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2 Adult Quarterly SUNDAY SCHOOL FALL QUARTER, 2008 Who Is Jesus? Christ s Manifestation to His People A Study in John 1 12 Written by David Robinson EDITOR IN CHIEF: Larry E. Clements larryclements@abaptist.org BUSINESS MANAGER: Wayne Sewell wsewell@abaptist.org PRODUCTION EDITOR: Sally McInvale ADULT EDITOR: Jim Jones CHILDREN S EDITOR: Libby Gill ILLUSTRATOR: Connie Spears GRAPHIC ARTISTS: Shawn Blase, Jeff Allen, Greg Hilterbrand, Gerald Martin, Ashley Carozza LAYOUT DESIGNERS: Bonita McKnight, Kyle Elkins, Cindy Butler CONTENT EDITORS: Terry McKellar, Carolyn Burks, Deby Turrentine PRINT PRODUCTION: Charles Easley COVER DESIGN: Jeff Allen Copyright 2008 Vol. 95, No. 4 Baptist Sunday School Committee 4605 N. State Line Ave. Texarkana, TX QUARTERLY AIM: The student will grow in understanding who Jesus is and will trust Christ s provisions for the needs of his own life. SEPTEMBER 7 He Is God in the Flesh He Is the Lamb of God He Is Zealous of His Father s House He Is the Son of God OCTOBER 5 He Is the Messiah He Is Equal to the Father He Is the Bread of Life He Is the Prophet NOVEMBER 2 He Is the Light of the World He Is of God He Is the Good Shepherd He Is the Resurrection and the Life He Is the King of Israel

3 American Baptist Association Through-the-Bible Series Sunday School Lessons Winter Spring Summer Fall Ephesians John Daniel Ezekiel Zechariah Genesis Romans Acts 1 14 Mark 9 16 Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon 2 Corinthians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Ezra; Nehemiah Habakkuk; Haggai Malachi; Esther Revelation 1 11 Matthew 1 13 Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Acts Samuel Chronicles Kings 1; 2 Galatians Luke 1 13:21 Isaiah Chronicles Kings Nahum Jeremiah Lamentations 2 Kings 24; 25 2 Chronicles 36 1 Peter 2 Peter Revelation Matthew Hebrews 1 Samuel 2 Samuel Chronicles 1 10 James 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Kings Chronicles Kings 1 13 Joel; Obadiah Luke 13:22 24 Isaiah Kings Chronicles Zephaniah John , 2, 3 John Jude Genesis 1 11 Job Exodus Joshua Judges Ruth Mark 1 8 Psalms Corinthians Hosea; Amos; Micah; Jonah; 2 Kings 14 16; 2 Chronicles Philemon Philippians Colossians

4 1 He Is God in the Flesh September 7, 2008 Text: John 1:1-14 Focus: John 1:1-14 Key Verse: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14 Sunday Devotional: Creator and Sustainer, Colossians 1: Application: Jesus is both Creator and God, making the invisible God seeable and the untouchable, reachable. Identifying with us and dying for us, He alone provides salvation to us. A FIRST LOOK In this lesson we begin a study in the book of John. John wrote five books of the New Testament and was known as the beloved disciple. We know that a complete biography of the life and works of Jesus could never be written (John 21:25). What we have in the Bible is a series of brief accounts and insights into the life and ministry of Jesus so we can get a picture about who He was and about what He did. The books of Matthew, Mark and Luke accurately describe the various events in the life and ministry of Jesus, but John amplifies many of these and gives us the meaning of these historical accounts. Each of the other gospels is given to accomplish a specific purpose. The purpose of John is to present the gospel so men and women can be saved (John 20:31). We do Daily Devotionals M. In the Beginning, Genesis 1:1, 2. T. The Works of His Hands, Hebrews 1: W. The Word of Life, 1 John 1:1, 2. T. The Word Is God, John 10: F. The Mystery of Godliness, 1 Timothy 3:16. S. Sons of God, 1 John 3:1-3. 3

5 4 He Is God in the Flesh not have to wonder about the purpose of this book. Because of this, the book of John is a place to begin a lifelong study of the Bible. God inspired John to write these words late in his life. The truths here had already stood the test of time when John amplified them for us. John lived the longest of any of the apostles and was the only one to die a natural death. The study of John will be centered on two main themes. First, we will learn who Jesus is and how He was made manifest in the world. Then later, we will study what Jesus did and examine His mission and ministry on the earth. A CLOSER LOOK I. The Eternal Christ John 1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. The same was in the beginning with God. 3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. Quite naturally, John began at the beginning. It is vital to note that John gave no argument concerning creation. It was taken for granted that God made the world and that all things had a beginning. Jesus was there in the beginning. The term John uses for Jesus is interesting. He refers to Jesus as the Word. This Greek word is the same word from which we get the term logic. It is in, through and by Jesus that life can make sense. The only way to understand life as it exists is to look at life as it is presented in the Bible. When we look at life on earth through the eyes of God, everything will fit. If we try to rationalize and explain life without God, nothing will make sense. Jesus and personal faith in Him are the keys which literally unlock the meaning of physical and spiritual life.

