John Bible Study Lesson 3

John Bible Study Lesson 3

1. Read John 3 about Jesus meeting with Nicodemus. What did Jesus mean by the saying "born again"?
In John 3:1-13 , Jesus is having a conversation with Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus in accordance to the Pharisee’s teaching- to be born of water meant to be born physically. This is proved by Nicodemus remark who thought to be born again meant a physical birth “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? In verse 5, Jesus proceeds to say, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee, believed like the other Jews that because he was born a Jew and kept God’s ordinances that he should automatically enter into the kingdom of God. However, Jesus explains this is not enough. In verse 6, Jesus Himself interprets the water as flesh (a physical birth) "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Jesus says of being born of water is to be born of the flesh. Jesus explains the difference, telling Nicodemus you have already had a physical birth, you are in need of a another birth “Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' Literally from the Spirit above to enter the kingdom. You must be born again “that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." The new birth from above is a second birth which gives us eternal life

V.5 The new birth is invisible, he likens it to the wind. It is not from the water beneath (the flesh) but of the Spirit (literally, in the Greek, from above). He is contrasting the natural (flesh) to the spiritual (Spirit).

There is always a distinction between water and Spirit baptism. Scripture tells us that John came baptizing in water but that, “There is one who will come after me. . . He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mk. 1:7-8; Mt. 3:11; Jn. 1:33). The flesh and the spirit are two different properties, two different things. So there are two births- one of the flesh and the other of the spirit that comes from God. John 3:6-7 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

The term born of water is used only once by John but the term born of  God (the Spirit) he uses numerous times.

I Jn 4:7: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” This is the love of God shed in a believers heart by believing the gospel.

I Jn 5:1: “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.” This of course has to do with the gospel.

I Jn 5:4: “ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith” The new nature of the spirit of God has our affections change toward God and not toward the fallen world.

I Jn 3:9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. ”

I Jn 5:18: “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.” There is life change where one lives more in righteousness than they do in the old way of life in sin. John explains this in I Jn 2:29: “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him” And Paul teaches this through the book of Romans especially chapter 6-7

Romans 7:6 “But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.”

The Bible teaches that a man is “born of God” (Greek- EK - out of). This description occurs four times in John’s epistle alone, 1 Jn. 3:9, 4:7, 5:1,4. In all the instances where the source of the new birth is mentioned, the language is EK Him, EK God, or EK Spirit. John 1:12-13, we receive Christ by believing in His name, “not born by the will of man . . . but of God.” Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God uses creation (born of water) as part of conveying the new birth. The Greek preposition (“out of”) is never used elsewhere in connection anything else but its source which is God Himself.

In John 3:3, the term “born-again” literally means “to be born from above,” is what happens by Jesus sending His Spirit to those who respond to the gospel. The very essence of regeneration is by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It is an unseen work that one receives when they believe, they are then sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13).

Born of God” To be begotten of God- to have his life, that is eternal along with the characteristics born anew is to love God and will certainly translate in loving the brethren. 1 Pt.1:22; 2 Pt.1:3 tells us we have been given His divine nature v.:5-8 “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The context of Jn. 3:5 must be related to Jesus’ previous statement in Jn. 3:3 :“Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” There is only one new birth mentioned in this verse and it is from the Spirit as other Scriptures uphold. John 3:6-7: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again. .”

2 )John 3:14. relates to what Old Testament event? Give scripture reference, explain the event and relate to the context of John 3.
As Moses lifted up - He shows the reason why he descended from heaven, that he might be lifted up, i.e. crucified, for the salvation of man. kind, and be, by the appointment of God, as certain a remedy for sinful souls as the brazen serpent elevated on a pole, Numbers 21:9, was for the bodies of the Israelites, which had been bitten by the fiery serpents in the wilderness. It does not appear to me that the brazen serpent was ever intended to be considered as a type of Christ. It is possible to draw likenesses and resemblances out of any thing; but, in such matters as these, we should take heed that we go no farther than we can say, Thus it is written. Among the Jews, the brazen serpent was considered a type of the resurrection - through it the dying lived; and so, by the voice of God, they that were dead shall be raised to life. As the serpent was raised up, so shall Christ be lifted up: as they who were stung by the fiery serpents were restored by looking up to the brazen serpent, so those who are infected with and dying through sin are healed and saved, by looking up to and believing in Christ crucified. These are all the analogies which we can legitimately trace between the lifting up of the brazen serpent, and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The lifting up of the Son of man may refer to his mediatorial office at the right hand of God.

3.Explain John3:16.
John 3:16 Yea, and this was the very design of God's love in sending him into the world. Whosoever believeth on him - With that faith which worketh by love, and hold fast the beginning of his confidence steadfast to the end. God so loved the world - That is, all men under heaven; even those that despise his love, and will for that cause finally perish. Otherwise not to believe would be no sin to them. For what should they believe? Ought they to believe that Christ was given for them? Then he was given for them. He gave his only Son - Truly and seriously. And the Son of God gave himself, Gal 4:4, truly and seriously.

4. Explain John 3:18. John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned - Is acquitted, is justified before God. The name of the only - begotten Son of God - The name of a person is often put for the person himself. But perhaps it is farther intimated in that expression, that the person spoken of is great and magnificent. And therefore it is generally used to express either God the Father or the Son.

5. Explain John 1:29, "behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world". John 1:29 He seeth Jesus coming and saith, Behold the Lamb - Innocent; to be offered up; prophesied of by Isaiah, Isa 53:7, typified by the paschal lamb, and by the daily sacrifice: The Lamb of God - Whom God gave, approves, accepts of; who taketh away - Atoneth for; the sin - That is, all the sins: of the world - Of all mankind. Sin and the world are of equal extent.

6. Explain Jesus statement "I am the bread of life", John 6:35, 48.

John 6:35:I am the bread of life - That is, the bread which gives life, and preserves from death. He that cometh to me - The person who receives my doctrine, and believes in me as the great atoning sacrifice, shall be perfectly satisfied, and never more feel misery of mind. All the guilt of his sins shall be blotted out, and his soul shall be purified unto God; and, being enabled to love him with all his heart, he shall rest, fully, supremely, and finally happy, in his God.

In John 6:47-51 The advantage of the manna was small, it only referred to this life; but the living Bread is so excellent, that the man who feedeth on it shall never die. This bread is Christ's human nature, which he took to present to the Father, as a sacrifice for the sins of the world; to purchase all things pertaining to life and godliness, for sinners of every nation, who repent and believe in him.

