OUR NEED FOR PEACE SESSION 5. The Point. The Bible Meets Life. The Passage. The Setting GET INTO THE STUDY. 10 minutes

Transcription

1 GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes GUIDE: Direct the group to look at the picture on PSG page 60. DISCUSS: Question #1 (PSG, p. 60): When have you felt most at peace? GUIDE: Direct attention to The Bible Meets Life (PSG, p. 61). Note the author s reference to the calming effect of Atticus Finch s words on his children: It s not time to worry. Remark that a lot of us may have memories of similar people in our own lives who could calm our fears with a few words, a smile, or a hand on the shoulder. Introduce The Point (PSG, p. 61): Jesus is the way to the Father; therefore, we can live in peace. SAY: In a world filled with trouble, Jesus offers more than comforting words. He offers Himself. SESSION 5 OUR NEED FOR PEACE The Point Jesus is the way to the Father; therefore, we can live in peace. The Bible Meets Life We must be on our guard not to let the daily news and world events overwhelm us. Nations are at odds, groups within nations fight among themselves, economies are on the brink of disaster, and nothing feels safe or secure. Apart from Christ, any one of these issues would be a cause for anxiety. But Jesus offers us something beyond the turbulent, insecure world we live in. Jesus is the way to the Father and an eternal home with Him. The Passage John 14:1-7 The Setting John began his coverage of Jesus last week on earth in what we know as chapter 12. By the time he arrived at the passage of this study, it was well into the evening of Jesus last night on earth. In the upper room only hours before His crucifixion, Jesus devoted Himself to final instructions and assurances the disciples needed before He departed from them. 62 Session 5

2 John 14:1 1 Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. KEY WORD: Troubled (v. 1) Verb that can refer to outward shaking or stirring up, or inward turmoil, unsettling circumstances, or being thrown into confusion. Trust in Jesus keeps your heart from being troubled. To understand our present passage, we need to focus on at least two literary observations. First, we have jumped over to an entirely different part of John s Gospel. This passage thrusts us suddenly into the second half of his Gospel (chapters 13 21). This part of the Gospel is concerned exclusively with the last week of Jesus life and a few events following His resurrection. John s effort was to frame and interpret the significance and meaning of Jesus death. The immediate context of chapter 14 actually reaches back at least to the beginning of chapter 13. In this part of the Gospel, we have arrived at the final Passover of Jesus life. He soon would be seized by the Jewish leaders and crucified by the Romans. Jesus was fully aware of this coming crisis, as John said poignantly, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father (13:1). Judas s betrayal came in the context of the last supper. After the meal, Jesus washed the disciples feet, a symbolic act of unselfish service that ironically set in contrast the act of Judas (13:2-11). Jesus then probed the disciples understanding of His example, which had included washing Judas s feet, as the basis for their own relationships (13:12-20). The immediate inference was how relationships within the community of Jesus followers would require forgiveness to a difficult degree. The larger inference characterizes what Jesus would accomplish on the cross, the forgiveness of all betrayers of Jesus. Any sin betrays the confession that Jesus is Lord. Jesus must kneel to the point of death and wash the sinner s feet with the blood of the cross. God offers no other cleansing from sin. The text clearly indicates that in contemplating Judas s imminent betrayal, Jesus was troubled in His spirit (13:21). Jesus troubled spirit sets up a stark contrast to what He admonished His disciples at the beginning of chapter 14. The verb used of Jesus being troubled in 13:21 is the same verb used in the admonition to the disciples, Your heart must STUDY THE BIBLE John 14:1 15 minutes GUIDE: IN ADVANCE, gather a few newspaper or magazine articles about current events (3-5 is sufficient) that can tempt people to worry or to be troubled. Cut out the articles and place each randomly in different chairs before group members arrive. Before reading the Scripture, invite group members to briefly share with the group what the articles they found in their chairs are about. Following the sharing time, acknowledge that we are often tempted to wring our hands over what is happening in our world. READ: Direct attention to John 14:1. Lead the group to read the verse in unison. SUGGESTED USE WEEK OF APRIL 3 63

