, value, price, 2. valuation, estimate, for purposes of assessment, III. compensation, satisfaction, penalty. The opposite of honor is shame. Honor is to speak well of or to attribute worth to or to place a great price on. Shame is to speak badly against or to attribute uselessness to or to devalue something or someone. Let me ask you a question. Does your speech, the words that come out of your mouth, sound like honor? Do you honor and build people up? Or, do you shame and tear people down? Now! I know I don't have to look far past my family relationship to see how I have to fight to keep honor in my speech. But, do you honor and build YHWH up in your life? Or, do you shame HIM? I think that John remembered Jesus' comment for this reason. We can sometimes allow familiarity to breed dishonor. Familiarity in any realm of life can provide us with the opportunity to abandon our awe which leads to dishonor. Keep that in mind as you study the whole of God's Word and see how His people frequently fail when familiarity attacks the freshness of their fellowship with YHWH. You must never say (for it is never true), "been there, done that" with YHWH. HE IS........... So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast. The Galileans, these are the ones that Jesus said that they did not honor him, yet they searched Him out because of what He did in Jerusalem. More than likely these Galileans took the trans-Jordan trek from Judea instead of following Jesus through Samaria. They were probably asking each other about Jesus, his doings and sayings, as they reached Galilee from their time in Jerusalem. Jesus was the buzz of their conversations and they were looking to be with Him. Yet, a prophet has no honor in his own country. Their receiving Him might have a superficial flavor to it.

Verses 46-54
Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. Jesus and his followers, our author included, return to the site of Jesus' first miracle. Remember, Jesus performed this miracle at a wedding and his miraculous deed was behind the scenes to save the face of the bridegroom. If anyone ever understands the role of the bridegroom in a wedding, it is Jesus Christ.
And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. It was approximately 25 miles from Cana to Capernaum. Remember that Cana is inland on a slope fit for vineyards. Capernaum was a coastal town on the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee. Regarding the royal official this is no ordinary government bureaucrat. The Greek word here, , tells us and the Greek reading audience that this man was royal, kingly, one who has proven himself truly kingly, and acted with kingly authority. He either belonged to a king, in this case Caesar, or he was the king's friend or officer. He was a little more that noble. John use this term to accentuate this man's tie to royalty so that we see that people from all walks of life came to Jesus for answers and healing. Remember, this falls on the chronological heals of Jesus speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well. The next chronological event, if I may presume, is Jesus speaking with a crippled man. Jesus was known for interacting with all walks of life. Jesus has not changed and He will not change. He can meet you at the point of your need no matter how abased or kingly.
When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. This royal man heard, went and implored. What an example of someone desperate to have an encounter with Jesus. The word translated heard is the Greek word ἀκούσας is a primary verb meaning to hear (in various senses) -- give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand (Strong's Concordance). Have you heard anything concerning Jesus? Then, the royal man went to Him. As a result of hearing about Jesus, the man went to Him. Have acted on your hearing of Jesus by going to Him? Then the royal man was imploring Him. The word translated implore is ἠρώτα from ἐρωτάω meaning to interrogate; by implication, to request -- ask, beseech, desire, entreat, pray. W.E. Vine (Expository Dictionary of N. T. Words, p. 79. Thank you Chris F. for the gift of this book years ago.) states that ἐρωτάω more frequently suggests that the petitioner is on a footing of equality or familiarity with the person whom he requests. It is used of a king in making request from another king.... In this respect it is significant that the Lord Jesus (always used ἐρωτάω) in the matter of making request to the (His) Father." The royal man, with the use of this petitioning word, states his appropriate high view of himself. The man respectfully asked and beseeched Jesus for his son was dying. Death was out of the control of this royal man who desperately dared to put himself on the same footing with Jesus. Are you desperate? If so, then respond to what you have heard, go to Jesus and petition him for life in the areas of death: light in the areas of darkness; peace in the areas of unrest; understanding in the areas of bewilderment; strength in the areas of weakness...
So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” The word translated signs is the Greek word σημεῖα meaning a sign from the gods, omen, wonder, portent, as in LXX Exodus 4:8; Matthew 24:24; John 4:48, cf; especially of the constellations, regarded as signs. The Greek word for wonders is τέρατα sign, wonder, marvel, portent, a sign of coming battle; especially of signs in heaven; in concrete sense, monster; of a serpent, of the Sphinx; used by Cicero of Caesar, Att.8.9.4; monstrous birth, monstrosity. The word translated believe is πιστεύσητε in Greek. This word carries much to be investigated regarding its use and meaning, not only to Christian literature but to the whole of Greek literature as it reflects Greek culture. It carries the simply meanings of: trust, put faith in, rely on a person, thing, or statement. Also, certain nuances such as certainty and confidence highlight the central heart felt expression of this royal man. For he said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." A simple request in a time of great need. And Jesus said to him, "Go, your son lives." The word that all parents of dying children would love to hear. The Word in flesh, the great I AM, YHWH, the Lord Jesus Christ speaking to you saying, 'your child lives.' Note the reaction of the child's father. The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off. There is our believe word again. This time can you feel the confidence that the royal man had in a simple word from Jesus? No questions. No requests to have Jesus repeat what He said. He was sitting on all confidence that expressed his faith. Jesus said it, the man believed it and that settled it. Your son lives. WOW! What faith. What confidence. I only desire to live a life that expresses such simple confidence in Jesus. A faith that does not ask questions nor does it need to understand everything before I accept His Word.
As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. Can you imagine the celebration of life? Do not confuse these slaves situation with their master, the royal man, and the slavery so cruelly forced upon Africans and children in our past and present. New Testament slavery is a subject for interesting study but not at this time. These slaves were trusted with the household while this royal man carried out his duties and visit to see Jesus. They were caring for the son while the father went to beg Jesus to heal his son. Be careful to note the spread of confidence in Jesus throughout this household which more than likely included the slaves. Does your household have a confidence in Jesus? No matter how high socially, politically, economically and scholastically you are, or think you are, there is much to be gained by confidently trusting in Jesus, even for the life of your child.

As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household. Can you imagine the celebration of life? Do not confuse these slaves situation with their master, the royal man, and the slavery so cruelly forced upon Africans and children in our past and present. New Testament slavery is a subject for interesting study but not at this time. These slaves were trusted with the household while this royal man carried out his duties and visit to see Jesus. They were caring for the son while the father went to beg Jesus to heal his son. Be careful to note the spread of confidence in Jesus throughout this household which more than likely included the slaves. Does your household have a confidence in Jesus? No matter how high socially, politically, economically and scholastically you are, or think you are, there is much to be gained by confidently trusting in Jesus, even for the life of your child.

This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee. John's remark here brings us to reflect on Jesus' first miracle in Cana when he turned water into wine at the wedding feast. Both of these miracles were in the private realm with those immediately affected and the disciples. John primarily focuses on the private moments in the life of Jesus. He and his life account are different from the other three gospel writers, Matthew, Mark and Luke.

SUMMARY
This portion of chapter 4 is often overlooked. It stands in the middle of some of the great quoted passage from well known stories from the Bible. Yet, what an example of the authority of Jesus and the confident faith of the high ranking royal man. There is much to be applied from their brief encounter. Act on what you have heard about Jesus. Let those words draw you to him with the aches of your heart. Plead with Him for intervention into your life circumstance(s). Then, accept His word to you, which is a promise of His care for you. If you truly come to Him confidently and then go confidently, then your household will be full of confidence as they trust in Jesus. He is faithful to pull you out of the kingdom of darkness, lies, and death by transferring you into His Kingdom which is the kingdom of light, truth and life.

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