John 9

Who is blind? And who can see?

Overview:

The short chapter expresses perhaps more vividly and completely than any other John’s conception of the work of Christ.

John’s story of the healing of the man born blind strikes many interpreters as the most well-crafted of all the gospel stories. In classical dramatic form, in each of the 6 separate scenes there are only two major protagonists. In each scene, one question leads perfectly to the question in the next scene until we come to a dramatic climax in the final scene where both the Serious and we who read are asked to do a fearless moral inventory and confess their (and our) spiritual blindness and neediness so that all of us might receive the very gift of sight that the Blind Man has just received;

“The man blind from birth is every man. For it is part of that sin of world which the Lamb of God beareth away that by nature we are blind, until our eyes are opened by Christ the Light of the world.”

The healed man is impressive (and a great picture of a faithful witness). He never lies. Not even to Jesus at the end. He is the prototypical “person who always tells the truth,” touched by and so coming increasingly towards Jesus in every encounter until finally he is at his Lord’s feet in worship.  Nicodemus (John3) had been told earlier that everyone doing and telling the truth comes to the light (John 3:21). The Blind Man is that man coming closer and closer to the light. As the story progresses the healed man gradually “comes toward the light.” His knowledge of Jesus keeps growing from “the man named Jesus,” to “a prophet,” to “a man of God,” to “The Son of Man,” and then finally to “I believe, Lord and he worshipped Jesus” (v38).

While the man born blind comes gradually to greater and greater sight both physically and spiritually, the leadership of the people of God plunge into deeper and deeper darkness, until finally falling into a blindness that Jesus condemns (v41).  At the end all of us (and this book is written so that we might believe. This chapter is written so that we might consider if we too are blind and need to see a lot more.) who “know”  intellectually, doctrinally, and even biblically – are asked to confess our factual blindness so that we may experience the miracle of seeing the truth, who is the Lord Jesus, the Son of Man.

        The section above is an except from    F.D.  Bruner’s  The Gospel  of John  (pgs  561-562)

Open Discussion:

-If you had to be deaf, mute of blind which would you choose? Which would be most difficult?

Text Questions:

-Look at verses 5-6. Why do you think Jesus choose to heal this way this time? Do you see any connections to Old Testament stories you might have heard?

-How many times do the Pharisees ask this man about his healing (15,17,26)? Who else do they ask(v18)?  What response do they keep getting? How do they react (v28,34)?

-Why do you think the Pharisees react this way? Why is it so difficult to believe this man?

-This whole trial  is based on who Jesus really is. What is Jesus called in this chapter?

-Look at verses 30-33. What arguments does the blind man use to defend that Jesus is from God?

-This chapter is saying a lot about sight and blindness as well as darkness and light.  Look at verses 35-41 again. Imagine someone asked you what this paragraph meant. How would you explain it in your own words?

Reflection Questions:

-Put yourself in the shoes of the blind man, his parents and  the Pharisees. How would you have acted throughout this story? What would each group stand to gain or lose by this unfolding  drama?

-The synagogue was the focus of the whole community. If you were put out of the synagogue, you’d probably be better off leaving the area altogether. The parents are afraid because they know the threat against anyone saying that Jesus is the Messiah. They are anxious for their livelihood, their social standing and possibly their lives .  We do not have the synagogue at the center of our society. But take a moment and think about what the consequences are for us today of simply telling people about what this Jesus has done for us and our belief that he is Lord.  What are negative and positive consequences? How does open belief in Jesus impact our standing in society, work and life in general?

(Parents. Take some time to share your difficulties and the consequences of living out your faith in work, family and other social settings).

 

 

The man blind from birth is every man. For it is part of that sin of the world which the Lamb of God beareth away that by nature we are blind, until our eyes are opened by Christ, the light of the World.

– William Temple

John 8:12-59

Fighting over Truth, Freedom, and the Way to Life

Open Discussion:

-Share a time when you have argued or fought with others. What was the argument about?
-Are there things or issues  worth getting in heated arguments over?  What are they and why are they worth it?

Text Questions:
-Read the WHOLE passage.  There are a few different issues being argued over. What are they?
 Why  are these so important for Jesus and the Jewish leaders?

