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Study No.8 : Water in Wine : John 2:1-11

A. Find Out:    

       

1. Who were at the wedding as guests? v.1,2

2. What crisis prompted Jesus' mother to speak? v.3

3. What was Jesus' response? v.4

4. What instruction did Mary give? v.5

5. What sort of wine was produced? v.10

6. What was the result of this? v.11

 

B. Think :

1. What effect would running out of wine have had on the wedding

     celebrations?

2. Why do you think Jesus did this miracle?

3. What must his disciples have thought?

  

C. Comment :

      A crisis! A Jewish wedding where the wine runs out. Such a thing might well have brought disgrace and would certainly have brought a premature end to the ongoing festivities.

      Let's note first that it was Jesus' mother (v.1,3) who takes the initiative but Jesus seems hesitant to act (v.4). The inference is that Jesus has a timetable that He is working to and doesn't want to be pushed along it earlier that He should. We see first, therefore, Jesus sense of WORKING TO A PURPOSE.

      Then we see the method of the miracle. Jesus could have done this entirely on His own but instead he chose to involve the servants (v.7). Second, therefore, we see Jesus WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP with ordinary people. Jesus wants to involve us in what He is doing. But note also that Jesus could have simply created the wine from nothing but instead he took ordinary existing material and changed it (v.9).

      Third therefore, we see Jesus WORKING WITH A PICTURE: Jesus can take the ordinary and transform it into something special. Jesus takes our ordinary lives and by the power of His Spirit transforms them into lives of richness and maturity that can bring blessing to many (v.11).

  

D. Application?

 

1. Jesus, who is Lord, works with ordinary men to transform them.

2. Remember, your life, if you are a Christian, is what it is because of what

     HE has done. Praise Him.

Study No.9 : Jesus in the Temple : John 2:12-17

A. Find Out:

        

1. Which Jewish feast was near? v.13

2. What did Jesus find in the temple? v.14

3. So what did Jesus do? v.15

4. What did he say they had done? v.16

5. How did he refer to the temple? v.16

6. What Scripture did his disciples remember? v.17

 

B. Think :

1. What does this passage tell us about Jesus, that he felt so strongly about

     the temple?

2. What does it tell us about him that he managed to clear the temple?

3. What characteristics do WE need to be able to speak out against wrong?

 

C. Comment :

  

      We see Jesus first of all appearing to go to Jerusalem to observe the Passover (v.13). Again and again Jesus observed the requirements of the law. In Jerusalem he came into the temple and saw all that was happening there (v.14).

       Animals were required for the Jewish sacrificial system and so the Jews had made it possible to just come to the temple and get something for the sacrifice then and there, instead of having to bring something from home.

      This "processing" of religion had made the temple appear more like a market than a place for meeting with God. Jesus, in righteous anger, powerfully overthrew all the trading tables and drove all the traders out (v.15). What we see here is that there is a great deal of difference between "performing" the law (sacrificial system made easy) and observing it with your heart (reverent awe and worship of God).

      Here is the challenge for US today: have we "processed" religion to make it easy and entertainment, or is there within us the reverent awe blended with love for "Father", that is at the heart of true worship?

  

D. Application?

  

1. Religion is heart worship, love expressed, not formal ritual.

2. To stand against wrong, the "popularising" of worship, will need grace,

      truth and courage.

Study No.10 : The Temple Destroyed : John 2:18-28

A. Find Out:

       

1. What did the Jews want Jesus to do? v.18

2. What did he say he would do? v.19

3. What was he referring to? v.21

4. When did his disciples realise this? v.22

5. Why did many believe in him there? v.23

6. But what was Jesus' response to them? v.24,25

 

B. Think :

1. What do we learn from this passage about Jesus' method of arguing?

2. What did he obviously feel about "signs"?

3. What does this passage also indicate about Jesus' knowledge of himself?

 

C. Comment :

      Jesus has just turned the traders out of the Temple and the Jews, instead of being contrite and acknowledging the truth of what he has said, challenge his authority to do it and, refusing to acknowledge their sin, they pick on him (v.18).

     Their beliefs said that the coming deliverer would come with power and authority, doing wonderful things. Very well, they said, show us these things if you are that person.

     Jesus' answer, as it was so often, seems quite obscure to them (v.19). IF there was anyone there whose heart was open, they would be left wondering, thinking, what was he really meaning? For most of them with their hard hearts, they simply took the literal meaning and said that it was stupid and couldn't be (v.20). They just write off what he is saying, and in so doing expose to the world the sort of people they were.

     As we are told the real meaning by the writer John (v.21), it becomes obvious that Jesus is in full control of his life and plans his own death and resurrection which will be THE sign of all signs. We are also told how he held himself back from the people so they wouldn't acclaim him prematurely (v.24), again a sign of his complete understanding and control of the situation.

 

D. Application?

 

1. Jesus' words expose the hearts of men.

2. When we don't understand something do we write it off or ask Jesus to

     teach us more fully?

