Joh 9:38: In what sense did the formerly blind beggar do obeisance to Jesus? (“did obeisance to him” study note on Joh 9:38, nwtsty) “bowed down to him; prostrated himself to him; paid him homage.” When the Greek verb pro·sky·neʹo (pros-koo-neh’-o); is used to refer to the rendering of worship to a god or a deity, it is translated “to worship.” (Mt 4:10; Lu 4:8) In this context, however, the healed man, who was born blind, recognized Jesus as God’s representative and did obeisance to him. He viewed him, not as God or a deity, but as the foretold “Son of man,” the Messiah with divine authority. (Joh 9:35) When he bowed down to Jesus, he apparently did so in a way similar to that of people mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures. They bowed down when meeting prophets, kings, or other representatives of God. (1Sa 25:23, 24; 2Sa 14:4-7; 1Ki 1:16; 2Ki 4:36, 37) On many occasions, the obeisance done to Jesus expressed a gratitude for divine revelation or evidence of divine favor.—See study notes on Mt 2:2; 8:2; 14:33; 15:25.
Joh 10:22: What was the Festival of Dedication? (“the Festival of Dedication” study note on Joh 10:22, nwtsty) The Hebrew name of this festival is Hanukkah (chanuk·kahʹ), meaning “Inauguration; Dedication.” It was held for eight days, beginning on the 25th day of the month of Chis-lev, close to the winter solstice, to commemorate the rededication of Jerusalem’s temple in 165 B.C.E. Syrian King Antiochus IV Epiphanes had shown his contempt for Jehovah, the God of the Jews, by desecrating His temple. For example, he built an altar on top of the great altar, where formerly the daily burnt offering had been presented. On Chislev 25, 168 B.C.E., to defile Jehovah’s temple completely, Antiochus sacrificed swine on the altar and had the broth from its flesh sprinkled all over the temple. Heburned the temple gates, pulled down the priests’ chambers, and carried away the golden altar, the table of showbread, and the golden lampstand. He then rededicated Jehovah’s temple to the pagan god Zeus of Olympus. Two years later, Judas Maccabaeus recaptured the city and the temple. After the temple was cleansed, the rededication took place on Chislev 25, 165 B.C.E., exactly three years after Antiochus had made his disgusting sacrifice on the altar to Zeus. The daily burnt offerings to Jehovah were then resumed. There is no direct statement in the inspired Scriptures indicating that Jehovah gave Judas Maccabaeus victory and directed him to restore the temple. However, Jehovah had used men of foreign nations, such as Cyrus of Persia, to carry out certain purposes as regards His worship. (Isa 45:1) It is reasonable to conclude, then, that Jehovah might use a man of his dedicated people to accomplish His will. The Scriptures show that the temple had to be standing and operating in order for the prophecies regarding the Messiah, his ministry, and his sacrifice to be fulfilled. Also, the Levitical sacrifices were to be offered until the time when the Messiah would present the greater sacrifice, his life in behalf of mankind. (Da 9:27; Joh 2:17; Heb 9:11-14) Christ’s followers were not commanded to observe the Festival of Dedication. (Col 2:16, 17) However, there is no record that Jesus or his disciples condemned the celebrating of this festival.
What does this week’s Bible reading teach me about Jehovah?
Joh 9:3: Jehovah has a longing to fix the problems that imperfection has plagued mankind since Adam and Eve sinned. Yes, Jehovah is demonstrated he has the power and wants to heal all. (Isa 33:24, Mic 7:18-19, Acts 2:22)
Joh 9:33: Jehovah is the source of power which enables others to perform miracles like Jesus and the apostles did. We are told about this power at Isa 40:26 “Because of his vast dynamic energy and his awe-inspiring power.”
Joh 10:17: Jehovah is love according to 1Jo 4:8 and as we see here because of Jesus faithfulness, the Father love him. Likewise Jehovah loves all his faithful ones and will remember their deeds and will reward them. (Heb 11:6)
Joh 10:32: Jesus show that the “many find works” he did is from his Father Jehovah. So we should praise Jehovah for all the proof that he has the power to fulfill all his promises written for all his faithful servants.
Joh 10:38: In this context, the Greek preposition en is used to show close association. We see here that Jehovah and Jesus have this close relationship. Jehovah also want to a close relationship with his faithful servants as show “in union with” is the way the preposition is used at Joh 17:20-23, where it occurs five times.
What other spiritual gems have you discovered in this week’s Bible reading?
Joh 9:1-3: Some who believe in reincarnation suggest this man was born blind, because he sin occurred in a former life. The answer Jesus gave contradicts reincarnation when he said at John 9:3: “Neither this man sinned nor his parents.”
