STU:Bible Study in the entire Gospel of John Lesson 1 INTRODUCTION TO JOHN'S GOSPEL We are about to begin a study of the book of John, but we will be searching other books of the Bible as we study the New Testament book of John. The Bible is a single library of sixty-six books; His Story, God's Story. The Old and New Testament mesh together to give us God's complete Word. The Bible contains sixty-six books written by forty authors, as the Holy Spirit inspired them and it was all recorded over a period of 1600 years. The Old Testament was recorded in the Hebrew language with a few short passages in Aramaic. Then about 100 years before Christ's appearance on the earth, it was translated into the Greek language. The New Testament was also recorded in Greek. Our translations have all been from these original languages. The books of the Bible were written by divinely chosen men in known and existing languages and were accepted as God's Word by the people of that generation. They possessed certain qualities which instinctively showed the believers of that day that they were from God. During the period that followed the death of the apostles, many books appeared that claimed to have been written by them. While these books never gained universal acceptance, they did bring some confusion to the early Christians. For that reason a church council, toward the close of the fourth century, laid down a number of rules by which every book claiming inspiration would be measured. A book had to meet many requirements. Among other things it was necessary (1) that an apostle had either written it or confirmed it; (2) that it had enjoyed universal acceptance from apostolic days; (3) that it had been read in all the churches; and (4) that it had been recognized by the church fathers as inspired. After careful examination it was determined that the New Testament books met the requirements. These twenty-seven New Testament books distinctly bore the marks of inspiration and Divine authority. Most of them were completed before 80 a.d. This is a significant fact because this time of their writing confirms that the events recorded in the New Testament are the actual historical events of Christ's life on earth and the early church. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). This is a remarkable and astounding claim which God the Holy Spirit, the Author of our Bible, makes for the Word of God, the Bible. Truly theBible is a book of all other books and has been appropriately called "The Book of Books." It is often referred to as "God's Miracle Book" not only because it records many miracles within its pages, many supernatural acts of the Living God, but also because its very existence and nature are a marvel! No other book in the history of the world has ever been so vigorously and universally attacked by men. Down through the centuries they have tried their best to exterminate it, to wipe out its very existence, and to discredit the written Word of God in every way possible. Yet in spite of all its enemies and critics, the Bible has seen their defeat and frustration! It was none other than the Frenchman, Voltaire, who said in the last part of the 18th century, that within 100 years the Bible and all Christianity would be completely forgotten. Voltaire died in 1778, but since that time the world has been flooded with millions upon millions of Bibles in scores of languages, dialects, and tongues. It reminds one of a man who built a wall six feet wide and four feet tall. When he was asked why he built the wall wider than it was high his reply was, "So that when the enemy thinks that he is destroying the wall by tipping it over, he'll only find it stands higher than it was before!" A person might as well try to keep the sun from rising as to attempt to stop the onward march of the Bible as men around the world seek to find out God's message from it. There has never been any other book which has survived this length of time with such a unity of purpose! The Bible portrays Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord for any who will believe and receive Him. It is amazing that forty authors over a period of 1600 years should have this one theme portrayed in all of their writings. How is this possible? Only as the Spirit of God moved in their hearts and led them to write God's written revelation of Himself could this have ever happened. This book, the Bible, is like a ship that has managed to sail down the river of time safely preserved by God's own hand. Other books have set sail at nearly the same time and have joined the Bible in this sail down the river of time. Some of these books have been shipwrecked in various ways and lost. Others have completely disappeared without our ever having known that they existed. But this is not true of God's Word to us, the Bible. It has sailed safely down this river of time all the way to us in this present generation. Why has it had such a safe journey? Why has it not suffered a shipwreck or a quiet harbor death? Because it is God's personal message to us. He has preserved this message in the book we call the Holy Bible. He wanted us to know His love for us, and His planfor each of our lives. He preserved the book that shows us this love and these plans for each person He created. Our basic text this year will be the book of John in the New Testament. You will need an Old Testament also, as the two testaments are inseparably intertwined in their message to us. We suggest that you use not only a King James Bible, but also a modern language translation, particularly if you are new to Bible study. If you are a Roman Catholic, you will enjoy reading and comparing the Douay with the New Jerusalem Bible, and the Roman Catholic edition of the Living Bible. These Bibles are all approved by the Catholic Church. As you study you may want to use the Revised Standard Version, the New American Standard Bible, the New International Version, the Amplified Bible, or the paraphrase, the Living Bible. We would suggest that you underline favorite verses in your Bible as you find them. You will be interested that the word "testament" means a covenant, an agreement and a promise. The Old Testament is the covenant promise that God made with man about His salvation. (Look up salvation in the dictionary.) This was before the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth. The New Testament is the agreement that God made with man after the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth. The Old Covenant or promise stated simply was that God required a sacrifice to be made for sin in anticipation of the Messiah. Therefore the plan was that the priest by faith in God's promise would kill the lamb in the temple for sin offering and present the blood for the forgiveness of the sins of their people. The New Covenant is that the Lord Jesus Christ in fulfillment of God's promise came as the Lamb of God to earth and shed His blood for sin. "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28--the Lord Jesus Christ's own words). "Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29--John the Baptist's words concerning the Lord Jesus Christ). The Bible speaks primarily of God and secondarily of man. God is the subject of the Bible; man the loving object! The Bible tells us of what God has done and what man has received. It speaks of God's glory, creation, power, love, grace (God's Riches At Christ's Expense), mercy, judgment, goodness and patience. The Bible reveals to us that God is love! "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night to night shows knowledge" (Psalm 19:1-2). The words of the Lord in the Bible are "more to be desired than gold, yea, much more than fine gold; sweeter also than honey in the honeycomb" (Psalm 19:10). We might compare the Word of God to a uranium mine that gives up the precious metal only after careful searching. If you are willing to search the Bible through this daily study plan and obey them, you'll discover the precious promises of God which are better than "fine gold; sweeter also than honey in the honeycomb!" The amazing story is told of what happened on Pitcairn Island. Perhaps you remember the true story of Mutiny onthe Bounty. After the mutineers scuttled the Bounty, some British sailors, some native men and women, and a few children went ashore on Pitcairn Island. It was not long before one of the sailors discovered a way of distilling alcohol, and soon Pitcairn Island became a veritable hell of drunkenness, vice and murder. One day Alexander Smith, rummaging through one of the ship's old trunks brought ashore from the Bounty a Bible. He began to read it and his life was changed by Jesus Christ. He began to read it to the others and their lives were changed. Years later, when the United States ship, the Topaz, landed at Pitcairn Island they found a community of Christian people! It was a community without drunkenness, without profanity, a place where God was worshipped and where His commandments were obeyed. It was a model Christian community, all the result of the finding and reading of the Word of God, the Bible, which revealed Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. In any society, God speaks to men and women through the Bible. A chieftain in a Fiji Island, said to a visitor, "Do you see that rock over there? That's where we crushed the skulls of our captives in past generations. Do you see that place over there? That's where we built our fire and roasted our victims. Had it not been for the missionaries coming to us with the Bible, you wouldn't get off this island alive. Your head would be crushed. You would be roasted, and my people would serve you at a banquet!" The Bible has transformed lives of drunkards and drug addicts in our society. It has turned cannibals into peaceful men with a respect for human life. It has changed atheists into humble believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even people of wealth and position, who have "everything" yet "nothing", have found faith and purpose in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has entered the lives of desperately unhappy people to give a meaning, purpose and a blessedness to their lives that they never dreamed possible. As the Bible reveals the Lord Jesus Christ to us, we discover our peace and joy in Him. "Look around and be distressed; look within and be depressed; look to Jesus and be at rest!" (Corrie tenBoom) Now for a little background in the book of John before we begin our study. John portrays Jesus Christ as the Son of God. He refers to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved...who has written these things (John 21:20,24). John also refers to himself in John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; and 21:7, although he does not identify himself by name in these scriptures. The early writers who speak of the Gospel of John identify the author as "the beloved disciple," the apostle John, the son of Zebedee. Mark 1:19-20 gives us information about John's family. John, his father, Zebedee, and his brother, James, were fishermen on the lake of Galilee and were partners of Simon Peter (Luke 5:10). The two brothers were called "Boanerges" meaning "sons of thunder" by Jesus in Mark 3:17. It is believed that their mother was Salome (Mark 15:40; Matthew 27:56). John referring to himself in this Gospel, is with Peter in every instance except at the cross in John 19:26. After Pentecost, John was associated with Peter in Jerusalem (Acts 3:1-4) and also on the Samaritan missions (Acts 8:14- 25). Paul spoke of John as one of the three "pillar" apostles that he saw onhis visit to Jerusalem after he became a Christian (Galatians 2:9-10). John states that the purpose of his book is to show that Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah (for the Jews), and the Son of God (for the Gentiles), and to lead believers into a life of spiritual friendship with Him. This is stated firmly in the first 18 verses of John called the Prologue. The theme of John's Gospel is the deity of Christ. More here than anywhere else His divine Sonship is set forth. In this Gospel we are shown that the "babe of Bethlehem" was none other than the "only begotten of the Father" (John 1:18; John 3:16; 1 John 4:9). John gives evidences that "all things were made by Him," "in Him was life, yet he was made flesh and dwelt among us." No man could see God; therefore Christ came to reveal Him. This is the message of the book of John. John gives significant titles to the Lord Jesus Christ in this book. Only here He is called "the Word." John also calls the Lord Jesus Christ the Creator, the only begotten of the Father, the Lamb of God and the revelation of the great "I AM" (Exodus 3:14). John may have been about twenty-five years of age when Jesus called him. He had been a follower of John the Baptist. In the reign of Domitian (a.d. 81-96), John the Disciple was banished to Patmos, but afterwards he returned to Ephesus and became the pastor of that wonderful church. He lived in that city to an old age of about 96, the last of the twelve apostles. During this time he wrote his Gospel concerning the deity of Christ, co-eternal with the Father. John wrote nearly a generation after the other evangelists, somewhere between 80 and 100 a.d. All of the other New Testament books had been completed except for his own writings. The life and work of Jesus was well known at this time. The Gospel had been preached; Paul and Peter had suffered martyrdom, and all the apostles had died; Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Roman legions under Titus, 70 a.d. Matthew, Mark and Luke were written. Already false teachers had arisen denying that Jesus Christ was the Son of God come in the flesh. John, therefore, wrote emphasizing those truths and gave the names of the witnesses, and recorded the words and works of Jesus that revealed His divine power and glory. Matthew portrays the Lord Jesus Christ as "Son of David" and Luke portrays Him as "Son of Man." In John, He is portrayed as "Son of God." The Lord Jesus Christ's deity is emphasized by John. Jesus is shown dwelling with God before creation was formed (John 1:1-2). He is called "the only begotten of the Father" (John 1:14). He is called the "Son of God" (John 1:34). Thirty-five times Jesus speaks of God as "my Father" in the book of John. Thirty-five times He says, "Verily, verily"--speaking with authority. Dr. F.D. Gordon suggested, "There are three keys that unlock John's Gospel." The "Back Door Key" is John 20:31, "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus isthe Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name." The "Side Door Key" is John 16:28. At the last supper with his disciples, Jesus reveals this truth to them: "I come forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father." His constant thought was that He used to be with the Father. He came down to earth on an errand and stayed for 33 years. He would go back again to His Father. The "Front Door Key" is John 1:12. This key hangs right at the very front, outside, low down, within every person's reach! "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." This is the Great Key--the Chief Key to the whole house. Its use permits the front door to be flung wide open. Anyone who believes may enter! And so we open the book of John with this question--"What do you think of Christ?" Is He only the world's greatest teacher or is He actually God? Was He one of the prophets, or is He the world's Savior whose coming was foretold by the prophets? You may have some of these questions in your own mind. We suggest that you bring your doubts one by one to the Lord Jesus Christ as you study the Bible, and one by one God will deal with your questions through His Holy Spirit as you study and obey His Word, the Bible. You will begin to realize that Christ is a living Person, though invisible. As you trust Him, you will begin to experience His love for you and His desire to help you in your life here on earth, as well as His promise to give to you the gift of eternal life as you trust Him as your Lord and Savior (John 3:16,17). Ask yourself this question now: "What shall I sacrifice this week in time, so that I may spend time with God? Make a daily appointment with God. Find a quiet spot. Take your Bible, pencil or pen and your lesson with you. If you have a busy phone, you may have to remove it from the hook, lower the bell tone or hide the phone under a blanket to muffle the ringing! Remember your appointment with God is more important than your annual dental checkup and you wouldn't dream of missing that. Keep your appointment with God daily. Pray now and ask God the following things: 1.How many minutes do I want to give to the Lord each day? 2.What do I need to sacrifice to give the Lord this time? (Examples: sleep, television, casual telephone conversations, window shopping, etc. Each person will have to decide what her priorities are and what can be removed from the daily schedule to give time to God.) 3.What is my best time for my appointment with God? 4.Where is the quietest place for me to pray and study? Study Questions 5.Do I really want to spend time with God? (If your last answer is "yes," God will bless you as you work out the time. If your last answer is "no," pray that God will give you a desire, a hunger to have this time with Him. He will do this for you!) Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was one new thought for you in the notes? 2.What was the most meaningful Scripture from the notes to you personally? 3.(Personal) Have you chosen to take up the challenge to give daily time to this study and to God? What sacrifice has God shown you that you could make to give time to Him in study and prayer? (Share if possible with your group, as it may help someone else.) Second Day: Read all of John 1 concentrating on verses 1-5. Note: Comparing John 1:14 with John 1:1 you will discover that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." Thus the "Word" is the Lord Jesus Christ. 1.a.What does John 1:1 tell you about the Lord Jesus Christ? b.What part of John 1:1 is repeated in John 1:2 and why do you think it is repeated? c.Who created all things? Give verse. 2.Challenge: What does Genesis 1:26 say which confirms what John 1:1- 2 says about the "Word", the Lord Jesus Christ? 3.What do the following verses say concerning the Lord Jesus Christ? Put the verses into your own words if you wish to. Colossians 1:16-17 1 John 1:1 4.How does John 1:4 emphasize what the Lord Jesus said about Himself in John 14:6? What significant word do you find in both verses? 5.a.What does the Lord Jesus say about Himself in John 8:12? b.(Personal) Do you have the "light of life?" A person receives this "light of life" by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ by faith. See Titus 3:5. c.What does Acts 4:12 say which emphasizes what the Lord Jesus said in John 14:6? 6.Challenge: What do you believe John 1:5 means? Third Day: Read John 1:6-14. 1.a.Who was the man sent from God? b.Why did God send him? Give verses. 2.How does John 1:10 re-emphasize John 1:3 and John 1:5? 3.Challenge: What do you believe John 1:11 means? 4.To those who are willing to receive Jesus Christ, what power is given according to John 1:12? 5.(Personal) Have you ever received this power? See 1 John 5:13. What does it say concerning belief? 6.a.What new or important things do you learn about the Lord Jesus Christ in John 1:14? b.Challenge: If you do not know what the word "grace" means in John 1:14, look it up in a dictionary or a Bible dictionary. What do you believe God's "grace" means? Fourth Day: Read John 1:15-28. 1.a.What was given by Moses? Give verse. b.Challenge: What does Hebrews 10:1-4 say concerning the law? Summarize these verses in your own words if possible. c.What was offered once and for all time for our sins according to Hebrews 10:10? 2.What was given by Jesus Christ? (See John 1:15-28.) 3.What special place did the Lord Jesus have with the Father before He came to earth as the God-man to bring us truth and grace? Give verse in John 1. 4.How did John compare himself to Jesus Christ when the religious leaders questioned him? Give verse. 5.Challenge: How do the following verses describe Christ as ruler and King over all humanity? Try to put them into your own words. Philippians 2:9-11 1 Peter 3:22 6.a.(Personal) Have you received the Lord Jesus not only as Savior but as the Lord and King of your life? b.How do you believe a person can allow Jesus Christ to be the "Lord" and "King" of his life? See John 12:26 and Romans 12:2 to help you think about this question. Fifth Day: Read John 1:29-34. 1.When John saw the Lord Jesus, how did he describe Him? 2.How does John describe how he saw the Spirit descend on Jesus Christ? Give verse. 3.What did John baptize with and what does the Lord Jesus baptize with? 4.What do the following verses say concerning the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit)? Put them into your own words if possible. 1 Corinthians 12:13 Ephesians 1:13 5.How does Romans 14:17 describe the kingdom of God? 6.What other name does John give to Jesus Christ in John 1:34? Sixth Day: Read John 1:35-51. 1.a.What did John the Baptist again call the Lord Jesus in John 1:36 which he had already called Him in John 1:29? b.What was the result of John's words about Jesus Christ? Give verse. c.What invitation did Jesus extend to these two? d.What was the name of one of these men? 2.a.What did Andrew do after he had met the Lord Jesus Christ? b.(Personal) Have you ever followed the Lord Jesus Christ by faith as Andrew did? Have you gone out to tell someone else about Him as Andrew did? c.What are ways a person could introduce someone to Jesus Christ today? 3.What new name did the Lord Jesus give to Simon, and what other facts did He give about Simon which shows that He knew all about him before Andrew brought him? Give verse please. 4.a.Whom did Jesus call to follow Him in John 1:43? b.Whom did Philip go tell about the Lord Jesus? What did he tell this person about Him? Give verse. c.What did the Lord Jesus say to Nathanael which showed the Christ already knew all about him before He saw him? Give verses. 5.How did Nathanael declare his faith in the Lord Jesus? Give verse. 6.a.Challenge: These men had recognized Jesus as the Messiah whom Moses and the other prophets had written about. How do the following verses from the Old Testament foretell the coming of the Lord Jesus? Jeremiah 23:5 Job 19:25 b.Which thought or Scripture verse in this lesson was the most helpful or challenging to you? Will you memorize a verse which will help you to remember this special challenge or thought? Study in the Book of John Lesson 2 OVERVIEW OF JOHN 1 Introduction When you open your Bible to the New Testament and discover Gospels by Matthew, Mark and Luke, do you wonder why John felt that he should write another Gospel of the life of Christ? As you study the Gospel of John you will see that John wrote for a different reason than the other Gospel writers. Matthew was written especially to the Jews. In this book Christ is presented as the son of David (Jeremiah 23:5; Matthew 1:1; Matthew 21:9; Isaiah 11:1-10; Jeremiah 33:15). Mark was written to the Romans. These people were interested in what a person did. Christ is presented as the "servant of the Lord." The book includes an account of more miracles than any of the other Gospels. There is no genealogy in Mark, for who cares where a servant came from! Luke wrote to the Greeks. They were interested in the ideal man. The Lord Jesus is presented as "the perfect man." His genealogy is traced all the way to Adam. The Lord Jesus Christ is the central figure of each of the four Gospels. Each writer presents Him with a different emphasis, but Christ is the subject of each one. John wrote to all people to present the deity of Christ in his Gospel. Christ is God! This is the proclamation of John's Gospel. No one but Christ could ever be shown as John chose to present his Lord. Only Christ is God! John wanted us to know this truth. The key verse of the book of John is usually considered to be John 20:31. This is why the book of John was written. "That ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God." When you believe in Christ something happens: "Believing ye might have life through his name." Jesus stated that He was life, and the only way to the Father in John 14:6. "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." He also spoke of the abundant life that He wanted to give each one who came to Him by simple faith. "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Do you have an abundant life because you have received the Lord Jesus Christ by faith? Elisabeth Elliot Leitch started her mission work in South America as a single woman with three other single women. There was no church, there were no believers, and there were no male missionaries. Later she became a wife and had to rearrange certain priorities in her life in accordance with the mission field of her co-worker husband, and later as a mother. When her husband was killed by the AucaIndians, she found herself in a difficult position. There wasn't one male missionary left in Ecuador at that time who spoke the Quichua language. There was no one to teach the young Quichua Christians and no one to lead the church. There was no one but a woman to carry on where five missionary men had left off. The door to the Auca tribe had slammed shut. Yet that same door was opened to two women to their total astonishment. One was the sister of one of the missionary men who was killed, and the other was Elisabeth Leitch. It didn't look like a woman's job, but God's categories are not always ours! For eight years she did missionary work among the Quichua Christians. Then she came back to the United States to become a wife and homemaker once again. She has now been widowed for a second time. This woman knows the "abundant life." The following is her statement after all of these experiences: "But it is the same faithful Lord who called me by name and never loses track of my goings and reminds us all in a still, small voice, "Ye are my witnesses that ye might know and believe me and understand that I am he." There's our primary responsibility; to know Him. I can't be a witness unless I've seen something, unless I know what it is I am to testify to. Mrs. Elliot goes on to say that the Lord of the Universe who calls you offers you a place in His program. Your education or lack of it, your taste, prejudices, fears, ambitions, age, sex, color, height, marital status or income bracket are all things which may be offered to God, after you've presented your body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). "And God knows exactly what to do with them. They're not obstacles if you hand them over. Be still and know that He is God." Sit in silence and wonder in expectancy, and never doubt that the Lord of your life has His own way of getting through to you to let you know the specifics of His will. We know that to be in the center of God's will is to be in the center of God's abundant life for us! Are you willing to be still and know that He is God? The Gospel of John was written several years after the first three Gospels were completed, probably between a.d. 90 and 95. The author was John the Apostle, the son of Zebedee, the beloved disciple. Along with his brother, James, and with Peter, John belonged to the inner circle of disciples. This was a group near to Christ at such occasions as the Transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane. This intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ's life gives a special flavor to all that John writes. He knew the high priest personally at the time of the trial of Jesus Christ (John 18:15). He could tell the distance between Jerusa-lem and Bethany (John 11:18). His friendship with Christ is seen in the last detailed discourse of the Lord (John 14--16), and the intercessory prayer of the Lord in John 17. In the last two verses of the Gospel of John, he tells us he is willing to stand behind his testimony, and that he could have told much, much more! The Book is often called "The Gospel of the Son of God." It is divided into five parts. 1.The Prologue--John 1:1-18 2.Christ's Public Ministry--John 1:19--12:50 3.His Private Ministry--John 13--17 4.His Glorification--John 18--20 5.Postscript--John 21:1-25 The key word of the Gospel is "believe" which John used in some form 101 times. This is twice as often as all of the other three Gospels together! John filled his book with special names and titles of Christ. Here are some of the titles which we find in John: The Word (John 1:1), the Lamb of God (1:29), the only begotten Son of God (3:16), the bread of life (6:35), the light of the world (8:12), the "I AM" (8:58), the good shepherd (10:11), the resurrection (11:25), the way, the truth, and the life (14:6), and the vine (15:1). John 1:1-18--The Lord Jesus Christ--The Word In John 1:1 we find a new title for Christ. He is called the Word. A word is an expression of an idea or a thought. We cannot know what someone is thinking until he puts his thoughts into words! Jesus Christ shows us what God is. Jesus Himself said, "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also; and from henceforth ye know him and have seen him....He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:7-9). Jesus Christ is the personal revelation of God. He is the Word. This first verse also tells us that Jesus Christ is God! In Hebrews 1:3 we read that Jesus Christ is "the express image of his person." In John 1:2 we discover that Jesus Christ is eternal! There was never a place in all of eternity in which the Son of God was not present. Nobody made Him; He always has been. Christ is also the creator of all things (John 1:3). This is again re-emphasized in John 1:10. From all of these verses we conclude that the Lord Jesus Christ was the Word of God made flesh. He was eternal, pre-existent, and then became flesh to reveal God to us. Christ existed before the world was created. Christ was with God (John 1:1) and in communion with Him throughout all time. The Lord Jesus Christ was God and thus is identical in power with God the Father. John spoke of Jesus' miracles as signs. Jesus was simply opening windows to the reality of His power as a person of the Trinity. The Lord Jesus Christ did these miracles to show "the glory of God" (John 9:3; 11:4). He had love and compassion in the miracles. Every miracle revealed the glory of God as He participated in human affairs. If the Christian is to have an abundant life he should have a "quiet hour." There is a "quiet hour" for industry also! If you were to go into the office of Steelcase, an office furniture factory, between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m., the silence would be deafening. This Toronto company has decreed a "QuietHour" during that period each morning, an hour that was formerly full of bustle and activity. The seventy-five office employees work in total silence. There is no employee chitchat. Outgoing calls are verboten and interoffice bells are silent. Incoming calls are shut off. Employees use the time to organize themselves and their work for the day. The results have been phenomenal--increased productivity, office efficiency and improved morale. One stops to wonder if a Christian would not also benefit in similar ways in his life if he were to decree a "Quiet Hour" to be spent with God each morning in prayer and Bible reading! In John 1:4 we read, "In Him was life." Jesus Christ is our life. He gave us our physical life; He gives us our spiritual life. There's no life apart from Him. No one but God can create life. No one but God can give the abundant life. Some scientists worked long and hard and finally created an egg. It looked like an egg; it tasted like an egg. It contained the food elements of an egg. But it would not hatch a baby chick. Life is a gift from God. In John 1:3 we read that Christ is the Creator of all life. In John 1:14 we discover that Jesus Christ was made flesh. The Son of God became a man and dwelt among us. He did not cease to be God, but He did become a man. Jesus Christ became a little baby in Bethlehem. He grew as children grow and walked the earth as a man. Verse 14 says that he "dwelt among us;" that means literally that "He pitched his tent in human flesh." What a wonderful message John has to open his book. It seems only natural to assume that everyone would be interested in such a message: Jesus Christ is God; He came to earth to dwell with us and to become our Savior so that we might dwell forever with Him! Yet everyone is not waiting to hear the message. John 1:5 tells us that Jesus Christ was a light shining in the darkness, yet the darkness did not comprehend. The Lord Jesus Christ came from heaven to light up this dark world of sin, but many were not willing to take the time to comprehend and understand His message. People still are unwilling to take the time to understand this message. Perhaps this all sounds exaggerated, but think for a minute about yourself. Have you come to Him and asked Him to be your Savior (John 3:16-17)? "I have written this to you who believe in the Son of God so that ye may know you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13 L.B.). Do you love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ because you really want to? Would you like to do these things? God said once to Major Ian Thomas, "Seven years with utmost sincerity you have been trying to live for me and on my behalf the life I have been waiting all the time to live through you." "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). It is only as we yield ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, who dwells within the Christian in the person of the Holy Spirit, that God can use our lives abundantly and give to us an abundant life! (1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 2:10; Romans 5:5). In John 1:11 we read that the Lord Jesus Christ came unto His own, and His own received Him not. The Lord Jesus Christ was born of the Jewish race and in their land,and yet the leaders officially rejected Him as their king and Lord. John 1:12 tells us that as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become sons of God. We are adopted into God's family through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. How can you believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? If we take His name apart we will have the answer. Believe that He is Lord; that He is the One with supreme authority. He is Jesus, our Savior. He is Christ, the One sent from heaven. To be a Christian, we believe that Jesus is our Savior, that He is God, and that He is the Lord of our lives. We are told in this verse that we should ask Him to come into our hearts (Revelation 3:20), to be our Savior. John 1:13 tells us that we are not born by any human effort into God's family: "Not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." It is God who gives us the right and power to become His children. When we believe and receive Jesus Christ we are a child of God. You are His child because He says so. You may not feel any different, but God says you are different when you receive His Son. A definition of a family was given recently in a P.T.A. magazine. Children were asked to write brief statements on what the family meant to them. One child pictured himself on the floor while his parents reclined on the sofa. Underneath the picture he wrote, "A family is two people in love with children." We can compare this to the Christian family and visualize ourselves reclining at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have a loving Father in heaven who is Almighty. Trust in His Son, and you will experience His love as a member of His family. We meet John the Baptist in this portion of Scripture beginning with John 1:6. The other three Gospels always refer to him by the name of John the Baptist, but the writer John simply refers to him as "John" (Matthew 3:1-4; Luke 3:2). John's message was one of repentance and reform (Luke 3:10-14). He came to be a witness of "the Light," the Lord Jesus Christ, so that all men might believe in Jesus through John's witness (John 1:7-8). The Lord Jesus said of Himself, "I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12). (John 1:4; John 3:19; John 12:35-37; John 12:46.) John the Baptist declared that he bore witness to Jesus Christ. John said Jesus was to be preferred above him (John 1:15). From Jesus Christ we receive grace, and truth (John 14:6). God's grace means undeserved kindness and love. This does not mean that God has overlooked sin. When the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross, He bore God's judgment for man's sins. God gives us undeserved forgiveness through His only Son's sacrifice on the cross. John told the crowd that the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17). The law of Moses was given by God to Moses for the Jewish people to observe. It demanded that the breaking of its law should be punished. It could never be kept perfectly by any man (Galatians 3:11,19,23-24). God provided in Christ undeserved kindness and forgiveness by giving grace and truth through Him. This portion ends with John the Baptist describing to the crowd that the Lord Jesus Christ declared to them God whom no man had ever seen. In John 1:18 he describes the "only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father." What a precious resting place this (He) is. Every person who comes to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith has this peace and love and rest from God the Father. Each person is adopted into God's family through faith in His only begotten Son (Romans 8:15-17; Titus 3:7; Ephesians 3:17-21). John 1:19-34--The Lord Jesus Christ--The Lamb of God When John knew for sure who Jesus was (John 1:19-23) he was ready to do the important work that God had given him. "There is one among you," John told the priests and Levites; "You do not even recognize Him. But He is greater than I. I am not worthy to untie his shoe" (John 1:24-27). The day after the priests and Levites had questioned him, John introduced Jesus Christ. The event took place in the region of the Jordan River where John was baptizing people for repentance of sin (Luke 3:3). John saw the Lord Jesus and said to the crowd, "Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). The reason John called Jesus the Lamb of God was to show that He was the final sacrifice for sin. In the Old Testament we read in Exodus 12:3 "Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month they shall take every man a lamb according to their father's house, a lamb for a household." This was the institution of the Passover sacrifice of the lamb in order that the Israelites' children would be spared the plague which would pass over Egypt as a form of God's judgment upon their sin. This plague would kill all of the first born sons in the households. God protected the Israelites by means of this passover lamb. A lamb was one of the animals used for a sacrifice in the Old Testament. "If he offers a lamb for his offering, then he shall offer it before the Lord, laying his hands upon the head of his offering and killing it before the tent meeting" (Leviticus 3:7-8). Since the Lord Jesus Christ came to die for us to make Himself a sacrifice for our sins, He is called the "Lamb of God." He was sacrificed for us. He died to remove the guilt of sin from everyone who comes to Him and asks for forgiveness. As the lamb in the Old Testament shed its blood in the sacrifices, so the lamb of God shed His blood on the cross. "Without shedding of blood is no remission (of sin)" (Hebrews 9:22). John went on to describe what had happened at the baptism of Jesus. The last phrase of John 1:33 tells us that Jesus will give the Holy Spirit to His followers. The Lord forgives our sins when we come to Him and receive Him as our Savior. He also gives us the Holy Spirit so that we have new life and new power to live for Him. The most important discovery that you could ever help someone to find is the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior! The famous physician Sir James Simpson was the first to employ ether in obstetrics and to discover the important qualities and proper use of chloroform. A group of young scientists who highly respected Dr. Simpson asked him,"What do you count as the most outstanding discovery you have ever made?" With tears welling up in his eyes he lifted up his head and said, "Young men, the greatest discovery I have ever made is that Jesus Christ is my Savior; that is by far the most important thing a person can ever come to know!" Yes, this is the greatest discovery you can make. Whenever anyone discovers Christ, Jesus Christ Himself makes good His promises by the transforming power of His Holy Spirit who lives in the Christian (John 14:16-17; John 16:7-14; 1 Corinthians 2:4). Are you claiming this power of the Holy Spirit? John 1:35-51--Those Who Followed the Lord Jesus Christ in Faith Another day passed and John the Baptist was talking with two of his disciples. One of these disciples was Andrew (John 1:40). The other disciple is thought to have been the Apostle John. Jesus was again identified as the Lamb of God. When Andrew met Christ he wanted his brother to know Him, too. Andrew and Peter were from Bethsaida. Andrew found Simon and told him, "We have found the Messiah" (John 1:41). Next we meet another disciple of Jesus, Philip, in John 1:43-44. Philip came from the same city as Andrew and Peter. But neither Andrew nor Peter told him about Christ. Perhaps Philip did not seem important enough to hunt out. The Lord Himself found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."Perhaps Philip did not seem important to men, but the Lord considered him important. He called him to be one of His disciples. Philip knew someone whom he wanted to meet Jesus. In John 1:45 Philip found Nathanael. Nathanael was from the town of Cana (John 21:2). He was skeptical of anyone who came from Nazareth. It was such a little unimportant place that Nathanael said with derision, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46). He was not so skeptical that he would not accept Philip's invitation and he came to see for himself. The Lord Jesus paid Nathanael a compliment. "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" Nathanael was an honest forthright man according to the Lord Jesus' statement. In the last verse of the first chapter the Lord calls Himself the "Son of Man." There is an interesting point about the use of this title. Only the Lord Himself used it to describe Himself. It was not a title that told of the glory or power of Jesus Christ. This was a title which told of His humility. Perhaps this is one reason that His friends did not use it. Yes, Andrew, Philip, John and Nathanael all "found Christ." For them it meant poverty, hardship, suffering, persecution, and in fact, death by execution for most. Yet they also discovered in Him a Savior, Lord, Companion and Friend. Those who come to the Lord today find Him equally precious. Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 1? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life? Second Day: Read all of John 2 concentrating on verses 1-11. 1.Who attended the marriage in Cana of Galilee? Give verses with the names. 2.What did Mary say to the servants at the wedding concerning the Lord Jesus? Give verse. 3.What did the servants do in obedience to the Lord Jesus' instructions? 4.What was the miracle which the Lord Jesus did at the wedding feast? 5.What were some results of this miracle? Give verse. 6.Challenge: John 2:5 contains the interesting words "Whatever he saith unto you, do it." It is pleasing to God when the Christian is obedient to Jesus Christ. The following verses speak of this loving obedience. Put them into your own words, using your name to personalize the statement, if you wish to. 1 Samuel 12:24 Ephesians 6:6 Third Day: Read John 2:12-13 with Exodus 12. 1.Where did the Lord Jesus go after the wedding and who went with Him? Try to find this place on the Bible map. 2.After a few days passed by, where did the Lord Jesus go next? Why did He go there? 3.What was the original Passover lamb's blood to protect God's people from? Give verse from Exodus, chapter 12. 4.What did Exodus 12:14 and Exodus 12:24-25 instruct the Jewish people to do? 5.Challenge: How did God deliver the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt as a result of the plague which He sent to all homes where the Passover was not observed? See Exodus 12:27-34. Summarize your answer in a short statement if possible. 6.a.What does 1 Corinthians 5:7 say about Jesus Christ and the Passover? b.(Personal) What does 1 Corinthians 5:7 mean to you? Share if possible with your discussion group. Fourth and Fifth Day: Read John 2:14-17. 1.When the Lord Jesus arrived in Jerusalem what did He find at the temple? Give verse from John. 2.What was the Lord Jesus' response to what He found going on in the temple grounds? 3.What name did the Lord Jesus give to God in this passage? 4.Psalm 69 is a Psalm which is prophetically speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ. Find the verse that the disciples remember in John 2:17 and state where it is found in this Psalm. 5.Challenge: Read the entire Psalm 69 through and choose your favorite verses which emphasize: a.Christ's suffering for you: b.Christ's love for you: c.Prayer to Christ for His help: d.Giving praise to God: 6.(Personal) Which of the verses in Psalm 69 meant the most to you? Write down the verse and give the reason why you chose it. Share if possible with your discussion group. Sixth Day: Read John 2:18-25. 1.What did the religious leaders ask of the Lord Jesus Christ which would supposedly show His authority and right to cleanse the temple? 2.a.What was the Lord Jesus Christ's reply to these Jewish religious leaders, and what was their reaction to His reply? 6.b.What temple was the Lord Jesus really referring to? 3.How does 1 Corinthians 6:19 describe the body of a Christian? 4.a.Challenge: How would 1 Corinthians 6:20 help you to understand the Lord Jesus' words "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" in John 2:19? b.(Personal) What challenge for your own life do you find in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20? 5.a.How does 1 Peter 1:18-19 explain why Christ's "temple" was destroyed, and how is Jesus Christ referred to in these verses? b.(Personal) Do you know who has redeemed you from sin (Romans 3:23) after reading 1 Peter 1:18-19? If you know and have received the Lord Jesus Christ as your Redeemer, how are you sharing this "Good News" with others? 6.a.When did the disciples of Jesus remember what He had said in Jerusalem after He had cleansed the temple? What did they believe after they remembered His words? See John 2:18-22. Give verse please. b.Which verse meant the most to you this week? Did you choose to memorize it? Study in the Book of John Lesson 3 OVERVIEW OF JOHN 2 John 2:1-12--The Wedding Feast at Cana The Lord Jesus began to work miracles in Cana, an obscure corner of the country. This was a quiet village near Nazareth. In the original Greek, the word "miracle" actually could be translated "sign." This is because John selected certain miracles out of many, to teach us what God wishes us to receive for our own lives. John accurately records the occasion of Jesus's first miracle on the third day after he came into Galilee (John 2:1). We note that not only was the mother of Jesus at the wedding, but also Jesus and his disciples were called to the marriage (John 2:2). This was a happy occasion which Jesus gladly shared. A wedding in Palestine took place late in the evening after a feast. After the ceremony the married couple was conducted to their home by the wedding guests. It must have been very picturesque as the guests carried flaming torches and escorted the couple under a canopy to their home. This was a long procession for they wanted as many people as possible to have an opportunity to give their good wishes to the couple as they walked to their new home. The married couple did not go away for a honeymoon, but stayed in their home and had open house for one week for all of their friends. They wore crowns and dressed in their bridal clothes each day. In fact they were dressed as king and queen and their word was law for this week. There was much poverty and hard work among people in general, so this special week was set aside to be completely joyous for the bridal couple and all of their friends. There was much feasting and fellowship during this time. It was traditional at a wedding feast to serve wine. Drunkenness was a great disgrace. It is true that wine was used in Old and New Testament days, although dedicated persons such as priests were commanded to abstain from using it. Today, alcoholism presents a problem to society because alcoholic drinks can be obtained cheaply and people too often have a low value of human life and dignity. Our nation has taken great interest in most of the ills that threaten human life, yet there is indifference toward the proven killer, alcohol. If a product is shown to contain an ingredient which appears to produce cancer in mice, it is immediately forced off the market by governmental action. Yet approximately nine million Americans are excessive drinkers and there seems to be little concern over this. At least half of the automobile deaths per year are directly traced to drinking. An alcoholic's life span is shortened byat least ten years. Over three-fourths of all prison inmates have been sentenced for crimes they committed after drinking alcohol. Today, teenagers have turned from drugs to alcohol for their "high" because it is so much more easily obtainable and acceptable in our society. Recently a group of doctors at the University of Washington discovered a consistent pattern of serious birth defects and infant mortality among children born to alcoholic mothers. Yet when all of these sad statistics are cited, most people simply do not seem concerned. We must be concerned when the National Council on Alcoholism reports that one out of every fourteen employed persons in America is an alcoholic, and that these people cost American business $4.3 billion a year in absenteeism, sloppy work, and eventual training of replacements. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates that the total dollar cost of alcoholism may be as high as $15 billion a year. In most cases, by the time it is recognized that drinking is leading to trouble, the drinker is hooked. Scripture teaches that any practice that abuses the human body of a Christian, described as the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), is wrong. Paul made this statement, "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient" (1 Corinthians 6:12). Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:11-12 L.B., "There was a time when some of you were just like that but now your sins are washed away, and you are set apart for God, and he has accepted you because of what the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God have done for you. I can do anything I want to if Christ has not said no, but some of these things are not good for me. Even if I am allowed to do them, I'll refuse to if I think that they might get such a grip on me that I can't easily stop when I want to." The Christian needs to remember to stop short of anything that brings offense (Matthew 18:6), or that may cause another person to stumble. "The right thing to do is to quit eating meat or drinking wine or doing anything else that offends your brother or makes him sin" (Romans 14:21 L.B.). Any Christian who takes leadership in the church needs to remember God's words in 1 Timothy 3:3 L.B., "He must not be a drinker or quarrelsome, but must be gentle and kind." The mother of John Wesley wrote: "Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things, in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind, that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself." Each one of us needs to examine our own life as wethink of the environmental abuse of alcohol in our society today. The drinking of wine is not specifically condemned in the Scriptures today except when drunkenness is involved. Therefore the Christian must not condemn other Christians who drink wine without drunkenness. However, each Christian needs to pray concerning his own life and ask God for what His perfect will is for him concerning this issue. Always remember that the Lord Jesus wants your body--from the head to the foot! "And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy--the kind he can accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you" (Romans 12:1-2 L.B.). Alcoholism is a major evil which demands some action on the part of society today. A Christian should surely be concerned with the well- being of his society and therefore has an obligation to take part in the battle against this evil which is destroying society. This problem of alcoholism demands drastic measures which may even call for sacrifice of personal freedom in Christ to help people around us with this major problem. Will you ask God to show you His will concerning this matter today? God always supplies the power to do all that He requires (Zechariah 4:6)! Mary saw that there was a crisis at the wedding (John 2:3). The Coptic Gospels of Egypt suggest that Mary was a sister of the bridegroom's mother. Other writings suggest that John himself was the bridegroom since his mother was Salome, Mary's sister. Whether these extra details are true or not, we are not certain, but perhaps this is the reason that Mary took such an active part in this wedding feast. She was most concerned about the lack of refreshments and the guests still waiting to be served. She went immediately to Jesus and told Him what had happened. Hospitality in this area was a sacred duty, and it would be a terrible shame for the bride and bridegroom to lack refreshments for their guests. The Lord Jesus said, "Woman, what have I to do with thee?" (John 2:4). "Woman" is really a term of tenderness and is the same word that Jesus used when on the cross He provided for Mary to be cared for by John (John 19:26). In Homer, the word "Woman" is a title by which Odysseus addressed Penelope, his beloved wife. In English, we might better translate the word today "Lady." Mary was confident in the Lord Jesus Christ. Undoubtedly she had often gone to Him with her own problems and seeing Him work out the very best solution for them. This is the blessed example set by Mary, the mother of our Savior. Although she couldn't understand some things Jesus said and did, she trusted Him fully, knowing He never made a mistake. She therefore instructed the servants at the wedding, who were in need of wine, to obey His every command (John 2:5). Her faith was rewarded, for Jesus performed the miracle necessary to supply that which was lacking. Mary's faith can be the example for us. Allow Jesus Christ to control your life and aid you in handling theaffairs of your life. Whatever your needs are in your home, personal relationships, business relationships, or any other area of need in your life--the Lord Jesus will meet them if you will respond with the heart attitude that Mary expressed in John 2:5, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." Always remember that God does not demand of you success, or profit--just loving obedience! "Whatever God asks you to do, do it, Fill the vessels to the brim; But always remember it's His battle So leave the miracle to Him" "For the battle is not yours, but God's" (2 Chronicles 20:15). Mary turned to Jesus when things went wrong. There is an old legend that tells us that those who lived in Nazareth who felt weary and upset would go and look at Jesus, and somehow all their troubles rolled away. It is still true that anyone who knows Jesus Christ well will instinctively turn to Him when things go wrong. He is always there to help. Even when it seemed that Jesus refused Mary's request, she still believed that He would solve the problem at the wedding feast. She had the kind of faith which could trust even when it did not understand. She could say to the servants, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." In all of our lives there comes times of deep distress when we do not understand why things are as they are. We cannot understand the meaning of everything that happens. Yet believers in Christ can have the same hope that Mary had! We can trust the Lord to work out our problem even though we don't understand how He will do it, or know when the right time will come. Are you willing to trust the Lord Jesus Christ with your problem today? In John 2:4 Jesus was saying, "I know what you want. You want me to reveal who I am to the world. My work is not to perform signs. My work is to die. It is not time for that now. My hour is not yet come." All throughout Jesus' life He talked about His hour. In John 7:6,8 it is the hour that He reveals Himself as the Messiah. In John 12:23 and John 17:1 (Matthew 26:18,45; Mark 14:41) it is the hour of His crucifixion and His death. We realize that Jesus knew that He had come into this world for the definite purpose of giving Himself on the cross for our sins. He came to do the will of God (Luke 12:47, 22:42; John 6:38). The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to fulfill the purpose of God in redeeming man from sin (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). We, too, as Christians, should not think of our own wishes and desires, but ask God what His purpose is for us in His world. The Lord Jesus came not to do the will of His mother, but to please His Father in heaven. As He said, "I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me" (John 5:30). We cannot order God around; we are to listen for His orders to us! Someone has written most beautifully: "In Galilee, in days of yore, when some were conscious of a need, The mother of our Lord arose and gave them counsel--wise indeed! She did not try to order things. Ah no! She knew the better way; So she directed them to Him who could supply the need that day. Her message through the years rolls on, still bringing counsel wise and true: That whatsoever Christ may say, we quickly should obey--and do! For He's the One to order things, He is the answer to our need; He saves and keeps and satisfies, and if we let Him, He will lead. And so we still may sweetly guide lost sinners to our loving Lord; Then wondrous service, joy divine--to teach them to obey His Word!" (See John 2:5.) The Lord Jesus turned from His mother and spoke to the servants who were at work nearby (John 2:6-10). The command the Lord Jesus gave was simple and direct, and the response of the servants was immediate. Jesus said, "Fill the waterpots with water" and the servants filled them to the brim. Next Jesus commanded, "Draw out the water and take it to the governor of the feast." It is not surprising that we learn that the result was the best wine. Imagine how the servants felt! Imagine what Mary thought! Each of them must have looked in real astonishment at the miracle so quickly and quietly performed. The obedience of the servants gave them a share in the first miracle that Christ did. John records that this was the beginning of the miracles that Jesus did (John 2:11). John said that he chose certain signs to show Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. This is the first of those signs (John 20:30-31). John said of this first sign, "This miracle at Cana in Galilee was Jesus' first public demonstration of his heaven-sent power" (John 2:11 L.B.). The result was that the disciples believed in Him. Do you suppose that the servants did, too? The Bible does not give the answer. As you have read what the Lord Jesus has done, will you follow Him and believe in Him wherever He leads you? The disciples followed Jesus from Cana to Capernaum along with His mother and His brothers (John 2:12). John 2:13-25--The First Temple Purification by the Lord Jesus When the time of the Jewish Passover was near, Jesus went to Jerusalem. The first Passover was the feast eaten just before the Israelites left Egypt. Every year the Jews obeyed the command of God and recalled their escape from slavery by observing this special feast. The Passover was one of the three important feasts of the Jews. It was the time of celebrating their deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 23:14ff) that Jesus went to Jerusalem to keep the Passover. The Lord went to the Temple on Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem. This was the place where Abraham offered Isaac (Genesis 22:2), and here David purchased the threshingfloor of Ornan and offered sacrifices to the Lord when the plague was stopped (1 Chronicles 21:21-28; 2 Chronicles 3:1). The Temple area had three courts. The outer court was called the "court of Gentiles." Next was the "court of Women." The innermost court was for the Israelite men only. The Temple building was in this court. When the Lord Jesus entered into the court of Gentiles He found it filled with animals and birds to be used for sacrifices. It was easier for the Jews to buy the animals at the Temple than to transport them from their homes. Instead of the Temple being a quiet and worshipful place, it smelled and sounded like a circus. Orientals are great traders, and every transaction ends with tremendous confusion and noise. In addition to the animals, money changers had set up their tables. These men were bankers who, for a sixth discount, changed foreign coins into shekels in order that people might pay their Temple tax. Picture such a scene in the outer court of the place where men came to worship God. The action of the Lord was dramatic. He took some of the cords that had been used to tie the animals and made a whip or scourge of them. "He drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changer's money, and overthrew the tables" (John 2:15). If Jesus' actions were astonishing, His words must have caused even greater amazement. "Take those things out of here. Don't you dare turn my Father's house into a market!" (John 2:16 L.B.). This is the first time in John's Gospel that Jesus called God "My Father." The words must have surprised the Jewish men! They were not used to such familiarity with God. The people wanted proof of Jesus' authority (John 2:18). This answer that Jesus gave was another surprise. "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19). The only sign that Jesus spoke about was that of His death and resurrection. This is the first time He spoke of His sacrifice and resurrection. When Jesus Christ was asked to prove His authority, He gave the sign of His resurrection (Matthew 12:38-40). The resurrection of Christ is the supreme sign of His deity. The Jews did not understand the words of the Lord. They looked at the temple building and reminded Jesus that the Temple had already taken forty-six years to build and that it was not finished yet (John 2:20)! In fact, work on the Temple was continued until a.d. 64 just six years before it was destroyed by a Roman attack led by Titus. John tells us that after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, the disciples remembered these words which the Lord had spoken, and believed him (John 2:22). Some of the people in Jerusalem believed on Him also as a result of the miracles which He performed (John 2:22- 23). Some people believed, others did not. There is a classic cartoon of the little English school boy standing outside a candy store. The window is filled with jars and boxes of candy. But there on the window is a poster which says, "Do not lick the window." We smile, but we may be smiling at ourselves. Are there not many who are standing outside the storehouse of God's provisionthrough Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins, looking in wistfully, and wondering how on earth they can make all of this good gift of forgiveness theirs. We do not have to stand outside the window! God invites us to Himself! "Look! I have been standing at the door and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me" (Revelation 3:20 L.B.). The Lord Jesus Christ is waiting for us to invite Him into our lives to be our Savior and Lord. If you are a Christian are you standing outside the storehouse of God's provision for your daily life? God invites you to help yourself to all the things necessary for a life of joy. Don't stand outside any longer. Come on in for this, too! "I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Faith is a Fantastic Adventure In Trusting Him. It is not try, but trust. It is not do, but done. Our God has planned for us Great victory through His Son! "Loving God means doing what he tells us to do, and really, that isn't hard at all; for every child of God can obey Him, defeating sin and evil pleasure by trusting Christ to help him" (1 John 5:3-4 L.B.). Will you pray for wisdom, for help, in matters that will be used for God's glory? (1 John 5:14-15). The Lord Jesus loves to be asked. On several occa-sions He rebuked men for having too little faith, but He never rebuked for asking too much! The Bible teaches that when we are Christians, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. (See 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.) Since this is true, we should consider whether we need to be cleansed. Are we a fit place for God to dwell? Do we worship God in all that we do? If you want the Lord to cleanse your life and make it a fit "temple," you will have to let the Lord have complete control. He cannot really cleanse your life if you will not let Him into every room. Will you give Him the key to all of your life? May He have the library where you read--may He know and approve of the books you read? May He come into the recreation room where you relax--may He be a part of your social times? May He come into the living room where you sit with your family--are you ashamed when you realize that Christ watches and hears the way you talk and treat your family? May He enter your private room where you go when you want to be alone--is there any reason that you do not want Him to have control of your innermost secrets--all of this He must have if He is to make your life really a "temple in which He can dwell." The Lord who made you, redeemed you with His blood, has the right and the power to do a work in your life, if you will only ask Him to do this. Jesus Christ is still the miracle worker. Are you willing now to ask the Lord Jesus Christ to work out all of this in your life? Why not stop right now and talk to the Lord Jesus and ask Him for His help in your life today? Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 2? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life this week? Second Day: Read all of John 3 concentrating on verses 1-6. 1.Who was Nicodemus? 2.What time did he choose to go and question the Lord Jesus? 3.How did Nicodemus compliment Jesus Christ in John 3:2? 4.How did the Lord Jesus tell Nicodemus that he needed to have a second birthday to enter the kingdom of God? 5.Did Nicodemus misunderstand the meaning of Jesus Christ's words in John 3:3? Give the reason for your answer. 6.a.Challenge: How can a person be "born again" as Jesus stated you must be to enter God's kingdom? See John 1:12-13. b.In which verse in this passage does Jesus describe two ways a person is born? c.(Personal) Have you had two birthdays, both the physical and spiritual? d.(Personal) How would you describe being "born again" to a friend? Third Day: Read John 3:7-11. 1.How does Jesus re-emphasize the importance of a second birthday in John 3:7? What word does He use which makes it essential for every person to have a spiritual birth? 2.How does John 14:6 emphasize the fact that there is only one way to be "born again" into God's family? 3.According to John 3:9-10 do you believe Nicodemus understood Jesus and was "born of the Spirit" at this time? 4.Is it possible to be a "master" of knowledge today and yet not comprehend spiritual truths? Do you believe there are many modern day "Nicodemus people"? 5.Which verse in this passage indicates that Nicodemus was unwilling to receive the truth the Lord Jesus was telling him? 6.a.Challenge: The idea of being "born again" is found throughout all of the New Testament writings. What do the following verses say which speak of a "new birth"? You may put them into your own words and personalize them by putting your name into each verse if you wish to. 1 Peter 1:23 James 1:18 b.(Personal) Has 2 Corinthians 5:17 become a personal experience in your life? What old things have passed away? What has become new to you? Share with your discussion group if possible. Fourth Day: Read John 3:12-21. 