Today's passage: John 21:20-25

Helpful thoughts:

• The man Peter looked at was John, the writer of this gospel account.
• What Jesus said to Peter was misunderstood in the early church.  John died before Jesus returned.
  • Jesus was instructing Peter to run his own race.  God had a purpose for Peter and a purpose for John.  Peter needed to keep his eyes on Jesus and not play the comparison game.
• We can study the Word of God our whole lives and still not know everything He did and said.  There is so much more for us to learn when we are with Him in glory!
  • That being said, everything we need to know has been given to us in the Scriptures.  God has not left us ignorant or incapable of following Him (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:3).

Questions to consider:

1. What are some different reasons why this conversation was included at the end of the Gospel of John?  What doctrinal error did it correct?  What lesson does it teach?
2. By what standard do we usually play the comparison game?  What kinds of things make us feel inferior (or superior) to others?  What has God called us to be (1 Corinthians 4:2)?  To whom are we to remain faithful, regardless of where “our race” (God's sovereign will) takes us?
3. Will we ever grow tired of learning more about the Lord?  Why will eternity never be boring?
4. Who could you encourage to trust in Jesus so they too can enjoy the Lord forever?

Today's passage: John 21:15-19

Helpful thoughts:

• Peter had denied Jesus three times on the night prior to Christ's crucifixion.  Now, Jesus allows Peter to affirm his love three times.
• After each of Peter's affirmations (And not only after the third time), Christ commissions him to be a leader of the church.  Peter was called to tend and feed Christ's sheep.
• Jesus knew Peter would one day be martyred (crucified) for his faith, for his obedience to Jesus.  The call remained the same, “follow me.”

Questions to consider:

1. When Peter was asked if he loved Jesus, “more than these,” Jesus could have been referring to the fish (Peter's trade and means of making a living), the other disciples (The approval of man) or he could have been asking if Peter loved Jesus more than all the other disciples did (A desire to be first place, to be proud).  We don't know which Jesus was referring to, and we shouldn't assume he meant all three, but in what way are all three of these possibilities important to consider?
2. Peter was right, Jesus does know everything, so why did Jesus ask Peter?  What has the purpose of this series of questions?  What was Jesus doing for Peter?
3. Does it bother us that Jesus told Peter to follow Him even when He knew it would result in his death?  Why or why not?  Why is it worth the cost to follow Jesus?  Why was death by martyrdom better for Peter than a long life rejecting/denying Jesus, both in this life and in eternity?

Today's passage: John 21:1-14

Helpful thoughts:

• While the disciples waited for what was next, they went back to what they knew, fishing in the Sea of Galilee.
• Over the years, people have tried to suggest significant symbolism in the number of fish that were caught (153).  Most likely, John simply gave an accurate detail of the number to show there was a miracle even in the net not breaking due to the huge load.  Jesus gave them a miraculous catch, just as he had at the beginning of their journey with Him (Luke 5:1-11).
• John and Peter follow their pattern.  John sees and understands.  Peter hears and runs (or swims) ahead.
  • These responses are unique to each man's personality.  But both are full of faith.

Questions to consider:

1. What would be the significance of Jesus making a third appearance to this disciples?  Why would John want us to know there were multiple visits and interactions?
2. How did Jesus' miracle communicate to the disciples who He was without having to say another word?  In what way could this aspect of their relationship with the Lord been a joy to the disciples?  How might we enjoy getting to know the Lord better in this life and in eternity, knowing that He is a real person, that we can have a relationship with Him?
3. How might you have hurried to see Jesus (Not everyone can swim a hundred yards in open sea)?  Why is Jesus worthy of our efforts and eagerness to be with Him?

Today's passage: John 20:24-31

Helpful thoughts:

• Thomas did not believe the report of the other disciples.  He wants to see and feel the physical body of Jesus.  Thomas implies the disciples saw some ghost or a figment of their imagination.  He believes they've made a mistake.
• Eight days later, Jesus meets Thomas' challenge.  He is truly alive, risen from the dead, in the flesh forevermore.
• Thomas' response is the response all readers need to give.  The only right response is to proclaim Christ as my Lord and my God!

