Exercise 2: Passage Observations

We had great participation on the first exercise!  Very proud of you guys...the observations were thoughtful and followed the guidelines very well.

This week, continue observations on the four commission stories, but focus only on the passages as listed in the posted Scripture

To save space and keep our posts concise, do your work on a separate document and then select some of your best work to post, rather than posting everything.  This will encourage us to read each others' work.

Click here to go to that post: Our Passages

Posting Collin's Obs for everyone to see

SIMPLE Truth: Observations

Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20

MATTHEW 28:

Weather:

·       Earthquake (v2)

·       Lightning (v3)

·       Snow (v3)

Travel:

·       Mary & Mary went to see the tomb (v1)

·       Mary & Mary leave for Galilee (v3)

·       Soldiers go to the city (v11)

·       Disciples went to Galilee (v16)

Fear is present:

·       For fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men (v4)

·       So they departed from the tomb with fear…(v8)

Told not to fear:

·       But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid” (v5)

·       Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid" (v10)

Everyone is in a hurry:

·       Appearance like lightning (v3)

·       Then go quickly (v7)

·       They departed quickly (v8a)

·       Ran to tell his disciples (v8b)

Marys and disciples see Jesus and worship him:

·       And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him (v9)

·       And when they saw him they worshiped him (v17)

Ranks present:

·       Guards, Soldiers (v2, v4, v 12b)

·       Elders (v12a)

·       Chief Priests (v11)

·       Governor (v14)

Note: Jesus claims ultimate authority in heaven and on earth (v18) after a meeting of men of earthly authority (v12-15).

Note: First commission is given to Mary & Mary: Go tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead (v7).

“Go”:

·       Go quickly and tell his disciples (v7)

·       Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee (v10)

·       Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations (v19)

Contrast:

·       Faith of the women: Mary & Mary don’t see Jesus until they have already left to tell the disciples that Jesus  has risen (v8)

·       Doubt of the disciples: “some” of the disciples see Jesus in Galilee and “doubted (v17)

Contrast: Two different commissions

·       “Tell people His disciples came and stole him away while we were asleep.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. (v13)

·       “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations. (v17)

Soldiers offered comfort

·       Sufficient sum of money (v12)

·       Keep you out of trouble (v15)

Jesus’ Commission:

·       Go (v19)

·       Make Disciples (v19)

·       Baptize (v19)

·       Teach (v20)

In (v17), there were still some that doubted despite seeing Jesus before their eyes, yet Jesus commissions his disciples to go out and make disciples.

Question: Matthew 28:20 – What all had Jesus commanded them?

Question: Matthew 28:17 – Do we know who doubted?

Question: Matthew 28:2 – What is significant about the angel sitting on the stone?

Question: Matthew 28:11-15 – Why is it important to tell the story of how the guards responded? Is it to paint the contrasting picture of the two responses to Jesus’ disappearance from the tomb (that of the guards & that of the two Marys)?

Question: Matthew 28:11-15 – Why, in the face of eyewitness testimony did the Jewish leaders generate a lie to explain to the authorities (the governor in this case) what happened to Jesus’ body?

MARK 16:

Fear is present:

·       Trembling and astonishment had seized them (v8a)

·       They were alarmed (v5)

·       For they were afraid (v8b)

Contrast:

·       Silence: They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (v8)

·       Tell everyone: Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. (v15)

Disbelief is present:

·       But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. (v11)

·       And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them (v13)

·       Whoever does not believe will be condemned (v16)

Signs that accompany those who believe (v17):

·       In my name they will cast out demons (v17b) – mouth, proactive

·       They will speak in new tongues (v17c) – mouth, proactive

·       If they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them (v18b) – mouth, reactive

·       They will pick up serpents with their hands (v18a) – hands, reactive

·       They will lay their hands on the sick and they will recover (v18c) – hands, reactive

(v20b) the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

Sitting on the right:

·       And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe (v5)

·       Was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God (v19)

Jesus’ order of appearance

·       Mary Magdalene (v9)

·       “Two of them” (those that had been with him) (v12)

·       “the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table” (v14)

Question: Why did Mary & Mary bring spices? (v1)

Question: Why would Jesus specifically tell those that he had just rebuked for “unbelief and hardness of heart” to then go out and preach the gospel? (v14-15).

