December 13th, 2025

The season of Advent continues on. This Sunday’s title is the Third Sunday in Advent. The Gospel Reading for this Sunday is Matthew 11:2-15.

Now if you have been recently reading the writings of this website, you would know that we are currently going through the Gospel according to John, and you almost assuredly know that the Gospel according to John is a significantly different Gospel account when compared to the other three. And it should be no surprise that much has been said and written about that difference. In terms of a living creature, the Gospel according to John is connected to the eagle, and an eagle is a significantly different creature, especially when compared with those who are normally on the earth.

For the past two weeks, with the writings of this website we have been looking at a biblical text from what has been called the first chapter of that account. Chapter divisions have been added relatively recently, but they may be helpful when looking at a small part of the entire account. This final section of chapter sets up Jesus to have followers, and that characteristic sets the situation up for the next events, the so-called ‘signs’ surrounding Jesus’ ministry. Much could also be said about such a thing. But we should not get too far ahead.

If you are unfamiliar with the writings of this website, some important things should be stated. Most important is that the following biblical text will be given in what could be called an EXTREMELY literal translation, so it may be helpful to have another translation or a study bible nearby.

The frequent hyphens within the text below are designed to point out when more than one English word is connected to one word in the language of the New Testament, the ancient Greek. Also important to note is that the order which the words appear below is the order in which they are given in the Greek. And regarding that point, it may be helpful to note that with the Greek language, the important words tend to be at the forefront of the sentence.

One more thing to note is that the verbs in capital letters below are called ‘historical presents’, and they may be connected to the LIVING creature of the EAGLE as part of the LORD’s throne (see Ezekiel 1). There will be a significant number of those historical presents in the text this time. You might say that the eagle sees a lot of small things happening, and when you add them up, together they make some significant and God-related events.

There are many ways in which words can be translated into other languages. As promised, what follows is an EXTREMELY literal translation of John 1:35-51:

In-the  next-day,  again,  he-stood,  the  John,  and  out-of  the  disciples  of-him,  two,  and  having-looked-at  the  Jesus  walking,  HE-SAYS,  “Behold,  the  Lamb  of-the  God.”  And  they-heard,  the  two  disciples  of-him  speaking,  and  they-followed  the  Jesus.

Now  having-turned,  the  Jesus,  and  having-examined  them  following,  HE-SAYS  to-them,  “What  are-you-seeking?”

Now  the-ones  said  to-him,  “Rabbi  (which  it-says,  being-translated,  ‘teacher’),  where  are-you-remaining?”

HE-SAYS  to-them,  “Come  and  you-will-see.”  Therefore  they-came,  and  they-saw  where  he-is-remaining,  and  alongside  him,  they-remained  the  day,  that;  hour  was  about  tenth.

It-was  Andrew,  the  brother  of-Simon  Peter,  one  out-of  the  two,  the-ones  having-heard  alongside  John  and  having-followed  him;  HE-FINDS  this-one  first,  the  brother,  the  own,  Simon,  and  HE-SAYS  to-him,  “We-have-found  the  Messiah  (which  is  being-translated  ‘Christ’).”

He-led  him  toward  the  Jesus.  Having-looked-at  him,  the  Jesus,  he-said,  “You,  you-are  Simon,  the  son  of  John;  you,  you-will-be-called  Cephas  (which  is-interpreted  ‘Peter’).”

In-the  next-day  he-wanted  to-come-out  into  the  Galilee,  and  HE-FINDS  Philip.  And  HE-SAYS  to-him,  the  Jesus,  “Follow  me.”


Now  he-was,  the  Philip,  from  Bethsaida,  out-of  the  city  of-Andrew  and  Peter.  HE-FINDS,  Philip,  the  Nathanael,  and  HE-SAYS  to-him,  “The-one-of-whom  he-wrote,  Moses,  in  the  Law  and  the  Prophets,  we-have-found,  Jesus,  son  of-the  Joseph,  the-one  from  Nazareth.”

And   he-said  to-him,  Nathanael,  “Out-of  Nazareth,  is-it-possible,  anything  good  to-be?”

HE-SAYS  to-him,  the  Philip,  “Come  and  see.”

He-saw,  Jesus,  the  Nathanael,  coming  toward  him,  and  HE-SAYS  concerning  him,  “Behold,  truly,  an-Israelite  in  whom  decoy,  not  is.”

HE-SAYS  to-him,  Nathanael,  “From-where  me,  do-you-know?”

He-answered,  Jesus,  and  he-said  to-him,  “Before  the  you,  Philip,  to-call,  being  under  the  fig-tree,  I-saw  you.”

He-answered  him,  Nathanael,  “Rabbi,  you,  you-are  the  Son  of-the  God;  you,  king,  you-are,  of-the  Israel.”
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He-answered,  Jesus,  and  he-said  to-him,  “Because  I-said  to-you  that  I-saw  you  underneath  the  fig-tree,  do-you-believe?  Greater  than-these-things  you-will-see.”  And  HE-SAYS  to-him,  “Amen,  amen,  I-am-saying  to-you,  you-will-see  the  heaven  having-been-opened  and  the  angels  of-the  God  going-up  and  going-down  upon  the  Son  of-the  Man.”