6 Text: John 1: Jesus was not only there in the beginning, He was with God and He was God. Jesus uniquely made this claim during His ministry. Our faith revolves around the answers to two questions. Was Jesus who He said He was? And, did Jesus do what He said He did? He was what He said He was and He did what He said He did. Jesus said He was God in the flesh. He plainly told Philip that in John 14:8, 9. The Bible declares that Jesus died and rose again on the third day. These facts change everything in your life and in mine. Jesus Christ is not another character of religion. Christianity is not another faith to be compared and contrasted with the other fables and myths invented by the minds of men. Jesus is real. Christ is the creative power behind the universe. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made. Here we come face to face with a dividing truth. Did God create the world? If He did not, then who did? If the world was not created, how did it get here? Make no mistake; Satan knows what he is doing in denying the creation. John deals with this by simply declaring the obvious truth. Creation makes a creator necessary and that Creator was the threefold Godhead: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus was there and was the power behind every material thing we see. The important conclusion here is that Jesus is not a created being; He is the eternal God. Jesus is both life and Light. This theme is amplified in the book of 1 John. The purpose of Jesus coming into this world was to bring the twin gifts of life and light to men. The order is important. We will never have spiritual light until we have spiritual life. Salvation is the fundamental life experience which must precede any further spiritual enlightenment. Un less we are saved, we are in the dark. When we are born again, we can begin to understand the further revelation of God. We can never skip any step in our spiritual development. This is why the Light (Jesus) can shine and men can fail to comprehend it. Jesus preached to everyone who would listen. Many heard His sermons and refused to accept Him as their Savior. This was not because they did not need to be saved, and it was not because Jesus would not save them. It was because they had hardened their hearts and refused the simple appeal of the gospel.

7 6 He Is God in the Flesh II. The Witness Sent from God John 1: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. John does not give us a record of the physical birth of Jesus. He says nothing about Jesus early life. Instead, he begins his record with the ministry of another man named John, John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus. Jesus gave John the Baptist his title and it is indeed fitting (Matt. 11:11). John the Baptist was known for baptizing, or immersing in water, but his main ministry was to be a witness of the Light, so all men could believe in Jesus and be saved. Then, as now, salvation was a precedent to baptism. Baptism has never saved anyone. John the Baptist came to witness and tell all men everywhere to repent of their sins and place their personal faith in Jesus, the Lamb of God. The ministry of John the Baptist was widely misunderstood. He was the first preacher in Israel in hundreds of years, and, although many were curious about his message, relatively few believed what he had to say. Here we see plainly that John the Baptist was not and never claimed to be the Messiah. He was not the Light, but he was a witness to the Light. The true Light is Jesus. The purpose of Jesus is to shed light in the heart of every person who was ever born into the world. God is not willing that any should perish; therefore, the gospel message is sent to all men everywhere. All men everywhere have not accepted Jesus and believed in Him. He was here, and it is important to note that Jesus was a real, live human being. He was not a phantom or a spirit. He was God clothed in flesh, and, as such, He is as much a character of history as any other. Jesus was not only here; He was here with unique authority over the world He had made. Repeatedly Jesus showed

8 Text: John 1: that He was Lord of the universe. He suspended the normal laws which governed the world and wrought miracle after miracle to convince men that His words were true. Yet, in spite of massive evidence that Jesus was who He claimed to be, men rejected Him. The purpose of witnessing is to give men a fair and honest opportunity to accept the Lord as their Savior. God never compels anyone to believe, but He does draw all men to Jesus. This is the power of the gospel. The ministry of John the Baptist was not to present every theological doctrine, but it was to present enough information to allow men to be saved. He began with what we might call the ABC s of the gospel. The message of John the Baptist can be summarized in a few words. First, admit that you are in need. Admit you are confused, bewildered and needy and that you cannot solve your own problems. That is summed up in the word, repent. Stop, think again. Admit your need. Those in darkness must come to this place before they can receive light. Unless you admit you are in trouble, you cannot find a way out. Admit that all the man made solutions have never worked and never will work. Then, believe in the One who can give life. Believe in the One who has come, who will meet you where you are and give you life and light. When this is done, you can begin to correct your behavior. That is what John the Baptist preached. He told the tax collectors to be fair and only collect what was due. He told the soldiers to stop being violent and falsely accusing people. He told men to correct their behavior because they had received a new life and new light from God. III. Rejection and Salvation John 1: He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