LUKE 24:

Unbelief of the apostles:

·       “seemed to them an idle tale (v11)

·       “But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.” (v21)

·       Why are you troubled and why do doubts arise in your hearts? (v38)

·       And while they still disbelieved (v41)

Contrast: Women believed the words, apostles did not

·       Women: “and they remembered his words” (v8)

·       Apostles: but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them (v11)

References to the Scriptures/Fulfillment:

·       That the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise. (v7)

·       But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. (v21)

·       The prophets have spoken (v25)

·       Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer (v26)

·       Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures… (v27)

·       While he opened us to the Scriptures (v32)

·       That everything written about me in the law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled(v44)

·       Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures (v45)

·       Thus it is written (v46)

·       Forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations (v47)

Human characteristics of Jesus:

·       Flesh and bone (v39)

·       Hunger: “have you anything here to eat?” (v42)

Note: Jesus commissioned his apostles despite their unbelief.

JOHN 20:

Author sets himself apart:

·       The disciple whom Jesus loved (v2)

·       But the other disciple outran Peter (v4)

·       Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first (v8)

·       Believes before seeing Jesus: “He saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture,” (v8-9)

Seeing Jesus did not necessarily mean believing:

·       Mary (v14)

·       Disciples believed after “he showed them his hands and his side.” (v20)

·       Thomas (v26)

Jesus addresses this in (v29): “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Responses to Jesus’ appearance:

·       Mary: “Rabboni (Teacher)” (v16)

·       Thomas: “My Lord and My God”(v28)

Jesus provided his disciples with evidence:

·       Showed them his hands and his side (v20)

·       Breathed on them and said “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (v21)

·       Put your finger here and see my hands (v27)

·       Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples (v20)

Jesus’ order of appearance:

·       Mary Magdalene (v16)

·       Disciples  (v19)

·       Disciples & Thomas (v26)

The “commission” comes in (v21): As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.

Question: In (v22) the disciples “receive the Holy Spirit.” I thought that does not happen until Pentecost (detailed in Acts)?

Question: Is Thomas not also commissioned? Does he not receive the Holy Spirit?

Exercise 1: Chapter Observations

Read Matthew 28 / Mark 16 / Luke 24 / John 20 and then make observations on these 4 chapters.  Treat each one as separate and do not compare them.  Don't look at any commentary or notes in your Bible.  Use the ESV version only (BibleGateway.com or BlueLetterBible.org).  Read the whole thing through a couple times before making any observations.  At this point you're looking to get an overview of the passages (wide angle).

It's probably best to start a WORD doc or something to keep all your work in.  Then copy and paste your best work when you post. Then comment on at least one other person's post (and any others that you want to).

Post your material by next Sunday.

Here are the TOP TEN tips for making good observations:

10. Report what is said, not what is inferred
9. Look for repetition/variations/possible patterns
8. Use different lenses: wide angle and zoom
7. Don’t just repeat the text; observe what it says and how it says it
6. Note major changes in form and content
5. When possible, make charts/lists
4. Raise questions
3. Be cautious of generalizing
2. Make your observations a variety of lengths
1. Don’t hesitate to state the obvious
0. Note the verse(s) you are making observation about

Sample Observations

Sample Observations

Observations on Isaiah 40-44

Note: These are two long observations.  You can certainly have observations that are much shorter, sometimes only one sentence.  Here I wanted to give you a couple examples of observations that cover large sectional themes.  Note that for the most part, the observations are in complete sentence form.

1) Frequently, in the chapters 43-44, Isaiah records God expressing his responsibility for the creation of his people, ‘I formed you.’  A version of this phrase appears in 43:1, 7, 21 and 44:2, 21, 24. 

