John: Week 42 (Wednesday, December 4 2019)

(from www.insightforliving.org.uk)

 

Chapter 21: 24-25

 

LET’S BEGIN HERE

By the time John wrote his gospel, the end of the first century was near. Some sixty years passed since Jesus died—a long time to linger over the memories of His life. With an eye for specific details that would substantiate his purpose, John selected just the right scenes to include in his magnificent biography of Jesus. As you reflect on this great story John authored, what scenes are most powerful to you personally?

 

YOUR TURN IN THE SCRIPTURES

Take a few moments to return to the opening scenes from John’s gospel. Slowly skim through the gospel, pausing at spots where perhaps you underlined a line or word to consider its significance. You may even review some of your Searching the Scriptures lessons. Pause and thank the Lord for speaking to you through this moving study.

 

Observation: The Signs He Performed

Observation, the process of looking closely at the details of a passage of Scripture, helps you start to understand the setting and key ideas. John clearly stated that he wrote his gospel with one overarching goal: “that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name” (John 20:31).

Sign 1: Jesus, Master over Quality

John began his gospel with some very compelling miracles or “signs,” as he refers to them. The first scene is the wedding at

Cana in John 2:1–11. Reread that section. What miracle or sign did Jesus perform?

 

Who was there to witness this sign?

 

According to John, what did this sign reveal about Jesus (John 2:11)?

 

Sign 2: Jesus, Master over Distance

The second sign John included involved the healing of the official’s son (John 4:46–54). What is unique about this sign, particularly related to Jesus’ proximity to the miracle?

 

How many people were impacted by this sign according to John’s account?

 

How did the official and his family respond to this sign (4:53)?

 

Sign 3: Jesus, Master over Time

The third sign involved the healing of a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years (John 5:1–9). Where did Jesus perform this sign?

 

What was significant about the period during which Jesus performed this sign?

 

What was the question Jesus asked the man (5:6)?

 

Sign 4: Jesus, Master over Quantity and Size

The fourth sign involved Jesus feeding a multitude of people with only a small helping of food (John 6:1–14). Where did this sign take place?

 

Who would have witnessed this sign and benefited from it?

 

What details did John include to help you understand the significance of this sign?

 

Sign 5: Jesus, Master over Nature

This sign occurred on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus miraculously walked on water (John 6:16–21). What details did John include about the reaction of the disciples to Jesus’ approach?

 

What happened once the disciples invited Jesus into the boat?

 

Sign 6: Jesus, Master over Misfortune

This sign involved Jesus healing a blind man (John 9:1–7). How long had the man Jesus healed been blind?

 

What reason did Jesus give His disciples for why this man had to endure his affliction?

 

Sign 7: Jesus, Master over Death

Perhaps the greatest sign of them all involved Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11). Where did Jesus perform this sign?

 

Why is this sign the apex of all those Jesus performed?

 

By highlighting these remarkable events in Jesus’ ministry, John moved his readers to a place of decision: Believe and receive, or don’t believe and reject the offer of Jesus.

 

Interpretation: The Things Jesus Did

To move his readers to that place of decision, John concluded his gospel with a compelling summary statement:

This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate. Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written. (John 21:24–25)

What do you think John meant when, referring to himself, he wrote, “This disciple is the one who testifies to these events” (21:24)?

 

Each of the disciples, following Christ’s ascension, made a significant impact on the life and growth of the early church. And each died a martyr’s death. The resurrected Savior and divine enablement at Pentecost (Acts 2) moved them to spend the remaining portion of their lives proclaiming the gospel to far and distant lands and ultimately to give their lives in His name. That’s why John boldly declared that the signs and miracles of Jesus could never be contained in all the books that could be written, past or future.

In his message, Chuck Swindoll stated that “in each of the seven miracles, Jesus demonstrated absolute control over factors of life with which humans are unable to cope or to control.” John presented Jesus as the supernatural answer to all of life’s greatest needs and ills, and He met all of our needs in becoming human Himself. Yet the miracles and stories of Jesus’ life and ministry are not confined to the Gospels—they are, in fact, applied by the apostles to the subsequent writings of the New Testament. In these letters, we see the miracle of Christ’s power applied in the life and growth of the church.

 

Correlation: How Does It Relate?

Correlation is the step in the Searching the Scriptures process that uses related passages of Scripture to support your interpretation. Read each passage below and write a summary sentence explaining the verse’s relationship to John’s passion for spurring people toward belief.

Acts 2:40–41

 

Acts 3:1–8

 

Acts 16:31

 

Application: Facing Your Impossibility with Jesus

Chuck closed his message from John 21 with two compelling and personal applications:

1. The best training ground for your faith is the realm of human impossibility. What are you facing today that can only be resolved if Christ intervenes and demonstrates His power?

 

2. The only solution for your impossibility is divine intervention. What attitude or obstacle is preventing you from bringing your impossibility to Jesus? What would it take for you to fully surrender to Him?

 

A FINAL PRAYER

Thank You, Father, for making it possible for John to experience everything he needed to write this great gospel! Thank you for making it plain that You sent Your Son, the exalted Lamb of God, to take away my sin. I praise You for this gift . . . and from this time forth, I devote my life to serving Christ and proclaiming His message of grace and love. In Jesus’ exalted name, amen.