7. Discuss the "feeding of five thousand" in John 6.

SCRIPTURE: (JOHN 6:1-14):Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

VERSE 1 - "After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias."

The Sea of Galilee has had a number of names over the centuries, but most seem to think it was called the Sea of Galilee during Jesus time. The city of Tiberias is believed to have been founded around 20AD.

The name of the sea is still the "Sea of Galilee" in our time, but at that particular time in history may have been known as the Sea of Tiberias.

VERSE 2 - "And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick."

John specifically refers to these signs as the healing of the sick; and these signs are what led these people to follow, and seek Jesus.

VERSE 3 - "Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples."

Jesus would have been traveling eastward, so the mountain mentioned would be in what is now the Golan Heights, bordering Syria.

And there He sat with His disciples.

VERSE 4 - "Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand."

Regarding chronological order:

Our last study 'the Pool of Bethesda' is believed to have been during the "Feast of Tabernacles', if so, the feeding of the five thousand would have been approximately six months later.

This Passover is thought to be one year later than the one we studied in John 2:13 where Jesus cleansed the temple.

So again, here He was sitting with His disciples on this mountain,

And verses 5-6:

VERSES 5-6 - "Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat? He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do."

So why would He ask Philip this question? (can't you just see Jesus setting this up)

He certainly knew that in the practical sense there was no good way to feed this many people in this remote area, but perhaps it was because Philip lived nearby (in Bethsaida) that He chose to ask him the question.

Jesus was often called Master, Rabbi, or Teacher; In addition to the teaching and working miracles, for most of the three and a half years of His ministry He was also preparing and training His disciples for the ministry. They were receiving an accelerated course in the New Testament doctrine for their future ministry.

Philip and the other disciples, were about to receive a new lesson.

So, in verse 7:

VERSE 7 - "Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii[a] would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." (dih-NEHR-ih-igh)

Philip gave a practical 'common sense' answer, didn't he. "Two hundred denarii" was what some have figured out to be the equivalent of 200 days meager earnings in his time. (maybe equal to our minimum wage nowadays?)

Then Andrew spoke up,

VERSES 8-9 - "One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?"

(Fish and bread were staples, few people could afford meat)

Andrew took the same view as Philip' the only difference is that he knew of someone who had a little food.

The only response from Jesus was:

VERSE 10 - "Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number."

So this mountain had grass, which had to make a better seat than the rocks that are typical for that area.

John says there were about five thousand men, but the Greek term used here is gender specific, meaning that only the men were usually numbered, so the whole crowd, including men, women and children, could have been four times that number.

To put this in context:This crowd was nearly as large as was the capacity of the largest theaters in the major cities of that time, (such as Ephesus). The seating capacity of the Roman coliseum was between 50,000-70,000, probably the largest in the world.

So, that's a lot of hungry people isn't it?

But verse 11 says:

VERSE 11 - "Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks he distributed them to those who were seated; also the fish, and as much as they wanted."

Jesus accepted these loaves from the boy and gave thanks for them. It was customary among the Jew to give thanks before and after the meal.

VERSE 12 - "And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost."

So this wasn't a symbolic meal, or even a snack, it was a full meal, and they collected the leftovers. Even though Jesus could miraculously reproduce this food, He gathered it up, so that it wouldn't be wasted.

VERSE 13 - "So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten."

Twelves baskets full is more than they started with.

And there were 12 baskets of fragments left-over. Again, others who have studied the references see the number of baskets "12" as being significant, or relative to the 12 tribes of Israel in the desert.

Maybe it is, what do you think? Twelve baskets - Twelve tribes, Moses feeding people - Jesus feeding people. Bible scripture is intensely connected

It's amazing how the scriptures are so associated, that they tie events together that are sometimes hundreds of years apart. In this case it would have been over 1400 years ago, (between 1440 and 1400) were the years of the exodus and wandering in the desert.

That's so interesting, isn't it!

So, in verse 14:

VERSE 14 - "When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!"

They said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!" and they were right.

what they were referring to was the scripture in DT. 18:15 where Moses was prophesying to the people: "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen..."

(Moses had told them there would be a prophet like himself)

Then they began to follow Jesus hoping for more free food.

But, wasn't that a natural thing for them to do? They saw Jesus do what appeared to them to be the same thing Moses had done. (actually it was God)

These people had recognized Jesus as being the one in Moses' prophesy, and were hopeing to secure a constant supply of food through Him as their forefathers had through Moses.

8. Relate Jesus statement that He is the "bread of life" to the Old Testament "manna". Jesus is the Bread of Life. Just as bread nourishes our physical bodies, Jesus gives and sustains eternal life to all believers.

The day after He had miraculously fed five thousand men, the Jews sought Him eagerly, but their motives were all wrong. They only cared about physical needs. Jesus tells them that He came down from heaven to give eternal life, and that they could have this life by believing in Him. “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).

Jesus explains the sense of the entire passage when He says, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63). By faith we partake of Christ, and the benefits of His bodily sacrifice on the cross and the merits of His shed blood, receiving and enjoying eternal life. It is clear that the Old Testament "foretells" the New Testament, and that the New Testament "fulfills" the Old Testament. Exodus 16 tells us that the Lord sent the manna from heaven every morning, (except on the Sabbath). The people were then responsible for going out and collecting what the Lord had provided for them each day, it could not be saved up, (except for the day before the Sabbath).  It took some daily effort on their part, but this interaction is what sustained them.

Jesus says in John 6:35, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."

In both cases we see God supplying for people, but we also see that each person is then responsible for collecting, or accepting what the Lord has provided.

9. Explain the statement "this is a hard saying", John 6:60.

Many were attracted to Jesus because he offered them something irresitible -- God's loving-kindness and mercy made manifest in his wonderful works of healing, deliverance, and miraculous feeding of the five thousand. Despitee these signs, many stumbled, when Jesus made divine claims. Jesus' discourse on "eating his flesh and drinking his blood" (see John 6:51-59) which pointed to the Last Supper, caused offence to many of his followers. Jesus claimed to be the very life of God come down from heaven and that no one could live this life without submitting to him. Even the apostles admitted that this was a "hard saying".  This expression meant that it was not just hard to understand, but hard to accept.  Jesus pressed the issue with his beloved disciples because he wanted to test their faith and loyalty. Jesus assures his disciples that it is his heavenly Father who invites and who gives the grace to follow even in the "hard sayings".  Jesus knew that some would not only reject him and his word, but would do so hostily, even betraying him to his enemies.

