Today’s passage: John 18:12-18

Helpful thoughts:

• Annas had previously served as the high priest.  His sons and son-in-law (Caiaphas) served after him.  It appears Annas continued to hold religious and political power even after his time as high priest had ended.
• Peter and John went to the courtyard where Jesus was being tried.  Peter is asked if he is also one of Jesus’ disciples, implying she already knows that John is.  In John’s presence, with another professing disciple by his side, Peter denies following Christ.
• We don’t get to hear the tone of this woman’s voice when she asked this question.  It may have been out of concern.  It may have been sarcastic and demeaning.  All we know is that Peter did what Jesus said he would.

Questions to consider:

1. What makes Peter’s denial seem so troubling?  Why did he have reason to stand up for his faith?
2. What makes Peter’s denial so understandable?  What was his teacher up against?  What was Peter fearful of?
3. Should we look down on Peter?  Should we sympathize with him?  In what ways might we struggle to identify with Christ in our own lives?  How was Peter’s and all Christians’ sin forgiven?

Today’s passage: John 18:1-11

Helpful thoughts:

• After Jesus’ prayer, He and the disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane.  The time for Jesus’ betrayal had come.
• In the original Greek, when we read Jesus saying, “I am he,” it simply reads, “I am.”
  • When Jesus spoke, “I am,” it knocked these soldiers, officers, chief priests, and Pharisees to the ground.  They got up and arrested Jesus.
• Jesus didn’t need Peter’s sword, his spoken word could have defeated any army (Revelation 19:15).  But, Jesus had not come to defeat any armies.  He’d come to defeat our sin at the cross.

Questions to consider:

1. In this moment of “capture” and arrest, how did Jesus continue to prove his innocence (His righteousness) and his deity?
2. Why did Jesus choose to heal Malchus’ ear?  How did that miracle allow him to fulfill what was sought for in verses 8-9 and in 17:12?
3. How would verse 11 answer the question, “How could those men have seen all this and still arrest and crucify Jesus?”  Why did all this happen?

Today’s passage: John 17:20-26

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus didn’t just pray for his disciples in “The High Priestly Prayer.”  He also prayed for you and me.
• Church unity is incredibly important.
  • Our unity glorifies Jesus Christ.
  • Our unity points others to salvation in Christ.
• When Jesus prayed for us to see His glory, He wasn’t being selfish or eager to brag.  He wants to give to us the very best thing He can give, Himself.
  • There is no greater gift than to be in the glorious presence of God.  Jesus wants that for us!

Questions to consider:

1. In what ways does it encourage you to know that Jesus prayed for you, for us?  How does this further evidence His love for His people?
2. What truths (And what person) is the church to be united around?  What kinds of things/desires disrupt unity?  How can you be used by God to further unite the church?
3. What did Jesus see as the great outcome of our unity?  How should this help us to consider what emphasis we should be giving to evangelism?

Today’s passage: John 17:6-19

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus manifesting God’s “name” to the people the Father had given Him could also be referred to as showing who God is to His people or simply making God known.
• At this point, Jesus is praying for His disciples (The twelve, minus Judas Iscariot).  Though, in the next passage, we will see that Jesus had more people in mind for this prayer!
• Jesus’ prayer for His disciples:
  • Perseverance (God’s keeping them)
  • Unity
  • Joy in Christ
  • Protection from Satan
  • Sanctification

Questions to consider:

1. What do we learn about the relationship between the Father and the Son in this passage?  What unity is evident?  What actions on behalf of the other are happening?
2. How does this unity and service translate to the disciples of Jesus?  How would their actions, faithfulness, and growth in Christ-likeness show unity in each other and in Christ?
3. From where do we receive sanctification (Verse 17)?  From where do we find joy (Verse 13)?  From where does Christ receive glory (Verse 10)?

Today’s passage: John 17:1-5

Helpful thoughts:

• All of chapter 17 is Jesus’ prayer.  It is often referred to as. “The High Priestly Prayer.”
• All whom the Father has given the Son will have eternal life.  Christ remains the authority over all flesh.  Not believing in Jesus does not remove anyone from the obligation to worship and obey Him.
• Jesus, being God the Son, existed with the Father and the Spirit before the world existed.  (John 1:1-3)
  • Christ left the glory he had with the Father to take on flesh for our salvation!  He again is and will be glorified forever. (Philippians 2:4-11)

Questions to consider:

1. How does this portion of Jesus’ prayer continue to clarify just who He is?  What do we learn about God this Son in these verses?
2. What is the greatest thing about eternal life?  What “is” eternal life? (Verse 3)
3. How amazing is it to know that you are a gift given to Jesus by the Father?  God has gifted us with eternal life.  And He has gifted us to His Son!