-Do you think these issues are worth the fight? Why can’t Jesus and the Jewish leaders be nicer to each other. Why don’t they just love each other enough to agree to disagree?

-Verses 12-20 – Why does Jesus consider his testimony valid? How would you respond if you were a Jewish leader?

-Verses 21-30 – Why do you think many people believed in him as he was saying these things?

-Verses 31 is confusing.   He is getting in an argument with the ones who believe in him?

-Verse 33 – Are they Jews right in saying this? Why do you think they said this?

-The people assumed that being the children of Abraham made them the children of God. Jesus seems to be saying that this isn’t true. Does the church have similar assumptions about what it means to be God’s children today?

-Jesus brings up sin a few times v24-25, 34-36. What does he mean by “dead in your sins?”

-Are there “religious” lies that many of us in the church believe today to which Jesus was vehemently disagree with us?

-In 32-57 Jesus has many accusations against the Jewish leaders. What are they?

–Why do they accuse Jesus of having a demon? And why do they want to stone him?

Reflection Question:

Consider what things in life are worth fighting for. Can we expect conflict when fighting over things like the way, the truth and the life?
-Are there times where we should be this combative and times when we should accuse others the way Jesus does? When do you think those times are and with who

John 8:1-11

Hi all!

This week's reading is short, so we felt a basic study that the students can use outside of the group is a good way to go. Hopefully this will give the students a framework to read on their own...

I am reposting this from an earlier study, so if it looks familiar, it should!


You read the text and ask 6 basic questions:

-1-What do I learn about God (Jesus, Holy Spirit, God the Father)?
-2-What do I learn about people (what are all these other characters doing? Are they good examples?
Bad examples? A little bit of both? Am I like them?)?
-3-Are there any Promises in this text?
-4-Are there any commands?
-5-What do I find most interesting (what “grabs” me or what do I have questions about)?
-6-How do I apply this to my life (are there ways I can live differently? Am I challenged to take action or to think differently?)?



-Where do I need healing/help and do I ask God for that help? Or do I listen and obey the help he has already given me?
-Where am I supposed to walk to? Where are things a mess and God has gifted me to help? Where can I be like Jesus?

John 7

Overview:
In chapters 7 and 8 Jesus speaks confrontationally to several groups of mainly hostile people in a rapid series of controversies. A good name for these chapters could be “Jesus’ Confrontation Debates and Sermons.”  In each encounter we learn afresh the world’s religion – i.e., what the world considers most important and credible.  We learn the way the world thinks about divinity and what the how the world thinks a Messiah should look. We also see what the world thinks about a man who claims to be divine.   In these two chapters, we learn a great deal about Christ,  our world’s understanding of religion and  ourselves who live in the world while we are seeking to  live in Christ.

Definitions:

The Feast of Tabernacles’ or Booths:  There were three great obligatory festivals for all Jewish males: the spring Passover Festival (of Unleavened Bread), the summer Pentecost Festival (also called Weeks), the autumn Festival of Booths (or Tabernacles). These are all listed in Deuteronomy chapter 16.
     Passover  celebrated the Exodus at the Red Sea. Pentecost celebrated the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai. Booths celebrated the giving of provision in the wilderness. In view of the pervasive murmuring against Jesus within chapter seven it is interesting to note that for the Jews this time in the wilderness was a time of great murmuring against God and discontent. Yet, surprisingly over time the Festival of Booths turned into Israel’s favorite and most joyous ceremony. We have something similar to this in America today. We celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. For Christians Easter should be by far our greatest celebration. It is the time to celebration the Resurrection of Jesus. It is time to celebrate the power of life over death. But in our practice we make a much bigger deal of Christmas than Easter.
    The Festival of Booths was called  “booths” because Israel was asked to pitch tents on her roofs, yards, or nearest free space, and then for seven days to eat and sleep there in grateful remembrance of God’s provision during the wilderness years of living in booths. The great miraculous  provisions over the forty years in the wilderness, we recall, were the manna from heaven, the water from the rock, , and the fiery cloud of guidance.  Jesus himself now fulfills all the highlights of the festival and all the needs of his people in her wandering through the wilderness of the world, and not just in the wilderness for forty years but forever. This is the claim of the whole gospel of John.  –F.D. Bruner, John 467-68.

