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
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Check Website for Times and Dates https://www.figtreeteaching.com/store/p3/Fig_Tree_Coffee_Club.html
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Support the Ministry when you shop at Amazon! Fig Tree Amazon Portal:
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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
#192 - Becoming the Offering: Zeal, Sacrifice, & Inner Change - Gospel of John (pt. 28b)
Fig Tree Ministries Podcast
35 minutes 55 seconds
4 months ago
#192 - Becoming the Offering: Zeal, Sacrifice, & Inner Change - Gospel of John (pt. 28b)
In Part 2 of our deep dive into John chapter 2, we explore the process of transformation—and why it’s so difficult.
Transformation isn’t instant. It’s painful. And that’s why John frames his Gospel with a call to zeal—a passionate commitment that carries us through the soul-wrenching work of becoming who God calls us to be.
In this lesson, we explore:
✅ The Hebrew word qorban (offering) and its root qarab, meaning “to come near”
✅ How offering something valuable is the way we draw close to God
✅ Paul’s teaching that we are the offering—a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1)
✅ Why Paul uses Jesus’s suffering, death, and resurrection as metaphors for spiritual formation
✅ What it means to undergo an ego death—putting to death the parts of us that no longer serve the goal of abiding with God
This teaching emphasizes a powerful principle:
“The more difficult the commandment, the greater the sacrifice it demands—and the closer it draws you to God.”
To love your neighbor, forgive those who’ve hurt you, and pray for your enemies—these are not easy tasks. They demand the death of pride, bitterness, and self-justification. But in surrendering those parts of ourselves, we step into the resurrected life of Christ.
📖 Join us as we journey deeper into the symbolic meaning of John 2 and discover what it truly means to offer ourselves in zeal and grace.
-----------------------------------------------------
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
Lesson Handout:
https://www.figtreeteaching.com/blog/becoming-the-offering
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
YouTube: https://youtu.be/v1ji11lFcZ8
The Critical Journey: https://amzn.to/4lMwXNs
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