 

 

Study No.11 : Born Again : John 3:1-6

A. Find Out:

        

1. Who was Nicodemus? v.1

2. When did he come to Jesus? v.2a

3. How did he know God was with Jesus? v.2b

4. What did Jesus say had to happen? v.3

5. What was Nicodemus's problem with that? v.4

6. What sort of birth was Jesus talking about? v.6

 

B. Think :

1. Why do you think Nicodemus came to Jesus at night?

2. What do you think is the link between Nicodemus's comment and Jesus'

     response?

3. Why was Nicodemus having trouble with Jesus response?

 

C. Comment :

      We now come to a personal exchange between Jesus and this senior religious leader who came somewhat furtively at night time (v.2a), presumably so his colleagues wouldn't know he had come. He apparently has an interest in Jesus and so comes to find out for himself.

      Nicodemus is a good diplomat and starts with praise of Jesus (v.2). The only thing is that Jesus isn't an ordinary man and doesn't need praise. Instead he takes the opportunity to see just how open Nicodemus is to some teaching.

      The "kingdom of God" (v.3) refers to the rule or activity of God, and so when Nicodemus says there are clearly signs of God's activity in what Jesus is doing (v.2), Jesus responds saying you can't really see God's activity for what it really is unless you have got a new life. Nicodemus took literally Jesus' words (v.4) and so Jesus indicates that there are two births (v.5), the natural birth when we come into this world (v.6a), and a spiritual birth that comes about by the Holy Spirit (v.6b).

      Until the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and brings life to our spirit, we are as it were blind to spiritual realities. When He comes it is as if we start life completely afresh, with a new life source within.

 

D. Application?

 

1. A Christian is one in whom God has placed His own Holy Spirit, one who

    has a new life.

2. It is the Holy Spirit who brings revelation.

Study No.12 : The Mystery of the Wind  : John 3:7-15

A. Find Out:

        

1. To what does Jesus liken being born again? v.8

2. Of what does Jesus say he spoke? v.11

3. What was Jesus' problem? v.11b,12

4. Where had the "Son of Man" come from? v.13

5. What must happen to him? v.14

6. Why? v.15

 

B. Think :

1. Why was Jesus qualified to speak about heavenly or spiritual matters?

2. Read Numbers 21:6-9 What was the point of the bronze snake?

3. How according to Jesus is he going to be like that?

 

C. Comment :

      When Jesus teaches, it is only the childlike, open hearted who will listen, ask and believe, who will understand. Continuing from yesterday, Jesus, speaking about being born again of the Spirit, says it is a bit like the wind (v.8), you feel it but don't know where it comes from or when it will come. It is a mystery. When Nicodemus stumbles over this (v.9) Jesus seems to almost despair of these people (v.10) who won't listen to what he says and believe him.

      Look, says Jesus, I've come from heaven (v.12,13) and you still won't believe me; who more qualified could you ask for? What is more, he adds, in the same way that God appointed a bronze snake to be the focus of people's faith in the Old Testament (v.14a), so I will be the same sort of focus when I am lifted up on the Cross (v.14b) so all who believe when they see or hear about my death will receive eternal life (v.15).

      Right, it's not as clearly spelt out as that, but that is what Jesus is saying to Nicodemus in Old Testament prophetic language that he ought to understand. Do we understand it?

 

D. Application?

 

1. When Jesus speaks, it is frequently in ways that are not obvious to the

    hard hearted. He speaks like this so that only the open hearted seeker

    will  hear, understand and believe

2. Salvation is not for the indifferent but for the honest seeker (see Isaiah

    6:9,10)

Study No.13 : Saviour and Exposer  : John 3:16-21

A. Find Out:

        

1. What is the consequence of believing? v.16

2. Why did God send His Son into the world? v.17

3. What is the position of the unbeliever? v.18

4. How were men shown up? v.19

5. Why do evil people hate light? v.20

6. Who will come into the light? v.21

 

B. Think :

1. How, according to this passage, do people judge themselves?

2. What, in this passage, is seen to be the key to salvation?

3. How are God's intentions towards mankind seen to be utterly good?

 

C. Comment :

  

      Here we have, perhaps, one of the most well known verses in the New Testament (v.16). God loved the world so much that, to ensure its salvation, He gave His one and only Son, so that He would stand in our place, the place of guilt and punishment, and we would stand in his place, the place of sonship and eternal life.

  

      Such is the wonder of the Gospel. Indeed this is so wonderful that in one way it acts as a means of judging men. If any man can look upon Jesus, read of who he is and what he has done, and then remain unmoved, that man condemns himself (v.18) as hard hearted and godless. Jesus came into this world like a wonderful light, showing goodness unlimited and love incarnate and yet, many people completely rejected him, thus showing the awfulness of their state (v.19).

  

      The fact is that Jesus is not only a Saviour but he is also an exposer. He exposes men's hearts and shows them up for what they are (v.20). A person of truth comes joyfully to Jesus (v.21), while the self-centred, self-deceived, deluded, evil man shies away and rejects Him.