1.Challenge: Read Numbers 21:9 and remember that the serpent symbolizes Satan in the Bible (see Genesis 3:1-5 and Revelation 20:1- 3). This serpent lifted up on a pole was a type of judgment on sin, so that when the Israelites looked up at this "judgment for their sin" they were saved and did not die. What do you believe the Son of man (Jesus Christ--Perfect God--Perfect Man) had to be "lifted up" on as judgment for mans' sins? 2.What are the joyous results of looking up to the Lord Jesus Christ with faith in our hearts that He will forgive us our sins? See John 3:14-18. 3.Is there any person so good that he does not need to "look up to" Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins? What do Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23 say about this? Romans 3:23 Romans 6:23 4.Romans 6:23 speaks of a "gift" from God. What does Ephesians 2:8-9 say about this gift of God? 5.a.What does Ephesians 2:8-9 mean to you? 5.b.(Personal) Have you ever been in the position of trying to work your way into God's favor by doing "good things" called works? Do you now realize that it is only your faith in Jesus Christ that makes you acceptable to God? 6.Read John 3:21 remembering that "the light" is the Lord Jesus Christ. What does John 8:12 say about "the light"? Fifth Day: Read John 3:21 with Ephesians 4:19-32. John 3:21 speaks of responding to Christ's light. Read Ephesians 4:19-32 and put down in the space given what the Christian is to "put away" or cast aside. Then write down the things listed in this passage that the Christian is to "be" when he is walking in Christ's "light" by faith. 1.The Christian is to cast aside: 2.The Christian is to "be": 3.As you have listed these things "to be" and "not to be" as a Christian, it would seem humanly impossible to fully please God in these ways. Yet, He has given us a mighty Person of power to empower our lives and make them what they "should be" as Christians. Who is this Person of power God gives to the Christian? Read Romans 5:5 and 2 Timothy 1:7,14. 4.(Personal) After reading Ephesians 4:19-32 which part of this passage touched your heart the most? Would you like to yield yourself right now to the Holy Spirit's power to give you a victory in your life? Why not pray about it now? Write down the victory you are claiming in your life by the power of the Holy Spirit. Put the date and time down in your Bible and begin to trust God from this moment on for His victory in your life! 5.How does Titus 3:5-6 speak of God's gift of the Holy Ghost to the Christian? Sixth Day: Read John 3:22-36. 1.How does John the Baptist describe himself in this passage? Give verses. 2.a.What does John the Baptist say in John 3:27 which every Christian needs to remember? b.Challenge: If Christians remember this truth do you think there would be pride, controversy and envy among God's children? 3.a.Envy, greed, bitterness and pride would fall away if each Christian were willing to say what John the Baptist did in John 3:30. What did he say? b.(Personal) Will you choose to repeat this statement as a prayer right now and trust the Lord to work it out each day, moment by moment this week? 4.How does Galatians 2:20 add to the thoughts in John 3:30? If possible, put this verse into your own words and put your own name in the verse where "I" is used to make it personal. 5.How are the thoughts of the first part of John 3 summarized in John 3:35-36? 6.a.(Personal) Christ's coming makes man responsible to either choose to be "born again" by faith in His forgiveness and love, or to choose God's condemnation of eternal separation from Him. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Have you chosen to receive His Son by faith? b.Are you willing to share Jesus Christ with others? How are you doing this sharing this week? Study in the Book of John Lesson 4 OVERVIEW OF JOHN 3 John 3:1-21--Jesus Talks With Nicodemus When something unusual takes place it does not take long for the news to spread. In the spring of a.d. 27, the city of Jerusalem was buzzing with the report of several unusual events. There was a story of a man who had entered the city and disturbed the whole way of life of the people. The Temple area had been cleared of the sacrificial animals and the money changers. Other works which this same man had done were being talked about. He was unusual. He was definitely news! Finally, the rulers of the Jews became curious about who He was. One of these Jewish teachers wanted to see for himself, and so Nicodemus came to visit Jesus Christ. There are three facts or truths which John 3:1 teaches us about Nicodemus. First, we learn that he was a Pharisee, a member of a strict religious sect among the Jews. They laid special emphasis upon the exact and literal observance of the law. Not only did they follow the law literally, but they began to extract from the great principles of the law, a great number of rules and regulations to govern many situations in life. They changed the law of the great principles into the legalism of bylaws and regulations. The best example of what they did is seen in the Sabbath law. God directed in the Bible to keep the Sabbath holy and that on that day no work was to be done either by man, servants or animals. The latter Jews spent hour after hour and generation upon generation defining what work was, and listing the things that could or could not be done on the Sabbath. It was the scribes who spent their lives working out these rules. The rules finally extended to 24 chapters in the Mishnah. The Talmud is the explanatory commentary on the Mishnah, and in the Jerusalem Talmud the section explaining the Sabbath law is 64 and one- half columns long. What all of these rules did was to say such things as, "To tie a knot on the Sabbath is to work." But a knot had to be defined! There were knots which made a man guilty of work such as the knot of camel drivers, sailors, etc. On the other hand there were knots which could be tied quite legally, such as a woman could tie the strings of her cap and those of her girdle, the straps of shoes or sandals, and a knot to secure the skins that served as containers for wine and oil! The situation could become quite humorous, as a man could not tie a rope on a barrel to draw water on the Sabbath unless he was clever enough to think of tying the barrel to a woman's girdle and let it down into the well! For aknot in a girdle was quite legal! The Jewish people themselves thought highly of the Pharisees. The Jews believed the Pharisees to be the most deeply religious men of the day. The scribes worked out all of the regulations and the Pharisees dedicated their lives to keeping them. Actually the name Pharisee means "the Separated Ones." The Pharisees were those who separated themselves from all ordinary life in order to keep every detail of the law of the scribes. The fact that Nicodemus was a Pharisee, who regarded his own goodness and kind of life as pleasing to God, makes it astonishing that he would wish to talk to Jesus at all! The second and third facts we learn about Nicodemus are that he was a ruler of the Jews and this meant that he was a member of the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish court of justice. This court was the final authority on the interpretation of the Mosaic Law. Thus we know that Nicodemus was an important man in Jerusalem. John is the only Gospel in which the name Nicodemus appears. John tells us of this meeting in John 3. He tells of an occasion when Nicodemus was one of the rich men who assisted in the burial of Jesus (John 19:39-42). This important Pharisee was interested in spiritual matters enough to come to Jesus Christ one night. There could possibly have been two reasons for his coming to the Lord Jesus at night. It may have been a sign of caution as Nicodemus may not have wished his fellow members of the Sanhedrin to know of his visit. We must not condemn or call Nicodemus a coward, for it was better to come at night than not to come at all to Jesus. With all of his prejudices in his upbringing, and his whole view of life from the Pharisaic training he had had, it was a miracle that he had the courage to come at all to Jesus. There may have been another reason why Nicodemus chose the night for his visit. The rabbis always considered that this was the best time to study the law, when a man could be undisturbed. We know that Jesus was surrounded by crowds during the day, and it may have been that Nicodemus wanted to have a private, undisturbed meeting with the Lord Jesus. He began the conversation with a compliment, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him" (John 3:2). Nicodemus did well as far as he went. The mistake was that he did not go far enough. Jesus Christ is not just "from God" nor is it just that "God is with him." He is God! Jesus was not a "teacher come from God" such as Moses, Isaiah, and later Paul, the disciples, Luther, Calvin and Augustine. There are many men today who are teach-ers come from God. However, only once did God come to teach. God came in the flesh, in the person of Jesus Christ as perfect God-perfect Man to teach us. The Lord Jesus went directly to the heart of the problem that Nicodemus had, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Nicodemus considered himself a good man. He was one of the religious leaders of his day. But Jesus told him that he was not good enough. Nicodemus had to be born again. In case Nicodemus did not understand that he was included in the general statement of verse three, Jesus said directly, "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7). No one is good enough to get to heaven without Christ's help. It is not enough to do the best you can. It is not enough to do better than your friends. No one can enter heaven and be with God forever unless he has come to Christ and been born again. We read in the book of Job, "How then can man be justified with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? Behold, even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. How much less man, which is a worm?" (Job 25:4-6). The story is told of a missionary who visited the hut of a native and became completely nauseated by the filthy floor on which they had to walk and sit. He suggested that they get some soap and water and scrub the dirty surface. But the native replied, "It would only make it worse. You see, the floor is just clay--packed down and dried. Add water and it turns to mud. The more you try to wash it, the worse the mess becomes." Yes, the hut needed something besides an earthen floor. So it is with the human heart: it is hard and dry and nothing will help it. Man needs a new heart! We must be born from above! While the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord, to make it yours you must personally receive this wonderful Savior and the redemption He offers. Have you done this? If not, do it now. (Romans 5:1,6,8-11) I do receive, I will believe, That Jesus died for me! That on the cross He shed His blood From sin to set me free. God's gift of love to the world was His only begotten Son (John 3:16). Yet the giving of this gift does not make it yours. An example of this was illustrated by a doctor who asked a young lad, "Does the giving of a gift make it yours?" The boy replied, "Well, I suppose you must take it to make it really yours." "Exactly," said the doctor, "and so Christ must be taken as God's gift. I'm a physician," he went on, "while I'm not your doctor, am I?" "No," said the boy. "Why not?" he asked. "Because we never chose you as our doctor," was the reply. "That's right! So, too, Christ is the Savior, but he is not your Savior unless you take him." While the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord, to make it yours you must personally receive this wonderful Savior and the redemption He offers. Have you done this? Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus meant bybeing "born again." He revealed his lack of comprehension by the words in John 3:4, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?" Jesus' reply was, "I say to you, unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of spirit is spirit" (John 3:5-6). Jesus Christ is pointing out to Nicodemus that he is speaking of a supernatural life rather than delivery of a new born baby from its mother's womb. When He mentions water to Nicodemus, it would seem that He means the Word of God. There is cleansing power in the Word of God. "How can a young man stay pure? By reading your word and following its rules" (Psalm 119:9 L.B. and Psalm 119:10-11; John 15:3). No one is born again without the Word of God either spoken or written to him. "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever" (I Peter 1:23 and Romans 10:17). This passage in I Peter points out that man is not born again of corruptible seed which produced life at the first birth and from which each person inherits the decay of sin. Now, God says the new birth is a new life which comes from incorruptible seed which is the Word of God. The life that comes forth from this incorruptible seed is eternal life as we are adopted into God's family as His children through our faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. When you change energy forms you change your burner. You change a furnace from burning coal to burning oil by putting in a conversion kit. You have to put in a conversion kit any time you change your energy. This is what happens when we leave human power and start running on divine power. The manufacturer, who happens to be God, is ready to give us a conversion experience kit so we can have His power and His energy. This is what Jesus was talking about when he said, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again" (John 3:7). The Lord Jesus went on to say in John 3:8 that the work of the Holy Spirit in saving men is like the wind. It cannot be seen, nor can its power and work be fully understood. Yet, we hear it, and it is very powerful. Jesus is saying that we see the effect of the wind, but cannot tell its source, and so it is of everyone who is born of the Holy Spirit. There is a definite change in the person's life through the Holy Spirit's ministry, but we may not understand the method of the new birth. Nicodemus did not understand this sort of talk and he kept asking questions (John 3:9). How was it possible for a person to be able to start life all over again? It was beyond his understanding. The whole idea seemed impossible. It is interesting to note that in John 3:11 as the Lord Jesus replies to Nicodemus' question, He used the plural when speaking, "We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness." In John 7:16-17 R.S.V. the Lord Jesus again emphasizes His oneness with God, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me; if any man's will is to do his will; he shall know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority." In many places in the Bible the Lord Jesus Christemphasized the oneness of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). (See John 14:26; 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:2.) Next the Lord Jesus gave this ruler of the Jews an object lesson (John 3:14-16). Nicodemus was learned in the Old Testament Scriptures, and these Scriptures were the source of what Jesus taught. Nicodemus knew exactly what Jesus Christ made reference to when He spoke of Moses lifting up a serpent in the wilderness. The story is recorded for us in Numbers 21:6-9. The Israelites were complaining about what God was doing with them. The Lord sent serpents among the people. Those who were bitten by the snakes died. The Israelites realized that they had sinned, and they came to Moses. "We have sinned," they confessed; "Pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us." Moses prayed and the Lord heard. "Make ye a serpent of brass," God told Moses. "Put it on a pole for all the people to see. Everyone who, in faith, looks upon the serpent of brass will be healed. He will live." Moses did as God said, and the people were healed of the plague. Jesus Christ told Nicodemus that the serpent of brass was a picture or type of Himself. Just as Moses put the serpent on a pole and lifted it up for the people to see, so Jesus Christ would be placed on a cross and lifted up for people to see. When the Israelites looked in faith on the brazen serpent, God healed them. When anyone looks in faith on Jesus Christ dying for him, God forgives that person's sins. Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Ye must be born again." It was not, "I hope you will." It was not, "It will be a good thing." It was not, "I would suggest that you seek it." It was, "Ye must be born again." Nothing less than a complete change of heart and nature, a change so complete and radical that it can only be described as a new birth, can make a person acceptable to God. Plutarch once described a man who busied himself trying to make a corpse stand upright, but it continually fell down. Finally in disgust, he walked away saying to himself, "There's something lacking inside." There was something lacking inside! It was life that was lacking! It is the same thing that is lacking inside the people which makes them fall down morally and spiritually. The thing that is lacking is life, spiritual life, the life that God gives when a person is born again through faith in Jesus Christ. John Green left the college campus and went down to the east side of London where people committed every kind of sin. He was an idealist and began to set up libraries, teach classes and tried to change people. He encouraged them to paint and clean up their homes and streets. For ten years he tried, and finally gave it up. He said, "It's no use. They will go on drinking, and gambling, and stealing, and fighting until the end of time." He went back to Oxford and wrote a history of England. Down into the same wretched east side of London went General Booth of the Salvation Army. He took his Bible and preached the cross, lifting up Jesus Christ andcalling men to turn from their sins to Jesus. What happened? New life! As people came in faith to Jesus Christ, lives were changed. Drunkards were made sober; thieves were made honest. Gamblers were made respectable citizens. People stopped their fighting. Homes were transformed and neighborhoods were changed. Why did the one succeed, while the other failed? One went trying to change people who still had sinful hearts. The other went with the Good News of Jesus Christ, who changed their sinful hearts and lives. Individuals cannot be changed apart from a new birth, and society itself cannot be changed until there are enough people who have experienced this heart transformation. Society has many, many needs, but society's greatest need is for each individual to have a new heart from Jesus Christ. Jesus said it to Nicodemus and He says it to all of us, "Ye must be born again." Unfortunately there are many people in the world today who attempt to gain God's favor by good works, church membership and a fine reputation. As good as they may be in themselves, these things have nothing to do with obtaining God's forgiveness and salvation. It is all by faith in Christ. Unfortunately there are many who are mixed up and do not understand as Nicodemus did not understand Jesus' words. The story is told of the mixed up bird who found a doorknob--the antique white porcelain kind--and had mistaken it for an egg. She was missed from the flock for several days and finally located in a tuft of grass squatting firmly on her porcelain prize! She probably would be sitting there today if she hadn't been robbed of her unhatchable "egg." You smile and say, "How dumb can a chicken be!" Yet, many people believe that religion can save, good works can save, while the Bible is clear on the subject that it is only faith that can save us. There are thousands of people who imagine that they can earn their salvation by good works or religious exercises. No matter how "good" these efforts are they are only "white doorknobs." "For by grace (unearned love) are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9). Salvation is not "try" but "trust"; it is not "do" but "done!"--Corrie ten Boom. John 3:22-36--The Last Words of John the Baptist The story of Nicodemus and Jesus ends abruptly. The Bible does not tell us what happened after these words of Jesus. We do not know what Nicodemus said or did. The conversation was over and the narrative moves on. Once more John the Baptist comes into the picture. This is the last testimony of John concerning Christ that this book gives to us. John the Baptist was continuing to baptize the people who came to him. He had moved from Bethabara where Jesus had been baptized to Aenon (John 1:28, John 3:23). Some of John's disciples were disturbed because they saw the popularity of their leader was dwindling. The popularity of a new leader, Jesus Christ, was gaining. These disciples came to John with their problem (John 3:26-30). Certainly there must have been a temptation for John the Baptist to be jealous. Yet, as we read John 3:30, we realize that he was not jealous as he said, "He mustincrease, but I must decrease." In answer to their complaints, it would have been very easy for John to feel neglected and forgotten. John told his disciples three things: He told them he never expected anything else (John 3:27,28). John also told them that no man could receive more than what God gave him (John 3:27). Last of all John used a very vivid picture which portrayed Jesus as the bridegroom and himself as the friend of the bridegroom (John 3:29). Every Jewish person would recognize what he meant by this illustration. One of the great pictures of the Old Testament is the picture of Israel as the bride of God, and God as the bridegroom of Israel. God identified so closely with the Israelites, that it could only be likened to a wedding. When Israel worshipped strange gods, it was as if she had been guilty of adultery (Exodus 34:15; Deuteronomy 31:16; Psalm 73:27; Isaiah 54:5). After Christ had come to earth, the Christians took this picture over and spoke of the Church as the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:22-32). It was this picture that was in John's mind. Jesus had come from God. Jesus was the Son of God. Israel was His rightful bride, and He was Israel's bridegroom. John claimed for himself the privilege of being a friend of the bridegroom. In a Jewish wedding the friend of the bridegroom had a unique position. He arranged the wedding, gave out the invitations and presided as a "master of ceremonies" at the wedding feast. John the Baptist's job had been to bring Israel and Jesus together, and to arrange the marriage between Christ (the bridegroom) and Israel (the bride). It had been his job to call Israel to repentance for sin, and prepare them to comein faith to Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:2-17). John's task was completed, and now he was happy to say that Jesus must increase and he must decrease. The secret of John's joy in the Lord Jesus Christ's ministry was his recognition that " a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven" (John 3:27). Later in John 3:31-35 he again speaks of the Father who loves His Son, and has given all into His hands. He also tells these men that "God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him." In other words, God had given everything freely to the Lord Jesus Christ--there is no limit. John showed only joy in these truths that he expressed; there was no sign of envy. If every Christian could remember that each man receives from heaven what God wants to give, there would be no conflict due to pride and envy among God's children. If God is the giver of every gift, God will give exactly the right gift to each Christian. There is another important must in John 3:30 "He must grow greater and greater and I less and less" (J.B. Phillips). Is this happening in your life? Are you allowing the Lord Jesus to speak to you daily in a time of prayer and the reading of His precious Word, the Bible? Do you consider His will when you make decisions? As Jesus becomes more and more important, the decision to do what you know He wants you to, becomes easier and easier. Ask Him to help you to say, "I want your way more and my way less." Be willing to be like John the Baptist who was happy to be forgotten if Christ was remembered. The Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is waiting to help you today. Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 3? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life? Second Day: Read all of John 4 concentrating on verses 1-6. 1.Who was it who baptized those who came in faith to the Lord Jesus? 2.What had the Pharisees (Jewish religious leaders) heard about the Lord Jesus? 3.a.Where did the Lord Jesus go after He left Judea? Find these places on your Bible map if possible. b.What area did the Lord Jesus travel through on this journey and what city did He stop in? c.What important event had taken place near this city many years before? 4.a.At about noon (the sixth hour) where did Jesus and His disciples arrive? b.How does John 4:6 express how the Lord Jesus felt at this time? 5.Challenge: Read Philippians 2:5-11 and record the facts you find about Christ Jesus. 6.a.Which verse in Philippians 2:5-11 expressed to you the Lord Jesus Christ's special love to you? b.(Personal) Have you ever shown your love for the Lord Jesus by doing what Philippians 2:10-11 describes? If not, perhaps today is the day you will choose to respond in love to His love. c.Have you underlined in your Bible your favorite verses in Philippians 2:5-11? This is a good way to help you remember them and find them again. Third Day: Read John 4:7-15. 1.Who did Jesus ask to draw Him a drink of water from the well and what was this person's response? 2.What does Jesus Christ say about the "living water" which God is willing to give to those who ask for it? Give verse. 3.Challenge: How do the following verses help you to understand "living water" which the Lord Jesus offers? Use your own words if you wish to. 3.John 7:37-39 Revelation 21:6 4.How does Isaiah 12:2-3 seem to relate to "living water?" 5.How can you personally do what the last half of Isaiah 12:3 suggests? Give as many thoughts on how a Christian could do this as you can. Fourth Day: Read John 4:16-26. 1.a.What did the woman admit to Jesus Christ about her husband? Give verse. b.What did He tell her about her life? 2.Since the Lord Jesus knew all about her life, whom did she think He was? 3.How did she try to change the subject from her personal sin to another subject in John 4:20? 4.a.How did the woman try to show Jesus that she was knowledgeable about spiritual things in John 4:25? b.What claim to His deity did the Lord Jesus make at this time? 5.How does Philippians 3:3 help you to understand John 4:24 more fully? Put into your own words if you can. 6.a.Challenge: Read all of 2 Peter 3:17-18. As we rejoice in the Lord Jesus what is the Christian to "beware of" in these verses and what is the Christian to "grow in"? b.(Personal) How do you believe you can "grow" as a Christian? Try to list some things you want the Lord to help you "grow" in this week. Fifth Day: Read John 4:27-42. 1.a.What was the reaction of the disciples when they found the Lord Jesus talking to a woman? b.Challenge: Do you believe that a woman is "liberated" by Christ or by legislation? If possible give some reasons and Scriptures with your answer. 2.a.Where did this woman go and what did she say? b.What was the people's reaction to this woman's words according to John 4:30? c.Describe the result of the woman telling people about the Lord Jesus and their going to the city well to see Him. See John 4:39. d.Challenge: Have you ever told anyone about the Lord Jesus Christ and seen the same results? How would you tell someone about Him? What Scripture verses would you choose to use? 3.a.How long did the Lord Jesus stay and teach these people? b.Did any more people believe after He stayed and taught them? c.What did these people say they knew about the Lord Jesus after hearing His words? Give verse. 4.Challenge: What do the following verses say about the Word of God? Put them into your own words if you are able to. Mark 13:31 4.Romans 10:17 5.Which of the above verses was your favorite? Why did you choose it? 6.(Personal) Has John 4:42 ever become an experience of reality in your life? Have you ever responded as these people did? See John 4:25-26. Sixth Day: Read John 4:27-54. 1.How did the Lord Jesus respond when the disciples urged Him to eat the food they had brought to the well from Sychar? Give verse. 2.How do the following verses help you to understand this food that the Lord Jesus Christ spoke of? Matthew 4:4 Jeremiah 3:15 3.What did the Lord Jesus say was His "meat" in John 4? Give verse. 4.a.Challenge: How does Hebrews 1:1-3 help explain who Jesus Christ is and also tell what His work on earth was? Find as many details as you can in these three verses. b.(Personal) Which of these thoughts about the Lord Jesus and His work was the most interesting or thought provoking to you? Share these thoughts with someone if possible. 5.What was the second sign that Jesus Christ did which John recorded to show that He was indeed the Messiah? 6.Which verse did you choose to hide in your heart as "secret food" for your life? Try repeating a verse at least five times daily if you want to memorize it. Study in the Book of John Lesson 5 OVERVIEW OF JOHN 4 John 4:1-26: The Lord Jesus Declares His Deity and Builds a Bridge of Love for Everyone Sometimes a grudge can get so out of hand that rather foolish things result. The Jewish people in the days of Christ held a grudge against the Samaritans. The Samaritans had come into being after the kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722 b.c. They were the children of the Israelites who remained in the land and Assyrian exiles who had been placed in Samaria (2 Kings 17:24-27). The Samaritans were hated by the Jews because they had intermarried, and also because they had opposed the rebuilding of the Temple at Jerusalem (Ezra 4). The Samaritan woman mentioned in the controversy in John 4:20 and John 4:9 indicates that the Jews still had no dealings with the Samaritans. The woman was surprised when a Jewish man asked her for a drink of water. In fact, the grudge between the two groups had become so bad that the Jews would not even cross through the land of Samaria. Instead they would cross the River Jordan and travel along the east side of the river until they got opposite the province they wanted to visit. The land of Palestine is only 120 miles long from north to south, but within this territory at the time of Jesus were three divisions. Galilee was in the north, Judea at the extreme south, and Samaria lay in between. Obviously the quickest route from Galilee to Judea would be directly through Samaria, a journey of three days. The alternate route across the Jordan took twice as long. In John 4:4 we read, "And he had to pass through Samaria" (NASB). Why did Jesus Christ have to go through Samaria? Certainly, not just because He wanted to go from Judea to Galilee! He could have taken the usual route along the east side of the river. He had to go through Samaria because He had to talk to a woman who needed Him. This is the only record we have that Jesus Christ visited Samaria during His ministry. He stopped at the well outside of Sychar because He was "wearied with his journey" (John 4:6). It had been a long walk from Judea to Sychar and Jesus stopped just outside the town where the road to Samaria forks off to three other small towns. Just at the fork of the road there still stands a well which is known as Jacob's well. This area has many historical Jewish incidents attached to it. Jacob bought a piece of ground here (Genesis 33:18-19). On his death bed he gave this land to Joseph (Genesis 48:22). When Joseph died in Egypt, his body was taken back to Palestine and buried on this land(Joshua 24:32). Thus there are many Jewish memories around this area. The well itself, at that time, was more than 100 feet deep and is not supplied by a spring, but water seeps into it and settles in the well. The well is so deep that no one can get water from it without something with which to draw it out. It was about the sixth hour (noon) and Jesus sat down to rest for He was tired from the journey (John 4:6). Imagine, the Son of God was tired! That was a new experience for the One who had made the world. The Lord Jesus Christ could have been tempted to ignore the Samaritan woman's need, because He was tired. It's certainly a common emotion which each one of us has experienced when he feels very weary; but the Lord Jesus Christ promises to give us His love, compassion and strength to share with someone in need even though we feel very weary at the time. "For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18). Jesus Christ set an example for us by unselfishly humbling Himself, leaving His heavenly home and coming to the earth, taking the form of a servant, being born like a man, He was perfect God, perfect Man. He humbled Himself and was obedient even unto death on the cross for our sakes (Phil. 2:5-11). Surely our response to His love should be to humble ourselves before Him first and then humble ourselves in the use of our time and energy to God's purpose in our life. Although America's famous "Giant Springs" can be seen only at Great Falls, Montana, in the spiritual realm "Giant Springs" should be found flowing wherever you find true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 7:38). In the dry, thirsty, barren land of this world is your life a refreshment and blessing to others? Has the Holy Spirit taken complete control of you? (Romans 8:1, Romans 12:1-2). Today, allow the Holy Spirit to fill you until you become a "Giant Spring" of living water. CLOWN FACES Dear Lord, my little one cuddles in my arms and says Let me paint a clown face on you, Mommy. It was her own idea; no one taught her this little game but we play it often together. She paints my face in imaginary colors and I paint hers in turn. We play this pointless little game over and over again. Lord, grown up people play this in their game of life too. They paint on a smiling face so that the world can't see the fear, sadness, defeat, misery, bitterness, and emptiness in their hearts. Please, dear Lord, help me to see behind these grown-up clown faces. Show me the need of each heart that you send across my path by your Holy Spirit. And Lord, I ask you to show me how to help them drop their clown faces and reach out for YOU. Doris Greig "But God protected me so that I am still alive today to tell these facts to everyone, both great and small. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said that the Messiah would suffer, and be the First to rise from the dead, to bring light to Jews and Gentiles alike." (Acts 26:22-23 L.B.) As the Lord Jesus Christ sat by the well alone, his disciples went into the city to buy food (John 4:8). While sitting there, a woman of Samaria came to draw water. She probably was carrying the water pot upon her shoulder or head. She may have walked forty-five minutes down a rocky path to this age-old well, that still is used today, to get her daily supply of water. The village itself was up on a hill, where early inhabitants found protection from their enemies. The people daily visited Jacob's well for their water. Traditionally, the women went to the well early in the morning while the sun was low in the sky, but this woman apparently was not accepted by the other women so she came alone in the heat of the day to get her water. The barriers between the Jews and the Samaritans had already been shaken because the Jewish disciples had gone into Sychar to buy food-- an unusual occurrence for the village. Now the barrier will completely fall as Jesus' words build the bridge of God's love to this woman. He begins by asking her to give Him a drink of water. She must have been amazed and surprised that a Jewish man would even speak to her, as no man had probablyspoken like a gentleman to her for a long, long time. She was the village prostitute, and probably was hated by the women and no gentleman of Samaria would want to be seen speaking to her. In Jesus' words she seems to immediately sense someone who does not condemn her, but someone who understands her need. Shouldn't this be our attitude to those who are separated from God? We need to reach out with loving words and hands and draw them into the arms of the Savior. We are to be "channels of blessings" for Him. Do you always act as willingly and promptly as your Lord did at this time? Is there someone walking or working near you who needs to know the Savior? Another barrier which the Lord Jesus broke down was that of greeting a woman in public, particularly a Samaritan woman. A rabbi was not even allowed to speak to his own wife, daughter or sister in public! One group of Pharisees was called "the bruised and bleeding Pharisees" because they shut their eyes when they saw a woman on the street and thus bumped into walls and houses! If a rabbi was seen speaking to a woman in public, he lost his reputation. Yet Jesus in public spoke to this woman of notorious character. This was the Son of God who was tired, weary and thirsty. Jesus was the holiest of men who listened with understanding to a sad story. It was Jesus Christ Himself who gave women a place of honor in society as they came to Him for forgiveness of their sins, and became joint heirs with Jesus Christ (through their faith). "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). Perhaps you find yourself identifying with the Samaritan woman in this story. She had no reputation and no friends; she was lonely and had many needs. Perhaps you have lost everything you cherished that seemed valuable to you. The Lord Jesus wants to share with you the same thing He offered to this woman--"If you only knew what a wonderful gift God has for you, and who I am, you would ask me for some living water!--People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water (from the well), but the water I give them, he said, becomes a perpetual spring within them, watering them forever with eternal life" (John 4:10,13-14 L.B.). The Lord Jesus Christ wants us to come to Him in faith as this woman did, and He will fill us with the "perpetual spring" of "living water" which He has promised to those who believe in Him. The Holy Spirit will constantly flood your life with joy and power as the living water of the Lord Jesus Christ is manifested in your life through Him (John 7:38-39). "But when the time came for the kindness and love of God our Savior to appear, then He saved us--not because we were good enough to be saved, but because of His kindness and pity--by washing away our sins and giving us the new joy of the indwelling Holy Spirit whom He poured out upon us with wonderful fullness--and all because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did so that He could declare us good in God's eyes--all because of His great kindness" (Titus 3:4-7 L.B.). The following letter was found many years ago in a tin tied to an old pump on a remote desert trail: "This pump isall right as of June 1932. I put a new sucker washer into it and it ought to last five years. But the washer dries out and pump has got to be primed. Under the white rock I buried a bottle of water, out of the sun and cork end up. There's enough water in it to prime the pump, but not if you drink some first. Pour about one fourth and let her soak to wet the leather. Then pour in the rest medium fast and pump like crazy. You'll get water. The well has never run dry. Have faith. When you get watered up, fill the bottle, and put it back as you found it for the next feller. Desert Pete." Now imagine the year is 1936 and you are an exhausted, thirsty and desperate desert traveler. You come to Desert Pete's well. Would you drink the minimal supply of water and forget the unlimited supply supposedly in the well? Or would you risk your life and empty the water into the pump in order to gain an adequate supply? The unthinking person would probably consume the water. Thinking man sees the issue: faith, risk and a promise of life, or doubt, temporary relief and a certainty of death. But can he believe? He has to consider the object of faith. He must believe that Desert Pete is a real person and not a figment of the imagination. There is not strict proof of this, but the evidence of the tin, the letter, and the bottle under the white rock points in this direction. But was Desert Pete's character reliable? His reliability can be tested if the bottle is under the rock. If it is, you can presume that Desert Pete is a good reliable man. Now comes the step of faith--a commitment to Desert Pete and his word. You are gloriously rewarded! The pump works, and the cool, saving flow of water is the proof. In another desert is another well and another Word--the Bible. In this Word of God is this promise, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst: the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14 R.S.V.). Now, traveler, you stand at the well. What are you going to do? "And this is the record that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son" (1 John 5:11). "He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die" (John 11:25-26). "Drink the water I give you, and you will never thirst again," Jesus said. Such words seemed more than the woman could imagine. She had so many needs. Here was a man who claimed that He could supply them all. Of course she wanted that water! But she also wanted to get away from the necessity of coming every day to draw water (John 4:15). Jesus came right to the point. "Go call your husband," He said. This was a touchy subject to this Samaritan woman, for she had had many husbands, and the man whom she was living with was not her own. She tried to dodge the question (John 4:17). However, Jesus knew the truth (John 4:18). The woman wanted to change the subject by getting into an age-old argument about the place to worship. The Samaritans had built their own temple on Mt. Gerizim. Here they went to worship, not to the Temple of Jerusalem. The Lord Jesus told the woman that the place of worship was not as important as the act of wor-ship (John 4:23-24). The woman tried to get involved in an argument about a place of worship because she did not want to talk about her own need for a Savior. The Lord Jesus answered her question simply. Then she tried again by getting into a discussion about the coming Messiah. Again the Lord had an answer for her. This answer was even more amazing to her than the last one! The woman said, "Well, at least I now that the Messiah will come--the one they call Christ--and when he does, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus told her, "I am the Messiah!" (John 4:25-26 LNT). John 4:31-38--The Disciples Return from Sychar The Lord Jesus and the woman had been alone when this discussion took place. At the end of the conversation the disciples returned from the city where they had gone to buy food (John 4:8). They were amazed when they saw that Jesus was speaking with a woman, and more amazed to find Him no longer hungry. He explained that doing the will of God-- meeting the needs of poor sinners like this woman--was more to Him than food. He challenged them to look around. The people of Samaria were hungry for the Gospel. They were like grain waiting to be harvested (John 4:31-35). Speaking to the woman and bringing her into a realization of who Jesus is was His mission. It should be ours as well. Are you willing to ask the Lord to send someone your way with whom you can share the Good News of Jesus Christ? How important is witnessing for Christ in your life? Have you ever given up something you wanted to do in order to speak to somebody about the Lord Jesus? Have you wondered why the Lord Jesus referred to the hills as being "white unto harvest?" He and His disciples arrived at the well at the sixth hour, which is noon. Perhaps as He stood with the disciples facing Him, He could see the hillside with the village at the top, and see men and women winding their way down the path to Jacob's well after the woman had run to the village to proclaim her good news (John 4:28-29). As He watched this mass of people moving down the hillside, He thought aloud about the harvest of souls and compared it to the harvest of the crop that was still four months away. Thus, He said to His disciples, "Lift up your eyes and look at the fields," and the disciples looked and saw the people coming down the hill to see the One this prostitute had spoken so glowingly of (John 4:35). The fact that the woman left her water pot (John 4:28) and went to the city showed that her heart was anxious to share the good news which she had just received. She proclaimed her faith as she said, "Come see a man who told me all I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" She knew that the people of her city had observed her in her sinful ways and knew all that she had ever done, but this man she had never known before. Now she proclaimed that He indeed must be the Messiah for whom they had been looking. Her life illustrates what the Christian life should be. It should be like twin pillars called "Discovery" and "Communication." No true discovery is complete without the desire to share the excitement and joy of it with others. Yet we cannot communicate our faith in Christ to others until we have discov-ered Him! John 4:39-42--The Conversion of the Samaritans When the Samaritans of Sychar heard the woman's testimony, they hurried to the well to hear Jesus speak and asked Him to stay for two days with them (John 4:39-40). They heard, they believed and they wanted to learn more. The belief of the people went beyond the testimony of the woman (John 4:41-42). They came to Christ and heard Him themselves and trusted Him as a result of what they heard Him say. In fact, in John 4:42 they gave Jesus a new title--"Savior of the World." This is the first time that Jesus had gone to any group other than Jews. So this is the first time that He is called the "Savior of the World." No wonder the Bible records that Jesus "had to go through Samaria" (John 4:4)! John 4:43-54 After two days, the Lord Jesus departed for Galilee with His disciples. All three of the other Gospels tell of Jesus saying that a prophet has no honor in his own country (Matthew 13:57; Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24). The saying actually was an ancient proverb which the people used in the same way that we say, "Familiarity breeds contempt." When He arrived in Galilee, the people welcomed Him for they had seen how He had cleansed the Temple in Jerusalem at the feast (John 2:13- 25). Every Jewish person over nineteen years of age who went to the Passover feast found it necessary to pay the Temple tax, so that the Temple sacrifices and the Temple ritual could be carried out daily. This tax was one half shekel, the equivalent of about two days' wages, a great deal for these people to give forthe Lord's service. Ordinarily any kind of currency was usable in trade in Palestine, but the Temple tax had to be paid in either Galilean or sanctuary shekels. These were Jewish coins which were the only ones acceptable for a special gift to the sanctuary. Since Jewish believers arrived from all over the world with all kinds of coins, the Temple courts were filled with money changers who took advantage of these pilgrims by overcharging them for the exchange of coins. There were also within the Temple grounds inspectors who examined and determined if the animals sold for sacrifice were perfect. It was this social injustice and dishonesty which Jesus took action against when He cleansed the Temple in John 2. Undoubtedly this is why we read in John 4:45 that the Galileans welcomed Him, for they had seen that He cared about their personal welfare when He cleansed the Temple at the time of the Passover feast. The Lord Jesus Christ also cares about inequities in our society and is offended by those who take advantage of the poor and helpless. In the last verses of this chapter John records another miracle or sign (John 4:46-54). The nobleman was an official, either civil or military, in the service of Herod, the king. However, when his son was sick, his position did not help him. Notice as soon as Jesus said that the boy would live, the man believed. When the nobleman arrived home and saw that the Lord's word was true, he and his whole house believed in Jesus Christ. The Bible records, "The man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him" (John 4:50). He had only the word of the Lord. He was not with his son, so he could not see that anything had been done. Yet he took Christ at His word. We need to trust the Lord Jesus Christ to supply our needs in this same way. He can! Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 4? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life? Second Day: Read all of John 5 concentrating on 5:1-16. 1.a.Where did the Lord Jesus go after He left Cana of Galilee (John 4:46)? 4.b.Describe the place in Jerusalem where the Lord Jesus went. c.What kind of people did the Lord Jesus find at this place? 2.List all of the things you can discover about the condition and life of the man that Jesus singled out to heal. 3.a.What did the Lord Jesus ask the man to do? Was the man obedient? b.(Personal) Has the Lord Jesus asked you to do anything as you have read His Word in the study of John this year? Have you been obedient to His Word? c.What does Ephesians 6:6-7 say the attitude of the Christian should be concerning obedience to God? d.(Personal) Is this your heart attitude of obedience to God? Should you pray and ask God to help you change your attitude? Psalm 57:2 and Romans 12:12 are helpful. 4.Challenge: The lame man was made whole physically by Jesus Christ. Compare this wholeness to the forgiveness, cleansing from sin, and wholeness a person receives when he comes in faith to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 5.Compare Galatians 5:16-24 with Jesus Christ's statement in John 5:11,14. Does this help you with Question 4? 6.Look up Galatians 2:19-20, preferably in a modern language translation such as The Living Bible. Put your name in the place of "I" as you write out this verse. Choose to ask the Lord to make this verse "come alive" in your life this week. Third Day: Read John 5:16-23. 1.Why did the Jewish people seek to persecute Jesus and kill him? Give verses. 2.What does this passage tell you about God the Father? Give verses. 3.What does this passage tell you about Jesus Christ the Son? 4.What does this passage say that our attitude is to be both to God the Father and God the Son? 5.Challenge: Explain in your own words how you feel a person can "honor" God the Father and God the Son. 6.a.Challenge: How do the following verses suggest ways of honoring God the Father and God the Son? Psalm 29:2 Isaiah 25:1 Philippians 3:7-9 b.Which of these verses meant the most to you? Share the reason if possible. Fourth Day: Read John 5:24-27. 1.a.If we hear the words of Jesus and believe on Him what does He promise us in John 5:24? b.(Personal) Do you have what John 5:24 promises because of your faith in Jesus Christ? See Acts 4:12 and Romans 1:16-17. 2.How does John 14:6 relate to John 5:26? 3.What does John 5:27 say God has given Jesus Christ authority to do? 4.Challenge: What do the following verses say about Jesus Christ as judge? 4.Acts 10:38-42 Romans 2:16 Romans 14:10 2 Timothy 4:1 5.Second Timothy 4:1 speaks of Jesus Christ judging people when He returns to earth. His second coming is foretold in many places in the Scriptures. Choose some of the following verses concerning His second coming to look up. Write down your favorites. Acts 1:11, Hebrews 9:28, Matthew 16:27, Matthew 25:31-32, 1 Corinthians 4:5, Matthew 24:44, 1 Thessalonians 5:23. 6.Which of the above verses gave you the most joy, hope or challenge in your life? Why? Fifth Day: Read John 5:28-39. 1.Whose will did the Lord Jesus always seek as He walked this earth as perfect God-perfect Man? 2.Compare John 5:32 with John 5:37. Who is it that bears witness of Jesus Christ to us? 3.These are three other "witnesses" for Jesus Christ which He talks about here other than God the Father. What are the three other witnesses given in this passage? Give verses. 4.After Jesus Christ's death, resurrection, and ascension, what other witness also pointed men to the Savior? See Acts 14:17. 5.How does Romans 1:20 add to the thoughts of Acts 14:17? 6.a.Challenge: Since all men have been given some witness of God's love, do you believe that anyone can be "neutral" about God? Is there a "gray area" or is man either in the darkness of sin (Romans 3:23) or the light of His love (Romans 6:23)? b.Are you sharing the "good news" of Jesus Christ with those of your acquaintance? Do you believe that God wants you to be His witness? How can you be His witness? Sixth Day: Read John 5:39-47. 1.List the things that you find in these verses that must have broken Jesus Christ's heart. He had come to offer all people forgiveness and eternal life, and they refused to receive this free gift. Give verses with your answer. 2.Do you believe that Jesus Christ's heart is still breaking today because man will not respond in faith to Him, but respond in the same way as described in this part of John 5? 3.(Personal) How have you responded to Jesus Christ? Do you believe His words? See John 5:47. 4.God's Word is His communication to you today. How do the following Scriptures help you understand how important it is for you to read and meditate upon His Word? Put them into your own words if possible. 2 Timothy 3:16 2 Peter 1:20-21 5.Challenge: What action is the Christian to take concerning God's Word? Write down what is suggested in each of the following verses. Psalm 78:5-7 Psalm 119:11 6.a.How can you let "Christ's Word" dwell richly in you in all wisdom (Colossians 3:16)? Name some practical ways. b.Did you choose to memorize some favorite portion of Scripture this week? Study in the Book of John Lesson 6 OVERVIEW OF JOHN 5 The Lord Jesus Christ constantly surprises people around Him. In the first chapters of John we discovered Him changing water to wine, chasing animals and people out of the Temple area, telling Nicodemus that he must be born again, going through Samaria and healing a boy that He never went near. The Lord is now in the second year of His ministry, and according to John 5:1, He moves out of Galilee again. Jerusalem is on a hill so John rightly describes Jesus as going "up" to Jerusalem. The Lord Jesus went to the pool of Bethesda, near the sheep gate where the sheep market was. The place of the miracle is now identified with confidence following the excavation in 1888 of such a pool as John described, located in the northeastern part of Jerusalem. Archeologists uncovered five porches which sheltered a great many sick people (John 5:3). They lay around the pool on these porches, hoping to be healed when the water was troubled. "The moving of the water could be the activity of angels, for there are unseen energies and powers sent by God which operate for the healing of man. God could also use an intermittent spring to bring healing. But let us not lose sight of the greatest miracle! The man immediately became well through the power of Jesus Christ (John 5:9). It would seem that Jesus had gone to Jerusalem alone as no mention is made of His disciples in this chapter. As He walked along the porches and saw the people, He looked at one man who was lying there. The man was lame and could not walk for he had been sick thirty-eight years (John 5:5). Undoubtedly many of the others who were suffering had friends with them to lower them into the water when it became "troubled," but Jesus noticed that this man was all alone. Others had friends to help them while he had "no man" (John 5:7). One can sense this man's feeling of helplessness and despair as Jesus asks him, "Would you like to get well?" "I can't," the sick man said, "for I have no one to help me into the pool at the movement of the water. While I am trying to get there, someone else always gets in ahead of me" (L.B.). We note that Jesus noticed his aloneness and saw his psychological need to have someone care for him. He also knew that this man needed forgiveness of sin (John 5:14) and thus recognized that he was spiritually sick and needed a healing and forgiveness from sin as well as physical healing. As the Lord Jesus looked at this man He said in essence, "Do you really want to be changed," by asking him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" (John 5:6). There aremany people who are sick physically, spiritually or psychologically, who would rather accept their condition than to cooperate with the Lord Jesus in order to be made whole! Subconsciously they may prefer to remain sick and dependent rather than be a whole person and have to fight the battles of life! You may know someone who is in a condition similar to this lame man of long ago, or perhaps you may discover that you are subconsciously preferring to be sick and helpless rather than a whole person. Perhaps you feel that no one cares about you, but remember that the Lord Jesus loves you just as much as He loved this man of long ago, and wants to give you His loving compassion and help today. (See Matthew 8:17, Hebrews 13:8, Revelation 1:5.) Thus we see that this story is a picture of how Christ can help any life today. There are multitudes of impotent folk in the world today who are waiting for God's moving of the water of life to bring healing to their souls. The Lord Jesus Christ is still asking, "Do you want to be healed?" (John 5:6). People who are frustrated, psychologically crippled, spiritually sick, discouraged and frustrated with our present world, and some who are even dissatisfied with formal Christianity need to be healed by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into the fellowship of the "church." Christ is the head of the church (Romans 9:5; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:10,22-23). And all who respond to Him in faith become "the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). The first part of Acts 20:28 speaks of feeding the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made Christians overseers. As a Christian this is your responsibility today! For you are God's ambassador, calling men to "be healed" by Jesus Christ's forgiveness and love (John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Galatians 4:6; Colossians 2:10). Are you sharing the Lord Jesus Christ with anyone? "Look! I have been standing at the door and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me" (Revelation 3:20 LNT). Have you ever shared this scripture with anyone? Today there are many people in other countries taking great risks to share the Lord Jesus Christ with their fellow citizens. The Soviet state has pledged to eradicate such religious activity and freedom to evangelize; it is against the law. The media is state controlled so there is freedom of anti-religious propaganda, but no religious propaganda is permitted. The printing of Bibles is so restricted that a whole congregation might have only one or two. In contrast, in 1971 in the Uzbeck Soviet Socialist Republic, sixty-two anti-religious programs in three languages were broad-cast and three hundred reports on anti-religious activities were broadcast. Unlimited anti-religious pamphlets were also available. Christians are not able to make any public defense against crude slander and ruthless misrepresentation in the press. When they are arrested, they are not allowed such an opportunity in court either. In fact, the courts are closed to the public when a Christian is on trial. The average Soviet citizen hears of religion as a questionable activity indulged in by the weak-minded and unbalanced or fanatical. They picture these people as trying to get children into their clutches. The adolescents of the Soviet system lack a basic moral sense and social conscience because of this campaign waged by their government. When a model citizen is found--hard-working, sober, and reliable--he often turns out to be a Christian! Aida Skripnikova, a Soviet citizen, handed out postcards on New Year's Eve 1962 saying, "The world is passing away....Perhaps tomorrow you will appear before God to give an account of everything you have done...Seek God while you can still find him." Attacked in a youth magazine, she made a reply that was, of course, never printed, but it was handed around in underground literature. It contained comments on building a society that would be just and ended with a summary statement, "The goal of my life is to serve the truth." (See John 14:6.) God has worked wonders through Christians in the labor camps. Solzhenitsyn in One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch, illustrates the influence of a man like the Baptist Alyosha, a former criminal. Kozlov, now a church leader, writes, "Among the general despair, while prisoners like myself were cursing ourselves, the camp, the authorities, while we opened up our veins or our stomachs, or hanged ourselves, the Christians (often with sentences of 20 to 25 years) did not despair. One could see Christ reflected in their faces. Their pure, upright life, deep faith and devotion to God, their gentleness, and their wonderful manliness, became a shining example of real life for thousands." (See 1 Peter 3:14-17, 2 Timothy 4:16-17, Hebrews 11:25.) It was Krapov, who had spent half his life in jail for the faith, who won Kozlov for Christ. "The prisons and camps," says Kozlov, "have become for many, a place of spiritual regeneration." Some Christians have even been removed from one camp to another because of their witness for Christ to fellow prisoners. Such a prisoner was Father Zalikvo, who was removed from the dreaded Mordovian to the even worse Vladimir prison because of the effect his witness had. One Christian, who was a skilled electrician, was employed in hauling logs by hand and often collapsed on the daily ten- mile walk across the Urals. He had a double hernia and a weak heart and was covered with malnutrition sores, quite common in the camp where food is inadequate and bandages and antiseptic often not available. His mother, Lydia, a lawyer and president of the council of Prisoner's Relatives, sent to the West much painstakingly-collected information on prisoners in over 75 camps. She was sentenced to three years in prison in her mid-sixties.With chronic stomach ulcers, diabetes and high blood pressure, she needed to be physically supported to reach her work place for a year and a half. Finally she was allowed to enter the prison hospital where she stayed until her release in December 1973. Such are the people who evangelize by example in prison and labor camps" (Christianity Today, June 21, 1974). These people can truly say, "I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the real life I now have within this body is a result of trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not one of those who treats Christ's death as meaningless" (Galatians 2:20 L.B.). Oh, that we all could sincerely make this statement and be willing to stand up and be counted for Christ as the Holy Spirit leads us to share Him with others. Safety officials at the Oakdale Colliery in the Sirhowy Valley, Wales, still use canaries to detect any underground gas in the mines that could be fatal. The miners care for the birds but never name them for fear of becoming "attached." In a wonderful way the believer has One in his heart who bears witness of God's leading for us. We refer to the person of the Holy Spirit as the heavenly Dove. Our responsibility is to heed His warning call and thus we shall avoid quenching the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Perhaps as you read this you feel psychologically defeated, physically ill or spiritually sick. The Holy Spirit is calling to you and wants to direct you to Jesus Christ who can make you a whole person. The Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, wants to fight your battles, be your strength and wisdom, and your eternal friend (2 Timothy 4:17, Romans 8:35-39, Philippians 2:13). The Lord's question must have surprised the man at the pool. He said, "Do you want to be healed?" (John 5:6). This seems like a strange question, but Jesus Christ realized that there are many chronic invalids who have no hope of a cure. Others use their sickness as a means of getting sympathy and therefore do not want to be healed. The man's response to the question was that he lacked the means to be healed, but did expectantly await help. The Lord's next words must have been even more surprising to the man for He told him to do three things--rise, take up his bed, and walk (John 5:8). Really the man was not capable of doing any one of these things, but he did them! He exerted himself in faith, risking failure in order to obey the Lord Jesus' command. The Lord Jesus met him at this point and the man was healed. God never asks us to do anything without giving us the power to obey. The obedience and the power are simultaneous. To refuse to obey in faith is to not experience the power. The Lord told the lame man to do the impossible! A lame man cannot stand up, but when Christ said, "Arise," the man stood. "Take up your bed," was the next command. This removed any possibility of relapse. The man rolled up his mat. Now, "Walk!" He did just that (John 5:9). Do you obey the Lord like that? Even if you do not see how you can do as He asks, do you obey Him? When the Lord tells you to do something, you can be sure He will give you the abil-ity to do it! The lame man immediately was faced with opposition in his life. This is inevitable for any Christian who is being obedient to the Lord. This man had chosen to begin a new life and had taken up his bed as the Lord Jesus Christ commanded. This symbolized Jesus saying, "Accept your circumstances and carry them in triumph in my power." The lame man walked out of his bondage to the place God called him to go, just as the new Christian walks from the bondage of the flesh into the realm of letting the Holy Spirit control his life and produce fruit (Galatians 5:19-25). "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). Opposition is inevitable for an active Christian (1 Peter 2:20-21, 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4). We need to expect opposition, for it tests our faith and strengthens us as we lean upon God. God proves Himself as He comforts us in our trials. This lame man met the Jews and he began to get opposition (John 5:10-13). The people accused him of breaking the Sabbath by carrying his bed. This made him feel insecure because his knowledge of Jesus Christ was incomplete. Often a new Christian feels a bit insecure after he has come to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith, because he does not know all about the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet we can learn from this story that step by step, just as the lame man moved forward, we as new Christians are to move forward in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus as we study His Word, the Bible. "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen" (2 Peter 3:18). The question is how much time will you give the Lord in order to grow in grace and the knowledge of His Word? A survey in U.S. News and World Report shows that television ranks first--and organized religion eighteenth--among influences on daily living. One pastor is quoted as saying, "This beast that is among us (television) is perhaps the most important influence on our lives today." Of course, not all programs have a bad influence and we must learn to be selective of what we watch on television as well as the amount of time we expend. Television is not the only thing that interferes with our time. Many other things entice us and lead us to become involved, such as activities and hobbies, so that we are kept from growing in our faith because we do not spend time each day reading the Bible and talking with God in prayer. The first indication the Jewish people had of anything unusual was when they saw the man walking away from the pool, carrying the rolled up mat that he used for a bed. They did not rejoice that a man who had been unable to walk for thirty-eight years was coming toward them! All they saw was one of their laws being broken (John 5:10). This was the beginning of the antagonism the Jews had toward the Lord Jesus. They were angry that their law had been broken, so angry that they sought the Lord Jesus to kill Him (John 5:18). It is true that God had set the Sabbath day apart for rest for His people and a time to worship and show love to Him (Isaiah 58:13-14). In Exodus 20:8-11 the law said that noman, his servants, or his animals should do any work. This included such activities as trading or carrying heavy burdens for commercial purposes (Nehemiah 13:15-19, Jeremiah 17:19-27). However, the Rabbis had carried the law to an extreme and said that a man was sinning if he carried a needle in his robe on the Sabbath, and they even argued about whether a man could wear artificial teeth or a wooden leg, or a woman wear a piece of jewelry on the Sabbath. A man who spit on the ground on the Sabbath had to be careful that his spittle didn't roll in the dirt for it was considered "plowing a furrow!" This was illegal on the Sabbath. The healed man's defense was that the one who had healed him told him to carry the pallet, and he eventually told them that this person was Jesus (John 5:15). The Lord Jesus deliberately chose the Sabbath day to perform many of His works of mercy. And this was one of the reasons the religious leaders hated Him and persecuted Him. Before leaving this section we need to note that the Lord Jesus found this man in God's temple after he was healed, undoubtedly giving thanks to God for his strong legs and healthy body! When you receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, He wants to find you also in His church praising Him with other Christians! Jesus Claims to be the Son of God--John 5:17-32 When the Jewish people found the Lord Jesus they forgot about the Sabbath problem for now He also claimed to be equal with God. "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" (John 5:17). He wanted them to know that God is His Father and that He is God the Son. Over and over in the next few verses He uses the words "Father" and "Son." The Jews were concerned with the idea of anyone working on the Sabbath. Jesus answered their concern. He taught that God did not stop working for the salvation of men. The Lord Jesus said, "My Father constantly does good, and I'm following his example" (John 5:17 L.B.). The Jews recognized that His words were a direct condemnation of their lack of interest in the man and their special interest in the keeping of their rules. This One, standing before them, dared to put Himself on an equality with God. The Jews indicated that they did not believe that Jesus had any right to make such a claim. The Lord Jesus said that He had every right (John 5:19-21). Notice the comparison between the Father and the Son. What the Father does, the Son does. What the Father sees, the Son sees. What the Father knows, the Son knows. The Father and the Son are equal. Jesus Christ is God! Because the Son is equal to the Father, there are some things which are given to the Son to do. One of these is to judge men (John 5:22). The Lord Jesus Christ one day will judge all the people who ever lived. Those who have accepted Him as Savior will not come into this judgment, for their sins were judged when the Son of God shed His blood on the cross for them. Those who receive Him have everlasting life and will not be judged. The Lord Jesus Christ will be the judge of those who reject Him (John 5:24).Another power which Jesus has because He is the Son of God, is the power to give life. He has the power to resurrect the dead. He has life in Himself (John 5:25-26, John 14:6). Jesus makes a statement in John 5:30 which shows His submission to God the Father. "I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which has sent me." Here is an example of total cooperation. The Lord Jesus did not seek His own will, but as perfect God and perfect man He willingly gave Himself upon the cross so that anyone who comes to Him in faith might be forgiven his sins and in Him be given new life. The Four Witnesses to the Lord Jesus Christ--John 5:33-47 The Lord Jesus told the Jews that He spoke the truth. He told them that they should believe Him because of the proof He offered. First Jesus reminded the people of the witness of John the Baptist (John 5:32). John spoke of Jesus Christ, but the people would not believe his words. (See John 1:19-20,26,29,35 and 36.) The Lord Jesus then told these Jewish people that He did not depend only upon a mere human witness, but He was willing to use any witness they could understand. The second witness was that Jesus had performed signs which showed His power; He had just healed a man who had been unable to walk for thirty-eight years. Jesus said that they should believe Him for the works He did (John 5:36). Then He told the men that God the Father bore witness of Him (Matthew 3:17), but the people would not even believe the voice of God (John 5:37-38). Finally the Lord Jesus said that the Scriptures bear witness of Him. The Jews read the Scriptures but they did not understand that He, Jesus Christ, was the One spoken of(John 5:39-47). The Pharisees who searched the Scriptures undoubtedly knew in detail all the prophesies concerning the Messiah, yet they refused to acknowledge that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. To illustrate this, think of the Bible as a beautiful window overlooking a panoramic view of the countryside. Suppose that someone asked the owner to describe this window, and he said, "My window is made of glass and is eight feet long by five feet high. It is surrounded by a wood frame and is draped in red velvet. My window is one inch thick so that it keeps out the heat and the cold." The owner would not be giving the whole point for this beautiful window, which was so that he could enjoy the panoramic view of the valley below. The Bible is a window through which we see Jesus Christ. The Pharisees had examined the Bible carefully and knew of its many details, yet they did not realize that the most important purpose for it was to point them to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ tried to help them look with eyes of faith through their Old Testament "window" by saying in John 5:46, "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me." How sad to realize that there were so many evidences of the Lord Jesus Christ's deity and yet these men refused to receive Him and obey by responding in faith to Him. He told them how to have everlasting life (John 5:24) but they would not listen. They only sought to kill Him. He explained that He was God, but they would not worship Him. He said that the Scriptures told of Him, but they thought that by reading them they would have life. Everlasting life is in Christ and only in Him. Do you have this everlasting life? Have you received this gift (Romans 6:23)? Have you passed from death into life (John 5:24)? If so, are you obedient to Him and cooperating with Him in sharing His life with others? Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 5? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life? Second Day: Read all of John 6 concentrating on John 6:1-14. 1.a.Where did the Lord Jesus go after He left Jerusalem where the events of John 5 took place, and what two groups followed Jesus to this place? b.When the Lord Jesus saw the crowd coming, what was His first thought? Give verse please. c.Read John 6:3 and Mark 6:30-32. Why do you believe Jesus had gone to the mountain? 2.a.(Personal) What about you? What is your attitude toward someone who has a need? Do you feel antagonistic if your rest is interrupted? Do you have a carefully planned schedule for your minutes and determine to let nothing or no one interfere with your schedule? b.According to the record of this story in Matthew 14:13-21 what did the Lord Jesus' disciples suggest He do with the crowd? Give verse please. c.Challenge: Have you ever had the same reaction that the disciples had in Matthew 14:13-21 when someone came to you with great needs? How can the admonitions in 2 Timothy 2:3 and Philippians 2:5 and 2:13 encourage you to let Christ live in you and strengthen you in such a situation? Use your own wording if possible. 2 Timothy 2:3 Philippians 2:5,13 d.(Personal) Is there someone with a need in your neighborhood, office, or church? Will you trust God by writing in this space the concern that God has given you for them? Try to describe willingness to depend on Him to show you how to help this person or group. 3.a.How were Philip and Andrew honest in describing their doubts to the Lord Jesus? (See John 6:5-10.) b.If you feel discouraged when someone comes to you for help, do you think it is a good idea to be honest like Andrew and Philip and take your attitudes and needs to the Lord Jesus in prayer? What does Philippians 4:6 tell the Christian to do? Put this into your own words if possible. 4.a.After reading John 6:10 and Luke 9:14-15, do you believe the Lord Jesus did things in an orderly way? Please give reasons for your answer. 4.b.Do you believe more can be accomplished if you pray that the Lord Jesus will organize your day, moment by moment, to make it "orderly"? Share your examples; it may encourage someone else. c.(Personal) Write down some of the specific areas which you want to ask the Lord Jesus to make "orderly" in your life. Then read Matthew 7:7-8 to encourage yourself concerning these prayer requests. 5.What did the Lord Jesus stop to do before He fed the crowd? Do you stop and do this, no matter where you are--at home or in a crowd? 6.a.Was there enough food? Was there any left over? b.How did the Lord Jesus distribute the food to those who were seated? See Mark 6:41 for added details. c.(Personal) What particular thing do you think the Lord Jesus wants you to share with the crowds today? Read the following verses. 1 Peter 3:15 Colossians 3:16 Third Day: Read John 6:15-21. 1.After the Lord Jesus fed the crowd what did they want to do to Him? What was His response to the crowd at this time? 2.Challenge: What was Christ's mission to people on earth at this time? Was it to be a king? What do the following verses say concerning this? Put them in your own words if you wish to. Matthew 20:28 Luke 19:10 Luke 2:10-11 3.(Personal) By faith in Jesus Christ, can you write your name into 1 Timothy 1:15-16, thus making it your testimony of what Christ Jesus has done for you? Write it here. 4.a.What did the disciples do when evening came? See John 6:16-17. b.What happened after they had launched their boat and were on their way across the water? 5.What more do you learn about the stilling of the storm and walking on the water from Matthew 14:22-33? Give verses please. 6.(Personal) What favorite or challenging thought did you find for your life this week as you read Matthew 14:22-33? Fourth Day: Read John 6:22-40. 1.Where did the crowd, whom the Lord Jesus fed, go to look for Him when they could not find Him on the mountain where He fed them? Try to find this place on your Bible map. 2.According to this passage why does the Lord Jesus say the crowd is following Him from place to place? Give verse. 3.What does the Lord Jesus say the crowd should be seeking? 4.What does Jesus call Himself in John 6:22-40? Give verse please. 5.What does Jesus say about the water that He will give to those who believe and receive Him in John 4:14? 6.a.(Personal) Do you have the Bread of Life and satisfying water in your life? Read Romans 3:22-28 to better help you know whether you have such joy in Jesus Christ. b.Are you sharing the truths with others in your neighborhood, business and church? How are you sharing the "Bread of Life?" Fifth Day: Read John 6:41-51. 1.Whom did the Jews believe the Lord Jesus' father was? 2.According to Matthew 1:18-22 and Luke 1:26-37 how was the Lord Jesus conceived and whose Son was He? Give verses. 3.What verses in John 6:41-51 speak of Jesus Christ being the Bread of Life and giving everlasting life? 4.(Personal) Which verse would you like to claim for your life today? Why? Which verse would you like to memorize to share with others? Why? 5.Challenge: Put John 6:51 into your own words as much as possible and put your name in place of "the world." 6.What does Acts 4:12 tell us about the Lord Jesus? Sixth Day: Read John 6:52-71. 1.Where did the Lord Jesus teach that His flesh and His blood would bring eternal life to those who believed in Him? 2.How does Matthew 26:26-28 help you to understand better the Lord Jesus' words in John 6:52-58? 3.Challenge: How does 1 Peter 1:3 help you to better understand the words which the Lord Jesus spoke in John 6:52-58? 4.According to John 6:52-71 were all of those who followed Jesus Christ true believers in Him as the Son of God and Savior? Give verses. 5.What did Simon Peter say to the Lord Jesus which every true Christian should be able to whisper to the Lord in prayer also? 6.Which verse of Scripture in the study was most helpful to you this week? Do you choose to hide it in your heart by memorizing it? Study in the Book of John Lesson 7 OVERVIEW OF JOHN 6 John 6:1-14--The Feeding of the Five Thousand Also recorded in Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44 and Luke 9:10-17. Jesus Christ spent most of His life in Galilee. He grew up in Nazareth, and much of His three years of ministry was in Galilee, with headquarters at Capernaum. John records the first year of Christ's ministry, which closes with John 5. Chapter 6 is the only account of the events in the second year of the Lord's ministry which John records. It's possible that John gave little space to the events of this period because the other three Gospels emphasized what the Lord did during this time. It is believed that these Gospels were already written and John undoubtedly read them and knew what the Holy Spirit had guided Matthew, Mark and Luke to write concerning the Lord Jesus Christ's life and ministry. In John 6:2 we learn that a great multitude was following the Lord. From the other accounts of this event (Matthew 14:10-13) we learn that when Jesus heard about the death of John the Baptist, He went away to a desert place to be alone with His disciples. "And he said to them, `Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest awhile.' For many were coming and going and they had no leisure even to eat" (Mark 6:31 R.S.V.). But the Lord did not receive any rest because the people saw Him leave, and followed Him. In this Scripture Jesus also illustrates for us the necessity to "come away" by ourselves to be with Him, just as He tried to make time to be alone with His disciples of that day. As His present day disciples, we need to spend time alone with the Lord Jesus, secluded from all of the pressures and busyness of our present society. Do you manage to find sometime during your day to have a "quiet time" alone with the Lord Jesus listening to Him in your prayer time and as you read the Bible? This class can help you develop the habit of disciplining yourself to make time to be alone with the Lord Jesus. Try to follow the study questions day by day this week, including the suggestion that you spend time in prayer before you go into your study. Perhaps you would like to begin a prayer notebook in which you record the date, your thanksgiving to the Lord, your requests and other things you want to talk to the Lord about. It is good to be able to go back over this kind of prayer notebook and note the date when the Lord began to answer a request as well as each praise and thanksgiving item inscribed in your notebook. Why not buy a small spiral notebook and begin to record your prayerlife? Keeping a prayer record should not limit your prayer time. You can pray during each day as unceasingly as you breathe throughout the day. Often we make a note "pray for at 2:00 p.m. Monday," only to find the slip on Tuesday! Obviously it completely slipped our mind. This is distressing. Therefore, it is wise, if you are talking on the telephone or face to face with someone who asks for prayer, to say, "Let's pray about it right now." Then, pray right now! If you do not feel free to ask the person if you can pray aloud, sometimes your prayer can be spoken quietly, in your heart, while you listen to him talk. But this time the Lord was not to have rest and a quiet time. The people followed. The disciples would have sent them away but Jesus had compassion for them. "First feed them," the Lord commanded (Mark 6:34-37). It was springtime. There was much grass (John 6:10), and probably many beautiful wild flowers in bloom. Can you imagine the peaceful view of the Sea of Galilee from this hill? What a lovely quiet place to rest! Yet the Lord Jesus had pity on the people who came rushing up the hill toward Him. There would be no rest. What about you? What is your attitude toward someone who has a need? Do you feel antagonistic if your rest is interrupted? Do you have such a carefully planned schedule for every minute that you are determined to let nothing or no one interfere with it? When a person comes to you in need are you open to the Holy Spirit's leading? Do you have "pity and compassion" for him? In the record of John's Gospel we read that Jesus asked Philip a question. "How are we to buy bread so that these people may eat?" (John 6:5). Why did the Lord ask him? "To prove," to test or to examine him. The Lord gave Philip a chance to acknowledge that Jesus could do anything. The Bible quickly informs us that Jesus did not ask Philip for advice, for the Lord Himself knew what He would do (John 6:6). Philip was a practical man; he looked around the desert (or deserted) place where they were. He did not see any place where food could be bought. Then as he thought of the problem, he realized that even if there was a place to buy the food, the disciples did not have the money to pay for it (John 6:7). Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, had a suggestion. But it certainly did not seem that what he suggested could be much help! He suggested that there was a lad who had five barley loaves and two fish, and "What are they among so many," he said? (John 6:9). Everyone who stood near must have agreed that a little boy's lunch was not much helpwhen there were five thousand men besides the women and children! (Matthew 14:21) There may have been as many as fifteen thousand who ate that day. The Lord Jesus took the boy's lunch. Can you imagine the excitement of this little boy? It's a lovely day; people stream from Capernaum, Bethsaida and other towns to the west end of the lake. What's up? Boys always want to go where the crowd is! This boy starts off with his lunch and, boy fashion, probably stops along the way to eat from it. As he stands back in the crowd, Andrew comes and speaks to him. The boy looks shyly into his basket to see what is left. He counts, "Four, ah five crackers", and "one ah two sardines." Perhaps then the boy is brought to the front of the crowd by Andrew, and maybe the Lord places His hand upon his head as He gives the prayer of thanks (John 6:11). As Jesus always stopped and thanked His Father in heaven for the food, should we not also stop and thank our heavenly Father for our food before each meal? Whether we are alone, with our family, in a quiet place or in a public place, we need to remember that this food is a gift from God to us and we should thank Him for it! A waitress was overheard to say, "I always know a Christian in the restaurant as I see him bow his head in prayer, and then I know a Christian as he complains about his food." Let us not be this kind of ambassador for the Lord Jesus! A pleasant word to encourage those who serve us is what pleases our Lord. Many Christians need the gifts of grace, thoughtfulness and tact. The dictionary describes tact as: "to deal with others without giving offense." Jesus defines it as doing to others as we would have them do to us (Matthew 7:12). The word "tact" comes from the Latin word tactus which means "to touch." We must seek to touch the hearts of men--not knock them down with a club, or bad manners. We must carefully weigh our words and habits. If we wish to influence people for the Lord Jesus, we must use our head as well as our heart! A barber attended a meeting one night where the speaker stressed the need of witnessing for Christ "in season and out." He was convicted; so he determined that he would speak to the first customer who came into his shop. The next morning after the customer was seated and the apron tucked around his neck, the barber began vigorously to sharpen his razor. Then testing the edge, he turned to the man in the chair and asked, "Friend, are you ready to die?" The man looked at the razor and fled out the door--apron and all! The barber had shown zeal, but not wisdom, which the Holy Spirit could have given him. Today, ask God for that rare trait called "tact" in touching folks for Christ, whether it be in a restaurant, your business, neighborhood or home. The Lord Jesus took the boy's lunch. As simply as John 6:11 puts it, Jesus created from the loaves and the fish enough food for all of the people, and when He told the disciples to gather up what was left, the fragments filled twelve baskets. Simply said, this is the record of another sign of the deity of Christ. When the Lord intervenes, there is always more than enough. Jesus always satisfies ourneeds. Let us not be like Philip who looked only at the few loaves and fishes. He forgot to look at the power of the Master. Christ wants us to give to Him, in gladness, all that we have that He might use it and increase it. If you want the Lord Jesus to bless your life, you must put everything in His hand, however small. For loaves unblessed by our Master, are loaves unmultiplied. No one else could have fed more than one with just this skimpy lunch, but remember when you put your all--your best--freely, with love, in His blessed hand to use, He increases it. If Christ tells you to speak a word for Him, do it! If Christ tells you to teach for Him, do it! His Holy Spirit will take your life and work in you to bring someone to Jesus Christ. You will be blessed. Is not this your "reasonable service?" (Romans 12:1). Will you give the Lord Jesus Christ your abilities and talents as the boy gave the loaves and fishes to Him? One day in south China an Oriental arose and addressed the missionary saying, "I have heard you speak three times, and you constantly have the same theme. Why don't you change it? You always speak of Jesus Christ." The Christian replied, "Sir, before answering your question, may I ask you, `What did you have for dinner today?'" "Rice," replied the Oriental. "What did you have yesterday?" "The same thing." "And what do you expect to eat in the future?" the Christian persisted. "Rice, of course. It gives me strength. I could not do without it. Sir, it is...," the Chinese gentleman hesitated as if looking for a strong word. Then he added, "Sir, it is my very life!" The missionary responded quickly, "What you have said of rice, Jesus is to our soul! He is the `rice' or `bread of life.'" Have you partaken of this wondrous Bread of Life? It can only be assimilated by faith. Only Jesus, the true Bread, can nourish starving souls. John 6:15-21--Jesus Walks on the Water Found also in Matthew 14:22-32, Mark 6:45-52. The Lord Jesus sent the disciples on ahead while He dismissed the crowds. Then He went up into the hills by Himself to pray (Matthew 14:22-23). However, Jesus did not forget the disciples, nor was He too busy with God to think about them. Even in His quiet time they were on His heart. Just so, the Lord Jesus watches out for you, and as a Christian you are just as dear to Him! The disciples started to row across the Sea of Galilee toward Capernaum. A storm came up and it was night. This is typical of the surprise winds which sweep across the Sea of Galilee, even today, bringing an unexpected storm. Jesus was not in the boat with the disciples, and they were frightened. Then, to add to their dismay, they saw a figure walking toward them across the water. The Lord Jesus knew their friend and He called to them: "It is I; be not afraid!--I AM; stop being frightened" (John 6:20, The Amplified N.T.) "You need not be afraid; I AM!"That is what the Lord told the men. As long as we know who Jesus Christ is, and that He is with us, we need not fear anything. This is another of the signs that John chose to show us that Jesus Christ is God. In many places in the Scriptures we find the Lord Jesus Christ referring to Himself as "I AM" (John 4:26, John 6:35, John 8:23,58, John 9:5, John 10:7, John 10:36, John 11:25, John 13:13, John 14:6, John 15:1, Revelation 1:8, and Revelation 1:17). This is the kind of story any fisherman would like to remember and would love to tell. Every time John thought about it he could feel that night again! The rough wind, the gray-silver of the moonlight on the lake, the flapping sail, the sound of the surging water and then the sudden unexpected appearance of Jesus Christ. Matthew 14:26 tells us that the disciples cried out, "It is a ghost," when they saw the figure walking on the sea toward them. These men were battling the sea, rowing against a strong wind, trying to get to their destination. But when they received the Lord Jesus into the ship, immediately they were at the land to which they were going. When the Lord Jesus pulls you through the waves He holds you tight. He will not let you go (John 6:37). John 6:22-59--One Sermon The next day, perhaps around lunch time, some of the crowd of people were again at the place where Jesus had fed them. They knew that He had not gone with His disciples, and there was only one other small boat by the sea. Other small boats came from Tiberius but Jesus was not on them. So the crowd got into the boats and set off for Capernaum. There they found the Lord Jesus. But He knew why they had followed Him. The people spoke to the Lord Jesus as though they really wanted to do God's will. "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" (John 6:28). But Jesus knew the people, and realized that they did not really believe in Him. He responded, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent" (John 6:29). These people could not please God nor do His work until they first learned to believe in Christ. They had to start with faith in Christ, then they could consider how to do good works to please God by the power of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6; Romans 8:1,9-11; Philippians 2:13-16). These people could not get their minds away from the free food (John 6:30,31). They wanted another miracle like the one they had seen the day before. They reminded Jesus that Moses had continued to feed the Israelites in the wilderness. But they were wrong about one thing. Who did Jesus say gave the Israelites the manna that they ate? "My Father" (John 6:32). The people did not seem to care who gave them their bread, just so they got it (John 6:34). They had one meal, now they wanted the promise of more in the future. Then Jesus told the people how they could have the true bread from heaven, the bread of life. He said, "I am the bread of life. If you want to do the work of God, believe on me. If you want to receive the bread from heaven, you will have to come to me." The people heard His words, but theydid not believe in Him (John 6:36). The Lord Jesus Christ pointed out that anyone who comes to Christ will be received. He never turns His back on one who really seeks Him (John 6:37-40). In John 6:49-51 Jesus repeats that He is "the bread from heaven, the bread of life, and the living bread." It is important that we know who Jesus is, but more important that we receive Him into our lives. To eat the bread of life means we believe in Jesus Christ (John 6:51). To drink of His blood (John 6:52-56) means we accept His death and resurrection for our sins. Remember, to believe is more than just to know something is true; to believe is to act upon what we know is true. (See Revelation 3:20.) Do any of you remember coming home from school in the winter to a warm kitchen and seeing your mother take those first big brown loaves of homemade bread from the oven? She knew what you were waiting for, and would cut off a thick heel, plaster it with butter, and smile as you dug in! It was still hot and, oh, so good. You didn't have to disguise this bread with jelly, peanut butter or cheese! What made this bread so much better? Was it because the loaves were twice as big as "store bread?" No, not that. The reason, I believe, was that it was not baked to sell for a profit, but it was prepared to please loved ones. Most of all, it was best because it was fresh, warm, soft and rich. It was homemade! Jesus is the Bread of Life which we also must get first-hand. He is fresh...LIVING!! To listen to a sermon or read a book about Him is "storebread." But if you want the best, then you must get it first hand from the Bible. Yes, Jesus, the Bread of Life, is most precious and sweet as you partake of Him directly from the Word of God. Nothing can substitute for this personal feeding upon Him! Bread of God train me not to ruin my appetite for You by filling up on the goodies and the trash of this world. --Nancy Spiegelberg When the people heard the words of the Lord Jesus in John 6:35-40 they turned away. "This is a hard thing," they said (John 6:60). They did not understand what He meant. The idea of eating His flesh and drinking His blood was not pleasant. In fact, it was forbidden to drink blood (Leviticus 17:10-14). The people did not understand Jesus' meaning nor did they want to believe. So, from that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him (John 6:66). The people heard what the Lord Jesus said. They heard that they would have eternal life if they believed in Him; that they would be resurrected if they followed Him (John 6:40). But they turned from Him! In John 6:53 Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you. He who eats my flesh and drinksmy blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him." The Lord Jesus used these terms metaphorically to illustrate a very important truth. It was necessary for Him to shed His blood so that you might have everlasting life. His blood is life to the believer. To drink of His blood is to accept that Christ died for your sins. For life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11). There is no remission (forgiveness) for your sins without the shedding of blood. The writer of Hebrews 9:22 uses this same symbolism. "Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin." To "drink Christ's blood" means to believe that the Lord Jesus' blood was shed for the forgiveness of your sins, even if you were the only sinner in the world. The Lord Jesus Christ's flesh represents the life, "the bread of life," which God intended every person to have and which is obtainable only by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ by faith. The Holy Spirit enters you when you receive Jesus Christ by faith: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him" (John 6:56). Thus the eating of Christ's flesh is the positive act of faith in Him as Savior and Lord, and the dependence upon Him as you dwell in His Word, the Bible. Take His Word into your life. Act upon His promises believing that you will see the result of His promises because you are eating of the Lord Jesus Christ's "flesh." It would be wise to reread this passage of John 6 beforetaking Holy Communion in order to prepare your heart fully for the experience of the communion service. Other portions of Scripture which are very meaningful before Holy Communion are 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, Luke 22:7-30, Matthew 26:17-29, Mark 14:12-25. John 6:60-71--Some Recognized Christ The Lord Jesus turned from the people to His disciples. "Will you also go away," he asked. Peter spoke for the whole group: "There is no sense in going away; there is no one to whom we can go." Peter knew that Jesus had the way of eternal life. He is the only way to life (John 14:6). Peter spoke with assurance. It is not only that there was no one to whom they could go, but they did not want to leave the Lord Jesus. Peter said, "We believe and are assured that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God" (John 6:69). With these words that Peter declared comes another great conviction of who Jesus Christ really is. Jesus Christ really is the Son of God. Where do you fit into the sixth chapter of John? Do you follow Christ like the crowd--for what you can get from Him? Many people want to make Christ a king because they think that He will give them an easy life. Perhaps you feel like the crowd of people in the story that this is a hard thing! Jesus Christ does make demands of His followers. Do not be like the crowd who turned away from Him! Follow Him closely. He does not say that it will always be easy, but He does say that it will be worthwhile. Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 6? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life this week? Second Day: Read John 7 concentrating on John 7:1-9. 1.a.Why did the Lord Jesus stay in Galilee at this time? 4.b.Find Judea (Jewry) and Galilee on your map. 2.Challenge: Compare the Lord Jesus' statement in John 7:6 with Matthew 26:17-19 and Matthew 27:26-50. What do you believe the Lord Jesus meant by "My time" in John 7:6 and Matthew 26:18? 3.What did the Lord Jesus' brothers want Him to do and why? See John 7:3,4. 4.What interesting statement does Jesus Christ make about "His brethren" or His brothers in Matthew 12:46-50? 5.What is the "Father's will" according to His Son, the Lord Jesus, in John 6:39,40? 6.a.(Personal) Have you ever, by a deliberate choice, believed in and received God's Son to be your Savior and Lord? If so, place your name in your Bible in the place of "everyone" and "him" in John 6:40--thus indicating your faith in these promises. b.According to John 6:39-40, what wonderful promises does the Lord Jesus make to the Christian? Third Day: Read John 7:10-24. 1.When did the Lord Jesus go to the Feast of the Tabernacles? 2.a.Challenge: What was the purpose of the Feast of Tabernacles which was celebrated each year in October by the Jewish people? Read Leviticus 23:39-44 which describes this feast as Moses told the Children of Israel about it. Describe the feast briefly. b.Do you have a similar type of day set apart in your culture? What should this day mean to a Christian? 3.a.What happened about midway through this Feast of Tabernacles? See John 7 and give the verse, please. b.What caused the Jews to marvel at Jesus' teaching? 3.c.Where did Jesus say His doctrine or teaching came from? 4.For what reason did the Lord Jesus say the Jewish leaders were angry with Him? 5.What good advice did Jesus Christ give these men which could be very helpful to you in your life today? See John 7:24. Look at several translations of the Bible if possible to help you answer this question. 6.How could the following verses from the Scriptures help you as a Christian to be slow to judge and be careful to seek the Lord's wisdom in making a judgment of someone? Put these verses into your own words if you wish to. Psalm 82:2-4 James 1:19-20 Proverbs 17:15; 18:5 Proverbs 29:26 7.a.Which of these verses in Question 6 would you find most applicable to our society? b.Which one would you like to choose to apply to your own life this week? How would you allow the Lord to work out His plan for wise judgment in your life today? Be specific. Share with your group if possible. Fourth Day: Read John 7:25-36. 1.What were the people of Jerusalem saying about the Lord Jesus as He taught in the Temple? 2.What similar reaction to Jesus Christ do you read about in Matthew 13:54-58? 3.a.Read John 7:28,29 with John 6:38,39. Who was it that Christ was from? Who sent Him? b.Where did Jesus Christ ascend to, and where is He coming back to earth from according to Acts 1:9-11? 4.Challenge: Read Luke 21:27-36. What impresses you most about this passage concerning the return of Jesus Christ? 5.In John 7:30 we read that no man laid hands on Jesus for "His hour" had not come. Read Matthew 26:36-45 to discover what this "hour" would bring into Christ's life. 6.a.The Pharisees (the religious leaders) heard that many of the people believed in Jesus Christ because of His miracles. What was their reaction to this news? See John 7:32. b.What was the greatest sign yet to come which would show that Jesus Christ was God? He speaks of it in John 7:33,34,36. c.What wonderful words in John 14:1-11 did Jesus Christ speak about His return to heaven? How do they help you in your personal life? Try putting your name into each verse and claim their promises for your life. Fifth and Sixth Days: Read John 7:37-53. 1.a.If we are thirsty for the Lord, to whom are we to go? Give verse please. b.What kind of water will a person receive who believes in Jesus Christ? 2.When Christ spoke of "living water" to whom was He referring? 3.a.What were the various opinions expressed about Jesus Christ at this time? Give verses. b.(Personal) Which of these opinions do you choose to believe by faith? 4.a.Challenge: What do the following Scriptures say concerning the birth and lineage of Jesus Christ as the Messiah? Jeremiah 23:5 Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:3-5 John 7:41,42 b.Where was the Lord Jesus Christ born? See Luke 2:1-7. 5.a.How did Nicodemus try to see to it that the Lord Jesus would get a fair hearing and judgment by the Pharisees? Give verse. See John 7:50 and following. b.(Personal) Has there ever been a time when you should have taken the same stand for someone, just as Nicodemus did for the Lord Jesus? c.(Personal) Is there some situation similar to this in your neighborhood, office or family where the love of Christ could be expressed through your fairness and open-mindedness in the situation? Will you trust Christ to help you in this situation? d.What does Philippians 4:4-7 say to encourage you? 6.Which of the verses in this lesson were most helpful to you? Did you choose to memorize any of them so that you could recall them in time of need? Study in the Book of John Lesson 8 OVERVIEW OF JOHN 7 John 7 picks up the story of the life of Jesus Christ about six months after the 6th chapter of John closed. In John 6 it was Passover time (John 6:4) which occurred in the spring of the year, about April. John 7 begins with the Feast of Tabernacles, which takes place in the fall, about October. Most of the intervening time the Lord Jesus spent in Galilee. "After this, Jesus went about in Galilee; He would not go about in Judea because the Jews sought to kill him" (John 7:1). In John 6, Peter speaks for all of the Lord Jesus' disciples when he says, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life" (John 6:68). Peter's confession is reinforced by the testimony of all of the disciples, "And we have believed and known that thou art the Holy One of God" (John 6:69). Yet there is treachery in their ranks. This is foreseen by Jesus and He speaks of it in John 6:70-71. "Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was to betray him." The devil was the source of this evil act (John 6:71 R.S.V.). In Galilee the Lord Jesus withdrew for a time from the active opposition of the Judaean Jews. Their opposition resulted from the healing of the sick man (John 5:1-47). He then began to teach in Galilee (John 6:1), while awaiting the hour when He would become the Savior of the world (Matthew 26:17-19, Matthew 27:26-50). When the Lord Jesus spoke about His "hour" and "time" He meant the time when He would give Himself up to be crucified for the sins of the world, including your sin. This was His mission when He came to earth as a babe born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-7) and raised in Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23). The Lord Jesus Christ was Perfect God--Perfect Man. "And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son" (1 John 5:11). "She shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name, Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, wrote about God's wonderful forgiveness through the Lord Jesus Christ. As you read this Scripture put your name in each verse and claim these promises for yourself! "Once you were under God's curse, doomed forever for your sins. You went along with the crowd and were just like all the others, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air, who is at work right now in the hearts of those who are against the Lord. All of us used to be just as they are, our lives expressing the evil within us, doing every wicked thing that our passions or our evil thoughts might lead us into. We started out bad, being born with evil natures, and we're under God'sanger just like everyone else. "But God is so rich in mercy; He loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, he gave us back our lives again when he raised Christ from the dead--only by his undeserved favor have we ever been saved... "Because of his kindness you have been saved through trusting Christ. And even trusting is not of yourselves; it too is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it" (Ephesians 2:1-5,8,9 L.B.). After you put your name in these verses and truly believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, consider, how can you share this "Good News" with others? There are many ways in which God can lead you to share the Good News of Jesus Christ--teaching Sunday School in your church, leading or helping in a Bible study group, in conversing with your business friends or neighbors and many other particular situations in which the Holy Spirit will lead you. THE NEW GENERATION Is it any wonder, Lord, that the new generation is rebelling against their parents' double standard of morals and their parents' worship of money and material things? Most of them have never been shown real love, real concern, real honesty, real morality, real worship of the true God, Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior. Dear Lord, I pray that in their rebellion, in their struggle, in their search for real meaning in life, May this new generation find by your Holy Spirit's leading, the Truth in Jesus Christ. And Lord, somehow involve me in sharing YOU with this new generation. --Doris Greig "Jesus told him, `I am the way--yes, and the truth, and the life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me.'" John 14:6 L.B. "Yet faith comes from listening to this Good News--the Good News about Christ" Romans 10:17 L.B. The events of John 7 occurred during the Feast of Tabernacles. (See Leviticus 23:33-44.) This, the last of the annual feasts lasted for a week. The Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths), which took place in September or October, was the joyous thanksgiving for the ingathering of the harvest. The people lived in tents (tabernacles) for seven days during the feast to commemorate the forty years the children of Israel lived in tents in the wilderness and depended entirely upon God for their food, water and protection. Each day of the feast a procession of priests and Levites went to the Pool of Siloam and drew a pitcher full of water. They carried the water back to the Temple and poured it around the altar. This water was to remind the Jews of God's provision in the wilderness and of His promise of spiritual blessing to come. On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles this ceremony of pouring water over the altar of the Temple did not take place, for the wilderness Israelites arrived in their own land and no longer needed a miraculous provision of water, and the future blessings had not yet come to Israel--so, no water was drawn on this day. This was the day that the Lord Jesus stood and proclaimed, "If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, `Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.' Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified" (John 7:37-39 RSV). As the time of the feast drew near, Jesus' brothers told Him that He should go to Jerusalem. They thought that in the capital city He might be able to do something spectacular. His half-brothers did not believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God (John 7:3-5). The Lord Jesus did not listen to His brothers. He did not come to earth to be made king! He had come to die (John 7:6-9, Matthew 26:17-19, Matthew 27:26-50). So the Lord Jesus stayed in Galilee and the brothers went to Jerusalem. Later, He went also, but not with the spectacular display His brothers wanted, but "in private" (John 7:10). He knew that the Jewish people would be looking for Him at the feast and that there would be conflicting thoughts between those who believed in Him and those who felt that He was leading the people astray (John 7:11- 13). John 7:14-36--Jesus Teaches in the Temple In the middle of the feast, Jesus went to the Temple and taught. The people were amazed at His knowledge and use of words. They were amazed and impressed when He fed them (John 6:1-14), now they were impressed with His grammar and knowledge. As a matter of fact, at the age of twelve the Lord Jesus had captivated the lettered and learned, both by His language and scholarship. This was when He appeared before the doctors in the temple during a Passover feast! (Luke 2:41- 52) No wonder they asked, "How knowest this man letters, having never learned?" (John 7:15). If an uneducated man appeared among a crowd of lawyers and doctors and spoke with the choicest diction and with a profound comprehension, wouldn't everyone look at one another and say, "How can this be?" There must be a reason. Christ gave the reason! As a youth Jesus told them, "I must be about my Father's business." This time He claimed, "The things that I say come from God" (John 7:16). Those words would be impossible if they came from anyone else but the Son of God! Jesus told the people that there was one way they could be sure that His doctrine came from God. "If any of you really determines to do God's will, then you will certainly know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own" John 7:17 L.B. If they really wanted to know the will of God, they would recognize that Jesus spoke the words of God. Anyone who wants to know the will of God must come to Jesus Christ, hear what He says, and believe Him. Some years ago a very popular teacher at Yale expressed atheistic ideas and agnostic view to all of his students and fellow teachers. During a special series of meetings at the college a visiting preacher talked with the brilliant professor. "Doctor," he said, "if the things that I have been preaching are true, and if Christ really forgives men who trust him, wouldn't you like to know and experience this reality and know the peace and joy it has given to so many Christians?" After a thoughtful pause the professor answered, "Yes, I believe I would." "Well, you can come to a certain knowledge of God if you will be sincere and honest with yourself and the Lord. Simply accept the challenge Christ offered in John 7:17, `If any man do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God.'" The learned doctor said, "But I wouldn't know where to begin. I don't even know if there is such a Being as God." The preacher said, "Start like this--pray, `Oh God, if there is such a Being--show me. I promise to follow such light wherever it leads.'" The minister told him that if he would do this he would find God! Many years later the same professor of learning stood in the chapel before all the students of Yale and said, "I have long ridiculed preachers and churches, but I have made a discovery that they were in the light, and I was in the dark. I have put God to the test. I know that Christ is my Savior. By his grace (God's Riches A Christ's Expense) he shall be my friend and I will be his disciple forever!" Here we find an example when honest doubt, properly handled, became the vestibule of faith! I challenge any of you who doubt, either from an atheistic viewpoint of believing there is no God or an agnostic viewpoint of not being sure, to read a portion from the Gospels and from the Psalms each day for the next few weeks. Read with an open mind and a willing heart and see if God doesn't speak to your heart! Jesus went on to say that He would return to His Father (John 7:33- 36). The Lord Jesus knew that the Jews were seeking to kill Him. But nothing that they did could change God's plan. In verse 30 we read: "Then they sought to take him; but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come." Jesus told the Jews that He would be here a little while--there was nothing they could do to prevent it--then when His work was finished, He would return to His Father and there was nothing they could do to change this. (Matthew 26:36-45 describes "His hour" and Acts 1:9-11 describes His ascension into heaven and His promised coming again.) The last words that the Lord Jesus spoke to these Jewish people at this time should have caused them to stop and consider how important it was to listen to Him. "Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me," Jesus said (John 7:34). What a terrible thing--to seek the Lord Jesus and be unable to find Him. The Lord Jesus was warning the people that they should not turn away from Him; they needed Him. If they did not find Him, they could not come where He was (John 14:1-11). John 7:37-52--The Last Day of the Feast One of the most dramatic acts of the Lord Jesus is next described in this portion of John. For seven days the people had been living in booths, temporarily sheltered by the boughs of trees. Each day as the priest brought the water into the Temple, the people remembered how God had provided water for them in the wilderness. On the eighth day of the feast the people gathered again in the Temple, but on this day there was no procession. The people rejoiced because this meant that their forefathers had arrived in the land after forty years of wandering in the wilderness. That night all of the people would return to their homes either in Jerusalem or in the outlying areas of the land. Jesus stood in the Temple on this last day. He saw the rejoicing of the people but knew that they were still in need of spiritual water. He knew they needed Him and the Holy Spirit who was soon to come. He had been the rock that brought forth water in the wilderness. "Our fathers...did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:4, Exodus 17:6-7). Now He stood and cried, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (John 7:37). What an effect this must have had upon the people! "He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38). When you believe on Jesus Christ, you do not have to depend upon a pitcher of water being brought to you, but you will have a river of living water flow from you. This is a real rea-son to rejoice! This living water is the Holy Spirit (John 7:39) who, not only will satisfy you, He will become a source of life and blessing within you. Do you see the pattern--thirst, drink, overflow? (John 7:37-38) This is always the spiritual sequence. We hunger and thirst for blessing; we come to Christ and are satisfied; and immediately, whether we realize it or not, there is an overflow to others. It is this overflow that results in outreach! Overflowing prayer that reaches beyond our selfish circle, overflowing love, overflowing faith, overflowing giving, overflowing service are all workings of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised to every believer. Those who enjoy the indwelling Holy Spirit, a well of "living water," have a reservoir which can cause their lips to overflow with kind and gracious words of blessing. However, a Christian can allow his old nature to dominate him so much that the fountain of his speech brings forth both "sweet water and bitter" (James 3:10-11). The apostle Paul realized how important it is for the Christian to control his tongue. In Colossians 4:6 we read, "Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned (as it were with salt), so that you may never be at a loss to know how you ought to answer anyone (who puts a question to you)" (Amplified Bible). The writer of Proverbs says, "The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life"--that is, it should be a fresh flowing spring from the Holy Spirit, ever-pouring forth healing, help and encouraging words." What a rebuke this implies for those whose lips are inappropriately occupied with gossip, lies or obscenities. One day there was a man at work at a depot handling baggage. As some of it was very heavy and difficult to manage, he lost patience and began to curse. A little girl watching him and hearing him, was shocked and frightened. Finally she said, "Oh, please don't talk like that! Don't you know that God hears you?" The man was startled by her earnestness and her words of concern brought conviction to his heart. "Don't you know God hears you?" kept ringing in his ears. He was unable to rid himself of the sense of God's nearness which the little girl's question had given him. He went home in a sober and thoughtful mood. In fact, he seemed so unlike himself that his wife thought he was sick. "No, I'm not ill," he told her, "but I'm thinking about something." All that night the phrase, "God hears you" troubled him. It became the turning point in his life. Eventually the words that flowed from the lips of that little girl who knew the Lord did more for him than all the sermons that he had ever heard. How different many conversations would be if we all remembered this story. How different our words would often be if we remembered "God hears you." There is a saying that goes like this, "The thoughts in the well of our heart are bound to come up in the bucket of our speech." Will you choose to let God deal with "the well of your heart" today, and let His Holy Spirit overflow in your heart and through your lips as you yield your heart and lips to the Lord Jesus Christ? The people listened to the words of Christ. Some said, "This must be the prophet of whom Moses spoke" (John 7:40, Deuteronomy 18:15,18). Others said, "No, I think this must be the Christ" (John 7:41). Others argued that He could not be the Christ for He had come from Galilee. Yet, as we read the Scriptures we know that they all confirmed that Christ was from Bethlehem as predicted in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 23:5, Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:3-5, Luke 2:1-7). The Bible says, "There was a division among the people because of him" (John 7:43). We read in John 7:31 that many believed on Him, but they probably believed only that He was someone important. The leaders of the people did not pay attention to the Lord Jesus or to His teachings. Nicodemus said that the leaders should not judge Him without letting Him speak for Himself; but Nicodemus was soon quieted (John 7:50-52). Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, had secretly visited Christ (John 3:1-21). He knew that to seek to arrest Jesus was an illegal procedure (John 7:44) and he reminded them that they had not given Christ a fair hearing (John 7:51). Nicodemus was scornfully silenced with the charge that he, too, was acting like an ignorant Galilean and that no prophet had ever arisen out of Galilee (John 7:41,46,52). What a sad picture! The Lord had taught--had proclaimed--that He would give living water to anyone who was thirsty. The only record we have of any results of what Jesus Christ said or did that day indicates that almost everyone rejected His offer of the living water, the Holy Spirit. A."If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." It is not a matter of how good we are or how bad we are; ANY person may come to the Lord Jesus. It is not a matter of "have you fasted and prayed?" but "ANY MAN"--any thirsty soul turning to the Lord Jesus in faith. B."Let him come unto ME." Christ gives each one a gracious invitation. He gave everything that you might haveeverything. He gave His life on the cross that you might have forgiveness and the Holy Spirit dwell within you. How many times we go to every other source except the Lord Jesus Christ! C."And drink." To drink and believe are the same. Do you believe that the Lord Jesus wants to satisfy you? How wonderful it is, then, that you want just what the Lord wants you to have! Why does water flow from the taps in your house with such force? Because there is great pent-up power in the reservoirs that seeks outlet. So a living God yearns to fill you with His Holy Spirit, moment by moment each day. It is important to know that the "living waters" flow from CHRIST, not from anyone else! He has an ever-fresh and ever-flowing fullness to satisfy all the spiritual thirsts of human souls! It is no mere trickle of a stream, but "rivers". It is not a static pool of dead water, but "living" waters, fresh, free, pure, life-bringing! What a lovely picture to the thirsty and drought-plagued! What a wonderful Savior and Satisfier! D.The well of water in John 4:14 becomes a river! There is not only enough to satisfy your own life, but rivers of blessings shall flow out from you to others. You do your part by being obedient to God and He will do His part. Some are satisfied to be just a little channel of blessing, but God says if you drink of Him, His rivers shall flow through you--an Amazon or Mississippi of blessing! Christ can make you a blessing to others. Go to Christ, and His life within you in the person of the Holy Spirit will leave a trail of blessings like the stream in the wilderness that makes trees and grass to grow at the water's edge. Make me a channel of blessing today, Make me a channel of blessing I pray; My life possessing. My service blessing, Make me a channel of blessing today. Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 7? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life this week? Second & Third Days: Read John 8 concentrating on John 8:1-11. 1.After Jesus taught in the Temple on the last day of the feast (John 7:37-52), where did He go to spend the night? Give verse please. 2.a.Where did the Lord Jesus return to and at what time of day? What did He do in this place? b.(Personal) If possible, do you choose to meet with the Lord early in the morning for prayer and Bible study? The Lord Jesus teaches us each day through this. If you cannot meet with Him for an extended time early in the morning, do you take the time to greet Him when you wake and talk with Him: thanking Him for the new day and for other blessings and asking for His guidance and strength for your day? 3.Challenge: What do the following verses say concerning prayer? Put them into your own words if you wish. Psalm 118:5 Psalm 50:14-15 4.a.Whom did the scribes and Pharisees bring to the Lord Jesus? What kind of person was this? See John 8:1-3. b.What did the scribes and Pharisees say that Moses' law said about such a woman? c.What was Jesus' response to their questioning? d.What happened to the Jewish scribes and Pharisees after Jesus said this? 5.How does John 8:7-9 confirm what Romans 3:23 states about all mankind? 6.a.After the Lord Jesus forgave the woman her sin, what did He say to her in John 8:11? b.Challenge: How does Romans 6:11-14 add to the words of Jesus Christ in John 8:11? Put these thoughts into your own words if you wish to. Fourth Day: Read John 8:12-20. 1.a.As the people whom Jesus Christ had been teaching in the Temple watched all of this dialogue between the Lord Jesus and the scribes, Pharisees and the woman, they must have been amazed! What did He say to these people in the Temple in John 8:12? b.What does John 1:4 say to add to the truth which the Lord Jesus presented to the people in the Temple? 2.Challenge: Darkness represents sin, and light represents the Lord Jesus Christ. What, in your own words, do these verses say concerning the light who is Jesus Christ? Psalm 27:1 1 John 1:5 Revelation 21:23 3.a.In John 8:14-16 how did the Lord Jesus describe the way in which the Pharisees were judging Him? b.How did He describe His judgment in John 8:16-18? 4.a.What does 1 Samuel 16:6-7 say is the difference between man's judgment and God's judgment? b.(Personal) What can you learn about judgment from John 8:14-18 and 1 Samuel 16:6-7? Share if possible. 5.Read John 8:18-20. What question did the Pharisees ask the Lord Jesus and what was His response to it? 6.a.Where did Jesus speak all of these words? b.Why was it that no one arrested Him for making the bold statement that God was His Father? 6.c.Challenge: How do Mark 8:31 and John 7:33 help you to understand "his hour" in John 8:20? Fifth Day: Read John 8:21-30. 1.Challenge: How does John 14:6 help you to understand John 8:21? Note that the Lord Jesus knew these men's hearts and saw their sin of unbelief as He spoke these words to them in John 8:21. 2.How does the Lord Jesus contrast the people He spoke to and Himself in John 8:23? 3.Underline the following words in John 8:24, "for if you believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." Also underline John 8:58. Note "I am" is in both verses. 4.How does God identify Himself in the following verses? Exodus 3:14 Deuteronomy 32:39 Isaiah 43:10 Revelation 22:13 5.Challenge: What do you believe "lifted up" means in John 8:28? See John 12:32 and Luke 9:22 to help you understand and explain the Lord Jesus' statement here. 6.a.Whose will did the Lord Jesus seek to do and whom did He always seek to please? See John 8:28,29. b.Who was always with the Lord Jesus to help Him? Give verse. c.(Personal) Do you seek to be like the Lord Jesus as question 6a describes Him? How can this be possible? See James 4:13-15 and Matthew 28:18-20. Sixth Day: Read John 8:31-59. 1.Compare 2 John 1:9 with the Lord Jesus' words in John 8:31. 2.Challenge: What do you believe the Lord Jesus meant by His statement in John 8:32? See Romans 8:1-5 to help you with your answer. 3.a.(Personal) Have you been freed from being a slave to sin (John 8:34) and do you set your mind and heart on the things in which the Holy Spirit leads you? See Romans 8:5. b.What does Romans 8:6 promise you when you put your trust in God's Son Jesus Christ and set your mind on the Holy Spirit? 4.What did the Lord Jesus say about those who refused to believe that He is God, sent to earth by God the Father? Give verse in John. 5.a.Find all of the statements in John 8 that the Lord Jesus makes about the devil and give a verse reference for each statement, please. b.Who does the Lord Jesus say tells the truth? 6.a.What is the Lord Jesus' answer when He is asked by these men who He claims to be? See John 8:54-55. b.What was the reaction of Jewish men to this statement of Jesus? c.Look at Jesus' statement in John 8:55--"I keep his word." What word of the Lord would you like to keep this week by memorizing it? Choose a verse from the Bible and see if you can "hide it" in your heart and keep it there this week. Share it with your discussion group if possible. Study in the Book of John Lesson 9 John 8:1-11--The Lord Jesus Teaches in the Temple If you knew that you had only a year to live, what would you do in that year? The feeding of the five thousand occurred at the time of the Passover (John 6:4), just a year before our Lord's crucifixion. In the seventh chapter of John we have the record of the Feast of Tabernacles which occurs in the fall of the year about six months after Passover and the feeding of the five thousand. John leaves out the events of the six months between Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles, except for the transfiguration. The first nine chapters of Mark and Luke record other events during this six-month period. The discourse in the eighth chapter of John probably immediately followed the Feast of Tabernacles. We are about to discover what the Lord Jesus chose to do in the last six months of His life. John 7:53 says, "And every man went unto his own house," and then in John 8:1 we see the Lord Jesus Christ, in His loneliness, as He goes to the Mount of Olives. Jesus had said, "Foxes have holes, birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head" (Matthew 8:20). I wonder, as the Lord Jesus spent that night on the Mount of Olives how He felt knowing that this would be the place where He would stand in about six months when His hour would come, and He would ascend into heaven to His Father. It would appear that Jesus Christ spent that night, lying against some fallen tree or rock, alone with God. Meanwhile those who went to their houses (according to the Gospel of Matthew) held a counsel against Him and plotted how they might destroy Him. Imagine the scene in John 8 as a committee meets to seek a means to destroy Jesus Christ. The "get Jesus committee" had the idea to first go right out in the public and ask Him if He paid His taxes. If He said, "Yes," they would tell the Jews, "Look, he says to support Caesar. What kind of a Messiah is this?" If He said, "No," the committee would say to Caesar's men, "We're very sorry, but Jesus is advising the people that they shouldn't support the government, and we want to be loyal to the Romans. You'd better arrest him, and deal with him." In Matthew 22:16-22 we read of the actual carrying out of this plan. The next day they went to the Lord Jesus and said, "Master, is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar?" And He said, "Show me the money for the tax. Whose image is on the coin?" "Caesar's." "Well," said, Jesus, "if you're going to accept the protection of the Roman government--their fire department, their police, their army-- then you've got to pay the freight on it!Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and render unto God the things that are God's." At the next committee meeting they said, "Well, that one blew up in our faces. Now what can we do?" And they kept at it, time and time again, testing the Lord Jesus to prove Him, to try Him, to catch Him. For they hated Him. Then John records one of the most despicable things that human beings have ever done. They had an idea. They remembered the old law from way back in the time of Moses that said that anyone caught in the act of adultery should be stoned to death. That law had not been put into practice for generations in their land. Just as today, men pass laws that become obsolete after a few years, but they fail to remove them from the law books. For example, in the state of Delaware there is a law that says anybody approaching an intersection in a horseless carriage must come to a full stop, get out, and go to the intersection, by day with a red flag, and by night with a red lantern. You must be very careful not to scare the horses! They passed that law in 1902, and they never took it off the books. But no policeman will ever arrest you if you don't have a red flag and a red lantern in your automobile as you go through Wilmington, Delaware! This law from back in the time of Moses, that anyone taken in adultery should be stoned to death, was God's law, but little by little, because of the hardness of men's hearts, it had been allowed to go unnoticed. In fact, it probably had not been enforced for the last thousand years before Christ. Yet one of these men had studied law and knew about it. So the committee decided, "Suppose we get a woman in the act of adultery." One wonders where they found this woman! Someone knew where to go! Certainly at least one of them had the right information because they were able, with just a few hours' notice, to find just the person they wanted. Early the next morning, Jesus was sitting in the temple teaching the people who had come to Him. Today, in Arab mosques, teachers still sit on the floor with their listeners as they teach. This position for teaching is still practiced in some of the synagogues of the Jews also. The Lord Jesus was sitting in the temple teaching. No doubt everyone was sitting quietly listening to Him. Then suddenly there was noise, angry voices, shouts, perhaps a woman's loud voice and into the study group came a crowd of men dragging an angry woman. They brought her through the crowd surrounding Jesus. They threw her on the ground and stood defiantly before Jesus (John 8:3). They brought this woman not because they hated adultery,nor because they wanted to uphold Moses' law; not even because they loved righteousness! They brought her because they hated Jesus Christ. They stopped so low that they took a poor woman and used her as a club to strike at Christ. The question "This woman must be stoned according to the law of Moses. What do you say to that?" (John 8:5) does not seem to lead to a problem, but wait! The Jews were not allowed to execute a person. Only the Romans could. Thus, if Jesus were to say, "Kill her," the Roman authorities would oppose Him. If He were to say, "Free her," He would be opposing the law of Moses. So, we see the problem. Perhaps these men planned to shout, "Oh, he's breaking the law of Moses! He tells us not to keep the law right in the Temple of God. We must be faithful to God and kill him." They thought they had Jesus trapped. They might even have carried stones with them, hoping that they could kill Him right in the temple! What would you have done in such a situation? The Lord Jesus knew just what to do. First, He ignored the men. He stooped down and with His finger, wrote on the ground as though He had not even heard them (John 8:6). There are three incidents recorded in the Scriptures when the finger or hand of God wrote something. First, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on two tablets of stone, that were written by His finger (Exodus 31:18). Again, during a feast given by King Belshazzar, the finger of God in the form of a man's hand wrote on the wall, "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin" which interpreted meant, you have been weighed in the balances and have been found deficient. In other words, you have been judged! (See Daniel 5, particularly 5:24-28.) Now, the third time in the Scriptures when the finger of God wrote is this incident in John 8:6. It is as though Jesus were saying, "Will you remind me of the law? I wrote the law." (See John 1:1,2.) Jesus is God. It was He who gave the Ten Commandments. What did Jesus write on the ground? Perhaps it was, "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14), or "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). The Bible does not tell us what He wrote. However, the Jews continued to ask Jesus what punishment this woman should have. So He said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (John 8:7). Jesus gave the problem back to her accusers. "All who had heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one beginning with the oldest, who had the most sins to remember, to the youngest, who hadn't even lived yet." Jesus reminded them that they had all sinned and reminds us that we have all sinned too (Romans 3:23). Those who had come to trap the Lord Jesus sneaked quietly away into the crowd. They had come to condemn, but went away condemned themselves. What happened to the woman? The Lord Jesus turned to her and said, "Woman, where are those, thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?" (John 8:10). The woman replied that no man had condemned her. Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." Notice that the Pharisees called Jesus "Master," but thiswoman called Him "Lord." First Corinthians 12:3 says, "No man can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit." The Pharisees, if they did not change their attitude after that day, are in hell. The woman is in heaven. She has been forgiven by the Lord Jesus, and told to go and sin no more (see Ephesians 2:8-9). When Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more," He was not condoning adultery, nor was He making a detour around the law. In the statement, "Neither do I condemn thee" there is God's forgiveness and salvation; in the statement "Go, and sin no more" there is God's sanctification (1 Thessalonians 5:23). John 8:12-20--Jesus Is the Light of the World Jesus then turned to the people who had gathered in the treasury of the temple (John 8:20), located in the Court of Women. Giant oil- burning candelabras (or Menorahs) had been placed in the treasury for the Feast of the Tabernacles. These lights reminded the people of the pillar of fire that God sent to guide their ancestors through the wilderness (Exodus 40:38). Every evening during the feast, the light from the candelabras shone over the city. Now the lights were out. The feast was over. Jesus looked at these darkened lamps and announced, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12). Jesus Christ now said, "Just as I was the Rock from which the water came, so I am the pillars from which you gain your light" (1 Corinthians 10:1-4). The water which Jesus gives is living water (John 7:38,39). The light which Jesus gives is the "light of life" (John 8:12). The light of life is available to all who follow the light of the world--the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness" (John 8:12). Darkness represents sin and death, but in Jesus Christ is life, "and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4). "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1 RSV). "This is the message God has given us to pass on to you; that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). (See also Revelation 21:23, Revelation 22:3-5.) The verbal argument between the Jewish men and Jesus Christ continued. These men were doing their best to prove Jesus wrong or to catch Him in an inconsistency. They questioned His witness concerning himself (John 8:13). They challenged His right to judge (John 8:16). Each time Jesus Christ claimed that God was His Father and that His and His Father's judgment was true and they judged together (John 8:16). "I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not mine own will but the will of him who sent me" (John 5:30). Again Jesus claimed that God was His Father (John 8:18,19). This time the Jewish leaders did not question what He said; they became sarcastic. "Where is thy Father?" (John 8:19) they asked. In other words, "Produce God if you can." Jesus replied, "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also" (John 8:19). Most of these poormen were to never know the Lord Jesus Christ as God, nor would they know his Father. They were like the clumsy, finless tadpoles which scurry about in the ponds in August. These brown, speckled and black "polliwogs" each has a tiny mouth; but the rest of their anatomy is stomach and a poor excuse for a tail! If they are kept in fresh water, in sunlight, eventually they will become adult frogs, like their parents. However, if they remain in the dark, they will never develop front and hind legs like a frog, but will grow up to be big, fat tadpoles! To develop limbs that will enable them to jump or climb out of the pool slime, they need sunlight. Without that light they are destined to die in the mud. There is a hidden parable in all of this. Man, too, is born in darkness. Education, culture, science, philosophy and other human endeavors may enlarge the intellect and cause men to become great world figures, but without Christ they will live and die in the muddy pond of sin (Romans 3:23). Only through the Lord Jesus Christ who is the light of the world, can the poor, condemned sinner be delivered from the darkness of eternal death (Romans 6:23). Jesus is the life and the light. Have you received Him today as your personal Savior and Lord? Are you sharing the life and the light of the Lord Jesus Christ with others? John 8:21-30--Jesus Warns Against Unbelief The Lord Jesus Christ told these people He would go away when His hour came (Luke 9:22, John 12:32). He said, "I go away and you will seek me, and die in your sins; where I am going, you cannot come" (John 8:21). He spoke these words to those who would not believe Him. In John 8:24 He pointed out that there was still opportunity to believe Him. The Lord Jesus did nothing on His own authority, but only what the Father had taught Him to do (John 8:28). He was doing the "will" of His Father in heaven (John 4:34 and 5:19,20, John 6:38). Some of His hearers believed the words of Jesus (John 8:30, but He knew that their belief was shallow. So He said, "Continue in my word, continue to believe" (John 8:31). Do you seek to be like the Lord Jesus and to do the will of God? The Lord Jesus wants us to do what is pleasing in God's sight. "How do you know what is going to happen tomorrow? For the length of your lives is as uncertain as the morning fog--now you see it; soon it is gone. What you ought to say is, `If the Lord wants us to, we shall live and do this or that.' Otherwise, you will be bragging about your own plans and such self-confidence never pleases God" (James 4:14-16 L.B.). Are these words from James meaningful in your life? Would you like to make them a prayer for your life-style and let the Lord guide you moment by moment through your days? Why not stop and ask God to make this Scripture come alive in your life right now? Why not yield your life fully to God's plan? Think for a moment what motivates your service. Some Christians serve as if they were slaves, under fear. This is no motive! Others act as hired hands earning their wages--heaven under the same principle of fear. We cannot earn salvation. "For by grace ye have been saved, through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the giftof God-- not because of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9 RSV). What God really desires is that we perform deeds, serve "just to please the Father," out of our love for Him. Only through this attitude can our lives and service bring blessing to others and praise to the Father. There is an old saying which is very true--"True service is love in working clothes." What kind of "service" have you been giving the Lord? John 8:31-59--The True Children of Abraham "If you continue to learn of the truth, the truth will make you free," Jesus said (John 8:31,32). The Jews did not understand these words because they did not realize that they were not free. They were in bondage to sin. There is only one way to be free from sin--and that is through Christ (John 8:36). Some Jewish people declared, "Abraham is our father," so Jesus told them that if they were truly Abraham's children, they would do what Abraham did. "Thus Abraham, `believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.' So you see it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Gospel beforehand to Abraham saying, `In you shall all the nations be blessed.' So then, those who are men of faith are blessed with Abraham who had faith" (Galatians 3:6-9). Romans 4:2,3 gives us further insight into Abraham's faith, "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? `Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.'" Often people still think like these Jewish men did in Jesus' day. They believe that they are already free. They are afraid that if they come to Christ and yield themselves to Him, they will forfeit their freedom. Nothing is further from the truth. "For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, `Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them.' Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law; for `He who through faith is righteous shall live,' but the law does not rest on faith, for `He who does them shall live by them.' Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, `Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree'--that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:10-14 RSV). Think about a problem like this: a train is traveling down the track. It goes fast and safely as long as it stays on the track. But suppose the train gets the idea that it wants more freedom. It says to itself, "I would like to cut across that field and run along beside that stream." So the train jumps the track. Instantly it lands in a ditch. It cannot go anywhere until somehow it is put back on the track. So it is with us. We cannot go anywhere until we are on the "track" that God's will and love have laid down. And on this track we have freedom. A famous blacksmith of medieval times committed acrime for which he was put into a dungeon and chained to the wall. He began to examine the chains to see if he could discover some imperfection that might make it easier for him to break the chain. After a few minutes he groaned, "Oh, God, help me! I am bound with a chain that I made! I can never break it." The Jews in Jesus' day were in bondage, chained by sin that they themselves had made. Everyone who does not know Jesus Christ is bound by the chains of his own sin. Jesus said, "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin" (John 8:34). How can we be freed from the bondage of sin? The blacksmith was right; we cannot break the chains ourselves. A prisoner did not like to see the bars on the window of his cell; so he trained ivy to grow around them. After several years the bars were covered. The poor man felt better because he could not see the bars, but the bars were still there! Many people today are ignoring or covering over the bondage of sin and really believe that this will be the answer to their problem. But the bondage of sin will not be broken by ignoring it! There is only one way. Underline John 8:36 in your Bible, "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." The Lord Jesus declared in John 8:45-47 that He is telling the truth to these people and asks why they will not believe Him? He tells them the reason they will not believeHim is because they do not trust in God. In John 8:51 we find a significant statement by Jesus Christ-- "Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word he will never see death." Everyone has sin. There is not one of us who has not willfully broken God's commandments. Sin is like a disease: unless it is arrested, it progressively becomes more serious and more extensive. Just as a sick person is held captive by his disease, so every sinner is a slave of his sin. Thank God this is not the only picture. We can have our sins forgiven. We can receive eternal life from the Lord Jesus Christ. We can know where we are going. We can be secure in the knowledge that in following Christ we do not walk in darkness, but we are in the light of life (John 8:12). We can be free from the bondage of our sin because Christ breaks the chains and gives us freedom (John 8:36). In John 8 there are several names and titles given to the Lord Jesus Christ. "Jesus" is one of them. "Jesus" means Savior (Matthew 1:21). Is He your Savior? Jesus is also called "Master," which means teacher. Is He your teacher? Jesus said, "If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death" (John 8:52). Are you allowing the Lord Jesus Christ to teach you from His Word, the Bible? The Lord Jesus is also called "Son" (John 8:28). Do you worship Him as the Son of God? Is He your "Lord" (John 8:11)? Does He guide you as the "Light of the world" (John 8:12)? Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 8? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life this week? Second Day: Read John 8:51-59. 1.a.Whom did Jesus Christ say glorifies Him? b.Whom did Jesus Christ say did not know God the Father? 2.a.What did the Lord Jesus say about Abraham in John 8:56? b.What was the Jewish men's response to this statement of the Lord Jesus? 3.Read Hebrews 11:8-16 and write down Hebrews 11:13. 4.What did the Lord Jesus say about Himself in John 8:58? 5.Jesus Christ calls Himself "I Am" in John 8:58. Read Exodus 3:1-15. What does God tell Moses about "I Am?" 6.a.Challenge: Jesus Christ also identifies Himself as "I Am" and makes Himself equal with God in other passages. Find His statements about being "I Am" in the following verses. John 10:7-11 John 11:25 John 14:6 John 15:1,4 John 8:12 Revelation 1:8 b.Which of the verses in question 6a is your favorite? Share why it is your favorite verse. Third Day: Read all of John 9 concentrating on John 9:1-12. 1.a.Whom did Jesus Christ see? b.What did His disciples ask about him? 2.What did the Lord Jesus reply to this question? 3.What did the Lord Jesus say concerning Himself in John 9:5? 4.What did the Lord Jesus do for this blind man? See John 9:6-7. 5.Was the blind man obedient to the Lord Jesus' words and what blessing did he receive from Him for obeying in faith? 6.a.Challenge: What do the following verses say concerning obedience to God? Put them into your own words if you wish to. Exodus 19:5 Psalm 119:2 Psalm 143:10 Matthew 6:24 Acts 5:29 b.Which of these verses was most meaningful to you? Explain why, and share this thought with someone if possible. Fourth Day: Read John 9:13-23. 1.What day was it that Jesus Christ made the clay and opened the man's eyes? 2.What did the Pharisees say about the Lord Jesus? Tell why. See John 9:16. 3.Challenge: What do the following verses say about the Lord Jesus Christ and sin? Put them into your own words if you wish. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 3.1 Peter 2:22 1 John 3:5 Isaiah 53:5-6 4.What did the man, whose sight had been restored, call the Lord Jesus in John 9:17? 5.Why were the blind man's parents afraid to make any statements about the Lord Jesus? Give verse from John 9 with your answer please. 6.(Personal) Have you ever been tempted to "keep quiet" when God gives you an opportunity to speak out for Jesus Christ? Does the passage in Matthew 10:28-32 encourage you? Tell how it might encourage you to speak out for Christ. Fifth Day: Read John 9:24-34. 1.What was the Pharisees' attitude and actions toward the man who could now see? What did they do? Give verses with your answer please. 2.How did the man respond to the Pharisees' insults to himself and to Jesus Christ? Give verses with your answer please. Try not to use John 9:31. 3.What according to John 9:31 did the healed man say? 4.Challenge: How do the following verses confirm what this man said in John 9:31? Psalm 34:15 4.Psalm 66:18 Proverbs 15:29 Romans 12:2 5.(Personal) Which of the verses in question 4 was your favorite? Please write why it was your favorite verse. 6.According to John 9:34, what happened to the man born blind after he gave his truthful witness about Jesus Christ? Sixth Day: Reread John 9:35-41. 1.a.Was Jesus Christ aware of what happened to this man? b.How did the Lord Jesus refer to Himself when He asked the man if he believed in Him? c.Did the Lord Jesus reveal Himself to this man? Give verse please. 2.What was this man's response to the Lord Jesus? 3.a.(Personal) Have you ever revealed your faith to the Lord Jesus in this way? b.What does Romans 10:9 say that faith in Jesus Christ really involves? 4.What did the man do after he expressed his belief in the Lord Jesus? See John 9:38. 5.(Personal) If you believe in the Lord Jesus, how do you worship Him? 6.Which verse did you choose to memorize this week? Which verse meant the most to you personally. Write it down please. Study in the Book of John Lesson 10 OVERVIEW OF THE LAST PORTION OF JOHN 8--9 John 8:51-59--Jesus Christ Is "I AM" Some of the Jewish leaders accused Jesus of having a demon because He claimed to be God (John 8:49). Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word he will never see death" (John 8:51). The Jewish men asked, "Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died?...Who do you claim to be?" (John 8:53). "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:58), Jesus replied. As a result of this statement they took up stones to throw at Him but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. They were trying to stone the Lord Jesus Christ because He used the term, "I AM." This was the name that God used for Himself when He spoke to Moses (Exodus 3:1- 14). Have you ever stopped to think how handy your own name is? Just imagine trying to get along without some designation that is peculiarly your own! Imagine trying to carry on a conversation with several people without being able to direct your remarks to the one specific person for whom they are meant. We have already discovered that John gives prominence to names and titles of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each one describes some quality of the nature of our Lord. In this last section of John 8 the Lord Jesus is still in the treasury of the temple at Jerusalem. Remember the Pharisees and the Scribes tried to trick Him with a question about the punishment of a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. The Lord Jesus answered them in such a way that each one turned and went away. Now the Lord speaks again to the Jewish people who attempt to argue with Him. In John 8:45 He says, "Because I tell the truth, you do not believe me." Also Jesus said, "He who is of God hears the words of God; the reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God" (John 8:47). The Jews became so angry at these accusations that they lost their tempers. The idea that they, the children of Abraham, were children of the devil was unthinkable (John 8:44). They in turn accused Jesus, "You are possessed of a devil. You are mad" (John 8:48). What terrible things to say to the Son of God. Calmly the Lord Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, if anyone keeps my word, he shall never see death" (John 8:51). Never see death! This is impossible! All the prophets of the Old Testament were godly men, yet they died. Abraham was the head of the Jewish race, and he was dead. What kind of talk is this? If a man keeps Jesus' saying, he shall never see death? Preposterous! No one but God is greater than Abraham. God gave Abraham the promises for the Jews. (Read Genesis 15:4-6, Genesis 17:1-8, Genesis 28:3-4). Does this Jesus think He is greater than Abraham? "Who are you making yourself to be?" the Jews asked. Jesus replied, "I am not making myself anything. If I did, the honor would be nothing. It is God my Father who honors me" (John 8:54). What a contrast the Lord presented. The Jews honored Abraham. But God gave honor to His Son, "It is my Father who glorifies me--who extols me, magnifies and praises me" (Amplified Bible). Jesus did not need honor from these people. The Lord Jesus went a step further. Not only was He greater than Abraham, but also He was before Abraham. Most of the Jewish people did not honor Jesus Christ, but Abraham rejoiced to see His day (John 8:56). The people said with contempt, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" (John 8:57 R.S.V.). How could Abraham rejoice to see the Lord Jesus' day when he had been dead for centuries? Jesus replied using the name "I AM." "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:58 R.S.V.). The first time "I AM" was used by God is recorded in Exodus 3:1-14. One day while Moses was in the wilderness attending his father-in-law's sheep, he saw a bush on fire, yet the bush was not consumed. Moses went to the bush to see this strange sight. God spoke out of the bush, introduced Himself, and told Moses that he was to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt, where they had been in slavery for over 400 years. Naturally, Moses was hesitant to accept so great a task. He asked the Lord, "Whom shall I say sent me?" On whose authority was he to go and speak to Pharaoh? "And God said unto Moses, `I AM THAT I AM....And thou shall say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you'" (Exodus 3:14). The name "I AM" was the name which God gave Himself. The Jewish people revered this name so much that they would not even pronounce it aloud when they read the scriptures. One of the other names for God was substituted. When the Jews heard the claim from the lips of Jesus, "Before Abraham was, I AM," they took up stones to stone Him. They knew what He said. He claimed to be eternal. He claimed to be the pre-existent God. He made Himself equal with God. The name "I AM" means that He was, and is, and is to come (Revelation 1:8). Jesus Christ said, "I am eternal. I am self existant. In me is life. I am God." This is one of the greatest witnesses in all of John's gospel of the deity of Christ. And the sad part of the story is that God's chosen race, the Jewish people, did not believe Him. In fact, they were about to stone Him to death. But He went through the midst of them and disappeared. What meaning does the name "I AM" have for us today? When Jesus Christ calls Himself "I AM," He is saying that He is the source of life. Our life is dependent upon others. We receive physical life from our parents. Our spiritual life is from our heavenly Father. But Jesus Christ is different. He does not receive life; He gives life! (John 14:6) He does not look to God His Father to give Him life; in Him is life (John 1:4). The gospel of John was written to show that Jesus is God. By the use of a series of "I AM'S" Christ proclaims His deity. He always used these "I AM" titles Himself. They were not given to Him by John or anyone else. "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35). Can you imagine anyone but God making such a claim? It would sound foolish from anyone else. How can a person be bread? The Lord Jesus used the figure to show that you cannot live spiritually without Him any more than you can live physically without food. "I will satisfy your spiritual hunger," Jesus claimed. Those who come to Him learn that His claim is true! "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12). We cannot live without light. We cannot walk without light. Jesus Christ claims, "I will show you the way to walk. If you follow me, you will never walk in darkness." He makes the same claim in John 9:5. "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). Who but eternal God could ever make that claim? Christ is our God. "I am the door" (John 10:7). Christ is the entrance to salvation. He is the only One who can save us from sin. He is the only door (John 3:16; Acts 4:12). "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11,14). Who of us does not need protection from evil and provision for our needs? Christ says, "I go before you. I lead the way. I am the entrance to the sheepfold. I look after my sheep. They have nothing to fear." (See Psalm 23.) "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). Without Christ we could never face the future with confidence. We would be worried about what might happen some day. Jesus assures us that He will take us to be with Him. You have nothing to fear. Jesus says, "Because I live, ye shall live also" (John 14:19). "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Who can walk without a path? Who has any security without the truth? Who is content merely to exist without eternal life? Christ says, "I am the answer to all of these needs. Trust in me!" "I am the true vine" (John 15:1). Who can live without the power and the strength Jesus Christ promised through the Holy Spirit who dwells within the Christian? The Lord knows our need and He promises us, "I am the vine, ye are the branches" (John 15:5). Jesus Christ is saying to us through all of these, "I am your all. Apart from me, you can do nothing. Stay close by me moment by moment for life and for all you need to make your life abundant." Then there is the greatest of all names of our Lord. In Philippians 2:9-11 we read that God has "given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." "For there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). May each of us come to know the Lord Jesus better. May we let Him do for us the things He longs to do. He is the great I AM with all the power each of His titles indicates. John 9:1-12--Jesus Heals the Man Born Blind We see the compassion of the Lord Jesus for a man who had been blind his entire life (John 9:1). As Jesus walked along the road, He saw someone who needed help. His disciples also saw the man but were concerned only with how he came to be blind (John 9:2). Jesus showed the power of God as He healed the man. The Lord Jesus was a busy person. Yet, He was never too busy to notice someone who needed Him and to minister to that person's need. We often try to excuse our lack of concern for others with the comment, "I just don't have time." We ignore the work of missionaries because we are too concerned with our own wants. We overlook people living near us who may need our help because we are too busy with ourselves. Jesus was not that unconcerned, and He does not want us to be unconcerned! Each Christian should have a place of service in his church, in his civil government, in his neighborhood, among missionaries, in his business or wherever God calls him to service. How willing are you to respond when God nudges at your heart with someone's needs? "Are you a wise and faithful servant of the Lord? Have I given you the task of managing my household, to feed my children day by day? Blessings on you if I return and find you faithfully doing your work" (Matthew 25:45-46 L.B.). Do you hide your identity as a Christian? If so, you will not be able to awake others to the "Good News" of Jesus Christ. Recently Prince Andrew, second son of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip and an heir to the British throne, hid his identity from foreign students while studying French in Toulouse, France. When asked who he was he told the class, "My name is Edward, my father is a gentleman-farmer and my mother does not work." Andrew and his fourteen schoolmates spent three weeks at Caousou College. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said that only when the Prince returned to England did they reveal his French connection. So his ruse worked! Often Christians are afraid to identify themselves and play this same sort of game with people they meet along life's way. How much do your neighbors really know about you and your relationship to Jesus Christ? Are they aware of your faith through your consistent manner of life? Are they aware of your faith through a word spoken now and again, as the Holy Spirit gives you opportunity? The Lord Jesus quickly stopped the disciples' question concerning the sin of this blind man (John 9:3). The Lord Jesus made it clear that we are not to judge people's sin; our task is to bring them to Jesus Christ. He also told His disciples that all sickness was not the result of a person's sin. In John 9:5 Jesus again refers to Himself as "the light of the world." The Lord Jesus is drawing attention to the fact that He is about to give light to a man who has been born blind. John tells us of several healings which Jesus performed. The first of these, a nobleman's son, had probably been sick only a short time (John 4:46-54). The second is the man who had been lame for thirty-eight years (John 5:1-16). This time the story concerns the healing of a man who had been blind from birth. There was a definite command from Jesus which the blind man had to obey. It was not an easy thing to do. The Lord Jesus made clay of spit and soil and anointed the man's eyes with the clay. Then He told the man to wash in the pool of Siloam (John 9:6,7). The pool of Siloam was in the southern part of the city. Imagine the blind man, with mud on his eyes, groping through the city, just to wash his face in this particular pool! It must have created quite a spectacle. But his faith and obedience were great enough to make him willing. He went to the pool as the Lord commanded. He washed and he saw! (John 9:7). The man groped his way to the pool, but he returned with the sure step of one who sees where he is going. It was such a change that some of the neighbors who had seen him before, looked with disbelief. "Can this be the man who we used to see begging?" (John 9:8). "I am the man," the fellow answered. He met Jesus Christ and was a changed person. "What happened? How is it that you can see?" "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, `Go to Siloam and wash,' so I went and washed and received my sight." This man did not know who Jesus was, just His name. This is the way the blind man described the One who had given him his sight (John 9:11). John 9:13-23--The Pharisees Question the Man The Pharisees soon heard about the miracle, and the man was brought before them (John 9:13). It was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened the man's eyes (John 9:14). The Lord Jesus performed another miracle on the Sabbath! He broke another of the Jewish traditions. Not only had He made clay, which was expressly forbidden on the Sabbath, but He had healed on the Sabbath also. A person could give medical attention only if a life was in actual danger. And even then it must be such as to keep the patient from getting worse, and it must not make him any better! For instance, if a man had a toothache, he could not suck vinegar through his teeth because it could be considered sin. It was forbidden to set a broken limb--you couldn't even pour cold water over it or over a sprained hand or foot--for it would help heal! Clearly, the man who was born blind was in no danger of losing his life; therefore, the Lord Jesus broke the man-made Sabbath laws when He healed him. It was by observation of these petty rules and details that the Scribes and Pharisees sought to honor God. To the Lord Jesus, the Pharisaical laws constituted an irreverent attitude toward men, whom God had created. The Lord performed several miracles on the Sabbath day and each time He was met with strong opposition (Matthew 12:9-14; Mark 1:21-28; Mark 1:29-31; Luke 13:10-17; John 5:2-18; John 9:1-41). In each instance the Jewish authorities became angry when their tradition was broken. The fact that a person had been healed did not altar the situation. Their hearts were hardened to everything except their man-made law. As Christians, we need to enlarge our heart attitudes toward our fellowman's need. When the Jews asked the man what he thought about the One who had healed him, he replied, "He is a prophet" (John 9:17). In order to shake his story, the religious leaders called the man's parents to confirm that he had indeed been blind. Fear of what might happen to them kept his parents quiet (John 9:19-23). How many times does fear keep us from saying what we should about the Lord Jesus? We are afraid someone won't like us, or that we may lose the particular group we are interested in. When you should speak out for the Lord Jesus Christ, are you silent? John 9:24-34--The Pharisees Question the Healed Man a Second Time When the parents would not speak, the Jewish leaders called the man back again. "Give God the praise," they told him: "We know this man is a sinner" (John 9:24). They could not doubt the miracle. After all, everyone knew that the man had been blind from birth, and it was plain to see that he now had sight. The leaders tried a new attack. "If you are really healed, then you should give the praise to God. Do not give it to this Man whom we know is a sinner." The man answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see" (John 9:25 R.S.V.). This time he had an answer that could not be questioned. He might not be able to answer all of their questions; he might not be able to argue as well as they. But here was an unanswerable statement. He had been blind all his life. Now, he stood before them seeing. There was no way to refute that! Your personal testimony of what Jesus Christ has done for you is also unanswerable! You may lose the discussion argument; some clever person may succeed in backing you into a corner. But when you say, "This I know; I met Christ and he changed my life," you have stopped the argument! The man's questioners may have been more educated than he, but his personal word still stood. However, they persisted, and in John 9:26 they asked him to repeat his story once again. The man recognized that the leaders were floundering for a way to discount his testimony, for he entered into an argument with them. But this time it was he who backed them into a corner, "If this man were not from God, he could do nothing" (John 9:33). The man now realized that he was healed, not by just a man called Jesus, or even by a prophet, but he was healed by a man of God. The Jews did all they could to the blind man. They kept their threat and cast him out of the synagogue (John 9:34). John 9:35-41--Jesus Did Not Forget the Healed Man The Lord Jesus did not forget the man. He gave the man sight and now He looked for him again. "When He had found him He said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" (John 9:35). The man was now ready to believe in Jesus as his Lord, and he worshiped Him. First, he saw Jesus as a mere man, then later as a prophet; but now he recognized Jesus as the Son of God. The Pharisees must have been following the man or the Lord Jesus, for now they gathered around while the Lord Jesus spoke to the man. His remark provoked a question from the Jews. They wanted to know if they were blind. They were blind to the fact that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus had come into the world that "they which see not might see." This is not hard to understand for that is what happened to the blind man. But there's more to the statement than that. Far more important than opening the man's eyes is that Jesus opened his heart so that he recognized the Son of God and believed in Him. This man did not know who Jesus was when he first met Him, but before the episode ended, he worshiped Him as Lord (John 9:38). The rest of the chapter is most unusual. The Lord Jesus came that those "which see might be made blind." That is, all those, like the Pharisees, who claim spiritual sight but do not come to Christ, the light of the world, shall be shown to be blind spiritually. Only through Christ can anyone see the "light," the will of God, and obey that will. "Are we blind?" the Pharisees asked. "No," the Lord Jesus said, "if you knew you were blind, you would come to me and I would give you sight. But because you think you see--you claim to have the light of understanding--your sin will remain upon you" (John 9:40-41). How does this lesson apply to you? Were you like that blind man? Not in physical blindness, but were you blind spiritually? We are all sinners and we all need Jesus Christ to "pass by" our lives and give us light (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23). The Lord Jesus may not work in everyone's life exactly the same way. You may not come to Christ just like someone else. But the important thing is that God open your eyes of understanding and you go to the Lord to receive sight. When you do this, then you will see the joy, peace, happiness and abundant life God has prepared for you. Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 8 and 9? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life this week? Second Day: Read all of John 10 concentrating on John 10:1-14. Note: This is a parable told by Jesus to explain His relationship to, and care of, those who come to Him in faith, believing He is truly God's Son, their Savior and Lord. 1.What names does the Lord Jesus give Himself and what details does He tell about the names to explain this parable? Give verses please. 2.a.How does Isaiah 40:11 describe the Lord Jesus' tender care of His sheep (the Christians)? Put the verse into your own words if you wish to. b.(Personal) Think of the Lord as your own shepherd and reread Isaiah 40:11. How do you wish to choose to ask Jesus Christ to tenderly care for you this week? Why not stop and pray about this now? 3.Challenge: Compare John 10:9-10 with John 14:6. How are they similar in their message? 4.Challenge: John 10:10 speaks of the abundant life which the Lord Jesus wants to give every Christian. How do the following verses help you to understand what He means by "abundant life?" Put the verses into your own words if you wish to, relating the promises to your life. 2 Corinthians 6:4-8 Philippians 4:4-7 Colossians 2:2-3 5.(Personal) Which of the above verses helped you to better understand the abundant life? Share with your discussion group, if possible, the reason why the verse helped you. Third Day: Read John 10:15-21. 1.Compare John 10:15 with Matthew 11:27. What similarities do you find? 2.What does the last part of John 10:15 and all of John 10:16 say? 3.Challenge: How does Revelation 5:8-9 help you to understand John 10:15-16? The Lamb in Revelation 5:8-9 is Jesus Christ. See also John 1:29 concerning the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ. 4.a.What interesting thing do you learn about prayer in the following verses? Revelation 5:8 1 Chronicles 16:11 b.(Personal) Does there need to be any changes made in your prayer life? Does God have "golden vials" of the sweetness of your time spent in prayer with Him? 5.Write down everything Jesus Christ states about His death on the cross. "I lay down my life" is the wording Jesus Christ used for His death on the cross. Look in John 10:17-18 for your answer. Use your own words for the answer if you wish. 6.The Lord Jesus' words caused a division among the Jewish people who stood listening. What were the two viewpoints expressed by the Jewish people? State them briefly. See John 10:19-21. Fourth Day: Read John 10:22-30. 1.a.What time of the year was it and where was the Lord Jesus at this time? b.What did the Jewish people ask the Lord Jesus? c.What was the Lord Jesus' response to their question? 2.Challenge: Explain the name "my sheep" as the Lord Jesus uses it in John 10:26-27. 3.What do these verses say about the sheep and the shepherd? Put them into your own words, if you wish to. Hebrews 13:20-21 1 Peter 2:24-25 4.What similarities do you find in comparing Hebrews 13:20-21 and 1 Peter 2:24-25 with Isaiah 53:5-6? If you have time, read all of Isaiah 53, for God led Isaiah to write about Jesus Christ suffering for us in this chapter. 5.Looking back into John 10:28-29, what does the Lord Jesus say that He gives His sheep (those who trust in Him as Lord and Savior)? 6.a.(Personal) Have you ever received this great gift from Jesus Christ? Read Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:8-9, and Revelation 3:20 to help you in your response to this question. Revelation 3:20 will help you know how to respond to the Lord Jesus Christ. b.If you have received the Lord Jesus by faith, how are you sharing Him with others? Are you sharing this "Good News" in some way? Will you pray and ask God to show you new and exciting opportunities to share the Lord Jesus in your business, home, church, neighborhood and city? Fifth Day: Read John 10:31-42. 1.What did the Jews intend to do to the Lord Jesus after He had declared that God was His Father and said that they were "one"? See John 10:29-31. 2.What question did the Lord Jesus ask these men as they stood with the stones in their hands? 3.What was the real reason the Jewish people had decided to stone Jesus? Did His question in John 10:32 provoke an honest answer from the crowd? 4.What similar thing happened in John 5:16-18? 5.a.What very important thing does the Lord Jesus say about Scripture in John 10:35? b.What does the Lord Jesus say in John 10:38 which shows His complete "oneness" and equality with the Father? c.What does the Lord Jesus pray in John 17:20-23 which again reminds us of His "oneness" with the Father? d.(Personal) Do you find some personal challenge for your life this week in John 17:20-23? If so, please write it down and share with your discussion group if possible. 6.The Lord Jesus escaped from the stoning. Where did He go and what encouraging words do you find in the last sentence of John 10? Sixth Day: Read Psalm 23 with John 10:10 in mind. Put down your favorite verses and give the key thought which blessed you in the verse. You may use your own words if you wish. Everyone will have different verses and reasons for using them, so perhaps you could volunteer to share your "favorite" verse from the Psalm. Tell why you chose it. You will not be called upon if you do not wish to share. Study in the Book of John Lesson 11 John 10:1-14--The Lord Jesus Tells The Parable of The Good Shepherd The ministry of Jesus Christ was coming to a close. Just as a snowball rolls down a hill and gets bigger and bigger and goes faster and faster, so was the work of Jesus in Jerusalem. Opposition to Jesus Christ was getting stronger and stronger. More and more hatred for the Lord Jesus was being voiced. With the opposition came the testimony of those who did believe in Jesus Christ. Often this is the case! When the road gets hard, we gain the strength to stand firm (2 Corinthians 12:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:4). John 10 records the continuation of the discourse between the Lord Jesus and the Jewish people after He had healed the blind man. Chapter 10 continues the narrative of chapter 9. The Lord Jesus had just told the Pharisees that they were not able to lead the people because they did not come to Him, the light of the world (John 9:41). Now, Jesus proceeds to show them how blind they really are. He tells them a story about Himself. He tells them about those who believe in Him, and of the Pharisees who are false leaders of the people (John 10:6). Jesus Christ proved His point. The Pharisees were so blind that they could not understand the message He gave. If we are to fully understand the Lord Jesus' reference to Himself as a shepherd, we really need to know that God, in the Old Testament, is often pictured as a shepherd and the people as His flock. "We thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks forever" (Psalm 79:13). There are many other references to God being the shepherd of the people as His flock: Psalm 23:1, Psalm 77:20, Psalm 80:1, Psalm 95:7, Psalm 100:3, Isaiah 40:11. This thought is carried over into the New Testament as Jesus depicts Himself as the "Good Shepherd" (John 10:11). He is the shepherd who will risk His life to seek and to save the one straying sheep (Matthew 18:12, Luke 15:4). The Lord Jesus calls His disciples the little flock (Luke 12:32). We read in Mark 14:27 and Matthew 26:31 that when He, the Shepherd, is smitten (His death upon the cross), the sheep are scattered. In 1 Peter 2:25 He is referred to as the shepherd of the souls of men, and in Hebrews 13:20 as the great shepherd of the sheep. Let's look at the parable and see if we can do better than the Pharisees did in understanding Jesus' teaching. In John 10:1,2, Jesus speaks about a door to a sheepfold, thieves and robbers, the shepherd and the sheep. The illustration He uses is that of an oriental sheepfold, a portion of land surrounded by a fence or wall. In Palestine the sheep are primarily kept for their fleece for making wool. Therefore, they may be with the shepherd for years. They often have names by which the shepherd calls them; usually their names are descriptive--"Brown-legs," "Black-spotted." The shepherd goes ahead of the sheep to see that the path is safe and that there are no dangers. Sometimes the sheep have to be encouraged to follow. The sheep understand their own shepherd's voice because he uses a special kind of sing-song language to speak to them. It is an uncanny noise of animal sounds arranged in a kind of order and has nothing human about it. No sooner does the shepherd make these sounds than there is an answering bleat shivering across the herd. The Lord Jesus spoke of thieves and robbers (John 10:1). In the villages and towns there were communal sheepfolds where all the village flocks were sheltered when they returned home at night. Here they were protected by a strong door; only the guardian of the door held the key. It is this kind of fold that Jesus refers to in John 10:2,3 R.S.V. "To him the gate-keeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." When the sheep were out on the hills during the warm season, they did not return to the village at night. Instead they were collected into sheepfolds which were just open spaces enclosed by rock walls. An open space in the walled enclosure let the sheep go in and out, but there was no door of any kind. At night the shepherd himself lay across the opening so that none of the sheep could get out and no other animal could get into the fold except over his body. Therefore, in this sheepfold the shepherd was indeed the door. There was no access to the sheepfold except through him! That was what the Lord Jesus was referring to when He said, "I am the door" (John 10:7). It is only through the Lord Jesus that men can find access to God. "Through him," said Paul, "we have access unto the Father" (Ephesians 2:18, John 14:6). "He is the new and living way" (Hebrews 10:20). The Lord Jesus opens the way to God. Until He came, God was a stranger to men. Jesus Christ is the only door. He is not just one of many ways to God. He is the only way. You do not have a choice. Some people will say that every man has a right to choose his own way to God; that there are many ways and each person chooses the way that fits him best. This is not true. Jesus Christ said, "I am the door" (John 10:7). He did not say, "I am a door," but "I am the door." When the Lord Jesus spoke of thieves and robbers, He spoke of those of His day who were false teachers. They were the Pharisees who had confused the people and taught them lessons which were not true. There are false teachers in our day who confuse the people with lessons which are not true. The Lord Jesus Christ has preserved the Bible, His Word, to teach us. In it is "the truth" (John 14:6). "All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be completely equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16). For this reason it is important that we know the Word of God. The good shepherd protects his sheep even though it may jeopardize his own life. When David wrote Psalm 23, he knew that the good shepherd would never leave him. "Thou art with me," David wrote. That is what Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep" (John 8:32). If you are one of His sheep, He will never leave you. The shepherds are so faithful that when savage beasts or thieves come, the faithful shepherd often puts his life in jeopardy to defend his flock. In more than one case the shepherd has had to literally lay down his life in the contest. One shepherd, instead of fleeing, fought with three Bedouin robbers until he was hacked to pieces with their khanjars. He died among the sheep he was defending. The true shepherd would never hesitate to risk his life for the sheep, even to death. The sheep become his friends and companions. It is second nature for him to think of them before he thinks of himself. A false shepherd comes into the job, not as a calling, but as a means of making money. The Lord Jesus, speaking of the false shepherd, says that when the wolf comes, "He leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep" (John 10:12,13). The Lord Jesus Christ is telling us that in this world there will be false shepherds and we need to be on guard against them. The best way to recognize a false shepherd is to know the "good shepherd," the Lord Jesus Christ, and to know His Word, the Bible. Because we are weak, helpless sheep, not wise enough to find our own way, we need to trust our lives to the guidance of the Good Shepherd. "And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him" (John 10:4). He searches out the safe paths for us and He goes ahead! As someone has so beautifully said, "Christ is in all the tomorrows that we will have to journey through. We may be sure, therefore, that all is safe farther ahead where He is leading." When we have committed our way to the Lord and are trusting fully in Him, we don't need to worry about being on the wrong road. The other day I saw a cartoon of a couple in a car winding along a back road. The man, who was driving, said to his wife, "I think we're on the wrong road, but we're making such good time, let's just keep right on going!" God will keep us and guide us faithfully and unerringly and give us an abundant life when we are fully committed to Him (John 10:10). The trouble is, while we know we're to commit everything to the Lord, we often forget to leave our burdens! Experts estimate that of the things which worry the average individual, forty percent of them will probably never happen; thirty percent of them are already passed. (All the worry in the world can't change what's passed!) That takes care of seventy percent of the worry! Twelve percent are needless worries about health; ten percent are considered petty and miscellaneous. Last of all, probably no more than eight percent of all the things that worry us might possibly deserve our concern. Now the trick is to determine what part of the 100% is really deserving of our worry and then concentrate on that! "For I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12). This is the peace we can know in the abundant life that God has promised us in John 10:10. In Psalm 55:22 God urges us to "Cast thy burden upon the Lord." In other words, we are really to unload it fully on Him, and He will take care of it. Contentment in life, the abundant life, can come in no other way. One of the kindest things that God does for us is to limit the distance we can see into our tomorrows! As an example, it is a fact that it is easier to ride a bicycle uphill at night than it is during the daytime. The reason is that at night the bicycle headlight permits the rider to see only a few feet ahead of him at a time. So he keeps pedaling forward in the path of the light. In the daytime, he can see the hill, and it may seem totally insurmountable. Similarly, a great task which faces us may appear impossible to tackle. But when we break it down into smaller portions we find that the task is conquerable! So it is as we commit ourselves to the Lord. He will give us the strength to achieve His great plan for our lives each day. The Lord Jesus Christ, our good shepherd, gave His life that He might give us an abundant life (John 10:10,11). He died for His sheep. His death was sacrificial. He did not die on His own behalf; He died for you and me. (Read John 3:16,17; Romans 3:24-26; Romans 4:25; Romans 5:1,6,8-11, Galatians 1:4.) All through the Old Testament, as animals were sacrificed to God and forgiveness was asked for sin, their death was a picture of what Jesus Christ would do for the sin of the world. He died for everyone. But only those who accept His sacrifice and receive Him as their Savior will have their sins forgiven and receive eternal, abundant life (John 10:1). Are you willing to open your life to God so that He can take each day's circumstances and make them a blessing in your life and in the lives of others? "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). He is waiting to help you. Open your life to the Good Shepherd, and let Him provide you with the abundant life (John 10:10) in the midst of your circumstances. John 10:15-21--The Explanation of the Parable Causes Division The Lord Jesus Christ explains to the crowd gathered round Him that, since the Father knows His Son and the Son knows the will of His Father, the Father knows that He can count on His Son's obedience to lay down His life for the sheep. Hebrews 13:20,21 speaks of the Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, who not only lays down His life for His sheep but also equips us to do the will of God. The Lord Jesus spoke of the abundant life in John 10:10. The only way to know an abundant life is to do the will of God and obey His plan for our lives. "And now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, equip you with all you need for doing his will, through the blood of the everlasting agreement between God and you. And may he produce in you through the power of Christ all that is pleasing to him, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:20-21 L.B.). (Also see Romans 8:32.) In John 10:16 R.S.V. we discover that there are other "sheep" to whom the Lord Jesus Christ came. "I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd." By this statement the Lord Jesus makes it plain that in addition to coming to the Jewish people, His own nation, He was also to go out into all the world to call people from all nations to put their trust in Him. People other than Jews, are known as "Gentiles." Many ask why the Lord Jesus came first to His own, the Jewish people. The ultimate aim of the Lord Jesus is to win the world for God, but as any great commander knows, he must first start with a limited objective. If He had tried to attack on too wide a front, He would only have scattered His forces. So, in order to win a complete victory, He began by concentrating His forces in a limited area, the Jewish race. When He sent out His disciples, He deliberately chose a limited objective and sent them only to the Jewish people to begin with (Matthew 10:5). The Lord Jesus was deliberately concentrating on the Jewish nation, but His ultimate aim was the gathering of the whole world to God through faith in Jesus Christ. In His last message to the eleven disciples when they went to Galilee, to the mountains, Jesus Christ said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20 R.S.V.). It is only in Jesus Christ that all nations, all races, all classes of people can become one. It is only through His person that barriers can be removed as people are unified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now let us look back at John 10:17 where Jesus says, "I lay down my life, that I might take it again." The Good Shepherd died for us, but He is not dead now. He died, but He arose again on the third day. He is a living Savior! (Read Romans 6:4-10; Acts 1:3,22; Acts 10:40,41.) "But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Romans 8:11). Yes, the good shepherd protects his sheep! He protects even though it means his life. David knew this when he wrote Psalm 23. David knew that the good shepherd would never leave him alone. "Thou art with me," David wrote. That is also true for us. "For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man will do unto me" (Hebrews 13:5-6). All of these remarks by the Lord Jesus caused a division among the Jews. Many of them felt He had a demon and was completely mad. Others said, "These are not the sayings of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" (John 10:19-21). This is the third time in the Gospel of John that we read that there was a division, created by the Lord Jesus, among His hearers (John 7:43, 9:16). Most felt that the Lord was demonized and unworthy of being listened to, while a few were impressed by the words He spoke, and with the recollection of the miracle performed on the blind man (John 9:1-12). John 10:22-42 The Lord Jesus was walking on Solomon's porch (John 10:23). There probably has been an interval of about two months separating this occasion from the events in the preceding verses in John 10. The Feast of Tabernacles was commemorated in the fall of the year, and the Feast of the Dedication came in the winter (John 7:2, John 10:22). The Feast of the Dedication memorialized the cleansing and rededication of the temple by Judas Maccabaeus after the sacrilege committed by Antiochus Epiphanes, in the year 165 b.c. The Lord Jesus was accosted by some of the Jewish people as He walked in Solomon's Porch, located in the eastern portion of the Court of the Gentiles, the largest court in the temple area. It surrounded the inner court and the very temple itself. These Jewish people came to Him again saying, "Are you really the Christ?" Jesus said that He had already told them that He was, but they didn't believe Him (John 10:25). He repeated that if these Jews were His sheep they would hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:26- 27). But they did not know God. Do you hear His voice? Does He know you? Do you follow Him? If you are His sheep and He is your shepherd you do all of these things. Jesus goes on to say, "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:28). That sounds like John 3:16. The Lord Jesus holds His sheep in His hand (John 10:29). The Father holds His sheep in His hand. How wonderful to know that we are loved by God and to know that He holds on to us! One day a little girl went walking with her father. "Let me take your hand; the streets are covered with ice and snow," the father said. But the little girl shook her head. She could do it all right. Just then her feet slid out from under her and down she went. She got up and then turned to her father. "Let me hold your hand," she said. That was a little better. But when they came to a slippery place she let go and down she went again! That was all she needed. "You can take my hand," she said. Her father took it and held it tightly in his. The next time the little girl slipped, her father held her tight. Her legs churned in the air for a few seconds, but soon, with her father's help, she got them where they belonged; and on the two of them walked!" Learn the spiritual implication of this illustration. You can't walk alone; you'll stumble and fall. You can't hold on to God; you'll get tired and let go. But if you let God hold on to you, as He has proposed, He will never get tired, "For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught" (Proverbs 3:26 R.S.V.). "Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered; and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life" (Proverbs 4:10-13 R.S.V.). In John 10:30 Jesus again claims that He and His Father are the same. He is equal with God. The effect of His words on the people was sad for they responded in unbelief (John 10:31). They again attempted to stone the Lord Jesus, but He escaped and they were unsuccessful in their attempt (John 10:39). Remember no one could take Jesus' life from Him (John 10:18). The Lord went into the province of Perea, near to Bethabara, where John had first been baptized. See if you can find this area on the map at the back of your Bible or some other map. It is good to see that the whole controversy about the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ ended with a note of victory! "And many believed in him there" (John 10:42 R.S.V.). As we think back over this chapter in John, how do you fit into the picture? Is Jesus Christ your shepherd? You'll have to be one of His sheep if you want Him to be your shepherd. If He is your shepherd, do you listen for His voice? Do not follow the thieves and robbers! Do not pay any attention to them. Follow wherever your shepherd leads. He walks before you. He never takes you any place where He has not gone. Let Him be your guide. Use the Bible to help you learn the way He wants you to walk. This study provides a daily plan for you to spend time with God in prayer and in His Word, the Bible. Will you choose to spend a small portion of each day with your shepherd? He wants to save and protect you, lead you and bless you. What will you do? It is up to you! Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 10? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life this week? Second Day: Read all of John 11 concentrating on John 11:1-16. 1.a.Who was sick? How was he related to Mary and Martha? What place was he from? b.How is Mary identified in John 11:2 and John 12:3? 2.a.What did the Lord Jesus say when He received the message from Mary and Martha saying that Lazarus, whom He loved, was sick? Give verse please. 2.b.How long did the Lord Jesus stay in the same place after He received the message that Lazarus was sick? c.Challenge: Why do you think He waited so long before starting out to help His sick friend? Read John 11:4; John 11:11 and John 11:40-45 to help you think about your answer. 3.(Personal) Has the Lord Jesus ever said, "Wait," before answering a prayer of yours? Could you relate this experience to John 11:4 and John 11:40? Share if possible an experience you had of sending a message of "prayer" to the Lord Jesus and how His "delay" eventually brought glory to God and to Himself. 4.a.The disciples were worried about the Lord Jesus' safety in Judea (where Bethany was). See John 7:3,10,44 and John 8:59, and John 10:39,40 if you do not remember the attempted attacks and stonings that some of the Jewish people attempted the last time the Lord Jesus was in Judea. What was the Lord Jesus' reply to the disciples' expressions of concern for His safety? See John 11:9. b.Challenge: The Christian's day can be considered as twelve hours of light each day! How do the following verses help you to know how to walk as a Christian? Put them into your own words. Psalm 119:130 Proverbs 6:20-23 1 John 1:7 5.(Personal) Which of the verses in question 4b meant the most to you in your "Christian walk" today or helped you the most? Share your favorite verse and tell why it blessed your heart. 6.a.How did Thomas, called "doubter" (John 14:5,6; John 20:25,27), show great courage by being willing to go to Judea and die with Christ at this time? Give verse in John 11. b.Challenge: What does Colossians 3:2,3 give you as encouragement as a Christian for the value of your own life? Third Day: Read John 11:17-27. 1.How long had Lazarus been in the grave by the time Jesus Christ arrived at Bethany? 2.Challenge: Though the Christian's body is placed in the grave, the "real person" goes to be with God because of his faith in Jesus Christ, God's Son. The following verses speak of this. You may put them in your own words if you wish to and insert your name into the verse to assert your faith in Jesus Christ and the truth of these statements in the Scriptures. Psalm 73:23,24 2 Corinthians 5:1 3.(Personal) Which verse in question 2 brought you the most joy and hope about your eternal life with God? Tell why. Share with your discussion group if possible. 4.How did Martha reveal her deep faith in Jesus Christ in John 11:21,22? 5.Challenge: What resurrection was Martha thinking of when she replied to Jesus Christ in John 11:23,24? See Daniel 12:2. 6.The Lord Jesus was not speaking of the resurrection of the body but of the spirit. Try to put your name in John 11:25,26 as you write these verses. Is this your statement of faith? Fourth Day: Read John 11:28-37. 1.a.How did Martha declare her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in John 11:27? b.(Personal) If you believe as Martha did, how could you share this truth with others? Please share your thoughts with your discussion group if possible. 2.a.When Mary heard that her Master (the Lord Jesus) had called her, how did she obediently respond? Give verse please. b.How does Joshua 1:8 suggest that we can be successful in obeying God, and what blessings are promised to those who obey Him? Put this into your own words. 3.Challenge: We need God's power if we are to be obedient to His Word and to His plan for us. What do the following verses say concerning the Holy Spirit's power in the Christian's life? Zechariah 4:6 Acts 9:31 4.(Personal) Which of these verses concerning the Holy Spirit would you like to claim for your life this week? Write down why you chose the verse. Please share with your group, if possible. 5.Look at John 11 again. Where did the Jewish mourners, who were with Mary in the house, think she had gone when she ran out to meet the Lord Jesus? 6.a.What did the Lord Jesus do in John 11:35? b.Do you think it is wrong to teach boys that they should show very little emotion? Is it physically, emotionally or spiritually good or bad for yourself and for others to hold in all emotion? Fifth Day: Read John 11:38-44. 1.What was Martha's response to the Lord Jesus when He asked that the stone be rolled back from Lazarus' grave? 2.Of what did the Lord Jesus remind Martha in John 11:40? 3.a.Challenge: The Lord Jesus Christ was challenging Martha to trust in Him and His Word. What do the following verses say about trusting God? Put them into your own words and insert your name in the promise. Psalm 37:5 Psalm 118:8 Proverbs 3:5 b.(Personal) Which of these verses on trust would you like to claim for your life this week? Write the reason why you choose to claim this promise from God's Word. Share with your discussion group. 4.The Lord Jesus prayed in John 11:41,42. What did He thank God for and why did He say He gave God the thanks? 5.There are many Scriptures in both the Old and New Testament which tell us that God hears and answers prayer. What does Psalm 34:15,17 say to encourage you to pray more often and about everything? 6.How did the Lord call Lazarus from his tomb in John 11:43? Sixth Day: Read John 11:44-57. 1.a.How did Lazarus come out of the tomb? b.What did the Lord Jesus tell the crowd around the tomb to do for Lazarus? c.What was the result of this miracle? See John 11:45. d.What was another result of this miracle? See John 11:46. 2.What did the Pharisees fear? See John 11:48. 3.Caiaphas, the high priest, did not realize that God used him to speak prophetic words about the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ for all nations, peoples, and races. What did he say in John 11:50? 4.Challenge: How does 1 Thessalonians 5:9,10 fulfill what Caiaphas said in John 11:50? 