9 8 He Is God in the Flesh 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. The light and life of God comes to all men, but all men will not receive Him. Even those of His own nation refused the Messiah which God had sent them. But those who received Jesus as their Savior were born again and became the sons of God. John plainly tells us that this process happens because we believe in the name of Jesus. Being born again is not a matter of blood, that is, it is not a matter of ancestry. Those who heard John the Baptist preach thought they did not need to repent because Abraham was their father. John plainly told them this made no difference to God. Still others, perhaps many others, think they can be born again through the will of the flesh. But the works of men will never gain the righteousness of God. Salvation is by grace through faith. It is not of works, and, if it were, men would be boasting about all the wonderful things they had done to be saved. Salvation is of the Lord. This is the simple truth preached by Jonah many years before Jesus was born. Light and life are gifts from God. They are available to all men, but they do not originate with mankind. These are the good and precious gifts which come from above. Jesus came to bring these wonderful things into every heart. He is the Light which lights every heart. He is the life which will flow into every human being. But to have light and life, we must accept Jesus and believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God. We must repent of the failed plans of men to save themselves and place our souls in the hands of our Creator. When we do, we can be born again, not of blood or of the will of man, but from God. A FINAL WORD Where did Jesus come from? Was He born like every other human being? Was He just another great preacher or prophet

10 Text: John 1: in Israel? The answers to these questions are important. They reveal a basic understanding of the nature of Jesus, or they show the lack of it. John began at the beginning, and he stressed that Jesus was not just another human being. Jesus Christ is God, robed in flesh and dwelling among men. He was fully man, but He was also fully divine. He showed in His life and ministry the ideal condition of humanity. Jesus was the mirror opposite of fallen mankind. He was everything that Adam was not. Because Jesus is the Son of God, He alone can offer salvation. Because Jesus is who He said He is, He did what He said He did. This makes a vital difference between Chris - tianity and all other religions or systems of worship. Others may promise everlasting life, but Jesus can actually give it. Many religions offer systems of moral behavior, and a few offer eternal reward. All man-made belief systems can only offer what men can imagine or conceive. Jesus offers what men could not otherwise hope for. Jesus offers everlasting life, a life beyond death. To make these claims secure, Jesus came from the halls of eternity into time and space, and, when He died, He rose again to show publicly that He had conquered death. Trust Him and your soul can be saved and your future can be secure. FOR CLASS DISCUSSION 1. How important is the doctrine of the deity of Christ? 2. Why do you think it is important? 3. Why do you think all cults deny the deity of Christ? 4. Discuss what can and cannot make you a child of God and why (John 1:12, 13).

11 2 September 14, 2008 He Is the Lamb of God Text: John 1:15-51 Focus: John 1:15-34 Key Verse: The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29 Sunday Devotional: A Lamb to the Slaughter, Isaiah 53:7-9. Application: Jesus is the Lamb of God sacrificed for the sin of the world. He brings grace and truth to condemned sinners. John pointed people to Him. So should we. A FIRST LOOK Our words are a conduit into our souls. Jesus taught that the things which proceed from the mouth originate in the heart (Matt. 15:18). We also read in Proverbs 23:7 that the thoughts of our hearts truly define us. So we may conclude that, if we listen long enough to the things that a man is saying, we will get an accurate picture of what is in his heart. This is why we should look carefully at the titles and names that God gives for His Son. John has already referred to Jesus as the Word, or truth, from God and as a light shining in darkness. In the lesson today we are introduced to three other names for Jesus. They are, the Son of God, the Christ and the Lamb of God. Each of these terms de - scribes an aspect of the na - ture and character of Jesus. They also define a part of His ministry on earth for us. It was Jesus claim to be the Son of God which brought persecution from the Jews. Daily Devotionals M. The First Disciples of Jesus, John 1: T. The Ministry of John the Baptist, John 3: W. John s Witness of Christ, Luke 3: T. God s Redeeming Lamb, 1 Peter 1:18, 19. F. The Baptism of Jesus, Matthew 3: S. Worthy Is the Lamb, Revelation 5:

