Think like an English major

Most people in Alaska are not English majors. We value welders, diesel mechanics, guides, pilots and carpenters. We don’t eat quiche. Men are men and women are women. However, God has spoken through a Book. If we are going to understand the Bible we need to think like English majors!

We need to read the Bible with understanding. Let’s think like an English major and meditate on John’s gospel. When we read a Book in the Bible it is important to look at the big picture. The Gospel of John is fascinating. John focused upon the first seven days in the ministry of Jesus and then the last seven days in the ministry of Jesus. The first two chapters of John focus upon the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. The last several chapters in John focus on the end of the ministry of Jesus.

The ministry of Jesus started with a bang! The first day began with a delegation from the Pharisees. Any significant messianic movement was investigated. The Sanhedrin sent a delegation to the desert to question John the Baptist. John 1:19 says, “The Jews (the Sanhedrin) sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him (John the Baptist), ‘Who are you?’” John replied, “I am not the Messiah.” John pointed them to Jesus. John said, “I baptize with water, but among you stands One you do not know, even He Who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

The second day is in verse 29. The verse reads, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!’” John identified Jesus as the Passover Lamb. The highlight of the calendar was the Passover. The Passover celebration pointed to Jesus. Every Jewish family was commanded to take a lamb, kill the Lamb and the put the blood on the doorposts of their home. This commemorated the Angel of Death passing over the homes in Egypt because of the blood. Jesus offered His own blood to pay for our sins.

The third day is found in verse 35. “The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!” On this day Andrew and his brother Peter followed Jesus.

The fourth days is in verse 43. “The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’” Jesus had a very interesting conversation with Nathanael. “Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed in whom is no deceit!’ Nathanael said to him, ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God!”

Why did Nathanael conclude Jesus was God’s Son? Jesus read his mind! The Jewish people believed the best place to meditate on God’s Word was under a fig tree. Nathanael, under his fig tree, was meditating on the life of Jacob. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel. Jacob deceived his father. Jesus said, “Nathanael, before we even met I saw you meditating on God’s Word under the fig tree. You were thinking about the life of Jacob.” When Jesus read his mind he concluded Jesus was God’s Son.

The fifth, sixth and seventh days are described in John chapter 2. Verse 1 of John 2 said, “On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.” The wine ran out. This was a major social embarrassment. Jesus turned the water into wine. Verse 11 says, “This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”

, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament. He is the Passover Lamb. Jesus has supernatural abilities- He can read minds even from a great distance. Jesus is compassionate and loving- He changes the water into wine.

John begins with the first seven days in the ministry of Jesus. John focuses upon seven miracles Jesus performed. John records seven sermons Jesus gave. John reveals seven “I Am” statements Jesus made. John spends most of his time on the last seven days in the public ministry of Jesus. John even gives his purpose for writing. “Now Jesus did many other signs (miracles) in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this Book; but these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31).

God may call you to work at the Slope driving a truck. Your calling may be to frame houses or to raise children or operate equipment. No matter your calling all of us must think like English majors and read the Bible with understanding!

Ethan Hansen is a pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.