Richard A. Burridge

The Parting of the Ways John 6: 56-71 JOHN This chapter’s setting has moved from up in the mountains for the feeding, across the storm-tossed lake to a crowd in Capernaum. The last part of this discourse at least has been Jesus’ teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum (6:59). The …

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John The People's Commentary - Eat my Flesh and Drink my Blood

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

Eat My Flesh and Drink My Blood The debate between Jesus and the crowd since the miraculous feeding and walking on water has been exploring the text, ‘he gave them bread from heaven to eat’ (6:31). Like a rabbi preaching on the text, Jesus has taken each word or phrase in turn. F…

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John The People's Commentary - Bread from Heaven

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

Bread from Heaven Jesus and the crowd have been debating the meaning of the feeding and the last section concentrated on the issue of Jesus’ identity. Suddenly it is no longer a matter of whether he is ‘the prophet like Moses’ who can feed people in the mountains as Moses did. Hi…

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John The People's Commentary - I Am the Bread of Life

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

I Am the Bread of Life After the miraculous feeding and Jesus walking on the water and the discussion about bread, attention is now focused on Jesus by his direct claim, ‘I am the bread of life’ (6:35). Since the gospels are a form of ancient biography, the focus will be constant…

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John The People's Commentary - More Questions and Answers

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

John The People's Commentary - Who Is This?

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

Who Is This? After this amazing sign, it is hardly surprising that people wonder who such a person can be, which gives us the theme of this next section. People seek, Jesus hides; Jesus finds, people seek…

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John The People's Commentary - Feeding the Five Thousand

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

Feeding the Five Thousand Jesus’ miraculous feeding of a vast crowd is such a well-known story. This is the only miracle narrated in all four gospels—indeed, it is the only incident from Jesus’ ministry before his last week which they all include. The Synoptic gospels each descri…

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JOHN: The people's bible commentary - NICODEMUS by NIGHT

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

NICODEMUS by NIGHT In the last chapter, Jesus did not ‘trust’ himself to people who ‘trusted’ in him because of his signs (2:23–24). Over the coming chapters, many people come to Jesus because of his signs—the Samaritan woman (4:29), the official whose son is healed (4:47), the p…

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JOHN: The people's bible commentary - The Task of the Spirit

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

The Task of the Spirit In this final farewell discourse, Jesus has described the two sides, those who are abiding in love with him and his Father and those who are opposed to them all. Although he is going away, this will enable the Holy Spirit to be ‘called alongside’, as the Pa…

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JOHN: The people's bible commentary - Returning to the Father

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

Returning to the Father Throughout these farewell discourses, Jesus has been preparing the disciples for his departure. He has made it increasingly clear that there will be a major division after he has gone. On his side there will be those who remain in his love and in the Fathe…

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JOHN: The people's bible commentary - The Spirit of the Truth

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

The SPIRIT Of The TRUTH So far the opposition and the hatred has been predicted from ‘the world’—every human system and structure opposed to God, anything or anyone who wants to be in the centre where only God can be. Into this world of darkness, God sent his only Son to bring li…

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JOHN: The people's bible commentary - Sanctify Them in the Truth

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

Sanctify Them in the Truth In his prayer, Jesus has described how he manifested the name of God to his disciples and has prayed for their protection in the world which he is leaving as ‘I am coming to you’ (17:13). Before he leaves, however, he speaks this prayer still in the wor…

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JOHN: The people's bible commentary - Jesus Prays for His Disciples

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

Jesus Prays for His Disciples Having prayed to be with God in glory, Jesus turns to pray for his disciples who will be left behind. They are only a small frightened group, who still do not really understand what he is saying. At one level, it is not much to show for the fruits of…

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JOHN: The people's bible commentary - Do you love me more than this?

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

Do you Love me More than These? Breakfast is finished, but the lingering smell of the charcoal fire is a potent reminder that something is still hanging around. Peter showed willing by jumping into the sea to greet Jesus and leaping to get more fish. But Jesus has to take the ini…

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JOHN: The people's bible commentary - FOLLOW ME

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

FOLLOW ME Jesus warmed and dried Peter by the fire, fed him with fish and bread; then he restored him to his pastoral care of God’s people and hinted at his glorious martyrdom to come. Only one thing remains to be said, ‘Follow me’ (21:19). It is Jesus’ last word, yet also his fi…

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JOHN: The people's bible commentary - JESUS AND JOHN THE BAPTIST

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

JESUS AND JOHN THE BAPTIST The next scene gives us a glimpse of the ministry of Jesus and his disciples baptizing, in much the same way as John the Baptist and his followers. It was a good job there was ‘much water there’!…

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JOHN: The people's bible commentary - JESUS WASHES the DISCIPLES FEET

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

JESUS WASHES the DISCIPLES FEET The curtain rises on Act Two of John’s drama, yet slowly. Now that the ‘hour’ has finally come, time slows down. Act One and the interlude (chs. 1—12) have taken over two years, with two previous Passovers (2:13; 6:4). Act Two (chs. 13—19) covers j…

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JOHN: The people's bible commentary - I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

I HAVE GIVEN YOU an EXAMPLE Jesus has washed the disciples’ feet and returned to the table (13:12). From our experience of church services and the other gospels we expect the institution of the holy communion next—but it is completely missing. Instead, Jesus begins to explain thi…

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