12 Text: John 1: The Jews thought that it was blasphemy for Jesus to claim that He was God. It was not, because Jesus claim was the truth. Those who will not believe that Jesus is not of this world will die in their sins. Believing that Jesus is the Son of God is essential to our salvation. Christ is not Jesus last name. The term means Messiah or Anointed One. The Jews as well as others were expecting their messiah to come and this is why they questioned John the Baptist about his identity. Interestingly, we learn in John 4:42 that the Samaritans were also looking for the Messiah. Over the years many lambs had been killed as a sin-offering to God. All the way back to Abel, a lamb had been used as a sacrificial animal. Now the ultimate and final lamb, the Lamb of God had come to make a once and for all offering to cover the sins of all who would believe on Him. John the Baptist introduced Jesus as this Lamb. A CLOSER LOOK I. The Witness of John the Baptist John 1: John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John the Baptist is among the most notable people in the New Testament. He is the first preaching prophet in almost five hundred years of Hebrew history. He was a figure of prophecy, his ministry having been predicted by Isaiah nearly eight hundred years before. Fullness of time had come and John came from the wilderness into Judea preaching repentance and the forgiveness of sins and baptizing those who brought forth fruit meet for repentance. The ministry of John the Baptist was not simple or easy. He preached spiritual change in a society focused on physical

13 12 Jesus Is the Lamb of God things. The Jews at this time sought freedom from the yoke of Rome and the ruling Romans were only interested in a material conquest. But John the Baptist fulfilled his mission and prepared the way for Jesus. He prepared the nation to make an informed decision about Jesus and he prepared the material for Jesus to use in establishing His church. This passage is a kind of summary about what John the Baptist had to say about Jesus. John the Baptist was born about six months before Jesus, so the statement in verse 15 obviously has the meaning that Jesus is the eternal God. Jesus existed before the world was made and He was there before John the Baptist was miraculously conceived. John the Baptist testified that Jesus was full of grace and truth. Grace is the favor of God. It is the process whereby we obtain things which we do not deserve. It is often linked to mercy, which is the process whereby we do not get what we do deserve. John the Baptist preached grace first because, if God denied us grace, we would all perish. The Law was given by Moses to show us our need for a Savior. Jesus came to be that Savior. The Law had been twisted and perverted over the years in Israel. Often it had been ignored outright. Jesus came to fulfill that Law and do what no man could ever do. He kept every part of every Law. In doing this He brought not only grace, but also truth to the world. Grace without truth is deceptive. It can lull us into a sense that everything can be forgiven without a price being paid. But truth demands justice, and justice demands either a suffering for sins or a sacrifice for sins. This is where truth enters. Jesus was truth. He did what God demanded and paid the price for the sins of all men everywhere. That sacrifice is made available, not through the Law, but through the grace of God personified in Jesus. Jesus reveals God to mankind. No man can see God. We can see His work reflected in His creation and in our minds we can get a sense of His grandeur and power. But to see and understand God, we have to look at Jesus. Colossians 1:15 declares Jesus is the image of the invisible God. The word translated declared is interesting. It is the word from which we get the term exegesis. This means to explain, or to show the way. Jesus explains God to us and shows us the way of

14 Text: John 1: God. The world will never make sense unless we look at it through the Bible, through the revelation of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist also introduces us to the term only begotten Son. This means Jesus is unique, the only one of a kind. Believing this is a key to our salvation. Jesus is not a great religious figure among many others. There has never been another like Him. II. The Investigating Committee from Jerusalem John 1: And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20. And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23. He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26. John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27. He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. The preaching of John the Baptist caused quite a stir in Judea. Eventually, the Jews sent an investigating committee composed of priests and Levites from Jerusalem to see what was going on. The first question was natural enough; they asked John, Who are you? John knew what they were aiming at and replied plainly that he was not the Messiah. They began to attempt to answer their own question and suggested who John might be. This is an interesting revelation into the hearts of these men. They asked a question, but they had already made up their minds about the answer they wanted to hear.

15 14 Jesus Is the Lamb of God They suggested John might be Elijah. This was because the Jews had a belief that Elijah would come back and restore Israel to its former glory (Matt. 17:10-12). In a spiritual sense, John fulfilled the prophecy, but, of course, he was not Elijah returned in the flesh. Perhaps this belief came from the fact that Elijah was one of two men recorded in the Old Testament who did not actually die but were translated into Heaven. The other man was Enoch. When John denied being Elijah, they asked him if he were that prophet. This means John was not one of the Old Testament prophets reborn to bring a message to the people of Israel. Note that we often think only in terms of the past, no matter how improbable the past may be. Finally, the committee asked John what they should have said in the beginning. They asked him for his testimony in his own words. John replied in an interesting way. He declared himself to be a voice. You cannot see a voice; you have to listen to it and John was a man whose personality was eclipsed by his message. John declared he was the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 40:1-3 and he was preparing the way for the Messiah. The Jews were still clinging to the idea that John the Baptist was the Messiah and so they asked him, Why are you baptizing people if you are not the Messiah or Elijah? John replied that he baptized with water but there was one among them they did not know who would shortly be introduced and who was much greater than John the Baptist himself. John states he was not worthy to even unlace the shoes of the One who would come after him. No doubt this answer did not satisfy the Jews. They did not get the answer they wanted and they were not sure of the answer they did get. III. The Lamb of God John 1: The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

