What things are revealed when we consider the language and culture of Biblical times as we study God’s Word? The author of the Gospel of John refers to Old Testament teachings, and provides other cultural clues intended to make the “Jewish connection” come alive to the original audience: John gives the first century Jewish readers a connection to their (and our) roots — Let us see what that might reveal.
The Gospel of Matthew links John the Baptizer to Isaiah the prophet’s words – so Matthew 3 and Isaiah 40 provide some backdrop to the “Jewish connection” in the Book of John.
Matthew 3:1-17
1 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
3 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.”
4 Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him. 6 They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance! 9 Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 “Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?” 15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. 16 Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. 17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
World English Bible
Isaiah 40:1-5
World English Bible
1 “Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.
2 “Speak comfortably to Jerusalem; and call out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of Yahweh’s hand double for all her sins.”
3 The voice of one who calls out, “Prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain.
5 The glory of Yahweh shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it.”
Now let us look at —
John 1:19-34
19 This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.” 21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”24 The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.” 28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’ 31 I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.” 32 John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. 33 I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
World English Bible
So, what cultural clues did John plant in the minds of his Jewish readers before this story surrounding Jesus’ baptism?
Let us read first pick up at John 1:1 and read through to our original story at verse 19 —
Then look at 1:28, 1:29, 1:35, 1:43, and 2:1
John 1:1-18:
The Beginning (Genesis 1:1-2)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.
The Witness of John (Malachi 3:1-5)
6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. 12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
The Word Made His Dwelling among Us (Psalm 84:1-12)
World English Bible
14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.'” 16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
John 1:28:
World English Bible
These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John 1:29:
The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:35:
Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples,
John 1:43:
On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
John 2:1:
The third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there.
Ponder these things:
Genesis 1:1-5
World English Bible
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep. God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.
3 God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” There was evening and there was morning, one day.
The John 1:1-19 narrative establishes that Jesus is the “true light” and has come to dwell with us.
AND
John 1:28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
World English Bible
John establishes a “day one” parallel to Day One in Genesis.
Genesis 1:6-8
World English Bible
6 God said, “Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. 8 God called the expanse “sky.” There was evening and there was morning, a second day.
John 1:29
The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
John establishes “day two” parallel to Day Two in Genesis.
Genesis 1:9-13
World English Bible
9 God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear;” and it was so. 10 God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering together of the waters he called “seas.” God saw that it was good. 11 God said, “Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with its seed in it, on the earth;” and it was so. 12 The earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with its seed in it, after their kind; and God saw that it was good. 13 There was evening and there was morning, a third day.
John 1:35
Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples,
John establishes “day three” parallel to Day Three in Genesis.
Genesis 1:14-19
World English Bible
14 God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of sky to give light on the earth;” and it was so. 16 God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the expanse of sky to give light to the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. 19 There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
John 1:43
On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
John establishes “day four” parallel to Day Four in Genesis.
Genesis 1:20-31
20 God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of sky.” 21 God created the large sea creatures, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.24 God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind, livestock, creeping things, and animals of the earth after their kind;” and it was so. 25 God made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. God saw that it was good.
26 God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food. 30 To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;” and it was so. 31 God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
Genesis 2:1-3
World English Bible
1 The heavens and the earth were finished, and all their vast array. 2 On the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work which he had created and made.
John 2:1
The third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there.
John establishes “day five, six and seven” parallel to Day Five, six, and Seven in Genesis … and the “day of rest” equivalent is “a wedding feast”.
So John is keying us to a creation story parallel, but it is NOT the original “earth was formed, etc.” story, but rather a “new creation in Christ”…. But, WHAT was formed in these 7 days in John’s Gospel?
Well, nothing less than Jesus’ initial “troupe”, “posse”, “band of disciples” of which 5 are identified in John before this wedding scene ….
AND in Chapter 2 they witness his first public miracle at the Cana wedding — water turned into wine. So, Jesus went from NO described disciples, to a small band that would be with him throughout his ministry & continue in the ministry to which He appointed them — ALL in 7 days, with a party at the end.
AND
We have an outline; an outline for the process followed for all believers who have come after … into this new creation in Christ:
Affirmation that we cannot save ourselves, but turn to a God who came down to us –
John 1:29-31
World English Bible
29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’ 31 I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.”
We receive testimony about Jesus –
John 1:32-34
World English Bible
32 John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. 33 I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
We come to faith –
John 1:35-39
World English Bible
35 Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come, and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.
We share the faith with others –
John 1:40-42
World English Bible
40 One of the two who heard John, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter)
SO HOW, HOW did this come about in these 7 days?
Well, part of it was by John the Baptizer proclaiming Jesus’ identity (fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies),
AND Jesus extended personal invitations, and disciples of John started following Jesus ….