Real faith seeks understanding.  That is why God gives us the help of the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of our mind to understand his truth and wisdom (Ephes. 1:17-18). Jesus offers his life-giving word and Spirit to those who believe and who submit to his authority.  Peter’s profession of loyalty was based on a personal relationship with Jesus.  Through the gift of faith Peter knew that Jesus was the Messiah, the Holy One of God, and he believed in his words. Faith is a response to God's revelation. It's the key to seeing God work in our lives with power. 

10. Compare Peter's response in John 6:66-69 to his response in Matthew 16:13-16.

In John 6:66-71 When we admit into our minds hard thoughts of the words and works of Jesus, we enter into temptation, which, if the Lord in mercy prevent not, will end in drawing back. The corrupt and wicked heart of man often makes that an occasion for offence, which is matter of the greatest comfort. Our Lord had, in the foregoing discourse, promised eternal life to his followers; the disciples fastened on that plain saying, and resolved to cleave to him, when others fastened on hard sayings, and forsook him. Christ's doctrine is the word of eternal life, therefore we must live and die by it. If we forsake Christ, we forsake our own mercies. They believed that this Jesus was the Messiah promised to their fathers, the Son of the living God. When we are tempted to backslide or turn away, it is good to remember first principles, and to keep to them. And let us ever remember our Lord's searching question; Shall we go away and forsake our Redeemer? To whom can we go? He alone can give salvation by the forgiveness of sins. And this alone brings confidence, comfort, and joy, and bids fear and despondency flee away. It gains the only solid happiness in this world, and opens a way to the happiness of the next.

In Mathew16:13-20 Peter, for himself and his brethren, said that they were assured of our Lord's being the promised Messiah, the Son of the living God. This showed that they believed Jesus to be more than man. Our Lord declared Peter to be blessed, as the teaching of God made him differ from his unbelieving countrymen. Christ added that he had named him Peter, in allusion to his stability or firmness in professing the truth. The word translated rock, is not the same word as Peter, but is of a similar meaning. Nothing can be more wrong than to suppose that Christ meant the person of Peter was the rock. Without doubt Christ himself is the Rock, the tried foundation of the church; and woe to him that attempts to lay any other! Peter's confession is this rock as to doctrine. If Jesus be not the Christ, those that own him are not of the church, but deceivers and deceived. Our Lord next declared the authority with which Peter would be invested. He spoke in the name of his brethren, and this related to them as well as to him. They had no certain knowledge of the characters of men, and were liable to mistakes and sins in their own conduct; but they were kept from error in stating the way of acceptance and salvation, the rule of obedience, the believer's character and experience, and the final doom of unbelievers and hypocrites. In such matters their decision was right, and it was confirmed in heaven. But all pretensions of any man, either to absolve or retain men's sins, are blasphemous and absurd. None can forgive sins but God only. And this binding and loosing, in the common language of the Jews, signified to forbid and to allow, or to teach what is lawful or unlawful.

John Bible Study Lesson 2

John Bible Study Lesson 2

1.       Do some research in commentaries and on the Internet and then list the seven "I AM" statements that most scholars refer to in the book of John.

The I AM statements of Jesus in the book of John:

Jn.8:24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am (He), you will die in your sins."

John 6:51:"I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;"

John 8:23: And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I AM from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

John 8:12: Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I AM the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

John 10:9: "I AM the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."

John 10:11: "I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

John 10:36: "do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?

John 11:25: Jesus said to her, "I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

John 14:6: Jesus said to him, "I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 15:1: "I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

John 19:2: Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'He said, "I am the King of the Jews."'"

2. Do the same(research & list) for the seven "signs or miracles" that John uses in the book of John.

Miracle 1 (Water Into Wine … 2:1-11)

This one is misunderstood by most and yet results in the disciples putting their faith in the Lord. (This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed His Glory and the disciples put their faith in Him, vs. 11). It seems so insignificant when compared the opening miracles in the other gospels, which involved either casting out demons or curing leprosy. 6 empty jars of stone, normally used to hold water for ceremonial cleansing, are filled with water (by unnamed servants) that the Lord turns into wine. The master of the banquet proclaims this wine to be superior to the wine served earlier.

Look at the symbolism: 6 (the number of man) jars, stone, cold and empty (the heart condition of unregenerate man) filled with water (the living water) by unnamed servants (the Holy Spirit) which is changed to wine (the joy of our salvation). The new wine (new covenant) is superior to the old (old covenant). Remember, the jars of water were for ceremonial cleansing, central to Old Covenant practice. From the stone, cold, dead, and empty way of man’s religion into the living, joyful, relationship symbolized by the wedding celebration … this miracle symbolizes nothing less than the Mission of the Messiah.

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10)

Miracle 2 (Healing the Official’s Son … 4:43-54).

Here’s an act of God’s Grace, pure and simple. There’s no indication of the official’s nationality or background, his religious conviction or his worthiness … only his faith. Implicit in the narrative is the fact that his conversation with the Lord happened on one day and his journey home took place on the next. The man took Jesus at His word and spent the night there before heading back home, believing his son was already healed and there was no longer any cause for concern…v.50.

For by grace you have been saved, through faith … and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephe. 2:8).

Miracle 3 (The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda … 5:1-9).

Tradition holds that an angel periodically stirred the waters at the Pool of Bethesda. The first one into the water was then healed. Many sick and infirmed waited there by the pool day after day for a chance to be healed. But a cripple can’t get himself to the pool in time. (If he could he wouldn’t need to; since he needs to he can’t … Catch 22.) For 38 years he had tried and failed. 38 years corresponds to the time the Israelites wandered in the wilderness between Egypt and the Promised Land. It was there that they received the Law.

I believe this man’s predicament demonstrates the poverty of the Law, which was never intended to heal us of our infirmities (physical and spiritual) but to show us the need for a Savior … that we’re hopeless and helpless without Him. The fact that this healing took place on the Sabbath further underscores the point. Jesus asked the man, “Do you want to get well” (symbolically, do you want to be released from the bondage of the Law … do you want to quit trying to achieve salvation by your own futile effort)?

Not by works so that no one can boast (Ephe 2:9).

Miracle 4 (The feeding of the 5000 … 6:1-5).

This is perhaps the best known of all the Lord’s miracles and the only one before the resurrection to appear in all 4 gospels. The fact that it occurs around the time of the Passover, that Mark emphasizes the grass where they sat was green (reference to Psalm 23?), there were 5 loaves, 2 fishes and 12 baskets full left over makes this a particularly Jewish miracle. The Messiah is offering to be the source of supernatural provision for the believing remnant of Israel.

I AM the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty (John 6:35)

Miracle 5 (Walking on the Water … 6:16-25).

