Forget natural ability! Talent only makes the job easier. Here are 12 ways to be excellent at just about anything.
I need to remind myself every now and then.
Did I miss anything?
Context is the key to understanding the meaning of water in John 3:5.
I tell you the truth no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
But John 3:5’s context extends far beyond Jesus’ conversation with Nicodimus. In all, there are 12 scenes involving water in John, of which the overwhelming majority are unique to John alone. From Jesus changing water into wine to the washing of His disciples’ feet, each plays an important role in revealing the water’s intended meaning.
In this post, I want to show you how John in part defines the meaning of water by creating features common to these scenes.
Something Jesus supplies is said or shown to be greater than water.
John the Baptist’s Testimony (1:19-34): Jesus baptism in the Holy Spirit is said to surpass John’s water baptism. John states three times that he baptizes in water (1:26, 31, 33). In each, he contrasts his water baptism with the supremacy of the one to come.
Jesus Wedding Miracle (2:1-11): Jesus’ “water-turned-wine” is better than the choice wine/water which came before. John establishes a subtle connection between wine and water. Although the wedding has run out of wine, Jesus fills not the empty wine jars but six water jars with water. Jesus of course surpasses the water by transforming it into wine but the headwaiter also testifies that his wine surpasses event that which preceded it.
Jesus Conversation by the Well (4:4-26): Jesus’ living water is greater than Jacob’s water. When Jesus offers the Samaritan woman living water she responds by asking if he he is “greater” than Jacob who gave them the well. By contrasting the limitations of the well water with the never-ending water he supplies, Jesus affirms He is.
His Healing by the Pool of Bethesda (5:1-9): Jesus’ healing is greater than the stirred water of the pool. While the man looks to the water to heal him, he is powerless to reach it. Jesus turns the mans attention to himself, telling the man to pick up his mat and walk. Because Jesus reaches the man at his need, His power is revealed to be greater than the stirred water’s of the pool
Jesus’ Invitation to Drink (7:37-39): Jesus “living water” is greater than the feasts water ceremony. Jesus invitation occurs on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. On this day the High Priest poured out water in the temple as a symbol of the later day river that would flow from the temple (Ez. 47:1-12; Zech. 14:8). Jesus’ invitation and reference indicates that he is the scriptures true fulfillment.
While each scene varies as to the source of water (i.e. baptism, waterpot, well, pool) all are united in connecting water with ritual and tradition.
John the Baptist’s Testimony (1:19-34): Water is the medium of baptism – a more or less traditional ritual of purification. While John’s baptism may be unique in that it is a one-time event, such water rituals were common in the first century Judaism.
Jesus Wedding Miracle (2:1-11): The water which becomes wine is drawn from containers used for ritual purification. This is important. Though Jesus could have reused the empty wine jars, he instead has the servants fill six waterpots which John tells us were “set there for the Jewish custom of purification.”
Jesus Conversation by the Well (4:4-26): The Samaritan woman’s well is a traditional site analogous to the Samaritan’s worship on the mountain. The woman points to the greatness of the well by pointing to the tradition that “father” Jacob had dug and drank from it himself. The word “father” is again used when the topic of conversation moves from well to worship. Just as ‘father” Jacob gave the well, the Samaritan “fathers” had given them worship on the mountain.
Jesus’ Healing by the Pool of Bethesda (5:1-9): The waters of Bethesda are a traditional site of healing. While the tradition mentioned in 5:3 may not be original to John’s gospel, it indicates a need to explain the man’s prior belief in the water. Such a tradition appears to be in line with connection made in the previous accounts.
Jesus Invitation to Drink (7:37-39): Jesus invitation to drink corresponds to the time and place of a well known water ritual. Though not specifically mentioned in the text, the above instances suggest that once again a water ritual is in view.
By contrasting water with what Jesus supplies, John reveals Jesus’ supremacy over ritual and tradition.
What do you think?
We’re ramping up for our church’s yearly firework stand. The proceeds of course support our youth and children’s programs. But you know what’s really cool? The residuals of the stand extend far beyond the money. Here are 4 additional ways the stand benefits the church.
Have you ever gotten lost in the details of a never ending project, wondering how your contribution makes a difference? When goals are ill defined, teamwork can suffer, vision gets blurred and strategies become tangled. But a goal that is SMART (specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time bound) unites a team.
At the firework stand, you never have to wonder if your time and energy are making a difference. The goal is crystal clear. We aim to sell as many fireworks as we can from June 28th to July 4th for the children and youth of our church.
Our firework stand may just be the best way for you to build lasting church relationships. Think of it as a church bootcamp. It often can take months for the Sunday morning and Wednesday night attender to build deep connection with people in the church. You could speed up the process by planning and inviting others to an extra-church activity, but this too takes time.
The cool thing about the stand is that it’s a 24/7 operation. From the 28th of June, to the 4th of July, the stand is never void of people. There’s always a group working or just having fun hanging out. There’s plenty of opportunities to create memories together. If you make it a habit of coming down to the stand, I guarantee you’ll be well connected before the end of the week.
“If you build it they will come.” Yes I know the movie wasn’t about a firework stand. But it could have been! It’s amazing the number and variety of people who come to our stand. Many of them are repeat customers. People who wouldn’t think twice about coming to church, flock to check out our product and prices. They come for the fireworks, but in the process we sell them our mission and purpose.
Just imagine taking our church, located at 500 SE Everett and transplanting it for a week down on the most trafficked area in Camas. It’s more than fireworks. Its intentional ministry.
Year after year we’ve moved beyond what we previously thought possible. In the last three years alone we’ve seen revenues climb from $10,000 to $26,000 to $42,000 – and this in the midst of a faltering economy.
This year we’re taking it above $50,000.
But again, it’s not just the money we get excited about. The firework stand has continued to bless our church by allowing us to practice genuine and effective teamwork and to build lasting relationship inside as well as out.
I think we can praise God for that.
What does “water” mean? In John 3:5 Jesus tells Nicodimus,
I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
Quite a few interpretations have been proposed.
Which is right? How should we decide? Is it all just a matter of opinion?
No it’s not a matter of opinion. Context is the key to interpretation. You’ve heard the mantra in real-estate, “location, location, location.” Well in interpretation its, “context, context, context.” The location of a verse matters in its interpretation.
Think of the word “hand,” for instance. What do I mean? Without context “hand” could have quite a few different meanings.
we can see the words meaning more clearly in context.
Of course most of those who know John 3:5 are familiar with its immediate context. It appears in Jesus’ night time conversation with Nicodimus. In John 3:3, Jesus says,
I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.
Nicodimus is dumbfounded
How can a man be born when he is old…surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!
Jesus then rephrases his earlier statement
I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of god unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
The context appears to indicate that water refers to natural birth.
But there’s an even broader context to John 3:5 that others pick up on. Two chapters earlier, in John 1:32-33, John the baptist testifies,
I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, “the man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.”
Here water and Spirit are linked in the Baptist’s ministry and testimony. John baptizes with water but Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. If John 3:5 is linked to this verse, water could possibly refer to baptism (or repentance which John’s baptism is said to represent).
But there’s still a greater context which defines the meaning of water. Water isn’t simply confined to these two scenes. Water is almost everywhere in John!
With the exception of John’s baptism and Jesus walking on the water, these scenes do not appear in Matthew, Mark or Luke. They are entirely unique to John’s gospel.
Is there a unified meaning to water? How does each shed light on the others? If context is key to interpretation, we’ve got to start by reading all of John.
What do you say? How do you interpret the water?
