Thrive: Deeper

TIn John Chapters 8-10, Jesus confronts the Pharisees, who are trying to trap Him with questions. He tells them that He is the light of the world and the Son of God. He also forgives a woman caught in adultery and heals a man born blind, which causes controversy among the Pharisees. Jesus also teaches about being the good shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. The Pharisees continue to plot against Jesus and eventually try to stone Him, but He escapes their grasp as He determines when he will lay down His life.

John Chapters 4-7 focus on the interactions of Jesus with various people and groups, highlighting his teachings and miracles. In Chapter 4, Jesus speaks with a Samaritan woman at a well, breaking social and cultural norms, and revealing to her that he is the Messiah. This interaction leads to many Samaritans coming to believe in Jesus. In Chapter 5, Jesus heals a man who had been an invalid for 38 years, but the religious leaders criticize him for doing so on the Sabbath. Jesus defends himself, saying that he is doing the work of his Father. Chapter 6 contains the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus' discourse on being the bread of life. Jesus' teachings on the Eucharist are introduced in this chapter, causing many disciples to turn away from him. In Chapter 7, Jesus attends the Feast of Tabernacles and teaches in the temple. He is met with opposition from the religious leaders, but many people believe in him nonetheless. There is much insight here as we look at both the cultural and spiritual impact of Jesus' ministry.

Overall, John Chapter 3 teaches about the need for spiritual rebirth through belief in Jesus, the love and salvation that God offers through his Son, and the importance of testifying to Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus tells Nicodemus that to see the kingdom of God, one must be "born again". This represents a spiritual transformation that occurs when someone accepts Jesus as their savior. This transformation involves a new perspective on life, a changed heart, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God's love and salvation - John 3:16 - is perhaps the most famous verse in the Bible, highlighting the depth of God's love for humanity and the salvation that is available through faith in Jesus. Salvation is a gift from God that is available to all who believe in Jesus. The contrast between light and darkness Jesus uses the metaphor of light and darkness to describe the contrast between those who follow him and those who reject him. He says that those who come into the light do so to have their deeds seen as done in God, while those who do evil prefer to stay in the darkness. The role of testimony and witness John the Baptist serves as an example of someone who testifies to the truth of Jesus as the Messiah. John recognizes that his role is to prepare the way for Jesus and to point people to him. In doing so, he provides a powerful witness to Jesus' identity and mission. This involves not only sharing the message with words, but also living a life that reflects the love, joy, and peace that comes from knowing Jesus

The Gospel of John 1-2 is seen as a profound theological reflection on the nature of Jesus and his relationship to God. The central idea of these chapters is that Jesus is the Word (Logos) of God, a term that has rich philosophical and theological connotations in the ancient world. The Word is not only the source of all creation, but also the source of light and life, which are essential elements of the divine presence in the world. We hear about the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus, with John serving as a witness to the coming of the Messiah. The significance of John's testimony is that he serves as a bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament, connecting the two and providing a clear witness to Jesus as the fulfillment of God's promise to his people. Jesus was made flesh, that is, he became a human being and dwelt among people. Despite the rejection of Jesus by some people, those who receive him are given the power to become children of God. This is a powerful declaration of the universality of salvation and the invitation that is extended to all people to have a personal relationship with Jesus.

• We’ve seen Isaiah’s message of both Judgement and Hope for Jerusalem • Isaiah made it clear through his messages that the people of Israel and Jerusalem had rebelled against God, amongst other things they had continued with their worship of idols, and treating the poor and less fortunate with contempt. • As a result of this rebellion, Isaiah tells the rulers that God is going to use both the nations of Assyria and then later Babylon to bring Israel’s kingdom to nothing through this act of judgement. It would be turned to rubble. But there would be a remnant. • As we concluded in Chapter 39, Isaiah predicts the fall of Jerusalem and to the Babylonians and then the exile that followed. • This all came to pass around 100 years after Isaiah had died. • Throughout Isaiah’s prophetic words of judgement there were also words of Hope. • Isaiah was looking forward to the new Jerusalem. A new kingdom where Gods rule would be restored – through a messianic King yet to come. • This would be a time when all nations would live together in peace. • This points forward to a figure who is called God’s Servant and who is going to fulfill God’s MISSION to bless ALL the nations. • 2 ways to respond to this message of hope from the Servant: o Respond in humility and repent, turn from their sin and accept what God has said in his judgement, but also in his mercy. We are forgiven. (The Servant’s/The Seed) o Reject the Servant and his servants (the Seed). Isaiah ends with a picture of the fulfillment of ALL of God’s covenant promises, through the suffering Servant King. Matt mentioned Sons of Korah's version of Isaiah 53. Here's a link to the video: https://youtu.be/wzlKxDvuvqQ

Through Isaiah, God warned that he would bring military crisis and judgement upon Jerusalem. People were characterised by spiritual insensitivity, religious hypocrisy and unwillingness to trust their destiny to God. The coming crisis would be severe , but God would suddenly and miraculously rescue the city from the armies outside the walls of Jerusalem. This prophecy anticipated God’s deliverance of Jerusalem in 701bc. Deliverance will only come through repentance and faith. If only they would cry out to Him, he would renew their spiritual wisdom and give them prosperity. God would appear in splendour and destroy the Assyrians with His people rejoicing over the demise of their enemies. Messianic visions where Isaiah anticipated a day when a just King would rule over the land, along with rulers who would treat the people justly. Judgement of the nations brings restoration for God’s people. Dramatic description of God’s universal judgement. God will unleash his anger across the nations. Even the heavens would not escape. The enemy would be laid waste (Edom) but God’s weakened and discouraged people would be rejuvenated by God’s mighty deeds on their behalf.