Today’s passage: John 16:25-33

Helpful thoughts:

• Through Christ, we have direct access to the Father in prayer.  We pray directly to the Father and He loves us and wants to hear!
• There is still a backward view of acceptance on the part of the disciples.
  • They think they have approved of Jesus by consensus now that He is speaking plainly.
  • Their lack of understanding will be evidenced shortly when they scatter after His arrest. (Zechariah 13:7)
  • They are not the ones who “certify” Jesus.  God “certifies” them. (John 15:16)
• Jesus’ words would later give the disciples (And us) peace.  And not a lack of trouble kind of peace.  But an ability to move forward in confidence and assurance kind of peace.
  • There will be trouble in this world.  But our Lord has overcome the world.

Questions to consider:

1. When things are going rough for us in this life, how does our knowledge of Christ’s victory help us to keep going, step-by-step?  What is the final result for all who believe in Christ?  When was that settled and guaranteed?
2. When do we often see the fruit of conversion in the life of a believer (Or the lack thereof in someone who is not truly a believer)?  Why is complete separation from the world (Meaning, never interacting with the lost) not the greatest idea for Christians?  Including because of our calling and commission (Matthew 28:19-20)?
3. You don’t need to go out and conquer the world, because the world has already been overcome!  Who is our champion?  To whom does this world ultimately belong?  How can that knowledge shape our understanding of our role and purpose in this life?

Today’s passage: John 16:16-24

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus was about to be crucified.  Then after His resurrection, the disciples would see Him again.
• The disciples have asked many questions up to this point, but when the Spirit comes they will understand (Because the Spirit will guide them in the truth).  Their questions will stop.  Instead of fear and confusion, they will have joy that no one can take away.
• As the disciples moved forward in their apostolic ministry, they would instead ask of the Father in Jesus’ name (Meaning, for the cause of Christ).  As God answered their prayers for the cause of Christ, their joy would continue to grow.

Questions to consider:

1. What does praying “in Jesus’ name” mean?  Is it just a polite prayer closing?  What does it look like for us to pray toward the cause of Christ’s kingdom today?
2. How would this idea of asking of the Father for the cause of Christ help us to evaluate the content of our prayers?  What is the end goal of most of my prayers?
3. Where does joy come from in our prayers?  How might continually praying for things that bring comfort and ease (Or that eliminate potential stress from my life) actually be a cause of more stress and anxiety?  How could praying about the cause of Christ and then seeing God answer those prayers produce a joy that cuts through other difficulties?

Today’s passage: John 16:4-15

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus points out the disciples were more interested in how things were going to be for them than they were concerned for Jesus.  But then tells them this was all to their advantage.
• Jesus promised to send the Helper, the Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.  There will be people from the world (As we were) who come to a knowledge of these things, repent, and believe.
  • The primary sin we need to be convicted of is unbelief.
  • Jesus had been the perfect representation of righteousness to the world, now that He was going, the Spirit would pick up that role.
  • The Spirit would also move in people’s understanding that the resurrection of Jesus proved the defeat of Satan.

Questions to consider:

1. In what way was it to the disciples advantage (And ours) to have the Holy Spirit actively ministering as He does now in the New Covenant?  With whom does the Spirit minister today?  Where does the Spirit minister today?  What is the limit of His reach?
2. Who does the work of convicting a sinner and bringing them to repentance?  How can this encourage us to continue to preach, teach and share the truth of Christ and His gospel?  With whom are we partnering in the work every time we share Christ with the lost?
3. How does the promise of verse 13, given directly to the apostles, give us confidence in the accuracy, truthfulness and authority of the New Testament writings? (2 Peter 1:21)

Today’s passage: John 15:18-16:4

Helpful thoughts:

• Christians should not expect to be loved or revered by the world.
  • That does not give us a reason to act rudely (1 Peter 3:15).
  • The world should not hate us because we are mean.  But they may hate us because we follow Jesus.
• We often fear rejection, but when those in the world reject our proclamation of the gospel, they are rejecting Christ.  Our identity is rooted in Him.
• God is glorified in our evangelism whether those who hear repent or reject.  Our role is simply to proclaim.

Questions to consider:

1. Why did Jesus tell this difficult news to the disciples?  How could knowing that many will reject Christ encourage us to keep sharing and not give up?
2. What must we be certain of in order to persevere in the face of those who call their evil actions, “good?”  What role does our faith and trust in the Word of God have in our faithfulness to obey?
3. What affections and reverence is needed to drive out our fear of man?  (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 1 John 4:18)

Today’s passage: John 15:12-17

Helpful thoughts:

• Jesus calls on His followers to love as He has loved.  He loved by laying down His life for our salvation!
• The identity of a disciple:
  • Chosen by God
  • Appointed by God to bear fruit
  • One who has access to God (Prayer, Asking the Father)
  • Friend of God
  • Loved by God
  • Obedient to God
    • Expected obedience to God does not detract from these other characteristics, it is produced by them and from them.  They go hand in hand.

Questions to consider:

1. If our model is Jesus, what kind of love are we to have for one another?  How does this command change the way we see others?  How can you love others sacrificially today?
2. How does your identity in Christ give you confidence?  Purpose?  Community?  Rest?
3. How does your identity in Christ and the purpose it gives your life shape your prayer?