One cultural aspect that is important for us to understand when reading our New Testament is the symbolism of the "Sea" that existed in the minds of the Israelites and other ancient Near East people groups. 

The "sea" and the storms associated with it represent the abyss, the enemy of God, and the primordial chaos.  

Once we understand that symbolism, we can see a deeper meaning in the actions of Jesus. 

The question we ask in this lesson is, "Who has authority over the sea?" 

The depiction of Jesus having authority over the sea communicates to us that the Father's authority has been passed down to the Son. 

Class Handout

Resource for your library:

Ryken, Wilhoit, Longman - Dictionary of Biblical Imagery 

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Scholars have noted how important the land is to understand Jesus' message.

A phrase was coined to describe the life-setting of the land as the "Fifth Gospel." Just as we have the other four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - the land itself becomes the “Fifth Gospel” and profoundly speaks to us.

In the series that follows, we will explore many of the biblical stories that take place in the area surrounding the Sea of Galilee.

In each study, we will pay particular attention to the context (location and audience) of where the event is happening.

When we consider the Biblical event's location and who the intended audience is, we can often gain a deeper understanding of God's message.

For more pictures from the Sea of Galilee click here

Class Handout 

Reference Material to help build out your library:

Bargil Pixner - With Jesus Through Galilee: According to the Fifth Gospel (Thrift Books)

Bargil Pixner - Paths of the Messiah (Thrift Books)

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In Jewish mystical thought (Lurianic Kabbalah), the human soul's three highest attributes are Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge. 

These attributes have their counterpart in the "Heavenly Man" (Jesus), a manifestation of God's glory.

These three attributes are also associated with God creating the world (Proverbs 3:19-20).

In this lesson, we explore these attributes from Genesis through to Paul's letters and discuss how we can structure our own interactions with God through the Holy Spirit.

Class Notes:

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"Repetition is the mother of all learning."

We learn through repetition. Each time we encounter a biblical concept, we see something we didn't see the first time. It's kind of like watching a movie a second or third time and seeing something you didn't see the first time. 

Information - "in-forms" us. We are formed when we learn, and therefore we are different each time we encounter what seems to be the same information. We often feel this way when reading the Bible. Each time we read the same passage, it impacts us in a new way. 

The "Heavenly Man" lesson is not an easy one as it resides in the mystical. Mystical, by definition, is a mystery. 

In this lesson, we continue our exploration of the "Heavenly Man."  As we review the first video's information (click here), we will add some additional verses to help you see deeper into this amazing concept. 

Lesson Plan:

Resources:

Lawrence Kushner, Honey From the Rock

Dr. A Nyland, Complete Books of Enoch

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