The 5th miracle is also well known to everyone familiar with the Lord’s ministry. The disciples had labored all night long to row only about half way across the Sea of Galilee, when the Lord passed by them … walking on the water. In Matthew’s account, Peter asked to come to the Lord on the water. “Come” said the Lord. Peter got down out of the boat, standing on the surface of the sea. While focused totally on the Lord Peter walked toward Him. But becoming distracted by the fury of the storm, he looked down, and seeing where he was, began to sink. “Save me Lord”, he cried, and immediately the Lord was there at his side. “O you of little faith,” He said to Peter, “Why did you doubt?”

Peter being called out of the boat is a model of the Church, called out of Israel and given supernatural power as long as we are focused on Him and unmindful of the distractions of this world. This miracle is as Gentile in its focus as the feeding of the 5000 was Jewish.

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I’ve been doing (John 14:12)

Miracle 6 (Healing The Man Born Blind … 9:1-41).

Another model of Israel is shown here, reminiscent of the words of Moses in the wilderness. “Your eyes have seen all that the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land. With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those miraculous signs and great wonders. But to this day the Lord has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear” (Deut 29:2-4.)

While this miracle is accomplished early in Chapter 9, the balance of the narrative clearly shows how much more spiritual discernment this blind beggar had than the learned officials of the religion, who studied all their lives but lacked the supernatural wisdom of the Holy Spirit, given to the blind man at the moment of belief (Ephe. 1:13-14). This miracle demonstrates the giving of the Holy Spirit to the believer, irrespective of intellect, education, position or stature. Reminds me of the opening verses of Isaiah 9 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light”.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name will teach you all things (John 14:26).
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, they are foolishness to him and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Cor. 2:14)

Miracle 7 (Raising Lazarus From The Dead … 11:1-44).

The last miracle before the resurrection shows the fulfillment of Our Lord’s promise to all who believe in His name, as Lazarus is called out of the grave and restored from death to life.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

3. Read John 20:31. What is the stated purpose of the book?

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31.

There were other signs and proofs of our Lord's resurrection, but these were committed to writing, that all might believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Saviour of sinners, and the Son of God; that, by this faith, they might obtain eternal life, by his mercy, truth, and power. May we believe that Jesus is the Christ, and believing may we have life through his name.

4. Read the account of the "burning bush" in Exodus 3. What is this (His Name) saying about God? Burning Bush

       God hears the complaints of Israel and tells Moses to intervene, via the burning bush on Horeb. God tells Moses that God will bring Israel to the area of Canaan out of Egypt; God will do it through Moses. Moses doubts his ability, but God reassures him that He will be with him. God names Himself "I AM." Moses is to gather the elders and tell them of God's plan: they are to get Pharaoh's permission to leave "temporarily" to sacrifice to God, three days away. (3) Moses doubts his ability, but God gives him some miraculous signs to perform: a rod that becomes a snake, a leprous and then cleansed hand, and turning the river to blood. Moses still doubts, so God, angry, appoints his brother Aaron to be the main speaker. Moses finally agrees and returns from Midian. God gives Moses a message for Pharaoh: if Pharaoh does not let Israel, God's firstborn, out of Egypt, then God will kill Pharaoh's firstborn son. On the way, Moses meets Aaron and tells him the plan. In Egypt, they tell their people, who believe after seeing the signs. (4)

       Moses and Aaron give Pharaoh the message. But Pharaoh doesn't believe them or care about God, and instead thinks the Hebrews are trying to slack off from making bricks. So Pharaoh makes it even harder; the Hebrews have to find their own straw for bricks, but their quotas remain as high as ever. The Israelites get mad at Moses for this, and Moses complains to God. (5) God tells Moses to reassure the Israelites, giving him the words to say, but when Moses says them, the people are too discouraged to believe him. Moses takes this as proof of his bad oratorical skills. Then there is a genealogy leading up to Moses, and a reminder that Moses had complained of his bad oratorical skills from the start. (6)

       God reassures Moses again, and says that He will let Pharaoh's heart remain obstinate in failing to let the Israelites go. God has Moses and Aaron do the rod/snake sign, which doesn't mean much to Pharaoh, because his magicians can do it as a trick. Ditto the river/blood sign. The river becomes putrid for a week. (7)

5. Read John 8:56 - 59. What was Jesus saying who He was? Why were they going to stone Him?  Jesus said “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad”. Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am! Hence they threw stones at him.
6. Read John 4 the account of the women at the well with Christ. Meditate upon John 4:26 especially the King James translation. What is Jesus telling the women? Jesus saith unto her, I-- am he - Our Lord never spoke in such direct terms concerning himself to his own countrymen; nor even to his own disciples, till a little before his death. The reason given by Bishop Pearce is the following: The woman being alone when Jesus said it, and being a Samaritan, he had no reason to apprehend that the Samaritans, if they knew his claim, would disturb his ministry before the time of his suffering came; which seems to have been the reason why he concealed it so long from his own countrymen.

7. Read John 3:1-21. Relate the discussion of light in verses 19-21 to John declaring that Jesus is light in John 1:4.

John 19:21:Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate,.... Who were not only informed of this inscription, but might read it themselves, for they were present at the crucifying of Christ, and mocked at him as he hung on the tree; these, when they read the title, were greatly offended at it, partly because it was doing too great an honour to Jesus to call him the King of the Jews: and partly because it fixed a public brand of infamy upon their nation, that a king of theirs should be crucified: wherefore they went to Pilate and addressed him, saying,

write not the King of the Jews: because they did not own him for their king, which this title seemed to suggest, nor had he in their opinion any right to such a character; wherefore they desired that in the room of these words he would be pleased to put the following,

but that he said, I am King of the Jews; that so he might be thought to be a seditious person and a traitor; one that laid claim to the temporal crown and kingdom of Israel, and one that suffered justly for attempts of that kind.

John 1:4:In him was life. He had life in himself, and hence is a fountain from whence life flows to man. Death could not hold him, because in him is life, and he became the Resurrection and the Life (Joh 11:25) for us.

The life was the light of men. The life that Christ bestows enlightens men. He is the Light of the World (Joh 8:12 9:5). His light chases away the darkness of the earth, though, when John wrote, the darkness did not receive it. Men, in darkness, had eyes and saw not. All history demonstrates that Christ is the Light of the World; every redeemed soul recognizes the fact.

8. Read "1 John chapter 1". Relate this to John in the book of John declaring that Jesus is light and life. Jesus is the light of life (vv. 4-9)

Let’s read verse 4, “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” There are two fundamental philosophical propositions men have asked: “Where am I from?” and “Who am I?” What do you think about yourself?

