Chapter 25 of The Story March 22, 2015

Jesus, the Son of God

Chapter 25

This session covers: Matthew 16-17, 21; Mark 8-14; Luke 9, 22; John 7-12

A clear understanding of who Jesus was resulted in anger from the religious leaders and hope for those that would believe in Him.

How good are you at clearly stating your position on an issue? Are you able to clearly articulate your opinion to others? Jesus asks His followers what people were saying about Him. Their answer reflects a wide range of thoughts on this matter. But Peter’s response was clear and to the point. (See Matthew 16:13-17) (The Story, page 291)

Why was Peter able to be so clear? How did he have such insight? John the Baptist had a similar testimony. (See John 1:29-34)

How do you answer the question from Jesus, "Who do you say I am?" What evidence do you have for your response?

Chapter 25

How did Jesus put eternity ahead of life on earth, and how can we be like Him?

The Plan Unveiled: Pages 353–355

Last week we saw Jesus’ crowd-drawing lessons, compassion for the lost, power over nature, authority over spirits, and command over life. These made Him popular for awhile. But some Jewish leaders turned against Him for dismissing the Pharisees’ oral traditions as mere rules taught by men, not commands of God, and for continuing to heal on the Sabbath after they ordered Him to stop. Some of the masses abandoned Him when He refused to continue providing food miraculously and instead pointed them towards spiritual food.

Today we pick up our story about 2½ years into Jesus’ ministry.

Jesus knew the time for Him to complete the work for which He’d come was drawing near, and He began preparing the twelve disciples for it. He explained that the Jewish leaders were going to kill Him and that He would rise from the dead. The confused disciples pondered what He could possibly mean. Peter even took Him aside and rebuked Him.

1. (a) What was wrong with Peter’s concerns (Mark 8:33)? (b) Jesus called the crowd over. What must anyone who followed Him do (8:34)? (c) In those days, people “took up their cross” only to be led to death. How did Jesus explain what He meant (8:35–36)? (d) What are ways people try to “save” the portion of their life that is here on this earth, rather than “lose” that portion of life by using it to serve Jesus and the gospel? (e) How does Jesus emphasize which is the better way to spend earthly life (8:36)?

Six days later, Jesus led Peter, James, and John onto a mountain.

2. (a) How was Jesus transfigured (Matthew 17:2)? (b) Moses and Elijah appeared “in glorious splendor” and talked with Jesus about His coming departure from earth. As Peter started to talk, what happened (17:5)? (c) How would all this help the disciples accept Jesus’ mission and understand that it involved more than earthly life?

The Person Revealed: Pages 355–358

Jesus began to speak plainly about being more than a prophet. He told the Pharisees that the Father sent Him. When they asked where His father was, He replied they didn’t know Him or the Father, for if they knew Him they’d know the Father. Then He told them where He came from.

3. (a) Where did Jesus say He was from, unlike the ordinary people to whom He was talking (John 8:23)? (b) What would happen if they didn’t believe His claim (8:24)?

4. (a) Who are Jesus’ true disciples (John 8:31)? (b) How do we hold to Jesus’ teaching? (c) What’s the first result of holding to Jesus’ teaching (8:32a)? (d) What’s the second result (8:32b)? (e) Give an example of how holding to Jesus’ teaching taught you a freeing truth.

When the Jews asked how He could set them free since they weren’t slaves of anyone, Jesus explained that everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Holding to His teachings would bring truth which would set them free from sin.

5. (a) What claim did Jesus make in John 8:51? (b) What two questions did the Jews ask, and what do these questions tell us about them (8:52–53)? (c) Who did Jesus say His Father was (8:54)? (d) What did Jesus say in John 8:58?

Not “I was”: “I AM.”

Back in lesson four we read of someone using that name: God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM’ has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14

Jesus used the name by which God called Himself, the name signifying eternal existence.

Jesus’ meaning wasn’t lost on the Jews. He claimed existence before Abraham was born. He had called Himself the Son of God, making Himself equal to God, and now He used God’s name for Himself. They tried to stone Him for blasphemy.

Resurrection Promised: Pages 358–361

Jesus crossed the Jordan and stayed where John the Baptist used to minister. Many of John’s followers believed in Him.

Then messengers brought word from two sisters, Mary and Martha, that their brother Lazarus was ill. When Jesus arrived at their house, Lazarus had been in a tomb four days.

