CAF Bible Study - The Gospel of John

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katy said:
That is certainly one possibilty, but maybe he was bewildered by the whole thing. His behavior after Jesus healed him isn’t very creditable, tho.😦 That seems to be how people often act. I will try to remember to thank Jesus and not behave like that. I hope. Most of the time. If I remember. Rats.
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I’ve often wondered if one reason that guy annoys me so much is that maybe he reminds me too much of myself.
 
I think the man is a good example of those of us (well, yeah, most of us) who look upon our own sinful ways as an excuse to not better ourselves. We think we are so different from others, maybe, that God couldn’t possibly forgive our sins. We wallow in this self-pity because it’s easier than to struggle for our salvation, only to fail.

In my case, often, I am my own worst enemy.
 
NotWorthy said:
I think the man is a good example of those of us (well, yeah, most of us) who look upon our own sinful ways as an excuse to not better ourselves. We think we are so different from others, maybe, that God couldn’t possibly forgive our sins. We wallow in this self-pity because it’s easier than to struggle for our salvation, only to fail.

In my case, often, I am my own worst enemy.
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Brother ain’t that the truth! 🤷

I suppose that that also carries over from many other things as well, but there is always that temptation to think that we just can’t help ourselves. Even St. Paul says something about how he feels that way sometimes and how he deals with it. (See Romans 7:15-25)

** MaryJ**, your post might be something to quote and open a thread with over in NCR. (Non-Catholic Religions) It might get you some response and insight while maybe at the same time getting some of those folks to think about your very good point.
 
Church_Militant said:
Brother ain’t that the truth! 🤷

I suppose that that also carries over from many other things as well, but there is always that temptation to think that we just can’t help ourselves. Even St. Paul says something about how he feels that way sometimes and how he deals with it. (See Romans 7:15-25)

MaryJ, your post might be something to quote and open a thread with over in NCR. (Non-Catholic Religions) It might get you some response and insight while maybe at the same time getting some of those folks to think about your very good point.
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CM, That’s a good thought, but…I’ve been there before and I just don’t have the fight(for lack of a better term) in me right now. Maybe I need me a good dippin’ in that healing pool myself, actually maybe I need someone to just throw me in the deep end. I believe I’ll go read Romans 7:15-25 that might help!! I’d just as soon hang out here and, if I got this thread off track, I do apologize.
 
Dear Catholic Family,
I wanted to talk about chapter 4 and the Samaritan Woman before you all got on to another subject. Every part of the chapter is amazing. I’ve read it over several times. But from the VERY FIRST time my husband and I were reading aloud verse 21 caught our attention. The fact that Jesus made the statement that there will be no more praying on or near that mountain ever again !!! And for thr the next 2000 years, there has been only unrest, fighting, and war all around that area including Jerusalem
21 Jesus said to her "Beleive Me woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem 22 You people worship what you do not understand, because salva-
tion is from the Jews.
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth. and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship Him.
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit.
I am a Charismatic Catholic. So I love the Holy Spirit, My Comforot. I accept all of His messages without question. I am glad to see the Holy Spirit mentioned in these verses. I read the 1890 King James bible and the NAB Catholic bible.
Sincerely, Franny
 
.How could the religious leaders be such students of the Word of God in Scripture, yet fail to recognize the Word of God when they met Him??? Troubling. Someone on another thread brought up this point that i thought was really insightful. Just like in Mathew 13:55 how people questioned how Christ could have such powers when He was just “the carpenters son”, they thought He was just an ordinary man. That this is similar to the way people deny the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.That pesky appearance of “ordinary” bread. Do you think that this part of John is preparing us for the Bread of Life discourse?:hmmm: It’s just got to be. I’m rambling…I need a nap
 
franny33 said:
Dear Catholic Family,
I wanted to talk about chapter 4 and the Samaritan Woman before you all got on to another subject. Every part of the chapter is amazing. I’ve read it over several times. But from the VERY FIRST time my husband and I were reading aloud verse 21 caught our attention. The fact that Jesus made the statement that there will be no more praying on or near that mountain ever again !!! And for thr the next 2000 years, there has been only unrest, fighting, and war all around that area including Jerusalem
21 Jesus said to her "Beleive Me woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem 22 You people worship what you do not understand, because salva-
tion is from the Jews.
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth. and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship Him.
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit.
I am a Charismatic Catholic. So I love the Holy Spirit, My Comforot. I accept all of His messages without question. I am glad to see the Holy Spirit mentioned in these verses. I read the 1890 King James bible and the NAB Catholic bible.
Sincerely, Franny
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Welcome Franny, Isn’t it great to read something out loud and have that happen. What a gift from the Holy Spirit. Please stay and contribute. And great point.
 
maryj said:
.How could the religious leaders be such students of the Word of God in Scripture, yet fail to recognize the Word of God when they met Him??? Troubling.
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If some ordinary “Joe Schmoe” came up to you and told you that the Catholic Church is no longer the “Teacher of the Truth”, would you believe him?

If you can’t see yourself in most of the sins of the Bible, you’re probably not being honest with yourself.
 
NotWorthy said:
If some ordinary “Joe Schmoe” came up to you and told you that the Catholic Church is no longer the “Teacher of the Truth”, would you believe him?

