Stories in Scripture

The man has left the temple again, this time for good. He follows the crowd from the Garden to Pilate’s estate in fear and wonder. After seeing the Rabbi hang on the cross, he knows life will never be the same. Violence, bitterness, power: these are all the same root of what the temple leaders were using to solve in the first place.

It has all come down to the last challenger: The Pharisee. He and the Rabbi meet in the center of the temple and battle for the very soul of Israel. The man in the corner remembers a strange encounter with this Pharisee, an insight into his heart. The Rabbi does not fall for his trap.

The Sadducee decides it is his turn. A powerful man in the Temple. But the man in the corner sees the fragility and fear in such a position. The Sadducee tries to point to a flaw in the resurrection. And the Rabbi reminds everyone that the power of God exists for those willing to live it out.

Strange alliances are forming in the Temple. The man in the corner watches as the Herodian attempts to settle the manner with diplomacy, reminding everyone of the power of Caesar. Instead, the Rabbi points to a new standard of giving and loyalty.

The man still adjusts to his new way of life. He decides he must know more and goes to seek him out. Back in the temple, the Chief Priest prepares to challenge the authority of Jesus. He can’t let the Rabbi rule in his place. The man in the corner begins to see the humanity in all people.

Jesus and his disciples finally arrive in Jerusalem to much fanfare. At the temple, one man finds himself at a crossroad. His encounter with the famous Rabbi takes his life in a direction he could never have anticipated. The religious leaders of the temple plan a way to trap this Rabbi, ridding themselves of potential trouble. But none of them are prepared for what will happen.

In the final episode of the season, John tells the scribe the seventh sign! It is the story of a man named Lazarus, and is beautiful insight into the way Jesus handles death. And although the seventh sign is the number of completion, John isn't done yet. He is just getting started!

As we near the end of our journey toward the seventh sign, John tells the young scribe an odd story. In the story, Jesus spits in dirt and rubs the mud into the blind man's eyes.  

Continuing with the bread of life imagery, John tells the story of the moment Jesus walked on water, only to be met on the other side by a crowd of people expecting some food. 

Sign four is one of the most famous stories in all of scripture. It's the story about the time Jesus provided food for an entire crowd. John continuous to help the young scribe understand the bigger story being told beneath the surface.