CAF Bible Study - The Gospel of John

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The Catholic view of suffering is what helped bring me back. It is the most realistic, and the most scriptural, and ultimately the most comforting.
 
NotWorthy said:
Yeah, I’m still hangin’ in there. Keep up the good work, CM?
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Probably basking in the glory of winning the 1 millionth post contest, and wondering just what to buy with your winnings I’ll bet!!!
 
maryj said:
Probably basking in the glory of winning the 1 millionth post contest, and wondering just what to buy with your winnings I’ll bet!!!
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I am!!! I am!!!:extrahappy:

And I have no clue as to what to get. :hmmm: Any suggestions in a PM would be welcome.

BTW, evidently my prognostication skills are similar to my Apologetic skills - Sometimes even the Blind Hog finds the acorn!!!
 
[39] Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”
[40] Some of the Pharisees near him heard this, and they said to him, “Are we also blind?”
[41] Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, `We see,’ your guilt remains.

Jumping way ahead here, in 39, Jesus said “and that those who see may become blind”.

What did he mean here?
 
Church_Militant said:
[1] As he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth.
[2] And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
[3] Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him

This passage always calls to mind people I have known over the years who have been told by others that their sufferings (or especially those of their children) are always the result of sin in their lives.

While this can be true, in light of passages like Exodus 20:1-4, and 2nd Samuel 12:1-24, obviously, according to the very words of Our Lord in this passage, to allege so without a direct proclamation from God is erroneous.

It is my own belief that our most holy faith offers the best (and most scriptural!) concept of dealing with human suffering of any religion.

Our Lord’s compassion for this particular man and His teaching concerning his affliction just reinforce this all the more.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.
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O.K. I’ve finally found my glasses:nerd:
Jesus did not try to explain the link between sin and suffering. He said that this man’s problem was an occassion for illustrating what God can do. In the synoptic gospel, miracles were signs of God’s compassion for human suffering. In John’s gospel, they reveal God’s glory/ presence to human awareness. they of course are complimentary, not contradictory. One may think of the God of compassion as very far away from everyday life. John’s teaching makes it clear that the divine miracle worker is as near as the warm touch of a healing hand.
Three times in the gospels Jesus used saliva to affect a cure, here in John , again in the case of the deaf stutterer in Mark 7:33, and of another blind man in Mark 8:22-26. Folk medicine at the time believed in the therapuetic value of saliva, especially that of a famous person. What do you usually do when you cut your finger? First impulse is to stick it in your mouth!!
Jesus did not need to use saliva or call for a ritual washing in a pool. Most of the time he healed simply by saying a few words. But he was also conscious of the human need of the person to have confidence in him. If he acted like a doctor at times, it wasn’t that he needed those methods to heal, he was ministering to a psychological need. The more I read and study John’s gospel the more I love it. We have much to learn from this “scrappy” blind street person, who once healed from"blindness" stood up to the pharisees, saw Jesus for who he was, and professed his faith “I do believe, Lord”
 
Indyann said:
[39] Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.”
[40] Some of the Pharisees near him heard this, and they said to him, “Are we also blind?”
[41] Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, `We see,’ your guilt remains.
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Jumping way ahead here, in 39, Jesus said “and that those who see may become blind”.

What did he mean here?

The enightenment of the ignorant Vs. the ignorance of the enlightened.
The cured man displayed increasing insight. first, he viewed Jesus as just a man. second, he perceived him as a prophet like the miracle workers of ancient times. Third, as one from God, for who else would be behind so wonderful a deed? Lastly, he believed Jesus to be the Son of Man.
The Jews opposed to Jesus demonstrated a descent in cynical disbelief. They began by accepting the miracle, then doubting it, next even doubting the man was blind. Lastly, they discredited the testimony of the man and basically expressed their refusal to believe Jesus.
Remeber the Pharisees were the guys in the “know”, what in the world would a blind beggar know about these things. So you “see” (little play on words there) the blind came to see and, the "seer’s became blind to Jesus.
 
CM, don’t make me whoop out the “Message” Bible and start posting the next chapters!!! :bigyikes:
 
Looking at the last five chapters, one could get the impression that Jesus only healed on the Sabbath. Any thoughts why both the healings are on the Sabbath, no non-Sabbath healings (miracles, but no healings)?
 
Red_Wolf said:
Looking at the last five chapters, one could get the impression that Jesus only healed on the Sabbath. Any thoughts why both the healings are on the Sabbath, no non-Sabbath healings (miracles, but no healings)?
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Well, in almost all of this portion of the John’s Gospel, Jesus is showing that He is the fulfillment of all the Jewish Holidays. John is showing how all these holidays pointed toward Him.

He does a lot of things around the Passover as well. The water to wine during the first one. The creation of the loaves of bread on the second Passover. Does that remind you of anything? Yes, this shows that Jesus will e the fulfillment of the Passover. And then, of course, the Passion on the third.

Then he does his healings on the Sabbath, which creates so many conflicts with the Pharisees. But it shows that Sunday, the day of His Resurrection, will be the day that we all of us can be healed.

The “Let those who thirst come to me” and “I am the Light of the World” show that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Festival of Lights.
 
NotWorthy said:
Well, in almost all of this portion of the John’s Gospel, Jesus is showing that He is the fulfillment of all the Jewish Holidays. John is showing how all these holidays pointed toward Him.

He does a lot of things around the Passover as well. The water to wine during the first one. The creation of the loaves of bread on the second Passover. Does that remind you of anything? Yes, this shows that Jesus will e the fulfillment of the Passover. And then, of course, the Passion on the third.

Then he does his healings on the Sabbath, which creates so many conflicts with the Pharisees. But it shows that Sunday, the day of His Resurrection, will be the day that we all of us can be healed.

The “Let those who thirst come to me” and “I am the Light of the World” show that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Festival of Lights.
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Pentacost was also originally a Jewish holiday which took a new meaning when it was fulfilled after Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension.
 
lak611 said:
Pentacost was also originally a Jewish holiday which took a new meaning when it was fulfilled after Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension.
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Well, yeah, but I don’t recall any references to it in John’s Gospel.
 
John Chapter 10

[1] “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber;
[2] but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
[3] To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
[4] When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
[5] A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
[6] This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
[7] So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
[8] All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them.
[9] I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
[10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
[11] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
[12] He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
[13] He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep.
[14] I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me,
[15] as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
[16] And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.
[17] For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.
[18] No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father.”
[19] There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.
[20] Many of them said, “He has a demon, and he is mad; why listen to him?”
[21] Others said, “These are not the sayings of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
[22] It was the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem;
[23] it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.
[24] So the Jews gathered round him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
[25] Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness to me;
[26] but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.
[27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me;
[28] and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.
[29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
[30] I and the Father are one.”
[31] The Jews took up stones again to stone him.
[32] Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of these do you stone me?”
[33] The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we stone you but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
[34] Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, I said, you are gods'? [35] If he called them gods to whom the word of God came (and scripture cannot be broken), [36] do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, You are blaspheming,’ because I said, `I am the Son of God’?
[37] If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me;
[38] but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
[39] Again they tried to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.
[40] He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John at first baptized, and there he remained.
[41] And many came to him; and they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.”
[42] And many believed in him there.
 
[1] “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber;
[2] but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
[3] To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
[4] When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
[5] A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
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I don’t know about anyone else, but this really describes me when it comes to so many of the folks that come around me with non-Catholic ideas that they say are in the Bible. Door to door “witnesses” and such especially.

The only way I can really describe it is that I really don’t hear my Good Shepherd’s voice, and that makes me skittish and uneasy.🤷
 
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