Richard A. Burridge
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Promises of the Spirit
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Promises of the Spirit
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
The PROMISE of the SPIRIT Jesus continues to reassure his disciples as several farewell themes are woven together in this next section. He reinforces the main point that he is going away, and yet will still be with them; this leads into a discussion of the relationship of the Fat…
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Show Us the Father
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Show Us the Father
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
Show Us the Father Thomas misunderstood Jesus’ claim to be ‘the way, the truth and the life’ as a physical way to God. Jesus took him deeper into the spiritual relationship between himself and his Father, so that to know Jesus is to know the Father (14:6–7)…
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Jesus Prays for the Church
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Jesus Prays for the Church
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
Jesus Prays for the Church ‘Jesus has prayed to return to the glory he shared with God his Father before the creation (17:1–5). He has also prayed for his disciples whom he will leave behind in the world, although they are not of the world; the key to this balancing act is found …
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - A Parting Gift
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - A Parting Gift
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
A Parting Gift Jesus explains to his disciples that, although he is going to leave them, he will still be with them through the Holy Spirit, revealing himself to them (14:21). Each time he has talked of going away, one of the disciples has asked a question for further clarificati…
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Do You Want to be Healed?
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Do You Want to be Healed?
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
Do You Want to be Healed? This new chapter begins with the mention of ‘a feast of the Jews’ (5:1). Various Jewish feasts provide the backdrop for the next chapters: we have already seen one Passover in 2:13, and the next Passover happens in 6:4. Then the feast of Tabernacles is t…
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - BREAKFAST with JESUS
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - BREAKFAST with JESUS
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
BREAKFAST with JESUS Fishing was Peter’s idea but he has abandoned ship, leaving the others lurched over the side dragging the net in (21:8). When they come ashore, they find ‘a charcoal fire’. The use of anthrakia for the fire immediately recalls the high priest’s courtyard, whe…
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - They Have Taken Away The Lord
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - They Have Taken Away The Lord
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
They Have Taken Away The Lord The arrival of the Sabbath caused Jesus to be brought down from the cross and buried in a nearby tomb (19:42). Now it is early on Sunday, proi again, just before dawn, the time when they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate on Friday morning (18:28). M…
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Water into Wine
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Water into Wine
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
WATER into WINE John describes the events at Cana as the first of Jesus’ ‘signs’ and thus it stands at the start of his ministry as a foretaste of what is to come and an introduction to the rest. So what is the meaning of this miracle, apart from merely saving the blushes of the …
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The WEDDING at CANA
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The WEDDING at CANA
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
The WEDDING at CANA ‘There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee’. For a little town nestling in the hill-country above the Sea of Galilee a few miles from Nazareth, Cana has become remarkably well known down through the ages and across the world by being mentioned at the start of the…
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Word became Flesh
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - The Word became Flesh
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
The Word became Flesh Like an overture, the Prologue introduces the gospel’s major themes. First, John arranged his composition against a cosmic backdrop of the realm of divine light above and our dark world below…
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Acceptance or Rejection
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Acceptance or Rejection
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
Acceptance or Rejection? The overture is now in full swing, moving from its magnificent opening about the Word with God in the beginning to what happens when the Word enters into the world. This introduces many of the gospel’s key themes…
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Light in the Darkness
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - Light in the Darkness
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
Light in the Darkness Greek philosophy and many eastern religions had an essential ‘dualism’, a separation between the material world and the spiritual realm. God exists in brilliant light in the world above, while we live in the darkness of created matter…
John The People's Commentary - In the beginning
John The People's Commentary - In the beginning
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
The opening of John’s gospel is one of the most magnificent pieces of religious literature ever written. Not surprisingly, it has inspired vast amounts of analysis and interpretation. And yet, we are not even sure quite what it is: is it an introduction, a hymn or a poem? Argumen…
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - TELL US PLAINLY
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - TELL US PLAINLY
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
TELL US PLAINLY The words of the good shepherd once more cause a ‘division’ among “the Jews” (10:19). Again we have the word for schism, which happened first to the people and then the leaders (7:43; 9:16). And so this division sums up so many attitudes throughout the first half …
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - I AM THE RESURRECTION & THE LIFE
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - I AM THE RESURRECTION & THE LIFE
by BRF - Richard A. Burridge
I AM THE RESURRECTION & THE LIFE Martha expresses her belief in the conventional view, that her brother ‘will rise again in the resurrection on the last day’ (11:24). According to this, everything to do with eschatology—judgment, death, life—all are in the future at the End of ti…
John THE PEOPLE’S BIBLE COMMENTARY - LAZARUS, COME OUT!