“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jesus was sent to save. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned. Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light and into God’s sight.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 4, Day 4: John 3:16-21
10) They shall not perish but have eternal life. They are not condemned. They come into the light.
11)
John 3:16: Nonbelievers will perish.
John 3:17-19: Whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:36: Whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9: He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.
12) I am encouraged because I know I will have everlasting life.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 4, Day 4: John 3:16-21
LOVE John 3:16. So simple and straightforward of God’s love for me. Always gives me shivers.
End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 4, Day 4: John 3:16-21
Fun fact: There are 31,102 verses in the Bible.
John 3:16 is perhaps the most well-known and most loved.
God loved the world (all of us, not just the Jews). God gave his most precious gift. We have to believe. God will save forever. God’s love is boundless.
Jesus came to save believers. All others are condemned. Those who do not believe love darkness more than light.
While Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover, many people saw him do signs and believed in his signs. He knew the hearts of others and knew many did not believe in him.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 3, Day 5: John 2:23-25
11a) The disciples believed in who Jesus was. The belief of many was superficial, as they believed in what Jesus was doing.
b) It doesn’t really challenge my faith, but it does emphasize the importance of believing in Jesus versus what he can do for you.
12a) He knew that many would be against him, so he had to be careful so he could fulfill his duty for mankind. He also could not commit to others who did not believe in him.
b) It’s comforting, actually. I know that Jesus knows what I’m feeling even when I can’t express it.
c) He draws me every day, by being there for me, by putting others in my life I can help and who help me, and by putting His work in front of me to do.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 3, Day 5: John 2:23-25
Love the differentiation of belief here. Many people believe in what Jesus can/does do for them, but they don’t believe in him and his sacrifice for us. Super important for us to keep in mind when we are talking to others about Jesus since many come to Jesus looking for him to do something in their lives, rather than looking for Jesus himself.
End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 3, Day 5: John 2:23-25
It’s important that we, as believers, remember that Jesus does know our heart and our heart’s motivations. Even if we believe in Jesus, we must still be vigilant in our actions and our motivations in life. Sin is always closer than we think.
Jesus attends a wedding with his mother and disciples in Galilee. When they run out of wine, Mary asks Jesus to help. Jesus turns water into wine for the wedding banquet. It was choice wine.
This is the first of many signs that Jesus performed that revealed his glory and who he was. Jesus then traveled to Capernaum.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 3, Day 2: John 2:1-12
3a) They ran out of wine for the wedding banquet. This is an embarrassment and could bring shame upon the couple. Hospitality was huge back in ancient times, and failing to provide your guests with adequate drink was a major faux pas.
b) I think Mary was asking Jesus for a solution, not necessarily a miracle. We see this when she tells her servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. She responds with obedience.
c) If you approach Jesus with the expectation he will do what you want, you can expect a poor response. If you approach Jesus with an open heart and looking for help, you can expect him to answer in his way.
d) Jesus is hesitant to reveal himself yet to the masses, but he does so.
4) Miracles but also answering people’s requests with an active answer.
5a) Jesus did something only the Messiah could do.
b) It shows me that not only is anything possible with God, but anything is possible when you have an open heart and mind.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 3, Day 2: John 2:1-12
I love this miracle! It solves a basic human need (drink) and helps avoid an embarrassing situation (shows Jesus’ compassion), and it’s done in an unpresumptuous way.
End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 3, Day 2: John 2:1-12
Jesus blesses weddings (he does this as we see by attending them). He blesses events in our lives when we invite him in.
It is presumed that Joseph died young since he is not mentioned here. Many Bible scholars believe Jesus took care of the family until they were of age. This is why he stayed in Nazareth and left when they were all cared for.
Mary probably approaches Jesus as the head of the household who is used to solving problems. It’s no different today from going to your family members to solve problems.
By calling Mary “woman,” Jesus is distancing himself since he is now in the public eye.
Fun Fact: Many only appears in the Gospel of John one more time — at the cross (John 19:26)
When Jesus spoke of “his hour,” he meant the cross.
Jesus most likely prayed before performing this miracle and did not do it just to please Mary.
