John Recorded

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As I write this, it is the start of Lent 2026, and I am reading the Gospel of John. The greatness of this Gospel comes from the aged John writing to tell that Jesus is the Son of God. After I accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, I was encouraged to read three chapters of John a day, which would take a week. This could have been to make a strong beginning, and I would not be weak in my walk with the Lord. One Christian school I taught at, it was pretty common if you got a surprise devotion to do you would open to the Book of John. Its contents are so good you could always find something important to talk about.

Lent is a time of reflection before Easter to focus on Jesus and what He did for you. It is not found in the Bible, but it is a good practice and tradition. Please count and check up on this statement: it is 47 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter. But Lent is 40 days of fasting and penitence! My friends in college pointed out to me that Sundays “did not count” and they could drink alcohol on that day. Actually, (No, we were not saved.) Sunday was already a day of obligation, but they justified it as not being part of the fasting period. They should have become lawyers, but they were not in a pre-law major.

Okay, another “homework” or study for you. Most of the focus of the Gospels is on Jesus’ “last year” before His ride into Jerusalem and much of that is filled with what happened after that ride or the time leading up to Passover, the Resurrection, and the Ascension. I begin this action filled period with the feeding of the 5,000. The intensity really heats up after the Transfiguration in Matthew 17. I guess Matthew, Mark, and Luke did such a great job talking about the Transfiguration that John does not include it in his telling of the story. Compare how much of the gospel is written after the feeding of the 5,000 to before it.

Back to John. His “last year” starts in Chapter 6 (out of 21) and I want to point out some important Jewish feast in John’s chapters. 7:2 is about the Feast of Tabernacles, which is in the seventh month (Jewish calendar). Chapter 10:22 is the Feast of Dedication, or Hanukkah, which is in the winter months in Israel. John 11:54 and Matthew 19:1 put Jesus on the east bank of the Jordan River, where He is waiting for Passover (first month in the Jewish calendar). This timing and location have important historical events that are part of the song of redemption for Israel and us:

  • Joshua and Israel crossing at Passover to take the Land. Joshua 3 and 4.
  • David crossing, after Absalom’s rebellion, for his triumphant ride in to Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 19.
  • Elijah and Elisha crossings during a change in prophets. 2 Kings 2.

People and their actions and reactions to Jesus, His words, and the miracles are what caught my attention for this post. The Twelve, His friends, the crowds, the Jews, the chief priest(s), and the Pharisees all have dialogue and drama because of Jesus in the Chapters of John. John 6:70, the trigger verse, comes after two important miracles: feeding the 5,000 and walking on water. He chose the Twelve and one was a devil is my basic translation. Devil or diabolos is Strong’s G 1228 and can refer to someone devil-like or a slanderer; demon is daimonion δαιμόνιον | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com. John adds a personal footnote here but records no reactions from the men; contrast this to the reaction at supper when He uses the term betrayer. Jesus makes this announcement again in John 13:10 and 18, verse 11 is another footnote; again, John records no reaction from the men.

Personal thought – The Gospels are narratives and include “private” thoughts and conversations from meetings. How did John know what the Pharisees and chief priests were talking about? The first answer might be, the Holy Spirit revealed it to him and the other writers; there is a precedent for that with Elisha, and I believe that could have happened. For this thought, however, I will go to John and Luke for the source of this material. Luke records in Acts that priests and Pharisees were obedient to the faith and John talks about leaders believing, especially Joseph and Nicodemus. (See John 19:38+39.) This is where the private information probably came from.

Another sorrow-causing example. John 7:3 tells of Jesus’ brothers mocking Him about being famous. They had already tried to collect Jesus because they thought He was crazy. Jesus’ circle of family and friends provided some painful times for Him. John the Baptist sent disciples with questions, all the disciples ran away in the Garden, and Peter, the rock, denied Him; these could not have been good moments for Jesus.

Isaiah 53 predicts Jesus to be “a man of sorrow and acquainted with pain”. Normally, this is thought of starting in the Garden, they were there. But Jesus carried many painful moments with Him before His ride into Jerusalem and all the way to the cross.

The Good News is Jesus forgave His family and friends and even the Pharisees and priest who choose to have faith in Him. That mercy and grace extend to us today when we have doubts and fears. So, if Jesus can forgive a hater like Saul of Tarsus and make him Paul the Messenger to us, you can have hope that this Jesus thing works.

