I'm Praying, Not Drunk

Eli mistook Hannah's silent prayer for drunken babbling.

Hannah and Elkanah had Samuel as an answer to her prayer.

Prayer of Revenge

After Samson was pestered into confessing the source of his great strength to Delilah, the Philistines captures him and poked out his eyes.

In response, Samson prayed to be given super-human strength to kill thousands of people, even while killing himself.

Samson

Samson's miraculous birth was announced unsolicited.

But his father, Manoah, prayed for the return of the Lord's angel to ask how to raise their special child.

Moses v. Pharaoh

Moses prays on behalf of Pharaoh several times throughout the plagues.

It is interesting that another early model of prayer is intercessory, not directly from the sinner to God.

Prayer and Fasting

The words prayer and fasting only occur together 8 times in the NIV. That's less than I was expecting.

Nameless Servant

Abraham's head servant prayed for a sign before meeting Rebekah, Isaac's future wife.

First Prayer

I was surprised to find that the word "pray" doesn't appear until Genesis 20.

Abimelech was tricked into taking Abraham's wife, Sarah, into his harem. God appears to Abimelech in a dream and threatens his whole household with death if he doesn't return Sarah to Abraham.

Abimelech agrees to these terms but states his innocence. God agrees, but tells Abimelech that Abraham will pray for his forgiveness.

This places much more of the process of forgiveness on an intermediary than I'd expect.

Prayer

The word "pray" and its derivatives occur 365 times in the NIV.

That's a verse a day for a year.

Forgiveness

One last key theme of John.

Favorite Gospel

What's your favorite gospel? Why?

Aw, Mom

It's not Jesus' time, but he turns the water into wine anyway.

That's funny. And a pretty cool miracle.

Andrew

It's so cool that the first thing Andrew did after meeting Jesus was go tell his brother, Peter.

Lamb of God

I'm reminded of the scene in The Miracle Maker where Jesus goes to his cousin, John, to be baptized.

Jesus reminds John of their childhood memories playing in the Jordan river.

It's an intriguing thought.

John the Baptist introduces John the Gospel

Followers of Christ redirect attention from themselves to Jesus when they have the right perspective.

Review of John

The thing that stands out most clearly is John's consistent focus on people in his gospel.

Impact

Jesus didn't fill his days with busyness.

He filled his days with purpose, following his Father's plans.

One of my favorite verses...

...is John 21:25.

What About Him?

In verses 20-24, we find the origin of a major rumor. John knows he's not immortal, but that's not what some others thought they heard Jesus say.

Second Chance

Sure, Peter's feelings were hurt.

But Jesus gave him a second chance after an epic fall.

Peter made his second chance count.

Stick with the Boat?

Do you stick with the boat when the unexpected arrives?

Or do you jump out?

I don't think one approach is better than the other.  It's more a function of personality.

I stay in the boat.

Peter dives out, then climbs back aboard.

Either way, people get to share in the bountiful catch of fish.

Life Goes On

It's been a roller coaster for Jesus' followers.

Jesus was crucified and buried.

Then his body went missing.

Then he appeared to many of his followers.

What would you do in this position?

Peter goes fishing. And has no success. It's like when the crews in "Deadliest Catch" have a bad day.

Outline of John 21

Jesus cares for Peter

Doubting Thomas, John's Thesis

Thomas demands proof before believing in Jesus' resurrection.  What proofs do we demand of God?

John states his purpose in writing his gospel clearly in verse 31: [T]hese {miracles] are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name

Verse 23

Really? Verse 23

What does this mean?

Verses 19-22

After showing himself to the disciples, Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit.

Mary and Jesus

In verse 17, Jesus uses the phrase "I have not yet returned to the Father."

I'm curious about what Jesus means.

Peter and John

John is faster, but Peter is more bold and enters the tomb as soon as he arrives.

When they hear the news that Jesus' body is missing, they go running.

How interesting that Jesus folded his grave clothes. I wonder why John mentions this detail.

After they see the evidence they believe that Jesus is missing. They don't quite get it yet that Jesus is alive.

Verses 1-2

I would freak out if I went to a relative's fresh grave site and found the body missing.

Call 911! Get me the cemetery caretaker! What kind of third-rate operation are you running here? Do I need to call
Dr. G?

Outline of John 20

1. Jesus rises from the dead and leaves behind an empty tomb
   
2. Jesus appears to some of his followers
   

Cemetery

Have you noticed that cemeteries now advertise? Holy Sepulchre is just down the road. I was sitting at a red light right next to the entrance a year or two ago, driving home from work, and their radio ad came on. It was weird!

I'd never really paid much attention to the cemeteries in my hometown until my little brother died.

How often do you think about the burial places near where you live? Do you ever consider where your remains will be placed after your death?

Jesus' body was placed in a tomb in a garden right near his crucifixion site. The way it sounds in verse 42, his tomb was picked mostly because of its convenient location.

Outlier

I wonder what percentage of people killed on a cross died before their legs were broken.

Verses 28-30

Jesus requests a drink simply to fulfill Scripture. I wonder why this prophecy was in place.