WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN BSF JOHN’S GOSPEL: THE TRUTH LESSON 18
- Our failures teach us to depend on God
- If you worry, you need more faith
- When you know/see Jesus, you know/see God
- Truth takes away our doubts
- Hard truth grows our faith
Category: BSF John’s Gospel: The Truth 2023/2024
Welcome to AtoZMom’s BSF Blog! Learn about the apostle John as we study BSF International, or Bible Study Fellowship (BSF)’s study of the book of John called “BSF John’s Gospel: The Truth.” See Jesus through John’s eyes and grow in your relationship with him in this rewarding bible study. See all of the 12 Apostles learn from Jesus as they walk with him to the cross and to our eternal salvation.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 18, Day 5: John 14:5-14
Summary of John 14:5-14
Confused, Thomas asks Jesus the way. Jesus says,”I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.”
Philip asks to see God, and Jesus says that by seeing him they have seen God. Jesus is in the Father, and the Father is in Jesus. If you believe in him [Jesus], you will do great things. Jesus will do whatever you ask in his name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask Jesus for anything in his name, and he will do it.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 18, Day 5: John 14:5-14
13a) “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
b) He was confused, and the disciples wanted to go with Jesus.
c) “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Jesus meant if you believe in him as the Savior, you will be with God for all of eternity. And, you will know God through knowing Jesus.
14) “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”
15a) Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. It is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
b) The works is spreading the Good News about who Jesus is. Jesus is going away, leaving his disciples to carry on his work for him. Therefore, they will bring more people to God.
16) So many. I am encouraged because it shows we can ask Jesus anything, and he will answer.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 18, Day 5: John 14:5-14
I love how simple Jesus makes it: he is the way and his way leads to truth and life.
End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 18, Day 5: John 14:5-14
The disciples always ask clarifying questions; it shows us that we can ask those questions, too.
Jesus’ 6th I am Statement: I am the way, the truth, and the life.
Jesus is the only way to God. To know Jesus is to know God.
Philip’s question teaches us that you can be “close” to God and still not know him.
Jesus spoke God’s words.
“Very truly” marks the first of 3 assurances Jesus will give his disciples on his last night alive. They will carry on his work. It will be greater because they will reach more people than Jesus could in his lifetime on earth.
The Holy Spirit would come so the disciples could accomplish his work.
These works would be possible because they asked in Jesus’ name according to his character and authority and he would respond.
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BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 18, Day 4: John 14:1-4
SUMMARY OF JOHN 14:1-4
Jesus comforts his disciples after telling them he is going away by saying he will prepare a place for them in his Father’s house, and he will come back and take them to be with him.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 18, Day 4: John 14:1-4
9) Do not let your hearts be troubled. I am going there [Father’s house] to prepare a place for you. I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.
10) The same as it comforts us; it tells them and us that we will forever be with Jesus and don’t have to stay here alone.
11) One days, all will be made right, and we’ll all get to be with Jesus forever. We’ll get to see our dearly missed friends, family, and pets again. The world will be whole as it was meant to be.
12) False comfort is found in material things that do not last or in broken people who do betray us. Nothing can satisfy us but the love of Jesus.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 18, Day 4: John 14:1-4
I always love when Jesus speaks to us and comfort us. It warms my heart.
End Notes: BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 18, Day 4: John 14:1-4
Life is full of troubles, but with Jesus, you can have an untroubled heart.
Jesus is preparing a place for us out of love. And, the best part: Jesus is there, waiting for us with open arms!
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BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 18, Day 3: John 13:36-38
Summary of John 13:36-38
Peter asks Jesus where he was going. Jesus says they cannot go now, but they will follow later. Peter wants to go, saying he’ll lay down his life for him. Jesus then tells him he will deny him three times before the rooster crows.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 18, Day 3: John 13:36-38
6) Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” The disciples have been following Jesus everywhere now for three years and expected to continue to do so. They were confused by his statement of his leaving.
7a) Jesus promised they would follow later. He warned Peter that he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed.
b) Disbelief. Peter never thought he’d deny Jesus.
8 ) Honestly, relief. It’s comforting to know there is purpose in my life, and I’m not just going willy-nilly.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 18, Day 3: John 13:36-38
I love this! It not only shows Peter is human, but it shows that even Jesus’ disciples have their moments of weakness, AND Jesus forgave Peter as he forgives all of us.
End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 18, Day 3: John 13:36-38
Christ has to die first for Peter before Peter can die for Christ. This is the lesson Peter learned.
Judas’ denial is deliberate; Peter’s was not planned and in the heat of the moment. They are different.