16 Text: John 1: And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. Often our questions will be answered if we will be patient. The next day, John saw Jesus coming to be baptized and gave the most concise and important message he ever preached, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (verse 29). Here was the Messiah the man who was also God, the only begotten Son of God who would in grace and truth die for the sins of all mankind. Here was the man who came after John but who was also before John and was also preferred above John. John the Baptist states that he received this knowledge as a revelation from God. He knew who Jesus was, but until Jesus was made manifest to the people of Israel, John did not recognize Him as the Lamb of God. John was baptizing with water to show what Jesus would do. Baptism is immersion. In immersion we see death, burial and resurrection. When John baptized Jesus everyone there got a glimpse into the future. Jesus would die for the sin of the world, He would be buried and He would rise again on the third day. The sacrificial Lamb of God is the eternal Savior of all mankind. What if John the Baptist had made a mistake? What if he were wrong about who Jesus was? So that there could be no doubt, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove upon Jesus and a voice from Heaven declared that Jesus is the Son of God. This heavenly testimony leaves no doubt as to the identity of John the Baptist or Jesus of Nazareth. A FINAL WORD John the Baptist was a witness. He was a voice in the wilderness crying out a message about the life and ministry of Jesus. John the Baptist could have been a great political power in Israel. Perhaps he could have led a revolution or

17 16 Jesus Is the Lamb of God changed the course of society. He might have been known as a great reformer in his time. But he chose to be a witness of Jesus Christ. There is no higher calling than that of introducing others to Jesus. Whatever else we do as children of God, we must see to it that we are always the voice crying out the message of truth in a wilderness of sin. John preached a complete message. He did not stop with salvation. Jesus was indeed the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world, but even though baptism does not save men s souls, it is a part of the process of honoring and serving the Lord. Those who heard the message of John were not ashamed to follow the truth into the waters of baptism. John did not baptize men as a mere religious ritual. He insisted that proof of true repentance precede baptism. The short, but effective ministry of John the Baptist is a great example and pattern for all who will serve the Lord throughout the church age. We will do well to study it, imitate it and do our best to tell the world about our wonderful Savior. FOR CLASS DISCUSSION 1. When you read John the Baptist s testimony about Jesus, what is the most striking facet of John s character? Discuss reasons John was perfect to prepare the way for Christ. 2. What does it mean to you that Jesus was God s sacrificial Lamb? 3. What significance is it that John the Baptist was sent from God (John 1:6)? 4. Why did Jesus submit to the baptism of John the Baptist?

18 3 He Is Zealous of His Father s House Text: John 2:1-25 Focus: John 2:13-25 September 21, 2008 Key Verse: And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father s house an house of merchandise. John 2:16 Sunday Devotional: Behaving in the House of God, 1 Timothy 3:15. Application: Jesus was zealously defending His Father s house. We should fully obey Christ s com - mands and not be distracted or diverted from the true work of His churches. A FIRST LOOK John gave us an account of the baptism of Jesus and then he told us about Jesus gathering disciples in Galilee. John gave us an account of the first miracle Jesus performed when he turned water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana. Miracles would play a great part in the ministry of Jesus. Some would see His miracles as confirmation of His word and would trust Him as their Savior. Others would assert His miracles were done by the power of Satan. The miracles Jesus performed were testimonies to His power, authority and His nature. No one could do what Jesus did if He was not from God. But these miracles were also used to reveal the conditions of the hearts of men. Those who were open and honest saw the miracles as an opportunity to believe, but those who were deceitful in heart found ways to explain them away. Following His first miracle, Jesus traveled to Jerusa - lem to observe the Passover. This was one of the Jewish Daily Devotionals M. The Lord s First Miracle, John 2:1-12. T. The House of Prayer, Luke 19:45, 46. W. The Full Gospel, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. T. Then They Remembered, Luke 24:5-9. F. God Looks on the Inside, 1 Samuel 16:7. S. The Inescapable Presence, Psalm 139:

