Mystical Gospel of John

A Hidden Key to the Gospel of John (pt. 37) Lesson Handout: What if some of the details in the Gospel of John were designed to remind its original audience of the Scriptures they had recently heard read in the synagogue? Today, Jewish communities read through the Torah on an annual cycle, beginning each year again in the seventh month of Tishri. But during the first century, Jewish communities in the land of Israel followed a Triennial Torah Reading Cycle, reading through the

Discover the Hebrew meaning of grace as living water flowing from Jesus. Explore how God's favor, earned through faithfulness, is generously shared with those who follow Him.

​ Lesson Handout John 4 is one of the most beloved stories in the Gospels—but what if it is about far more than a private conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman? In this lesson, we explore John chapter 4 through the symbolic world of the Bible, uncovering how John's Gospel presents Jesus as the divine Bridegroom who has come to reclaim His bride. Throughout the Old Testament, wells are repeatedly the setting for covenant and betrothal. Abraham's servant meets Rebeka

​ Lesson Handout Before we can fully appreciate Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman in John 4, we must first understand the long and painful history between the Jewish people and the Samaritans. In this lesson, we trace the history of the northern kingdom of Israel—from its division after Solomon, through the Assyrian conquest, to the resettlement of the land by five foreign peoples who would eventually become known as the Samaritans. We'll examine how this history shap

​ Lesson Handout What does the death of Jesus actually accomplish? Throughout church history, Christians have proposed numerous theories of atonement to explain how the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus reconcile humanity to God. In this lesson, we examine the major atonement theories before turning our attention to one of the earliest and most influential views held by the early church: Recapitulation. Rather than viewing the cross primarily through the lens of legal pu

​ Lesson Handout In this lesson, we explore the Old Testament background to baptism and the long biblical journey that led to the practice of water immersion in the time of Jesus. The story begins with the priests of Israel, who were commanded to wash with water before entering the Tabernacle and serving in the presence of God. Over time, the prophets expanded this imagery and began connecting “washing” with sin, repentance, cleansing, and forgiveness. What was once required

​ Lesson Handout In this lesson, we explore immersion and the symbolism of water as one of humanity’s oldest and most universal rituals. Drawing from ancient Near Eastern thought, the book of Genesis, and the writings of the New Testament, we trace how water represents chaos, creation, death, and rebirth across cultures and Scripture. From the Spirit hovering over the waters in Genesis 1 to Naaman’s immersion in the Jordan, from Paul’s theology of baptism in Romans 6 to Jesus

​ Lesson Handout In this lesson, we explore the powerful connection between John 3:16 and Genesis 22, the story known in Jewish tradition as The Binding of Isaac (the Akedah). While John 3:16 is one of the most quoted verses in all of Scripture—"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son"—its language and message draw directly from Genesis 22, where God commands Abraham to offer up his son, his only son, whom he loves. This was not lost on first-century Jewish audi

​ Lesson Handout What does it mean when Jesus says He has “come down from heaven” (John 3:13)? In this full-length teaching, we explore the rich biblical imagery behind God’s descent into the world—a pattern rooted in Creation, the Exodus, and ultimately fulfilled in Jesus. We’ll unpack the spiritual metaphor of “up” and “down,” a concept that is woven throughout the Bible and the human experience. From the burning bush to the Tabernacle, from Sinai to the cross, this episode

​ Lesson Handout In this concluding lesson of our John 3 introduction series, we trace the remarkable journey of Nicodemus—one of the most overlooked redemption stories in the New Testament. Most readers know Nicodemus from John 3, where he comes to Jesus at night, symbolizing spiritual darkness. But John doesn’t leave him there. We next encounter Nicodemus in John 7, quietly defending Jesus against the other religious leaders—signaling a break from the collective “we” of th

​ Lesson Handout In this third lesson of our John 3 introduction, we shift from John’s rhetorical device to the rich symbolism and character development woven throughout his Gospel. 📖 In this lesson we cover: Major Symbolism in John’s Gospel – We explore recurring images such as light and darkness, water and Spirit, birth and new life, and how these themes shape John’s message about Jesus. Characters as Symbols – John intentionally crafts his characters so they embody themes

​Lesson Handout This short lesson continues our introduction to John 3 by moving from the theories of inspiration (how John participates in the communication of God’s Word) to one of John’s most important rhetorical devices. Throughout his Gospel, John structures conversations where: 1. Jesus makes a statement 2. The listener takes it too literally 3. Jesus then provides a deeper explanation We’ll walk through several examples of this pattern, helping us see ho

Explore biblical inspiration and how John uses literary artistry, symbolism, and rhetorical techniques to communicate the deeper meaning of Jesus’ teachings.

Explore self-sacrifice, ego death, and spiritual transformation through John 2, Romans 12:1, and the biblical meaning of qorban—drawing near to God.

​In this first of a two-part series on John chapter 2, we uncover the brilliant literary and symbolic structure that John uses to communicate a deeper message--transformation through divine grace requires zeal. John brackets the chapter with key references to the number three, ritual, and zeal, guiding the reader toward the center of a chiastic structure where the heart of the message lies: God's grace transforms us from the inside out. Lesson Handout PDF In this episode, we

Explore Jesus’ claim to rebuild the Temple in three days and discover how Second Temple Jewish expectations reveal the risen Christ as God’s new Temple.

Explore Jesus cleansing the Temple in John 2, the Soreg dividing wall, and Ephesians 2 to discover how Scripture challenges us to tear down barriers and welcome others into God’s presence.

In Part 2 of our Rethinking Spirituality series, we explore the deep wisdom of the Hebrew Bible and the ancient rabbis on the nature of the human soul. Scripture uses three distinct Hebrew words to describe the inner essence of a person—each pointing to a different layer of our spiritual being. The rabbis liken the soul to a candle: - Nefesh connects us to the body—like the wick. - Ruach links soul to spirit—like the flame. - Neshamah is the divine spark—the pr

Explore the biblical meaning of faith and the Greek phrase “faith of God.” Discover how faith may be understood not simply as something we produce, but as a gift we receive and share in relationship with God.