Hi John,
Suzi and I read chapter 6 with a few folks at Gary’s house. Each paragraph has so many things to think about it is hard to absorb in one setting. I re-read it again this morning.
I think this section is clear and understandable. We did not see many typos other than the few already mentioned. Here are a few things that really stood out to me.
I liked the way you described the scene of Jesus at the River Jordan on page 3 and how John must have been deeply impressed when he heard the Voice of God speaking about His beloved son. What John saw was Mary’s son. One can only imagine what was going on in John’s mind when he heard God’s voice.
Another part that really stood out to me is the section on page 7 which describes why God had to sacrifice his son. I don’t think I will ever read this scripture the same again: “Behold! The Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world!”
Or, “Behold! God’s Lamb that takes away the sins of the world!” Whew!
One of my favorite sections is the Virgin Birth. This thought is just too good to keep to ourselves: “The birth of Mary’s son in Bethlehem was a glorious event, but the coming of God’s son was more glorious. … it is unwise to esteem that holy event (Jesus’ birth) more than the holier event of the coming of God’s hidden son”.
Thanks John for all your work and sending this out. We are looking forward to the next section.
Tom
===============
Pastor John,
The reading that you sent last night seems so much easier to comprehend. Your description in the section “a Man in Appearance” makes it easy to understand. Of course, I have my questions about the blending of the Son of God with the son of Mary, like what happened to the son of Mary’s mind that he had had all his life, like his preferences, his likes, his dislikes, his feelings. Was it that he suddenly only wanted to do the will of the Father because the Son of God took over his mind? I don’t know if the way I’m asking that makes sense.
Also, in the first paragraph at the top of Pg. 2, I like the comparison you made between the Son of God coming into the son of Mary’s body and becoming one and the holy Ghost coming into Jesus’ followers on the day of Pentecost. However, the remainder of that paragraph and the corresponding verses talk about the Gentiles that made up that new nation and how no one expected God to fill them, but I think it sort of veers away from the topic of Jesus blending with the son of Mary. Just a thought.
Thank you!
Anna
===============
Thanks. I will look at that again.
btw, Bess particularly liked that part. It’s funny how often that happens.
As for what happened to Jesus’ mind, etc., after God’s Son blended with him at the Jordan River, we may have to wait and ask him when we see him. But you could start by asking yourself, “What happened to my mind when I became a new creature?”
jdc
===============
The very first paragraph was so good. I had often wondered what
happened to Jesus, the Son of Mary. Love how God took care of the Son
he had in the beginning, and Jesus of Nazareth. Something about that
paragraph is very special.
Page 2, like whole page and how you brought out the differences in “a
Son of God” and “the Son of God”.
“These new creatures were like the Son after he came to earth, having
earthly bodies filled with God’s kind of life.”
Page 4, after quoting Matthew 4 and Luke 4: “Until this moment in
biblical history, no human, not even men and women of great faith,
were called “sons of God”;
I had wondered too if God had other humans referred to as “son”, so
that sentence was especially relevant.
Another favorite section was The Virgin Birth, the whole paragraph but
especially this: “…the Son of God made his advent into the world at
Jesus’ baptism, in the form of a dove, not as an infant lying in a
manger.”
Page 7, talking about how God had to be the actual Father of the one
He would sacrifice; I was reminded and thankful of having been taught
the Old Testament, otherwise I would not have known what was being
talked about. Knowing the OT is so valuable.
The whole chapter was so good, I highlighted so many sentences that
just stood out. All of this information is wonderful, and so totally
“backwards” from what I heard growing up.
Debbie T
===============
Hi John,
I really love how you are putting together each chapter and section of the book. I know it has been a lot of hard work and reworking of each chapter and section. But each time we read it, the flow and the content gets smoother and clearer then ever. I really believe that when this gets published and available for God’s people to read, there will be no denying what God did with his Son. It will be one of those books that just leave you speechless and in awe of what you just read.
We have had the honor and privilege of learning what has happened with God’s Son all along the way, as he has reveled it to you and us. But someone who picks it up for the first time … “Wow!” I hope we get to see and feel the wonderful feelings and thoughts they may have after they read it, if God opens their eyes to see it.
In chapter 6, section 1, I liked the part “God’s Lamb, not Joseph’s”, and how you showed that the lamb had to belong to the person who was sacrificing it. To me, it really explained how important the virgin birth was, and why this really is a story about God. Thank God, he has chosen us at this time to be a part of such a wonderful revelation that he wants to be revealed to his children!
Thank you, John and everyone who has helped.
Stuart
===============
Hey Pastor John,