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BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 18, Day 2: John 13:31-35
SUMMARY OF JOHN 13:31-35
God is glorified in Jesus, and God will glorify the Son in himself. Jesus will be leaving soon.
Jesus gives his disciples a new command to love one another as he has loved them.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 18, Day 2: John 13:31-35
3a) 1) Now the Son of Man is glorified and 2) God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, 3) God will glorify the Son in himself, and 4) will glorify him at once.
b) Jesus is equal to God and will have sovereign, authority, and power over all. He sits at God’s right hand.
c) The world’s definition of glory is high renown or honor won by notable achievements. God’s glory is His magnificence of who He is and what He does. It is His holiness, and we see it in all of creation. It is His holiness on display for all to see. Great definition of the glory of God HERE
4) We all are God’s children, and here Jesus is calling them his and is putting himself in the role of teaching them. They have a lot of growing up to do, and he meant it with care and tenderness. The disciples may have seen Jesus in a new light and seen him as more of a father figure.
5a) To love one another as Jesus has loved them. It’s important because it’s how we show Christ to others and how we grow closer to Christ.
b) In every situation to be honest. I always need to be more loving and compassionate towards others.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 18, Day 2: John 13:31-35
I love looking at the word “glory” and how even that word is insufficient to describe God.
End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 18, Day 2: John 13:31-35
Fun Fact: Jesus used the word “glory” here 5 times.
The cross will bring Jesus glory.
Fun Fact: This is the only place in the Bible where Jesus calls his disciples “children.”
Love is how Christians interact with the world and would be the mark of Christians in the world.
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Friday Digest BSF John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN BSF JOHN’S GOSPEL: THE TRUTH LESSON 17
- We all have a choice to accept or reject Jesus
- God does not leave us to our own devices; He grants us the Holy Spirit to empower us to resist Satan, obey God, and grow to be like Jesus
- We need to regularly acknowledge and confess our sins for spiritual cleansing
- Satan is always lurking; fortify yourself with God’s power
- Growth is a process; show yourself grace, as God shows you His
TAKE AWAY: Blessings come from those who act on their knowledge.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 5: John 13:22-30
Summary of John 12:22-30
The disciples were confused and wanted to know who would betray Jesus. Jesus said whomever he gave the bread to would betray him. He gave the bread to Judas, and Satan entered him. Jesus told him to betray him quickly, and Judas left. The rest of the disciples presumed he was sent on an errand by Jesus, not that he was the betrayer.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 5: John 13:22-30
13a) Satan had a hold of Judas’ heart, and it was night.
b) Satan is always lurking, and we must constantly be vigilant in order to keep him at bay.
14) Jesus loved Judas no matter what sins he would commit. Unconditional love. So we must show this, too.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 5: John 13:22-30
I love how Jesus spared the other disciples the knowledge of Judas’ betrayal. It probably would have distracted them from the important last day of Jesus and the lessons he would teach. In addition, it shows how Jesus often spares us from knowledge for our benefit.
End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 5: John 13:22-30
Peter desperately wanted to know who the betrayer was, so he asked John (the disciple whom Jesus loved who was sitting next to Jesus) to ask.
Fun Fact: John refers to himself as “the one whom Jesus loved” 4 times in his Gospel (John 13:23), (John 19:26), (John 20:2), and (John 21:20).
They most likely were laying on their stomachs for the meal. John and Judas sat next to Jesus. Judas was in the place of honor on the left side of Jesus. He could easily speak to him without being overheard.
The dipping of the bread was an honor, which was a sign of love.
Jesus told John the identity of the betrayer, but he says nothing.
Judas has multiple chances to repent.
Judas had decided to betray Jesus earlier (John 13:2), but the devil entered after the giving of the bread. Judas chose to let Satan in, as we all have free will and choices.
If the disciples had known who the betrayer was, they would have stopped him. This was not God’s plan, so the knowledge was hidden from them for the benefit of ours. We should well remember this when we don’t understand things in our lives, yet we petition God for answers who does not give them — often for our benefit.
Even those with the best teachers can (and do) fall, as we see pastors, too.
Even in the presence of the brightest Light of the World, Judas chose darkness. Never underestimate the power of Satan. Fortify yourself with the Word and power of God.
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BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 4: John 13:18-21
Summary of John 13:18-21
Jesus said, “Whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me,” meaning God.
He also says one of them will betray him.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 4: John 13:18-21
9a) It was predicted that Jesus would be betrayed in Psalm 41:9: Even my close friend,
someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
has turned against me.
b) That if Jesus was betrayed, we can be betrayed, too. Yet, Jesus forgave Judas, as we must forgive those who betray us, too.