First, Jesus is the life giver. To the first question, most frequent answer is “I came from my parents.”  Our physical lives came from our parents and their lives from their parents. Our lives stemmed from the first man Adam who was created by the Creator God. Knowing that Jesus is the Creator, we know that our lives came from Jesus. In other words, Jesus is the origin of life. Jesus is the source of all life. We need to respect and honor our parents. But serving our parents cannot be our ultimate purpose. Let’s read verse 4 again, “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” This verse declares that every person’s life is inextricably linked to Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance fir us to do.”We live because Jesus said, "Live.'" We did not choose to live, but Jesus, in his transcendent wisdom, bestowed life upon us. Therefore, life is a gift to enjoy as well as a responsibility to fulfill Jesus' divine purpose. Our lives are precious no matter who we are. The live of cute boy like Luke, of the blossoming young students like you and of a middle-aged man like me are all meaningful and significant. People seek happiness by earning money and enjoying bits of things without Jesus.  But nothing in the world can satisfy the deep longings of the human heart. Solomon was a king who enjoyed all kinds of luxuries and wisdom, but he said in Ecclesiastes 1:14 “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”  Without Jesus, the source of life, our lives become meaningless.

Moreover, the ‘life’ in Jesus is a translation of Greek ‘zoe,’ meaning eternal life. Whatever visible life we see is not the complete life we have in Christ. What we experience in this world is a small portion of the life we have in Christ. Our physical lives experience growth, illness and aging. All the glory in our present life is temporary. In Christ Jesus we have eternal life from God—the life that is not corruptible or perishable but glorious. We will be like the angels. This life is most precious of all. We should praise the owner of our life. 

What can really satisfy the human soul?  The answer is found in the first two words of verse 4, “In him.”  “In him” means to know Jesus and to be with Jesus. “In him” means a personal relationship with Christ.  Jesus Christ is the living God.  We can approach him anywhere at any time.  He accepts us as his own children and makes us a part of God’s family. When we have a personal relationship with him, he breathes his own life into us and comes to dwell in us through the Holy Spirit.  How can we start a personal relationship with Jesus?  It begins when we believe in him.

Second, Jesus is the true light. Look at verse 4 again. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” Jesus is the light of men. Light is a symbol of goodness. It connotes understanding, direction, and joy. But verse 5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” The Apostle John sees the world dark apart from Jesus. When God made the Garden of Eden, Adam was in the light because God was with him. But when he fell to Satan’s temptation, darkness came over him. Darkness is a world under the power of sin and death. Darkness is a world full of deceit, ignorance and despair. Without Jesus man has no light.

God is omnipresent. But Satan, the prince of darkness, continually invites us to darkness with things of the world. Those who live in darkness seem to have goals and direction. They may look happy and successful.  But there is a spiritual world that they do not see. They don’t understand where they came from and where they are going. They don’t know the purpose and meaning in life. We who are in Jesus may not have much understanding either. We make a lot of mistakes and fail to understand the truth.  But Jesus is with us. Jesus is taking care of us. Jesus goes ahead of us and guides us through life until we reach our ultimate destination in the kingdom of God.  Jesus says in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Look at verses 6-8. “There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.” Because the world did not understand the light, God sent a witness John the Baptist. He was not the light but a voice of a witness to the true light.  Let’s read verse 9. “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” Jesus is the true light. There are so many lights in the world­­¾ glowing fireflies, candle lights, street lights and fluorescent lights, and so on. But sun light is completely different from these in power and universality. As the sun light is essential for growth of all plants and for protection from infections, the light of Jesus helps us to continually grow in spirit until we enter the eternal kingdom. Our spirit in the darkness becomes filthy and powerless.

The dark world fills people with sorrow. One person may think he is too skinny; another thinks she is too big.  Some have experienced personal tragedy; others have been hurt by others. Some may suffer from guilty conscience for shameful sins. If a person does not address these elements of sorrow, darkness eventually spreads throughout his life. But Jesus is the true light that removes all the elements of darkness. Jesus gives us true comfort. Jesus’ light is effective to every man. Jesus enlightens us to understand God’s will upon us and find our purpose in life. When we know the precious meaning of our lives, we can truly please him. In him we can live a powerful life that bears much fruit. Though we are weak and make mistakes, in Jesus’ light, we are sanctified to be like him. Let all of us bring our sorrows and problems to Jesus the true light to be solved. Let’s receive his light every moment through Jesus’ words.

9. Read John 17:17. How does this relate to John saying earlier that Jesus is truth (John 1:17)? Discuss Jesus and the "Word of God" being declared as truth. What relationship is the "Word of God" to the "Law of God"? John 17:17-19 Christ next prayed for the disciples, that they might not only be kept from evil, but made good. It is the prayer of Jesus for all that are his, that they may be made holy. Even disciples must pray for sanctifying grace. The means of giving this grace is, through thy truth, thy word is truth. Sanctify them, set them apart for thyself and thy service. Own them in the office; let thy hand go with them. Jesus entirely devoted himself to his undertaking, and all the parts of it, especially the offering up himself without spot unto God, by the eternal Spirit. The real holiness of all true Christians is the fruit of Christ's death, by which the gift of the Holy Ghost was purchased; he gave himself for his church, to sanctify it. If our views have not this effect on us, they are not Divine truth, or we do not receive them by a living and a working faith, but as mere notions.

John1:17 The law - Working wrath and containing shadows: was given - No philosopher, poet, or orator, ever chose his words so accurately as St. John. The law, saith he, was given by Moses: grace was by Jesus Christ. Observe the reason for placing each word thus: The law of Moses was not his own. The grace of Christ was. His grace was opposite to the wrath, his truth to the shadowy ceremonies of the law. Jesus - St. John having once mentioned the incarnation {Joh 1:14,) no more uses that name, the Word, in all his book. The Word of God is the name, identity, title and honour given to Jesus alone. This is who He is. As The Word of God He is the promise of God and the fulfillment of that promise. Because Jesus always was, and always will be The Word of God, the very reputation of God was dependant on Jesus fulfilling the promise of salvation. To call anything else The Word (or word) of God takes this away from Him.

The Mosaic Law was God’s law for the nation of Israel under the old covenant. The "law of Christ" is God’s law for Christians in the New Testament era.

10. Meditate upon your response to the above questions. Who do you say that Jesus is? Do you see a relationship to Light, Love, Law, and Light? Discuss this relationship as you see it.

