Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 9
She connects Exodus 33–34 to John 1, arguing John presents Jesus as the visible “glory… full of grace and truth,” the true “tabernacle” where God dwells with humanity; how would early Christians hearing John’s language understand Jesus’ identity and mission differently than a modern “Jesus mainly helps me” framing?
Another way to ask: If early Christians heard John call Jesus God’s “glory” and the true “tabernacle,” what would they think Jesus came to do? How is that bigger than thinking, “Jesus is mainly here to help me”?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
Based on Rochelle’s teaching, early Christians would hear John 1 as a bold claim that Jesus is the same God whose glory Moses longed to see—now revealed in human flesh as the true “tabernacle,” “full of grace and truth.” That moves Jesus from being mainly a personal helper to being the climactic revelation of God’s identity and the center of God’s rescue story.
- Rochelle says John 1:14–18 is “clearly intended to be a sequel” to Exodus 33–34, with shared terminology.
- Moses asked, “Show me your glory,” but could not see God’s face; Rochelle says John claims “what Moses never got to see… we have seen.”
- She quotes John 1:14: “the Word became flesh and dwelt [tabernacled] among us… glory… full of grace and truth.”
- She explains “dwelt” means “tabernacled,” linking Jesus’ body to the wilderness tabernacle where God lived with Israel.
- She interprets John 1:18: “No one has seen God… [but] he has declared him,” meaning Jesus reveals God.
- She ties this to the big narrative: God’s rescue mission launched through “the death and resurrection of Jesus.”