6. (a) How did Jesus describe Himself to Martha (John 11:25) (b) What did Jesus promise (11:25–26)? (c) Do you believe this? (d) Can you respond like Martha (11:26)?

Mary came to Jesus and fell at His feet, weeping.

7. (a) What does Jesus’ response to people’s tears tell you about Jesus (John 11:33–35)? (b) Jesus didn’t tell anyone not to weep, but instead wept with them, leaving us an example of how to comfort the grieving. If you’ve suffered a loss, what was the most helpful comment you heard? (c) What are some perhaps well-intentioned but unhelpful things Christians sometimes say to the grieving?

Jesus told the people to remove the stone from the tomb, even though Lazarus had been dead four days and his body was decaying. Jesus called, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came to life and obeyed.

Jesus had just demonstrated what He meant by His claim, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

Not everyone appreciated the miracle. Some reported it to the Pharisees, who called a meeting of the Sanhedrin, the court that governed the Jews’ internal affairs.

8. (a) Did the Jewish leaders doubt that Jesus performed miracles (John 11:47)? (b) They didn’t believe Jesus was who He said He was, and as religious leaders, they didn’t want the masses believing what they themselves didn’t believe. What other reason had they for not wanting people to believe in Jesus (11:48)? (c) What can we do to keep our own wishes from blinding us to truth?

The high priest spoke prophetically, though without understanding the full meaning of his words: “It is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

Exchanges Required: Pages 361–363

A rich young man asked Jesus how to receive eternal life. Jesus looked at Him lovingly, realizing there was something holding the man back from following Jesus.

9. (a) What did Jesus ask the young man to do (Mark 10:21–22)? (b) How would what he would gain compare to what he would give up? (c) Have you ever given up something you thought was hindering your walk with God, whether for a short time or permanently? If so, describe how that affected your walk with Christ.

Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:25). Such a large animal through a tiny opening? Impossible! The disciples astutely asked, “Who then can be saved?” But what’s impossible for people to achieve is God’s specialty.

10. (a) What promise did Jesus give in Mark 10:29–31? (b) Describe something you gave up for Jesus and the gospel, which God returned to you many times over. (c) What comfort is there in Jesus’ assurance that we will have persecutions in this age? (d) What will we have in the age to come (10:30)? (e) How does eternal life make up for the losses and persecutions of this life?

The Hour Arrived: Pages 363–366

And now we reach Jesus’ last week. On Sunday, Jesus rode a colt that had never before been ridden into Jerusalem. People ran ahead, throwing leafy branches and cloaks before him, and shouting “Hosanna,” a praise meaning “Save.”

11. How were the people’s shouts particularly appropriate for Jesus’ mission (Mark 11:9–10)?

On Monday, Jesus cleansed the outer court of the temple of buyers, sellers, and money changers, for this area was supposed to be a place for Gentiles to pray. Then He healed those who came to Him while children shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David.”

On Tuesday, Jesus taught in the temple, delighting the crowds.

Sometime during the week, the disciples told Jesus that Greeks had come to see Him—and Jesus replied thus:

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:23–25

And so Jesus illustrated the means of glorification.

He prayed, “Father, glorify your name!” A voice from heaven answered, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” To the crowd of Jews and Greeks, Jesus said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” Not just Jews—all people.

12. (a) When we believe in Jesus, in whom else do we believe (John 12:44, 49)? (b) What happens to those who believe in Jesus (12:46)? (c) What was Jesus’ purpose for coming into the world (12:47)? (d) What is the danger of rejecting Jesus and His words (12:48)? (e) Why are Jesus’ words crucial to accept (12:49)? (f) To what does the Father’s command lead (12:50)? (g) If Jesus was not who He said He was—God’s Son—does this speech allow Him to be a “good teacher”? Explain.

AS YOU READ CHAPTER 25

Journal your answers to these questions as you read through the chapter this week. You may wish to read one day and journal the next, or spread the questions over the whole week.

1. Jesus’ audience thought He was going to establish His kingdom by force (how else would a Messiah overcome the Romans?), but He strongly rebuked Peter for such thinking and showed that His kingdom wields a much different power – the power of love to the unlovable and sacrifice.

2. What stories do you have of God transforming how you think about Kingdom power? During the Festival of Tabernacles, a celebration of God’s provision while Israel wandered in the desert, Jesus claimed to be the way of salvation. Why would He choose this festival to make this claim? How has Jesus shown you that He is your provision for everything, even eternal life?