John wrote about miracles so we could believe in the name/power of Jesus the Messiah the Son of God. John also recorded why Jesus came, the people, he penned many examples of why we need to make Jesus Lord.

Earthquakes in the Bible – A Second Look

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In the time of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation there were earthquakes. In my first Earthquake post I have more listed; this post is more on the “apocalyptic” quakes. However, 1 Kings 19:11 is the quake and story that shook this second look into being written.

These first three quakes have several things in common. The major one is that God came down to meet His people (or person) and things started. Wind, fire, and loud noise also happened when God came down on the mountains.

  • Exodus 19:18 – Moses on Mount Sinai with the Children watching in awe. The Law was given.
  • 1 Kings 19:11 – Elijah went to Mount Horeb (Sinai) to hide from Jezebel. This was a fresh start for Elijah and the beginning of the end for the Northern Kingdom.
  • Acts 2:2-3 – Okay, the earthquake here happened when Jesus died and the stone was rolled away. But the Holy Spirit came with fire and a loud noise to start the Church on Mount Zion.

The last one was a little shaky, so I will slide another one in that may challenge your thinking. The quake in Genesis could be when the “fountains of the deep were opened”. Many people might say this was just water, but the fractures that are the tectonic faultlines and volcanoes are also a type of fountain and should fit into your Creation Theory.

These first three quakes have plenty of symbolism and other actions going on at the same time as the earth shakes. The types and shadows of Old Testament quakes form the base for the ones that Jesus talked about in Matthew and will be seen before He comes again.

The seals, trumpets, plagues, and bowls in Revelation are first shown in the plagues God used to get Israel out of Egypt. But there was no quake in the plagues on Egypt. All of the other earthquakes before Jesus are the pre-tremors for the big ones to come. The shaking of the adam we come from is saved for the end.

I believe these apocalyptic pre-quakes served their purpose in their time and spoke to things to come. These quakes do not show up by themselves and have plenty of action to go with them.

Isaiah 29:6 has thunder, an earthquake, great noise, windstorm and tempest, and flames of devouring fire coming against those who attack Jerusalem. In Isaiah 36 Sennacherib does attack Jerusalem. I know this also carries past the attack by Assyria, but you have to wonder if there was more than just a “plague” killing those 185,000 men.

Ezekiel 38:19 has the Lord’s zeal, fiery wrath, a great earthquake, torrents of rain, hailstones, and burning sulfur on Gog and the nations with him.

Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8, and Luke 21:11 are references to the “birth pains” Jesus talks about on the Mount of Olives, this is the second sermon for the day. Luke has the most things listed, but all have earthquakes and famines.

Matthew 27:51 and 28:2 happened after Jesus proclaimed “it was finished”, but they accomplished several things.

  • Matthew 27:51 – This caused the Roman guards to believe, set people free from the grave, and tore the Temple curtain, which opened the way for Jesus to carry His Blood offering into the presence of the Father.
  • Matthew 28:2 – (See Earthquake) This rock-roller got everyone in Jerusalem awake to make unleavened bread for the day and opened the tomb so the women could see a “Mercy Seat” picture on Easter morning.

Revelation 8:5, 11:13 + 19, 16:18 – I am going to list what is in the Bible about these quakes, because the opinions have produced a magnitude 10 quake and a 300-foot-high tsunami.  

  • Revelation 8:5 – This is with the seventh seal and the golden censer is the cause. It comes with the smoke of the incense, peals of thunder, rumblings, and flashes of lightening.
  • Revelation 11:13 + 19 – The quake in verse 13 is with the sixth trumpet and after the two witnesses are brought back to life; a tenth of Jerusalem collapses and 7,000 people die. The quake in verse 19 is after the seventh trumpet when God’s heaven was opened and the Ark was seen. It came with lightening, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great hailstorm.
  • Revelation 16:18 – The seventh bowl has been poured out and a loud cry of “It is done” is heard. Lightening, rumblings, and peals of thunder come with this quake. It tears Jerusalem into three sections, cities collapse, Babylon the Great gets wrath, mountains and islands are gone, and huge hailstones start falling.

Come Lord Jesus!

Latest Earthquakes from the USGS.

If

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Matthew 8 tells the time Jesus cast out demons from The Man and they went into a herd of pigs; this narrative is also found in Mark 5 and Luke 8. Yes, the three writers approach this story from slightly different angles, so they are not word for word. One difference is the name of the area, you will find Gadarenes, Gerasenes, and the Ten Cities or Decapolis.