Jesus is never recorded in the Bible as saying the precise words, “I am God.” That does not mean, however, that He did not proclaim that He is God. Take for example Jesus’ words in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.” We need only to look at the Jews’ reaction to His statement to know He was claiming to be God. They tried to stone Him for this very reason. “… you, a mere man, claim to be God” (John 10:33). The Jews understood exactly what Jesus was claiming—deity. Notice that Jesus does not deny His claim to be God. When Jesus declared, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), He was saying that He and the Father are of one nature and essence. John 8:58 is another example. Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am!” The response of the Jews who heard this statement was to take up stones to kill Him for blasphemy, as the Mosaic Law commanded them to do (Leviticus 24:15).

John reiterates the concept of Jesus’ deity: “the Word was God” and “the Word became flesh” (John 1:1, 14). These verses clearly indicate that Jesus is God in the flesh. Acts 20:28 tells us, “Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” Who bought the church—the church of God—with His own blood? Jesus Christ. Acts 20:28 declares that God purchased His church with His own blood. Therefore, Jesus is God!

Thomas the disciple declared concerning Jesus, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). Jesus does not correct him. Titus 2:13 encourages us to wait for the coming of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ (see also 2 Peter 1:1). In Hebrews 1:8, the Father declares of Jesus, “But about the Son He says, ’Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.’” The Father refers to Jesus as “O God” indicating that Jesus is indeed God.

In Revelation, an angel instructed the apostle John to only worship God (Revelation 19:10). Several times in Scripture Jesus receives worship (Matthew 2:11, 14:33, 28:9, 17; Luke 24:52; John 9:38). He never rebukes people for worshiping Him. If Jesus were not God, He would have told people to not worship Him, just as the angel in Revelation did. There are many other verses and passages of Scripture that argue for Jesus’ deity.

The most important reason that Jesus has to be God is that if He is not God, His death would not have been sufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). A created being, which Jesus would be if He were not God, could not pay the infinite penalty required for sin against an infinite God. Only God could pay such an infinite penalty. Only God could take on the sins of the world (2 Corinthians 5:21), die, and be resurrected, proving His victory over sin and death. The name of that light is Jesus Christ.

John Bible Study Lesson 1

John Bible Study Lesson 1

1.       Read John 1:1-3. How do these verses relate to Genesis 1:1-2. How do both of these references relate to the doctrine of the Trinity ?

John 1:1-3:The Word Made Flesh. The Witness of John. John's Disciples Pointed to Christ. The Lord Calls His First Disciples. An Israelite Indeed.

In the beginning was the Word, etc. The first fourteen verses are introductory. In order to set at rest all controversy the Divine nature of Jesus, John glances, in the first three verses, back to the beginning, recorded in Genesis, and affirms: (1) That he who was afterwards manifest as the Christ existed before creation began; (2) that he was present with God; (3) that he was divine; (4) that he was the Word; (5) that by or through him were all things made that were made (Joh 1:3). The first chapter of Genesis helps us to understand its meaning. God said, Let there be light (Ge 1:3), Let there be a firmament (Ge 1:6), Let the earth bring forth (Ge 1:11), etc. and it was done. God exhibits his creative power through the Word, and manifests his will through the Word. There are mysteries belonging to the divine nature and to the relation between the Son and the Father that we have to wait for eternity to solve. They are too deep for human solution, but this is clear: that God creates and speaks to man through the Word. As we clothe our thoughts in words, so God reveals his will by the Word, and when the Word is clothed in flesh, as the Teacher of men, we recognize it as Jesus Christ

Genesis 1:1,2 The first verse of the Bible gives us a satisfying and useful account of the origin of the earth and the heavens. The faith of humble Christians understands this better than the fancy of the most learned men. From what we see of heaven and earth, we learn the power of the great Creator. And let our make and place as men, remind us of our duty as Christians, always to keep heaven in our eye, and the earth under our feet. The Son of God, one with the Father, was with him when he made the world; nay, we are often told that the world was made by him, and nothing was made without him. Oh, what high thoughts should there be in our minds, of that great God whom we worship, and of that great Mediator in whose name we pray! And here, at the beginning of the sacred volume, we read of that Divine Spirit, whose work upon the heart of man is so often mentioned in other parts of the Bible. Observe, that at first there was nothing desirable to be seen, for the world was without form, and void; it was confusion, and emptiness. In like manner the work of grace in the soul is a new creation: and in a graceless soul, one that is not born again, there is disorder, confusion, and every evil work: it is empty of all good, for it is without God; it is dark, it is darkness itself: this is our condition by nature, till Almighty grace works a change in us.

In the beginning of the

Bible, it is solemnly announced that God created heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1). The Hebrew word for God here is Elohim, which is in plural form (three persons of the Trinity), however, the verb and the adjective used in the same sentence are of singular form (one God). The plural forms of other Biblical verses are listed below (note the "us" and "our" in the following verses referring to the three persons of the Trinity Godhead):

Son the Creator-
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made- John 1:1-3

Holy Spirit the Creator-
The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was F1 on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters- Genesis 1:2
You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the earth- Psalms 104:30. The Names of the Holy Spirit Tells that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are Equal-
From the name of the Holy Spirit, we can also draw the conclusion on the equality of God the Father, Christ and the Holy Spirit, for their names are interchangeable.
God's Spirit (Matthew 3:16; 12:28; Romans 8:9, 14; 1 Corinthians 2:11, 14, 7:40, 12:3; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Peter 4:14, and 1 John 4:2).
The Father's Spirit (Matthew 10:20)
The Lord's Spirit (Isaiah 4:17; Acts 5:9, 8:39; 2 Corinthians 3:17)
Christ's Spirit (Romans 8:9; 1 Peter 1:11 and Galatians 4:6) .The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit All have Attributes of God

2. Read John 1:14. Explain this verse. - be brief
John's gospel introduces Christ, not from His birth, but from "the beginning" as "the Word" (Logos) who, as Deity, is involved in every aspect of creation (1:1-3) and who later becomes flesh (1:14) in order that He might take away our sins as the spotless, sacrificial Lamb .John 1:1 says “the Word was God.” John 1:14 says “the Word became flesh.” This clearly indicates that Jesus is God in the flesh.
3. Read John 1:4-9. Explain these verses. - be brief John 1:4-9. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”

We find the proof of God’s unilateral and unconditional love in His sending His Son into this world to die for our sin.

