Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven: Called To Love- The Gospel According to John and the Book of Revelation

1. What is the one key idea of this chapter? Pay attention to the title of the chapter!

The Gospel of John focuses on the dialogues of Jesus and the light which that opposes the darkness. Through Jesus' dialogue we learn his central moral principle. Jesus became incarnated in our world so that he could show each of us how to love one another as one of his great commandments states. In this chapter we are called to love as Jesus did, to love everyone and not exclude anyone. Jesus shows us an example of how to love as Jesus did the story of the Samaritan woman where, despite the fact that she was samaritan and a woman, he talked to her and broke some social and religious rules. To love as Jesus did we must also serve each other. Love is not only shown from words, but also through actions. Jesus teaches his apostles this lesson as he washes their feet, telling them to do the same for their neighbor, to care for their neighbor as Jesus cared for them. In learning to love as Jesus did we will end up choosing light over the darkness in life.

2. Write about two major ideas you want to remember. Write a short paragraph on each clearly stating the idea and then telling why you want to remember it.

One major idea I want to take from this chapter is the importance of the Book of Revelation. John, the author of the Book Revelation, fills the book with symbolic literature that describes the coming of the end of the world and also describes the persecution the Christians are being subjected to under the reign of Emperor Domitian. However, the book also provided hope for the persecuted Christians who saw that God's presence would be the sustaining force for the people who were suffering. The Book of Revelation shows that, although there will always be a struggle between good and evil, God will always be there and will not abandon those who trust Him and are faithful to Him.

The second major idea I want to take from this chapter is the journey of faith taken by Nicodemus. Although many people quickly decide to follow the light in the world or the darkness in the world, there are also a lot of people who undergo a gradual and slow process of understanding Jesus and all of his teachings. At first Nicodemus was on the Sanhedrin, the council that mostly did not like Jesus. However, Nicodemus wanted to learn more about Jesus and talked with him individually to learn his teachings. Nicodemus did not understand the teachings at first or who Jesus truly was, yet Nicodemus had the courage to defend Jesus' legal rights before the Sanhedrin. After wavering between the light and darkness, Nicodemus finally realized that Jesus was the light of the world and our savior. Nicodemus' journey of faith reflects my own journey a lot. Jesus is always there for me but sometimes I do not understand or am open to his teachings. Sometimes I also stand between the darkness and the light but in the end I think I will find what Nicodemus did, that Jesus is the light of the world.

3. One image that captures the chapter for you.

4. One significant question you have from this chapter. It can be intellectual or personal.

If God created the world, then why did he make it with darkness to oppose the light?