19 18 He Is Zealous of His Father s House holidays, or feasts, that was obligatory under the Law of Moses. Every Jewish man was required to observe them. According to Deuteronomy 16:16 these feasts were the Feast of the Passover, the Feast of Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles. Since Jesus kept the Law in every way, He observed these feasts every year, and so He and His disciples traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, or Passover. The ministry of Jesus was just beginning, and it was in this context the events of the lesson today took place. A CLOSER LOOK I. Jesus Clears the Temple John 2: And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15. And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; 16. And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. 17. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. Jesus came to Jerusalem to observe the Passover. John records that He observed this feast four times following His baptism. The last time was as a prelude to His crucifixion, death and resurrection. As we will see, Jesus had this on His mind even as His ministry began. When Jesus arrived at Jerusalem, He went to the Temple. He evidently did not announce His presence in Jerusalem. He went into the Temple as any other worshiper would, but what He did when He entered was dramatic and revealing. Jesus found men in the Temple doing two things that were never intended by God. Both activities involved making a monetary profit from the worship of God. They were selling oxen, sheep and doves for use in the sacrifices, and they were

20 Text: John 2: changing money. They were exchanging foreign money for Jewish currency so the people could buy animals to be used in the sacrifices. As all money changers, they were making a profit in the exchange. Then and now, this is a lucrative business. No doubt this had been started as a convenience for the many travelers who came to Jerusalem for the Passover, but it violated both the spirit and letter of the Law. An animal that you buy in the market is hardly the same as one you raise on your own farm. The true spirit of sacrifice was to give an animal that you had seen born. It was yours and you were giving it to God as a part of your worship of Him. That kind of true sacrifice is a far cry from simply purchasing an animal that you only casually saw and would never see again. In this way worship had become all about money. If you had the money, that was all you needed. You could change your money, buy your animal for the sacrifice and be on your way with little time invested and almost no bother. This was not at all what Temple worship was designed to be. Temple worship had become just another business, carried on in the name of God, and Jesus reacted properly to this circumstance. He made a scourge, or small whip of cords, and began to drive the animals and the money changers from the Temple. He overturned the money tables and the thoughtless merchants fled. They did not put up a fight. They knew they were doing wrong and they knew Jesus was right about the house of God. Jesus was not overly violent in this action. He did not release the doves; instead, He just told those who were selling them to take them away. The oxen, sheep and doves were not harmed, and they could be recovered and returned to their rightful owners. The money was spilled on the ground but could be gathered up later. Jesus was not against commerce; but He was against using worship as an excuse to make money. God s house is not to be used as a house of merchandise. The proper use of the Temple was for prayer and the worship of God. In a few years the veil in the Temple would be rent indicating that God was to be worshiped in the hearts of men and not in buildings made of stone. But, the lesson remains

21 20 He Is Zealous of His Father s House that worship is to be pure and peaceable. Activities solely for the sake of profit have no place in the worship of God. When the disciples saw the works of God, they remembered the Word of God. The quote is from Psalm 69:9. This psalm is quoted several times in the New Testament and clearly refers to the Messiah. II. The Jews Ask for a Sign John 2: Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 19. Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21. But he spake of the temple of his body. 22. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. When the money changers were driven out and the animals dispersed, an interesting thing happened. The Jews that were present observed what Jesus did and knew He was acting like a man sent from God. They may have objected to His actions, but they knew that He was right and they did not ask Him to explain what He did. Instead, they asked Him for a sign, or some miracle to indicate He had authority from God to do what He did. Jesus did not work a miracle on demand for them. Had they been present when Jesus was baptized, they would have seen the Spirit of God descending on Him and would have received all the sign that was needed. If they had knowledge about and faith in the Word of God, they would have known who Jesus was. They did not ask an honest question; instead, they were demanding that Jesus prove Himself. He responded by giving them the only sign they needed, the sign of the prophet Jonah. Jesus later taught that an evil and adulterous generation is looking for a sign and the sign of Jonah is the only sign given. Faith is hinged here. If we believe that Jesus died, was buried and rose again, we will not need any other sign to convince us. If we do not believe