In this

This phrase refers to what follows.  John shows how the nature of God’s love exhibits itself in concrete fashion. 

the love of God was manifested [aorist--at a point in the past] toward us,

God’s love for His Son existed for all eternity but He manifested His love for us by sending His Son to earth to die for our sins.  God now shows how He demonstrates His love.  His best demonstration is in sending His Son to die for our sins.  God’s love is not motivated by any worthiness in us (Ro 5:5-9) but by His own character. 

that God has sent

God “sent” His Son into the world.  The word “sent” carries the idea of sent on a mission.  God sent His Son on the special mission to pay for our sins (Jn 3:17,34; 5:36?37; 7:29; 8:42; 10:36; 17:3,18; 20:21).  The act of sending God’s Son into the world was no passing act of sentimentality. 

This phrase does not imply that Jesus was reluctant to come into the world to die for our sins.  He was willing to come (Ro 5:8). 

PRINCIPLE:  The standard of God’s love is ultimate sacrifice. 

We measure the standard of God’s love by the extent to which He loved us.  He loved us to the point of sacrificing His Son on the cross for our sins.  This is far more than a warm feeling toward us; it is a sacrificial action. 

You can love people you dislike.  You can love people with whom you disagree.  The Bible does not say that you have to agree with all Christians but God does say that you do have to love them.  God sets the pace of sacrificial love. God’s love could not be demonstrated without sacrifice on His part.  We show love especially when we sacrifice for one another.  When we sacrifice our pride or time for someone else, we demonstrate that God’s love resides in us.

God’s love for us enables us to love others.  Most of us are selfish.  We love ourselves; we do not give ourselves for others.  We do not have time for others.  We do not want to bother with other people’s problems, “I have enough problems of my own.” If we claim that sin is not sin, we dismiss the reality of an absolute God and set ourselves up as the standard for what is right and wrong. A person who claims to be free from sin is a super snob. The sinless perfectionist or the person who denies committing actual acts of sin is a super snob. 

We live in a day when our society denies the distinction between light and darkness. Tolerance is the only norm of consensus for North America. God says that this is dangerous. It is even more dangerous when Christians do not use biblical discernment to indicate what is right and wrong. We make God a liar in this. 

We are people of rationalization: “Other people are conceited but I am a person of self-respect. If someone else takes initiative, he is presumptuous; if I take initiative, I am creative. When others lose their tempter, they are angry; when I show indignation over something, it is righteous anger. Others are prejudice; I have convictions.” Nice labels do not change the poison inside the bottle. The problem is not circumstance but sin. We need to admit and confess this to God. 

The more sensitive we are to the Word of God, the quicker we will detect our sin and confess it. It can take some time for the Spirit to convict us of sins of omission and ignorance. We cannot confess sin until the Holy Spirit brings us to conviction of a sin. In the mean time the first two verses of chapter two take care of our situation during our time of no confession. 

Ro 14: 23 “But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”

Ja 4: 17 “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

If we want to walk in unbroken fellowship with the Lord, we must confess our sin. The believer cannot have anything between the soul and the Savior for God to fellowship with him. We acknowledge any guile, bitterness or hard feelings that we might have toward others. 

4. Read John 1:10-11. Explain these verses. - be brief

1:10 He was in the world - Even from the creation.

1:11 He came - In the fulness of time, to his own - Country, city, temple: And his own - People, received him not.

To receive Christ is to acknowledge him as the promised Messiah; to believe in him as the victim that bears away the sin of the world; to obey his Gospel, and to become a partaker of his holiness, without which no man, on the Gospel plan, can ever see God.

5. Read John 1:12-14. Explain these verses. - be brief

John1:6-14 John the Baptist came to bear witness concerning Jesus. Nothing more fully shows the darkness of men's minds, than that when the Light had appeared, there needed a witness to call attention to it. Christ was the true Light; that great Light which deserves to be called so. By his Spirit and grace he enlightens all that are enlightened to salvation; and those that are not enlightened by him, perish in darkness. Christ was in the world when he took our nature upon him, and dwelt among us. The Son of the Highest was here in this lower world. He was in the world, but not of it. He came to save a lost world, because it was a world of his own making. Yet the world knew him not. When he comes as a Judge, the world shall know him. Many say that they are Christ's own, yet do not receive him, because they will not part with their sins, nor have him to reign over them. All the children of God are born again. This new birth is through the word of God as the means, 1Pe 1:23, and by the Spirit of God as the Author. By his Divine presence Christ always was in the world. But now that the fulness of time was come, he was, after another manner, God manifested in the flesh. But observe the beams of his Divine glory, which darted through this veil of flesh. Men discover their weaknesses to those most familiar with them, but it was not so with Christ; those most intimate with him saw most of his glory. Although he was in the form of a servant, as to outward circumstances, yet, in respect of graces, his form was like the Son of God His Divine glory appeared in the holiness of his doctrine, and in his miracles. He was full of grace, fully acceptable to his Father, therefore qualified to plead for us; and full of truth, fully aware of the things he was to reveal.

6. Read John 1:15. Explain this verse. - be brief John bare witness of him - The evangelist now returns to the testimony of John the Baptist. He had stated that the Word became incarnate, and he now appeals to the testimony of John to show that, thus incarnate, he was the Messiah.

He that cometh after me - He of whom I am the forerunner, or whose way I am come to prepare. Is preferred before me - Is superior to me. Most critics have supposed that the words translated "is preferred" relate to "time," and not to "dignity;" meaning that though he came after him publicly, being six months younger than John, as well as entering on his work after John, yet that he had existed long before him. Most, however, have understood it more correctly, as our translators seem to have done, as meaning, He was worthy of more honor than Iam.

He was before me - This can refer to nothing but his pre-existence, and can be explained only on the supposition that he existed before John, or, as the evangelist had before shown, from the beginning. He came "after" John in his public ministry and in his human nature, but in his divine nature he had existed long before John had a being - from eternity. We may learn here that it is one mark of the true spirit of a minister of Christ to desire and feel that Christ is always to be preferred to ourselves. We should keep ourselves out of view. The great object is to hold up the Saviour; and however much ministers may be honored or blessed, yet they should lay all at the feet of Jesus, and direct all men to him as the undivided object of affection and honor. It is the business of every Christian, as well as of every Christian minister, to be a witness for Christ, and to endeavor to convince the world that he is worthy of confidence and love.

7. Read John 1:17 and Hebrews 1:1-3. What relationship do you see between these two references?

John 1:17 :The law - Working wrath and containing shadows: was given - No philosopher, poet, or orator, ever chose his words so accurately as St. John. The law, saith he, was given by Moses: grace was by Jesus Christ. Observe the reason for placing each word thus: The law of Moses was not his own. The grace of Christ was. His grace was opposite to the wrath, his truth to the shadowy ceremonies of the law. Jesus - St. John having once mentioned the incarnation {Joh 1:14,) no more uses that name, the Word, in all his book.

