Today’s passage: John 7:1-24

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus’ brothers were the children of Joseph and Mary.  At this point, they do not believe in Jesus and are openly mocking Him.
• When Jesus told His brothers He wasn’t going up to Jerusalem for the festival, the original Greek words refer to the time of departure.  Jesus was telling His brothers He wasn’t going yet.  There wasn’t any misunderstanding or misleading going on.
  • Jesus’ brothers, in mockery, were challenging Jesus to make a big entry to draw attention to Himself.  Jesus had no intention to go that way.  It wasn’t His time (Meaning, it wasn’t yet time to be arrested and crucified).
• Jesus spoke straight from the Word of God and according to God’s revelation through Him.  The Jewish leaders spoke from previous or contemporary speakers.  When they quoted one another, they were giving mutual honor to each other.  It was an economy of mutual glory giving (Verse 18).  What they gave they expected back in return.

Questions to consider:

1. What are the ramifications of verse 7 for the church in the world today?  If we are the Body of Christ and we proclaim a salvation in Christ from the penalty of sin, what will the world be prone to think about us?
2. What happens to the ministry and message of the church (And the individual believer) when we want the praise of our brothers and culture more than the glory of God?  What had happened to the ministry and message of the Jews for the same reason?
3. How can we apply verse 24 well?  What must we know in order to discern accurately?  How do we acquire right judgment?

Today’s passage: John 6:60-71

Helpful thoughts:

• Many of those who had followed Jesus up to this point struggled to understand Jesus’ illustration of eating His flesh and drinking His blood.
  • The disciples mentioned in these earlier verses refer to more than just the twelve.
• Jesus confirms that His words were a spiritual illustration.  Receiving the body and the blood picture believing in Him and His death for our sin.
  • Jesus also confirms, no one can come to Him unless it is granted by the Father.  Every salvation is a miracle and work of God.
• Jesus knew from the beginning which of the larger group of disciples did not genuinely believe (He knew who were His and who were not).  He knew from the beginning that Judas would betray Him.

Questions to consider:

1. How does the Trinity work to bring salvation to the lost?  What does the Father do?  What does the Spirit do?  What has the Son done?  (All are mentioned in yesterday’s and today’s passages!)
2. What does Peter confess in this passage?  What does he believe about Jesus?  How is his testimony used to encourage the reader?
3. How could there be “disciples” who were not truly disciples?  What might they have wanted more than Jesus Himself?  What desires can supersede belief and salvation in Christ in the visible church today?

Today’s passage: John 6:16-59

Helpful thoughts:

• Three amazing things happen in verses 16-21 (Even more are depicted in the other gospel accounts)
  • Jesus walks on water.
  • When Jesus says, “It is I,” this was (In the Greek language) the equivalent of saying, “I AM.”
  • As soon as Jesus was in the boat, they miraculously arrived at their destination.
    • The great I AM has power over the wind and the waves, power over the laws of nature and the elements, and power over time and space.  Do not be afraid.
• Jesus offers Himself to the people.  They prefer barley loaves and fish.
  • Jesus offers them eternal fulfilment.  They prefer the temporary pleasure of full bellies.
• Jesus will lose none of those whom the Father has given to Him!
  • If you have put your faith in Christ, you will live forever.  This is God’s doing.  All the glory goes to Him!

Questions to consider:

1. What is the sad irony of the people’s request in verses 30-31?  What had Jesus just done for them the day before?  How many miracles would be enough to satisfy the heart of man?
2. Since no amount of miracles would be enough to satisfy our appetites, what must happen for a spiritually dead sinner to believe and be saved (Verse 44)?  What are the fruits of that drawing (Verses 45 and 47)?
3. Jesus was using an illustration in verse 54.  No one actually eats or drinks Jesus body and blood.  What then does it mean to “receive” Jesus’ body and blood?  What do Jesus’ earlier words tell us (Verse 46)?

Today’s passage: John 6:1-15

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus feeding this multitude served to:
  • Test the disciples.
  • Display His power.
  • Indicate His identity as the Messiah.
  • Show the people’s hearts, which were much like the Israelites in Numbers 11.
• One denarius was the going rate for a day’s work.  Philip thought it would take over seven months’ wages to feed such a crowd.
• There were 5,000 men present at this miracle.  Matthew 14:21 indicates there were also women and children.  Jesus may have miraculously fed 15,000 to 20,000 people on this occasion.

Questions to consider:

1. If Jesus was testing Philip, what do you think Philip could have said to “pass” the test?  What could we learn from this test?
2. What did Jesus do when the crowd sought to take Him by force?  If they were trying to take Him by force, what was it they wanted from Him?  Was this worship?  Who alone is sovereign?  How does this impact our relationship with Him and our understanding of our purpose?
3. Though the people’s actions were less than appropriate, their exclamation in verse 14 was correct!  How did Jesus mirror the prophetic ministry of Moses in today’s passage?  How is what Jesus did superior to what Moses could do?