Note that not very many words of Mary’s are recorded in the Bible. Those that are point to Jesus as Sovereign. As we see here, you are to do whatever he tells you to do.
Jesus used the existing water pots, allowing the servants who filled them to share in his miracle.
The pots were filled to the brim; a transformation was coming, not an additive to the water.
They took out the water in faith that was now wine.
Whether the wine was transformed in the pot or at the pouring, we do not know. There was extra, which the couple could have sold for more money for a start in life.
This is the FIRST of SEVEN signs recorded in John’s Gospel, each designed to bring the reader to faith in Jesus.
John the Baptist says he is not the Messiah, Elijah, or a prophet when asked who he was by the Jewish leaders. Instead, he quotes Isaiah and says he’s the one preparing the way for the Lord.
The leaders ask John why he baptizes then if he’s not the Messiah. He says he baptizes with water. He says that Jesus is coming after him. They do not know him, but he is not worthy to untie his sandals.
This happened in Bethany on the other side of the Jordan where John was baptizing.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 2, Day 2: John 1:19-28
3)
Question 1 – 1:19-20 Question: Who are you? John answered, “I am not the Messiah.”
Question 2 – 1:21a (Malachi 3:1; 4:5) Question: Are you Elijah? John answered: “I am not.”
Question 3 – 1:21b (Deuteronomy 18:15) Question: Are you the Prophet? John answered: “No.”
Question 4 – 1:22-23 (Isaiah 40:3) Question: Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John answered: “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
Question 5 – 1:24-27 Question: “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered: “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know.He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
4) He was solid in his identity. He understood Jesus was much greater than him. John is very clear about his purpose and calling and never questions it. He wants no attention on himself.
5) John never wavers. He quotes the Bible for his answers. He makes simple statements. He is straightforward. I think we all could be like this.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 2, Day 2: John 1:19-28
I love how John does not cave when confronted by the Jewish leaders. He stands firm in his purpose and for the Lord. Fabulous!
End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 2, Day 2: John 1:19-28
Here, we see for the first time in John’s Gospel the word “Jews,” referring to one particular group here, the religious leaders.
Fun Fact: Jews meaning Jewish leaders appears almost 70 times in John’s Gospel.
John says who he is not, not who he is. He does not want any attention focused on himself.
When evening approached, a rich man named Joseph of Arimathea who had become a disciple of Jesus asked Pilate for Jesus’s body. He wrapped Jesus’s body in clean linen cloth and put him in his tomb. He rolled a big stone in front of it. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sat outside the tomb.
The Romans made the tomb secure so that the disciples could not come and take Jesus’s body and tell people he had been raised from the dead as Jesus preached he would do on the third day. So Pilate ordered a guard to secure Jesus’s tomb by putting a seal on the stone and posting a guard.
Questions for Matthew 27:57-66
12) Joseph prepared Jesus’s body in rich clothes and placed in a nice tomb. Joseph used his best for Jesus. His body was prepared according to Jewish customs. He was buried in a new, costly tomb. He was definitely dead if treated as such.
13) The Romans made the tomb secure so that the disciples could not come and take Jesus’s body and tell people he had been raised from the dead as Jesus preached he would do on the third day. Little did the chief priests and the Pharisees realize that they actually helped prove the resurrection. God used people (Jesus’ enemies) to help prove the resurrection. How awesome!
14) It offers hope amidst all the sadness. There is hope to hold onto even in the midst of incredible sadness and despair.
Conclusions to WordGo Christ’s Life and Work Matthew 27:57-66
God is doing more, even if we can’t see it. His ways are not our ways. God is in the circumstances, and He will work them for good. All you have to do is trust Him.
BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 30, Day 6: Maturing His People
13) Faithful
14) It’s hard to know specifics, but I believe I am to walk my path where God has put me, one day at a time.
15) Having control over my thoughts. It’s something I need to work on.
16) Dear Lord. Thank you for pursuing me even when I run the other way. Thank you for growing me closer to you and for the opportunity to get to know you better. Thank you for the peace this brings me. Thank you for the Holy Spirit. Thank you for others in my life. Amen.