3. Look up 1 John 1:5-7, 2:8-11. What did Jesus mean when He said, “Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (p. 357)? What does this look like for a Christian living a typical daily life? Does it mean that we will never experience pain or hardship?

4. Why did Jesus delay in going to Mary and Martha when Lazarus was sick? What does this tell you about God’s timing and our ability to understand it? Does this relieve or intensify your own anxieties and concerns?

5. Three times Jesus predicted His death and resurrection (p. 354, 355 & 362; Mark 8:31, 9:30-31, 10:32-34) and followed each with a lesson on discipleship (p. 354; Mark 8:34-38, 9:33-37, 10:35-45). What principles of discipleship did Jesus teach, and why would He relate them to His suffering and death? What is the relationship between belief and following?

6. After Jesus entered Jerusalem as the rightful King of Israel, He cleansed the temple because some had turned it from a house of prayer into a place to extort the poor and a place so “holy” the lame and sinners were kept out, excluded altogether (p. 364). Suppose Jesus walked into our church. With what would He be most pleased? What corrections might He make?


Our Lesson Today:

Who do you say I am?

Is that your final answer?

Matthew 16-17, 21; Mark 8-14; Luke 9, 22; John 7-12

How do you answer the question from Jesus, "Who do you say I am" this morning?
 



You really can’t stay neutral when it comes to Jesus. It’s been said you have to consider Him a liar, a lunatic or the Lord. Are you clear on your beliefs about who Jesus is? Can you clearly articulate your beliefs to others?

Jesus’ clear expression of who He was angered the religious leaders. However, it also gave and gives today great faith among those who believed.

Now that I’m a deacon, I get an email report whenever a church member or relative dies. And we are all watching some in our church like Wade Rooks deal with a death illness. It begs the question:

 

What would you do if you learned today that you were going to die soon?

_____ Panic

_____ Spend time with family and friends

_____ Get right with God

_____ Something else

What are some ways we prepare for death?

• Burial plots, wills, and insurance. How did you feel after you did one or more of these things? Even though everyone knows that death is inevitable, some make no preparation at all. Most of us don’t regularly think of death and, therefore, minimize the reality of it. Minimizing the reality of death in our minds cannot minimize the reality of it in our lives.

..............................


What the caterpillar thinks is the end of the world…the butterfly knows is only the beginning.

In today’s lesson we watch and see how two sisters deal with the death of their brother.

The Story of Lazarus: The story about Lazarus is teaching about how salvation works. Even though we are dead in spirit and way beyond our ability to save ourselves because we are as dead as Lazarus is in our trespasses, there is still the great hope in Jesus and His ability to raise us and save us from our sins apart from us and completely of Him.


I. Death Is a Reality for All - John 11:1-4

1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." (NIV)

Why did Jesus not go immediately to help Lazarus?

• Notice how, although Jesus cared for Lazarus, He didn’t immediately leave to go see him when He found out he was sick. Why is this? Why did Jesus not go immediately? Because He didn’t get the green light from the Father. Jesus takes orders from God, not from the panic we so often feel when we get bad news. When something bad happens, ask the Father how He wants you to respond. Remember He is not far off. He is not uncaring. It may take you some time to connect with Him, but not because He isn’t there—but because you’re cutting through the emotional fog of fear.

1. Get a word from God when you get bad news

2. Walk by faith, not by sight

• Pay attention to Jesus’ response to the news that Lazarus is deathly ill. He doesn’t freak out. He doesn’t worry. In fact, He doesn’t even hurry quickly back to help Lazarus (although He knows He has the power to heal Him). Instead, He prays and gets word from the Father. Then, he simply trusts. He knows how the whole thing is going to turn out. How much worry and stress and grief would we all save ourselves if we were to adopt this mentality? What if we started trusting our spiritual eyes and ears, as much as our literal ones? What if the next time something awful or unexpected happened, we didn’t freak out—we just prayed and asked for guidance?

How would Lazarus’ sickness be for God’s glory and how would Jesus be glorified through it?

• The miracle Jesus performed at Bethany demonstrated clearly for the first time His ability to raise the dead. Others resurrected: Jairus’ daughter, and the widows’ son
• First-century Jewish belief was that a dead person’s spirit hovered around the tomb for three days hoping to re-enter the body. By the third day decay caused the body to pale and facial features to change. By then it became unrecognizable. Then the despondent spirit left the body and entered into Sheol.

