BRF

The Scriptures & Moses Chapter 5 has given us a good example of how John weaves together signs, dialogues and discourse to develop his story of Jesus. The sign of healing the paralysed man on the Sabbath led to accusations about Jesus’ work and his claims, which have then been te…

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John The People's Commentary - Bearing Witness

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

Bearing Witness So far Jesus has made some claims through his signs, which have then been challenged by “the Jews”. He has repeated the claims directly through this discourse, arguing that he shares in God’s activity of giving life and judgment both in the present now and in the …

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John The People's Commentary - The Son Gives Life & Judges

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

The Son Gives Life & Judges We now come to the first of the ‘discourses’ common in this gospel, sections of teaching delivered by Jesus. Speeches were used not just in ancient biography, but also in history writing to help readers understand the true meaning of what was happening…

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The Sabbath & Jesus' Claims

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

The Sabbath & Jesus' Claims This day is not only ‘a festival of “the Jews”’, but also a Sabbath (5:1, 9b). So “the Jews” notice the man carrying his bed on the Sabbath and accuse him of doing something unlawful (5:10)…

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John The People's Commentary - Healing an Official's Son

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

Healing an Official's Son After all the excitement in Samaria, Jesus finally returns to Galilee (4:43). Although the Galileans welcomed him, it was only because they had seen what he had done at the festival in Jerusalem (4:45)…

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John The People's Commentary - Food and Harvests

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

Food & Harvests The woman has gone, but her abandoned water pot is a silent reminder to the disciples that their rabbi was talking with a woman, a Samaritan and a sinner, openly in the middle of the day…

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John The People's Commentary - Prophet or Messiah?

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

Prophet or Messiah? As the story unfolds, Jesus has gently led the woman to a greater understanding of who he is, from her initial ignorance (4:9) to calling him ‘sir’ (4:11, 15); as he confronted her with the facts of her life, she began to wonder if he might be greater than Jac…

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John The People's Commentary - Living Water

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

Living Water The woman is surprised that Jesus, a Jewish man, should talk to someone of her gender, race and status—but talk he continues to do. As the conversation unfolds, a dynamic develops similar to that with Nicodemus…

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John The People's Commentary - A Samaritan Woman at a Well

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

A Samaritan Woman at a Well This gospel‘s geographical setting moves between north and south, from Jesus calling disciples in Galilee (1:43) and the wedding in Cana (2:1) to the temple in Jerusalem (2:13) and Nicodemus’ night visit (3:1)…

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John The People's Commentary - Jesus - The One from Above

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

Jesus - The One from Above This last section is ‘free floating’ like 3:16–21; again it is unclear who is the speaker. John the Baptist started talking in 3:27 and some translations continue his speech through to 3:36, while others make this a comment by the evangelist…

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John The People's Commentary - Come & See

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

Come & See Once again, this scene begins with John the Baptist declaring that Jesus is the Lamb of God (1:36). Two of John’s disciples hear what he says, and, realizing that he is pointing away from himself to Jesus, leave John to find out about Jesus…

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John The People's Commentary - The Witness of John the Baptist

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

The Witness of John the Baptist John the Baptist’s response to his questioners was to direct their attention away from himself to the ‘star’ of the show who has been off stage, waiting in the wings…

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John The People's Commentary - Questions & Answers

by BRF - Richard A. Burridge

Questions & Answers After the magnificent heights of the Prologue, the overture is over and a sense of hushed expectancy falls upon the audience as the curtain rises and the story begins…

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MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - MARK’S GOOD NEWS— A RETROSPECTIVE

by BRF - Dick France

MARK’S GOOD NEWS— A RETROSPECTIVE Now that we have reached the end of Mark’s story, it is worth while to pause and ask what we have learned from it…

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MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - HOW DID MARK FINISH his GOSPEL?

by BRF - Dick France

HOW DID MARK FINISH his GOSPEL? In the last study I referred to 16:8 as the end of Mark’s Gospel. But in older Bibles twelve further verses used to be printed after 16:8…

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MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - An UNKNOWN DAY

by BRF - Dick France

An UNKNOWN DAY MARK 13: 32-37 A change of subject So far Jesus has been talking in colourful language but with firm conviction of when a specific event, the destruction of the temple, will take place…

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MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The CLIMAX of JUDGMENT

by BRF - Dick France

CRISIS in JUDEA MARK 13: 14-23 In AD70 the Romans captured Jerusalem and destroyed the temple and much of the city…

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MARK THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - CRISIS in JUDEA

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