This is not the first time I have written about the “man” in the story, see The Man of the Gadarenes and Me and Me and the Man. But as I read Matthew this time one little word stuck out – If.

Now, “if” starts the second line of dialogue that the demons are saying. In Matthew the first conversation (8:29) is the demons questioning Jesus why He was there and was He going to torture or punish them before “the time”. I looked in the English translations in BibleGateway and the statement about time was consistent in them, which should tell you the demons know what their future is. The first part varied some by the translation, but that is okay.

When I did the same study on 8:31 I was amazed that all of the translations had “If you cast us out…”. My NIV Bible is the 1984/1990 copyright, and I expected it to be different in other translations. The reason for that is I assumed that “if” was not a word by itself in Greek; I was wrong. It is ei, Strong: G1487, and see εἰ | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com. I was surprised. Now, before I studied deeper, I wondered if it was a challenge or were they trying to bargain with Jesus to stay where they were. O, the translation/meaning of εἰ comes from the words around it.

Paul, in Ephesians 6, talks about our struggles with spiritual forces. Jesus did many miracles and healings and some specifically mentioned demons/devils and evil spirits, or unclean spirits. Even Jude talks about demons leaving their authority and their home. Over my years as a Christian, I have seen the topic of demons create a wide range of reactions; from denying that they are a factor today to one is behind everything bad that happens. So, seeing Legion trying to negotiate is not surprising. (To be clear, my thinking is not IF, but WHEN Jesus would cast them out.)

I do not like giving the devil or his minions very much thought-time, but this is a study and it seemed good to know how much they were mentioned in the Gospels. Matthew and Mark had about the same number of references at 27 and 28. (This is from the NASB wordsearch in BibleGateway, I tallied all four categories.) Luke had the most at 39, this is not surprising given the that “Gentiles/Greeks” was his intended audience. John had only 9; these primarily were Jews saying Jesus had demons.

A rabbit-trail I went down briefly, was why are there three different groups of minions? At this point I did not find a good reason. Satan is in rebellion, but he still copies the Father’s plans because they work. So, there is some sort of hierarchy to his followers.

Jesus never was intimidated, nor did He retreat, or have to make a deal with the demons. In Matthew 8, I see a classic deflection tactic, it did not work. In His practices, promises, and prophecies, Jesus extends His authority to us His Church. Luke documents demonic activity in Acts, Paul had authority. It is part of the struggle, but we have victory in Jesus.

The writer of Hebrews included two passages that speak to a future and final end to this: 1:13 and 10:13. When He comes, not if, Jesus will put all of this rebellion under His feet.

Things Paul Wrote About – Palē

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Palē is an unusual word. It is used only once in the New Testament, in Ephesians 6:12. From other Greek sources we know it deals with wrestling, struggling, and conflict. I feel it needs to be noted that this “wrestling” is the reason for the “armor of God”. This word embodies Paul’s life starting in Damascus until it ends in Rome. The Book of Acts highlights some of Paul’s conflicts, but his epistles add more of his personal battles and concerns for the Gentile Churches. I have a feeling Paul and Luke did not ink the “whole story” of Paul’s ministry, but the glimpses they give show a serious battle and not a mere wrestling match. Strong’s Greek: 3823. πάλη (palé) — Struggle, wrestling, conflict

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (KJV) Ephesians 6:12 Greek Text Analysis  Strong’s Greek: 2888. κοσμοκράτωρ (kosmokratór) — World ruler, ruler of this world

Was Paul using a twist on words to get a point across to his readers? I think so; you did not get dressed in full battle armor for a wrestling match.

Just as evil attacked Jesus, the same evil went after the Church. The threats and conflict were real and still are as we carry out the Great Commission. Topics and methods have varied through the centuries, but those rulers hate our righteous God, and us, and want to steal, kill, and destroy His world and His people.

Luke wrote “an account” for Theophilus about Jesus and the beginning of the Church. As I have read Acts and Paul’s letters it seems fair to say these were not encyclopedic. Even joining them together does not give us a “perfect” picture of Paul’s travels and works and precious little of what the Twelve were doing. Yes, I would love to have the “whole” story, but I believe the Holy Spirit knew that we could not handle all of it. With that said, I will open the door to these struggles knowing I will not cover them all. (Foxes Book of Martyrs may be a good resource.)