5.a.What did the Pharisees plan to do about Jesus Christ after Caiaphas made his statement in John 11:51,52? b.What did the Lord Jesus do as a result of the Pharisees' plan? Give verse please. c.See if you can find Ephraim on your Bible map. Also locate Bethany where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived. 6.Which verse helped you the most this week? Did you underline this verse in your Bible? Are you going to hide this promise of God in your heart by memorizing it? Study in the Book of John Lesson 12 Overview--John 11:1-16--The Lord Hears of Lazarus' Death and Goes to His Home Have you ever wished that you could turn the clock back? Perhaps you had such a good time last summer that you would like to live your vacation over again! Or maybe you made a wrong choice about something and you would like another chance to correct your mistake. The Lord Jesus Christ never wanted to turn the clock back when He was on earth. There was no need to! The Lord Jesus always knew exactly what He was doing and He always acted at just the right time. But, to everyone concerned with the events in John 11, it must have seemed that the Lord's timing was wrong. But He knew that He was right! The Lord Jesus was moving closer and closer to the time of His death. The events of John 11 probably took place within three months of the crucifixion during the last winter of Jesus' life. At the end of John 10 we read that the Lord Jesus had gone into the province of Perea (TransJordan--John 10:40). Can you find this area on your Bible map? While Jesus was in Perea, a messenger came to Him and brought Him the news of the illness of His friend, Lazarus (John 11:3). The story of Mary and Martha and the death and resurrection of Lazarus was like a stone dropped in the water. It caused the water to ripple farther and farther and farther until its effect went beyond Lazarus, beyond his family, beyond his friends, and reached to those who would plot to take the Lord Jesus' life, the Pharisees. When the Lord Jesus received this message His thoughts must have gone directly to this family and to their home where He had often received rest, understanding, peace and love. He had no home of His own, nowhere to lay His head (Luke 9:58). Yet, when He was near Bethany, the Lord Jesus had just such a place where He could occasionally go and find people who loved Him (Luke 10:38-42). As Christians we need to keep in mind that one of the greatest gifts we can give one another is the gift of understanding and peace. To have someplace to go to get away from the tensions of life, where the atmosphere is relaxed in peace, is a lovely thing! We need to open our own homes and apartments like Mary, Martha and Lazarus did! It does not cost money and does not demand lavish hospitality. It only costs an understanding heart! Now Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, was sick. The sisters sent word to the Lord Jesus that Lazarus was ill (John 11:3) but their message included no request that Jesus come to Bethany! They knew that such a request was unnecessary for they realized the simple statement that they were in need would bring the LordJesus to them. They knew that He had a solution to the anxiety that gripped them, for their friendship with the Lord Jesus had given them confidence of His goodness and power. Mary and Martha immediately sent their message to the Lord Jesus Christ. When we are in need do we immediately take all our needs to the Lord Jesus Christ through prayer? Andrew Murray suggests two ways that we look at prayer: from the human viewpoint and from the divine viewpoint. It makes a vast difference which view rules your prayer life. In the human viewpoint, we come to God thinking about our own needs and desires, our efforts to pray, the time we spend in prayer. Our faith in the results is expressed as we experience answers to our askings. In the divine viewpoint we regard prayer in the light of the God of love who is all-powerful. We come to Him thinking of the one who encourages us to bring Him our needs and desires. We approach Him as the one who has an interest in every phase of our life. He has designed all things for our greatest good (Romans 8:28,29). His faithfulness never wavers. (Read Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 89:1, 1 Peter 4:19.) God's greatest desire is our growth in Christ's likeness. He honors our faith and waits to answer our prayers. Jesus loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus. He loved them, yet He did not hurry to see them! He wanted them to see a greater display of His glory and power than they ever dreamed of. He waited two days after He received the message of Lazarus' illness. When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been dead for four days. The Lord Jesus waited until there was no possibility that Lazarus would be alive when He arrived! (John 11:4 R.S.V.). When Jesus called forth Lazarus from the dead it was for "the glory of God, so that the son of God may be glorified by means of it." The death of Lazarus became the cause of his sister's grief, but his emergence from the grave gave them reason to rejoice and led to many receiving the Lord Jesus Christ by faith. So it is now! The presence and power of Christ can so alter every circumstance that they become the means of blessing to many. In John 11:7-16 the Lord Jesus told His disciples that He was going to return to Judea; the disciples were afraid He was going to His death (John 11:8). His life had been threatened in Judea (John 8:59, John 10:39) and His life would be in real danger now! The Lord assured the disciples that He was going to Judea and that He knew exactly what He was doing. The Lord Jesus said, "Are there not twelve hours in theday? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world." The Lord Jesus Christ's reply to His disciples in John 11:9 applied both to Himself and to His followers. He could safely go back to Judea as long as He was walking in the light of His Father's will. His enemies could not touch Him until His hour had come (Matthew 26:44-50). Then for a short time the darkness of spiritual opposition would be permitted to close in on Jesus Christ. The lesson for the disciples, as well as for us, is that we must choose to walk in the light of Jesus Christ rather than in the darkness of self will and separation from Him. We will stumble (John 11:10) when we walk without the light of Jesus Christ. (Read James 4:14-17, Proverbs 6:23.) The disciples did not really understand that Lazarus was dead. They thought that he was asleep. The Lord Jesus had to say definitely, "Lazarus is dead" (John 11:14) before they realized the truth. He went on to say, "I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him" (John 11:15). He was telling His disciples that He was glad that this experience of sorrow would eventually bring them to full faith in His Lordship. There is a saying which is appropriate here which we can apply to our own lives also. "God often digs wells of joy with the spade of sorrow!" Notice the courage in which Thomas responded (John 11:16). Thomas seemed to think that to go to Judea would mean Jesus' death, but he was willing and ready to die with his Lord. This can be applied to our own Christian lives in a spiritual way. "Let heaven fill your thoughts; don't spend your time worrying about things down here. You should have as little desire for this world as a dead person does. Your real life is in heaven with Christ and God. And when Christ who is our real life comes back again, you will shine with him and share in all his glories" (Colossians 3:2-4 L.B.). The real life that we have is hid with Christ in God. Certainly Thomas must have sensed his life being hidden with Christ in God and this is what gave him the courage to obediently go with our Lord Jesus to Judea and if need be to die with Him there. This was a crisis and Thomas was willing to face it in the strength of His Lord (Philippians 4:13). Sir John Reith once said, "I do not like crisis; but I like the opportunities which they supply." The death of Lazarus, a crisis, brought an opportunity for Jesus to demonstrate the power of God in a most amazing way (John 11:4). Thomas also faced a crisis and welcomed it as an opportunity to trust Christ further. For each of us a crisis should be an opportunity! Do you think of your crisis in this way? John 11:17-37--The Lord Jesus Speaks to Martha and Then to Mary In order to visualize the scene, let us describe a Jewish house of mourning. Normally in Palestine burial followed death as quickly as possible. This was necessary because of the warm climate; there was no embalming as we know it at this time. However, the finest spices and ointments were used to anoint the body; and the body itself was clothed inthe most magnificent robes. Valuable treasures and possessions were also put in the tomb. So the funeral and burial were exceedingly costly. About the middle of the first century, however, people began to rebel against this custom because it had become an intolerable burden. The man who changed the burial customs was the famous rabbi called Gamaliel, the second. He gave orders that he was to be buried in a simple as possible linen robe, and thus broke the extravagant funeral tradition. Thereafter, it became the custom to wrap the body in a simple linen dress which was sometimes called by the beautiful name, "the traveling-dress." There were many people attending the funeral in courtesy and respect to the deceased and his family. Women mourners went ahead of the procession to the tomb where memorial speeches were made. Everyone was expected to express the deepest sympathy. The family left the tomb first and passed between two long lines of mourners. A very wise rule at this time was followed--the mourners were not to be tormented by useless and idle talk. One custom, which is very similar to today, was that a meal was prepared and served by the friends of the family on the return from the tomb. This meal consisted of bread, hard- boiled eggs and lentils. The round eggs and lentils symbolized life which was always rolling to death. As soon as the body was carried out of the house, all of the furniture was reversed and the mourners sat on the ground or on low stools. A period of deep mourning lasted seven days in which the first three were days of weeping. During the entire seven days the mourners were forbidden to wash, put on shoes, or to engage in any study or business. After the week of deep mourning, there was a thirty-day period of lighter mourning. So when Jesus found a crowd in the house at Bethany, He found what would be expected in a Jewish house of mourning. It was a sacred duty of the Jewish people to express loving sympathy with the sorrowing friends and relatives of one who had died. Visits of sympathy to the sick and to the sorrowing were an essential part of the Jewish religion. Deuteronomy 13:4 says, "Ye shall walk after the Lord your God." In the scriptures we find examples of God's loving care and concern for His people. 1.God clothed the naked (Genesis 3:21). 2.God visited the sick (Genesis 48:1-15). 3.God comforted the mourners (Genesis 25:11). 4.God buried the dead (Deuteronomy 34:6). This is a pattern which we can all follow as we trust the Holy Spirit to minister through us to others. Especially let us make note that it is our Christian duty to show sympathy, concern and care for a mourner. Martha heard that Jesus was coming and she ran out to meet Him. Here Martha shows her true character. When Luke tells about Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42) he shows Martha as one who loved action! Martha said to Jesus in John 11:21, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." There must have been something in the way Martha said those words that made them sound as if she werescolding the Lord for delaying. But then, she quickly adds "even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee" (John 11:22). The Lord Jesus Christ reassured Martha by saying, "Your brother will rise again." The Lord may have been referring to what He was about to do. But if He was, Martha did not understand. She looked toward some far distant day when a resurrection would take place (John 11:24). Jesus corrected her. "Look at me," He said. "I am myself the resurrection and the life. Whosoever believes in--adheres to, trusts in and relies on--me, although he may die, yet he shall live. And whoever continues to live and believe--has faith in, cleaves to and relies on--me shall never (actually) die at all" (John 11:25,26 Amph. B.). "Do you believe this?" Jesus asked Martha. "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world" (John 11:27 R.S.V.). Martha did not understand all about this resurrection teaching, but one thing she knew for sure, Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is the promised One. This she knew and this satisfied her. Do you know this? Are you satisfied by this truth about Jesus Christ? (Read John 3:16,17, Revelation 3:20.) In this passage Jesus used another one of the famous "I Am's," as He said, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die" (John 11:25). He once more claimed to be God. But He was not finished yet. It would appear that He now sent Martha to get her sister, Mary (John 11:28). Mary left the house immediately. If the Lord Jesus wanted her, that was enough for her. She was ready to obey His command. The Jewish people saw Mary leave and followed her. When she came to where Jesus was, she fell at His feet. Martha believed in the Lord Jesus. She acknowledged it. Mary believed, too. She showed it. She repeated the same words that Martha had said (John 11:21, John 11:32), "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." But there must have been a difference in the way she said them. Martha was a little disturbed because Jesus had not come immediately. Mary was only acknowledging her belief. If Jesus had been there Lazarus would not have died. She was probably right. Jesus said as much in John 11:15. When the Lord Jesus heard the words of Mary and saw her sorrow and that of the Jews who were with her, He was deeply moved. The Lord realized more than anyone else that the sorrow was the result of sin and death. "Where have you laid him?" Jesus asked. The people led Him to the cave where Lazarus was buried (John 11:34). Jesus walked to the place and "He wept" (John 11:35). The Jewish people saw the sorrow of the Lord and remarked at the love which Jesus had for Lazarus (John 11:36). The Lord Jesus was moved with compassion when He saw the sorrow and the unbelief (John 11:33). In some cultures today men are taught that it is wrong to weep and yet the Lord Jesus Christ wept on this day. He wept at other times. In Luke 19:41 we read that as He looked over the city of Jerusalem He wept because of the peoples' unbelief. The Bible tells us that we are to weepwith those who weep, and laugh with those who laugh (Romans 12:15). In the Old Testament we are told that there is "a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance" (Ecclesiastes 3:4). As we trust the Holy Spirit to guide us moment by moment, the Lord will show us the times to laugh and the times to weep! TEARS I wept this morning, Lord; I don't let myself do it often, wet tears, heart-wrenching tears, soul-searching tears. They seemed to drain away my heartaches, tensions, discouragements, disappointments. Why are we all afraid to weep, Lord? Is it our BRITTLE, HARD society? which has told us! no wet tears! no heart-wrenching tears! no soul-searching tears! not allowed! You wept, Lord, long, long ago. If you could weep, is it OK for me, too? --Doris Greig John 11:38-44--The Lord Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead The group walked to the tomb. The tombs were either natural caves or caves hewn out in the rock. In such a tomb there were usually eight shelves cut in the rock, three on each side and two on the wall facing the entrance. It was on these shelves that the bodies were laid. The tomb had no door, but across the opening of the tomb was a groove in which was set a great stone like a cartwheel. The stone was rolled across the entrance so that the cave was sealed. Now the Lord Jesus took over with the authority of the Son of God. "Take away the stone," He commanded. Martha reminded the Lord that Lazarus had been dead for four days; it was too late for the Lord to view the body of His friend. That seemed to be all that entered Martha's mind! Already she had forgotten the Lord's words, "I am the resurrection and the life." Jesus Christ reminded her (John 11:40) of these words. The people obeyed the command of Christ; they rolled away the stone. Then the Lord prayed (John 11:41,42). The Lord Jesus had been in constant communion withGod, His Father, all of the time. In order that the people at the tomb might know of this communion, He voiced His prayer aloud and thanked God for hearing Him. Then what did He do? "When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, `Lazarus, come out'" (John 11:43 R.S.V.). One white-haired man declared in a meeting one time that it was wise that the Lord called "Lazarus" before He said, "Come out," or the entire graveyard of Bethany would have come out of their tombs to greet Him! The dead man came out; his hands and feet bound in bandages and his face wrapped with a cloth! This was a miracle of God through His Son the Lord Jesus. Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days and ordinarily the odor of death and decay would have been obvious (John 11:39). The Lord Jesus said, "Unbind him, and let him go." The long strips of cloth that bound the embalming spices tightly against his body and head would have smothered Lazarus if they had not unbound him immediately! John 11:45-57--The Pharisees Plot to Kill Jesus Many of the Jewish people saw what happened and believed in the Lord Jesus (John 11:45). This is the reason that John wrote this gospel. He wanted all other generations after this to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. The enemies of the Lord could not deny this latest sign. After all, Lazarus had been dead for four days. The funeral service had been completed. Now Lazarus lived. With this evidence, the Sanhedrin met and said of Jesus, "This man doeth many miracles" (John 11:47). If they let Him go on, the whole nation would turn to him and that would make the Romans angry and the Sanhedrin would lose its place of authority! Only one road seemed open to them. Caiaphas,the high priest of the year, stated it this way, "Nor do you understand or reason out that it is expedient and better for your own welfare that one man should die on behalf of the people than that the whole nation should perish (be destroyed, ruined)" (John 11:50 A.B.). The high priest went on to say that the Lord Jesus should die for that nation in John 11:51. The high priest, Caiaphas, voiced terrible words, but all agreed with them. John notes that the words of Caiaphas were truer than he realized. It was right that Jesus Christ would give His life for the world but Caiaphas did not realize what he said. "He did not say this of his own accord" (John 11:51). The hatred for the Lord Jesus had reached its peak. "So from that day on they took counsel how to put him to death" (John 11:53). There seemed to them to be no alternative but to do away with Him. It was only a matter of time. The decision had been made. Until the Lord was ready to lay down His life He left the vicinity of Jerusalem and went into the wilderness to the city of Ephraim (John 11:54) with His disciples. As the time for the Passover drew near the command was given to find Jesus and arrest Him (John 11:55-57). The Lord had gone into a country near to the wilderness not because He was afraid, but as a matter of strategy. He wanted to avoid open conflict because the time had not yet come, in the will of God, for Him to be shown to the people. John notes that these events occurred near the time of the Passover (John 12:1). The crowds were going up to Jerusalem and the people were looking for Jesus Christ. They wondered if He would come to the feast. The chief priests and Pharisees had given strict orders that if anyone saw Him, they were to be informed, so that they might arrest Him (John 11:57). Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 11? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life this week? Second Day: Read all of John 12 concentrating on John 12:1-11. 1.Where did the Lord Jesus go and how many days before Passover was this? See John 12:1. 2.a.What hospitality was the Lord Jesus shown and in whose home? See Matthew 26:6 as well as John 12. b.(Personal) Have you ever shown someone hospitality for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ? What are some various methods by which a Christian can show hospitality to others for Christ? c.What did Mary do for the Lord Jesus which brought criticism from Judas Iscariot? Give verse in John, please. 3.What statement did Judas make and what was revealed about his character in John 12:5,6? 4.How does the Lord Jesus refer to his death on the cross after Judas makes his statement? 5.a.A great crowd gathered at Bethany. Who else did they come to see besides the Lord Jesus? b.Why do you suppose they wanted to see Lazarus? See John 11:38-44. c.Why did the chief priests plot to kill Lazarus as well as the Lord Jesus? See John 12 and give the verse. 6.Challenge: The raising of Lazarus' body from the grave foreshadows the resurrection of the bodies of Christians at the last day. What do the following verses tell you concerning this? Put the thoughts into your own words. 1 Corinthians 15:52,53 Philippians 3:20,21 Third Day: Read John 12:12-19. 1.a.When the crowd which had come to the Jerusalem feast heard that the Lord Jesus was coming into Jerusalem, what did they shout as He passed by? b.Who else called the Lord Jesus the "King of Israel" in John 1:49? 2.How does John 12:14,15 fulfill the prophecy of the Messiah's coming in Zechariah 9:9? 3.What was the "sign" which made this crowd surge out of Jerusalem to meet the Lord Jesus and call Him the King of Israel? Give verses from John 12 please. 4.(Personal) Do you speak out for Christ as these Jewish people did in John 12:13? As the Holy Spirit leads you, do you trust God to empower you to speak a good word for the Lord Jesus at the right time? 5.Challenge: How do the following verses encourage you to be a Christian witness as the Holy Spirit empowers your life and gives you His thoughts and words? Put these verses into your own words. 1 Thessalonians 1:5,6 1 Corinthians 2:4 John 16:14 6.What did the Pharisees say about the Lord Jesus in John 12:19? Fourth Day: Read John 12:20-33. 1.a.What race other than the Jewish race had come to Jerusalem at this Passover feast season? b.Whom did they desire to see? c.Whom did they ask to take them to Jesus? 2.When Philip and Andrew brought the message to the Lord Jesus that the Greeks wished to see Him, what was His reply? See John 12:23. 3.How does Philippians 2:5-11 explain the way in which the Lord Jesus was glorified? Put into your own words. 4.Challenge: How does Romans 5:6,8 help you understand what the Lord Jesus tells Andrew and Philip in John 12:24? 5.What does the Lord Jesus say concerning the man who loves Him in John 12:26? 6.a.What statement did the Lord Jesus make in John 12:32? What does He mean by "lifted-up?" b.How does Ephesians 2:1-10 explain how a person is drawn to Jesus Christ, what we leave behind in our "old life", and what God lovingly gives us in our "new life in Christ?" Put your own name into this Ephesians passage if you want to make it a personal promise from God to you! Summarize briefly. Fifth Day: Read John 12:33-43. 1.In John "the light" refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. Substitute His name, "the Lord Jesus Christ" for "the light" in John 12:35,36. Does this help you to understand what the Lord Jesus was telling these people? Darkness in these verses indicates separation from God by sin. Read Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23. 2.After the Lord Jesus' last public teaching, what did He do? 3.Christ performed many signs and miracles to show He was God's Son. Did this convince the crowd that He was God? See John 12:37. 4.Were there any who did believe in Christ and if so who were they? 5.a.What fear caused them to remain quiet and not declare their faith to others? b.Whose praise did these people love the most--God's or man's? c.(Personal) Would you place yourself in this group of people spoken of in John 12:42,43, or do you openly declare your faith as Martha did in John 11:27? Do you need to pray and ask God's strength for sharing your faith? d.What does Psalm 96:3 tell us to do? Try putting your name in this verse to make it more personal. Then ask yourself how God wants you to do what Psalm 96:3 tells you to do. 6.The people described in John 12:43 did not follow the directions in Psalm 96:3. They did not obey by sharing their faith in Jesus Christ with others. What do the following verses say concerning obedience? Put them into your own words. 1 Samuel 15:22 Acts 5:29 Romans 6:16 Sixth Day: Read John 12:44-50. 1.By whose authority did the Lord Jesus speak? Give verse. 2.Challenge: The Lord Jesus speaks of the "last day" of judgment in John 12:48. What do the following verses say about God's judgment on that last day? Matthew 25:31 Matthew 25:32 John 5:22 Acts 10:42 3.In John 12:47 the Lord Jesus Christ points out that on this visit to earth, He did not come to judge. What does He say He came to do? 4.According to John 12:50 what has the Lord sent His Son to give to all who receive His Son, by faith? 5.What does John 3:36 say concerning eternal life? 6.a.(Personal) Read Hosea 14:8 with Galatians 5:22,23 in the Living Bible if possible. Choose the phrase you would like to claim for your life from Hosea; and the fruit of the Holy Spirit you want to ask God for from Galatians 5:22,23. b.Which scripture encourages you the most this week? Did you choose to memorize it? Study in the Book of John Lesson 13 John 12:1-11--Jesus Anointed by Mary of Bethany (also see Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9) Can you imagine the excitement in Bethany as the news spread that Lazarus was alive and well? Suppose you picked up a newspaper and read that a man who had been buried for four days was brought back to life and was now back home with his family! Or perhaps you actually watched him on your television set leaving his grave. It would probably take a special detail of police to take care of the crowds that would gather to catch just one glimpse of the man who had been dead. The people of Bethany were no different. They, too, wanted a glimpse of this man. Approximately a month or more had elapsed since Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. The Lord Jesus had been in Ephraim near the wilderness with His disciples (John 11:54). Six days before the Passover (John 12:1) the Lord Jesus returned to Bethany, which was about a two-mile journey from Jerusalem. Jews from all over the known world traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, and since there was not enough lodging within the city of Jerusalem, Bethany was probably one of the man places outside the city where these pilgrims stayed. In John 12:1 we learn that Jesus was invited to a dinner in Bethany at the house of a man named Simon (Matthew 26:6). This man had been a leper, and probably one of those whom Jesus healed during His ministry. John tells us that a great multitude of people came to this dinner, not only because Jesus was there but because they wanted to see Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead (John 12:9). Several other people are mentioned in connection with Jesus Christ at this dinner. In John 12:2 we read that Martha served. This is all that the Bible records about Martha at this time. She served the people at the dinner table. Certainly Martha wanted to show her gratitude to her Lord for what He had done for her. Martha had heard the wonderful promises of the resurrection. She had heard Jesus say, "I am the resurrection, and the life" (John 11:25). She had stood beside the grave of her brother and had seen the Lord Jesus give him life again. Martha wanted to show that she appreciated what Jesus had done. Martha lived in a day when women had fewer opportunities than now. There were probably many things that she could do but one thing she did well was to run a house. Martha knew how to be a good hostess and to provide for her guests. This she did to the glory of God and for Jesus' sake. There are people who are looking for what they call "ministry" in their Christian life. They think a ministry is limited to the dramatic and sacrificial fields of evangelism, foreign missions, etc. They do not realize that they can minister where they are in concrete practical ways. As a result, God cannot give them any broader realm in which to serve. "He that is faithful in little," Jesus said, "is faithful also in much" (Luke 16:10). Like Martha, we must begin with the "little" and let God add the "much." Many a great man who has been prominent in public service is what he is only because of someone's loving care for him at home! It is just as possible to serve Jesus in the kitchen as it is on a public platform or in a career. Perhaps the greatest task we can faithfully perform as Christians is to be witnesses of our faith in Jesus Christ. God sent His Holy Spirit to make us witnesses. The apostle Paul experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in his life and, led by the Holy Spirit, recorded for us I Corinthians 2:1-4, "Dear brothers, Even when I first came to you I didn't use lofty words and brilliant ideas to tell you God's message. For I decided that I would speak only of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. I came to you in weakness--timid and trembling. And my preaching was very plain, not with a lot of oratory and human wisdom, but the Holy Spirit's power was in my words, proving to those who heard them that the message was from God (L.B.). Will you trust God to make you a witness for Him by the Holy Spirit's power today? Your witness may be an action taken, a word spoken or perhaps a combination of both. How can you use the talents that the Lord has given to you to bring people to a place where they can learn of Him? The crowds came to this house. They enjoyed themselves because Martha saw to it that everything was in readiness for the guests. If you cannot preach to people, can you invite them to the place where they can hear God's Word? Can you find areas of service right around you every day where you can witness? The story is told of a dedicated Christian woman who could never go to the mission field because of a very serious back ailment, yet God laid on her heart the needs of the orphan children in Korea. So every day she sits at her sewing machine making garments for these children. She has found her place of service for the Lord. Then there is the man who has discovered that an hour a week, spent at the rest home for the elderly, gives him an opportunity to cheer up the lonely and to speak to them of his Lord Jesus Christ. "Whatever you do, do all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). The opportunities are limitless. Will you pray and ask God to give you the vision to see your opportunities in the service of the King? "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). Martha's sister, Mary, also wanted to worship and to show her gratitude to the Lord for raising her brother Lazarus from the dead. Therefore, she "took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment" (John 12:3 RSV). Mary gave all that she had to Jesus. It was the custom for a host to provide servants to wash the feet of guests. Mary wanted something better for her Lord than just that His feet be washed with water. She anointed them with a "litre," a measure of twelve ounces, of spikenard. Some believe that this was an oil from a plant grown in northern India which was very costly. Others believe that it could have been an oil extracted from the pistachio nut which was considered a very valuable kind of perfume. The servants would have dried the guest's feet with a towel, but Mary chose to loosen her hair and dry the feet of her Lord with her hair. Jewish custom taught that a woman's hair should always remain bound in public and thus Mary humbled herself and let down her long hair to dry the feet of her Lord. This was the work of a servant transformed into an act of love. Through this humble and loving service Mary showed that she believed that Christ had come to give His life as a sacrifice for many. She wanted to do something for Him. She seemed to hear Christ say: "I gave, I gave my life for thee What hast thou given for me?" After the missionary, Phillips Brooks died, his oldest brother said to a great friend, "Phillips might have saved himself and prolonged his life. Yes, he might have saved himself (John 12:25) but in so doing he would not have been Phillips Brooks. The glory of his life was in that he did not save himself. The fragrance of his broken life filled two continents with the sweetness of Jesus Christ." "But thanks be to God! For through what Christ has done, He has triumphed over us so that now wherever we go He uses us to tell others about the Lord, to spread the Gospel like a sweet perfume. As far as God is concerned there is a sweet, wholesome, fragrance in our lives. It is the fragrance of Christ within us, an aroma to both the saved and the unsaved all around us" (2 Corinthians 2:14,15 L.B.). Do you have this sweet fragrance of Jesus Christ in your life? (Read Romans 5:1-11, Revelation 3:20.) Mary brought to Jesus Christ a very costly gift and the Lord commended her for what she did (John 12:7,8). Certainly it was not the cost of the gift that the Lord praised; it was Mary's willingness to give Him what she could. In Luke 21:1-3 we read the story of a widow who was also praised for her gift. She did not give a costly gift but the Lord said she gave more than all the others for she gave everything! The Lord Jesus seems to judge our giving not only by what we give but also by what we keep for ourselves. The Lord deserves the best you have. What have you given Him? Yourself? Your worship? Your time in prayer and reading of God's Word? Your love through service? All of the house was filled with the perfume of the ointment; Judas Iscariot saw what Mary had done and had a selfish thought. He thought about the money that was spent on what he considered a needless act. Judas tried to hide what he really thought by pretending to be interested in the poor. "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" (John 12:4). This indicates to us that the ointment was worth $50 or $60 but Mary's worship and adoration of the Lord Jesus Christ could not be measured by money. Judas did not share her worship and gratitude, and tried to hide what he really thought by pretending to be interested in the poor. John wanted to be sure that we understood that this interest was only a cover-up for what Judas really thought. He tells us in John 12:6 that Judas was a thief and did not care about the Lord Jesus but was only interested in getting the money for himself. Judas was mentally spending the proceeds from the sale of the ointment on himself. His selfishness poisoned his vision and warped his sight. Judas could not think of anyone except Judas. There is one more person mentioned who was at the dinner and he is Lazarus (John 12:2). A great crowd of the Jews learned that he had come to be at the dinner and came to see this man who had been raised from the dead. As a result of seeing Lazarus, many of the Jews went away from Bethany believing in Jesus; so the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death along with Jesus (John 12:10,11). The Jewish leaders had to get rid of Lazarus because as long as he was around the people could see that he was alive; therefore, many would continue to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. His belief in Jesus could have cost Lazarus his life. You may never be required to face death for Him. You may never be put on an execution list, although there are people today who are imprisoned and executed for their faith in Jesus Christ. But you are asked to forsake all and follow Him no matter what it may cost. Are you willing? James Chalmers, the martyred missionary of New Guinea, said, "I never make a sacrifice. That word ought never to be used in connection with our gift of life and money to Christ." As this missionary died in New Guinea I'm sure he could have echoed Paul's words, "Yes, we live under constant danger to our lives because we serve the Lord, but this gives us constant opportunity to show forth the power of Jesus Christ within our dying bodies. Because of our preaching we face death, but it has resulted in eternal life for you" (2 Corinthians 4:11,12 L.B.). Believers in Christ suffer for their faith in Communist lands. Bibles are seldom available unless purchased on the black market for 1 or 2 months' wages. Nikolai Boiko, pastor of an unregistered church in Odessa, U.S.S.R., is serving five years in an exile camp. He has been urged to join the police force drawn from prisoners to report camp violations. In exchange, he was offered privileges and early release. Christians are unwilling to cooperate in this way because of their witness to prisoners as well as making it difficult when they are freed to avoid further cooperation with authorities. Since Boiko did not cooperate, he was placed in the camp prison as punishment and barred from writing or receiving letters. He was thus deprived of moral support of family and they assumed he was sick or dead. Near Leningrad the Protsenko home, where an unregistered church has been meeting since 1973, has been confiscated by a 1984 court order. In 1982 Mr. Protsenko was sentenced to exile camp. Mrs. Protsenko is disabled, receives a small pension, and her three children still living at home tend a garden to make ends meet. The source of food will be taken away as the government forces them to move to a small flat in order to close the church. (For more information write Voice of Salvation, P.O. Box 536, Montebello, CA 90640). John 12:12-19--The Lord Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-44) When you look forward to something special for a long time, it seems that it will never come. For centuries the Jews had waited for their Messiah (Psalm 118:25,26, John 1:49). The disciples of the Lord Jesus believed that He was the Messiah, the Christ, and they awaited the day when He would proclaim Himself King. But until this hour, the Lord Jesus had restrained all attempts by anyone to publicly honor Him in spectacular ways. The raising of Lazarus had made quite an impression upon the people of Bethany and Jerusalem (John 12:11), so when the word got out that Jesus was to come to Jerusalem, the crowds began to gather to welcome Him. The crowds still listened to Jesus' teaching and watched the miracles that He performed. It was the leaders of the Jewish people who so violently hated Him and sought to kill Him. Five days before the Passover on the Sabbath, the enthusiasm of the people was tremendous. They saw the Lord Jesus riding upon a donkey, the animal of peace. Just as the horse represents war, so the donkey represents peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He was coming in peace. His riding upon a donkey (John 12:14,15) fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, "Your king is coming, sitting on an ass's colt." The news that Jesus was leaving Bethany for Jerusalem spread by word of mouth and the crowd prepared to greet Him with wild enthusiasm. They tore off branches from palm trees and threw down their cloaks to make a royal carpet for the Lord Jesus Christ to ride on (Matthew 21:8). They shouted His praise, "Hosanna" (Matthew 21:9). The word means "save we pray." If only the people had realized that here was the only One who could save them. They were shallow and changeable. They wanted Him to save their land from the Roman rulers and be their king. A few days later they were shouting again, but this time the words were "Crucify him!" The disciples did not fully understand why the Lord Jesus chose to ride from Bethlehem down the slope of the Mount of Olives, across the valley of Kidron, through the Golden Gate into the city of Jerusalem, on an ass. Not until the Lord Jesus was glorified did they remember that this had been written in the Old Testament about the Messiah! The people who believed in Jesus when they saw Lazarus raised from the dead continued to bear witness concerning the Lord Jesus (John 12:17). Because of their witness, others went to see the Lord Jesus (John 12:19). The Pharisees said, "The whole world has gone after him!" John 12:20-36--The Gentiles Seek Christ The words of the Pharisees were true. In John 12:20 we read that certain Greeks came seeking Jesus. These men came first to Philip and Philip went to Andrew. Then both men went to Jesus. The Lord Jesus probably saw the Greeks although John does not go into detail on this point. The lesson that John wants us to learn is that Jesus Christ was about to die, "And Jesus answered them, `The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies it bares much fruit'" (John 12:23,24). The word the Lord Jesus used to describe His death was "glorified." Yes, the death of Christ was the means of glory. He had come to die. He had come to provide us with salvation. The purpose of His coming was now about to be accomplished. The Lord Jesus had waited for this time. He did not face it with regret, nor did He wish to escape it. Why was it necessary for Jesus to die? Apart from death His life stands in isolation with no power of increase. His death is a key to spiritual fruitfulness. He took our sin upon Himself (Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). When anyone asks God to forgive him for Jesus' sake, God does it. That person is no longer separated from God. The Lord Jesus had to die so that all of us might have access to this new life. The way of salvation is through Him. In John 12:31 the Lord Jesus speaks of the fact that the ruler of this world, Satan, would be put to ruin and cast out. He goes on to say that when He is lifted up from the earth upon the cross He will draw all men unto Himself (John 12:32). This prophecy certainly did not seem to be fulfilled at this time, yet millions have been drawn to Him in every generation. His life has altered the course of history. Much of the world's calendars and chronological datings are arranged in relation to His birth. Today, there are millions and millions of Christians scattered throughout all five continents. What did Jesus mean when He said that He would draw "all" men to Himself? What about the many who reject Him? What about the heathen who have yet to hear the name of Jesus? What about those in this country who still do not know Him? The word "all" indicates that Jesus did not die exclusively for the Jewish people but for all people without distinction--whether Jews, Greeks, Romans or any other nationality. The Christ of Calvary is no longer simply the prophet of Galilee. He is not offering Himself exclusively as the Jew's Messiah. He is the Savior of the world. (Read Colossians 1:19-22.) John 12:37-43--The Cause of Unbelief After Jesus spoke words about the light and urged the crowd to become the sons of light--the sons of God by faith in Him--He departed and hid Himself from the crowd. He had performed many signs before them and it must have broken His heart when the people would not receive Him as their Savior and Messiah. Yet their unbelief fulfilled the words spoken by the prophet in Isaiah 53. This passage in Isaiah speaks about the Lord Jesus Christ's death on the cross. Though there were many who would not believe in Christ (John 12:37) there were others who claimed to believe yet were afraid--"They did not confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:42- 43). There are still people who feel the same way. They would like to confess Christ except that they are afraid they might lose some business contacts. Or they may be laughed at or looked down upon by their friends or family. In John 12:44 the Lord Jesus again emphasized that He had been commissioned and sent by the Father to earth. In verse 46 He refers to Himself as the light which has come into the world. In John 12:49 He again reaffirms His submission to the Father's plan--that He leave His heavenly home and come to earth to die on the cross and then to be resurrected--that all the world might have the opportunity to look to Him for forgiveness of sin and the abundant and eternal life, a gift from God to all who come to the Son in simple faith. In closing perhaps we should go back to what seems to be the key verses of John 12. First, John 12:23-26. We have already thoroughly discussed John 12:23,24 in the third section of these notes. However, we have deliberately saved John 12:25,26 L.B. for the end of this lesson so that we could carefully consider the Lord Jesus' words, "If you love your life down here--you will lose it. If you despise your own life down here--you will exchange it for eternal glory." The Lord Jesus Christ is speaking to those of us who follow Him in faith. He expects us to go the same route He went. A crucified Christ must have crucified followers. Paul was one of the followers of Christ who could say, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20 RSV). Here Paul states the principle of death and resurrection which applies to us as well as Jesus. We need to be, like Jesus, willing to be as a grain of wheat buried in order to be fruitful. It is only by expending and giving of ourselves that the Lord can use us. The spirit of the world cries, "Gather to yourself, accumulate all you can and protect what you've gained!" But this is not the way of Christ. The Spirit of the Lord Jesus calls us to "give all you can! Take the servant's place! Acknowledge that all authority belongs to God!" He is asking you to do this in John 12:26, "If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if anyone serves me, the Father will honor him." Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 12? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life this week? Second Day: Read all of John 13 concentrating on John 13:1-11. 1.What was the "hour" which Jesus Christ spoke of in John 13:1? 2.Who put the desire into Judas Iscariot's heart to betray the Lord Jesus? 3.Challenge: Originally Satan was Lucifer, highest of the angelic beings, but he allowed pride to enter his heart and determined to "be like God." What do you learn about his plans in Isaiah 14:12-15? 4.a.Who is it that Satan (the god of this world) blinds? Read 2 Corinthians 4:4. b.What is the spiritual warfare we wage as Christians which is described in Ephesians 6:12ff? c.What promise does God give to you in James 4:7? 5.How did the Lord Jesus humble Himself and become a servant to His disciples? Give verses in John 13. 6.a.Read John 13:8 and what did Peter say? What did the Lord Jesus reply? b.Challenge: Relate John 13:8 to 1 John 1:9. c.(Personal) Have you ever been "washed" as 1 Corinthians 6:11 describes this? Are you able to put your name in this verse and write it in this space to show that you have trusted in Jesus Christ for His cleansing and forgiveness for your life? d.What are some ways a Christian can share faith in Jesus Christ with others? Are you doing anything to share His love with others? Third Day: Read John 13:12-20. 1.How does the Lord Jesus refer to Himself in John 13:13,14? 2.Challenge: How does Philippians 2:7-11 describe Christ's humbleness and His Lordship? Put the thoughts into your own words. 3.(Personal) Are you willing to put your name in Philippians 2:3,4. If so write it out in the space with your name in the verses. 4.What does the Lord Jesus say in John 13:14,15 which is similar to the thoughts in Philippians 2:3-11? Put these verses in John into your own words also. 5.What encouragement does Jesus offer every Christian in John 13:17? 6.(Personal) Are you "blessed" as a Christian and happy because you have humbled yourself as Christ taught? Is this something you need to stop and pray about right now? In what area do you believe you need to allow the Lord Jesus to humble you? Fourth Day: Read John 13:21-30. 1.The following Scriptures describe the marks of a true disciple of Christ who will be blessed (John 12:17) by Him. Look up these verses and put their thoughts into your own words if you wish to. John 8:31 John 13:35 John 15:5,8 2.(Personal) According to the "marks of a true disciple" in question 1, do you feel there is any particular "mark" which you lack or are weak in? Will you pray and ask the Lord Jesus to help strengthen you in this needy area of your discipleship? (Galatians 5:16-24, Ephesians 3:16,17). 3.There was one of the twelve men who followed the Lord Jesus who would never become a true disciple of His. How does the Lord Jesus sadly state this in John 13:21? 4.Read John 13:27 with Luke 22:3-6. What did Judas do quickly? 5.Why did the disciples think that Judas left the table so quickly? Give verse in John 13. 6.a.Challenge: What warning about Satan do you find in John 13:27? b.What wise advice does God give you as you read 1 Peter 5:8,9? c.(Personal) Reread 1 Peter 5:8,9 and put your name into the verse, trusting God to give you the strength to resist the devil and stand firm in your faith in Christ. d.(Personal) Do you pray for other people who are being tempted by the devil, rather than gossiping about them? Should there be some changes in your attitudes and actions concerning this? Fifth Day: Read John 13:31-35. 1.The Lord Jesus is speaking of the glory which the cross, the resurrection and the ascension would bring to His Father and to Himself in John 13:31,33. How long does He tell His disciples He will be with them as the Son of man (Perfect God-Perfect Man)? 2.Where is the Lord Jesus going? Will His disciples be able to go with Him? See John 13:33 and John 7:33. 3.What new commandment did the Lord Jesus give to His disciples in John 13? 4.What does the Lord Jesus say about this love in John 13:35? 5.Challenge: What do the following verses say about Christian love? Put them into your own words if you wish to. Proverbs 10:12 Ephesians 3:17 Ephesians 5:2 Proverbs 15:17 6.(Personal) Which of the above verses was your favorite? Tell why it was. Share this with your discussion group if possible. Sixth Day: Read John 13:36-38. 1.What did Peter say he was willing to do for the Lord? 2.What did the Lord Jesus say that Peter would do? 3.Challenge: The Lord Jesus had foreknowledge and predicted those who would betray Him, how He would suffer and die on the cross, be resurrected and ascend into heaven! The following verses illustrate Christ's foreknowledge of such things. What do they say? John 6:64 John 13:10 John 18:4 Mark 8:31 4.Which was your favorite of these verses? Tell why it meant something special to you. Study in the Book of John Lesson 14 John 13:1-20--Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet (Matthew 26:7-30; Mark 14:17-26; Luke 22:14-39 Many of us have had the experience of wanting to get away from crowds of people in order to spend some time alone with a few special friends. Until now the Lord Jesus had spent almost all of His years of ministry surrounded by people. Mark tells us that there were so many people coming and going, that the Lord and His disciples "had no leisure so much as to eat" (Mark 6:31). The ministry of the Lord Jesus was coming to a close and He wanted to spend the last few hours before He went to the cross with His disciples. John 13-17 records, "His Private Ministry." These chapters tell of the actions and the words of Jesus Christ with His friends. The Lord Jesus gathered His disciples to an upper room in the city of Jerusalem (Mark 14:13-17, Luke 22:7-15). He knew exactly what was going to happen to Him (John 13:1); within a few hours He would be crucified upon the cross. But before this happened, the Lord Jesus wanted His disciples to know how much He loved them. To show this love He talked to them and gave them promises of His help (John 14:12-23, John 14:27-29). Then He prayed for the disciples and gave them examples of His love (John 15:9-12, John 17). The disciples and Jesus Christ had assembled in the upper room to eat the supper that the disciples had prepared (Luke 22:7-13). Since this was a private meal, no servants were supplied. The disciples and the Lord came into the room. In one corner was a basin of water and a towel so that they might wash their feet. A servant usually took care of this service. Certainly none of the disciples was thinking of being a servant! They had recently argued about who would be the chief in the Lord Jesus' kingdom (Luke 22:24). This is not the way the Lord Jesus reasoned. "Jesus knew that the Father had given him everything, and that he had come from God and would return to God. And how he loved his disciples! So he got up from the supper table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his loins, poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel he had around him" (John 13:3-5 L.B.). Thus at the moment when He might have had supreme pride knowing that His hour of glory was near when He would go to be with the Father, He showed supreme humility with this act of love. "Don't forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing tohim."--Hebrews 13:16 A woman relates her experience of how Christ humbled her attitude toward another woman in her community: "The other day I was going down the street to the supermarket from our home, and close behind me were three children. They were walking to school and even though it was a cold wintery day they had no mittens. I knew these youngsters and their mother. I knew her simply as a woman who had four illegitimate children, two marriages and divorces, and that she was contemplating a third marriage. I thought of her only in that light, pitying yet despising her weakness. I had never before thought of her as a mother who was struggling to provide for her family. Suddenly I realized that the third marriage likely held hope for her of enough food, for mittens, fruit juice, milk and a few toys for the children. Here was someone who might care for her and the children, and help her meet the necessities of life. The circumstances of the situation had made it almost impossible for me to empathize with this woman. I would never be in her position since I am a registered nurse and if the Lord were to call my husband to heaven today, I could be working within a week to provide for myself and my little girl. I would never have to make the same choices this woman has had to make--so how could I possibly judge her?" This woman was humbled by Christ as she thought through this situation. She determined to get to know the mother of these children so that she could tell her of the Lord Jesus Christ as well as help her in her material needs. She knew that God wanted her to give this woman love rather than to stand back and point her finger in judgment and condemnation. It is said that in his early days St. Francis of Assisi was a very wealthy person. He was an aristocrat and nothing but the best was good enough for him. One day he was riding alone outside the city when he saw a leper. This leper was a mass of sores and repulsive to the sight of any person. Ordinarily the human side of St. Francis would have recoiled in horror from this hideous sight. But God's love moved him. He got off his horse and on an impulse flung his arms around the leper and, according to the legend, the leper appeared to become Jesus Christ who lovingly took St. Francis into His arms. The lesson this legend attempts to teach men is that the nearer we are to suffering humanity, the nearer we are to God. The Lord Jesus knew that He was about to be betrayed (John 13:1, John 18:2-13). Instead of being bitter and resentful, His heart was full of greater love than ever. He knew that Judas Iscariot would betray Him (John 13:2) andyet with great humility He rose from supper, laid aside His garments and took up a towel and washed His disciples' feet (John 13:4,5). Since the roads in Palestine were unsurfaced they were very dusty in hot weather and very muddy when it rained. The people wore open sandals and their feet became easily soiled. The Lord Jesus saw that none of the disciples was willing to humble himself and wash the feet of the others, so He used this opportunity to demonstrate His love and humble heart in this dramatic way. His life became a visual aid for them of what the Christian attitude of heart should be--humble. "If my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land. I will listen, wide awake, to every prayer made in this place" (2 Chronicles 7:14,15 LB). "Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly, never be conceited" (Romans 12:16 R.S.V.). (Also read 1 Peter 5:5,6; James 4:10.) When we are tempted to think of our own rights and our personal dignity, remember the Lord Jesus Christ with a towel in His hand kneeling at His disciples' feet. Love for Jesus Christ is evident by our love for others. The Lord Jesus knew who He was. He knew that He had all things in His hand. He knew that He was the Lord of glory. Yet He assumed the task of the servant. (Read Colossians 1:16,17; Philippians 2:3-11.) This amazed the disciples. No one spoke. At last Peter could contain himself no longer. He turned to Jesus and called Him by the most exalted title he knew. "Lord, dost thou wash my feet?" (John 13:6). Jesus was Peter's Lord. Peter knew that He is Christ, the Son of God (John 10:30; John 10:35,38). Peter could not understand what the Lord was doing, but he did know that it did not seem like the work of One who was the Son of God. The Lord Jesus answered Peter abruptly, "You don't understand" (John 13:7 L.B.). He explained that he would understand later. However Peter did not stop to consider whether he understood. "You shall never wash my feet," Peter said (John 13:8 L.B.). His response was typical of the impetuous way he always spoke. Peter had just acknowledged that Jesus was "Lord," the One with supreme authority. Then Peter said, "You'll never do to me what you want." Peter's words were contradictory. If Jesus was really His Lord, then he dare not say, "no" to Him. The Lord wants us also to be obedient to whatever He asks of us. Jesus answered Peter, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me" (John 13:8). Above all, Peter wanted to have a part with Jesus and therefore surrendered himself completely (John 13:9). He wanted the Lord Jesus to wash not only his feet, but also his head and his hands. Once more the Lord patiently explained, yet Peter did not understand (John 13:10,11). "Jesus replied, `One who has bathed all over needs only to have his feet washed to be entirely clean. Now you are clean--but that isn't true of everyone here.' For Jesus knew who would betray Him. That is what He meant when He said, `Not all of you are clean'" (L.B.). The disciples were already clean because of their faith in JesusChrist (John 13:10), except for Judas who would betray Him and had not placed his faith in Jesus as the Lord. Not only was the Lord illustrating humbleness by washing His disciples' feet, but He was showing the disciples that all those who follow Him by faith will continually require cleansing by the Savior. It was only a little while afterward that Peter walked in paths of disobedience and denial. (Read John 13:36-38, John 18:15-18.) Peter's denial of the Lord brought a need for cleansing of his sin (1 John 1:8). "He that is washed (bathed all over) need not except to wash his feet" (John 13:10). In Titus 3:5 we read that, "Then he saved us--not because we are good enough to be saved, but because of his kindness and pity--by washing away our sins and giving us the new joy of the indwelling Holy Spirit" (L.B.). This is the one-time bathing that each person receives with new birth. But as we travel through this world sometimes the paths our feet follow are not the ones Christ would have us take. So our spiritual feet become soiled and need cleansing. Washed feet symbolize the renewal in cleansing that God offers the Christian who has suffered spiritual defeat. Provision has been made for this too, for "If we say that we have no sin, we're only fooling ourselves, and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins" (1 John 1:8,9 L.B.). I need Thee, precious Savior, I need Thee day by day, To fill me with Thy fullness And cleanse me on my way. Whitefield The Lord Jesus finished the washing of the disciples' feet and again took His place at the table (John 13:12). "Do you understand what I have done?" He asked the disciples. He explained that He had shown His love for His disciples and He expected them to show love for one another (John 13:13-15). He expects us to show our love for other Christians also. "You know these things--now do them! That is the path of blessing" (John 13:14 L.B.). David G. Johnson has written a layman's interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13. This is the kind of love which the Lord Jesus wants the Christian to exhibit through his life: "If I pray daily and memorize Bible verses, but I have no love for myself and others, I am as relevant as a cobweb, as useful as a dead battery. "If I tithe regularly and, beyond that, support a Vietnam orphan and United Fund, and if I offer my life for a cause, but have no love, I am nothing. "If I claim to have a corner on love, to understand it better than THOSE PEOPLE, and if I join the love parade to adorn myself with in- symbols and gain recognition from a clique, I only feed my prejudice and egotism, and strangle love. Love knots the throat in compassion and relaxes the sneer muscles. "Love can grow long hair or clip it short, can wear beadsor carry a pocket watch--yet love does not make itself up to offend others. "Love stands alone if necessary. "Love gets hurt and cries, yet it keeps no scores of wrongs, does not tally them to spew in the faces of adversaries. Love doesn't accuse, as a prosecuting attorney, but helps to reveal truth so that self- prosecution and redemption are possible. Love can wait for storms to subside. "Love hates laugh pills or injections because it knows the feeling of laughing deep and honest from a reservoir of joy and hope. "Love is forever. One day there will be no need for memorizing Bible verses, for prayer, for tithing, for causes. These things are part of this present life only and are like teething rings or Dr. Seuss books or pennies for UNICEF. One day a final barrier will be broken, and God will be fully in us and will be fully love." The Lord Jesus continued speaking and told what was about to happen to Him. "He that eateth bread with me," Jesus said, "hath lifted up his heel against me" (John 13:18). He was speaking of Judas' betrayal. In the beginning of his gospel, John wrote, "Jesus--knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of men: for he knew what was in man" (John 2:24,25). The Lord Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him. Judas could keep no secrets from the Master. His betrayal was foretold in Psalm 41:9, "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." In John 13:19 the Lord Jesus tells His disciples, "I tell you this now, so that when it happens, you will believe on me." The disciples did not understand that Judas would betray the Lord Jesus Christ, but later they would come to understand what Jesus meant in John 13:18. It would seem that He also challenged his disciples to be His messengers of the "Good News" of Jesus Christ. John 3:20, "Anyone welcoming my messenger is welcoming me." After the Lord Jesus Christ's death on the cross, He appeared in His resurrected body to His disciples and told them, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19,20). The Lord Jesus Christ says this same thing to you, if you have believed and received Him as your Savior and Lord. If you are His disciple, are you carrying out your Lord's instructions? John 13:21-30--The Lord Jesus Dismisses Judas, His Betrayer (Matthew 26:21-25, Mark 14:18-21, Luke 22:21-23) We find the Lord Jesus Christ's heart aching as He says in John 13:21, "One of you will betray me." Judas had played his part well, so the disciples were perplexed and wondered who could be the betrayer of their precious Lord Jesus. Judas must have been a tremendous actor for his outward actions showed love, loyalty and devotion, but his inward heart could not be hidden from the eye of Christ.(Read 1 Samuel 16:7, 1 Chronicles 29:17, Jeremiah 17:5.) In Jesus' day, diners reclined on couches around a table which was a low, solid block. The table was U-shaped, and the place of honor where the host sat, was at the center or the lower center of the U. Each person reclined on his left side, resting on his left elbow. This left his right hand free to eat. As they reclined in this manner, each man's head was literally in the breast of the person who was on his left. The Lord Jesus was sitting at the host's place, and the disciple whom Jesus loved (John) must have been sitting at Jesus' right, for as he leaned on his elbow at the table his head was on Jesus' breast. John never identified himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved but the general opinion has always been that it was himself to whom he referred in his gospel. The couch of Judas also had a special place at this table--Jesus was leaning on his breast so that the Lord could speak to him without the others overhearing the conversation. Therefore, he must have been seated to Jesus' left. The place where Judas sat was the place of highest honor and was always saved for the most intimate friend of the host. Therefore, it was expected that the Lord Jesus would share a special bit of food with Judas, before serving the others. Perhaps this is the reason the Lord Jesus asked Judas to sit in this place. As He handed the food first to Judas, it indicated a special affection. The tragedy here is that again and again the Lord Jesus appealed to that dark heart (John 12:4-8). And yet Judas chose to remain in darkness, rather than to have the light of life by faith in Jesus Christ (John 1:4,5). All of the disciples were anxious to learn who the betrayer was and Peter who evidently was too far away to ask the Lord Jesus himself, motioned to John to ask the Lord who the betrayer could be (John 13:24,25). The Lord Jesus Christ did not reply with a name, but said that the one to whom He would give the "sop" which was the bit of food given as a token of special favor and friendship would be that person. He handed it to Judas Iscariot, and in John 13:27 Judas accepted this gift without accepting the pleading love that went with it. Judas had steeled his heart to do what he had contracted to do--betray the Lord (Luke 22:47-53, Mark 14:43-52, Matthew 26:14-16, Matthew 26:47-50). From that time forth Satan took full control of Judas and he went out into the night with Jesus' words whispered softly in his ear, "That thou doest, do quickly" (13:27). It was probably very fortunate that none of the disciples realized why Judas left the table so quickly (John 13:28) for they might have run out into the night to keep him from fulfilling his mission. The Lord Jesus Christ knew that this was "his hour" to give Himself upon the cross for the sins of the world (John 3:16,17). And therefore, the disciples were not allowed to know why Judas left the room, for God's plan must be carried out in God's way. John 13:31-35--Jesus Announces His Departure The Lord Jesus knew that He would soon go to be with His Father after His death and resurrection (John 13:1,John 16:28, Luke 24:50-53, Mark 16:19). Therefore, He prepared His disciples for His departure by giving them some principles to live by. In John 13:31,32 He speaks of Himself and God being glorified through the coming circumstances brought about by Judas' betrayal and Christ's resurrection and ascension. In John 13:33 He speaks of His ascension to the Father, "Whither I go, ye cannot come" (KJV). The Lord Jesus continued to talk to the eleven remaining disciples. He spoke of a new commandment in John 13:34. This time the Lord Jesus did not tell us to love others only as "you love yourself" (Luke 10:27), but that you should love one another as He has loved you. In other words He said, "Measure your love by mine." A popular monk in the middle ages announced that in the cathedral that evening he would preach a sermon on the love of God. The people gathered and stood in silence waiting for the service while the sunlight streamed through the beautiful windows. When the last bit of color had faded from the windows, the old monk went to the candelabra and took a lighted candle. He walked to the life-sized statue of Christ on the cross and held the light beneath the wounds on His feet, His hands and His side. Then, still without a word, he let the light shine on the thorn-crowned brow. That was the sermon. The people stood in silence and wept. Everyone knew that he was at the center of a mystery beyond his knowing. Each person knew that he was indeed looking at the love of God--a love so deep, so wide, so eternal, that no words could express it, and no mind could measure it. This is the love that brought God's love to us. We can best serve him by giving forth His love. Does your life reflect the love of Jesus Christ, both to your Christian and your non-Christianfriends? In what way do you believe the Lord Jesus wants to work out His love in and through your life (Ephesians 4:23-32, Philippians 1:6)? John 13:36-38 (Matthew 26:33-35; Mark 14:29-31; Luke 22:23,24) Peter was still thinking of the words of Christ (John 13:33) and when the Lord stopped speaking Peter was ready with a question. He said, "Lord, whither goest thou?" The Lord repeated the fact that they could not follow him (John 13:36). Still Peter was not satisfied. "Why can't I go?" he insisted (John 13:37). Then followed his big boast, "I will lay down my life for thy sake." The Lord was kind to Peter. "You think you would be willing to lay down your life for me," Jesus asked. "Before morning you will declare that you never knew me." The Lord Jesus understood Peter. He listened to all the big promises Peter made. He knew that Peter was so sure of himself that he really meant those promises. But the Lord knew the weaknesses of Peter better than Peter did. In spite of these weaknesses, the Lord loved him (Luke 22:31-34). What a wonderful thing it must have been for Peter to hear his Lord say, "I have prayed for thee." If you search God's Word, you will find that you can know this same wonderful truth. In Hebrews 7:25 we read, "He is able to save completely all who come to God through Him. Since He will live forever, he will always be there to remind God that he has paid for their sins with his blood" (L.B.). The Lord Jesus loves you. He knows your weaknesses. He wants to forgive you and love you just as He loved Peter. Are you allowing Him to love you as He loved Peter? Do you follow Him in faith as Peter did? If you truly love the Lord Jesus Christ, you will want to share His love with others. Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 13? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life? Second Day: Read all of John 14 concentrating on John 14:1-3. 1.The Lord Jesus told the disciples in John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." The Old Testament tells of the goodness and peace which God gives, and the disciples probably thought of some of these promises. Look up the following promises from God and put them into your own words if you wish to. You may enjoy putting your own name in the verse to personalize and claim this promise from God's Word for your life today. Psalm 27:13 Psalm 141:8 2.a.How does Romans 8:31,32 add to the promise that the Lord Jesus gave in John 14:1? b.(Personal) Are you underlining the promises of God in your Bible, thus indicating that you believe God will keep these promises to you? 3.What does the Lord Jesus say about heaven in John 14:2,3? 4.Read Philippians 3:20,21 in a modern language translation if possible. Where is the Christian's "conversation" or "citizenship?" What else do you learn about what the Lord Jesus will do for the person who has received Him by faith? 5.(Personal) Have you ever believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior so that He can take you also to His heavenly home one day? If so, how are you helping others to know your Savior? Be specific in your answer. 6.Challenge: How does a person receive Christ as Savior and Lord? If you wish to, put these verses into your own words. Note: Grace is unearned and undeserved love. Ephesians 2:4,5 Ephesians 2:8,9 Romans 10:9 7.Challenge: For your own enjoyment read the description of the new heaven and the new earth in Revelation 21 and Revelation 22:1-7. There will not be time to discuss this in your discussion group, but there are many special promises 7.to the Christian in these verses. Particularly note Revelation 21:6,7 and Revelation 22:6,7. Third and Fourth Days: Read John 14:4-6. 1.Did Thomas understand what the Lord Jesus said in John 14:4? 2.a.Challenge: Read the following Scriptures to discover more about Thomas. John 11:12-16 John 20:24-28 b.(Personal) Do you see some of Thomas' attitudes in your life? Can you say what he said in John 20:28? 3.How did the Lord Jesus describe Himself in John 14:6? 4.The Lord Jesus said He was "the way." The Jewish people talked much about "the way" as the Old Testament Scriptures spoke at length about "the way" of God. What do the following Scriptures say concerning God's way? Isaiah 30:21 Psalm 27:11 5.a.Challenge: The Lord Jesus also said He was "the truth" in John 14:6. The Jewish people knew from Old Testament Scriptures that God was "the truth." What do the following Scriptures say concerning this? Psalm 26:3 Psalm 119:30 b.What does Ephesians 4:21-24 say about the Lord Jesus? 6.a.Challenge: The Jewish people were also familiar with the truth that God was "the life." What do the following Scriptures say concerning this? 6.a.Psalm 16:11 Proverbs 10:17 b.What do the following New Testament Scriptures say concerning life from Christ? John 5:26 1 John 5:11 c.(Personal) Of all the verses about "the way," "the truth," and "the life," which was your favorite or the most helpful to you? (Share with your discussion group the reasons for your choice, if possible.) Fifth Day: Read John 14:7-15. 1.What do you learn about the Father in John 14:7-9? 2.What did the Lord Jesus say to Philip about the oneness between God the Father and God the Son in John 14:11? 3.What do you learn about prayer in John 14:13,14? 4.Challenge: The following verses help us to understand prayer. Put them into your own words. Luke 22:41,42 Matthew 6:7 Psalm 91:15 5.(Personal) Which of the verses in question 4 was your favorite or gave you some help in your prayer life? Share with your discussion group if possible. 6.a.What did the Lord ask His disciples to do if they loved Him? Do you think He asks His present-day disciples to do the same thing? b.Challenge: The following are Christ's commandments. What do they say? Matthew 28:19,20 John 13:34 Acts 10:42 Sixth Day: Read John 14:16-31. 1.The Lord Jesus promises us the "Comforter" who is the Holy Spirit. List all of the things you can find concerning the Holy Spirit and His work in the life of the Christian in this passage. Give verse with each fact please. 2.(Personal) Which of these promises in the question above personally meant the most to you? (concerning the Holy Spirit). Share with your group if possible. 3.a.What wonderful promise does the Lord Jesus give the Christian in John 14:27? b.(Personal) Have you claimed this peace for your present circumstances in this uneasy and tumultuous world? Why not talk to the Lord in prayer about peace in your circumstances right now? c.(Personal) How are you helping others to find the Lord Jesus Christ and His peace? 4.a.Where did Christ say He was going in John 14:28 and what did He say about returning? b.(Personal) Did you choose some helpful Scripture from this lesson to memorize? Someday if your Bible was taken away from you, how much Scripture would you have "hidden" in your mind and heart? Study in the Book of John Lesson 15 John 14:1-7--The Lord Jesus Speaks With His Disciples and Comforts Them Have you ever heard anyone talk like this? "Most people have some form of religion. I think that God will certainly recognize that people have tried to live a good life, and he'll be satisfied." There are people who are trusting in themselves, their sincerity and good works to please God. The Bible says that they are mistaken in their ideas. There is only one way to please God. The Lord Jesus Christ was teaching this truth to His disciples when He said, "I am the way, and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." The Lord Jesus and Peter were having a conversation. It started when Jesus said He was going away and the disciples could not come with Him (John 13:33). Peter thought about these words and, in John 13:36, he asked his Lord where He was going. The Lord did not immediately answer the question. Instead He commented that Peter would soon deny Him. Peter could not believe such a thing. The Lord said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, the cock shall not crow till thou hast denied me thrice" (John 13:38 KJV). How Peter must have felt! He had just boasted that he would be willing to die for Jesus' sake. Now Jesus told Peter that he would deny that he ever knew Him. The Lord Jesus knew how Peter felt. "Let not your heart be troubled," Jesus said: "ye believe in God, believe also in me" (John 14:1 KJV). The Lord comforted Peter. He did not want His disciples to be concerned about the fact that He was leaving them. "Do not be worried; believe God; believe me." Very shortly life for all the disciples was going to become very difficult. They would know great persecution, during which time these words of the Lord Jesus would come back into their minds to comfort them. Do you have a troubled heart today? Perhaps you have a great problem. It may be spiritual, emotional or physical. Will you claim these words for your life which the Lord Jesus promised the disciples so long ago? He wants you to have comfort from these words (Psalm 27:13,14). We all need to do what the writer of this poem did one day. She turned her eyes from her predicament and focused them upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Will you do this today? I swept the closets of my mind today and found You there where I had lost You under the daily accumulation of minor messes and predicaments. Now once again You are enthroned my house is clean my mind a temple of the living God. --Ann Clark A minister was trying to comfort a woman by explaining to her that God could bring good out of her troubles (Romans 8:28,29). Picking up a piece of embroidery on which she had been working, he said, "My, what a confusion of threads and colors! Why do you waste your time on a tangled mess like that?" The woman turned the embroidery over. "Look at it now!" she said. "Isn't it beautiful? You were looking at the wrong side!" The minister then told her that she was viewing her trials in the same way he had looked at her beautiful needlework. She was looking at her trials from the wrong standpoint, with earthly vision. But she needed to look at them from God's point of view. Then she would feel differently about them. Do you realize that the Lord is working out a lovely design in your own life? When you get to heaven and see things in perfect perspective, you'll realize what a beautiful tapestry He has woven out of your life. Seven times in this chapter the Lord Jesus told the disciples to believe in him (John 14:1,10,11,12,29). What does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ? "The Lord told the disciples, `Put your trust in me; rely on me.'" After the Lord Jesus told the disciples to trust Him, He proceeded to answer their question about where He was going. "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, and where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am going" (John 14:2-4 RSV). Here in the privacy of the upper room (Mark 14:12-21, John 13--14), the Lord Jesus made it clear to His disciples that His going away was really for their benefit. Later on in this same conversation Jesus Christ said, "But I tell you the truth, it's good for you that I go away. If I don't go away, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I go, I'll send him to you" (John 16:7 BECK). The Lord Jesus was not deserting His own. He was going so that He might provide for their needs, both present and future. "I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2). Heaven is a place. The Bible does not locate heaven for us, but it certainly makes it plain that heaven is not just a never-neverland. It is where God is. The Lord Jesus was returning to heaven to prepare it for those of us who have received Him as Savior. If we could realize what heaven is like, we would be impatient with this life and want to go there immediately! Paul visited heaven and in II Corinthians 12:2-5 L.B. tells about his experience: "Fourteen years ago I was taken up to heaven for a visit. Don't ask me whether my body was there or just my spirit, for I don't know; only God can answer that. But anyway, there I was in Paradise, and heard things so astounding that they are beyond a man's power to describe or put in words (and anyway I am not allowed to tell them to others). That experience is something worth bragging about, but I am not going to do it. I am going to boast only about how weak I am and how great God is to use such weakness for his glory." From this passage we see that Paul was not allowed to tell what he had seen. John was caught up into heaven, but only reports that he saw the King on His throne being worshipped (Revelation 21 & 22). Heaven is where Jesus is! Our prime interest should be in Him. If you have lost a loved one or are facing death yourself, let these ten comforting words of Jesus encourage your heart concerning the reality of heaven: "If it were not so, I would have told you." For the Christian, the best is yet to be! (1 Peter 1:4). We eagerly expect to be delivered from all our limitations here on earth. But we must patiently anticipate that time when we shall meet our Lord. A missionary arrived in New York aboard the same ship that brought President Teddy Roosevelt from one of his safaris in Africa. Thousands swarmed the docks to greet the president, but not one person was there to welcome the missionary. He thought, "See how they greet the men of the world, and you--one of God's preachers--without even one soul to meet you." He boarded the train for his home in Kentucky and after several weary hours arrived at the station. None of his family was there to meet him for there had been a delay in the information concerning his time of arrival. The missionary's heart ached as he found his own way to his house. Humanly speaking he had reason to complain. However, the Lord sweetly whispered to him, "Henry, you are not home yet!" When you feel pressured by trials and face an unfriendly world, remember that you are "a stranger and a pilgrim" on this earth (Hebrews 11:13). This world is not your home; "For our citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20). Your disappointments will be replaced by hope, your complaints by praise, and your pessimism will turn into the assurance of the prospect of glory in heaven. Cheer up, Christian, you are not Home yet! The Lord Jesus promised, "If I go...I will come again" (John 14:3). The separation that the disciples dreaded was not permanent. He promised to return. Read Matthew 24:3,27,30,31,37-39,42-44; Mark 13:27,32,35,36; Philippians 3:20,21; Colossians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; 1 Peter 1:7,13. The Lord Jesus left the Bible for us to read and learn of Him. It tells us that He will come again. We can be sure thatHe will keep His Word. Someday He will come and take us to be with Him. His return is as definite and sure as any other of His promises. Are you looking for the Lord to come back? Do you want Him to come back? If you knew for certain that He would return at 3:00 this afternoon, would it make any difference in what you would do with your time today? It shouldn't. You and I should live every day waiting for and expecting the Lord Jesus to come. When Jesus told the disciples, "And wither I go, ye know the way" (John 14:4 ARV). Thomas interrupted the Lord. He did not know where the Lord was going, or how to get there. Jesus replied by saying, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." Notice the Lord did not say that He was one of the ways to the Father. He said that He was the way. One man was giving directions to a certain street to another man. When he finished explaining, the other man asked, "That's the best way, is it?" "That's the only way," was the answer. "The other road will lead you back where you started." Jesus Christ is not just the best way to heaven; He is the "way." Jesus also claimed to be the truth about God. He is more than just a teacher. He is truth. He is all truth. We do not know all things. We do not have all the truth about anything. But Christ knows all. He is complete and absolute truth. I have often seen cars with bumper stickers which say, "Vote for The Man You Can Trust." In this day of the "credibility gap" I can see why politicians choose this particular slogan. They hope that voters will think of them as men in whom they can believe. I don't know much about politicians who can be trusted, but I do know someone with a perfect record--Jesus Christ, the Son of man (Hebrews 4:15). We can believe that He spoke the truth, for He predicted that He would die and rise again the third day--and He did! (Luke 9:22,44,45; 23:26-56; 24). "But these (things) are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20:31). Jesus Christ is "The Man you can trust." Jesus said, "I am the life." Turn back to John 1:4: "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." Now look at John 10:10, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 5:24 says, "I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life" (RSV). From these verses we see that the Lord Jesus Christ is life, all life. He gives us abundant life. He gives us eternal life. This eternal life is a quality of life as well as a quantity. It lasts forever, and from the first day we receive it, it is an abundant, full life. Someone said, "Without the way there is no going. Without the truth, there is no knowing. Without the life, there is no living." Christ is the answer to all our needs. John 14:8-14--The Promise of Greater Works Philip wanted to see God the Father with his physical eyes (John 14:8). The Lord Jesus again stated that He Himself is God (John 14:9- 11), "He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father." The Lord then repeated the claim He had made before. He asked the disciples, "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?" (John 14:10). Not only did Jesus' words claim authority from God, but the works which He did also were evidence of His deity. Then the Lord made a promise which should challenge each one of us, "He who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father;" (John 14:12 RSV). "He who believes on me...." No one can serve God without believing in Jesus Christ. What "greater works" was the Lord speaking about in John 14:12? What could be greater than the miracles Jesus performed? Did Christ actually mean what He said? If so, few of us have ever believed or accepted all that He wants to do for us and through us. It is a fact of history, as the Lord Jesus continues to work through His followers, that greater works have been done since Jesus returned to His Father. His life caused only a ripple in Palestine, but that ripple spread across the world as men and women shared the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with thousands upon thousands of people. The Holy Spirit actually lives within each person who comes to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith. Part of His work is to speak through this person and witness of Jesus Christ to others. What kind of a witness are you for Jesus Christ? A man lost his wife and was left with five precious children. Even though it was very difficult for him, there was a note of triumph in his voice as he shared with others an experience of his seventeen- year-old son. A short time after his mother's death, the boy went to the cemetery alone, and stood at the foot of his mother's grave. He was startled by a soft touch on his shoulder, and turning around saw an elderly woman standing by his side. She asked, "Is someone you know buried here?" The boy replied that it was his mother's body. The woman's face brightened and she said, "I'm so glad to meet you. You see, all during your mother's illness, she witnessed for the Lord. In fact, time and time again she spoke of Christ to my husband who was also in the hospital for treatment. God has taken him Home, but he is in heaven today because your mother cared enough to tell him about Christ." Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she told this story. This boy had never given much time to Christian service. But this woman's words awakened him to the importance of witnessing about Jesus Christ. After the woman left, he searched his heart and, there at his mother's grave, dedicated his life--his all to Jesus Christ. He is now in Bible school preparing for the Lord's work. The disciples would soon know the loss of their Lord and Savior in a physical sense. After His crucifixion He would be resurrected and ascend into heaven. But they would give their lives--their all to Jesus Christ and would go forth to witness for Him as He had asked them to do(Matthew 28:16-20). Indeed the Lord's ministry would be multiplied through His disciples until, "Greater works than these" would they do because He went to the Father (John 14:12). More is possible because Jesus returned to His Father, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do" (John 14:13). Jesus Christ, through prayer, is the way to God. Sometimes people feel that they are not good enough to go directly to God and ask Him for anything. And they are right! None of us is good enough to enter into God's presence. But we do not come before God in our own worthiness. We enter pleading the goodness, and the worthiness of the blood of Christ (Romans 3:24-25). We are to pray in Jesus' name. He will answer so that the Father may be glorified. Certainly this means that whatever we ask will be answered in accordance with the will of God. He cannot be glorified by selfish requests. When we pray, we should always ask the Lord to do what He knows is right so that He may receive honor and glory. Then we certainly will not think of trying to receive anything on our own merits. Sin is a short word. When we have sin in our lives God is unable to listen to our cries until we are willing to have these sins blotted out by the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7-9). One of these is the sin of unbelief, "If you lack wisdom, ask God, who gives to everyone with an open hand and doesn't scold, and he will give it to you. You should ask with faith and have no doubts. Anyone who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. Such a man should not expect to get anything from the Lord" (James 1:5-7 Beck). Another sin which can be a hindrance to prayer is referred to in Mark 11:25,26--"When ye stand praying forgive, if ye have ought against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." Do you hold a grudge against some person? Do you have bitterness in your heart toward someone? You must be willing to let God remove that bitterness and replace it with forgiveness as you bring your prayers to Him. Is there something in your life right now that needs to be brought to God? John 14:15-24--The Promise of the Holy Spirit Jesus Christ prepared the disciples for His departure. He told them they should carry on His work. But the Lord Jesus knew that the disciples could not do the work alone, or they would fail in their own strength. He sent the Holy Spirit to empower them to do His work. In this chapter we see what the Lord teaches His disciples about the Holy Spirit. John 14:16: He is a Comforter, He will walk along beside us. John 14:16: He will abide or stay with us forever. John 14:17: He is the Spirit of truth, John 14:17: He is in everyone who believes in Jesus Christ. John 14:26: He will teach us all things. John 14:26: He will remind us of things which we have heard. The words "another Comforter" imply that Jesus Christ Himself is a Comforter. The word for "Comforter" in theGreek is "Paraclete" which actually means "someone called along side of." An actual story written in Greek shows the meaning of the word. A small boy fell and hurt himself. He cried in pain and fright. His mother ran to his side, picked him up, hugged him, wiped his face, and dusted off his clothing. In short, she came along side of him with love and care-- paraclete. This describes the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ when He was on earth. It is also one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit to believers now. He watches over us and when we need special care, He is there to meet our need. He wipes the tears from our eyes and eases our hurts. Since He is always with believers, we are never alone (Hebrews 13:5a). John 14:17 may puzzle you, "Whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him, nor knows him;". The world cannot receive the Spirit of God because the world does not understand about the Holy Spirit; therefore, He can do nothing for them until they recognize Him. The Holy Spirit is ready and willing to come to any person and take up residence within him. There is only one condition. He must believe in Christ Jesus as his Savior and Lord. If a person honors the Lord Jesus by faith, the Holy Spirit will enter and live enthroned within his life. John 14:25-31--The Lord Jesus Promises Peace Finally, in John 14:27, the Lord told His disciples that they need not fear for, "My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." The Lord Jesus also speaks of the Holy Spirit as He says in John 14:28, "I go away, and I will come to you." Christians need, more than anything else, quietness, contentment, and peace in the Holy Spirit. D.L. Moody once said, "A very restless man will never be a godly man, and a godly man will never be a very restless one." Another time, as he was speaking on these words in John 14:27, he explained, "Did you ever think that when Christ was dying on the cross, He made a will? Perhaps you have thought that no one ever remembered you, or provided you with a legacy. If you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you should be happy to know that He remembered you in His `will.' While He gave His body to Joseph of Arimathaea (Luke 23:50, Mark 15:43), He gave His mother to John to care for (John 19:26,27), His Spirit back to His Father (Luke 23:46), and to all of His disciples down through the ages, He said, `Peace I leave with you.' That is our legacy, His joy, His peace!" Have you claimed your inheritance? Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 14? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life this week? Second Day: Read all of John 15 concentrating on John 15:1-5. Note: "Fruits" in this chapter means the evidence of the Holy Spirit's working in and through the Christian's life to the glory of God. 1.The Jewish people knew "the vine" was used as a symbol of the nation of Israel. How do the following Old Testament Scriptures show this? Isaiah 5:7 1.Hosea 10:1-3 2.What does the Lord Jesus call Himself and how does He describe the Father in John 15:1? 3.a.Challenge: What does the Lord Jesus say the Father will do to the Christian so that he can bear more fruit? b.(Personal) The Christian who is being "pruned" by God may be required to give up something he considers important, even necessary. As he looks back over his life, do you think he could see this experience as God pruning away a dead branch in his life, so that other branches, (or areas in his life) could bear more fruit? If so, the energies given to what was formerly considered important would now be available to God to produce the very best fruit. Have you ever experienced such a "pruning" (cutting away)? If possible, describe this pruning and the results it brought in and through your life. c.What is the secret of bearing fruit for God according to John 15:4,5? 4.Challenge: John 15:3 shows us that the Scriptures (the Word of God) are useful in pruning the Christian's life. As we read the Bible, things that are not useful in our lives are brought to our attention. We are to allow Jesus Christ to "prune" or cleanse our lives of these things. What practices are described in Galatians 5:19-21 which are "of the flesh" and not a result of abiding in Jesus Christ? 5.What are the characteristics of a Christian who is abiding "in the vine," (Jesus Christ), one who has allowed Him to prune away the "dead wood" of the flesh? See Galatians 5:22-24 and Colossians 3:12-17. Put these verses into your own words. 6.(Personal) Do you need any pruning in the areas listed in Galatians 5:19-21 in question 4? As you read Galatians 5:22-24 or Colossians 3:12-17 was there one particular "fruit" you would like to ask God to give you in your life today? Be specific. Why not stop and talk to God in prayer about this right now? Do the branches of your life need pruning? Do they need some fertilizing with God's Word, and watering by prayer? Be specific in your answers. Third Day: Read John 15:6-11. Note: A Christian who does not give his life fully to Christ "withers" and there is no joy, no self- denial, no love for others and no surrender to God for service. Since the subject of the entire passage is the fruit-bearing Christian, the "withering" and "burning" spoken of in John 15:6 would seem to represent God's judgment onuseless works done in fleshly strength instead of through the power of the Holy Spirit. 1.How does 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 help you to understand John 15:6 and the above note about it? 2.According to 1 Corinthians 4:5 are we to judge our fellow Christians' "fruit" in a critical way? Why or why not? 3.a.What prayer promise do you find in John 15:7? b.What is the "condition" for answered prayer given in John 15:7? 4.Challenge: How do the following verses reveal more of God's "conditions" for our prayer life? Put these verses into your own words. Psalm 37:4 John 4:3 5.a.How does Christ compare His love for us to another love in John 15:9? b.How can we abide (live and rest) in Jesus Christ's love? 6.Christ speaks of keeping His commandments in John 15:10. We must know them before we keep them! This means we must read the Bible and then obey the commands we find. What do the following verses say concerning this? Luke 11:28 2 Timothy 3:16,17 Fourth Day: Read John 15:12-17. 1.a.What command does the Lord give all Christians in John 15:12? 2.b.Christ expresses His love through Christians' attitudes. For instance, we are to try to make other persons' experiences in this world happy ones. Name some practical ways that a Christian can show love to someone who is physically ill. Also name practical ways Christians can show love during times of crisis: one who has a death in the family, one who is widowed, one who has lost his job, one who has no friends, one who is suffering persecution for Christ's sake, etc. 2.Challenge: What do you believe the Lord Jesus meant by His statement in John 15:13? Read Romans 5:8 to help you understand this statement of Christ's. 3.a.What is it that Christ no longer calls the Christian followers? b.Why does He no longer call His followers by this name? 4.a.Jesus Christ calls all people to receive Him by faith as their Savior and Lord. When they respond to Him, He then appoints them to do what according to John 15:16? b.This can be accomplished in only one way. How does Ephesians 3:16 explain this important truth? 5.How does John 14:13 emphasize a point which the Lord Jesus speaks of in John 15:16? 6.What does Jesus Christ re-emphasize in John 15:17 which He also spoke about in John 15:12? Fifth Day: Read John 15:18-21. Note: "World" in this passage refers to those who have rejected God. 1.If you as a Christian are hated (rejected, snubbed or persecuted) what should you remember according to John 15:18? 2.a.Why does "the world" hate Christians? Give verse. b.If a Christian sided with those who reject God, how would he be treated by the world? 3.According to John 15:21 why does "the world" persecute Christians? 4.What does 1 John 2:15 say about loving "the world"? 5.Does 1 John 2:16,17 help you to understand the difference between the "world's pleasures" and the "pleasures of the Christian?" Use a modern English translation, if possible, when answering this. 6.Challenge: How can you, as a Christian, face such persecution from "the world?" Read the following Scriptures to help you understand God's help in persecution. Put them into your own words. Romans 8:17 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 Sixth Day: Read John 15:22-27. 1.If people hate Jesus Christ, who else do they hate according to this passage? Give verses please. 2.How does Ephesians 4:18,19 describe the people and the sin that Jesus Christ said He revealed when He came into the world (John 15:22)? 3.In John 15:25 you will find the phrase "fulfilled the word." Find the words that were fulfilled by reading Psalm 35:19 and Psalm 69:4 and compare these passages with John 15:25. 4.What does the Lord Jesus promise that the Counselor (the Holy Spirit) will do for the Christian? 5.List all that you can learn about the Holy Spirit in John 15:26. 6.Which Scripture verse in this lesson was most helpful or challenging to your life this week? Did you try to memorize it? Study in the Book of John Lesson 16 John 15:1-11--Abiding in Jesus Christ The night the Lord Jesus was betrayed He communicated a number of things to His disciples. He sent Peter and John to find a room so that He could have Passover with His disciples (Luke 22:8-13). They ate the Passover meal together, during which Jesus Christ instituted the Lord's Supper. He washed the disciples' feet. He revealed that He would be betrayed by one of His followers; Judas, the traitor, then left the room to go to the Priests to plot the Master's arrest (Mark 14:10,11). In His conversation with the disciples the Lord told them that He was the way, the only way to God (John 14:6). He promised the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). Then the disciples and Jesus left the upper room (John 14:31) and walked toward the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46, Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-52). Tiberius Caesar, who ruled Rome in a.d. 30, had great power, pomp and possessions. Yet the historian, Pliny wrote, "He is the gloomiest of mankind." But, Jesus Christ, who knew that He was sitting in the shadow of His cross, took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread and gave it to His disciples (Luke 22:19). Then, when the Holy Supper was over, they all sang a hymn and went out (Mark 14:26). Jesus Christ transmitted joy in the face of humiliation, pain, rejection and death. He gave comfort to His disciples (John 14--17). The Christian is not to be a dispenser of "Caesar's gloom," but rather a transmitter of Jesus' joy! Yes, there is much in this life to complain about if we are inclined to be sour and discontent. But as followers of Jesus Christ we are to "show forth His praise" and be happy ambassadors of heaven, spreading the sunshine of Jesus Christ's love to a dark and needy world, (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). By this we will attract others to the Lord Jesus. John 15 continues the conversation the Lord Jesus Christ had with His disciples in the upper room. He had just promised that the Father would send them the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). He said He would leave His peace with His disciples. A peace which the world, those outside of Jesus Christ, would never know (John 14:27). He also warned them of the coming of the "ruler of this world" who had no power over the Lord Jesus (John 14:30, John 12:31). In this chapter the Lord taught the disciples a new relationship between Himself, His Father and His disciples. He identified Himself as the "true vine," and His Father as the "vinedresser" or husbandman (John 15:1). Then He immediately referred to the branches, His disciples, and the fruit. The first relationship is obvious. The vine is the source of life for the branch just as Jesus Christ is the source of our life, "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1 John 5:12). If we are to have eternal life, we must get it from the source of life, the Lord Jesus Christ. If we are to bear fruit, to live for Him, we must abide in Him (John 15:4). This means that we must live in contact or in communion with Jesus, day by day and moment by moment. We cannot live or serve God apart from His Son, Jesus Christ. We are unable to do the will of God in our own strength. The Lord wanted the disciples to learn this truth. You and I need to learn the same truth. Notice that the fruit is not Christian service, but the fruit is Christian character. God is glorified by the fruit of the Spirit in a Christian's life. "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control;--those who belong to Christ have nailed their natural evil desires to his cross, and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit's power, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives" (Galatians 6:22-25 LB). These are the fruits a branch in the "true vine" must bear. Notice that these are the fruits of the Spirit. You cannot bear the fruit by yourself. You have to be a branch of Christ the vine, or you will not bear any fruit at all. The branch needs the vine. Jesus told His disciples, "Without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). The Lord Jesus uses the word "abide." The place where you abide is the place where you live. You do not abide at a friend's house. You may go there often, but this is not your home. The Lord Jesus says that you are to live in Him, and He in you (John 15:4,5). This means that you are to live in Christ. Do you? Do you enjoy being with the Lord Jesus? Do you feel at ease around those who love and serve Him? Do you talk to Him as your friend? When you do live in Christ and He in you, your life will bear the fruit of Christian character. You become a Christian when you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior (John 1:12). Then you are a branch in the vine. In John 15:2,5 notice that the Lord talks of "no fruit," "fruit," "more fruit," and "much fruit." As you continue to live in Christ, you grow in Him. The closer you walk with Him, the more you grow like Him. Then as you continue to grow in Christ, He purges or prunes you. He shows you what you need to do to bear "more fruit." He may say to you, "Branch of mine, there is a little shoot on you of quick temper. I'm going to snip that off." Or it may be that you are impatient and always want your own way. It may be that you are selfish, and think only of yourself. All sorts of "little shoots" may be on your life which keep the fruit from becoming more abundant. These the Lord cuts away. It may not be a pleasant experience, but it is necessary if you want to be a really fruitful branch for Christ. Farmers in the state of New York raise thousands of bushels of apples each year. Occasionally a tree seems to give all of its energy to growing wood and leaves, and consequently bears little or no fruit. When the owner notices this, he takes an axe and makes a deep wound in its trunk close to the ground. Almost always that ugly gash produces a change. The next year the tree presents the husbandman with an excellent yield. It is the "fruit of suffering!" Often times God's "trees" (Psalm 1:3) are like that. He allows the axe of trial and the pruning knife of suffering that we may lay aside worldly pursuits, and invest the "sap of our spiritual energy" in fruit bearing. The Lord recognizes that we truly come to live and abide in Him only by "dying to self." "I have been crucified with Christ: and I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me, and the real life I now have within this body is a result of my trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20 L.B.). God allows sorrow, trouble, ill health and disappointment to awaken us from the unprofitable earthly contentment which so easily overtakes the Christian. Through these experiences our attention is redirected toward eternal things and we produce the fruit of righteousness that glorifies His name (John 15:5,8). "Even a diamond does not sparkle until it is cut!" Are you yielding to any "fruit of suffering" God allows in your life which could produce fruits of the Spirit. Do you respond to the Master-cutter so that your life will sparkle with His love? Corrie ten Boom says, "Do you know what has encouraged me lately? John 15:2, `He prunes every branch that does bear fruit to increase its yield.' Difficulty can sometimes make me so downhearted. I saw such moments as `the wrong side of the embroidery!' Then reading John 15 again and again, I start to understand that when the Lord is pruning, He is very close to His branch! It made me happy to know that Jesus was so close to me, and pruned me so that I could bear more fruit. I could say, `Thank you, Lord Jesus!'" "For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:11 R.S.V.). Corrie goes on to say, "I meet so many Christians who are going through the same thing that I am going through, and what a joy it is that I can tell them about the closeness of Jesus in the pruning period. Let us pray for each other during these testing times so that we only can thank Him and not become discouraged." In John 15:3 the Lord Jesus says that His disciples have already been made clean by the Word. The believer has been pruned through the Word of God, the Scriptures. By reading and thoughtfully studying the Bible the Christian will find that God cleans out of his life those things which are not in His will and plan. This is a spiritual process in the maturing of a Christian's life. Many habits and actions, some of which may not be evil in themselves, may be harmful to other persons and are not fruitful because they do not help us reflect the Lord Jesus Christ to others. God wants to cut these out of us; through the study of His Word and private prayer He shows us what needs to be cut away with His loving pruning. This Bible study gives you a daily plan in which to get into "the Word of God." Will you take up the challenge to be cleansed by His Word daily? There are varying opinions on what John 15:6 means. We must not be dogmatic about this symbolic verse. However, since the subject of this entire passage is fruitbearing of the Christian, the "withering" and "burning" in John 15:6 would seem to represent God's judgment on useless works done in fleshly strength instead of through the power of the Holy Spirit. A Christian who does not give his life fully to Christ "withers" and there is no joy, no self-denial, no love for others and no surrender to God's plan for service in the power of the Holy Spirit. This seems to be what the Lord Jesus is speaking about in this verse. Yes, the believer can put in a full eight hours at the office or shop, earn a decent living for his family, keep a neat and clean home and thereby engage in ordinary forms of activity. But this Christian may not be bearing fruit according to the will of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). The rest of John 15 describes the promises God gives those who abide in Christ and bear fruit for His glory. The first promise is found in John 15:7. "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you." The Lord Jesus names two conditions you must accept before you can claim His promise that God will give you whatever you ask in prayer. The first condition is that you must abide, you must live, in Christ conscious of His presence and love moment by moment during the day. Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13). The second condition is that you must let His word actually dwell within your life. In this way you can find out what God wants you to do, so that you can follow Him. You should memorize portions of the Bible so they may abide in you. For example, the Bible says, "Love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44). We need to know that God told us this, then we need to act on His words. If Christ's words abide in you, then you will show love: you are kind, you do not carry a grudge, you want even those whom you may not like to know Christ, too. The Bible tells us to pray always and to pray in the name of Jesus Christ (John 14:13). Our prayers are to be prayers of faith (James 5:15). Prayer is the secret of abiding in Christ. As we make contact with God every day we are aware of Jesus Christ's presence in our lives. WARMTH Lord, I was cold, cold so I went out to warm myself in the sun's warm glow. It felt so good, Lord! Warmed me through and through relaxed me from top to toe it seemed to burn out all my tensions and fears. Lord, your Son is like this too! When I am cold, cold, cold with fears, anxieties, tensions, hatred, jealousies, prejudices, self-pity, and other sins. Then, Lord, I need to come into your Son's presence and allow Him to warm me by His Holy Spirit through your Word and prayer. It works, Lord! Your Son does warm me! and burns out of me my fears, anxieties, tensions, hatred, jealousies, prejudices, self-pity, and other sins. Lord, help me to expose myself to the warmth of your Son DAILY. --Doris Greig When you are abiding in Jesus Christ and letting His words abide in you (John 15:7) then you can ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. God will hear and answer your prayers. Of course any prayer which is offered with selfish motives is hindered (James 4:3). You must "delight" yourself in the Lord and He will "give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalm 37:4). However, we do not ever have to be afraid to ask God for anything we might want, even if we are not sure of His will. God loves you more than you can love your own children and He wants you to ask. No father or mother ever wanted to give gifts to their own children as much as God desires to bless to overflowing all of His children, those who have come to Him through faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, if we delight ourselves in Jesus Christ our desires will not be contrary to His will for our life (1 John 5:14,15). God in His kindness, love and foreknowledge, does not always give us all that we ask for. A mother found her sailor son kneeling at the bed and heard him praying very specifically about some difficulties. She gave him some sound advice when she said, "Son, when you come to God in prayer-- don't give Him orders! Just report for duty." "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up" (Psalm 5:3). If you are not sure how to pray about a certain situation or person, will you this week trust the Holy Spirit to guide you to pray according to God's will? (John 14:26) We see the results of abiding in Christ in John 15:8-11: the Father is glorified, the Christian bears much fruit which is proof of his being a true disciple. Christ loves us just as much as the Father loves Him; we keep Christ's commandments. He puts His joy in us, and our joy is "full." Abiding in Christ really brings "full joy" to the Christian. In John 14:27 the Lord Jesus promised His peace to the disciples. In John 15:11 He promised His joy. He gave His followers both of these promises, peace and joy, the night He knew He was to be betrayed, the night before His crucifixion. The Lord Jesus wanted His disciples to know that true peace and joy do not depend upon what happens but rather they depend upon our relationship with God. Jesus knew that He was about to die. He knew that His disciples were worried about the immediate future. He knew that they would be afraid and discouraged when they saw Him die. So He gave them His peace--the peace of God which passes understanding. He gave them His joy--the joy that is consistent regardless of circumstances. The Lord Jesus still gives His peace and His joy to you when you abide in Him. You do not have to worry or be sad. Your life is in God's hands. You are joined to Jesus Christ as a branch is joined to the vine. You receive your life from Him. You receive the power to bear fruit because He lives in you. You have joy because you live in Christ. Joy can mean "Just Our Yieldedness," which is our abiding in the Savior! John 15:12-17--Christ's Commandment to His Disciples A person who abides in Christ has another dimension. He is to love other Christians as much as Christ loves Him. Jesus repeats this commandment that He gave His disciples in the upper room (John 13:34,35). In John 15:13 Christ tells us how much He loves--He was going to lay down His life for His friends. It is a great love when someone gives his life for his friends. We read a story in the newspaper occasionally where someone has risked his life to save a friend. We treat such a person as a hero for what he has done. If he should die as a result, we feel that this person has done far more than anyone could expect. Jesus died for more than His friends; He died for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:6-8). He died while we were His enemies. The Lord Jesus showed even greater love than what He described. He died for sinners like us, so that, by His death and resurrection, we might have the privilege of becoming His friends. A mother expresses love for her child in the care that she gives it; a husband expresses love for his wife in the way he provides for her welfare, her needs and by his consideration of her plans and desires. A young man gives a ring to his fiancee as an expression of his love for her. Anyone can say "I love," but it is his conduct that will prove or disprove his statement. Love must be demonstrated in action. John 15:18-27--The Hatred of the World The students of Glasgow University were deeply moved when David Livingstone stood before them after sixty years of service in Africa. One of his arms had been rendered useless as a result of a lion's attack, and he bore other visible evidence of the suffering he had endured through twenty-seven bouts of various jungle fevers. In a voice charged with emotion he broke the silence of the assembly by saying, "Shall I tell you what sustained me amidst the trials and hardships and loneliness of my exiled life? It was the words, `Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20). Later, when he had returned to Africa, they found him one day kneeling by his bed, but his spirit had flown to be with the Lord. Near him a small New Testament lay open at that very comforting statement of Jesus, and in the margin he had written, "The word of a Gentleman." Yes, the promises of Jesus can be depended upon as the Word of a Living Savior who will love us forever and His constant companionship will compensate for any hardship we may have to endure for Him. One who abides in Christ will find still another truth. Perhaps this is not one of those which you particularly seek. The Lord Jesus tells us in John 15:18-25 that the world will hate the Christian just as they hated Jesus Christ. One of the hardest things for any one of us to endure is the knowledge that people do not like us. But the fact remains that you can never, no matter how hard you try, be liked by everyone. Now the question for you to decide is, whose side are you on? Some hated Christ and it stands to reason that if you reflect Him, then some will not like you. Jesus said, "If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you" (John 15:18). You and your Lord stand together. What a privilege! If you are joined to Christ, and the world hates the vine, it stands to reason it will hate the branches of the vine. Are you a big enough person to endure the sneers and remarks of people who do not love your Lord? Perhaps you may feel like the Lord Jesus when He made this statement, "They hated me without a cause" (John 15:25). There are many promises in the Bible for those who suffer persecution for the sake of Jesus Christ. "If we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified with him" (Romans 8:17). (Read also Isaiah 51:12,13; Matthew 5:10-12; Matthew 5:44; Romans 8:35-37; 2 Corinthians 4:8-12; 2 Corinthians 12:9,10; 1 Peter 3:14,15.) There is a wonderful promise at the end of this chapter. You do not have to face persecution alone! The Lord Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to abide with you (John 15:26,27). He is sent from the Father, He is the Spirit of Truth, and He will help you to witness for Jesus Christ. He will use you as an instrument of power (Acts 1:8; Acts 4:31-33). Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 15? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life this week? Second Day: Read all of John 16, concentrating on John 16:1-4. 1.Why did the Lord Jesus warn His disciples about the hatred they would experience (in John 15:18-27)? Read John 16:1. 2.a.How would the disciples (followers) of Jesus Christ be treated in the future? b.Why would the Lord Jesus' followers be treated in such cruel ways? 3.a.Challenge: Do you believe that Christians in this land or overseas are still mistreated in the same ways the first disciples of Jesus were? Give illustrations to share with your discussion group. b.(Personal) Have you ever suffered any form of persecution for the sake of the Lord Jesus? Would you be willing to suffer for His sake? 4.a.Why did the Lord Jesus speak of persecution? Why didn't He mention this to those who followed Him in faith before this time? See John 16:4. b.Where was the Lord Jesus going according to John 16? 5.What does 2 Timothy 3:12 say about persecution of the followers of Jesus Christ? 6.Challenge: How do the following verses challenge or comfort you concerning any suffering you may now be experiencing or may one day have to experience for Christ's sake? Put into your own words if you wish to. Acts 5:41 Hebrews 11:25 Third Day: Read John 16:5-11. 1.How, according to the Lord Jesus, did the disciples receive the words the Lord Jesus spoke in John 15:18-27 and John 16:1-4? Please give the verse. 2.a.Why did Christ say it would actually be an advantage for the disciples if He would go away? 4.b.Besides being a comfort, source of wisdom and strength, and a constant companion to the Christian, what is the Holy Spirit to the non-Christian (called "the world")? 3.The Holy Spirit reproves the world of sin. Define sin as described in each of the following Scriptures. Proverbs 14:21 James 4:17 Proverbs 10:19 4.What does Isaiah 53:5 say Christ has done for the Christians? 5.a.What does 1 Peter 3:18 say that Christ did for every person? b.(Personal) Have you ever personally accepted what Jesus Christ did for you according to 1 Peter 3:18? Try putting your own name in the verse in your Bible to indicate that, by faith, you are trusting God to do this in your life. c.(Personal) What are some ways in which you allow God to use your hands, your feet, your mouth, your home, your office, etc. to share His "good news" about Jesus Christ? Be specific and share with your discussion group any creative ideas with which the Lord has enabled you. 6.Challenge: Jesus told His followers that they didn't have to fear the hatred and persecution of the world after He left them because of the indwelling Holy Spirit. In 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, summarized what Jesus wants all of His disciples to experience as the Holy Spirit lives within them. Choose the "high points" of the passage. Fourth Day: Read John 16:12-15. 1.Why didn't the Lord Jesus tell His disciples a lot more things at this time? 2.Who would guide the disciples into all truth when He came? 3.List all the responsibilities and work of the Holy Spirit that you can find in John 16:13,14,15. 4.Challenge: The Holy Spirit is sent by Jesus Christ to guide us in our lives. The following Scriptures suggest loving ways in which the Holy Spirit will guide you in your Christian walk upon this earth. Deuteronomy 32:11 Psalm 139:9,10 Psalm 25:9 5.How does 1 Corinthians 2:12 express the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives? 6.(Personal) Which of the verses in question 4 was most encouraging to you in understanding how God, by the Holy Spirit, wants to help you in your life this week? Share with your discussion group, if possible. Fifth Day: Read John 16:16-22. 1.Did the disciples understand the statement Jesus Christ made in John 16:16? Give verses. What was His statement? 2.Challenge: After Jesus Christ's death on the cross and His resurrection, His disciples saw Him at different times; after this He ascended to the Father. How does Luke 24:36-52 describe this event? Describe as briefly as possible, using key verses which seem most important to you. 3.Challenge: How does Luke 24:51,52 fulfill what the Lord Jesus told the disciples in the last phrase of John 16:20? 4.How does 1 Peter 1:8 describe the joy a Christian has when he "sees" and believes in Christ with "eyes of faith?" 5.(Personal) Do you have this joy? 6.Can any man rob the Christian of the joy which the Lord Jesus gives to him? See John 16. Sixth Day: Read John 16:23-33. 1.What condition for answered prayer does Christ state in John 16:23 which is also taught in John 14:13 and John 15:16? 2.Why does the Father in heaven love a Christian? Give verse. 3.After reading John 16:29,30, do you believe the disciples were beginning to understand more than they had when they spoke in John 16:17,18? 4.What did the disciples discover about the Lord Jesus in John 16:30? 5.a.What in John 16:32 did Christ say would happen to the disciples and how did He cheer them with His words in John 16:33? b.(Personal) In the turmoil of your life, no matter what your problems may be, are you willing to believe in Christ and claim His promise in John 16:33 for yourself? This week? Each day? Moment by moment? 6.a.What does Philippians 4:7 promise? b.Challenge: The following verses promise peace from God. Put them into your own words if you wish to. Psalm 4:8 Job 22:21,26 Isaiah 12:2 Isaiah 26:3,12 c.Did you find some Scripture in this lesson which was particularly helpful this week? Have you memorized it? Study in the Book of John Lesson 17 John 15:27 through John 16:4--Jesus Encourages His Disciples The Lord Jesus prepared His disciples for what would happen to them after His death, resurrection and ascension. Since He was God He knew the future and wanted to give these men the knowledge and strength to face the days that were coming. The Lord Jesus made it very clear that witnessing was a part of their task (John 15:27 L.B.). "And you also must tell everyone about me, because you have been with me from the beginning." Christ knew that He would be taken out of the world (Acts 1:9-11). He knew He would have to leave His disciples. He knew His sheep would be scattered (John 16:32, Acts 8:4). The Lord Jesus also knew the blessing that would come to the disciples because He would be exalted and would be seated at the right hand of God. David "being therefore a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne," (Acts 2:30) foretold the ascension of the Lord Jesus and His position at the right hand of God the Father. "The Lord said to my Lord, `Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet'" (Acts 2:29,30,34,35; Psalm 110:1 RSV). The Lord Jesus warned the disciples that they would be persecuted, "I've said all this to you, to keep you from falling away" (John 16:1 R.S.V.). He warned them that they would be put out of the synagogue and that people would consider killing Christians a service to God (John 16:2). When Tyndale was persecuted for translating the Bible into English so that the people could read it, enemies tried to take his life. It is recorded that in conversation about his persecution he calmly said, "I never expected anything else." Tyndale had read the Bible and knew that the Lord Jesus promised to always be with him, but He also promised a cross. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 10:38, "If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine" (L.B.). "Then Jesus said to the disciples, `If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who keeps his life for himself shall lose it; and anyone who loses his life for me shall find it again'" (Matthew 16:24,25 L.B.). From these Scriptures we learn that the "cross" which Christ asks the Christian to carry comes as the person denies himself and obediently follows Christ's plan for his life. Tyndale carried the cross of persecution because he followed God's plan and perfect will for his life when he translated the Bible from Latin to English, the language of the people. Have you responded to Christ's call to take up His cross daily, and follow him (Luke 9:23)? It was going to be hard for the disciples to be ostracized and have the doors of the synagogue closed to them. The synagogue was a very special place to the Jewish people and some rabbis even taught that prayer was not heard unless it was offered in the synagogue. But Jesus' disciples needed to learn, as Joan of Arc said, "It is better to be alone with God." Even though they were denied entrance to the synagogue they would have great fellowship with other Christians as they met in homes in the areas where they were not allowed to enter the synagogue (Acts 20:20, 1 Corinthians 16:19). The Lord Jesus does not promise us a smooth path and perfect happiness upon this earth simply because we are Christians. Christians live in a world with other people! We must maintain relations with neighbors, family, employers, fellow employees, etc. It is our responsibility to talk with them, and to share with them the "Good News" of Jesus Christ. Some people will resist this message. They will not want to hear or talk about it. The Christian will be persecuted by the attitudes and actions of these people. A believer may even suffer persecution from members of his own family within his own household, as he is faithful in prayer, in Bible reading and study and church attendance. Jesus explained why we would experience such persecution as He said, "And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me" (John 16:3). Whenever you seem to be unduly tested by persecution, will you remember that the living Lord Jesus knew all about it before it happened? He suffered many of the same oppositions and sorrows Himself. "But if when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God's approval. For this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return: when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to Him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:20-24 R.S.V.). Very few of us will ever suffer persecution to the extent our Savior did. John W. Gardner in the book, The Recovery of Confidence, says, "Self- pity is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure, and separates the victim from reality." The Christian's reaction to trouble, as he trusts Christ for strength (Philippians 4:12,13) should be the opposite of self-pity. The Christian's response to trouble can be illustrated by the oyster into whose shell there comes a tiny grain of sand. This cruel intruder imposes pain and distress and presents a very real problem. What shall the oyster do? There are several ways it could respond. It could as so many men and women do in times of trouble, shake its fist in God's face and complain bitterly, "Why should this have to happen to me? Why should I suffer so? What have I done to deserve this? There is no justice." Or the oyster could say, as some people do when they are confronted with trials or pain, "This can't be true! It isn't so and I must not permit myself to believe it." No matter how hard the oyster may try to deceive itself that the grain of sand is not hurting, the pain is still real! But the oyster doesn't do either of these things. Instead he recognizes the presence of the intruder and begins slowly and patiently, to build upon the grain of sand layer after layer of a plastic, milky substance that covers each sharp corner and coats every cutting edge. By this slow and gradual process a pearl is made. The trouble becomes a wondrous thing of beauty as it is transformed by this substance. The oyster has learned to turn grains of sand into pearls. The Christian can learn, if he really trusts God, to turn pain and distress into beauty, and cruel misfortunes into blessings. (Read Romans 8:28,29; Philippians 2:13,14; Hebrews 13:5-8.) This is no figure of speech, but a sound promise from God's Word! Will you trust God to take your present trouble, wrap it with His love and help until it becomes a beautiful thing which displays God's love and concern for you? John 16:5-16--The Lord Jesus Must Go Away But He Promises the Holy Spirit Will Come to the Christian The Lord Jesus knew, as time approached for Him to leave them, how disturbed His disciples were at the prospect of getting along without Him. He turned to them and said, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away." Then He went on to explain that it was necessary because He would send them the Holy Spirit. Why is it good for us to have the Holy Spirit? Wouldn't it be better for us to have Christ here in person than to have the Holy Spirit whom we cannot see? The Lord Jesus says NO (John 16:7). When the Lord Jesus was here on earth He could be in only one place at a time. If He were in Jerusalem, He could not be in Capernaum. So if He were on earth in a bodily form today, He might be in one part of the country, but then He would not be present with us here. The Holy Spirit is everywhere. He can be with us and at the same time be with those Christians on the other side of the world. (Read Psalm 139:7-10.) As long as the Lord Jesus Christ was with His disciples in person, walking and talking with them, the Holy Spirit would not be sent to them. This is why He said, "It is good for you if I go away" (John 16:7). Christ said, "When I go, I will send the Holy Spirit to you." He comes to every person who receives Jesus Christ as his Savior. We are born again by the Spirit of God (John 3:5). The apostle Paul made this teaching clear. He wrote to the Romans, "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:9). Paul also, led by the Holy Spirit, wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:13 L.B., "Each of us is a part of the one body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves and some are free. But the Holy Spirit has fitted us all together into one body. We have been baptized into Christ's body by the one Spirit, and have been given that same Holy Spirit." When the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in our lives, he bears witness to us that we belong to God (Romans 8:16). The Holy Spirit comes into our hearts to abide with us forever. What wonderful promises there are concerning the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Christian. The Holy Spirit works in the world today. The Lord Jesus describes this work in John 16:8-11. "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." To be filled with the Holy Spirit is every Christian's command, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess: but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). In this verse God compares a person, intoxicated with wine, who acts in an unnatural manner that is evil with a person filled with the Holy Spirit who acts in an unnatural manner that is good. The verb used in the original language for "be filled" means to "keep on being filled," be continuously filled with the Spirit. This does not mean that a believer can get more of the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit enters the Christian's life in all His fullness; but it means that the Holy Spirit can get more of the believer! He can completely control the life that is yielded to Him. To be filled with the Spirit is the Christian's command. It is not the privilege of a favored few but applies to every Christian. He is given to us as a result of our believing in Jesus Christ, not so that we may boast of any experience. If we thirst (John 7:37-39) and come to Christ in full surrender, we have a right to drink. God has challenged us to prove Him. He is waiting to show His power and His strength to those whose hearts are open to Him. This abundant power is available to you! God wants you to yield yourself and ask Him for that power. Let us through confession and repentence separate ourselves from sin (1 John 1:8,9) and yield our bodies to the Holy Spirit. Let us set our affections on God and desire Him above all else. The Holy Spirit will also show the people of this world God's righteousness and judgment (John 16:8). The world condemned Jesus Christ and sentenced Him to die. The Holy Spirit of God brought Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 3:18). The resurrection of Christ showed that God accepted the sacrifice of Christ for sin. When the Lord Jesus ascended to heaven, His work of redemption was completed. Righteousness is possible through faith in Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:9). The Holy Spirit makes the world conscious of God's judgment because the prince of this world is judged (John 16:11). Just as surely as Satan will be judged for his rebellion, so surely will the world be judged for its refusal to receive salvation in Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:12-15). Then the Lord Jesus told His disciples that He had many things to say to them, but they could not bear to hear them at this time (John 16:12). But, He promised, when the Holy Spirit came He would guide them further into all truth. The disciples knew the truth concerning Jesus' virgin birth; and they had seen His baptism when the Holy Spirit came to rest upon Him (Luke 1:2; 3:21,22). His disciples had heard His preaching, sat under His teaching, seen His miracles and heard Him promise that those who trusted in Him would never perish (John 3:16,17). Now Jesus promises that, "When the Spirit is come, He will be the guide into all truth." The Holy Spirit would not speak of Himself, but of Christ, and in this way He would glorify the Lord Jesus (John 16:13-15). The Holy Spirit reveals the truth in God's Word. Always begin your Bible reading with prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into truth and teach you what you should know. The Holy Spirit inspired the writing of the Bible (2 Peter 1:21). He is the One who will teach you what it means (John 14:26, John 16:13). John 16:17-33--The Lord Jesus' Farewell to His Disciples In John 16 the Lord Jesus told His disciples two things which were going to happen: First, He was going to die; second, He was going to come back to life. In verses 16 and 22 He tells us of His death and resurrection. The Lord Jesus uses the phrase, "A little while." He speaks of being with the disciples only a little while, then He will leave them. In a matter of a few hours the Lord Jesus would be betrayed, tried and sentenced to die. John 16:20 paints the terrible picture of the people who do not know Jesus Christ; they will rejoice when Jesus dies. The disciples will be sorrowful because they love the Lord. The enemies of Christ will rejoice because they do not love Him or care what happens to Him. Then, in John 16:20 the Lord Jesus tells the disciples that their sorrow will turn into joy. He uses the illustration of the mother's joy in her new born child to show how things would go with the disciples. A mother has sorrow and pain in her labor, but when the baby is in her arms, she forgets the pain and suffering and rejoices in the tiny new baby (John 16:21). The disciples too would rejoice when they could see what lay ahead in blessing and glory. Therefore, as we suffer difficulties in our lives we also can cling to this promise that our "sorrow shall be turned into joy" by the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus said, "I will see you again" (John 16:22). He was not going to remain in the tomb. He would rise from the dead and the disciples would see Him. He would be with them for forty days. Then the Lord Jesus would ascend into heaven to be with His Father (Acts 1:3,6-11). The Lord Jesus promises that His disciples may "ask anything of the Father, and he will give it to you in my name." He is reminding them of the privilege of prayer. When He ascends and goes to heaven He, "Always lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:24-26, Hebrews 8:1). Repeatedly in this conversation which Jesus had with His disciples, He talked of prayer. (Read John 14:13,14; 15:7; 16:23,24). The promises that the Lord Jesus made to His disciples are also promises to you as a Christian. You cannot exhaust the storehouse of heaven. Whatever you ask in the name of Christ and to the glory of God, He will supply to you. In John 16:24, we discover that the command to pray in the name of Jesus is a new one. Up to this time the disciples did not know that they were to ask "in Jesus' name." Now the Lord tells them how to ask, and then He says, "Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16:24). The needle grinders of Sheffield, England, wore magnetic mouth pieces to catch all the fine metal dust that flew around them, to prevent it from entering their lungs. Prayer is the mouth piece you must wear continuously to protect you from the unhealthy atmosphere of this world. You must pray constantly. "Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17). There are many Christians around the world who are willing to have a life of praise and prayer at the risk of great persecution. A letter from the Ukraine, U.S.S.R. tells of the penalty one family had to pay for their prayer life. "Not long ago before we went to bed, we had a time of prayer together: I, my wife, our two children and my mother. An official of the secret police walked into the house as we were still on our knees praying. He inflicted on us a penalty of fifty roubles (about half a month's wages) because we were praying with our children. Such is our way of life, dear friends. Our loving greetings to all our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ." (From Russia for Christ Freedom Magazine, October 1974.) Does this challenge you to pray for your brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ who do not know the freedom to worship and pray which you have? The Lord Jesus' last words of encouragement to the disciples were, "I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Victory over persecution was a gift from the Lord Jesus to all of His disciples. He foretold the disciples' fright and desertion but pointed out the further truth that He would never be left alone because the Father was with Him (John 16:32). Christians can always count on the presence of God with them. Whether you have been left alone through death, or because of persecution, you will never really be alone. The wonderful presence of the Father is ever with you and His loving care surrounds you, just as it did the Lord Jesus. And so the final victory belongs to the Christian! Victory over the problems of life is yours; Christ has won the victory by His death and resurrection and has given us the privilege of prayer. The Holy Spirit is ours, to guide and teach us from God's Word. Through the Holy Spirit's inner voice we learn how we can live to please God. We can triumph in Christ! This is what the Lord Jesus Christ wants to do through your life this week. Will you let Him? Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 16? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life this week? Note: John 17 is a record of the Lord Jesus' prayer. In the first five verses He prays for Himself. John 17:6-19 He prays for His disciples. John 17:20-26 He prays again in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46). Second Day: Read all of John 17, concentrating on John 17:1-5. 1.The Lord Jesus had been instructing and encouraging His disciples in John--chapters 14,15 and 16. In John 17:1 to whom does He speak and for what does He ask? 2.Challenge: For those who have been in the study of John, look back through John, or other books in the Bible, for verses which speak of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Use your concordance at the back of your Bible, if you have on. Marginal notes beside John 17:1 may also help you. Choose four or five verses which are most meaningful to you. Write out each verse please. a. b. c. d. e. 3.a.How is life eternal described by the Lord Jesus in John 17:3? b.What does eternal life mean to you? See John 11:25 to help you express this. c.(Personal) Have you ever put your own name into John 17:3 and claimed its promise for yourself through faith? Why not write your name in the verse in your Bible above the word "they" and underline this verse, to indicate that by faith you receive God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Thus you receive His eternal life! 4.a.What did the Lord Jesus say He had done during His time on earth? See John 17:4. b.(Personal) Would you like to be able to make this statement to God at the end of your life (John 17:4) and also be able to say it at the end of each day? How is this possible? Does Romans 12:1,2 help you? Put down all of your thoughts concerning this. 5.What does Romans 12:1,2 suggest that a Christian should do? 6.Jesus Christ speaks of the glory "which He had" with God before the world "was." Read John 1:1-3, remembering that "the Word" is Jesus Christ. How does John 1:1-3 present the same thought as John 17:5? Third Day: Read John 17:6-13. 1.a.The Lord Jesus speaks of men who have kept "thy word." God promises many blessings to those who "keep His Word"--those who read it, believe it and live it out. What does Revelation 3:8 say about "the Word?" b.(Personal) Will the Lord be able to make this statement (Revelation 3:8) to you one day? 2.The Word of God is truth and reveals to us God's will and plan for our lives. What do the following verses say concerning the Bible? Put them into your own words if you wish to; also personalize them by adding your name into the verse. 2 Timothy 2:15 Luke 21:33 3.What did the Lord Jesus' disciples believe about Him according to John 17:8? 4.The Lord Jesus was especially praying for believers (the church) in John 17:6-19. Who was He not praying for in this particular prayer? Give verse. 5.What does Christ ask the Father to do for those who have faith in Him? Give verses. 6.Do you experience the JOY of Jesus Christ each day in your life? Fourth Day: Reread John 17:11-13 and also read John 17:14-19. 1.Christ prayed for the "oneness" of the Christians in John 17:11 and also in John 17:22. How does Romans 12:5 and Galatians 3:28 help you to understand the unity that Christians should feel? Use your own words to explain "oneness" if you wish. Note: "Oneness" which Christ prays for does not imply unity of all church denominations under one organization. Do not discuss this issue please. 2.Challenge: Christ prayed that Christians might have "his joy fulfilled in themselves." The following verses present different aspects of Christ's joy fulfilled in the life of a Christian. Put these verses into your own words if you wish to; personalize them by adding your name to the verse. Nehemiah 8:10 Psalm 16:11 3.a.What does the Lord Jesus say the attitude of "the world" (non- Christians) will be toward Christians (John 17:14)? b.Jesus Christ does not ask God to "isolate Christians" from "the world" (non-Christians) but He does pray for something specific for the Christian who must live and work among non-Christians. What is His prayer for the Christian in John 17:15? 4.a.What does the Lord Jesus ask God to do for the disciples in John 17:17? b.What does the last half of 1 Samuel 7:5 say which encourages you to pray for family, friends and acquaintances faithfully, just as Jesus Christ prayed for all Christians in John 17? 5.How does Ephesians 5:25-27 help you to understand John 17:17? Note "the church" includes all people who have received Jesus Christ by faith as their Lord and Savior. 6.As God sent Christ into the world, who does Christ send into the world to share the "truth" of God (John 14:6)? Give verse please. Fifth Day: Read John 17:20-26. 1.According to John 17:20, who is the Lord Jesus praying for besides the disciples who came to faith in Him while He was present on earth? 2.The "oneness" or "unity" shown by the love of Christians for each other will reveal something to those who do not yet believe in Christ. What will they believe if they see Christian "oneness" because of their faith in Christ? 3.Challenge: Read Ephesians 4:13-16. If possible, try to put into your own words how God has planned for Christian believers to be "one" in Christ. 4.a.In which verse does the Lord Jesus ask that those who have placed their faith in Him may be with Him? b.Where do you think this place is? c.What will the Christian see concerning Jesus Christ in this place? 5.a.Who has always loved Jesus Christ? For how long has He been loved by this One? Give all verses. b.What, in John 17:26, does Jesus Christ want every Christian to have? 6.Challenge: How do the following verses help you to understand that Christ lives within the Christian, at the very center of His life? Put them into your own words if you wish to. Galatians 2:20 6.Ephesians 3:17 Sixth Day: Another prayer of Christ was prayed soon after the prayer of John 17. You will find it in Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, and Luke 22:39-46. Read Matthew 26:36-46. 1.Where did the Lord Jesus go to pray and which disciples did He ask to "watch" (stay awake) with Him? 2.a.As Jesus fell before His Father what did He pray? Give verse in Matthew. b.What do you believe the "cup" was which the Lord Jesus prayed about? See 1 Peter 3:18. 3.What does the Lord Jesus say to the disciples in Matthew 26:41? 4.(Personal) How could you apply these verses to your own personal prayer life? 1 Chronicles 16:11 Isaiah 65:24 5.a.What did Jesus Christ pray in Matthew 26:42 which He also prayed in Matthew 26:39 and would pray a third time in Matthew 26:44? b.(Personal) Are you willing to pray this concerning every area of your life and every prayer request you make to God? Which area of your life do you need to pray the most about? 6.a.Challenge: What do the following verses say concerning God's will? Put them into your own words if you wish to, and personalize them by adding your name into the verse if you can. Psalm 143:10 Ephesians 6:6 b.Which Scripture did you choose to memorize this week to enable you to recall it easily in a time of trial? Study in the Book of John Lesson 18 INTRODUCTION Recorded in John 17 is the private prayer of the Lord Jesus. The other prayers which are recorded in the Scriptures were prayed before crowds of people. These prayers were short and for a particular purpose. The prayer in John 17 is more extensive and is a prayer of communion with God the Father. This is a prayer for those who follow Christ, who are known by the name Christian or "the Church," the body of believers in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:29). John 17:1-5--Christ's Prayer for Himself The Lord Jesus begins His prayer with a request for Himself. He recognizes that the time for His death and resurrection has arrived (John 17:1). He prays that He might be glorified by the Father, and that He might in turn glorify God. In John 17:5 He speaks of the eternal glory which He had before the world was. (Read John 1:1, Philippians 2:6.) The Lord Jesus Christ humbled Himself to come to earth in the form of man. Now He prayed that God would exalt Him, give Him back the glory that He had before the world was. In Philippians 2:9-11 we read how God answered Jesus' prayer. God gave His Son the glory for which He prayed. "Wherefore God also hast highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." Yes, one day, both those who are eternally united with God through faith in Jesus Christ and those who are eternally separated from God because they would not receive Jesus Christ, will recognize Him as Lord, to the glory of God! "And this is eternal life, that they know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." Jesus Christ proclaimed the "Good News" which He had brought to earth in this one sentence. He had indeed, "Humbled Himself and become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:8), in order that this could come about. In John 17:4 Jesus Christ said that He had accomplished the work that God had given Him to do on earth. He was including His final work: His submission to death as Philippians 2:8 tells us. (Read John 4:34, John 13:26-30.) Then Jesus Christ adds, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do." What was this work? Jesus Christ came to earth to provide salvation for all mankind. To accomplish this He died and rose again. Jesus began this prayer by saying, "The hour is come." The time for His sacrifice was upon Him. This was the work for which He came (John 12:23-27); this work which would make possible our forgiveness of sins and adoption into God's family (Galatians 4:5-7). God the Son completed the work to the glory of the Father. I'm sure that every Christian longs to be able to echo Christ's words, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do" when they meet their heavenly Father face to face! How is it possible to finish the work He gives us to do? First of all we need to be totally yielded to God's will (plan) for our lives, as Christ was totally yielded to what God had planned for Him. "And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy--the kind he can accept" (Romans 12:1 L.B.). When you think of what He has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person, with a freshness in all you do and think. Then you will learn by you own experience how His ways will really satisfy you. Even as Jesus wants us to be in glory (Heaven) with Him, we also desire to have our dear ones included in the eternal city. Certainly anyone who is on his way to Heaven would never be content to go there alone. As we present our bodies a living sacrifice to God, He sends us out as ambassadors into the world to share the "Good News." Though the Savior, the Creator of the universe has millions of holy angels to adore Him, He wants to fellowship in heaven with those of us who love Him. "So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:20,21 R.S.V.). A year or two before Queen Victoria's death, she visited a poor, old woman who had reached the age of 104. This dear elderly Christian was greatly pleased that her queen had cared enough to visit her. She expressed her gratitude. Though she was in awe of the queen, she was in the habit of witnessing to all who called upon her. The aged Christian fixed her eyes upon her visitor and said in a trembling voice, "May I ask Your Majesty one question?" The queen replied, "You may ask me anything you like." Slowly and earnestly the old Christian's words came, "Shall we meet again in the Home above?" The queen bent her head so that her face was hidden by her handkerchief, as she replied through her tears, "Yes, we shall greet each other again in Heaven--by the grace of God, and through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. He, too, is my Savior!" Christian, that elderly lady could ask the Queen of England whether she was on her way to that Home above; I wonder if you are willing to receive courage from God to become an ambassador to those whom God places on your pathway of life? "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which you have in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:4,5). "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10 KJV). Once again before leaving this section in John, let us consider John 17:2, "Since thou hast given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him that they know thee. And this is eternal life, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." This is one of the greatest New Testament definitions of eternal life! The Greek word for eternal is "aionios," which indicates a "quality of life." There is only one person to whom the word eternal can be applied and that is to God; therefore, we have the life of God given to us by faith in Jesus Christ and this is life eternal! If you have believed on His name, you have received here and now some of the great joy, peace and holiness which are characteristic of the life of God (Galatians 5:22-24). Missionaries tell us of primitive people who are haunted by the many gods they worship--trees, stones, animals, etc. These people live in perpetual fear of offending one of their gods. It is almost impossible to explain the great relief which comes to them when they discover that there is only one God (the first person of the Trinity), who revealed Himself through His only Son (the second person of the Trinity). Then they receive the "comfort" from God that is manifested through the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity). Now they realize that God is not a stern, harsh and cruel idol, but a God of love and comfort! We know these things too! Yet we would never have known them unless Jesus Christ had come to earth to reveal them to us. Have you experienced this eternal life, God's life in you through faith in His Son? Are you sharing this great joy, peace and comfort with others? Jesus Christ was willing to be "lifted up" upon the cross that He might share this truth with the world. Are you willing to "take up your cross" and follow His example to share the "Good News" of Jesus Christ? (Matthew 10:38). "Then Jesus told his disciples, `If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me'" (Matthew 16:24). John 17:6-19--The Lord Jesus Prays for the Disciples After praying for Himself, the Lord Jesus now prayed for the disciples who had been with Him throughout His ministry. In John 17:6 Jesus says that those who followed Him have kept, or obeyed, God's Word. The Lord Jesus taught these men what God wanted them to know (John 17:8). It is comforting to know that the Lord Jesus prays for believers. What a privilege to know through John 17 the wonder and glory of Jesus praying for His disciples. "Consequently he is able for all times to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25 RSV). Jesus still is praying, making intercession, for those who confess their sins, and look to God for cleansing through the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28, Romans 3:25, Romans 5:9, Ephesians 1:7). The Lord Jesus prays for His disciples, those whom God has given Him (John 17:9). Jesus Christ says that He is glorified in those who have faith in Him (John 17:10). Then He speaks of His ascension, "And now I am no more in the world" (John 17:11, Acts 1:6-11). He reminds the Father that the disciples will have to continue living in this world among those who are not believers. This is still true of ourselves, Jesus' present disciples. Jesus Christ is in heaven praying for us as we live in this world among people who often look with disdain at us because of our faith in Jesus Christ. The story is told of an acrobat in the circus who, after many years of traveling with the circus received Jesus Christ. He describes his life in this way. "I came from a broken home. At the age of fifteen I ran away to join the circus and performed all over the world for eighteen years. Eight years ago I found my Savior and found my peace. My first reaction was that I would have to quit the circus, but the Lord showed me the need for my testimony there. Now each morning I read my Bible and obtain strength to face the ridicule my stand for Christ has brought. My wife has received the Lord, and recently three of the other four performers in our trapeze act were `born again' (John 3:1-21). We now have a group right in the circus who have fellowship together, pray, study the Bible and witness to others." Many might sit in judgment, like the Pharisees (Luke 15:2) and say that this man and his wife should leave the circus now that they are Christians. Yet if he did not witness there for Christ, who would? This is exactly what Jesus Christ is speaking of in John 17:11. This acrobat is a missionary in the circus, a "foreign field" indeed! Christian, where is your "foreign field?" "Watch over these followers of mine," is Jesus' prayer. While He was with them He kept and guarded them. None was lost except Judas, who chose to betray Jesus Christ (John 17:12). "But now I am coming to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves." This is Christ's prayer in John 17:13. Few people know that Christ is the giver of abundant life. He said, "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and over burdened, and I will cause you to rest--I will ease and relieve (refresh) your souls. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest--relief, ease and refreshment and recreation, and blessed quiet--for your souls. For my yoke is wholesome (useful, good)--not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing, but comfortable, gracious and pleasant: and my burden is light and easy to be borne" (Matthew 11:28-30 Amplified Bible; Jeremiah 6:16). Yes, God is the giver of the abundant life (Exodus 34:6, John 10:10, 1 Timothy 1:14). In John 17:8 and John 17:14 Jesus says that He has given "thy word" to the disciples. The Word of God is truth! It is the source of our knowledge of God's will and plan for our lives. The Bible tells us of Christ (John 5:39). The Bible tells us what God expects of us, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). In the light of these statements what excuse can we give if we neglect the Word of God? Do you feel that you spend as much time as you should reading and studying your Bible? The daily Bible readings given with this study are a guide to help you choose portions to read. Then, when you complete the work, you can find out if you understand what you have read by being in class with us. We urge you to follow this daily study plan and to form a discussion group if you do not have a class in your area. The Lord Jesus prayed in John 17:11 and 15 that the Father would keep his disciples and keep them from evil. Christ does not want us to lock ourselves away from people who do not love Him. He wants us to be protected from the powers of evil while we bear witness of Him to those in the world. We are to be kept from evil so that Christ may be glorified in our lives (John 17:10). He teaches us through His Word so that the gift of Christ's joy is also ours (John 17:13). The Lord Jesus prayed that His disciples would be kept from the evil one, Satan (John 17:15). Thus we see that we are to be set apart (sanctified), John 17:17, in the truth which is found in the Bible. It might be helpful to think of the Christian as a ship sailing upon the ocean. The ship does not need to be alarmed about the depth of the ocean or even about the waves and storms which may toss it about, as long as the ship does not let the ocean leak in! The ship on the ocean presents no problem. But the ocean slipping into the ship could bring great disaster! Christians can live with God in the world just as long as they don't let the world slip into their lives and bring disaster. Ask yourself if you have "sprung a leak!" (1 John 1:8,9). The story is told of a marooned sailor who was overjoyed one day to see a ship drop anchor in the harbor. A small boat came ashore and a sailor handed him a bunch of newspapers. "The captain suggests that you read what's going on in the world, and then let us know if you want to be rescued!" The Christian has no such choice. We have been placed by God in the midst of this world of trouble, sin and distress. When Jesus Christ forgave us, He could have taken us immediately to Heaven. At times we would like to push the "panic button" and cry out, "It is enough! Take away my life" as Elijah did in 1 Kings 19:1-8. God comes to minister to us when we need help just as He did to Elijah. It is God's purpose that we should remain in the world to display His love and forgiveness! John 17:20-26--Jesus Christ Prays for the Church The last part of Christ's prayer is especially relevant to us, "I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17:20 RSV). This last section of the prayer is concerning us! We are some of those who have believed through men and women who have passed that witness on to us. We find that Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, wrote these thoughts in 2 Timothy 2:2, "The things you learned from me before many witnesses you must commit to trustworthy men who will be competent to teach others, too" (Williams). The Lord Jesus' first request for us is, "That they all may be one; as thou Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us" (John 17:21). Christ wants Christians to be united in Him. This is a unity of aim or purpose, that others might believe in Jesus Christ. The basis for this unity is found in John 17:23, "I in union with them, and you in union with me, so that they might be perfectly united, and the world may be sure that you sent me, and that you have loved them just as you have loved me" (Williams). Each believer in Christ and Christ in each believer makes a unity of purpose possible. (Read Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 1:27; John 14:19,20.) We discover by closely analyzing Christ's prayer that He is not praying for the external unity of Christianity through organization. He prays for an inward unity which comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit within each believing heart. The Holy Spirit binds all Christians together into one glorious whole in Christ, the head of the church. Christians should think of themselves as branches grafted into one parent tree of which they are now a part. A perfect illustration of this is a child who is adopted and becomes one of the family and takes the family name. This child receives all the rights and privileges that the other children in the family already have. And so it is with Christians. The unity which God gives is by the presence of the Holy Spirit within the Christian's heart. (Read Ephesians 1:12-14; 2 Corinthians 1:22.) In John 17:22 Christ speaks of the glory which God gave Him, and which He in turn gives each Christian that we may be one in Christ and God. We Christians reflect the glory of God when we show others the love of God through compassion, love and gentleness. "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Paul writes in Galatians 2:20, "Christ liveth in me." You may be a paralyzed member of the body of Christ, but you are a member! How sad when paralysis strikes the body and the arms hang limp. They do not respond to the will of the mind. It is even sadder when a Christian, who has faith, who has Christ, his hope of glory living in him, is still "paralyzed" spiritually and useless to Christ here on earth. After successfully treating an ill woman, her doctor was asked to write in her autograph album. Realizing that she was not a Christian the surgeon asked, "Will a prescription do?" When she smiled and nodded her approval, he wrote these words--"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusteth in him" (Psalm 34:8). The woman was impressed by this brief testimony of faith, and decided to go to church the following Sunday. To her amazement, the pastor chose as his text these same words! She "tasted" and "trusted" in Jesus Christ, and found peace for her soul. Will you say a word for Jesus today? Will you yield your life to God and let Him use you? Christ came to save the world. Now He wants us, His followers, to tell others of His great work. When we read the requests the Lord made in His prayer, certainly we cannot help but thank Him for His great love. If prayer was so important to the Son of God how much more important it is for us to pray. Jesus Christ prayed before and after the serious events and crises in His life. He often went away so He could be alone with His Father. (Read Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:28.) Then Jesus prayed for His friends. It is right for you to pray for your friends and family. We are to bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2). Pray for God's blessing upon your friends. Pray that your friends might be kept from evil. Ask the Lord to bless and guide your family and friends. Jesus prayed for those beyond His close circle of friends. You should pray for others. Do you ever pray for the missionaries your church supports? Do you pray for your pastor and the official boards of your church? Do you pray for Christians in other parts of the world? When you read of Christians being persecuted do you remember them in your prayers? Jesus prayed for us. We should certainly pray for others. Make the time of prayer the most important speaking engagement you have. Talk often with your Father in Heaven. Begin a prayer notebook. A stenographer's notebook makes a good record keeper. Date each week and list the names of people and requests you wish to pray for in the left hand column. In the right hand column record God's answers to your prayer. You will find a thrilling record of God's faithfulness as you read back over your prayer requests and God's answers from year to year. After this prayer, the Lord Jesus went out and was betrayed and arrested. The trial would follow and then the Cross. He would not speak to His disciples again until after His resurrection, for His disciples scattered at the time of His arrest. It is a wonderful and comforting thing to remember that before these terrible hours the Lord Jesus' last words were not of despair. Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 17? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life this week? Second Day: Read all of John 18 concentrating on John 18:1-11. 1.a.After praying for His disciples and for all Christians, the Lord Jesus and His disciples crossed the Cedron brook and entered a garden. Read Matthew 26:36 to discover what garden it was. b.Who knew about the garden and led the officers, from the chief priests and Pharisees, to Jesus? See John 18. 2.Read Luke 22:1-6. In what circumstances would Judas seek to betray Jesus, and what was the feast that would soon be celebrated? 3.a.How did Jesus refer to Himself twice in this passage in John? b.Challenge: God refers to Himself as "I am" in both Old and New Testaments. Briefly state the name the following verses give the Lord Jesus. Hebrews 12:22 Luke 2:11 1 Corinthians 1:24 Acts 9:20 Isaiah 9:6 John 4:10 1 Timothy 4:10 Zechariah 14:9 with 1 Timothy 6:15 4.Read Matthew 26:47-50. How did Judas betray Christ? 5.What impulsive thing did Peter do? What do you think motivated this action by Peter? 6.What was the Lord Jesus' response to Peter's actions according to Matthew 26:51-54 and John 18:11? Describe this in your own words if you wish to. Third Day: Read John 18:12-14, Mark 14:53-65, and Matthew 26:57-68. 1.What did the officers do with Jesus in John 18:12? 2.What do you learn about the false witnesses called to testify against the Lord Jesus in Mark 14:57-59 and Matthew 26:59-61? 3.Challenge: Read all of Isaiah 53 which speaks of the substitute death sentence for those who place their faith in Him. Underline phrases or sentences which are meaningful to you. Choose a verse from Isaiah 53 which you would like to share with a discussion group. 4.What was the Lord Jesus' reply when the high priest asked Him "Art Thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" See Mark 14:62. 5.Christ foretells His second coming to earth by His words in Mark 14:62, "coming in the clouds of heaven." What impresses you the most as you read about Jesus Christ's return in Luke 21:25-28 and Matthew 24:44? 6.Read Matthew 27:27-31 and Luke 23:34-37. These passages describe mistreatment of the Lord Jesus. List the ways in which He was mistreated. Matthew Luke Fourth Day: Read John 18:15-18 with Matthew 26:69-75. 1.a.Who went in with Jesus Christ when He was taken to the palace of the high priest? See John 18:15. b.Who had to wait outside the palace for a time and how did he get in? c.In John 18:17 what did a girl say to Peter and what was His reply? 2.Give further details on Peter's denial which you find by reading Matthew 26:69-75. 3.What had the Lord Jesus said to Peter earlier that evening (Read Matthew 26:31-35) and what had Peter and all of the disciples replied to Christ? 4.How did the other disciples "deny Jesus" according to Matthew 26:56, and what did their denial fulfill? 5.Challenge: The following verses speak of Christ's willingness to be rejected because He loves you. Put them into your own words if you wish and relate them to His love for you. Luke 17:25 5.Isaiah 53:3 6.What do the following verses say concerning God's love? Relate these verses to yourself by adding your name to them if you wish to. Ezekiel 18:32 2 Peter 3:9 Galatians 1:4 Romans 10:10,11 Fifth Day: Read John 18:19-27. 1.As Jesus Christ stood before the high priest, Caiaphas, what did the high priest question Jesus about? 2.What was the Lord Jesus' reply in John 18:20,21? 3.a.How was the Lord Jesus mistreated at this time? b.What question did the Lord Jesus ask in John 18:23? 4.a.Christ's "meekness" in John 18:23 was not "weakness" but submission to God's perfect plan. How does His action demonstrate what He spoke of in Matthew 11:29? b.What does 1 Peter 2:23 say about Christ's meekness? 5.(Personal) Have you found "rest for your soul" in some difficult situation where there is conflict, mistreatment or persecution in your life? How can you find this "rest" for your soul according to Matthew 11:29 and 1 Peter 2:23? 6.Challenge: The Christian is encouraged to let the Holy Spirit's power make him humble in all situations. What do the following verses say concerning this? Put them briefly into your own words if you wish to, and put your name into them. 2 Corinthians 6:3-6 Colossians 1:11 Sixth Day: Read John 18:28-40. 1.Did Pilate want the task of judging and sentencing Christ? Give verses with your answer. 2.a.How did the Jewish religious leaders respond to Pilate in John 18:31? b.How were they actually playing a part in bringing about the death of Jesus as they spoke to Pilate in John 18:39,40? 3.Challenge: Yet, it was not the Jewish men, the Roman men, or anyone else who determined the death of Christ, the way He would die, or even the hour! Who had planned this long ago? What do the following verses say? John 12:32,33 Acts 2:23 4.a.What three questions did Pilate ask Jesus in John 18:28-40? b.What did Jesus Christ say about truth in John 14:6? c.What did the Lord Jesus tell Pilate the reason was for His birth and coming into the world? 5.a.How did Pilate's wife warn Pilate to be careful about judging the Lord Jesus? See Matthew 27:19. What did Pilate say in John 18:38 which indicates that he had heeded his wife's warning? b.What was the custom of the Jewish people at Passover time which Pilate spoke of in John 18:39? c.What did Pilate do when he saw that he could not change the crowds' mind about Christ? Read Matthew 27:24-26 and Deuteronomy 21:6. 6.Which of the verses in this lesson was helpful to you this week? Did you choose to memorize it? Study in the Book of John Lesson 19 OVERVIEW OF JOHN 18 INTRODUCTION Biblical scholars often divide the Gospel of John into five sections. The first eighteen verses of chapter 1 make up the introduction, or prologue. The rest of chapter 1 through chapter 12 is an account of the public ministry of Jesus. Chapters 13 through 17 tell of the private ministry of Jesus. Chapters 18 through 20 describe His glorification. The last chapter is the epilogue or conclusion. This lesson begins the fourth section of John, the Lord Jesus' "glorification." The Lord came to die for us. This chapter begins the story of His death. All of the gospels give a portion of Christ's glorification. You may desire to read all of the details that are available to us concerning these last days in Jesus' life. The following outline will guide you through the events which are recorded in the four gospels. a.Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46). b.The betrayal by Judas and the arrest of the Lord Jesus in the Garden (Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:1-11). c.The inquiry in secret at the house of Annas (John 18:12-14). d.Trial at the house of Caiaphas and the first mocking by soldiers (John 18:19-27). e.Trial before the Sanhedrin council (Matthew 26:57-68; Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:66-71). f.The Sanhedrin meets to confirm the sentence (Matthew 27:1; Luke 22:66-71). g.The first examination before Pilate (John 18:28-40; Luke 23:1-7; Matthew 27:2; 11-14; Mark 15:1-5). h.Examination before Herod (Luke 23:6-12). i.The trial and judgment by Pilate (Matthew 27:11-26; Mark 15:1-15; Luke 23:1-7,13-25; John 19:14). j.Mocking and beating of Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:27-30; Mark 15:16- 20; Luke 23:34-37; John 19:1-3). Following these events we read, in John 19 and 20, of the glorification of our Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection. The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus Christ in the Garden--John 18:1-11 (Matthew 26:36-56; Mark 14:32-50; Luke 22:39-53) After the Lord Jesus Christ prayed for His disciples and for all Christians in John 17, "He went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where there was a garden, into which he entered, and his disciples" (John 18:1 KJB). When the Lord Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem earlier in the week, He foretold His death and glorification when He said, "The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified" (John 12:23). In John 13 through 16 we read of Jesus' last talk with His disciples which began with the Last Supper (Matthew 26:7-30; Mark 14:17-26; Luke 22:14-39; John 13:1-4). After supper, the Lord Jesus and His friends would go from the upper room and leave the city through a gate, walk down the steep valley, across the brook Cedron and into the Garden of Gethsemane. All of the lambs used in the Passover celebration were killed in the Temple and their blood was poured on the altar as an offering to God. The number of lambs which were slain for the Passover that year, according to the census, was about 200,000. The Temple courts were covered with the lambs' blood. From the altar there was a channel through which the blood of the Passover lambs was drained into the brook Cedron. Perhaps as Christ crossed the brook it was still red with the blood of the sacrificed lambs. Surely His sacrifice on the cross would come to mind at this time. The Garden of Gethsemane was on the Mount of Olives. The word Gethsemane means "oil press." The oil from the olives which grew on the hill was extracted by a press, probably in the Garden of Gethsamane or near it. The Garden of Gethsemane was in an area where many of the well-to-do people of Jerusalem had private gardens. Jerusalem was built on the top of a hill and there was little space for gardens. Also ceremonial law prohibited the use of manure on the soil of the sacred city. So, the wealthy people had their private gardens outside the city on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. Apparently Christ knew someone with a garden called Gethsemane and He had been given the privilege--and perhaps the key--to get into that garden. There is a little garden today on that hillside, which is lovingly tended by Franciscan friars, in which are great old olive trees of the same type that grew in the garden which Jesus frequented. Jesus and His disciples often went to that garden for peace and quiet, and Judas knew it! He chose this place to betray Jesus (John 18:2, Luke 22:39). As we begin to study these last days of Jesus' earthly career, our hearts fill with love and gratitude. We wonder that such great love could be expressed for ourselves! Yet this study reveals that the things that happened to Jesus can be expected to happen to His followers also (John 17:18,19). "As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I consecrate myself to meet their need for growth and truth in holiness." And in John 17:23 L.B., "I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one--so that the world will know you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me." What happened to Jesus Christ in John 18 could happen to any Christian who has truly yielded his life to the Lord Jesus. However we need never fear, for as we read John chapter 19 through 20 we see God's love and ultimate victory. "For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith. Who is it that is victorious over (that conquers) the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God-- who adheres to, trusts in and relies (on that fact)?" (1 John 5:4,5 Amplified Bible). The philosopher, Nietzsche, who became the patron saint of Germany's Nazi Party, descended from a long line of Christian theologians. Because of the Scripture's teaching concerning the Christian's ultimate victory and joy even in trial and persecution, Nietzsche was often quoted as saying, "If the Christians wish us to believe in their Redeemer why don't they look a little more redeemed?" What about you? What are your circumstances today? Are you trusting the Lord Jesus Christ for His ultimate victory over the "world." Are you relying on Him? Do you express peace and trust in God to help you overcome difficulties? Although Jesus knew He was on the verge of betrayal, He continued in His customary routine: He taught His disciples; He took them with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane for rest and prayer (John 18:2); He rested in God. Jesus was not surprised at being betrayed by a close friend (John 18:4)--"Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him...." The path of persecution should not surprise the Christian either! God has a plan for your life. Continue in your customary routine of praising and trusting the Lord Jesus Christ no matter what your circumstances may be. The Lord will prepare you for anything that is to come. Judas knew the garden for he had been there with the Lord on many occasions. He came to the garden now with soldiers from the Roman garrison in Jerusalem and with the Sanhedrin, the chief priests and the Pharisees. At Passover time there were always extra soldiers in Jerusalem, quartered in the Tower of Antonia which overlooked the Temple, in the event an emergency threatened the public interests. There were also Temple police, a private police force which kept order within the Temple itself. It has been estimated that between two hundred and six hundred soldiers and officials came against Jesus and His eleven apostles! It is interesting to note that these men carried lanterns and torches and weapons (John 18:3), even though there was a full moon and the night was almost as bright as day. Why had they brought lamps and torches? They must have thought that Jesus would hide among the trees and rocks in the garden. What a surprise when they arrived and Jesus stepped out and said, "Whom are you looking for?" (John 18:4 L.B.). And when they said, "Jesus of Nazareth," He answered back: "I am he." Here again we find one of the "I am's" by which the Lord Jesus identified Himself as God. (Read Exodus 3:14; Revelation 1:4,11,17.) The man they expected to take by force stepped forward and spoke out with great courage. Unarmed, He showed His authority as He stood before hundreds of armed and equipped forces! As they heard Him they stepped back and fell to the ground. For in that moment power radiated from Jesus (John 18:6). John does not tell us of Judas' kiss of betrayal (Luke 22:47,48) but it was during this time period that Judas kissed Jesus, the sign of his betrayal. Even while Jesus was being betrayed He was thinking of His beloved disciples. He wanted to be sure that His word would be fulfilled, "Of those whom thou gavest me, I lost not one" (John 18:9). There was no reason why His followers should be taken to prison by the soldiers, so Jesus said, "If it is only I for whom you are looking--let these men go their way" (John 18:8). This incident shows Jesus' protective love for His disciples, and for every Christian. He loves you just as much as He loved His first disciple! Many followers of the Lord Jesus have also been willing to give their lives for their friends. Alfred Sadd, a missionary of Tarrawa, stands out as an example of such love. During World War II when the Japanese came to his island, he was lined up with twenty other soldiers, most of whom were from New Zealand. The Japanese laid a Union Jack flag on the ground and ordered Mr. Sadd to walk over it. He approached the flag three times and each time refused to step on it. The third time he approached the flag he gathered it in his arms and kissed it. The Japanese took all of the men to be shot. Many were very young and heavy-hearted, but Mr. Sadd cheered them up. He stood in front and spoke words of cheer to them. As he finished, he stayed in front of the soldiers so that he would be the first to die. This missionary was concerned about the others. This is a small picture of Jesus' protecting love over His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. Simon Peter suddenly drew his sword and cut off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest's slave. Peter was always the impetuous member of the group. Now in the garden he reacted, again without much thought. He still did not understand that Jesus had come to die. He felt that he should help his Master escape. Malchus must have dodged the blow and the sword struck him on the ear. In Luke 22:51 we learn that Jesus immediately healed the ear. In John 18:11 Jesus says to Peter, "Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup which the Father has given Me?" It was God's will that His Son be taken prisoner and die upon the cross; and for Jesus that was enough. He would be faithful unto death. In defense of Peter, he alone tried to defend his Master when he drew his sword against the enemy. Peter would soon deny Jesus, but in that moment he was prepared to take on hundreds, all alone, for the sake of Christ. We often talk of the cowardice and failure of Peter, but we should not forget that he expressed his love in this action. Judas stood with the enemy (John 18:5). Whatever led him to such treachery was no sudden thing. No one ever plans to be an enemy of God. He gets there by a gradual process of disobedience to God's laws. In John 13:27 we read that Satan entered into Judas' heart. Here was Judas' downfall. He made a decision to yield to Satan instead of to Jesus. From then on the course of events was set; Judas was a pawn in the hands of the devil. There is a warning for all of us in the story of Judas. He was a disciple, an apostle, a follower of Jesus. He was the treasurer of the group (John 12:6). But he could not resist the temptation to take money from the bag. He was probably ambitious; he wanted to be a part of the kingdom he hoped Jesus would establish in Jerusalem. His misplaced ambition and his greed made him decide against Jesus Christ. Be careful of seemingly unimportant temptations that may come to you. Do not take the first step away from Christ. You may find yourself on a downhill slide from which it is hard to recover. When a Christian stands in the fellowship of the enemies of God, he is in real trouble. These close associations will certainly result in less Bible reading, less praying and less time spent in the worship of God. Today, a Christian cannot betray his Lord to death as Judas did, but he can betray his loving friendship. The love of money was the inherent weakness in the nature of Judas. In the life of each Christian there is an inward attachment to something which can be loved or desired more than fellowship with the Savior. This thing need not necessarily be sinful in itself, but may not be in the will of God for the Christian. Is there something in your life which keeps you from following Christ? Should you stop right now and pray about this? (1 John 1:8,9). The Lord Jesus Before the Jewish Authorities--John 18:12-14,19-24 The words of Jesus, His kindness in healing Malchus, His willingness to go with the soldiers--none of these things had any effect upon the men sent to arrest Him. In John 18:12 we read that the officers took Jesus and bound Him. In Mark 14:50 we read that all of the disciples forsook Him and fled. One young man followed with Jesus, having nothing but a linen cloth on His body (Mark 14:51). He was seized, but he broke away from them and ran off naked, leaving them with the linen cloth in their hands. No other gospel records this incident, so perhaps Mark himself was the young man. The word naked, "gymnos" does not necessarily mean completely nude; it was also used to describe a person clothed only in an undergarment. The Lord Jesus was taken away to be put on trial. His trial was in two parts. The first part was the religious trial conducted by the Jewish leaders. The second trial was in Pilate's judgment hall. The soldiers led the Lord to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. Jesus first encountered Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Annas, a notorious character, was the power behind the priestly authority in Jerusalem. He himself had been high priest during the years a.d. 6 to 15. Four of his sons had also held the high priesthood and now his son-in-law Caiaphas, was high priest. A high priest was supposed to hold the office for life; but when the Romans became the governing power the office became a matter of intrigue, bribery and corruption. Thus the family of Annas became immensely rich as one by one they used the office to gain power. One way in which Annas made his money was by selling the sacrifices in the Court of the Gentiles. Every sacrificial animal had to be without blemish to be offered in the Temple. Inspectors were employed to inspect any animal that was purchased outside the Temple. It was certain that a flaw would be found and the worshipper was forced to buy at the Temple booths. They would have to pay almost double the price of an animal outside the Temple. These booths were called the Bazaars of Annas. A passage in the Talmud records how the people felt about Annas, "Woe to the house of Annas! Woe to their serpents' hiss! They are high priests; their sons are keepers of the treasury; their sons-in-laws are guardians of the Temple; and their servants beat the people with staves." We see that Annas was not respected nor liked by his own people. When Jesus cleared the Temple of the animal sellers, He had hit Annas where it hurts--in his pocketbook. Annas probably wanted to be the first to gloat over the capture and the defeat of the Lord Jesus. Peter's Denial of the Lord Jesus--John 18:15-18,25-27 (Matthew 26:69- 75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-62). John interrupts the story of the trial to tell of a tragedy. Peter and John followed the Lord Jesus. John does not call himself by name in his gospel account but refers to himself as the "other disciple." When the two arrived at the House of Caiaphas, John knew the high priest and was immediately given entrance into the court. Peter was not known and was not allowed to enter, so John spoke to the girl who guarded the door and arranged for Peter to get in (John 18:16). Inside the courtyard, Peter stood with the servants and officers gathered around a coal fire, warming themselves. The girl who had let Peter and John into the courtyard asked Peter if he was not one of Jesus' disciples (John 18:17). She knew that John was a disciple ("Are you not also one of this man's disciples?"), so assumed Peter was too. Peter was surprised by her question and was not prepared. In that moment he became frightened and for the first time that night he denied Jesus. (Read again John 13:38.) Two more times before the cock crowed Peter was to deny his Lord (John 18:25-27). There is a lesson for all Christians in this unhappy experience. People have all kinds of ways in which they try to ease the tensions of life and escape trouble. This is also true of Christians. They can be tempted into trying escape actions such as Peter did. As Peter stood by the warm fire in the courtyard, all his gallant courage which he showed earlier seemed to have melted away. He was challenged and he escaped trouble by lying. If you are a Christian, each day you are surrounded with temptations to deny the Lord in subtle ways. Your only protection against such things is to confidently trust in Christ's complete victory, through the power of His Holy Spirit within you. The Trial Before Caiaphas--John 18:19-27 After John's account of Peter's denial, he tells about the religious trial of Jesus. It is a little hard to decide who is trying whom in these verses. The Lord Jesus is on trial, but He is the One who is in complete control of the situation. The officer struck Jesus because he realized that He was getting the better of the high priest (John 18:22). Once more Jesus took control. "If I've spoken evil, bear witness of the evil." The people tried to bring witnesses but they could not even agree among themselves (Mark 14:59). Jesus Before Pontius Pilate--John 18:28-40 John 19:16 (Matthew 27:11- 16; Mark 15:2-15; Luke 23:3-25) Finally Jesus was led away from the House of Caiaphas and taken to the second trial in Pilate's judgment hall. The Jewish people were not allowed to sentence anyone to death so they referred Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor, for sentence. The Feast of the Passover was about to begin and the ceremonial laws of the Jews would not allow them to go into the court of Pilate at this time (John 18:28). This action of the Jews was part of God's plan, for if the Jews had themselves been able to carry out the death penalty it would have been by stoning. (Leviticus 24:16) Pilate heard the accusations of the Jews and then went into the judgment hall to speak to Jesus alone. Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you really the King of the Jews?" The Lord Jesus answered Pilate in this way, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did the others say it to you about me?" Pilate repeated his question again. "Are you a king?" Jesus answered in John 18:37, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world." Christmas was announced in Pilate's judgment hall, six or eight hours before Jesus Christ was crucified. He told why He came, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews, but my kingship is not from the world" (John 18:36). Pilate was convinced that there was no case against the Lord Jesus. "I find in him no fault at all," Pilate reported (John 18:38). Pilate thought he could remain neutral in regard to Christ. This is impossible. You cannot be neutral. To do nothing is to be against Him. What is your response to the trial of Jesus Christ? What does His death mean to you? How are you helping others to learn of Jesus Christ's love for them? Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 18? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life this week? Second Day: Read all of John 19 concentrating on John 19:1-11. 1.What did the soldiers do to the Lord Jesus to humiliate Him? 2.How did Pilate again declare his belief that Christ was innocent of any crime just as he had in John 18:38? Give verse please. 3.What crime did the Jewish leaders accuse Jesus Christ of? 4.a.What did God call Jesus according to the following Scriptures? Mark 1:9-11 Matthew 3:13-17 Luke 9:28-35 b.(Personal) Are you like Pilate, doubting and saying, "What is truth?" (John 18:38). Are you like these Jewish leaders who considered Christ an imposter when He called Himself the Son of God? Or are you able to repeat and believe the words of Peter in John 6:68,69? 5.After the conversation with the Jewish leaders, what did Pilate go into the Praetorium (Herod's palace) to ask Jesus about? See John 19. 6.a.Pilate claimed to have power to let Jesus Christ live or to sentence Him to die by crucifixion (John 19:10). What was the Lord Jesus' response to this claim? b.Challenge: How do the following verses help you understand God's great power? 1 Chronicles 29:12 Psalm 115:3 Third Day: Read John 19:12-16. 1.What did Pilate want to do with Jesus Christ, and how did the Jewish leaders respond to Pilate's plan? 2.a.When Pilate heard these words from the Jews (John 19:12) he brought Jesus Christ outside, and sat down on the judgment seat. Read Matthew 27:15-26. Describe the message from Pilate's wife and how Pilate responded in Matthew 27:24. b.Challenge: Do you believe that Pilate was truly "innocent" of Jesus' blood, "crucifixion?" Give reasons and verses for your answer. 3.a.Read Matthew 27:17,18. Why did the Jewish religious leaders want the Lord Jesus killed? b.Challenge: Why do you believe that the Jewish religious leaders were "envious" of the Lord Jesus? 4.Challenge: What do the following verses say concerning envy? Put them into your own words if you wish to. Proverbs 14:30 Proverbs 23:17 5.(Personal) Do you have envy of any type in your life? Perhaps you should stop right now and ask God to take it away and replace it with His love and peace. See 1 Corinthians 13:4. 6.Challenge: Compare what the chief priests of the Jewish people said in John 19:15 with what God spoke through Isaiah and Jeremiah about Christ. Jeremiah 23:5 Isaiah 9:7 Fourth Day: Read John 19:17-25. 1.Where was Jesus Christ taken to be crucified, and what did He carry to this place? 2.a.Read Mark 15:21,22. Who was compelled to help carry the Lord Jesus' cross? b.Romans 16:13 speaks of Rufus and his mother as Christians. In Mark 15:21 Simon is the father of Alexander and Rufus. Assuming that Rufus in Romans is Simon's son, and that Rufus' mother was Simon of Cyrene's wife, do you believe Simon of Cyrene may have believed in Jesus Christ as His Savior and Lord as he walked and talked with Him while helping to carry the heavy cross? Put down what you think their conversation may have been as they walked toward "Golgotha." 3.a.Who else was crucified? Read Matthew 27:37-44. How did the others who were crucified with the Lord Jesus treat Him? 3.b.How does Luke 23:39-43 show the repentance and faith of one of the men crucified with Jesus Christ? 4.What miraculous events did God bring about while Jesus Christ was on the cross and as He died? Read Matthew 27:45, Matthew 27:50-52. 5.This soldier probably got some of Jesus Christ's garments, John 19:23-25. How did this fulfill what Psalm 22:18 prophecied? 6.a.As Jesus lovingly provides for the Christian each day, He also provided for His mother as she stood in sorrow at the foot of the cross. How does John 19:25-27 describe this loving care for Mary? b.(Personal) Can you think of loving ways in which Jesus Christ has cared for you? Share with the discussion group if possible. Stop and thank Him now for His loving care for you. (See Psalm 22:22ff.) Fifth Day: Read John 19:28-37. 1.What did Jesus say in John 19:28,29 to fulfill the Scripture? Compare with Psalm 69:21. 2.What did the Lord Jesus say when He had received the vinegar? 3.Challenge: What do you think His words in John 19:30 meant? See the following Scriptures to help you understand His words. Hebrews 9:22 1 Peter 2:24,25 4.(Personal) Which of these verses in question 3 meant the most to you? Why? 5.a.Since bodies were not to be left on the cross during a Sabbath day, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken to be sure they were dead. What happened when the soldiers came to Jesus Christ? See John 19:32-37. How did this fulfill Psalm 34:20? 3.b.What did one of the soldiers do to Christ and what happened as a result? How did this act fulfill prophecy written in Zechariah 12:10? 6.a.Some of Jesus' last words were spoken probably as the soldiers drove the nails into His hands and feet. What were they? Read Luke 23:34. b.(Personal) It was necessary for Jesus to die in order that your sins could be forgiven. Have you repented of your sins and asked God to forgive them for Jesus' sake? Read Romans 3:23; 6:23. c.(Personal) Are you willing to forgive, for Jesus' sake, someone who has hurt you? Can you say humbly and honestly, "Father forgive . For he knows not what he does?" Sixth Day: Read John 19:38-42. 1.a.Who asked Pilate for the body of Jesus Christ? Who was this person? Give all the details you can discover about his personality. b.(Personal) Are you like this person as far as your Christian witness is concerned? If so, do you believe some changes should be made concerning this personality trait? 2.Who was the second man who helped to take the body of the Lord Jesus from the cross? What did he bring with him? 3.How was Jesus' body prepared for burial? Give verse in John 19. 4.Where did they put the Lord Jesus' body? 5.Read Mark 15:42-47 and write down any further details you discover concerning the Lord Jesus' burial. 6.a.(Personal) Do you believe that you would have had the courage to lovingly take Jesus' body, prepare it for burial, and gently place it in the tomb, as His followers did, knowing that there was much opposition against Him and those who followed Him? Psalm 27:14 2 Timothy 1:7 b.Was there a special promise verse which helped you this week? Did you choose to memorize it so you can recall it in times of need? Study in the Book of John Lesson 20 INTRODUCTION Christ was coming to the crowning act of His earthly life. It was not a crisis but a climax. He came to earth for the sole purpose to "give his life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). The time had come for the consummation of the plan God made "before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love" (Ephesians 1:4). Jesus Christ was the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8). Jesus Christ was ready to face death on the cross before He ever left His heavenly home to be born on earth to become our Savior and Lord. The night of trials and torture preceding the crucifixion was over. It was morning at last; yet it seemed like night--the world's blackest night (Luke 23:44,45). The courtyard of the high priest's house was deserted; the fire at which Peter warmed himself was gray. The soldiers' derision, Herod's sneering and Pilate's indecision have ended. And Christ, JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS was crucified. John 19:1-16--The Trial Before Pilate Pilate found no fault in Jesus at all (John 18:38). Yet he was reluctant to set Jesus free. Instead, as was the custom during Passover, Pilate offered to release either Jesus or Barabbas to the chief priests and the other Jewish leaders. The Jewish leaders chose Barabbas! A Zealot who had sworn to rid Palestine of the Romans, Barabbas was a man of force who chose to reach his end by violent means. What a contrast! The Lord Jesus was a man of love and gentleness whose kingdom was to be in the hearts of men. It is a tragic fact that all through the ages men have chosen the way of Barabbas and refused the way of Jesus Christ. No one knows what happened to Barabbas. But John Oxenhan, in one of his imaginary pictures of this man, writes that perhaps he stood with the crowd watching Jesus carrying His cross. He may have thought, "I should have been carrying that cross; not He. He saved me!" As he saw Jesus hanging there on Calvary, he might have thought, I should have been hanging there; not He. He saved me!" This may not have really happened, but certainly Barabbas was one of the sinners for whom Jesus died to save! A German artist, Sternberg, was painting two pictures. One was "Dancing Gypsy Girl;" the other was "Crucifixion." The girl who was a model for the first portrait took an unusual interest in the unfinished painting of the crucifixion. One day she said, "He must have been a very bad man to have been nailed to a cross like that." The artist replied, "No, He was a goodman, the best that ever lived! Indeed, He died for all men." The puzzled girl said, "Did He die for you?" This question made a profound impression upon the artist. He did not know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, and didn't understand that salvation is received by faith alone. Sometime later he attended a meeting and was led to Christ. Now, with a heart full of love and gratitude he completed his painting of the crucifixion and under it wrote the words: "This I did for thee; what hast thou done for me?" This painting was placed in a famous gallery where a young aristocrat named Zinzendorf saw it and was touched by the words written under it. He was a Christian but was convicted of his failure to serve the Lord. He later became the organizer of a missionary brotherhood known as the Moravians. In John 19 you are brought face to face with the voluntary death of Jesus Christ. Have you ever answered the question, "Did he die for you?" Yes, He did! What are you doing for Him? "I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed That thou might'st ransomed be, and quickened from the dead; I gave, I gave My life for thee, What hast thou given for Me?" --Havergal Romans 12:1,2 R.S.V.--"I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 15:13 R.S.V.