Hebrews 1:1-3. God spake to his ancient people at sundry times, through successive generations, and in divers manners, as he thought proper; sometimes by personal directions, sometimes by dreams, sometimes by visions, sometimes by Divine influences on the minds of the prophets. The gospel revelation is excellent above the former; in that it is a revelation which God has made by his Son. In beholding the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Lord Jesus Christ, we behold the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Father, Joh 14:7; the fulness of the Godhead dwells, not typically, or in a figure, but really, in him. When, on the fall of man, the world was breaking to pieces under the wrath and curse of God, the Son of God, undertaking the work of redemption, sustained it by his almighty power and goodness. From the glory of the person and office of Christ, we proceed to the glory of his grace. The glory of His person and nature, gave to his sufferings such merit as was a full satisfaction to the honour of God, who suffered an infinite injury and affront by the sins of men. We never can be thankful enough that God has in so many ways, and with such increasing clearness, spoken to us fallen sinners concerning salvation. That he should by himself cleanse us from our sins is a wonder of love beyond our utmost powers of admiration, gratitude, and praise.

8. Was the law given by Moses or was the law given through Moses by God? Is not the law both grace and truth? Hebrews 8:1-8 speak of many things of the Old Testament as shadows of the real. Is not Christ a perfect revelation of God? Is not the law a revelation of God's character?

Moses' law was the temporary, ceremonial law of the Old Testament. It regulated the priesthood, sacrifices, rituals, meat and drink offerings, etc., all of which foreshadowed the cross. This law was added "till the seed should come," and that seed was Christ (Galatians 3:16, 19). The ritual and ceremony of Moses' law pointed forward to Christ's sacrifice. When He died, this law came to an end, but the Ten Commandments (God's law) "stand fast for ever and ever." Psalm 111:7,8.

There are two laws that are made crystal clear in the following verses below. Daniel 9:10 is talking about God's law and verse 11 is talking about Moses' law: Jesus was greater than all who came before him in earth’s time. The writer of Hebrews, first of all, tells us that Jesus is superior to the prophets. The prophets were the greatest men of the Old Testament era. They had visions of God and served him with great works of power, but none of them could compare with Jesus Christ. God spoke to Job out of a whirlwind, He spoke to Joseph in dreams. He spoke to Moses out of a burning bush. He spoke to Joshua through an angel. He spoke to Samuel through a voice in the darkness. He spoke to Elijah through a whisper. He spoke to Daniel through a vision. But now, says the writer, God has spoken to us not in a dream or a vision, but in person — through his Son. God spoke to our spiritual fathers through the prophets, but now God speaks to us through his Son. He spoke in the past at many times and in many ways, but in these last days, he speaks to us through Jesus. God spoke to the people indirectly through the old prophets, but Jesus speaks to us directly as God. The prophets, great as they were, could not compare with him. They may have spoken the word of God, but Jesus was the Word of God. Jesus Christ was the express image, an exact copy, because he was the exact essence of his Father. Paul puts it like this: “He is the image of the invisible God. . . . For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 1:15, 2:9).

Moses and the prophets were great spiritual leaders, but Jesus Christ is God. He is the “radiance of God’s glory.

9. What does Jesus say about His relationship to the law in Matthew 5? Do you think that John 1:17 is a contrast between law and grace, or is it a progression of thought (additional revelation). He begins by correcting a false impression some may have had about

   His relationship with the Law of Moses and the Prophets...He says "I DID NOT COME TO DESTROY BUT TO FULFILL" ON THE CONTRARY, HIS PURPOSE WAS TO "FULFILL" THE LAW AND THE   PROPHETS. Jesus did not come to this earth for the purpose of acting as an opponent of the law. His goal was not to prevent its fulfillment. Rather, He revered it, loved it, obeyed it, and brought it to fruition. He fulfilled the law’s prophetic utterances regarding Himself (Luke 24:44). Christ fulfilled the demands of the Mosaic law, which called for perfect obedience under threat of a “curse” ( Galatians 3:10, 13). In this sense, the law’s divine design will ever have an abiding effect. It will always accomplish the purpose for which it was given.

If, however, the law of Moses bears the same relationship to men today, in terms of its binding status, then it was not fulfilled, and Jesus failed at what He came to do. On the other hand, if the Lord did accomplish His goal, then the law was fulfilled, and it is not a binding legal institution today. Further, if the law of Moses was not fulfilled by Christ—and thus remains as a binding legal system for today—then it is not just partially binding. Rather, it is a totally compelling system. Jesus plainly said that not one “jot or tittle” (representative of the smallest markings of the Hebrew script) would pass away until all was fulfilled. Consequently, nothing of the law was to fail until it had completely accomplished its purpose. Jesus fulfilled the law. Jesus fulfilled all of the law. We cannot say that Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial system, but did not fulfill the other aspects of the law. Jesus either fulfilled all of the law, or none of it. What Jesus' death means for the sacrificial system, it also means for the other aspects of the law.

John 1:17 :The law - Working wrath and containing shadows: was given - No philosopher, poet, or orator, ever chose his words so accurately as St. John. The law, saith he, was given by Moses: grace was by Jesus Christ. Observe the reason for placing each word thus: The law of Moses was not his own. The grace of Christ was. His grace was opposite to the wrath, his truth to the shadowy ceremonies of the law. Jesus - St. John having once mentioned the incarnation {Joh 1:14,) no more uses that name, the Word, in all his book.

10. Read 2 Tim 3:15-17. What is the purpose of the Scriptures? How does Gal 3:24 & John 20:31 relate to this discussion?

2 Tim 3:14-17 Those who would learn the things of God, and be assured of them, must know the Holy Scriptures, for they are the Divine revelation. The age of children is the age to learn; and those who would get true learning, must get it out of the Scriptures. They must not lie by us neglected, seldom or never looked into. The Bible is a sure guide to eternal life. The prophets and apostles did not speak from themselves, but delivered what they received of God, 2Pe 1:21. It is profitable for all purposes of the Christian life. It is of use to all, for all need to be taught, corrected, and reproved. There is something in the Scriptures suitable for every case. Oh that we may love our Bibles more, and keep closer to them! then shall we find benefit, and at last gain the happiness therein promised by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the main subject of both Testaments. We best oppose error by promoting a solid knowledge of the word of truth; and the greatest kindness we can do to children, is to make them early to know the Bible.