Introduction Questions:

-Suppose the whole world got together and decided to make one person king of everything. After this person was decided upon he would call all of the shots. Tell us about how you would choose this person? What qualities would he have? What are the things that you would want him to do? What laws should he make? Come up with the perfect king!
-Do you feel like your parents and siblings trust you? How would it feel to have a sibling or close friend not trust you?

Text Questions:

Read verses 1-13

-Look at verses 3-5. Why do you think the brothers want Jesus to go public with his miracles?
-Look at verses 6-11. What does Jesus response mean? And then why does he decide to go anyway?
-Reflect on verse 7. Some say that Jesus came to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.  Do you think that is a good description of what happens when people meet Jesus?
-Why does Jesus choose to go in secret in verse 10?

 Read verses 14-24

-In verses 19-24 Jesus is arguing with the leaders over how to understand the law. Share with us what you know about the law of Moses. Then explain Jesus argument. What is Jesus trying to say about the ultimate purpose of the law.

Read verses 25-52
-Why do you think Jesus waited until the last day of the festival to address the crowd (v37)? Why not earlier?
-What bold invitation and promise does Jesus offer to people in verses 37-38? Notice how everyone respond to this offer (v40-55). How do you respond if you are in the crowd that day?

John is careful to tell us that Jesus is making this invitation on the last day of the festival of the Tabernacles, which had among its celebratory rituals a moment when the priests would pour out water and wine on the altar. Among the prayers that were regularly prayed at the festival were prayers for rain and for the resurrection of the dead; so the theme not only of water but also of new life were spot on for the subjects that would be in people’s minds.  (N.T. Wright).

Closing Reflection:

    Some first-century Jews believed the Messiah would appear mysteriously, with nobody knowing where he came from (v27). Jesus reply is not what we expect. Instead of saying, “Ah, but you don’t know where I really came from” (meaning from God), he agrees that they know where his hometown is. He then turns the question around. While insisting  they are indeed ignorant of something, their real ignorance is not so much about him, Jesus, but about God. So naturally they cannot associate the Jesus they are seeing with the true God.

    The same challenge comes to today’s world. Often people look at Jesus and draw conclusions about him based on faulty ideas of God and the world. But the Christian message insists that people must learn afresh who God is, what the world is, and who we are by looking at Jesus.

       -N.T. Wright

     In what ways has the Jesus you’ve encountered thus far in the gospel of John challenged the way you think about God, yourself and others?

John chapter 6

THE BREAD MAKER WHO WALKS ON WATER

Discussion questions:

-In these two stories people have big fears. One is the fear of not having enough food and the second is the fear of being caught in a big storm at night. Do you have any big fears in life? Share a fear that you had as a child and then share a fear or two that you have right now? It could be anything, don’t worry if it sounds silly.

-If you could ask God to do any miracle what would you ask him to do?

Text Questions
-This story mentions the Passover again. This is the 2^nd   of 3  times that John mentions that it is close to Passover time. (Can you remember the other previous time and can you guess when he the Passover will be mentioned again?). Tell us what the Passover is and why it’s important.

-Read verses 5-6:  Why do you think Jesus asks the question in verse 5 when he already knows what he is going to do?

-Read verses 7-9: Who do you think showed the most faith Andrew, Philip or the boy? Why? Since this is a test grade them on their faith.

-What does Jesus do to make this miracle happen? Now this one is a bit tougher, but give it some thought. What does this miracle say about who Jesus is and what he cares about?

-Look at this whole story. What is the role of the followers of Jesus in this miracle? What does that say about our role in God’s work today?

-What do you think the 12 baskets left over mean? And why is Jesus so concerned that none of it be lost?

-Look at verse 15: How does Jesus respond when they want to make him king? Why do you think he responds this way?

-Look at verses 16-21: How do you think the disciples view of Jesus changed when they saw him walking on water? Do you think they wanted to run away from him or follow him even more?