 

D. Application?

  

1. Jesus is God's means of providing for your sin and mine to be dealt with

     so  that we may then be accepted by God. This is salvation.

2. Jesus exposes men's hearts by the way they respond to the wonder of

     who He is.

Study No.14 : Friend of the Bridegroom  : John 3:22-30

A. Find Out:

        

1. What were John and Jesus both doing? v.22,23

2. What were John's disciples worried about? v.26

3. What did John say you can receive? v.27

4. And of what was he aware? v.28

5. To whom did he liken himself? v.29

6. What did he say must happen? v.30

 

B. Think :

1. How is John able to rest in his diminishing ministry?

2. How does he refer to Jesus?

3. What does he say his own position is?

 

C. Comment :

      Jesus apparently was also now baptising people (v.22). We don't hear much about this but it appears to have happened. Jesus baptised his disciples and taught them to baptise - where there was plenty of water (v.23), so it was clearly by immersion.

      But then some of John's disciples (v.25,26) got into a place of questioning and wondered what was going on, with the two groups now baptising. It's all right, says John, Jesus is starting his ministry and I'm winding mine up (v.30). John is able to rest in this situation because he has a clear awareness of his calling. He knows that you can only minister with what God gives you; you are first and foremost a servant of the Lord, and if He starts winding up your ministry, so be it!

  

      Second, John sees that the need for his ministry is coming to an end because Jesus is now being received, and he uses this simple illustration of Jewish wedding practice (v.29). The "best man" waited for the bridegroom to come, just as he has been waiting for Jesus to come. The bridegroom is the all-important one, not the best man; that is John's attitude, so the bridegroom will be seen more and more and his friend less and less. What an illustration of a servant hearted minister!

 

D. Application?

 

1. Our lives are to point to Jesus, HE is the all important one.

2. We are what we are because of what God has given us, we serve Him

    with what He gives.

Study No.15 : Authority of the Son  : John 3:31-36

A. Find Out:

        

1. Why is Jesus greater than all? v.31

2. What does Jesus tell? v.32

3. What does Jesus speak? v.34

4. What has the Father done? v.35

5. What do believers receive? v.36a

6. What do rejecters receive? v.36b

 

B. Think :

1. Why is Jesus qualified to speak for God and what should be our response

     therefore to what he says?

2. What does man's rejecting Jesus say about man?

3. Why is believing in Jesus so important?

 

C. Comment :

       In these few verses we get a truth that comes again and again in John's Gospel, that Jesus has come from heaven (v.31). Jesus did not come into being when he was born in Bethlehem, he already existed before taking the form of that little baby, he lived with His Father in heaven.

      The words in today's passage were spoken by John the Baptist, to whom God had revealed these truths. The one from heaven was Jesus, the one from earth was John. Having come from heaven, Jesus spoke of what he knew but men couldn't or wouldn't understand or accept it.

      The one person who did accept it was John and he testified to the truth of what Jesus was saying. Jesus, says John, speaks God's words (v.34) for, unlike me, he has the Spirit without limit. Not only that the Father has put the means of salvation fully into his hands (v.35). He is responsible for bringing salvation at this time.

      To conclude this, John says that believing in Jesus brings eternal life (v.36), but refusing him brings God's anger, and death is the only alternative. If we want eternal life the one condition is that we believe in Jesus, for there is NO other means of receiving it.

 

D. Application?

  

1. Jesus existed before he came to earth. he lived in heaven, came from

     heaven and returned to heaven. He is worthy of our worship.

2. Jesus is God's focus of faith for us and as we believe He imparts eternal

     life.

RECAP No.2  "Revelation & Revelation!"  John 2 & 3

SUMMARY :  

      

In these 8 studies we have seen:

- Jesus 1st miracle of turning water into wine

- Jesus cleansing the temple

- Jesus predicting his death & resurrection

- Jesus' call to Nicodemus to be born again

- Jesus' claim to be the saviour of the world

- John the Baptist's further testimony to Jesus

 

COMMENT :

 

      In the midst of the actual events recorded in these chapters comes again and again, the challenge about how people respond to Jesus. Jesus is being clearly revealed as the glorious Son of God from heaven. What then becomes critical is how people respond to him.

     The teaching of these chapters clearly shows that you have to be hard hearted and godless to reject this wonderful person. With the revelation of Jesus comes the revelation of men's hearts!

 

 

LESSONS :

 

1. Jesus takes the ordinary things of life and transforms them

2. Religion is to be heart love & worship not formal ritual

3. A Christian is one who has received a new life from God and is indwelt by the Holy

    Spirit

4. Jesus often speaks in ways that only the seeker will understand

5. Jesus exposes men's hearts by the way they respond to him

 

PRAY :

  

     Ask the Lord, if you haven't done it already, to transform the ordinary side of your life

   

 

PART 3 : “Touching People”

 

      As we go into this next chapter look for the various ways that Jesus deals with different sorts of people and the consequences of his caring, gentle but direct approaches. Lessons to be learnt here for us!