22 Text: John 2: in His death, burial and resurrection, we would not believe if someone returned from the dead to witness to us (Luke 16:31). The Jews did not believe, and so they thought Jesus was talking about the physical construction of the Temple. They said that it had taken forty-six years to build the Temple and Jesus was claiming to be able to build it in only three days. Consider this for a moment. Work on this magnificent building was started by Herod the Great, and there had indeed been many years in building it. In fact it was still under construction when Jesus was there. This was the third Temple that had stood on this site. The previous Temple had been destroyed when the Romans invaded Jerusalem in 63 BC. This Temple would be destroyed in AD 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed and the Jews scattered. Building a magnificent and complicated building is a great undertaking, but what a greater undertaking it is to build a human body. Master architects and engineers can put up magnificent buildings, but no man has the power to bring a dead body back to life. What Jesus promised was far greater in scope and required far greater ability than it would to merely erect a building in a hurry. Once again we see the works of God confirm the Word of God. The disciples heard these words and filed them away in their hearts. At the time, they did not understand all Jesus was saying, but later, after the resurrection, they knew and believed what He was teaching. This should be a lesson for us. Keep the Scriptures you do not understand in your heart. They will become clear to you in time to come. The future, as it unfolds, will show us the precise truth of every word spoken by God. III. The Many Believers John 2: Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25. And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

23 22 He Is Zealous of His Father s House Jesus evidently stayed in Jerusalem for some time and did many miracles while He was there. These miracles are not recorded for us, but the reaction of some of the people in Jerusalem is. Many believed in His name when they saw the miracles that He did. Then and now we do not know precisely what happens in the hearts of those who profess faith in Jesus. Some are sincere and real and some are pretending to a faith that they do not possess. Verse 24 suggests that some of these professions were not sincere. They believed in Jesus, but Jesus did not believe in them. The words for believed in verse 23 and commit in verse 24 are the same in Greek. It is one thing to be overwhelmed by the sight of a miracle and quite another to have a lifechanging experience of faith in Jesus. Fleeting, flashy, fitful faith never lasts. Jesus was willing to make a commitment to everyone who truly believed in Him, but faith had to come first. Salvation is not a pleasant accessory to an otherwise good life. Salvation is a basic, fundamental and permanent change in our souls so we can never be the same again. This change had not taken place in many of these hearts and Jesus knew this. Jesus knows us as we really are, not as we pretend to be. In fact, we can never pretend with God. Jesus knew what was in men s hearts. He knew Nathaniel was a man with no guile in his heart and He knew that some of these people had believed the miracles but had not had their hearts truly changed. There are those who want the works of God in their lives, but they stumble at the Word of God and so they will never know the life that is from God. Jesus not only knows our names and faces, He knows our hearts. Have you truly given your heart to Jesus? If not, you need to trust Him and have that life-changing experience right now. Literally, nothing on earth is more important than the salvation of your soul. A FINAL WORD While Jesus was here on earth, there were some things that were important to Him. Jesus did not have a live and

24 Text: John 2: let live attitude toward sin. When He saw the deceit and disruption caused by those who loved money more than they loved God, He stepped in and drove these evil men from the Temple. Evidently, they soon returned because we find Him doing this once again later in his ministry. Jesus remark about rebuilding the Temple stuck with the unbelieving Jews and they used this as a taunt while He was on the cross (Matt. 27:40). There are three great lessons here. First, Jesus will not leave us or the world unchanged. He will insist that wrong conduct be stopped and right conduct be initiated. Buying and selling had been going on in the Temple for a long time, but it was wrong and had to stop. Second, we learn the folly of asking for a sign before we believe. Like the disciples of Jesus, we miss the signs even when they are given to us. They did not understand the sign of Jonah until after Jesus was resurrected. Real faith will never ask for a sign. Finally, we see the message of John the Baptist affirmed. Fruits meet for repentance are a necessary part of our salvation experience. As change was needed in the Temple, change is needed in the hearts of men, and, when real change occurs in our hearts, there will be concrete and visible evidence of the change in our lives. No doubt the disciples looked at Jesus differently as they walked away from this event. They learned that the Lord was all merciful and was also a God of justice and righteousness. FOR CLASS DISCUSSION 1. In what ways do people make God s house an house of merchandise today? 2. What can be done to help people focus on the true ministry and purpose of the Lord s churches? 3. Does it seem that some who saw His miracles and believed (John 2:23) had shallow faith? Why or why not? 4. Why do you think Jesus was unimpressed with His popularity among the crowds? What can we learn from His attitude?

