Did the Rulers Believe?
John contrasts the rulers' belief in Jesus with their silence and fear. Should this make us doubt the authenticity of their belief?…
exegesis
9 posts
Invitation to Believe
In contrast to Jesus' unbelieving audience, John expects his own readers to believe.…
Isaiah: Witness and Pattern
In John 12, Isaiah is both a witness to Christ, and a pattern for Christ's own ministry.…
What Did Isaiah See?
To explain the people's failure to believe in Jesus, John quotes two passages from the prophet Isaiah.…
A Death for the People
There are two ways the raising of Lazarus "glorifies" Jesus. And one of them might surprise you.…
Lazarus Unbound
Jesus' descriptions of the final resurrection at the end of history are always coupled with talk of judgment. Resurrection is only a consolation for "those who have done good." It's actually a bad thing for "those who have done evil!"…
Jesus Discouraged
"Jesus wept" is one of the most famous verses in the Bible. Despite its simplicity, the verse does raise a question: why did Jesus weep? The answer emerges as we unravel the context.…
No Miracles Required
None of us can expect Jesus to raise our siblings from the dead before the last day, so how is the story of the raising of Lazarus supposed to comfort us?…
Thomas Doubts (the First Time)
Everyone knows Thomas as the one who doubts the disciples' report that Jesus has risen from the dead. But he has a lesser-known cameo earlier in the gospel of John.…