3 THE POINT Jesus is the way to the Father; therefore, we can live in peace. SUMMARIZE: Jesus shared these words with His disciples just hours before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Jesus knew finding peace would be difficult for His disciples. Persecution was coming, and martyrdom would soon be a reality. Believers are not exempt from the result of sin s curse. They experience sickness and death. They are victims of crime and war. In the midst of such trouble, Jesus said, Believe in God; believe also in Me. GUIDE: Emphasize that in this context, believe also could be translated trust. Stress this command highlights that trust is based on a relationship with God that is personal and intimate. SAY: We believe in a Person, not a principle or a concept a distinctive of the Christian faith. 64 Session 5 not be troubled (14:1). The situations, however, are entirely different. Jesus anticipated death on a cross. The disciples only had to anticipate betraying Jesus and Jesus apparent absence. Once they saw the power of the resurrection, they would know both Jesus forgiveness and the comfort of His assurance that His physical absence was not a true loss of relationship. So, Jesus had reason to be troubled, but the disciples did not, because Jesus would meet their every need. Peter was totally distracted by the announcement Jesus was going where His disciples could not go (13:33). Since the disciples had followed Jesus for years, Jesus announcement obviously was mysterious to Peter (13:36). They had gone everywhere He had gone. Jesus clarified that Peter could not follow then, but he would later. In the Greek, this clarification contains some ambiguity. The verbs are singular, which seems to imply Jesus was speaking directly to Peter, not the other disciples. Peter s professed bravado to accompany Jesus into the unknown future was met by Jesus prediction of Peter s betrayal: Will you lay down your life for Me? I assure you: A rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times (13:38). Denial and abandonment would become the story of all disciples (Mark 14:27). What a shocking thought for the disciples! Would not the thought of betraying your best friend be extraordinarily troubling? Indeed. Now we have our context to understand Jesus declaration at the beginning of John 14. Verse 1. Jesus said, Your heart must not be troubled. In modern culture, the heart is associated almost exclusively with emotion (think Valentine s Day). The ancient metaphor of the heart was broader, including what we normally think of as activities of the mind. So, heart is meant to convey that which is conceived as the center and source of life, especially inner life, the seat of emotions, wishes, desires, and moral decisions. Here, the heart is the place of thinking, feeling, and will. The heart, then, is where we have our deepest thoughts or hold our hidden fears, those thoughts or fears we would not readily confess to someone else. Jesus always operates here, in the heart. He relates at the deeper levels, knows us like we do not like being known, perceives what we really think, and understands how we really feel. Jesus also does not dodge the difficult topics of conversation. He engages us where we live to help us negotiate troubled waters.

4 Troubled carries the concept of a sea or other body of water being stirred up or agitated. Jesus call not to be troubled came in the moment of the shocking realization that Jesus had just predicted betrayal by His own disciples. Surely Jesus announcement would have made the hearts of the disciples toss out of control like a small fishing ship on the Sea of Galilee during a tremendous storm. Consternation would reign at that point in the conversation. The disciples cannot be blamed for having a difficult time processing this news. Most particularly, their own denial of Jesus would be hard to fathom. Danger, death, and denial were being broached. For the disciples, these troubled waters brought troubling thoughts. Jesus then challenged His disciples on the basis of their fundamental faith in God, that they should believe also in Me. The calming influence for the troubled seas of their hearts stood in front of them, even as He had that night they had been on the Sea of Galilee when the waves and the winds whipped up (John 6:16-21). That night He had easily solved the crisis of the external storm. This night He addressed their internal storms with an admonition to continue to have faith in Him. Such a faith in only a few days would include not only belief in the death of Jesus, but in His resurrection as well. Forgiveness and life result from this faith to which Jesus called His disciples. In John s Gospel, belief is not merely rational thought, such as agreeing with an idea. Belief is action. We pick up on John s distinctive framing of belief as action by noting that John never used the static noun belief in his Gospel. John only used the active verb, to believe. Thus, belief or faith in John is something someone does rather than what someone simply thinks. It is trusting. It is relating. The disciples were learning that belief in Jesus is trusting Jesus to secure their relationship. Even though they would betray Jesus, Jesus was calling for them to trust that He would guarantee the future of their relationship. Salvation depends on Jesus ability to secure the relationship, not the sinner s inability to avoid betrayal. Salvation is not jeopardized by sin. Trust in Jesus keeps your heart from being troubled. DISCUSS: Question #2 (PSG, p. 63): What does it look like to trust Jesus when your heart is troubled? (ENHANCEMENT: Use Pack Item 4: Don t Be Troubled to help spark group members thinking about troubling situations in which trust in Jesus leads to peace of mind.) (Alternate: How do you determine if someone is trustworthy?) DO: Invite volunteers to share their responses to the activity Don t Be Troubled on PSG page 64. TRANSITION: When we trust in Jesus, we can also trust that He is preparing a permanent place for us in heaven. 65