10a) The devil. The devil has a way to twist everything, even what we see with our own eyes. We must be wary of this and fortify ourselves with the power of Jesus in order to overcome.
b) Betrayal is a violation of your trust in someone else. Because it’s someone we know and care about (or someone we think we know), which hurts more than a stranger because we trusted them.
11) Another example of his omniscient powers to strengthen the disciples’ faith in him and for later generations to have more faith, too.
12) Because he loved Judas, and no one wants to see their loved one go down the wrong path of evil.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 4: John 13:18-21
Jesus loves despite betrayal. So must we.
End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 4: John 13:18-21
When you reject Jesus, you reject God, too.
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BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 3: John 13:6-17
SUMMARY JOHN 13:6-17
Peter did not want Jesus to wash his feet, but Jesus explained he would be clean this way.
Jesus told them that now they must wash the feet of others as he has. No servant is greater than his master, and if they do, they will be blessed.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 3: John 13:6-17
6a) By accepting Jesus as their Savior, their whole body was clean, not just a part. We must accept Jesus’ cleansing if we are to live.
b) All of the disciples except Judas was clean because he was about to betray Jesus. His heart did not believe in Jesus. I am clean because I believe in Jesus!
7) Because Jesus lowered himself below his disciples, and he is God. Jesus was a servant to others despite who he was.
8a) That it is an honor to serve others and be humble. It is something we should do often.
b) I think with my family.
c) Too many to list here. The more you give, the more you receive.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 3: John 13:6-17
Great example of accepting help when offered. Too many of us reject help when we need it, being too proud or self-sufficient. Let others serve you because they gain so much.
End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 3: John 13:6-17
Peter goes from refusing too little to demanding too much here. Jesus must set him straight.
There is a sense that we must continually be bathed in Jesus’ graces as we grow with him, not to be saved mind you.
Jesus made sure to explain his actions to the disciples because it was so important. They are to show the same humble and sacrificial love to one another.
God blesses those who are servants to others.
We regularly acknowledge and confess our sins to be spiritually cleansed and closer to Jesus.
Anything we do for others is service, from holding the door open to giving someone a compliment or asking how they are doing. Cheering people up is service, too. It does not have to be as dramatic as actually washing feet.
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BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 2: John 13:1-5
SUMMARY OF JOHN 13:1-5
Just before Passover Jesus knew his time had come. He also knew Judas would betray him. He washed his disciples’ feet.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 2: John 13:1-5
3) That his time had come to return to the Father. He also knew Judas would betray him.
4a) “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”
b) He humbled himself completely by doing something only slaves did at the time.
5) That Jesus was about to sacrifice his life for the sake of the world by becoming the sacrificial lamb that was used during Passover to signify God’s protection over His people and how He brought them out of Egypt. Jesus would be the ultimate sacrifice.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 2: John 13:1-5
So great! I love how Christ has no pretension about himself!
End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 17, Day 2: John 13:1-5
John 13 begins the 3rd Division of the Gospel of John, also known as the Upper Room Discourse. Here, John focuses on Jesus’ last days with the disciples.
We must remember that Judas had a choice, as we all do — to accept Jesus or reject him.
“The Bible says believers have symbolically applied the sacrificial blood of Christ to their hearts and thus have escaped eternal death (Hebrews 9:12, 14). Just as the Passover lamb’s applied blood caused the “destroyer” to pass over each household, Christ’s applied blood causes God’s judgment to pass over sinners and gives life to believers (Romans 6:23).”
source: Gotquestions
Jesus had about 24 hours left on this side of heaven at this point. He would mostly be focused on preparing his disciples.
Jesus loved us “to the fullest” aka “to the end.” here. An unending love.
We see this sentiment before: Jesus said The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. (John 3:35)
Jesus knew exactly from whence he came and where he was going to. Do you?
Washing the disciples’ feet was the ultimate act of love. Never would a teacher wash his students’ feet in Jewish culture. Here, in this act, Jesus showed true greatness (previously, his disciples had been arguing who was the greatest among them Luke 22:23 .)
Typically, the lowest servant of the house would wash the feet of the guests as they entered someone’s home. For some reason, this didn’t happen when Jesus and the disciples came into the room. They ate their meal with dirty feet.
They were sitting at a very low table (triclinium), which made washing their feet even more challenging.
Interestingly, if the disciples had washed Jesus’ feet, they would have had to offer to wash everyone’s feet, which would have put them in an inferior position to each other.
Jesus always used actions to teach. He showed true humility. Actions always speak louder than words.
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