--"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Are you willing to ask this question, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6). You are the Lord's hands and feet and mouth. What does He want you to do by the power of His Holy Spirit for Him this week? Pilate made still another attempt to free Jesus without offending the crowd. He had first sent him to Herod, the ruler of Galilee who was visiting Jerusalem, because Jesus was a Galilean (Luke 23:6-12). Then Pilate had offered to release Jesus in accordance with the custom of the people at Passover season (John 18:39,40). Now he tried again. Maybe if he subjected Jesus to physical punishment the Jews would be satisfied and go about their business and leave Pilate alone. The scriptures simply tell us that he "took Jesus and scourged him." History tells us that this flogging was applied to the backs of victims by a short-handled whip. Several bone-tipped leather lashes hung from the handle. The Living Bible tells us that "Pilate laid open Jesus' back" with the whip (John 19:1). These beatings were most painful and at times resulted in the death of the victim. When the beating was completed, a crown, woven from the stems of a plant with long thorns, was placed on Jesus' head. A purple cloak was placed on His shoulders and He was brought before the people to be mocked as the "King of the Jews" (John 19:2-5). Pilate once more said that he found no fault in Jesus (Luke 19:4). He brought Jesus out. Beaten, bleeding and dressed in a mock-royal robe, wearing a mock- royal crown, Jesus appeared as a pitiful example of one whom no one should fear. Look what Pilate had done to this "king." Pilate said, "Behold the man" (John 19:5). The people were unmoved. The chief priests and officers cried, "Crucify him" (John 19:6). Pilate replied, "You crucify him. I find him NOT GUILTY." Pilate knew the Jewish leaders could not crucify Jesus for they were not allowed to execute a man (John 18:31). The Jews persisted. Jesus should die because He, "made himself the Son of God" (John 19:7). This was the first time the Jewish leaders admitted the real reason why they wanted Jesus killed. Up to this time the chief priest had trumped up every possible excuse to do away with Him. They said that the Lord Jesus had claimed to be king; yet Jesus had never proclaimed Himself to be a secular king. This accusation was completely false. "He has made himself the Son of God." This is the reason the Jewish leaders, on other occasions, had wanted to do away with Jesus (John 5:18; John 8:58,59; John 10:31,32). Therefore, the Lord Jesus was sentenced to die because He claimed to be the Son of God. The words of the Jews frightened Pilate. Once more it is hard to decide who is trying whom (John 19:8-11). It is Jesus who speaks of power (John 19:11). "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above" (John 19:11 R.S.V.). Pilate threatened Christ and the Lord turned the threat against Pilate. In John 19:12 we read, "This made Pilate anxious to let him go" (Beck). Pilate wanted nothing to do with the condemnation of Jesus Christ. He also had been warned by his wife to have nothing to do with the judgment of Jesus (Matthew 27:19). However the chief priests were not going to let Pilate off so easily. "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend" (John 19:12 R.S.V.). Now it was the Jews who threatened Pilate. "Here is your King," Pilate said. There must have been sarcasm in his voice. These people spoke of being a friend of Caesar's and yet Pilate knew that they looked and hoped for a king, a Messiah. In the heat of the argument the hatred of the chief priests reached its height. "We have no king but Caesar," they cried (Luke 19:15). Pilate had made the chief priests, the religious leaders of the Jews, deny that they were looking for a Messiah who would rule over them in glorious power (see Psalm 72:1-19; Daniel 9:25,26; Psalm 110:1-7; Matthew 11:3-6). Pilate reluctantly made his decision to condemn Jesus of Nazareth for treason as these Jewish leaders demanded (John 19:16). He took his place on the judgment seat to pronounce the sentence. Pilate tried once more to avoid being responsible for condemning this Person. He symbolically and ceremonially washed his hands saying that he did not want this Man's blood to be upon him (Matthew 27:24,25). Pilate recognized the shallowness of the religious leaders' arguments, but he did not know how to stop the proceedings without jeopardizing his own political future. The Jews had suggested that he couldn't be "Caesar's friend" if he did not crucify Jesus Christ. They were well acquainted with Roman politics and knew that this would have an effect on the Roman governor. The result of their pressure was that Pilate finally yielded and turned Jesus over to the soldiers to be crucified. How sad it is to realize that he yielded to this pressure. But we need to ask ourselves today if we ever yield to similar pressures and deny that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. There are many courageous Christians in the world today who refuse to yield to this kind of pressure. African Christians continue to travel a rocky road. Persecution in Chad for those resisting the tribal initiation rites goes on. There have been live-burials, mutilation, torture and other reprisals when Christians refuse to participate in their ancestral rites. These include blood sacrifices, floggings and sexual indignities (Evangelical Newsletter, November 22, 1974). How little we in our country have to suffer. How seldom are we required to stand up to declare our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Do you believe that you would take an easy route as Pilate did or by keeping quiet deny Christ? It is terrible to think that Jesus Christ had to die for man's sins, but how much more terrible to think that Jesus' death means so little to so many. How are you sharing the great love He showed for you when He gave of Himself? Christ chose to be born as a babe in Bethlehem. He chose to die. He chose to rise from the dead. No other could do this! "He did for our sins." He became a man so that He could die for us. It is because Christ died that we do not have to die. It is because He bore our sins that we can be forgiven. John 19:17-42--The Crucifixion and Burial of Jesus (Matthew 27:32-44, Mark 15:21-32, Luke 23:32-43) Jesus Christ was led away from the judgment hall of Pilate to the place of execution. In John 19:17 we read that He went to the "Place of a skull, called Golgotha." The exact place of the crucifixion is not known. But many people believe that Jesus died at a place to the north of the city, called Gordon's Calvary, named for the man who identified the hill as the place of Jesus' death. The Lord Jesus was brought to Calvary and crucified. Above His head Pilate wrote the reason for His execution, "Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews" (John 19:19). The Bible does not go into detail regarding His death; John very simply states that He was crucified and two others with Him (John 19:18). His cross was placed in between those of two thieves, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53:12, "He was numbered with the transgressors." He was treated as an ordinary prisoner. Christ's death was the mark of God's grace (unearned love). He permitted the soldiers to carry out their orders so that all men who were born sinners (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23), might be saved through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:21). The Bible tells us that to be absent from the body is to be "present with the Lord." Many people ask, "Do you think I am good enough to go to Heaven?" They cannot understand how a person can enter God's presence immediately upon death. They believe that perhaps you need a period of purifying before you will be ready for Heaven. The Bible teaches that we are fit for Heaven right now if we have faith in Jesus Christ, for we are not going there because of our own goodness but on the basis of Christ's substitution for us on the cross! Christ first lived a perfect life for you, and then He died to pay the price for your sins. Just before Jesus dismissed His Spirit in death, He cried, "It is finished" (John 19:30). That meant He had taken all the punishment for all the sins of mankind. This gives us full acceptance with God. We are released from sin's penalty when we receive Jesus Christ and believe in Him as our Lord and our Savior. He leaves nothing for us to pay or to work for. The inscription above Jesus' cross was written in three languages: Hebrew, Latin, Greek. Hebrew was the religious language whose literature told of the one, true God. It was also the national language. Latin was the language of the masters of the world, the government of Rome. Greek was the language of the culture of the world. It was the language spoken by the common people. It disturbed the Jewish priests that Pilate had written these words about Jesus and put them on His cross. And they asked that he remove "the King of the Jews" and in place write that He said "I am King of the Jews." However, Pilate refused by saying, "What I have written, I have written" (Luke 19:22). Psalm 22 contains much prophecy concerning the hours the Lord hung on the cross (Psalm 22:1,7,8,16,17,18). The Roman soldiers divided Jesus' garments among them. Jesus' coat was woven without a seam. The soldiers did not want to tear it apart, so they cast lots to see whose it would be (John 19:24), fulfilling the prophecy in Psalm 22:18. This coat, worn by the poor people of that day, was a sleeveless, blanket-like tunic. Tradition says that Mary wove this coat for Jesus as He began His ministry. Jesus, bearing upon Himself the sin of the world, cried out from the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Psalm 22:1, Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:24). God cannot tolerate sin in His presence, so Jesus cried out as God turned away from Him for the moment. The last cry of our Lord from the cross, "It is finished," indicates the completion of the work of redemption. John's Gospel emphasizes the many things Jesus Christ did that fulfilled what the Scriptures predicted. In John 19:28-30 Jesus says, "I thirst." As predicted in Psalm 69:21, they gave Him vinegar to drink. The four gospel accounts of the death of Jesus record several statements or "words" Jesus spoke from the cross. We learn from these that His first interest was in others. He prayed for forgiveness for those who killed Him (Luke 23:34). He spoke to the repentant thief on one side of His cross and promised to meet him in Paradise. God heard the thief's prayer for forgiveness, and God's Son, Jesus Christ, forgave Him for his sins (Luke 23:43), "Today, shalt thou be with me in Paradise." What happens to the Christians when they die? They will be with Christ! "Absent from the body, present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Christ rescued the man on the cross from the very brink of hell when he came humbly to Christ in faith. The Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ's coming as the Lamb of God (John 1:29) were now fulfilled. Now, as God's sacrificial Lamb, He was dying for the sins of the world. Christ finished the work which His Father had given Him to do. So with a great shout of victory, He announced to everyone: "It is finished!" (John 19:30). The Scripture records that He died--gave up the ghost. No one took Christ's life from Him. When He had done all that was necessary, He completed His work and died (John 10:17,18). Often men would live for several days upon a cross. Crucifixion was a slow, painful way to die. Since the Jewish men did not want the bodies to remain on the cross for the High Holy Day, the Passover Sabbath, they asked the soldiers to hasten the victims' death by breaking their legs. When they came to Jesus they found that He was already dead (John 19:33). The soldiers pierced His side so there would be no doubt that the Lord was really dead. No bones were broken, but His side was pierced just as it was prophesied in Psalm 34:20 and Zechariah 12:10. John records this incident so that we might believe (John 19:35). Jesus' heart had literally burst within Him. Medical authorities say that this careful description of blood and water gushing forth indicates that the great blood vessel of Jesus' heart had burst while He was hanging on the cross. Then when the spear pierced His side, it was natural that there would come out blood and water. We can think of this symbolically as the Savior's life-giving flow to the Christian. Blood stands for the cleansing from sin, and water represents the new life in the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:6-8; 1 John 1:7; Colossians 1:20; John 4:10,11; John 7:38; Revelation 22:17). Before going on to the next section we should note two of the many miracles of Calvary. A. Darkness (Luke 23:44,45). From noon unto 3:00 p.m. a pall of darkness hung over the cross and the city. It silenced all the uproar. Even though Christ was stripped of all His clothes, the unseen hand of God drew a curtain around His beloved Son to hide His suffering from the curious mob. B.The rending of the veil (Matthew 27:51). This veil, or curtain, divided the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies in the Temple (Exodus 26:31). No one but the high priest ever entered the Holy of Holies. He entered this area only once a year to present a blood offering to God for his sins and the sins of the people. The veil was torn from top to bottom, signifying that Christ's death opened the way to God for all men, for all times. Christ was the perfect sacrifice. He said, "It is finished." No longer would men have to approach God through any mediator other than His Son. (Read Hebrews 9:23-26.) John 19:38-42--The Burial of Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:57-61, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56) Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple of Jesus Christ, went to Pilate and secured permission to take the body of Jesus and bury it. Joseph was a young man, rich and well known. He was a member of the council of the highest governing body of the people, the Sanhedrin. He believed in Christ but never openly confessed because of his fear of the Jewish religious leaders. Apparently the abuse and cruelty poured out upon Jesus brought Joseph to a point where he could no longer keep silent. He must have felt that things had gone far enough, and he showed his loyalty now by stepping forward and claiming Christ's body. He went straight to Pilate and received permission (John 19:38). Joseph and Nicodemus wrapped Jesus' body in a linen shroud and laid it in Joseph's own new tomb which had been hewn out of rock (Matthew 27:59,60). Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there sitting opposite the sepulchre (Matthew 27:61). Both Nicodemus and Joseph had been willing to touch a dead body, although by doing so they would not be allowed to celebrate the Sabbath, for they were defiled according to Jewish law. Joseph forgot all the fears that had kept him silent and became a very obvious follower of Jesus. Nicodemus brought one hundred pounds of spices to bury Jesus, which would really be a royal burial. This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9--"And with a rich man in his death." By thus showing their loyalty to Christ, those two men exposed themselves to great persecution. Perhaps by nature they were rather shy individuals, but they became men of courage at Calvary. Men who come by faith to Christ become heroes even today. How about you? Are you willing to be daring for Christ in this day when He is hated by many? Take a look at your suffering Savior and consider the price that He paid for your forgiveness. Calvary can make you a hero, too! What does God want you to dare to do for Him today? Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 19? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life this week? Second Day: Read all of John 20 concentrating on John 20:1,2 with other references to this event. 1.What did Mary Magdalene find when she came to the tomb early in the morning on the first day of the week (which is Sunday)? 2.What measures had the chief priests and Pharisees taken because they feared the disciples would "steal" Jesus' body? Read Matthew 27:62- 66. 3.In spite of all the precautions at the tomb, what happened according to Matthew 28:1-8? Summarize these events briefly. 4.a.Mary ran to share the news that Jesus Christ was not in the tomb. Which two disciples did she find first to tell about this? See John 20. b.Because the Lord Jesus trusted and loved this particular disciple, what did He ask him to do in John 19:27? 5.In Matthew 28:5-7 the angel said, "Come, see, and go quickly to tell his disciples that He is risen from the dead." If we know for ourselves that the Lord Jesus lives, what are we to do according to Matthew 28:19,20? 6.(Personal) How are you personally sharing the story of Christ's death for forgiveness of sins, His resurrection and how He lives to help you daily? Be specific. Third Day: Read John 20:3-10. 1.Who reached the tomb first, Peter or John, and who entered the tomb first? 2.What did both disciples observe inside the tomb? 3.a.Apparently there were no soldiers at the tomb when Peter and John arrived. At least, they are not mentioned. Read Matthew 28:11-15 which explains what happened to them. Summarize this passage briefly. b.Do you believe that Matthew 28:14 was the real reason the Jewish religious leaders gave the soldiers money to tell this untruth? What do you believe the real reason was behind this bribe? c.(Personal) Have you ever been encouraged or even offered a bribe to tell a lie about someone? Do you believe that gossip could be put into this same category? What should be the Christian reaction to such a temptaiton or offer? See Ephesians 4:24,25. 4.What does 1 Corinthians 15:3,4,17 say about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus? 5.Challenge: The following Scriptures tell of Christ's death and resurrection. Summarize their thoughts briefly. Matthew 16:21 Matthew 20:19 6.What does Romans 10:9 say about what a Christian must believe about the resurrection? Fourth Day: Read John 20:11-18. 1.Did Mary Magdalene realize that Jesus had risen at first? Give reasons for your answer with verses. 2.What happened in John 20:14? 3.a.How did Mary recognize the Lord Jesus? Give verse. b.What did Mary call the Lord Jesus? 4.Challenge: If you are a Christian, Jesus Christ knows you by name, too! Can you identify your name with the following Scriptures? Luke 10:20 Revelation 21:10,27 5.Where did Mary go after she had talked with the risen Lord Jesus and what did she say? 6.a.How does 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 describe the great victory of the resurrection, so that no Christian needs to fear death? Use your own words if you wish. b.What does 2 Corinthians 5:8 say happens when a Christian's earthly body dies? Fifth Day: Read John 20:19-23. 1.What happened on the evening of the same day that Mary Magdalene talked with the risen Lord Jesus? 2.Challenge: When we receive the Lord Jesus, we also receive spiritual peace. Summarize what the following verses say concerning this peace! Use your own words if you wish to. Psalm 29:11 Isaiah 26:3 Luke 2:12-14 3.(Personal) Which was your favorite verse in question 2? Why? Share with your discussion group the reason you chose this verse if you possibly can. 4.What did the Lord Jesus say in John 20:21? 5.a.Without the Holy Spirit, there would not be power to accomplish Christ's work which He spoke of in John 20:21. What does Acts 1:8 say concerning this? 5.b.In our own strength we can do "nothing." How does Zechariah 4:6 state this? 6.(Personal) Is there some situation where you would like to claim God's promise concerning the Holy Spirit in 1 Thessalonians 1:5? Sixth Day: Read John 20:24-30. 1.Who was not with the disciples the first time the Lord Jesus appeared and what did he say when the disciples told him about Christ's appearance? 2.What happened eight days later? See John 20:26-29. 3.The Lord Jesus knew about Thomas' doubts. What did He especially say to Thomas at this time? 4.a.How did "doubting" Thomas declare his faith? Do you think he touched Christ first? b.(Personal) Have you ever come from doubt into real faith and responded as Thomas did? c.What does John 20:29 say about Christians who have received Christ by faith after He ascended into heaven to be with the Father? 5.What challenge do you find for yourself in Jude 1:21,22? 6.a.Does John completely record all that the Lord Jesus did while on earth? See John 20:30. b.Why did John write this Gospel? c.(Personal) Do you have life in Jesus' name? Are you sharing His life with others? How are you sharing Christ's life? How could you share in other ways? Study in the Book of John Lesson 21 INTRODUCTION There is one difference between Christianity and other religions. The founders of all long-established religions have died, were buried in their tombs and their bodies remain in the tombs. The followers of Confucius, Buddha, Mohammed, etc., can visit the tombs of their founders. However, Jesus Christ was not held by death! Although He died for our sins (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23), and was buried, His story did not end there! On the third day after His burial He was resurrected and He is alive forevermore! When we refer to the resurrection, we mean that Christ's body was raised from death. His soul never died. We who have been born again into eternal life will suffer physical death (except for those who are alive when Christ returns) but, like our Savior, will not experience spiritual death. Our resurrection will occur when our bodies are reunited with our eternal spirits when Christ returns to earth for us (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). The grave could not hold the Son of God. He conquered death. Jesus lives! (see Ephesians 1:20, Colossians 3:1). He is in heaven now interceding for us (Hebrews 7:25). We do not know exactly where heaven is, but God is there. And the Lord Jesus told us that He is preparing a place for us in heaven so that we may be with Him (John 14:1-7). John 20:1-10--The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-11) Since we do not know where Calvary was, neither do we know where Christ's tomb was. One of the places that has been accepted by many is the "Garden Tomb," located beneath a hill that has the shape of a human skull. This hill has been named Gordon's Calvary. Another site which some believe to be the crucifixion hill of Calvary is where the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is now built, within the walls of the modern city of Jerusalem. Jim Bishop describes the crucifixion of Christ in his book The Day Christ Died: "Once begun, the matter was done quickly and efficiently. The executioner...placed two five-inch nails between his teeth and, hammer in hand, knelt beside the right arm....He probed the wrist of Jesus to find the little hollow spot....Then he raised the hammer over the nail head and brought it down with force...." Mr. Bishop goes on to describe the hours of the worst kind of torture and agony. Pain in the wrist is beyond bearing. Since Jesus hung in a spread-eagle fashion, eventually His pectoral muscles at the side of His chest became paralyzed. This gave Him a feeling of not being able to breathe. Thus it was a continuous and total agony as Jesus looked down from the cross at the soldiers who gambled for His robes, at His mother Mary and the other women who wept and watched. The Jewish high priest stood by and sneered and goaded Jesus Christ. The slow, long hours of agony were borne by Jesus with no anesthetic. He refused to drink gall, a drug given a man before his crucifixion as an act of mercy by the Romans (Matthew 27:34). Gall was a bitter and poisonous herb (Jeremiah 8:14; 9:15) perhaps the opium poppy. He chose to bear the full agony of death to pay for our sins and to bring us into the family of God. When he had finished the agony of death for our sins, and all Scripture was fulfilled except Psalm 69:21, "They also gave me gall for my food and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink," Christ then fulfilled Scripture as written in John 19:29-30. After the Lord Jesus Christ's death, His followers, who had expected Him to establish a kingdom, fled into hiding. Only a few women and John are mentioned as standing at the foot of the cross. Had the matter rested at this point, the world would never have heard of Jesus of Nazareth. The fact that He has become a very well-known and widely-honored figure in history suggests that something very extraordinary happened after His death. Whatever it was, the event had such an impact that the demoralized, terror-stricken disciples became fearless men and women who risked death to proclaim their faith in Jesus Christ's resurrection and His power to save them from sin. However incredible resurrection may seem, the story of Christ's resurrection is powerfully authenticated. Those who witnessed His resurrection were willing to die rather than deny the truth of their testimony. In John 20 we find the record of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning of the first day of the week (Sunday). John says very simply that she "seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre" (John 20:1). She may have come early to help in the final embalming process of the Lord Jesus' body. Because preparation of the Passover was about to begin, after Jesus died, Nicodemus and Joseph had quickly taken His body, bound it in linen cloths with spices and laid it in Joseph's tomb (John 19:38-42). The custom of that day required a longer time to properly prepare the body for burial and permanent embalming. Therefore, they probably planned to come back after Passover and complete the embalming process. Mary Magdalene was the first one to arrive. The word that is used for early in John 20:1 is "proi." That word is the technical word for the last of the four night watches--the time from 3:00 to 6:00 a.m. Therefore, it was still dark. When she arrived at the tomb, Mary saw that the stone had been moved away. In order to see the importance of the stone being rolled away from the tomb, we must know something about that stone. Mark 15:46 says that the stone was placed at the entrance of the tomb in which Jesus' body lay. The stone was the door to such a tomb and usually weighed one to three tons. It was a wheel-shaped stone which fit into a groove in front of the tomb opening. The Jewish religious leaders were afraid that the disciples might steal the body of Jesus and claim that He had risen. So they went to Pilate and said, "Seal the tomb and set up a watch over it so that no one can tamper with the body of Jesus." Pilate agreed. The stone was sealed and a watch of Roman soldiers was placed to guard the tomb day and night (Matthew 27:62-66). When Mary arrived, the stone had been moved away and the seal of Rome was broken. The soldiers had left. They had been bribed to say that someone had stolen Christ's body while they slept (Matthew 28:11-15). Mary Magdalene came to the tomb as soon as she could after the Sabbath. This was the first Christian Sunday, the first day of a new week, the day of Christ's resurrection. We also need to seek Christ early in the morning, even if we must lose an hour of sleep. We must be willing to deny ourselves and our own rest in pursuit of Christ's fellowship no matter what the time of day. To hear Christ's voice if only for a few moments every morning will make the day go better and end happier. The well-known English clergyman, Matthew Henry, said, "Those that diligently inquire after Christ while it is yet dark shall have such light given them concerning Him as shall shine more and more." The Psalmist said, "I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in thy words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate upon thy promise" (Psalm 119:147,148 R.S.V.). A GIFT OF TIME O Lord, it's bedtime already, and somehow I haven't done all I set out to do today; I've forgotten so much. I wanted to chat with my wife about the boy's report card; We never got around to it. Maybe the day started all wrong; I don't know. We just never seem to have time these days. But we should, Lord, we should. We've got a modern home, Lord, as You know; The grass takes only a moment to cut with the power mower. And the kitchen, well, I ask You, could we get more devices into it? Then, Lord, why is it I am always rushing. Why is it that we have so little time together as a family? Could it be, Lord, that in saving so much time I have Become miserly, so miserly that it no longer means anything to me? Just had another thought. It's not my time, Lord, is it? It belongs to You. When You set the planets on their courses, You set the time. The sun to begin each day, And the softness of the dusk to say that work should cease. And the seasons, The spring with its new life. Autumnal golden colors. Lord, help me to make my time Yours That I might do the things that need doing, Like spending time with my children, And my wife; Time to speak a kind word to others; Time to show selfless concern. And above all, Lord, To take just a few moments of quiet, Wherein I might speak with You, In timelessness. I offer You my time, Lord, Your time. A sacrifice I pray You will find acceptable. Amen. --Roger Bush from Prayers for Pagans The Gospel of Mark says that Mary Magdalene was accompanied by another Mary (Mark 16:1). They arrived at the tomb and saw the great stone rolled away from the entrance and sitting on the right side was a young man in a white robe (Mark 16:5). Mary looked inside the tomb and saw that the tomb was empty! (The stone was rolled away to let the people in, not to let the Lord Jesus out! Matthew 28:2-4 tells about the great earthquake and the angel rolling the stone away from the door.) The angel told Mary Magdalene and the other Mary that Jesus had already left the tomb (Matthew 28:5-7; Mark 16:4-7). The women ran from the tomb. They found Peter and John; Mary told them that Jesus' body was not where they had placed it (John 20:2). The two men ran to the garden. The younger man, John, outran Peter and came first to the tomb. He waited outside, but Peter kept running on into the tomb (John 20:3-8). This is in keeping with Peter's character--he always spoke and acted before he thought! John followed Peter into the tomb. The linen clothes which had been wrapped around Jesus' body were "still in their folds" (that is what the original Greek means). In other words the grave clothes did not look as if they had been taken off at all. They were in regular folds as if the body of Jesus had simply evaporated out of them and left them lying there (John 20:6). The napkin which had covered the Lord Jesus' face was folded together in a place by itself. When Lazarus came out of his tomb, the Lord Jesus commanded the people to loose him from his grave clothes (John 11:44). But in the tomb where Jesus had lain, Peter and John fond the grave clothes still in their place. These grave clothes were long strips of cloth that were wound around Jesus' body. Tucked in the layers were the pounds of spices which Nicodemus gave (John 19:39). It would be physically impossible for a body to be removed from these grave clothes without unwinding them or cutting them apart. John suddenly realized what had happened and he tells us here in his gospel that he believed! John--the disciple whom Jesus loved and into whose care He had entrusted His mother--was the first to believe in the resurrection (John 20:8). John 20:11-18--The Lord Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene had the great thrill of being the first person to see the risen Christ. Mary was not an apostle; she was a woman whose life had been changed by Christ. She came back to the tomb weeping, wondering where they had taken her Lord. "As she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, `Woman why are you weeping?' She said to them, `Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him'" (John 20:11-13). The Lord God sent heavenly messengers to proclaim that His Son was alive. In Matthew 28:5-7 the message is, "Come, see; and then go quickly and tell." When we know for ourselves that the Lord Jesus lives, we are to tell the news everywhere we go, and to help spread it to the uttermost parts of the earth (Matthew 28:19,20). are you doing this? Are you building any bridges as you witness of your faith in Christ? Stanley Hopgood of England recently put the finishing touches on a 6 foot replica of the Tower Bridge of Wuppertal, West Germany. He spent 2 years of his spare time constructing this model using forty thousand match sticks collected by friends. There are bridges in life by which we establish contact with other people, also built out of little things--little acts of courtesy and consideration, little deeds of kindness and love. We are wrong if we think that it takes unusual acts on our part to establish good relations with others. Build your bridges out of little things. It works! Mary turned back from speaking with the angels. She was so worried and she didn't even seem to notice that these were heavenly messengers with whom she was speaking! She had not yet realized the truth of Jesus' resurrection. Now she heard another voice. This one asked her the same question the angels had asked (John 20:15). She thought it was the gardener! Then the Lord Jesus called her by name (John 20:16). What joy to hear the Son of God call you by your own name! "Rabboni, she cried,"; my own Master. When you need Him most, when all of life seems to tumble in, when you can see no hope--even before you can call to Him--Jesus waits to respond, to reveal Himself to you. "Search again for Jehovah your God, and you shall find him when you search for him with all your hearts and souls" (Deuteronomy 4:29 TLB). Mary took hold of Jesus. She was so thrilled to see Him that she held Him tightly (John 20:17). All she could think of was that she wanted to stay with Him. She did not want Him to ever leave her again. "Jesus said to her, `Do not cling to me (do not hold me) for I have not yet ascended to the Father'" (John 20:17, Amplified Bible). Jesus was kind to Mary yet He wanted her to realize that she could not hold on to Him. He was not going to stay on earth with her, but was going back to His Father. It was good that He would go away. He had told the disciples this before (John 16:7). "Do not hold me....but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God" (John 20:17 R.S.V.). This time the Lord Jesus did not say "our Father" and "our God" but He made a distinction. "God is my Father, and so he is your Father," He said. God is Christ's Father by nature (Luke 1:30- 34). He is our Father by grace, which is God's unearned love! Full salvation was possible because the Lord had finished His work. Now at last His Father could be our Father! John 20:19-25--Jesus Appears to the Ten in Jerusalem Mary went immediately to tell the news to the disciples (John 20:18). She knew that Jesus Christ lives! "If Christ be not raised, your faith is in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:17). The resurrection of Jesus Christ is an indication that God was satisfied with the atoning death of Jesus. Now we can come to God through Christ and know that our sins are forgiven. Jesus Christ lives forevermore (Revelation 1:18). His death was sufficient. He died for us; He lives for us! (Read Romans 10:9; John 14:19; and John 11:25.) It was the evening of the resurrection day. The followers of the Lord Jesus were gathered together in a house somewhere in the city of Jerusalem. They had been listening to some unusual reports. Mary Magdalene told them of her meeting with the Lord Jesus in the garden. The two whom Jesus had met on the way to Emmaus spoke up, and told of their experiences with the risen Jesus (Luke 24:13-35). While they were speaking, suddenly and unexpectedly, Jesus stood in their midst (Luke 24:36). The door had not opened; it was still shut tight. Nevertheless Jesus was there! (John 20:19). They looked at Jesus with fear and wonder. He said, "Peace be unto you." This was the normal greeting, yet when Jesus said the words, the disciples must have recalled that just before His death He had promised them His peace (John 14:27). To assure them that it was really He, the Lord Jesus showed them His hands and His side (John 20:20). All of their doubts and fears disappeared when they saw the Lord Jesus. Those assembled were glad, for they knew that this Jesus was their Lord. (Read Psalm 29:11; Isaiah 26:3; Luke 2:12-14; John 14:27; Philippians 4:7.) Now the disciples were ready to hear His commission. "As my Father hast sent me, even so send I you" (John 20:21). The Lord Jesus had come to earth to die for the sins of the world. He had finished the work which God had given Him. He had died and now was risen from the dead. Now Jesus was telling His disciples that He was sending them into the world with a task to do. As God the Father had sent God the Son, so now was God the Son sending those who knew and loved Him. One of Jesus' disciples, Thomas, was missing on this resurrection evening. The other disciples could hardly wait to tell Thomas that Jesus had been with them. Thomas with his characteristic need for proof said, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe" (John 20:25). Thomas wanted to see and feel before he would be convinced that Jesus really lived. Jesus Christ was kind to Thomas. Thomas said he needed proof; Jesus gave him proof. Eight days later, Jesus again entered the room where the disciples were (John 20:26). Once more the doors were shut, but this did not stop the Lord! He came into the room, spoke the same words of greeting, "Peace be unto you" and then turned immediately to Thomas. "Reach here your finger, and see my hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into my side; and be not unbelieving, but believing" (John 20:27). Thomas wanted to touch the Lord. Jesus invited that touch. Thomas wanted to see Jesus. The Lord told him to look. Jesus knew what Thomas needed in order to believe! "My Lord, and my God!" (John 20:28). Thomas did believe! To Thomas, not only was Jesus the Lord of all believers, not only was He the Lord of those in the room, but when Thomas saw the risen Christ he said, You are "my Lord;" you are "my God." That is the personal knowledge that the Lord Jesus wants each of his followers to have. Do you have this? Is Jesus Christ your very own Lord and God? Is He more to you than just the Savior of the world? Is He your Savior? He is more anxious to have you know Him than you are to get acquainted! Thomas believed because he saw Christ. The Lord said that there were others who would trust in Jesus Christ yet never see Him (John 20:29). They would be blessed! He said these words about you. "Seeing is believing" is what Thomas said. But God turns that saying around, "Believing is seeing." Even though you have not seen Him, believe God. Believe His Word concerning these things. This is another way of saying, "Have faith." Faith is believing something you can't prove but you trust the person who tells you (Hebrews 11:1). Will you trust God when you cannot see why He is doing a certain thing? Will you thank Him when He does not give you what you asked for? Will you follow Him when you do not know why He wants you to do a certain task? This is believing by faith. This is what He wants you to learn. The very last thing that John tells us in this chapter is that there were many other signs that Jesus did in the presence of His disciples which were not written in the Book of John! It is quite clear that the Gospel of John was not a total biography of Jesus' life. John's aim was to give enough information that we might have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. He wanted to paint a picture of the Lord Jesus so that the person could know that He was actually the Son of God and wanted to be their Savior. Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 20? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life this week? Second Day: Read all of John 21 concentrating on John 21:1-3. 1.a.Two Sundays in a row the resurrected Lord Jesus had shown Himself to His disciples (John 20:19-29). This all took place in Jerusalem. Where was the next place that the Lord Jesus showed Himself as the risen Lord to His disciples? b.According to John 6:1 by what other name was the Sea of Tiberias known? Find this place on your Bible map. Was it north or south of Jerusalem? c.How many disciples saw Jesus Christ on the shores of Tiberias? 2.a.The angel told the women that Jesus would meet the disciples in Galilee (Mark 16:7). What did Peter and the other disciples do while they were waiting? b.When did the disciples go fishing (time of day)? Did they catch anything? 3.Do you believe that Peter and the other disciples were "wasting time" fishing while they waited for the Lord to appear? Read the following verses to help you decide how you feel about this. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Deuteronomy 5:13,14 4.(Personal) After reading these Scriptures, do you believe Peter and the disciples did the right thing by going fishing while waiting for the Lord to come to them in Galilee? 5.Challenge: What do questions 3a and b suggest to you as you think about the return of Jesus Christ, and how the Christian is supposed to live until He returns to this earth the second time? Read these verses and put them into your own words if you wish to. Also try to insert your name into the verses to make them relate to you personally. Matthew 16:27 Matthew 24:37-39,42 6.(Personal) Which of these verses in question 5 encouraged or challenged you the most? If possible share the verse and your reactions to it with your discussion group. Third Day: Read John 21:4-8. 1.When morning came, who stood on the shore and did the disciples recognize this person? 2.What directions did this person give to the disciples and what was the result of their obedience to His instructions? 3.Challenge: Obedience always brings blessing into the Christian's life in some form or other. The following verses are promises concerning obedience. Put them into your own words if you wish to. Hebrews 13:16 James 1:5,12 Jeremiah 38:20 4.(Personal) Which of the verses in question 3 did you find most encouraging in your Christian life? Share why you chose the verse with your discussion group to encourage others to share also. 5.a.Who was the first one to recognize the Lord according to John 21:7? Who did he tell that this was the Lord Jesus and what was this man's reaction to the news? b.Challenge: How does this action show this disciple's personality trait which we have observed before in the Gospel of John? 6.a.How did all of the disciples but this one get to the shore where Jesus Christ stood? b.(Personal) People come to faith in Jesus Christ at different speeds, just as these disciples approached the shore differently. What about you? Have you "run" to Jesus in faith, believing in Him and receiving Him as Savior and Lord? Or are you in a "boat" approaching Him in faith little by little, like the blind man? He progressed from first calling Jesus a "prophet" (John 9:17), then a "man of God" (John 9:33), and finally recognizing Jesus Christ as "the Lord" and worshipping Him (John 9:38). Where are you? Are you still in the boat far out in the water looking at the Lord Jesus and wondering? Have you jumped out of the boat and are you swimming toward the Lord Jesus? Or have you arrived on the shore and said, "Lord, I believe" (John 9:38)? Fourth Day: Read John 21:9-14. 1.a.What thoughtful act of love had Jesus expressed in a tangible way while the disciples were coming into shore? b.(Personal) What are some tangible ways in which you personally could express the Lord Jesus' love to your family, friends, neighbors, business associates, pastor, missionary or even to someone you don't know? Will you stop now and pray that God will lead you to be obedient in what He has shown you to do? 2.Give the details of the "landing" of the catch of fish from John 21:11. 3.a.Did the disciples know this was Jesus Christ who had prepared their breakfast and called to them to come eat? b.(Personal) Have you ever had an experience where the Lord personally met your needs in some wonderful way, perhaps through another person or some circumstances, and you too immediately knew it was the Lord who had helped you, and didn't have to ask if it was He? Share if possible. 4.What does John 21:14 say about Jesus Christ's appearance on the shores of Galilee? 5.Challenge: The Lord wants to provide, by the power of the Holy Spirit, our daily needs and power to witness for Him. How do the following verses express this? Summarize briefly. Romans 8:35-39 Galatians 2:20 6.What does Acts 1:3 say about Jesus Christ's appearance on earth after His resurrection from the dead? Fifth Day: Read John 21:15-23. 1.What three questions did the Lord Jesus ask Simon Peter, and how did Peter reply each time? Please give verses. 2.Who did the Lord Jesus tell Peter to feed? 3.Jesus Christ did not literally mean to feed lambs and sheep. After reading the following verses what do you believe the Lord Jesus meant by saying, "Feed my lambs and sheep?" John 5:20 Proverbs 11:30 Matthew 4:19 Colossians 1:27 Colossians 1:28 4.a.What did Jesus mean by feeding "my lambs and sheep?" See John 10:7,9,11, 1 John 1:3 and Colossians 3:16-17. b.(Personal) Are you doing this for the Lord Jesus? How? 5.Peter asked the Lord Jesus what John would do in John 21:21. What does John say about himself in John 21:24? 6.What is the powerful statement in John 21:25 by which John closes this Gospel message? Sixth Day: Read Matthew 28:16-20. 1.Where did the eleven disciples go according to this passage? 2.What were the two reactions in Matthew 28:17? 3.How did the Lord Jesus help to encourage His disciples' faith in Matthew 28:18? 4.Challenge: How do the following verses express the Lord Jesus' authority as God? Luke 9:35 Philippians 2:9,10 1 Peter 3:22 Daniel 7:13,14--a prophecy concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. 5.a.Write down Jesus Christ's last words to His disciples, known as the "Great Commission" found in Matthew 28:19,20. b.What comforting promise do you find in these last words of Jesus? c.(Personal) How are you, as a Christian helping to carry out Christ's "Great Commission?" Have you ever invited anyone to this class to study His Word, the Bible? 6.Which verse helped you the most this week? Did you memorize it so that you would always be able to carry this promise from God with you? Study in the Book of John Lesson 22 INTRODUCTION Through a simple statement of fact, the closing words of John 20:24 indicate the importance of Christians faithfully meeting with fellow believers for worship, prayer and the preaching of the Bible. When Jesus made His first appearance to the group of disciples, Thomas was "not with them." So Thomas was deprived of the blessing of the Savior's presence! People still miss God's best because they are "not with them" when other Christians gather for fellowship and study of the Scriptures. If you are one of these, did you ever stop to consider that you are cheating yourself when you neglect this fellowship? God understands, of course, if illness keeps you from attending. But when you are able to attend your local church to meet the Lord in a special way, and you do not, you forfeit spiritual values. You can also find fellowship and blessing in a Bible study group. When you are tempted to forsake the assembling of yourselves together (Hebrews 10:25), remember the lesson of the doubting disciple, Thomas. Because of his absence he lost out on the greatest of all blessings. He missed the appearance of the risen Lord Jesus to His disciples. Won't you make sure you're in that place of fellowship where the Lord comes to encourage, strengthen and comfort all Christians. You will be the loser if you are not "with them!" CH--CH means nothing unless U R in it! Jesus Christ's disciples had just been through the most tremendous period of their lives. One day they faced the dark reality of the arrest and death of their Lord (John 18,19). Then three days later they learned that death did not end everything. Jesus was alive! They saw the resurrected Christ and heard Him speak (John 20). Now what would they do? It seemed that everything had happened that could happen! Let's look at John 21 and see what the disciples did. John 21:1-14--Jesus Appears to the Disciples at the Sea of Galilee Jesus Christ appeared to the disciples in the room in Jerusalem (John 20:19-29). He commissioned them to spread the Gospel (John 20:21) and the disciples went into Galilee to meet the Lord. The angel of the Lord had told Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to tell His disciples, "He has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him" (Matthew 28:5-7). The Sea of Galilee or Tiberius (John 21:1) is in the northern part of Palestine. The name "Galilee" comes from the Hebrew word which means "harp-shaped." This harp-shaped inland lake is thirteen miles long and eight miles wide. Fish abound in its sweet, cold water. Because it is located in a pocket in the hills, it is subject to sudden violent storms. Yet it was a quiet pleasant place and certainly an ideal spot for the Lord Jesus to meet His disciples in privacy. Several of the disciples were from the province of Galilee. Peter, James and John came from Bethsaida (John 1:44, Mark 1:16-20). Nathanael was from Cana. Evidently Thomas, too, came from this northern province. It would be natural for them to head toward the Sea of Galilee as they awaited the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing" (John 21:3), and the rest of the disciples were quick to join with him. This was not a pleasure excursion; the disciples were going to ply their trade once more and catch some fish. By going fishing these disciples were not being disobedient to the commission which had been given them by Christ (John 20:21). They had to work and they had to obtain food for themselves. Commercial fishermen fished at night, while the waters were still. The disciples spent the whole night in a crowded boat, and in the morning had nothing to show for it! Their nets were empty! (John 21:5). As the morning light began to creep slowly across the horizon, the disciples were ready to give up fishing and head for shore. There would be a good catch another time. Then as they looked toward land they saw a man standing on the shore. They did not recognize Him. He called to them, "You haven't caught anything, have you?" The disciples affirmed, "No, we haven't caught anything" (John 21:5). Then came a command from the man on the shore, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some" (John 21:6 RSV). The disciples still did not recognize the Lord Jesus. But there must have been a note of authority in His voice because they responded readily to the suggestion. In their willingness to be guided they received a greater blessing than they had anticipated! The net was so full that the only way the men could keep the fish was to drag the net behind the boat (John 21:8). Yet with all the strain, the net did not break (John 21:11). The Bible says that the net was full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three to be exact! Are you open to God's guidance as you read His Word and meet with Him in prayer? God has promised throughout the entire Bible that He will guide the Christian! "He leads the humble in justice, and he teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are loving-kindness and truth to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies" (Psalm 25:9,10 RSV). "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye" (Psalm 32:8). Other Scriptures on guidance are found in Psalms 48:14; 73:24; 78:52; 139:9,10. In Isaiah 58:10,11 we read this wonderful promise from God, "Feed the hungry! Help those in trouble! Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you shall be as bright as day. And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you with all good things, and keep you healthy too; and you will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring" (LB). In the New Testament we read that Jesus Christ came "to give light unto them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:79). Have you chosen the Lord Jesus Christ to be your guide throughout your walk on this earth and then to lead you gently by His hand to your home in heaven? "Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way....Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home" (Psalm 23:4,6, LB). When Dr. Chamberlain, a missionary to India, was about to be stoned to death for his faith, he asked his attackers to wait until he told them a brief story. He received their permission and told them the simple, but heartwarming message of Christ's dying for their sins. He quoted from 1 Peter 3:18, "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that he might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit." He went on to explain the meaning of Christ's death on the cross and His resurrection. Before he had finished, the stones in the hands of his enemies dropped to the ground and tears filled the eyes of the repentant, would-be killers! Would you have dared to ask permission to share the same truth at a time like this? This man dared to follow God's guidance and because he dared, God spared his life so that he could continue to speak for Him! "Trials are the raw materials out of which God weaves his miracles." Will you ask God to direct you in whatever trial you may be experiencing and allow Him to weave a miracle? Why do you suppose the disciples obeyed without question? All night long they had tried again and again to get a good catch. One side of the boat was only a few feet from the other, and yet when the Lord spoke, results were immediate (John 21:6). Where they had been able to catch nothing, when they obeyed Christ they were immediately successful. John, the writer of this Gospel, heard the words of the man standing near the shore. He saw the net as it filled with fish. John probably remembered the last time he, with Peter and James, went fishing in this same lake. He remembered how on that occasion, too, the net had become filled with fish (Luke 5:1-11). This had happened about three years ago when Jesus had called these men to be "fishers of men." Now John turned to Peter and said, "It is the Lord" (John 21:7). Peter did not stop to think twice. With his usual impulsive reaction he tied his tunic around him and swam to shore! (John 21:7). This was Peter--who had denied the Lord (John 18:15-18), but who had been forgiven. This was Peter who was to become a great and mighty witness for the risen Christ (Acts 2:14-42; Acts 3; Acts 4). Do you ever feel discouraged with your life and feel that God cannot use you? Remember that he could use a man who had denied Him, but repented of his sins (1 John 1:8,9). "And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6 RSV). "For God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13 RSV). Peter tied his coat around him and swam for shore. He had probably stripped down to his loin cloth as fishermen often did when they were in the boat. Peter threw on his tunic before jumping out of the boat to swim to shore. He wanted to be the first to greet Jesus! The other disciples followed in the boat pulling the net full of fish. As soon as they got out of the boat they saw a welcome sight--"a charcoal fire already laid, and fish placed on it and bread" (John 21:9 ASV). The Lord Jesus directed them to take care of their catch of fish and Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land (John 21:9,10). The net had not torn with this great quantity of fish! This indeed was a miracle! After the fish had been cared for, the Lord Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast" (John 21:12). None of the disciples asked Him who He was for they knew He was the Lord. The Lord Himself served them (John 21:13). Quietly they sat and ate the food Jesus had provided. Probably each one of them was busy with his own thoughts. They may have been thinking of the time Jesus appeared to them in Jerusalem in His resurrected body and, as they wondered about His appearance, the Lord Jesus said, "Have you anything here to eat?" (Luke 24:41). The disciples gave the risen Lord Jesus a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it before them. Nathanael may have remembered the first time he and Christ had met (John 1:43-51). Philip had found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law, and also the prophets wrote." Nathanael had doubted and said, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" When the Lord Jesus met Nathanael He told him that He had seen him as he sat under a fig tree, and Nathanael responded in faith, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" (John 1:49). Thomas probably recalled the times he had doubted the Lord. Just a few days ago he had insisted upon seeing the nail prints in Jesus' hand, and the sword mark in His side (John 20:25). He remembered also the conversation in the Upper Room before the Lord's crucifixion (John 14:3-7). Then there was the time when Thomas thought that to follow Christ would mean his death (John 11:16), but when the Lord went to Bethany to raise Lazarus, Thomas went with Him anyhow (John 11). Peter may have remembered his moments of triumph, like his confession of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God (John 6:66-71). He also was thinking of his moment of weakness, like his denial of Jesus (John 18:15-18). John sums up the breakfast incident by telling us that this was the third appearance of Jesus to His disciples. This miraculous catch of fish could have spiritual significance to the disciples as they thought about Christ who had promised to make them "fishers of men" in the sea of the world! They had learned a lesson that obedience to God brought success. It was not by their power that they caught the fish, but by God's direction and power! (Read 1 Thessalonians 1:5; Galatians 3:2,3; Ephesians 3:16; Zechariah 4:6.) The spiritual significance of the breakfast that the Lord Jesus served the disciples is that He supplies our needs as we serve Him faithfully. "And my God will give you all you need according to his riches, in his glory, and in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19 Beck). This does not mean that we will always know every "creature comfort" but God will sustain us as we serve Him faithfully! John 20 records the first series of appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ to His disciples. These appearances were all in Judea. He first appeared to Mary Magdalene at the tomb (John 20:16), then to the women as they returned to the tomb early in the morning (Matthew 28:9). Next the resurrected Lord Jesus walked with the two disciples along the road to Emmaus, eight miles out of Jerusalem, in the late afternoon (Luke 24:13-35). The two disciples returned to Jerusalem to tell of their experience and learned that the Lord had also appeared to Simon Peter (Luke 24:34). Next the Lord Jesus revealed Himself in the evening on the same day of His resurrection to all of the disciples except Thomas (John 20:19-23). Eight days later in Jerusalem the resurrected Lord Jesus appeared to the disciples including Thomas (John 20:26-29). A second series of appearances of the resurrected Lord Jesus took place in Galilee. One of these occasions was upon a mountain, Matthew 28:16-20. It would appear that this was the meeting about which Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:6, with well over five hundred believers, including the disciples. The third series of appearances took place in Judea shortly before the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven. He prepared the believers for the work of preaching and commanded them not to leave Jerusalem before the Holy Spirit came (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:3-8). It was when the believers were in Judea that they saw Jesus ascend into heaven. This ascension took place forty days after Christ's crucifixion, on the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:6-12). We know, according to prophecy, that the Lord Jesus Christ will one day return to stand again on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:3-11 and Acts 1:8-13 LB). John 21:15-23--The Conversation Between Jesus and Peter When the meal was over, the Lord finally spoke. "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" (John 21:15), the Lord said to Peter whom He now called Simon. In John 1:42 Jesus Christ said, "Thou art Simon...thou shalt be called Cephas." The Lord changed Simon's name to Cephas or Peter which means rock. Now after Peter's denial, the Lord calls him by his old name, Simon. Peter was not much like a stone and the Lord told him so by the way He addressed him. He had not been stable or faithful as a rock should be; instead he had acted impulsively and undependably. He had boasted about following Christ in death, yet, he was weak when the crisis came. (Read John 18:15- 18,25-27; Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-62.) Christ did not scold. He simply asked Peter, "Do you really love me more than these others?" Perhaps He swept His hand toward the other disciples, the boat and its equipment, and the huge catch of fish. The verb which Jesus Christ used means to love with reason and comprehension. It is the love that John used in John 3:16: "God so loved the world." "Do you love me with this kind of love?" Jesus asked and added, "Do you love me more than these others?" Notice that Peter had lost some of his pride and self-confidence. He did not make a bold statement! His action did not bear out his love, and he knew it. "You know that I have a strong affection (`phileo') for you," he said to Christ. Peter humbly used "phileo" which expresses a personal attachment and devoted affection. He hesitated to use the word which expressed the highest love of God, "agapao." The Lord was good to Peter. He accepted this declaration of his love and said, "Feed my lambs." We can think of lambs as new Christians or as children who need to be taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the most discouraging things for a Christian is to see other Christian men and women, who should know better, go on their merry way apparently not one bit concerned about the spiritual needs of others. These people seem to be seeking only their own pleasure, popularity or prosperity. Sometimes we ask ourselves, "Why should I continue to make personal sacrifices when others neglect their obligations to Christ?" The answer comes further on in John 21:22, "You follow me." As long as we follow Jesus Christ and keep our eyes upon him we will not be disappointed; look at Jesus and you will be blessed and satisfied! Christian love is more than a sentimental feeling--it is putting another's welfare ahead of your own interests! A farmer walking across his farm with a friend, pointed out his crop and choice grazing stocks. The friend was especially impressed with the splendid sheep he saw in the farmer's lush, well-watered pasture. He had seen the breed before but had never seen such beautiful specimens. He expressed his interest and asked his friend how he had succeeded in raising such an outstanding flock. The answer he received was simple yet fundamental. "My friend, I just take very good care of the lambs!" The next question the Lord asked was a little different. This time Jesus said, "Simon do you really love me at all?" (John 21:16). No comparison this time in the Lord's question. Peter answered, "You know, Lord, you know that I have an affection for you." Jesus said, "Shepherd my sheep." Here He speaks of ministering to Christians who have been in the faith a little longer. Every church needs Bible teachers and Sunday school teachers, secretaries and treasurers, elders, deacons, parish callers! What are you doing to "Shepherd my sheep?" The Lord Jesus is calling you just as He called Peter to this task. Then a third time the Lord questioned Peter (John 21:17). This time Jesus said, "Simon, do you have an affection for me?"--and He used Simon's word. Simon answered sadly, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I have an affection for you." Jesus Christ told him, "Tend my dear little sheep." Simon Peter was soon to start out on the most important work of his life. He was going to be a witness for Christ. In order to do the job, it was necessary that he learn to obey Christ without question. It was necessary that Peter really learn to love Christ. Perhaps the Lord Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him because Peter had denied Him three times. The Lord Jesus also wants your whole heart devoted to Him so that He can use you to reach others. Are you willing to obey Christ without question? Peter had one more lesson to learn from his Lord. The Lord Jesus told Peter that he would die for His sake. Then He added, "Follow me" (John 21:19). Peter was not going to have an easy life, nor was he going to live to please himself. Peter was to follow Christ. Peter then turned and saw John. "What is going to happen to him?" Peter asked Jesus. "What is that to thee? Follow thou me," (John 21:22) the Lord answered. The important lesson that Peter was to learn was that he himself should follow Christ. He should live to please the Lord. He should learn to obey Him. He was not to be concerned with anyone else's calling. He was to be concerned only with how well he obeyed the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is true for you as a Christian, too. You are not to be concerned with anyone else's calling but your own. Peter was ready to serve his Lord. Peter did serve Christ. He lived to please the Lord, and tradition says he died by crucifixion, a martyr for his belief in Jesus Christ. God does not authorize any Christian to watch the life of another Christian and then judge him (John 21:22). It is not our business to watch others and keep count of their works for the Lord. These matters are between that person and his Lord. Each Christian is accountable to God for his own deeds and obedience to God's leading. John 21 closes with these words, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen" (John 21:25 KJV). How very true this was in John's day and today also! The Lord Jesus continues, moment by moment, day by day, year by year, to do great and mighty things! John's purpose in writing this account was to select certain items which presented Jesus of Nazareth as "the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Before you begin each day: a.Pray and ask God to speak to you through His Holy Spirit. b.Do not use any other source books for your answers. c.Write down your answers and the verses you used. d.Challenge questions are for those who have the time and wish to do them. e.Personal questions are to be shared with the class only if you wish to share. First Day: Read all of the notes and look up all of the Scriptures. 1.What was a helpful or new thought from the Overview of John 21? 2.What personal application did you select to apply to your own life this week? Second and Third Days: Read all of 1 John 1 and 1 John 2:1,2 concentrating on 1 John 1:1-7. 1.a.Read 1 John 1:1 with John 1:1-4, John 1:14 and Luke 2:11. Who is the "Word of life?" 1.b.Challenge: How many facts can you discover about Jesus Christ in 1 John 1:1,2? List as many facts as you can with the corresponding fact found in John 1:1-4 and John 1:14. Give verses and facts from both John 1 and 1 John as you list the similarities, please. c.What witness does the writer of this Epistle of 1 John give of his personal acquaintance with Jesus Christ? Give verses please. 2.a.What does 1 John 1:2 call Jesus Christ? b.What do the following verses say concerning "eternal life?" Put these verses into your own words if you wish to. John 17:3 Psalm 121:8 with John 10:7-9 3.a.Who does the Christian have "fellowship" with according to 1 John 1:3 and 1 John 1:7? b.What is Christian "fellowship?" Look up "fellowship" in a dictionary to help you define Christian fellowship. 4.a.What is the message the disciples of Christ have heard about God? Give verse. b.What does John 1:4 say about Jesus Christ? 5.Since "light" means that a person has received "eternal life" from Jesus Christ by faith, how does 1 John 1:6 describe a person we might call a "counterfeit Christian"? Add your own thoughts concerning this description as they relate to this kind of person in this generation. Do not mention any church or organization in your answer. 6.a.If you have faith in Jesus Christ your pathway through life is "lighted" or guided by Him! What does Jesus Christ also do for the Christian according to 1 John 1:7? 6.b.(Personal) Do you have the joy of knowing both of the blessings from God described in 1 John 1:7? Why not choose Christ today? c.What does God promise in Psalm 119:130? What does this suggest to you? d.Read the following Scriptures which speak of God's light available to us. Choose your favorite of these verses. Put these verses into your own words if you wish to. Psalm 119:105 Isaiah 60:19,20 with Revelation 21:23 which speaks of the new heaven and earth that God will create someday. Psalm 27:1-3 Fourth Day: Read 1 John 1:8-10 and 1 John 2:1,2. 1.What does 1 John 1:8 say? 2.a.Does the writer of this epistle feel that he is sinless? Tell us how many times he uses "we" in this chapter. Use the King James Version, if possible, in counting "we." b.Count the number of "our" and "ourselves" words to discover just how much this writer identifies with other Christians. c.Do the same, counting the word "us." 3.If we are willing to confess our sins to Jesus Christ what two things does God do for us? 4.What does unconfessed sin do to a human being? Psalm 34:21 Proverbs 8:36 5.a.What do "righteousness" and "unrighteousness" mean? Look in the dictionary for help. b.Who is willing to cleanse us from all unrighteousness? See 1 John 1:7,9. 6.(Personal) Have you ever claimed the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Savior and trusted Him to do what He promises to do in 1 John 1:7,9? If you have, how are you helping others to find and ask for this great gift and joy (1 John 1:4)? Fifth Day: Read 1 John 1:8-10 and 1 John 2:1,2. 1.According to 1 John 1:8,10 what are the results of saying we have no sin? 2.Challenge: What do the following verses say concerning sin? Put them into your own words if you wish to, and add your name to the verse. Romans 5:8 Psalm 19:12-14 2 Chronicles 12:13 (First phrase) and 12:14 3.What does God require us to do if we want to have our sins forgiven? 4.a.What encouragement do you find in 1 John 2:1? b.Jesus Christ is righteous and sinless. How do the following two verses help you to understand 1 John 2:1,2? Personalize their thoughts in your own words if you wish to. Romans 8:33,34 Hebrews 7:24-26 5.(Personal) Do you daily enjoy the privilege which the Christian has as stated in 1 John 1:9? Why not begin today to keep "short accounts" with God by doing what 1 John 1:9 suggests daily as you see the need to? 6.Christ's death on the cross was sufficient to provide forgiveness of sins for everyone who has ever lived on this earth, either in the past, present or future. This is stated in 1 John 2:1. The sad thing is that there are many people who reject this great love and forgiveness. Those who reject this great act by Jesus Christ cannot be saved. How do the following Scriptures help you to understand this? John 3:16-18 Romans 6:23 Sixth Day: Read all of 1 John 2 and concentrate on 1 John 2:3-6. 1.Count the number of times the word "know" is used in this passage and give the verses. 2.How can we know that we have chosen Jesus Christ and love Him as our Savior and Lord? Give verses. 3.To whom does the obedient walk bring us first? What does Jesus say in His prayer to His Father in heaven concerning this? Read John 17:3. 4.Challenge: The following verses describe the Christian's obedient walk. Put them into your own words if you wish to and personalize them by inserting your name into each verse. Romans 8:1,2 Galatians 5:16 Note: Read Galatians 5:19-25 but only record Galatians 5:16. Ephesians 4:1-3 5.a.What does 1 John 2:4 say? b.How can we know that we walk in faith in Christ? 6.Which verse did you find most helpful in your daily life this week? Did you choose to memorize it?