5 THE POINT Jesus is the way to the Father; therefore, we can live in peace. STUDY THE BIBLE John 14:2-4 5 minutes READ: Invite a volunteer to read verses 2-4. GUIDE: Note Jesus words have comforted millions of Christians. Acknowledge that hymns about heaven are some of our most precious. (OPTION: Invite members to name some favorite hymns about heaven. [Examples: On Jordan s Stormy Banks, Shall We Gather At the River, Sweet By and By, When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder, When We All Get to Heaven. ] If time allows, sing one of these hymns. Provide hymnals IN ADVANCE.) SUMMARIZE: The phrase translated dwelling places also has been rendered mansions. The contemporary idea of mansions makes this an unfortunate description because of the image of huge houses with a focus on opulence and wealth. 66 Session 5 John 14:2-4 2 In My Father s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 You know the way to where I am going. KEY WORDS: Dwelling places (v. 2) Place of remaining, tarrying, staying, or dwelling, as in a room or abode, or even of a settled residence. We can trust in Christ because He is preparing a permanent place for us in heaven. Verse 2. Where was Jesus going? To the cross, to be sure, but ultimately, back to the Father. Jesus repeatedly affirmed that He came from the Father in heaven. Here the disciples learned their relationship to Jesus was like having a residence in heaven: In My Father s house are many dwelling places. A place to reside means permanent relationship. This permanence could heal the disciples anxiety, especially Peter s, of having just learned they would betray Jesus. Jesus would transcend their betrayal. Their betrayal would not end their relationship. Jesus forgiveness would transform His disciples earthly relationship with Him into a permanent home in heaven. That home in heaven was one reason Jesus was leaving, to prepare a place for you. Jesus would not prepare a place unless He was going to forgive their betrayal. We ought not assume the disciples immediately understood the expression, My Father s house. Such an expression easily could be heard as referring to the temple in Jerusalem. One need only recall the cleansing of the temple episode at the beginning of John s Gospel in which Jesus demanded, Stop turning My Father s house into a marketplace! (2:16). So, Jesus already had used the expression My Father s house to refer to the Jerusalem temple. Thus, at the last supper, Jesus could have been referring to the temple as far as the disciples could surmise. Jesus had cleansed the temple. Perhaps He also intended in some way to remodel the temple. King Herod had engaged a

6 notable, expensive, and time-consuming project remodeling the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Perhaps Jesus had in mind going beyond even Herod with permanent rooms for residence. Even if the disciples got past the idea that Jesus was talking about the temple complex in some strange way, they certainly would not instantly have understood His words to be about heaven. When first-century Jews conceptualized the kingdom of God as inaugurated by the Messiah, that kingdom always was thought of as on earth where Jews still would live in their own homes. They simply would have the Messiah as their king over them, peace at their borders, and abundant crops in their fields. Thus, we have to anticipate that the disciples would have been confused by Jesus language no matter which direction they inferred His meaning. A place in heaven would not have been their first thought. No part of their typical Jewish expectations would have prepared them for what Jesus meant. Verse 3. Jesus then answered the obvious question of how one would get where He was going. If He were going away to prepare a place for His followers, then I will come back, He declared, and receive you to Myself. His departure would be not only purposeful but also temporary. When the preparation of verse 2 had been accomplished, Jesus would be back. Notice the double-fold emphasis of the intention of Jesus return. On the one side of the coin, it is to receive you to Myself. On the flip side of the coin, it is so that where I am you may be also. One is for Him, the other is for us. The hotel maid makes preparation for our arrival, but has no intention of being with us during our stay. Jesus prepares for our arrival specifically so we can share our stay together with Him. The story of Jesus is not complete even after His death and resurrection. A marvelous return awaits. The return of Jesus is a premier doctrine of the New Testament, and John s Gospel ends on a reminder of the return of Jesus (21:22). We can trust Christ because He is preparing a permanent place for us in heaven. Verse 4. Jesus then intrigued His disciples. Even while indicating that He Himself would receive His own, Jesus still insisted, You know the way to where I am going. This insistence is captivating, as the assertion flies in the face of the obvious: Jesus had not made clear where He was going. Certainly He had spoken about His Father s house, but even that thought was pretty ambiguous at this point for His disciples, as we have seen. Jesus true meaning emphasizes the believer s presence with God, not a physical structure. The grandeur of heaven is God s presence! Emphasize this by directing attention to verse 3: I will come back and receive you to Myself. DISCUSS: Question #3 (PSG, p. 65): Why do we sometimes focus on the adornments of heaven instead of our presence with Jesus? (Alternate: What do these verses reveal about God s intention for our relationship with Him?) GUIDE: Explain that verse 3 foreshadows Jesus death, resurrection, ascension, and return. Stress again that preparing a place does not mean Jesus is finishing heavenly houses for His followers. Neither has it anything to do with levels of reward in heaven. Jesus death and resurrection was the preparation, the work to give us eternal access into God s presence. 67

