Welcome to Bethlehem North Women’s Ministry Bible Study! For more information, email NorthWomen@Bethlehem.Church
John 20
My aim: is for you to SEE (the truth) and BELIEVE Jesus and have radical new life in believing in Him, our risen Savior.
4 characters/groups have one thing in common: the emotion of grief
For each, ask:
So we know, heading into Chapter 18 from last week, and Chapter 19 this week, that Jesus’ suffering and death are motivated by two things: the glory of the Father and the Son being made known, and the Father’s love for the Son being given to his own, who will be united to him by faith.
Last week, Amy led us through Chapter 18, which ended with Jesus in Pilate’s custody. We saw Jesus betrayed by Judas, the contrast of Peter’s fear which resulted in his denial of Jesus, Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas, the high priest, and finally, Jesus’ trial before Pilate, who, seemingly out of the blue, asks Jesus if he is the King of the Jews.
But of course, if we remember what the Jewish people had called Jesus just a few days earlier, it’s not so out of the blue. When Jesus entered Jerusalem in Chapter 12, what did the people say? “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’”
As a Roman governor, it makes sense that Pilate would be concerned about someone claiming to be a King. But, Jesus tells Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world, and that he came to bear witness to the truth. Pilate was satisfied that he was not guilty of a crime deserving death, not a threat to Rome, but to placate the Jewish leaders, he offers them a customary Passover release. He offers these religious leaders a religious king, but they reject this king for a criminal instead.
So, at the end of Ch. 18, we are mid-trial, at Pilate’s headquarters, the praetorium. Jesus’ hour of glorification has arrived. We are looking for glory and love.
So, let’s look at our outline for this week’s chapter, chapter 19:
The Glory of the King of Israel
Chapters 1-12 unfolded the public ministry of Jesus, as He revealed Himself in words and works from the Father, over 3 years’ time. Then, in chapters 13-17, the lens focused in on one single evening, as Jesus comforts and prepares the hearts of His disciples for the great climax of His ministry and life. He serves them, teaches them, and prays for them. And now, as we turn to John 18, the action rolls forward as Jesus moves to the moment of glory and agony that He has prepared them for. As we walk through the sections of this chapter, I’m going to periodically insert a brief reading from the Old Testament, primarily from the psalms of lament. As Jesus, the Lamb of God, goes to His death, He is loving His own to the end. I hope that you will hear in the emotion and ache of these laments the deep, unstoppable love of God as Jesus is poured out so that He might take you in.
Jesus has finished his Farewell Discourse, which took place from the last 8 verses of chapter 13 to the end of chapter 16. Some commentators think that Jesus and his disciples left the Upper Room at the end of chapter 14, and that Jesus led his disciples through Jerusalem, while teaching them chapters 15 and 16, to the path along the city wall that leads to the brook Kidron, where they will cross to the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives in 18:1.
It’s along this path that Jesus will pray, and our outline will follow the petitions that he makes of the Father.
Jesus has just told his disciples, “Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:32-33). Now let’s pick up with them on the path to the garden where Jesus prays aloud.
Abiding is being connected to Jesus through faith. Are you abiding in Jesus?
1- Our relationship to Christ, a METAPHOR (15:1-11)
We saw that true faith abides in Jesus and produces fruit.
2- Our relationship with believers, a COMMAND (15:12-17)
We learned that faith produces fruit of love and obedience, too.
3- Our relationship with the world, a WARNING (15:18-16:4)
We discovered that faith in Jesus brings on hatred from the world and also handles the world’s
hatred … how? We are encouraged that it is only through the power of the Spirit, our HELPER.
4- Our relationship with the Spirit, a HELP(ER) (15:26-16:15)
5- Jesus is our Overcomer and source of PEACE (16:25-33) when we have faith in our Overcomer...we find peace in Him
Do we imagine that we are abiding in Jesus because we are better or smarter? We have no grounds for pride or boasting. Jesus chose us and set us apart -- appointed us. To do what? Jesus commands us to love one another as He has loved us. That is sacrificial, laying-down-your-life kind of love. How can we possibly do that? Only by ASKING for His help! When the Father gives us this fruit, our love will be an evidence of our abiding and an example to the world….and the world will hate us-- guaranteed by Jesus who the world hated first.