If you can’t see yourself in most of the sins of the Bible, you’re probably not being honest with yourself.
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But Jesus wasn’t just some “Joe Schmoe”. Don’t you think there must have been something extraordinary about Him? He must have been radiant. And I did have someone tell me that the Catholic church was not the teacher of the truth. Many, many people have had someone tell them that. How many catholics have left the faith because of just that. But I studied, I read, I went to my priest and asked him questions, I prayed, and I prayed some more, and I found out the truth. I’d like to believe that I would have been one of those first Christians who did believe. But then again, I still haven’t had my nap, so who knows:shrug:
 
maryj said:
But Jesus wasn’t just some “Joe Schmoe”. Don’t you think there must have been something extraordinary about Him? He must have been radiant. And I did have someone tell me that the Catholic church was not the teacher of the truth. Many, many people have had someone tell them that. How many catholics have left the faith because of just that. But I studied, I read, I went to my priest and asked him questions, I prayed, and I prayed some more, and I found out the truth. I’d like to believe that I would have been one of those first Christians who did believe. But then again, I still haven’t had my nap, so who knows:shrug:
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Didn’t Isaiah say that he would be plain and unassuming (massive paraphrasing going on, there)? I think Jesus’ message would have been what set Him apart from everyone else. I hate to think that people followed Him because He had good hair.

Besides, even if he was radiant, how many of the world’s best con-men were successful because they were radiant?

I guess my original question was based on the assumption that someone tried to tell you your Church is going to be replaced with a new Church, all the while you were sure your Church was the True Church. This is what the Jews were faced with. They’d had 2000 years of Scriptures telling them that they were God’s chosen ones, His firstborn, His beloved.

In my case, I’m so confident in the Truth and Foundation of my Church, that I would have trouble believing anyone who told me that my Church was wrong, no matter how clear the proof was.

Sadly, I feel I would have been among the proud Jews and Pharisees that fought Jesus at every turn. Arrogance (or self assuredness - “a rose by any other name…”) has always been one of my worst vices.
 
franny33 said:
Dear Catholic Family,
I wanted to talk about chapter 4 and the Samaritan Woman before you all got on to another subject.
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Franny, I thought I might throw something else at you. A few pages back, we discussed the marriage imagery with Jesus and the woman. To continue in that vein, what happens in the Old Testament at wells? They were the “Pick Up Spots” of the OT. The Unknown Servant found Rebecca to be Isaac’s wife at a well. Jacob met Rachel at a well. Moses met Zippura at a well. I picture these three acting like those guys on Saturday Night Live’s A Night at the Roxbury. ("What is Love? Baby, don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt me, for sure.)

Anyway, **A bride is courted at a well. Jesus the divine bridegroom has come to court His Covenant **
 
Grace_and_Glory said:
I have to admit, the guy Jesus heals in this passage strikes me as one of the most annoying people in the Bible. When Jesus asks him if he wants to be well, he whines about how he has no one to help him. That probably wouldn’t bother me, except that when Jesus heals him, he just gets up and goes without any thanks. Then, as soon as he gets the chance, he gets Jesus in trouble for helping him. He doesn’t seem at all willing to take responsibility for himself. I don’t know why he annoys me so much, but he does.
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The man was just telling Jesus the fact that for years he had been prevented from entering the pool. And he may well have thanked Jesus,but John did not bother to mention it,just as John did not mention the woman taken in adultery giving him thanks. It was Jesus who told him to get up and go. The man did not know who Jesus was,so he would not have known that he was getting Jesus in trouble.
 
Bump, Bump, bump bump!!! Are we ready to move on yet?

CM, are you awake, buddy?!?
 
To NotWorthy,
You have me dwelling on that situation. You have me imajioning myself at the well. Here is a stranger who is asking me for water. But He is the most divine man I’ve ever seen. There was something glowing all around Him. I coulndt take my eyes off of Him. And He is paying attention to me! A few minutes ago, He asked me for water. Now, He wants to give me water. And His Water is the Living Water and I will never thirst again. I will go with Him. He will be with me in my life. I’m glad that I was at the well that day. I,m thankful to be baptized Catholic.
Yes, the Samaritain woman might have thought Jesus wanted her in another way. She wanted another husband. She went back to the town and ranted and raved about His beautiful stories of the glories of everlasting heaven and the living water. She helped Jesus to convert the town’s people without her knowing.
I have a lot more to learn if you’re gonna ask me about the Old Testament. I just dont know all those other “well” quotes.
Sincerely, Franny
 
Franny, you are describing a technique that JoseMarie Escriva did (I believe he was the founder of Opus Dei). He would read a Bible Scene and then replay it in his mind, each time from the perspective of a different character in a story - almost like acting it out in a play. Can you imagine how much more we could get out of each scene if we all did that?

Take a look at this article at LumenGentleman.com to get more no this scene. The first 2/3 to 3/4 of the page deal with the background to Jacob’s Well and Samaria’s History, so you may want to skip to the meat of the article. But then, you may want to drop back and read the rest. It’s quite a good read.

BTW, Thanks for the kind words!!! Keep up the Faith, Franny!
 
John, chapter 6
1: After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiber’i-as.
2: And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased.
3: Jesus went up on the mountain, and there sat down with his disciples.
4: Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
5: Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, “How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”
6: This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
7: Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.”
8: One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him,
9: “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?”
10: Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11: Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.
12: And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost.”
13: So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten.
14: When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!”
15: Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
16: When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,
17: got into a boat, and started across the sea to Caper’na-um. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
18: The sea rose because a strong wind was blowing.
19: When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat. They were frightened,
20: but he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
21: Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
22: On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.
 
It’s interesting how John minimizes the role of the Apostles
11: Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.
In the Synoptic Gospels, it’s the Apostles who distribute the bread. John leads us to think that it was only Jesus.
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My point was that in the Synoptic Gospels, the Apostles distributed the bread, pre-figuring the Eucharistic Celebration. You know, Jesus performs the miracles, but He uses the Apostles to reveal it, just like He uses the priest to reveal the miracle of the Eucharist.

In John’s Gospel, maybe the Apostles’ roles are already established (John’s Gospel was meant for a different purpose than the other three). Maybe John needed to teach the faithful that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, but I’m getting a little ahead, aren’t I?
 
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