Joh 9:4: Another scripture that show Jesus is not part of a trinity. First see that the one who send Jesus gave him work to do and that same one also gave work for those who follow his son. This show Jesus was doing someone else will and work he was assign to do.
Joh 9:4: Jesus was here talking about the night, which he was referring to the time when he would go into the grave and would no longer be able to perform the marvelous works that he had performed while alive.
Joh 9:15-16, 18: Lovers of darkness ignore the evidences of a thrilling miracles took place; a man born blind was heal. Instead of expressing joy, they condemned Jesus and said he was a sinner. May we always not let our hearts become so harden that we ignore the light and miss on all Jehovah promise of a happy future.
Joh 9:22: Parents had good reason to fear the Jewish religious leaders, who can expelled person and would be shunned and scorned as a social outcast. Such cutting off of fellowship from other Jews would have severe economic consequences for the family.
Joh 9:30-33: The Pharisees could not refute the formally blind man reasoning. We know that God does not listen to sinners, that if one is God-fearing, God listen to that one, and never has anyone “opened the eyes of one born blind.” May we use such reasoning from Jehovah’s Word and maybe their eyes will be open and see the truth.
Joh 10:3-5: Today we know the shepherd voice and listen to it is because we know the truth as Jesus said at John 8:32 ”you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” That is why when a stranger come we know not to listen to them for we know Jehovah’s will.
Joh 10:11,15: We Jesus great love for his sheep and is willingness to lay his life down for them, so they can be freed from sin and death. Jesus has long had a love or fondness for mankind for we are told at Pr 8:31 “. . .I was especially fond of the sons of men,” so he did his Father will even to death.
Joh 10:15: Another scripture that show Jesus is not part of a trinity. Jesus show that the Father has the knowledge about his and know the person he is and Jesus know his Father, this show two separate individual knowing each other.
Joh 10:16: Fine Shepherd, Jesus gathers, guides, protects, and feeds the sheep that belong to this fold (also the “little flock” at Lu 12:32) and his other sheep. These become one flock under one shepherd. This word picture emphasizes the unity that Jesus’ followers would enjoy.
Joh 10:17: Another scripture that show Jesus is not part of a trinity. For we see that the Father show emotion of love toward his Son Jesus. Father is not showing love to himself but to his beloved Son. (Mt 3:17) Also Jesus will receive his life back from the Father.
Joh 10:18: Another scripture that show Jesus is not part of a trinity. We see Jesus has a Father by the words “my Father.” Also we see that Jesus received a command from his Father to surrender and receive his live, showing one has more authority over the other.
Joh 10:19-21: Just as the truth of Jesus cause division in Jesus day, so too in our day. The truth can cause division even in one’s family for we are told at Mt 10:35 “For I came to cause division, with a man against his father, 35 Indeed, a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.” May we be steadfast toward the truth and we will be rewarded.
Joh 10:24-25: When a person has preconceived belief about the Christ, they are one who is hard to teach the truth too like the Jewish religious leader here did not believe. Today many are taught mans thoughts as God’s truth, so many will not listen or teach.
Joh 10:25: Another scripture that show Jesus is not part of a trinity. Jesus shows that the work he does is in his Father’s name. Show that Jesus gets his power from another who is greater than he is according to John 14:28.
Joh 10:29: Another scripture that show Jesus is not part of a trinity. We see Jesus has a Father by the words “my Father.” Also we see no one can snatch these precious sheep out of his Father hand who gave them to Jesus. Two separate individuals one is giving and other is receiving.
Joh 10:30: This is not proof of the trinity, for there is no mentioning of the Holy Spirit as being one with the Father and the Son. Also the word one here can also mean unity, which is referring to an oneness of purpose and action is confirmed by comparing the scriptures. (Joh 10:25-29; 17:2, 9-11)
Joh 10:33: Many Trinitarians to use this scripture as proof that Jesus is God because the religious leaders said so and they know the Bible. Yet they deny believing what they said Jesus at John 10:20 “He has a demon: or John 9:16”Not a man of God.” What make this thing they are telling truth now and not the others.
Joh 10:34-35: Others were call god but that did not make them the true God like Jehovah. Jesus here quotes from Ps 82:6, where the Hebrew word ʼelo·himʹ (gods) is used of men, human judges in Israel. They were “gods” in their capacity as representatives of and spokesmen for God. Also Moses was call God by God at Ex 4:16, and 7:1,The word “God” is a title.
Joh 10:36-37: Another scripture that show Jesus is not part of a trinity. We see here the Father sanctified and sent the Son in to the world. Also Jesus claim to be “God’s Son” not God the Son. Also Jesus has a Father when he said “my Father.”
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