Today’s passage: John 5:30-47

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus didn’t need to be convinced of who He is.  But, He was willing to compile a list of witnesses for the sake of those who would and will believe!
• The Jewish leaders were proud of their knowledge of the Scriptures but they didn’t believe what the Scriptures teach.
  • Luke 24:27 – “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”
• Verses 41-44 get to the heart of the issue.  These leaders were more interested in the glory they could receive from other men over the superior glory of God.  They were in a popularity contest with God Himself.

Questions to consider:

1. What witnesses does Jesus give which reveal His identity?  How do these witnesses and actions evidence who He truly is?
2. What warning do we receive concerning our study of the Bible in these verses?  Is it enough to simply know the Scriptures?  Does a perfect memory and years of study directly result in spiritual life and growth?  What must the Scriptures do in our hearts?
3. Of whom did Moses speak in Deuteronomy 18:15?  What does a person have/gain when they believe in the promised Messiah?

Today’s passage: John 5:19-29

Helpful thoughts:

• From the previous verse, we learned the Jewish authorities wanted to kill Jesus because he didn’t keep their man-made rules and He made Himself equal with God.  In today’s passage, Jesus responds.
• God the Father and God the Son are united in purpose and power.  They are equal in deity but have different roles within the Godhead.
• “Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father.”  You cannot be in fellowship with the Father if you have rejected the Son.
  • The modern Jews who have rejected Jesus as their Messiah are not being obedient or pleasing to the Lord.  They are not followers or worshippers of God.
  • When the end comes, all those who have rejected God’s Messiah will be judged.

Questions to consider:

1. What are the things Jesus says He can and will do that show He is God?  Why must a person believe in Jesus as the Son of God?
2. Even though modern Jews claim to be worshipping God, why are they not?  Is it permissible for the worshipper to change the terms of worship without the approval of the One who is worshipped?  Does the speed limit on your road change when you believe it is different than what the sign says?  Does the fine get reduced when you tell the judge you don’t believe in his authority to give you a fine?
3. What will be true for all Christians when Christ’s voice calls out for the resurrection?  To what will we be raised?  What does NOT await us (The last word of verse 29)?  Why is this true?  What reason do we have to give thanks to God and share these truths with others?

Today’s passage: John 5:1-18

Helpful thoughts:

• Starting in chapter 5, we see the continual increase of Jewish opposition to Jesus.
• Bethesda means, “House of Mercy.”
  • The people seemed to believe an angel had stirred the waters in these pools at times in the past, making the pool a place of miraculous healing.
    • This information is included as verse 4 in some translations.  This content is not in all manuscripts and may have been included to give some background information to help people better understand the text, especially verse 7.
  • Someone better than the angels had come.  What had been a legendary tale was displaced with the truth.  Jesus has the power to heal.
• It wasn’t against the Law to heal on the Sabbath.  It was against traditions that had developed over the years.
  • Jesus was not disobeying God.  He was disobeying men who had disobediently written extra rules (Deuteronomy 4:2).

Questions to consider:

1. In what way was Christ’s deity displayed in today’s passage?  What would have made this miracle particularly impactful and visible among the people of Jerusalem?
2. What is the irony of the anger of the religious leaders against Jesus?  Who were these men rebuking?  Who were they accusing Him of disobeying?  How were they elevating themselves and disrespecting God?
3. Did the Jews understand who Jesus believed He was and is?  What does verse 18 tell us they specifically understood and did not like?  If Jesus is equal with God, then what is the only right response to His teaching and invitation to salvation?

Today’s passage: John 4:46-54

Helpful thoughts:

• In John 3 and 4, we see Jesus proclaiming the Gospel and ministering to a Jewish leader, a Samaritan woman with her town, and then a Roman official.  The indication is that they all believed.  The Apostle John is making a point.  Jesus is the Savior of the world.
• The “you” near the end of verse 48 is plural (“You all”).  Jesus was giving a warning.  Some people want the signs more than the sign giver.  This desire is not a fruit of belief.
• That is not to say these signs are bad, or that it is wrong to value them.  John tells us about this amazing miracle to highlight Jesus’ miracle-working power!
  • He healed a child without being present with him (A day’s journey away), and without being told where the child was.

Questions to consider:

1. What attributes of God were on display in Jesus’ miracle?  Why was this official right (And logical) to believe in Him?
2. If Jesus is only as good as His last miracle to me, what have I made Him to be for me?  Is Jesus “nice” and “useful” for the quality of my life, or is He Lord?  How might my true view of Jesus be evidenced over time in my life?
3. Who else believed in Jesus after this miracle occurred and was communicated to others (Verse 53)?  What have we seen happening in this passage and in the account of the Samaritan woman after the first person hears and is saved?  Who are some people around you who heard of Christ through your conversion and throughout the years?  What ways has God used you in the past for which you can be thankful?