History, tradition, and man wanting to “help and box” God was the first level of attack. Zealous people who did not want Jesus also added to the pale. Natural and supernatural things were problems for Paul and the Church. The center of Paul’s struggle, however, is Jesus, His Cross, His Resurrection, and the Mystery that the Father wanted non-Jews in His Family. In the circle of believers, strong theological feelings developed on circumcision and observing the Law as early as Acts 10 with Peter’s vision and visit.

Some context here seems important; Jesus knew and told His disciples about His and their trials and suffering (Matthew 10:38, 16:21-24). Jesus had Ananias tell Saul/Paul what lay in front him – Acts 9:16. The Greek word pathein (suffering) comes from the root word paschō, Strong’s number: G3958. That form of the word is associated with Jesus on the Cross. Sorry, that topic is not mentioned very often now-a-days, but Christians around the world are suffering! Yes, in America we are losing our freedoms.

Two things started for Saul, the Pharisee, in Acts 9:5; 1. His Messiah became real and personal to him, 2. The enemy of his soul took notice, feared, and started to work against him. When you chose Jesus and made Him Lord, those two things also started in your life. Jesus’s gift and calling for Paul was to be for us (Gentiles) a witness, testifier, and teacher to the new life he was given.

Every time Paul called or said Lord Jesus, Jesus Christ (Man-God), Christ Jesus (God-Man), and many other titles of respect; he made the Jews of his time furious and broke Roman law. Isn’t it a shame the world disrespects our Savior and God by misusing His name and titles. For Paul, his use of these names and titles were the foundation of the attacks against him.

  • The Cross

Jesus told His followers in Matthew 10:38 and 16:24 to take up their crosses and follow Him. The listeners were not thinking of a nice necklace. 

The Deniers in Matthew 27:40 knew and saw the works of God Jesus had done. They thought Rome and a piece of wood would let them keep the Temple, tithes, and titles.

The Twelve proclaimed Jesus’ death on the cross (a curse) and his resurrection (a blessing) in Acts 5:30 and 10:39.

Paul recognized the Cross of Jesus as many things. This knowledge and preaching led to Paul’s wrestling and suffering.

1. A tool of reconciliation, Ephesians 2:16 and Colossians 1:20.

2. Foolishness and a stumbling block, Galatians 5:11 and 1 Corinthians 1:18.

3. Enemy Maker, Philippians 3:18 and Galatians 6:12.

            The Cross | Mark’s Bible Study          

  • The Resurrection – This event is serious bad news for the kosmokratór and his close friend Death. The evil one (ponērou) saw this threat to his plans and started deflections as soon as he could. Deniers vehemently claim that the Bible is just copying myth and legend of the societies around them. Many ancient cults have “someone” dying and coming back to life. The Greeks and Northern Europe have several gods who do this. Allow me to flip that coin and stand it on its edge; the ponērou pushed that lie to neutralize the coming victory of Jesus on the cross. The evil one understood the symbolism of Noah and the Flood very well.

I do not know or understand why the Sadducees rejected the idea of resurrection. Besides the Flood narrative they had Issac and their exodus from Egypt through the Red Sea. The kosmokratór was obviously at work to destroy hope and keep all eyes on the works of man (Herod’s Temple) to save them.

Greek Concordance: πονηροῦ (ponērou) — 13 Occurrences These thirteen are masculine singular forms of G4190 and are found in Eph 6:16 and Matthew 5:37 and 6:13.

Verses and ideas on the Resurrection (I suggest a word search tool): Jesus – Matthew 16:21 Jesus told them and added the three days. Peter – 1 Peter 1:3 a new birth and living hope. Power – Acts 4:33, Romans 1:4, and Philippians 3:10. Attacks – 1 Corinthians 15:12 and 2 Timothy 2:18. Other verses – Acts 5:30, 10:39, 17:18, 23:6, 24:15, and 24:21.

Old Testament references might be found in verses with ransom and redeem. Use Hosea 13:14 as a reference.

  • Circumcision was the physical sign of the Lord’s Covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17). Later it was included in the Law as a requirement of a male to be an Israelite. Under Roman rule if you were a Jew (circumcised) you did not sacrifice to Creaser. Paul’s letter to the Galatians (a region in Turkey) has much to say about this topic, see 2:12; 5:11, 12; and 6:12. Paul had much to say about those who demanded Gentiles be circumcised: 1 Corinthians 7:19, Titus 1:10, and Philippians 3:2. Paul’s view for the Gentiles is found in Colossians 2:11; a circumcision done without hands.
  • The Law is and was important, the Father wrote it. Acts 13:39 says it well – Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. (NIV) Paul, being a Jew, honored the Law of Moses. A few verses to considered: Acts 21:24 and 28; and 23:29.
  • Natural – In 2 Corinthians 11:26 -33 Paul gives a glimpse at his palē. I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. (NIV)
  • Supernatural – Demons knew Paul, so not to over spiritualize everything, I will note Acts 16:16. A female slave had a spirit that predicted the future and was being a thorn to Paul. This is like the times Jesus would not let the demons announce who He was. He did not need the testimony of devils.  