John 13:31-14:31 "Jesus' Farewell Discourse: Comfort and Prepare"
13:31-38: Jesus means to gives the disciples a new commandment (Prepare)
14:1-7: Jesus is the way to “where” He’s going (Comfort)
14:8-14: Jesus addresses belief in his identity, promises the Holy Spirit (Prepare)
14:15-24: Jesus will come again for his loving, abiding, obedient disciples (Comfort)
14:25-31: Jesus leaves his disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit and his peace. (Comfort and Prepare)
The Christ Who Cleanses Calls Us To Wash Feet
1-The Backdrop: Jesus Knows and Loves (1-3)
2-The Dramatic Scene: Jesus Serves (4-5)
3-The Disciple Revolts: Jesus Cleanses (6-11)
4-The Drama Explained: Jesus Calls (12-17, 20)
5-The Unclean Exception: Jesus Sends Out (18-19, 21-30)
To tie John 11 to John 12, I read from Lauren Chandler’s new children’s book, Goodbye to Goodbyes, which is based on John 11-12. Some of you may not be familiar with her husband Matt’s diagnosis of brain cancer, so I’ve included a few links that you may find helpful. The sweet book concludes, “Jesus knows it is sad to say goodbye. So Jesus came to end goodbyes. And one day, Jesus and all his friends will say goodbye to goodbyes - forever!” Lauren writes a note for parents, “We are very acquainted with illness and the possibility of saying goodbye for what may feel like forever. [John Piper’s prayer for Matt Chandler at T4G2010] We have asked Jesus “why” in the midst of our pain. We have questioned his methods but have been comforted by his heart. He weeps with those who weep. He rejoices with those who rejoice. He is the God who is with us in our sorrow and our joy. Although our family’s story [watch more] hasn’t ended in a goodbye, it will one day. But it won’t be forever. For those who have believed Jesus to be their only hope, physical death will mean immediate presence with him (Phil 1:21-23) For those who are left behind, there is still hope -- hope in the life to come, and hope that Jesus will be with us “always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:20)
For thousands of years, the people of Israel had been looking for a Messiah King. They were expecting a great military leader, one who would defeat all of their enemies and restore their land to its former greatness and glory.
Yet, they refused to believe that He was in fact their Messiah. Over and over he showed who He was. And over and over, they rejected Him. John put it this way in 1:11, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.”
My aim in teaching John 12 (audio here) was to convince you that Jesus is the King of the world, the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of Man, the Lamb of God, rejected by His own and whose hour has come to lay down His life for those who believe.
Here is the outline for John 12
On his way to die, as King Jesus heads to the cross, he invites us to come to him and receive some glorious promises his death has bought for us. He says, “whoever sees me sees him who sent me.” (12:45) and “whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (12:46)
He begs us to believe in the light, to become sons of the light. He invites us to come out of the darkness of sin and death and come to the light. As the Light of the world, Jesus alone has the power to break the chains of sin! Jesus specializes in taking ruined, broken lives and renewing them by His power.
King Jesus offers us a home, an inheritance, a seat at God’s royal table, and entrance into His kingdom of love and grace. Eternal life with King Jesus!
Jesus is the King of the world, the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of Man, the Lamb of God, rejected by His own and whose hour has come to lay down His life for those who believe.
Our right response is belief and worship.
Aim: Jesus is the resurrection and the life, the Christ, the son of God and we can trust Jesus, his love and purposes.
Concluding encouragements:
Jesus is the resurrection and the life, the Christ, the son of God and we can trust Jesus, his love and purposes. He loves you!
John 10: True Shepherd, True Gate, and Jesus’ True Sheep
(This John 10 teaching audio was recorded by Amy even though we did not have class this week due to severe weather. The levels in the recording vary, and some technical challenges caused some static periodically.)
