In this lesson, we explore the powerful connection between John 3:16 and Genesis 22, the story known in Jewish tradition as The Binding of Isaac (the Akedah).
While John 3:16 is one of the most quoted verses in all of Scripture—"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son"—its language and message draw directly from Genesis 22, where God commands Abraham to offer up his son, his only son, whom he loves.
This was not lost on first-century Jewish audiences. By Jesus’ time, Isaac was no longer viewed simply as a passive figure, but as a willing and obedient martyr, joyfully accepting his role in God’s redemptive plan.
The Gospel of John echoes this interpretation, presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of that pattern—a Son given, not taken, whose willing sacrifice becomes the ultimate act of love.
We'll cover:
- The literary and theological structure of John 3:14–18
- How the first mention of “love” in the Bible (Genesis 22:2) shapes the meaning of John 3:16
- The concept of “olah” (burnt offering) and drawing near to God
- How Abraham’s journey mirrors the spiritual journey of offering what we love most
- The surprising symbolism of the disappearing donkey
- And a look at ancient Aramaic Targums, which show how Isaac’s story was interpreted in Jesus’ day
This is a rich and layered study that connects two foundational texts in a deeply meaningful way.
👉 Don’t miss this opportunity to see how the Gospel of John is rooted in the soil of the Hebrew Scriptures.
🔔 Subscribe to stay connected with more in-depth Bible studies rooted in ancient Jewish context.
---------------------------------------------------------
www.figtreeteaching.com
Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club - Starting January 14th, 2026
Check Website for Times and Dates https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html
Support Fig Tree Ministries:
https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries
Support the Ministry when you shop at Amazon! Fig Tree Amazon Portal:
https://amzn.to/3USMelI
YouTube: https://youtu.be/BqiPTem2fQ0
Lesson Handout:
https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/john-316-explained-through-genesis-22
Genesis 22 with Interpretive Notes:
https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_genesis_22_interpretive_notes.pdf
Targum Comparison:
https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_binding_of_isaac_targum_comparison.pdf
Books Mentioned - We participate in the Amazon Affiliate Program. You will support Fig Tree Ministries when you use the links below.
Abraham & Family - https://amzn.to/4j0aLQ6
All content for Fig Tree Ministries Podcast is the property of Scott Broberg and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
In this lesson, we explore the powerful connection between John 3:16 and Genesis 22, the story known in Jewish tradition as The Binding of Isaac (the Akedah).
While John 3:16 is one of the most quoted verses in all of Scripture—"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son"—its language and message draw directly from Genesis 22, where God commands Abraham to offer up his son, his only son, whom he loves.
This was not lost on first-century Jewish audiences. By Jesus’ time, Isaac was no longer viewed simply as a passive figure, but as a willing and obedient martyr, joyfully accepting his role in God’s redemptive plan.
The Gospel of John echoes this interpretation, presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of that pattern—a Son given, not taken, whose willing sacrifice becomes the ultimate act of love.
We'll cover:
- The literary and theological structure of John 3:14–18
- How the first mention of “love” in the Bible (Genesis 22:2) shapes the meaning of John 3:16
- The concept of “olah” (burnt offering) and drawing near to God
- How Abraham’s journey mirrors the spiritual journey of offering what we love most
- The surprising symbolism of the disappearing donkey
- And a look at ancient Aramaic Targums, which show how Isaac’s story was interpreted in Jesus’ day
This is a rich and layered study that connects two foundational texts in a deeply meaningful way.
👉 Don’t miss this opportunity to see how the Gospel of John is rooted in the soil of the Hebrew Scriptures.
🔔 Subscribe to stay connected with more in-depth Bible studies rooted in ancient Jewish context.
---------------------------------------------------------
www.figtreeteaching.com
Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club - Starting January 14th, 2026
Check Website for Times and Dates https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html
Support Fig Tree Ministries:
https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries
Support the Ministry when you shop at Amazon! Fig Tree Amazon Portal:
https://amzn.to/3USMelI
YouTube: https://youtu.be/BqiPTem2fQ0
Lesson Handout:
https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/john-316-explained-through-genesis-22
Genesis 22 with Interpretive Notes:
https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_genesis_22_interpretive_notes.pdf
Targum Comparison:
https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_binding_of_isaac_targum_comparison.pdf
Books Mentioned - We participate in the Amazon Affiliate Program. You will support Fig Tree Ministries when you use the links below.