-Can you think of any stories in the Old Testament where God does something similar to what Jesus does in these two stories? Share them. What does this say about Jesus?

Closing Reflections:

-Have you ever felt like God was giving you a test? If so share.

-How do you feel when  you are tested or challenged? Do you usually respond well or do you have a difficult time with tests (try to think beyond the test you have in school. Though you can certainly share about them too)? Why do you think you respond the way you do?

-Do you think you have faith in difficult circumstances? Why or why not? Explain.

John chapter 5:17-30- Jesus is Divine – The Father and Son Sermon.

Good Afternoon Everyone- hear is some introduction information and additional thoughts for this week's reading......

John chapter 5:17-30

Jesus is Divine – The Father and Son Sermon.

The Starting Points of the Faith: What we confess and believe:

 - As Christians we confess that the God is One and that God  is also three in one. God is a Trinity (God is one, God is Father, Son, Spirit). This is something that we confess to be true and that we believe is revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures. John chapter five and indeed much of John shows us that God the Father is God and that Jesus is also God (and the Spirit is also God, but that will be discussed in later passages).  We confess and trust these beliefs as starting points in the Christian faith.
-If God is God and we are not then it stands to reason that He will have to show Himself to us for us to understand. This God showing Himself to us  is what we call revelation. We believe that Jesus is God revealed to us. Jesus says that if you have seen me you have seen the Father. The New Testament writers declare that in Jesus we have the fullness of God. We also confess that the Scriptures that talk about Jesus are God’s revelation to us. We believe that God is able to reveal himself to us and he has done so in Jesus Christ and in the scriptures.  Our starting point is Faith (trust) and then that faith seeks to understand. We can’t demand understanding before faith. We must trust that some of these core beliefs are true first and then see how life looks with these beliefs. This is a bit like the hypothesis in scientific theory. You have to believe that some base things are true and then test those beliefs out in real life.
-In the Chronicles of Narnia C.S. Lewis puts it this way. Things are “far bigger inside than they are outside.” And “ The farther up and the farther in you go, the bigger everything gets. The inside is larger than the outside.” Christian faith is like that. You must decide to go into it. It doesn’t look that big from the outside. It might not make sense from the outside (things like the Trinity, God becoming man, the death of Jesus for us, God suffering,  the resurrection, strength by weakness). But you have to trust that these things are true or at least might be true. You have to walk into them and see how every thing fits. When you decide to trust you walk inside this glorious faith and as you get inside you realize it is much bigger than you anticipated.
-Don’t get too overwhelmed with trying to completely understand this. Though we confess it and trust it, it does not have to be something that we fully understand, nor can it be. If you think that you have God completely figured out that means that you have a god of your own making.  Keep going further up and further in.

John 5:17-30

Summary and Major Themes:

Summary:

In John 5:17-30 we see Jesus giving a mini sermon (presumably to his followers and some of his opponents). In this sermon we learn about his relationship with his father, the authority and power that he has and he tells his listeners (opponents, disciples and us) how they are to respond in faith to Him.

The Relationship of the Father and Son

-This short sermon says a lot about the relationship of the Father and Son (and indeed in John’s gospel Jesus will say a lot more about this relationship and we will see how he interacts with the Father over and over again throughout the rest of the gospel). For now lets focus on what we see in these verses:

-Jesus works because the  father works (17)

-He definitely thinks he is God’s son. This gets him death threats (v18-19)

-He can’t do anything on his own. He does what he sees the father do

-The Son can raise the dead and give life, just like the Father (21)

-The Father gives all judgment to the Son so that the Son can receive as much honor as the Father(22)

-The Father sent him (24) – He represents God

-They both have life in and of themselves (Father gives it to the son)

-The son has authority to execute judgment because he is also the son of man(27)

 -Jesus can’t make judgments on  his own but he make judgments as he hears them. (29-30)

 -He listens to the father and does everything fairly -30

Fire and Light

-A helpful analogy of their relationship  is that of Fire and Light. When a fire starts it bring light immediately. When there is no fire there is no light. The fire and light are completely joined. You can not have one without the other, but we are also able to call them two different things.  You  can only see the fire by the light that it gives. If there is no light given by the fire then you could never see the fire in the first place. Jesus is light. We have no way of seeing the Father apart from His light. (I use this analogy for 2 reasons. One, the church Father St. Augustine uses it. Two, in the scriptures God is called a consuming fire and Jesus is called the light of the world.)