Questions to consider:

1. Why did the Apostle John write this book (Verse 31)?  Why would this book be a great thing to encourage unbelievers to read if they were willing to begin exploring the Bible?
2. Why didn't Thomas just say, “Jesus, my friend, your back!”?  Who is Jesus?  What did Thomas proclaim?  In what way is Thomas' profession the climax of John's gospel?
3. What will you do with the evidence given to you?  You haven't seen Jesus personally…you have read and heard these multiple eye-witness accounts.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Today's passage: John 20:11-23

Helpful thoughts:

• In today's passage, we see the same pattern of eyewitness accounts:
  • Mary Magdalene sees Christ first, alone.
  • Then the disciples see Christ together at one time.
    • The evidence is given.  The eyewitness accounts are corroborated.  Jesus Christ has risen from the dead.  He is alive!
• Jesus also reveals two important truths:
  • He would ascend to the Father.
  • The Holy Spirit would come and minister in His absence.
• From the ESV Study Bible:
  • “The expressions they are forgiven and it is withheld both represent perfect-tense verbs in Greek and could also be translated, “they have been forgiven” and “it has been withheld,” since the perfect gives the sense of completed past action with continuing results in the present.  The idea is not that individual Christians or churches have authority on their own to forgive or not forgive people, but rather that as the church proclaims the gospel message of forgiveness of sins in the power of the Holy Spirit, it proclaims that those who believe in Jesus have their sins forgiven, and that those who do not believe in him do not have their sins forgiven – which simply reflects what God in heaven has already done.”

Questions to consider:

1. Why do you think Mary wouldn't have recognized Jesus at first (Weeping, shock, the resurrection body after the image of His crucifixion had been in her mind)?  What gave it away?  When did she recognize her Lord?
2. Why might Jesus still have the evidence on His resurrected body of the marks on His hands/arms and His side?  What will those marks continue to proclaim for all eternity?
3. What is this version of the “Great Commission” communicating to the disciples (And to the church) in verse 21?  How does the sending of Jesus give us greater understanding of what it means to be sent to share the gospel?

Today's passage: John 20:1-10

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus' grave is empty.  Christ is risen!
• The Apostle John is the “other disciple” who went to the tomb with Peter.
• Mary Magdalene was concerned Jesus' body had been stolen.  But the fact that His burial clothes remained in the tomb eliminates grave robbery as a possibility.
• Jewish law required two male witnesses to confirm any evidence.
  • Recording Mary's testimony gives indication to the truth of the account.
  • Recording John's and Peter's confirmation validates the testimony to those who would have wanted more witnesses (According to Jewish custom).

Questions to consider:

1. John went to Jesus' tomb bewildered.  How did he leave (End of verse 8)?
2. How do we see more evidence of the goal of John's Gospel?  What does he want the reader to know and understand?  How does he want the reader to respond?
3. What does the resurrection prove?  If Jesus was still dead, would He have been a good teacher? A good prophet? An acceptable sacrifice for our sin?

Today's passage: John 19:16-27

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus began the walk to Golgotha (“Calvary” is from the Latin translation) carrying His own cross.  The suffering He had already endured made it impossible to complete the journey (Matthew 27:32).
• Jesus was crucified outside of the city by Jewish standards.  Sin was to be punished “outside the camp.” (Numbers 15:35-36, Hebrews 13:12)
• Pilate had “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” written in three languages for a reason.  This inscription would have held different connotations depending on where you were from.
• Even while on the cross Jesus looked after others, ensuring his mother would be cared for by the Apostle John after His death.

Questions to consider:

1. Why do you think the chief priests wanted the inscription altered?  Who looked like the victor and who looked like the defeated based on what Pilate had written?  Who did the Jewish leaders want to receive the glory for this “victory?”
2. Did the Roman soldiers who divided Jesus' garments have any idea they were fulfilling Psalm 22:18?  How was God's sovereignty evidenced in their actions?
3. How did their actions continue to prove that Jesus really is the Messiah, our Lord and Savior?  What is the right response for the reader and seeing all of God's promises and prophecies being fulfilled?  What are we to do with our knowledge of who Jesus is?