Abraham & Family - https://amzn.to/4j0aLQ6
#191 - John 2 and the Mystery of Three: Blueprint for Spiritual Renewal - Gospel of John (pt. 28a)
Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
30 minutes 17 seconds
4 months ago
#191 - John 2 and the Mystery of Three: Blueprint for Spiritual Renewal - Gospel of John (pt. 28a)
In this first of a two-part series on John chapter 2, we uncover the brilliant literary and symbolic structure that John uses to communicate a deeper message—transformation through divine grace requires zeal.
John brackets the chapter with key references to the number three, ritual, and zeal, guiding the reader toward the center of a chiastic structure where the heart of the message lies: God's grace transforms us from the inside out.
In this episode, we explore:
- The symbolic use of “three” in John’s structure and how it echoes a deeper spiritual journey
- Two ancient Rabbinic sources that highlight the mystical and theological significance of the number three:
Zohar Vol. II, 43: “These three are one... only through the perception of faith...”
Talmud, Shabbat 88a: “Blessed is the Compassionate One who gave a threefold Torah to a threefold people...”
- How Hosea 6:1–2 outlines the three-day spiritual arc of wounding, waiting, and rising—mirroring the journey of being separated from and restored to God's presence
- Why zeal is necessary to remove inner barriers and participate in divine transformation
Join us as we begin to unpack John 2's symbolic brilliance and the call it places on each of us to become vessels of God’s grace.
👉 Don’t forget to watch Part 2, where we dive into the cleansing of the Temple and the connection between grace, sacrifice, and inner renewal.
-----------------------------------------------------
www.figtreeteaching.com
Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club - Wednesday @ 9 AM Central Time https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html
Support Fig Tree Ministries:
https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries
Fig Tree Amazon Portal:
https://amzn.to/3USMelI
YouTube: https://youtu.be/1x5yaQDYM1c
Lesson Handout:
https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/john-2-and-the-mystery-of-three
Article - Zeal, Grace, and Transformation: A Deeper Look at John 2
https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_zeal_grace_and_transformation_john_2.pdf
Article - Rethinking Grace
https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_rethinking_grace_updated_8_16_2025.pdf
Jewish Annotated Apocrypha: https://amzn.to/45xBz3R
Old Testament Pseudepigrapha: https://amzn.to/40YrnzW
Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
In this lesson, we explore the powerful connection between John 3:16 and Genesis 22, the story known in Jewish tradition as The Binding of Isaac (the Akedah).
While John 3:16 is one of the most quoted verses in all of Scripture—"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son"—its language and message draw directly from Genesis 22, where God commands Abraham to offer up his son, his only son, whom he loves.
This was not lost on first-century Jewish audiences. By Jesus’ time, Isaac was no longer viewed simply as a passive figure, but as a willing and obedient martyr, joyfully accepting his role in God’s redemptive plan.
The Gospel of John echoes this interpretation, presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of that pattern—a Son given, not taken, whose willing sacrifice becomes the ultimate act of love.
We'll cover:
- The literary and theological structure of John 3:14–18
- How the first mention of “love” in the Bible (Genesis 22:2) shapes the meaning of John 3:16
- The concept of “olah” (burnt offering) and drawing near to God
- How Abraham’s journey mirrors the spiritual journey of offering what we love most
- The surprising symbolism of the disappearing donkey
- And a look at ancient Aramaic Targums, which show how Isaac’s story was interpreted in Jesus’ day
This is a rich and layered study that connects two foundational texts in a deeply meaningful way.
👉 Don’t miss this opportunity to see how the Gospel of John is rooted in the soil of the Hebrew Scriptures.
🔔 Subscribe to stay connected with more in-depth Bible studies rooted in ancient Jewish context.
---------------------------------------------------------
www.figtreeteaching.com
Join the Fig Tree Coffee Club - Starting January 14th, 2026
Check Website for Times and Dates https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html
Support Fig Tree Ministries:
https://donorbox.org/support-figtree-ministries
Support the Ministry when you shop at Amazon! Fig Tree Amazon Portal:
https://amzn.to/3USMelI
YouTube: https://youtu.be/BqiPTem2fQ0
Lesson Handout:
https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/john-316-explained-through-genesis-22
Genesis 22 with Interpretive Notes:
https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_genesis_22_interpretive_notes.pdf
Targum Comparison:
https://www.figtreeteaching.com/uploads/1/1/9/7/119763168/fig_tree_ministries_binding_of_isaac_targum_comparison.pdf
Books Mentioned - We participate in the Amazon Affiliate Program. You will support Fig Tree Ministries when you use the links below.
Abraham & Family - https://amzn.to/4j0aLQ6