Isaiah Chapters 13-28 are focussed on Isaiah’s Judgment Speeches. These are not just judgements on Israel and Judah, but all the nations of the world and specifically those surrounding Israel and Judah at the time. God is sovereign over ALL nations. God’s people should not have feared the surrounding nations, but they also should not rely on them for aid! However, as we have already seen in Isaiah, this message of judgement is delivered with a message of hope – that in spite of this judgement and the nations continued disobedience, God would one day fulfill all His covenant promises through an everlasting King of David’s line. Deliverance could, and can, only come through repentance and faith. And God is waiting for us to turn to Him.

Isaiah 1-12 (740-700 BC) Isaiah the Prophet lived in Jerusalem in the last part of the 2 Kingdom period (Israel in the North and Judah in the South) and his prophetic word was directed to the leaders of Jerusalem and Judah. Isaiah had been warning Hezekiah (the king of Judah at the time) about the nations rebellion against God and under Hezekiah’s reign there was a ‘revival’ of sorts. In 701bc, the Assyrian ruler Sennacherib marched against Judah and besieged Jerusalem and Isaiah urged the King – Hezekiah - to trust the Lord, who miraculously delivered the city from the Assyrian army. But Isaiah could see the eventual exile of Judah and continued to speak into this future generation. Isaiah preached that God’s judgement was going to come to Israel and Judah through the nations of Assyria and later Babylon, because they refused to turn from their idolatry and oppression of the poor. But, as we will read as we work through the book of Isaiah, this message of judgement is delivered with a message of hope – as we saw with Micah – that in spite of this judgement and the nations continued disobedience, God would one day fulfill all His covenant promises through an everlasting King of David’s line. The purpose of this covenant though remember, was not just about the nation of Israel, but that God’s blessing and salvation would flow to ALL the nations as per his promise to Abraham. We do a ‘deep dive’ on Chapter 6 as we hear of Isaiah’s call to God’s mission. In Isaiah’s vision (around 740 BC soon after King Uziah’s death) he sees God sitting on His throne in His temple, surrounded by heavenly creatures shouting HOLY HOLY HOLY and worshipping Him. This opens dramatically Isaiah’s awareness of the seriousness of his own sin and that of the people of Israel. Isaiah needs to trust God. Israel will be chopped down like a tree and left like a stump in a field which will also be scorched and burned, but will become a ‘holy seed’ that will survive. We then see the prefigurement of Christ as Isaiah tells of the new King whose Kingdom will set people free from oppression. This new King – Immanuel – will be empowered by the Spirit of God to rule over the NEW JERUSALEM, bringing peace to all with the nations looking to this King for his wisdom. This Kingdom will transform ALL CREATION and bring PEACE.

Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea – He prophesied mostly in Judah (but speaking to all Israel (North and South), across the reigns of 3 kings of Judah: Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. This book, much like Hosea is also written in Hebrew Poetry. Micah announces God's judgment against Israel. Israel has exploited the poor and twisted the laws of the Torah, and God’s justice means that he will deal with them severely. But Micah’s prophecies are not without hope. The God of Israel is also faithful and full of mercy. God promises to preserve a faithful remnant, from which he will create a new Jerusalem on the other side of sin and exile. Micha saw the fulfillment of his prophecies about the fall of Samaria to the Assyrians, and also witnessed the great revival initiated by Hezekiah, which delayed God’s judgement on Judah and Jerusalem for almost a century. (One of the few prophets whose warnings of judgement were heeded). The Good Shepherd The book of Micah paints a picture of a just, yet merciful God. Like a shepherd, God will one day gather and restore a faithful remnant to the land. He will rebuild Jerusalem, defeat evil forever, and send a messianic King to rule over the people and bless all the nations.

The book of Hosea is mostly written in the form of Hebrew poetry. Hosea actually means ‘Salvation’ in Hebrew. Hosea was a contemporary of Isaiah and Micah – at the time of Israel (Northern Kingdom) ruler Jeroboam 2. 750-722 BC. Hosea is one of the most autobiographical of the prophetic Books in that the opening account of Hosea’s own marriage and family actually formed a vital part of his message. The people of Israel (Ephraim) placed false hope in their own remedies. Like farmers trying to sow in the wind. The seed would blow away and foreigners would take it. Their idols, temples and fortresses would be destroyed and military alliances would drain them dry, enslave them, and carry them away. Because of their rebellion and wickedness in trusting in the fertility cult of Baal, the Lord would reject them and make the people barren. A Life that pleases God: Sow righteousness Reap unfailing love Seek the Lord BUT . . . God stands ready to forgive and restore those who turn to Him in repentance.