Why would God want to make Mary and Martha go through the pain and grief of losing their brother? Why would He make them feel abandoned by Jesus and unloved?

• The Father didn’t want Jesus to get to the house before Lazarus died, because there was more at stake than just their momentary pain (see point #4). The next time something happens that you don’t understand, trust that God knows what He is doing. His timing is perfect, even though we often don’t understand.

3. Trust in His perfect timing


II. Believers Experience Resurrection & Life - John 11:21-27

21 "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" 27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." (NIV)

After proclaiming Himself to be the Resurrection and the Life, Jesus drove His question home to Martha, “Do you believe this?” Jesus claimed that the resurrection was a person, what did He mean?

• There will be a future resurrection, but Jesus is the Resurrection
• Eternal life begins when we meet Jesus
• Jesus asks each of us if we believe Him

What was Martha’s response?

• She believed He was the Son of God. Every believer in Jesus Christ has a confession of faith – a heartfelt conviction revealed by the Holy Spirit about who Jesus is. When Peter confessed Christ as “the Son of the Living God,” Jesus said to him, “This was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 16:17)

1. Remember your faith is going to cause others to believe

• Speaking of redemptive purposes, if you are a person of faith, don’t forget that people are watching you, and they watch even closer when you’re going through a trial. They want to see how you respond, and they want to use your response as evidence to demonstrate whether or not Jesus is real. They want to see if life with Him lives up to the hype. If you walk in faith, and walk in God’s favor, He will use your experiences—even your terrible ones—to draw people to Him. And He will even give you supernatural peace and joy in the process.

III. Jesus Is Sovereign Over Death - John 11:38-40; 43-44

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." 40 Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (NIV)

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." (NIV)

Think of the implications of this story. Jesus is a healer, yes. He’s already demonstrated that in the New Testament. But in this story, the Father is showing us that Jesus has more than just the power to heal. He’s showing us the Father’s power over the grave. In the story of Lazarus, Jesus says: I am the resurrection and the life and one day I will cause all those who believe in Me to live. And to prove that right now, take Me to your brother who has been dead for four days. I will raise him from the dead.

God has a plan that is bigger than just our momentary pain and struggle. He cares about us, cries with us, and gets angry at what sin has brought into the world. But His biggest and most primary goal is to bring glory to the Father so that people would believe in Him and receive eternal life. This should be our primary goal as well.

1. Trust in His resurrection power

Martha was uncomfortable with the stone being moved away from her brother’s tomb, but Jesus asked her to move out of her comfort zone. She had repeated her conviction about who Jesus was, but now she needed to trust Him as the One who is sovereign over death.

We can know many things about Jesus and be absolutely correct; however, unless we believe in Jesus, we are without hope.

Knowing about Jesus is not the same as knowing Jesus. Can you check off each statement about your relationship with Jesus?

_______ I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for my sins.

_______ I have told Jesus I’m sorry for my sins.

_______ I have asked Jesus to forgive my sins.

_______ I have invited Jesus into my heart and life.


Are you able to place a check by all four of the statements above? If so, then how should knowing Christ as Savior impact your life? In what ways can our lives demonstrate that we have been spiritually raised to life?




 

Who do you say I am and is that your final answer?

A popular game show has the host ask each participant the same question before they show them the answer to their question. They always ask: “Is that your final answer?” The idea being that the contestant still has time to change his or her mind.

Before you even take time to think about it, answer this question: “Who is Jesus to you?” What is your answer? Is He your Savior? Is He your Lord? Is that your final answer?

Is He a great teacher and leader of men? Is He a good example? Is He a myth? Is that your final answer?

If you can honestly say that Jesus is your Savior and the Lord of your life, then you should praise the Lord today. If you have any other answer, you need to know that there is still time to change that answer. If you have never trusted Jesus as Lord and Savior, you need to do that today. If He is calling you to come to Him, now is the time to do just that. If He is speaking to you, please heed His call and come to Jesus. Come now!




PRAYER: Dear Jesus, You spoke so many times about who You are: the Bread of Life, the great I AM, the light of the world, etc. Help me to see who You are more and more as I read more of Your story. Help me to understand who You are in the Father, so that I can continue to see who I am in You more clearly. God, thank You for claiming me as your child through Jesus.


See you on Sunday!


In His Love,


David & Susan