This painting, probably from 1480-1485, by Jan Polack, is currently held by the Los Angeles Museum of Art. It was probably originally a panel from an altar piece in a church. It's a bit over 5' tall. Notice how Jesus is in the center of the controversies, teaching in the temple. He is pictured in the center, with the dove as a sign of the Holy Spirit present above his head. Some of the people are moved to wonder, some to prayer, some to questioning him. Everyone is paying attention to what he is saying. An interesting feature of this painting is the fact that various people are speaking, and what they are saying is recorded on the speech ribbons coming from their mouths. In the end, it is God's Word which is front and center, shown both through the central location of Jesus in the setting, but also by his appearance as larger than the other speakers, and by his speech appearing on a white ribbon, compared to the yellowed color of other people's communication.
John 07 Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Notice in the Bible we refer to the following:
Book - John (there are many different "books" in the one book of the Bible),
Chapter - Normally found as a big numeric heading. John has 21 chapters,
Verse - a segment usually about a sentence long.
The chapter and verse markings were added to the text as a handy index about 800 years ago. They are the same in virtually every different translation.
Here's a link to John chapter 7. You can also compare the text in several different languages and translations.
If you want a copy of John's Gospel in print, we're happy to meet you around the Mizzou campus and put one into your hand!
1. Jesus' family members don't seem convinced that he is the Messiah. In what ways does the non-Christian world think a religious leader would act to establish his religious views in the community? In what ways does Jesus act differently?
2. Jesus' words and actions at the Feast of Tabernacles draw different reactions from different groups of people. How do people you know interpret Jesus' words and actions? What group would you fit into?
3. Jesus speaks of giving people true water to drink, which will become rivers of water coming from within his followers. How do you interpret this?
4. Those people sent to arrest Jesus came back without him. What reason did they give? How did the Jewish leaders react? What was different about Nicodemus' reaction? How was he received and why?
Be sure to ask your questions and share your ideas in the comments for this post!
Notice in the Bible we refer to the following:
Book - John (there are many different "books" in the one book of the Bible),
Chapter - Normally found as a big numeric heading. John has 21 chapters,
Verse - a segment usually about a sentence long.
The chapter and verse markings were added to the text as a handy index about 800 years ago. They are the same in virtually every different translation.
Here's a link to John chapter 7. You can also compare the text in several different languages and translations.
If you want a copy of John's Gospel in print, we're happy to meet you around the Mizzou campus and put one into your hand!
1. Jesus' family members don't seem convinced that he is the Messiah. In what ways does the non-Christian world think a religious leader would act to establish his religious views in the community? In what ways does Jesus act differently?
2. Jesus' words and actions at the Feast of Tabernacles draw different reactions from different groups of people. How do people you know interpret Jesus' words and actions? What group would you fit into?
3. Jesus speaks of giving people true water to drink, which will become rivers of water coming from within his followers. How do you interpret this?
4. Those people sent to arrest Jesus came back without him. What reason did they give? How did the Jewish leaders react? What was different about Nicodemus' reaction? How was he received and why?
Be sure to ask your questions and share your ideas in the comments for this post!
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