Scripture Study Gospel of John

Hi, Parable1. Just wondering what your plans are for the group. Looks like DasErlibnis won't be posting.

Yes Jesus is a very down to earth person. We must remember that he was not born into richness and new the common folk. He was a person who like to be with people whether a dinner party, with close friends or weddings. That is how we can relate with Him beacuse those of us who are common people to others are rich in His eyes. He would go out of His way to be with others. The samaritan woman as well as a blind man from birth. He came to the blind man after a altercation with the pharisese who were going to stone Him. The samaritan woman he could have taken a short cut to where He was going but had a plan. His plan is the same with us as it was when He was walking in person. Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Simple message!

Notice also, when Jesus talks to Nathanael, he has a kind of sassy matter-of-fact tone with him. Jesus is a pretty funny guy! He says, and I'll paraphrase, "oh, behold, a Jew! In whom there is no guile." What a silly greeting! At least when I hear it said in my Texas accent. Lol

Then he says, "well, brother, if that's all it took to make you believe, don't worry, there's a lot more where that came from."

Ha!

These 2 incidents reveal a truth about our God and how He cares for each of us. There is never a moment when the Lord is not aware of us or of what is happening to us. The consoling truth to remember is this: We are never alone, even when we feel very solitary, abandoned, or receiving no support from others. There is never a moment when God is not present to us/ within us/ for us. The problem probably is: it's us who are not present to Him.

Regarding Nathanael's experience, there is a consoling truth for each of us to remember from the incident of the fig tree. Nathanael was quietly and privately about his business, not aware of anyone noticing him or knowing what he was doing. But Jesus was aware of him; He knew what he was doing / thinking. God was present to him.

The same consoling truth is projected by Zaccheus' story in Lk 19:1-10. Zaccheus, a rather short man, wanted to see Jesus as He passed by. So he hurried ahead, climbed a Sycamore tree, and from one of its branches above Jesus, he would surely see Jesus pass by. But, lo and behold! When Jesus was directly under the tree, He stopped, looked up at Zaccheus, called him by name and told him to come down. What followed then was grace upon grace bestowed on Zaccheus.

DasErlibnis - Yes. 'Grace builds on nature.' - And if we don't hinder it but rather, allow it to develop us into the person God intended us to be, grace will do wonders for our human nature.

The perfect example is Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary!

There was actually a pretty good reason John didn't recognize Jesus. John had been sent ahead, like a Recon Scout, to "make straight the way of the Lord". To prepare men's heart and minds to receive the Christ. They hadn't seen each other in years, Jesus had grown into a man now, he had a beard and everything. John had obviously been in the wilderness some time. Perhaps up to a few years. But apart from that, remember they didn't grow up together either. Remember "the visitation" ? Mary had to travel quite a way to get to Elizabeth.

Also, did you know how right you were about the deeper meaning of The Word? From the Koine Greek, "Logos". Logos does have a stronger meaning. It means "an ordered pattern". A word is an ordered pattern of letters, so it makes sense. But John builds out the entire first chapter developing this 'pattern" which has ordered us all according to Love, which we shall return to providing that we order ourselves according to its promise, order our loves and our lives.

Father Pedro Arrupe describes this pattern of ordered loves like this:

"Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way.

What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.

Fall in love, stay in love and it will decide everything."

Amiciel,

You said "the role of grace", and consider this: Peter and Andrew were fishermen. Jesus says "follow me and I will make you fishers of men."

Grace builds on nature.

4. In Jn 1:47, Jesus refers to Nathanael as a 'true Israelite' in whom there is no duplicity. And in Jn 1:51, Jesus tells Nathanael: 'You will see the sky open and angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man'.

These verses call to mind Gen 28:12 wherein Jacob (whose name God later changed to 'Israel') saw in his dream a ladder bridging heaven and earth. Above the ladder was the Lord, and His angels were ascending and descending on the ladder.

The verse is telling us that, just as the ladder in Jacob's dream bridged heaven and earth, the Son of Man (Jesus) bridges heaven and earth. And this holds true even today. Jesus is our bridge. Through Him, we can reach heaven.