7 THE POINT Jesus is the way to the Father; therefore, we can live in peace. TRANSITION: Jesus has made all the preparations necessary, and He is the only way for us to live forever in God s presence. STUDY THE BIBLE John 14: minutes READ: Invite a volunteer to read verses 5-7. GUIDE: Emphasize that we see another of Jesus I am statements in verse 6. DISCUSS: Question #4 (PSG, p. 67): What does this I am statement teach us about Jesus nature and character? 68 Session 5 John 14:5-7 5 Lord, Thomas said, we don t know where You re going. How can we know the way? 6 Jesus told him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him. KEY WORD: Know (v. 7) All three uses in this verse come from the Greek word meaning to know by personal experience. A different Greek word appears in verses 4-5. We can trust in Christ because He is the only way to live forever with God. Verse 5. Since where Jesus was going was unclear, and He had not mentioned the path, Thomas sought answers to both questions simultaneously, we don t know where You re going. How can we know the way? Thomas probably voiced the thought that was on all the disciples minds. Peter had already revealed his confusion (John 13:36). In short order, both Philip (14:8) and the other Judas (v. 22) would indicate that they, too, were not clear on the message Jesus was communicating and its implications. Likely the whole crew puzzled over Jesus words that night. Verse 6. The question brought up another of the famous I am sayings of Jesus. Jesus responded with one of the clearest affirmations of the New Testament, I am the way, the truth, and the life. Way in Jewish thought is often about a life to live. The path you trod is the life you live, the manner or character of your life. Truth in this context is integrity. Following Jesus as the way and the truth is living a life of complete integrity, pleasing God in all things, delighting in the guidance of His Word as sweeter than honey, and giving in abundance as He has given to you. Interestingly, we have evidence of a community of Jews living in the desert and expecting the coming kingdom of God about this time who spoke of themselves, their

8 lifestyle, and their community as the Way. The Book of Acts regularly shows early Christians referring to themselves as the Way, probably reflecting the direct impact of this statement of Jesus. Thus, this manner of speaking was Jewish and apparently well known in Jesus world. Jesus, however, made an exclusive claim. While talk of the way and truth was not unique in the ancient world, Jesus immediately narrowed the scope of participation directly to Himself. He added, No one comes to the Father except through Me. Jesus could not have been more restrictive. He did not even allow for those who entertain philosophical thoughts similar to His standards and teachings as meeting the requirement. The path is personal, not philosophical. This exclusivity eliminates any other claim to salvation. Jesus had already explicitly rejected the claims of the Sadducees (cleansing of the temple, John 2) and those of the Pharisees (Sabbath healing of the blind man, John 9) of knowing the way to God. With His personalized exclusivity, Jesus also rejected any effort to reduce Christianity to spiritual principles or multiple paths to God. Only one way and only one truth exists for anyone s life Jesus. Many religious and nonreligious people in our day take offense at Bible-believing Christians for saying that Jesus is the only way to salvation. They wish to see all religions as equal in worth and value. But while the Bible teaches us that God desires none to perish (2 Pet. 3:9), it also records that Jesus Himself said, No one comes to the Father except through Me. It is only through Jesus we can come to the Father and know the peace He intends for us to experience. Verse 7. Jesus then moved to the language of knowing as a way to describe the personal relationship believers share with Him. He revealed, If you know Me, you will also know My Father. Knowing God was covenant language for Israel s prophets (Jer. 24:7; 31:34; Hos. 13:4). The psalmist encouraged developing a way of life that allows one to know God (Ps. 46:10; 100:3). Jesus brought these Jewish reflections on relationship to God into His own personal inner circle. Further, this type of relational knowledge does not have to wait on a future journey to God s house, wherever that might be. Jesus brought this possibility into the present, From now on you do know Him and have seen Him. This knowledge would come because the hour of Jesus glory had arrived (John 13:1). Catching a vision of Jesus dying on a cross and rising from the grave is seeing God Himself at work in eternal salvation. We can trust in Christ because He is the only way to live forever with God. GUIDE: Stress the exclusive nature of Jesus statement. Be sure the group understands that there is no biblical foundation for universalism the belief that all religions are valid, and all roads of faith lead to heaven. Write on a board or large sheet of paper: No one comes to the Father except through Me. Emphasize that all attempts to find peace with God apart from a relationship with Jesus will fail. Challenge the group to let this truth motivate their witness for Christ. DISCUSS: Question #5 (PSG, p. 68): Why is lasting peace found only in Jesus? (Alternate: What are the implications for today s culture of what Jesus said?) 69