Today's passage: John 19:1-16

Helpful thoughts:

• Verse 7 contains the real reason the Jews wanted Jesus crucified.  Verse 12 contains the political argument that seemed to force Pilate's hand.
  • Jesus was crucified because He believed He was the Son of God, which He is.
  • In order to affirm the Roman political motive, the Pharisees remarked, “We have no king but Caesar.”
    • See 1 Samuel 10:18-19.  It wasn't the first time God had been rejected as King.
• Jesus was flogged before His sentencing as if a criminal to attempt to appease the people, but it wasn't enough.  Once He was sentenced to crucifixion He was scourged in a more severe manner.
• Jesus made it clear to Pontius Pilate, it was not Pilate who had the authority to crucify Him.  Jesus was crucified on that day because it was God's will.  Pilate was serving God's will.

Questions to consider:

1. In a culture that believed in many deities, why do you think Pilate became increasingly nervous about the situation he was in?  What different people would he have known he needed to please to maintain “peace” and his authority?  What powers would he have wondered if he was messing with?
2. Why did Jesus call Caiaphas' and the Jewish leaders' action of turning him over the “greater sin?”
3. Why is verse 14 such a powerful verse?  What day was it?  What was the Passover for (Exodus 12:13)?  How was Jesus introduced to the Jewish people?  What is the right response for the reader when we realize who Jesus is and what He has done?

Today's passage: John 18:28-40

Helpful thoughts:

• Pilate rightly desired a charge against Jesus before proceeding.  The Jewish leaders' response could be summed up by saying, “We don't really have anything according to your law, but he deserves to die according to ours.”
  • Rome would not permit the Jews to put anyone to death on their own, without their approval.
  • Pilate's first instinct, thinking Jesus had probably only violated the Jewish law, was to send Him back to the Sanhedrin.  Once he knew the offense was capital, he sought more information by asking the question, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
    • A man calling himself the “King of the Jews” would make him an enemy of Caesar and guilty of treason.  Once again, the trial was used to attempt to coax Jesus into committing a capital offense.
• Jesus does not deny, He is King!  But, at that moment, He was no threat to Caesar.  He had not come to conquer Rome.
  • He had come to speak the truth, to be the Word (John 1:1-5, 14).
• Pilate declared Jesus, “not guilty.”
  • He knew the Jewish leaders wanted Jesus dead, but he sought a way for the people to release Him.  They chose a known sinner instead.

Questions to consider:

1. What did the Jews believe that Jesus was doing that deserved death?  What was the “evil” He had “done?” (Matthew 26:64-66)  What was Jesus actually convicted for being guilty of by the Jews?
2. What crime was Pilate trying to coax Jesus toward?  What is the irony of both the Jewish and Roman (Gentile) crimes?  Why shouldn't Jesus Christ be executed for believing He is the Son of God and King of Kings?
3. What picture does Barnabas paint for us, the readers of this passage?  Between Barnabas and Jesus, who had truly sinned?  Who died a sinner's death?  Who lived?  How does this picture our salvation through Jesus' death?

Today's passage: John 18:19-27

Helpful thoughts:

• The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching because this was a religious/theological trial.  Jesus had done nothing wrong and they knew that.  His only “crime” would be teaching what they considered to be heretical and blasphemous.
  • Jesus' answer in verses 20-21 simply calls on Annas to do what should have been done in the first place.  If there is a trial, there must be a charge.  You cannot put someone on trial hoping he will commit a new crime.  This trial was unjust.
    • Jesus was guilty of no crime, yet was struck and bound.
• Peter again denies Jesus, twice and three times.  It appears the reason he was asked three times is because it was so obvious.  There was even an eye-witness.  They knew he was lying and embarrassed.
  • All these realities (And more), in this moment, boiled over in Peter's heart as he went away and wept bitterly (Luke 22:60-62).

Questions to consider:

1. What is the sad irony of the question, “Is that how you answer the high priest?”  Who had the officer just struck?  Who should have been respecting who?
2. We know Peter was grieved by what happened that night.  But how do we know that his grief became a godly grief and not a worldly grief (Not a pity party for himself)?  (2 Corinthians 7:10-13)  How can we take encouragement from Peter's failure, subsequent repentance and spiritual victory?
3. Why shouldn't it surprise us when we see that Jesus' trials were unjust?  Did Jesus do anything worthy of punishment?  How does the illegitimacy of these trials bolster our confidence in Christ's ability to be our spotless sacrifice? (1 Peter 3:18)