Paul warned the Church about their palē from false brothers and teachings. They had been growing even before the Apostle John died. I will mention this one that attacked who Jesus was, it is called Arianism. This teaching is called Christian, but it is not, and it spread very quickly among the intelligent and learned of the day. The Visigoths of northern Europe especially were attracted to this teaching. If they sound familiar it is because they attacked and sacked the Western Rome Empire. I consider this a holy war.

Arianism – Wikipedia 

Visigoth | History, Culture & Legacy | Britannica

An Analogy

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When I read C.S. Lewis I get stretched out of shape in good ways. Lately, I been stretched because of a Daily Reading book we bought; I desired to make an analogy for the Christian Bible. Types, shadows, and metaphors of the Old Testament being seen and used in the New Testament are nothing new in my writings. Jesus quoted and used many examples from the Hebrew Scriptures when He taught; Him using parables relates to “God concealing a matter and kings having to search them out”. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are like Jesus’ parables, in that they can have several layers of applications. Paul uses terms that talk of types and shadows and relied on them frequently in his writings. St. Augustine of Hippo saw a clear connection and is credited with saying, “The new is concealed in the old and the old is revealed in the new.”

Personally, I tend to over think analogies. I want them perfect and applicable no matter how I come at the topic; that does not always work. As my thoughts poured in, I had to reject some and put others in a holding pattern. Well, here are some attempts, yes, some I could not use.

A Watershed – When this first bubbled up I thought it was pretty good. Many branches (the 39 OT books) all flowing down to one center point and joining together, the river. I let this one keep on flowing for several reasons, mostly because it sounded too much like “there is more than one path to god”. (The small “g” was on purpose.)

A Flashlight – This bright idea has promise. The Old Testament is the power source, the bulb is Jesus, and He shines out as the New Testament.

The one I am working with is:

An Orchestra – Yes, this is a work in progress. I see my Bible as three sections: the 39 books of the Old Testament, 4 Gospels, and 23 Church books. If your Bible book has the Apocrypha, just keep Jesus as the Conductor.  

  • The 39 instruments are all playing the same piece of music. Each adds a distinctive sound that is in harmony with the other instruments.
  • Jesus/God is the conductor who directs them, as they all face Him. The Gospels share the baton in bringing out the harmonious sound. Jesus ties those instruments together as the melody “flows through Him” to the audience.
  • The Tomb and the Resurrection add a very Christian nuance to this analogy. Jesus went in “one way” and “came out another”. I am thinking the Conductor would turn around, with the Orchestra still playing, so He is facing and directing the “Church”.
  • The final 23 Books and the Church are facing Jesus and following His leading and they are listening to the same song from the Orchestra. JESUS IS LORD, not your denomination. The writers of those last Books had ONE Composer. I believe there are people in every denomination following the Conductor and doing their best to be in harmony with Him. The Father will direct the angels to harvest out the people-weeds and thorny-doctrines to burn them up.
  • I have two talented musicians in my family, who have been given the gift of being able to play by ear and they can read sheet music. (When I have tried playing with my ear, all I accomplished was hurting my head.) They “hear more” (different things) in a song than I do. I agree with the writers of those last 27 books; weeds and thorns have snuck into the Church and have caused no end of problems.  

Analogies are useful teaching tools, that may allow you to show relationships. I am not sure that making analogies doctrines are a good idea. When you stop and take the time to think on the things of God and compare your thoughts to His Words, that is righteousness.

Did I extend my orchestra analogy to its full extent? No, I could compare the Books of the First Testament to specific musical instruments. With more study, I could bring in notes, chords, scales, and other musical things that are represented in a written musical work.

Could I make Watershed work? Sure, but I feel I would have to do a lot of parameters that might detract from the lesson. Who knows, I might get over myself and give it a try.  

Analogies are related to types and shadows, so here are some references: Shadows– Colossians 2:17, Hebrews 10:1 (See G4639 Strong’s); Types– Romans 5:14, Hebrews 11:19. Terms may vary with the translation.