9 THE POINT Jesus is the way to the Father; therefore, we can live in peace. LIVE IT OUT 5 minutes GUIDE: Emphasize The Point: Jesus is the way to the Father: therefore, we can live in peace. Review Live It Out (PSG, p. 69; see text to the right). Invite group members to think about which application speaks most to their needs. Wrap It Up GUIDE: Remind the group that even though we live in troubling times, we can still live in peace knowing that we are secure in God s hands because Jesus gave Himself for us. Encourage group members to be thankful every day for God s wonderful grace in Christ. LIVE IT OUT The older we get, the more we discover that lasting peace is not found in material things, a satisfying career, retirement, or even relationships. When we have finally tried everything else, we discover that Jesus is our only Source of true peace, no matter what happens. How is God leading you to respond this week knowing that you can live in peace because Jesus is the only way to the Father? > > Turn from counterfeit peace. Spend some time this week identifying things in your life that you lean on to bring you peace. Ask yourself what would happen if any of those things were gone tomorrow. Confess to God your tendency to seek peace in things other than Christ. Ask Him for strength to trust in Christ alone for peace. > > Rest in the security of Christ. Look in the topical index of a hymnal under the category Assurance. Choose a hymn or two to read or sing each day this week to feed your sense of peace in knowing that your salvation is secure in Christ. > > Spread Christ s peace. Invite a neighbor over for a meal. Make it a person, couple, or family with whom you are only casually acquainted. Use this time as an opportunity to build a continuing relationship and as an opportunity to share how important to you is the peace you find in Christ. PRAY: Father, thank you for the peace we have with you because of what Jesus has done for us. Strengthen us each day to trust in You no matter the circumstance. Amen. 70 Session 5

10 are many other dwelling places, Jesus taught. The exact meaning of the Greek term monai here is disputed. The Latin Vulgate s use of term mansiones, which can mean stations or temporary SHARING THE GOOD NEWS Jesus is the only way to God. Trust Him to save You by turning from your sin and placing your faith in Him. ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/BOB SCHATZ Model of a reconstructed first-century palatial mansion. The following excerpt is from the article A Place Prepared (Win ), which relates to this session and can be purchased at The Greek word translated house (oikia) is used three ways in the New Testament: (1) literally to refer to a building; (2) to refer to the dwelling place for the soul (2 Cor. 5:1); and (3) as used lodgings for travelers on a journey, seems to have influenced the translation mansions. This has led some interpreters to view heaven as a place of various states or levels through which the soul moved until finally reaching it s permanent residence, an interpretation that does not mesh with the meaning of monai. Previous articles The Truth : A Word Study (Win ), Know: The Meaning (Spr. 2002), and Thomas: A Brief Biography (Spr. 1994) relate to this session and can be purchased at www. lifeway.com/biblicalillustrator. Look for Biblical Illustrator for Bible Studies for Life. Each week, make yourself available either before or after the session to speak privately with anyone in your group who wants to know more about becoming a Christian. See the article, Leading Someone to the Greatest Decision of All, on page 2 for guidance in leading a person to Christ. Remind group members that page 2 in the PSG offers guidance in how to become a Christian. Encourage believers to consider using this article as they have opportunities to lead others to Christ. in John 14 to refer to heaven as God s dwelling place. In the Father s eternal dwelling place Subscribe to Biblical Illustrator at or call > > Get expert insights on weekly studies through the Ministry Grid (MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesFor Life). >Grow > with other group leaders at the Groups Ministry blog (lifeway.com/groupministry). > > Additional ideas for your group are available at BibleStudiesFor Life.com/blog. 71