Johannine Language: Ironies and Metaphors

John's Gospel is full of ironies and metaphors. How can we understand them?

See my article:

"The Johannine Realism about the Kingdom of God: "Born from Above, Born of Water and Spirit" (John 3:1-21)"

Abstract:
John emphasizes the realism of the kingdom of God in the present. Given the Johannine community’s expulsion from the synagogue due to its faith that Jesus is the Messiah, the members of this nascent community need assurance about their new place in Christ. They are comforted and encouraged to live as children of God. They are born from above and experience a new life through the Spirit. To maintain their discipleship with Jesus, they must keep his word and stay in the light. The Advocate will come to them after Jesus is gone, and God’s reign continues to be seen, touched, and experienced in the present. As Jesus sends his disciples into the world, the Johannine community receives a new mission to love the world, testifying to the truth of God, following Jesus’ word.

Jesus and Nicodemus

How to understand the birth metaphor in John 3:1-11? 

What point does Nicodemus miss out on? 

What is Jesus's point?

Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels

There is one Jesus, but there are different portrayals of Jesuses in the different Gospels. This video deals with the synoptic Jesus who is also different in the synoptic Gospels.

Why did Jesus come to the world? The historical Jesus and Four Gospels

A brief introduction to Jesus and the Four Gospels.
Why did he come to the world according to the Four Gospels? -According to Mark, Jesus came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). -According to Matthew, he came to fulfill the righteousness of God (Matt 5:17). -According to Luke, he came to seek out and save the lost (Luke 19:10). -According to John, he came to testify to the truth of God (John 18:37).

Official trailer for my channel

Introduction to my channel 1

Unjust Judge and Widow

What does Jesus try to address in the original parable? Why does Luke emphasize prayer? What kind of justice is discussed in this parable? This parable of Jesus is not about prayer but about justice.

Rich Man and Lazarus

Do we see in this parable the limitations of Lukan charity-based ethics? In fact, this parable does not ask the question of how the man became rich. The only thing expected from him is a bit of charity that may help the poor man. However, this parable challenges the view of maximalist freedom: “I can do whatever I want because all I have is mine.”

Unjust Steward

What is wrong with the manager? Did he lend the master’s money with unusually high-interest rate to his customers? If so, he was unjust. He harmed the master’s reputation and expropriated his customers. Why did the manager decide to cut back the amount of debt for the master’s customers? Because his master knew … so, he may lose his job. … so, to get his living among them … Why did his master commend the manager? (His reputation; his business). In the end, there are all winners: the master’s reputation is restored; he could get his business going as usual; the manager does not lose his job; the customers have a better rate.

Father and Two Sons (Luke 15)

"Father and Two Sons" in Luke 15 is one of the three ”lost” parables in Luke: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Is this an allegorical story or just a family story with two parts, the younger son and the older son? The main theme is the father’s compassion. We need to analyze characters: the father's behavior as not very adamant about his sons and his unconditional acceptance of his son; the older son/brother as a diligent son; a prosecutor-role; the younger one as immature and selfish; not truly repenting, but returning home to survive. Reconciliation will happen eventually? What are the conditions for it?