Jesus is equal to the Father and Submissive to the Father

     “We are even being introduced to the mysteries of relations in the Godhead . . . [S]ubmission describes not just a 30 year  lowliness assumed by the historical Jesus, but it describes the Son’s eternal relation to the Father.  And because his subordination is so entire and so perfect, so is his equality.” –Bruner 312

   -We think of submission as meaning that you are lower or lesser. People thought that in Jesus’ time as well. On the cross Christ’s mockers declare that  if he really is God’s Son and the Messiah then he will prove his godliness by coming down from  the cross. Surely God can’t be weak and be killed by mortals? Surely God can’t submit to others.  But Jesus believes and  shows us that perfect submission and perfect trust to God the Father is part of what makes him equal with God, This is a radical idea. In God’s relationship with himself there is a relationship of submission. Submission does not mean higher or lower. In fact Jesus proves himself to be equal to the father is his perfect submission and obedience to Him. Consider some of the ramifications of this truth for how we are called to live as followers of Christ:

1-We need to submit to the father and son.  We will be raised up as we submit (God gives grace to the humble, the first shall be last, and the last first, the beatitudes in Matthew 5).

2-In our relationships with one another we don’t need to prove ourselves to be higher than others.  Submitting to others faithfully is part of our growth into being who God created us to be  (reconsider Ephesians five in light of the possibility that submission does not mean lesser). We are free to submit to one another without concern for being lesser or greater (I need to think about this one a lot more!).

The Authority and Power of Jesus (3 major recurring things)

  In these passages (and in passages to come in John) it is clear that Jesus has power and authority over three huge aspects of life and humanity. He has the authority to give life. He has the authority to judge and to choose to withhold judgment. He has authority and power over the resurrection.

How To Respond in Faith

Though much of this passage can be confusing or challenging (and that is ok, God is God and we are not), how we are called to respond to Christ’ is quite simple. In verse 24 Jesus gives us simple instructions. We are to hear His words and believe the one who sent Him. We are to hear and believe. That is what Jesus always asks from us. Listen the Word and genuinely believe and put your trust in Him. Listen and trust, even and especially if,  you don’t fully understand.

John 5:17-30

Hi All!!! I am tring to be proactive and get everything I have posted, we will be focusing on John 5:1-16 for this week (July 29), but since Jared was ahead of the game and sent the next section I decided to post both of them for you......


Jesus is Divine – The Father and Son Sermon.

Discussion questions:
-In what ways are you like your father or mother? Do you share any common characteristics? Would
people be able to guess that you were his or her child? (Parents, what about your children? How are they like you or dislike you?)

-Is there anyone in your family that you would consider a “chip of the old block?” or most like a parent?

-If someone were to ask you how are Jesus and the Father connected? What would your answer be?
How are they alike? How are they different?

Text Questions:
-After reading this text how would you describe the relationship of the Father and the Son? What is the role of the son? What does he receive?

-Look at verses 19-24 again. We are being introduced to the mystery of the Trinity (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit are one God in the 3 persons or 3 essences. They are a Tri-unity). In these verses Jesus appears to be both subordinate and equal to the Father. The Father also gives power to Jesus. Can you be God and God’s son? Can the Son do things the Father can’t? How do you think all of this works?

-Look up Philippians 2:5-11, Colossians 1:15-20, and Matthew 28:18-20 to get a fuller picture of the
relationship of the father with the son.

-Is this something that we can fully explain? Or is it something that God “reveals” to us and we are
called to trust and believe?

-Read verse 20-What do you think are the “these” and what do you think are the “greater works than
these?”

-Look at verses 24-30. We see almost the same material in John 3. Jesus says believe in me and you will have eternal life and not faith judgment. Then he goes on to speak of a judgment.
-What do you think it means to “believe” in him?

-What do you think it means to execute judgment?

-What is the resurrection of life and the resurrection of judgment?