25 4 He Is the Son of God September 28, 2008 Text: John 3:1-36 Focus: John 3:3-10, Key Verse: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18 Sunday Devotional: The Only Son Our Only Savior! 1 John 4:9, 10. Application: Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. We may become children of God and avoid condemnation by repenting of sin and trusting Christ alone for salvation. A FIRST LOOK We are introduced in this lesson to an important character and to an even more important concept. The character is Nicodemus and the concept is the new birth. It is quite possible that Nicodemus had been one of the witnesses to the miracles Jesus performed in Jerusalem as recorded in John 2: Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. He was one of the main advocates of a strict and often ridiculous interpretation of the Law of Moses. The Pharisees were men who had taken a vow before three witnesses that they would devote their lives to keeping the Law of Moses. They were few in number, never more than about six thousand, and were truly religious fanatics. The Pharisees took their vows seriously and made interpretations of the Law that were so strict you literally could not keep one without breaking another. It is amazing that a Pharisee would go to Jesus Daily Devotionals M. Blessings of the New Birth, 1 Peter 1:3-5. T. Newborn Overcomers, 1 John 5:4, 5. W. Look and Live! Numbers 21:7-9. T. What Must I Do To Be Saved? Acts 16:30, 31. F. Justified by Faith, Romans 5:1, 2. S. No Condemnation in Christ, Romans 8:1, 2. 24

26 Text: John 3: because these men regarded themselves as superior to everyone but God Himself. As Nicodemus stated, it was obvious no one could do the things Jesus did if God was not with him. What Nicodemus had not seen and understood was that God was not only with Jesus, Jesus was God. Here is a great dividing line. Many will accept Jesus was a man who had a special relationship with God but will not admit Jesus was God robed in flesh. That is a vital distinction (1 John 4:1-3). Nicodemus needed what every lost sinner needs. He needed to be born again. Jesus, in love and mercy, explained this concept to him thoroughly. A CLOSER LOOK I. The Answer to Nicodemus John 3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10. Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Jesus cut right through the pretense of Nicodemus. Before Nicodemus could ask a question or raise an objection, Jesus got to the heart of the issue by telling Nicodemus what was in his heart. Jesus began by using a formula to focus attention, Verily, verily (verse 5). Whenever Jesus used this

27 26 He Is the Son of God phrase, He was about to set forth some life-changing truth basic to our relationship to God. We would be wise to pay careful attention whenever we see these words. Jesus did not introduce a new concept here. Although the terms were new, the idea was as old as mankind. Jesus expected any master in Israel to know about this concept. But Jesus did use new language to express an old truth. The term for again is anothen, which has three meanings. It means to do something again or to do it a second time; it also means to make a radical beginning, or a completely new beginning; and it also means something that comes from above, or from God. The term is used in other places in the Bible to refer to our salvation experience. Nicodemus seemed to have a question about the kingdom of God and so Jesus answered his unspoken question saying that unless you are born again, you will not see the kingdom of God. To be in the kingdom of God means to belong to God; to be a part of His rule, to have God reign over you. Later Paul spoke of being changed from the kingdom of darkness, ruled by the god of this world, into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Col. 1:13). Jesus was referring to a transfer of citizenship, a radical departure from what we once were. This must have pierced the heart of this self-righteous man like a sword. Nicodemus was thinking of the physical and not the spiritual, so he asked the obvious question. How can one go through the birth process a second time? Here was a classic response to the gospel. The lost man wants to do something physical to achieve a spiritual result. Literally, nothing that we can do with our physical bodies, no matter how great or small, will save our souls. Jesus repeated, using the same formula for attention and expanding on his former remark. Now, he told Nicodemus that a man must be born both physically and spiritually to be a part of the kingdom of God. Jesus went on to make a clear distinction between the physical and the spiritual parts of a human being. Jesus was expressing a concept that should not be a wonder to any of us. As our physical bodies have needs, so do our souls. It was not a physical need, but a spiritual need that brought Nicodemus to Jesus that night.

28 Text: John 3: Nicodemus should have been honest enough to recognize this. Jesus illustrated the working of the Spirit by referring to the wind. We feel the wind and often see its effects, but we do not see it coming and we do not know where it goes once it leaves us. That holy wind had blown over the heart of Nicodemus and Jesus was trying to get him to recognize what was happening. Nicodemus should have known this. As a master in Israel, he should have known as much about the Holy Spirit as he did about the flesh. Nicodemus was an expert in the vagaries and minutia details of the Law, but he had neglected his own soul. II. Eternal Life John 3: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. To show that the Old Testament taught the new birth, Jesus appealed to an incident which took place during the wilderness journey. This is recorded in Numbers 21:4-9. As they traveled through the desert, the Israelites became discouraged and began to speak against God and Moses. They accused God of bringing them out of Egypt to kill them in the wilderness. God sent fiery serpents among the people and they were bitten. After many people died from the serpent bites, the people appealed to Moses for help. They confessed their sin and asked for help. Moses prayed and God told him to make a brass serpent and put it on a pole. Everyone who would look on the brass serpent would not die. Moses did so and those who were bitten looked on the serpent and lived. This was a great illustration, or picture, of salvation which Nicodemus should have understood. All men are sinners; they have been bitten by the serpent. But God has provided