Reflective Reading john 3. tyre
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Liberty University *
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110
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Religion
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Apr 3, 2024
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BIBL 110
R
EFLECTIVE
R
EADING
E
XAMPLE
Reflective Reading Passage: __
John 3:1-12
_______________________________________
Use this template and the course texts The Inquisitive Christ and Approaching the New Testament to record brief notes for each step of the reflective reading process
. Step One: Prepare
Use this space to understand the key elements of context to your passage. Consulting and citing Approaching the New Testament
, please complete the contextual information according to the information found in the course textbook:
By consulting and citing
Approaching the New Testament, who is the author of this biblical book
(in 2-3 sentences)?
According to the textbook we are told that the author of the Gospel of John is John himself who is the son of Zebedee and is also one of the 12 disciples. We are also told that he is writing from Ephesus to “Christians of the Diaspora” who are “most likely Greek-speaking, Jewish believers”.
1
By consulting and citing
Approaching the New Testament
, when was this biblical book written (in 1 sentence)? John wrote his account of the Gospel circa AD 80.
2
By consulting and citing
Approaching the New Testament
, what is the overall theme of the book (in 2-3 sentences)? The Gospel of John has a 90%
uniqueness to the other three gospels; hence it not being included in the categorization of the synoptic gospels.
3
The overall theme of the book is the unity of God the Father and Christ the Son, and how they are not two separate divine beings. Step Two: Read
1
Cara L. T. Murphy, “John,” in Approaching the New Testament,
eds. Adam McClendon and John Cartwright (Nashville: B & H Academic, 2022), 74. 2
Ibid.
3
Ibid., 75.
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BIBL 110
Utilizing either
a translation of choice or
creating a paraphrase of your own, use this space to re-write the full passage of scripture. Please do not copy and paste from an existing translation, but rather, write out the passage word-by-word in order to slowly reflect on the content.
There was a really respected member of the Sanhedrin who knew Jewish law and theology inside
and out, his name was Nicodemus, they even called him ruler of the Jews. Sneakily, Nicodemus went to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Teacher, it’s clear you were sent from God, no other human could make these miracles happen without the power of God”. Jesus replied saying “I promise you; no one will see the kingdom of God if they are not spiritually born again from above”. Nicodemus raised an eyebrow and said “How could a grandpa return to an infant? He could not fit in his mother’s stomach, can he?”. Jesus looked at him and said “I promise you, unless there is baptism by water and fire, the kingdom is not accessible. When you are living in the flesh you are with only flesh, when you are living with the spirit the spirit is within you. Don’t get caught up on the idea of birth through a woman. Wind is a free moving thing, you can’t even tell where it comes from or where it will go, but you still hear the sound of it.” Nicodemus looks at him with wide eyes, “I don’t understand, how can this be true?”. Jesus replies with a sweet convicting gaze and says “Aren’t you the ruler of the Jews? How do you not understand? I promise you, everything I am saying I have seen and witnessed, yet you still choose to not believe. If I tell you about things right before your eyes and you don’t believe them, how are you going to trust things you cannot see from God?”.
Step Three: Reflect
Use this space to answer the following questions. Consult The Inquisitive Christ
for insight into pertinent Gospel texts. If there is dialogue in the passage, who is speaking (in 1 complete sentence)?
Jesus is in conversation with Nicodemus for the entirety of this passage. What questions are asked in the passage? Please list all
questions located in the passage.
Questions from Nicodemus: 1.
How can a man be born when he is old?
2.
Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?
3.
How can these things be?
Questions from Jesus:
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BIBL 110
1.
Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 2.
If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? How would you answer the questions asked (in at least 3 sentences)?
To answer the questions asked by Nicodemus, I believe that I would be in a similar place as him if it were at that time and I did not have the knowledge from The Bible. However, seeing as I do have The Bible as a resource and life-source, here is what I would say.
Q 1&2 It is not a man returning to a real infant, but to a spiritual infant. To return to the state of a
child because you are now surrendering to a father you have not embraced in so long. Baptism comes from the Greek word baptismo
which is the process of making something new by immersing it into a liquid. You are being made new, not being made into a baby.
Q 3. Anything is possible through the power of the blood; the abilities of the Lord are immeasurable. To answer Jesus’ questions, I believe I would feel scared to be wrong honestly, to be in the presence of an all-knowing being, that I snuck out in the middle of the night to talk to would be very scary to me. Q1 I am not the teacher of Israel, and I never will be, and I am so grateful for that. Q2 I would be in tears, and I am confident that it would not be shame that I would feel but conviction. I would say, “I am sorry Lord, you are right and just and have never lied to me. I surrender to your knowledge and prayer to be able to move it from just my head to my heart.”
What words or phrases stand out to you? Are any words/themes repeated? If so, share why you think there is repetition. Please answer with at least 3 sentences.
The question that Jesus asked Nicodemus in verse twelve is something that has always stuck out to me; “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you
heavenly things?” This verse consistently brings me into a place of conviction and prayer based off the blindness I have to everyday blessings that are right before me. I pray that the Lord would
continue to reveal to me His handiwork in all creation, yet still challenge me with words of knowledge that do not come with visual proof immediately. What questions do you have as you read this passage? If you have no questions, please explain why this might be the case.
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BIBL 110
Do I consider myself the ruler of anything? Would I seek Jesus for intimate conversation only at night?
Would I trust Him if I was in Nicodemus’ time period and location?
Step Four: Pray
Use this space to formulate a prayer to God, dialoguing with Him about what he may be speaking to you in this passage:
Father,
I am so quick to cling to my flesh when it only fails me. Would you please remind me that it is not a war between flesh and blood that we are going through? Would you please remind me that this is not a war that you have ever or will ever lose? God, I thank you for your gentle conviction
you place on me. It does not always feel good, but Lord, it brings me so much closer to you. I pray to not possess a Nicodemus Spirit of superiority, but I pray to be bold in questions to you. I pray to be confident that you can handle my doubts and that they do not need to be stored into hiding. You are the only secret place I want to dwell in. I am so grateful to get to call you, my father. Thank you for not letting anyone else be the ruler of the Jews. I am so sorry for the way you were mocked as King of the Jews, but I praise you as the King of Kings. Thank you for it all.
I am forever in awe. Amen. Step Five: Respond
Use this space to contemplate how God may be asking you to respond to this passage in your life
with him:
This passage really has put me in a place of contemplation over believing in what is seen more than believing in what is promised. I feel that God is bringing me into a place of change in mindset. He is showing me that His divine word included a story of a child who was successful and respected, to still be drawn to Jesus even if in secret because he could not understand how what Jesus was saying could be true. He knew Jesus was divine but did not know how what He would promise was true. I believe God is telling me to stop asking for the holes in hands, and to start asking me to lead with my heart and not just my head. I am walking away from this passage with an intensity to be active in belief and not just sight, to lean not just on my own understanding. Page 4 of 4