Part of it was believers telling others … Part of it was GOD (Jesus) reaching out to them … But WHAT went on between Jesus and these new followers?
Look at 1:38-39 (staying, spent the day with – or remained with — Greek “menei” ) –
John 1:38-39
Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come, and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.The Greek “menei” is also used in John 1:32 and 33 — It is what the Spirit “did” with Jesus.
John 1:32-33
World English Bible
John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. 33 I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’
A more literal English meaning for “memei” would be “abide” and the various verb tenses like “abode”. — as in — Let us go back and substitute a version of ABIDE every place we see versions of “stay” or “remain” — Oh and some translations do use versions of Abide when translating “Menei” in these verses —
Examples:
- The Spirit ABODE upon Him (KJV)
- The Spirit descending and ABIDING with Him (Interlinear)
- Teacher where ABIDE you? (interlinear)
- Saw where he dwelt and ABODE (KJV)
- Saw where he ABIDES (Interlinear)
- With Him they ABODE the Day (Interlinear)
So substituting ABIDE:
John 1:38-39
Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you ABIDING?” 39 He said to them, “Come, and see.” They came and saw where he was ABIDING, and they ABIDED with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.John 1:32-33
World English Bible with stated substitution
John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it ABIDING on him. 33 I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and ABIDING on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’
The translation to ABIDE is more familiar to us with John 15:7 “If you ABIDE in me ….
So, some definitions of the English “Abide”:
— to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship, etc.; last.
— to accept without opposition or question: to abide the verdict of the judges.
abide by,
— to act in accord with.
— to submit to; agree to: to abide by the court’s decision.
— to remain steadfast or faithful to; keep: If you make a promise, abide by it.
So, in
John 1:39 He said to them, “Come, and see.” They came and saw where he was ABIDING, and they ABIDED with him that day. It was about the tenth hour
World English Bible with stated substitution
How long did the new disciples ABIDE with Jesus that day?
Some translations say “10th hour” some say “about 4 in the afternoon” — same thing by Jewish counting of the day: A new day started at Sundown, with sunrise around our 6 am (0600) or so the 10th hour of daylight would be around our 4 pm (1600). So, they ABODE with Jesus for at least a few hours… maybe from 3 or 4 pm until 7 pm + or so (sunset started a new day) ….
What do you think happened during this “abiding” with Jesus? What would happen if YOU got to spend this time with Jesus?
They probably were not just taking a nap, nor were they doing any “WORK”. They just met the guy, so, how about learning about him — establishing a “relationship” … as in “to continue in a particular attitude or relationship” that started at their initial meeting … becoming “aligned” to “act in accord with”.
They were ABIDING with him. We English-speakers with a Western mindset have a hard time with a state of “not doing something”. So let us turn to an unlikely source for a Bible Study insight into “abiding”. At this point, any of you who are a fan of a 1998 movie “The Big Lebowski” * starring Jeff Bridges as Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, have been pondering a famous quote from that movie, “The Dude Abides” — no matter how one over-analyzes this — the simple concept is NOT about “doing something”, but rather a “state of being”. We see this reflected in 1 Peter, the New American Bible Revised Edition indicates two translations:
*A note about the movie mentioned: If you have not watched it, and are easily offended by our modern day media that promotes promiscuity, drugs, alcohol, and cursing, then do not watch it. The context of the quote from the movie does clearly demonstrate “abiding” as a “state if being”, and is mentioned for those who may be familiar with it (the movie had a large cult following).
1 Peter 1:23
World English Bible, King James Version and New International Verisions
23 You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and abiding word of God,
OR
23 You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, the word of the living and abiding God
AND two other versions —
KJV = Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
NIV = For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
Clearly ABIDE in this sense is the enduring “state” of something, not an action verb.
To see this distinction read about Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42: Martha was “doing”, Mary was “ABIDING”.
Luke 10:38-42
World English Bible
38 It happened as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.” 41 Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Back to our Matthew 3:13-16 version of Jesus’ Baptism (Why was Jesus baptized – He was sinless? To fulfill all righteousness: the will of the Father):
Matthew 3:13-17
World English Bible
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?” 15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. 16 Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. 17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Ponder this when you hear someone thinking THEY can reach out to God … it is not how it works, and Jesus’ baptism story shows in three ways that GOD comes DOWN to meet us where we are.
First, Jesus went DOWN in the same water that sinners were using as a ritual washing away of their sins — GOD WITH US, descending into our cesspool of sin and taking it upon Himself.
Second, The Spirit of GOD came DOWN and abode upon Jesus.
Third, God spoke DOWN from Heaven to men to let them know Jesus was the Son of the Loving Father.
Maybe it is time we thought more of “Abiding with God” as a state of “being” rather then a state of “doing” – any “doing” will flow forth as God has us walk in the steps He designed before the foundation of the world; flow forth out of the “state of being” or abiding with “God with Us” (Immanuel).