The exciting double ending of the gospel of John.

Jesus rises from the dead, but no one seems to recognize him, at least at first sight. Thomas refuses to believe until he touches Jesus's wounds. Peter goes fishing naked and Jesus helps him catch 153 fish. And Jesus says it's none of Peter's business about whether or not the disciple whom Jesus loves lives to see Jesus come again. So it's probably none of your business either.

The text and notes for this episode can be found here: https://skepticsannotatedbible.com/fewer-words/269.html

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If you've listened to our previous episodes, then you've heard about Jesus's death before. But the story in John is different, so we're telling it again.

Here we learn who cut off the ear of the high priest.

And hear Pilate ask the question, "What is truth?"

The text and notes for this episode can be found here: https://skepticsannotatedbible.com/fewer-words/268.html

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In this episode, Jesus washes his disciples feet and gives them a new commandment: Love one another.

The text and notes for this episode can be found here: https://skepticsannotatedbible.com/fewer-words/267.html

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There are only three people in the gospels who are said to be loved by Jesus, at least by name: Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. In this episode we meet all three, when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.

The text and notes for this episode can be found here: https://skepticsannotatedbible.com/fewer-words/266.html

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In the gospel of Mark, Jesus cured two people with his spit: A blind man by spitting in his eyes, and a man who couldn't speak by rubbing his spit on the man's tongue (Episode 252).

But in this episode, Jesus does something even more impressive. He cures a blind man by making mud out of his spit and then rubbing it in the blind man's eyes.

Why don't the faith healers do this anymore?

The text and notes for this episode can be found here: https://skepticsannotatedbible.com/fewer-words/265.html (change for episode)

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In chapter 6, Jesus tells his disciples that they must eat his flesh and drink his blood or they won't have any life in them. That was just too much for many of them. So many his disciples left him.

In the next chapter we learn that Jesus's brothers didn't believe in him and the people accuse Jesus of having a devil. Jesus says that living waters will flow out of his followers bellies.

Chapter 8 has the best story in the gospel of John - the woman accused of adultery. Jesus says that whoever is without sin should throw the first stone.

Now that's a nice story! But it wasn't in the gospel of John. It was a later addition.

The text and notes for this episode can be found here: https://skepticsannotatedbible.com/fewer-words/264.html.

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If you've heard only one verse in the Bible, it's likely this one: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

And it sounds kind of nice, until you read John 3:18, which clarifies its meaning: "He that believeth on him [Jesus] is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already."

Then a bit later in the same chapter, John the Baptist explains it all for us, by saying, "he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36

This is the message of the gospel of John - Believe or be damned.

The text and notes for this episode can be found here: https://skepticsannotatedbible.com/fewer-words/263.html

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The gospel of John begins where Genesis began - in the beginning. God, it turns out, wasn't alone when he created things. He had the word with him. Or the word was him. Or something like that.

We are, of course, supposed to know what John is saying here, without him actually saying it. Jesus is God. Or the son of God. Or something like that.

The text and notes for this episode can be found here: https://skepticsannotatedbible.com/fewer-words/262.html

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Chapters 19-23 repeat many of the stories that were covered in previous episodes: the last supper, Jesus's arrest, trial, and crucifixion. But the last chapter, chapter 24, has some fun stories that are told nowhere else: Jesus's mysterious appearance on the road to Emmaus, his ghost-like appearance to his apostles, and his final meal (boiled fish and honeycomb) before going to heaven.

The text and notes for this episode can be found here: https://skepticsannotatedbible.com/fewer-words/261.html

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Jesus says some strange things in this episode.

And then there is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, which explains who is going to heaven and who is going to hell.

The text and notes for this episode can be found here: https://skepticsannotatedbible.com/fewer-words/260.html

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