There are some notable variations on this phrase.  One variation on this theme occurs in 43:21 where God gives the ‘reason’ for forming his people: ‘that they may proclaim my praise.’

Also, in chapter 44, both verses where ‘I formed you’ occurs (2, 24) add the addendum, ‘in the womb.’

Another interesting variation appears in 43:1 with the synonymous verbs, ‘he who created you’ and ‘he who formed you.’  A triplet verb repetition makes a very strong statement in 43:6b-7 – fatherly terms are used as the subject, ‘my sons…and my daughters,’ and the verbs ‘created,’ ‘formed,’ and ‘made’ appear in succession.

Question: are these three verbs (created, formed, made) merely synonyms, or does each one have its own unique meaning in the original Hebrew?

2) This entire section (Isaiah 40-44) is moved along rhythmically by a series of questions that God asks about his character.  Some of the questions are rhetorical because they offer no direct answer.  An indirect answer may be implied, but the tension builds as questions are asked and no direct answer is given.  Other questions are answered directly and forcefully.  These provide relief to the literary tension created by the scattered questions that are rhetorical in nature.  An observation related to the questions is that they are usually addressing God’s powers over the powers of other gods or humans.  Here is a brief outline of the questions (and answers in bold):

Chapter 40:

Who has measured the waters…marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust…weighed the mountains on the scales…?  (v12)

Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD…?

Whom did the LORD consult…who taught him the right way? (v13)

Who was it that taught him knowledge…understanding? (v14)

With whom…will you compare God? (v18)

Do you not know? Have you not heard…from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded? (v21)

“To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” (v25)

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? (v26)

Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God…Creator of the earth. (v28)

Chapter 41:

Who has done this…calling forth the generations from the beginning?
I, the LORD—with the first of them and with the last—I am he.” (v4)

Chapter 42:

Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers?
Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned? (v24)

Which of their gods foretold this…proclaimed to us former things? (v9)

Chapter 43:

“When I act, who can reverse it?” (v13b)

Chapter 44:

Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. (v7)

Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any." (v8b)

Steps of the Inductive Method

OBSERVATION
Observations
Questions/Divisions
 
CONCENTRATION
Key Terms
Key Verse
Outline
Comparing Gospels
Cultural & Historical
Theological Themes
Interpretive Question
 
UNDERSTANDING
Message Essay
Values Essay

Note: the Inductive Method has been adjusted to fit the needs of the particular passages at hand and for the amount of time we have to accomplish the study.

Group Meeting - Sept 18

Hopefully I will see all of you in my office tomorrow (Sunday) at 8:45am for the introduction to this semester of SIMPLE Truth.

Thanks so much!  See you then!

Assignment 1: Course Overview

Part 1: Read "OUR PASSAGES" (previous post) several times through, but don't make any observations or decisions yet.  Just comment that you read it.  Do this by Sunday, September 18. 

Part 2: View "LECTURE 1" (previous post; I recommend downloading the pdf so you always have it).  Post your comments by Sunday, September 18. (Even if you just post that you read it, I can track attendance for our small group this way.  If you don't post anything, you'll be counted absent.)

Part 3: Look over the course "SYLLABUS - FALL 2011" (previous post).  Comment that you read it by Sunday, September 18.

Part 4: Come to our first of three group meetings of the semester.  Meet in the W&A Office (by the drinking fountain) at 8:45am on Sunday, September 18.  We will go over the syllabus and get everyone acclimated.

Syllabus - Fall 2011

Click Here to view and download the Syllabus

Lecture 1: Introduction to the Inductive Method of Bible Study

Click Here to view and download Lecture 1

Our Passages: The Great Commissions of Jesus

<sup>From the English Standard Version (ESV), which we will use exclusively in this course:

MATTHEW 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

MARK 16:15-18
15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

LUKE 24:44-49
44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." 

JOHN 20: 21-23
21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."</sup>