Introduction
Memory Text: “
‘But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has
given Me to finish¾the
very works that I do¾bear
witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me’ ” (John 5:36, NKJV).
The world was created through Jesus Christ, the Messiah
(hammashiach) and yet the world did not know Him. This week’s lesson covers
more ways John revealed Jesus as the Messiah and why some people decided to
reject Him¾despite
all powerful reasons affirming Him as the Christ.
What is the first witness in this week’s lesson to Jesus’ relationship with
the Father?
Jesus showed His close relationship with the Father through
the signs, works and wonders He performed. And yet, despite the powerful signs
and the testimonies from different people, people still chose not to believe.
What is another witness to Jesus in this week’s lesson?
Jesus points to the authority of the Scripture as a key
witness to Him, and not only Jesus, but others as well, like Philip said, “ ‘We
have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets , wrote’ ” (John
1:45, NKJV).
How does some of the New Testament texts shared in Tuesday’s lesson link
with Old Testament passages in witnessing to Jesus?
John 1:23, Isa. 40:3 – Isaiah wrote about the voice of one
crying in the wilderness in Isaiah 40:3 and it is fulfilled in Johns
preparation of the way for the Messiah.
John 2:16, 17; Ps. 69:9 – John 2:16, 17 is linked with the
Psalm 69:9
John 7:38, Jer. 2:13 – John 7:38 is also linked with the
text from Jer. 2:13
John 19:36, Num. 9:12 – The Passover pointed to Jesus and as
part of the fulfillments, not one bone was to be broken.
Not just John, but Peter, Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and all
the New Testament writers, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, time and
again stress how Jesus of Nazareth’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension
to the throne of God are all fulfillments of the Old Testament prophecies.
What do the passages in Wednesday’s lesson from John’s gospel reveal about
Jesus as a fulfillment of Messianic prophecy?
The scriptures authority was acknowledged in John 12:13
where the multitude went out to meet Jesus, and cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is
He who comes in the name of the LORD! The King of Israel!” according to Ps.
118:26.
Zech. 9:9 described the characteristics of the King, and we
see these characteristics fulfilled in Jesus.
Ps. 41:9 talks about betrayal and we see this scripture been
fulfilled as Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus Christ.
Zechariah prophesied about the coming of the Messiah, about
the death of the Messiah and he wrote, “ “And I will pour on the house of David
and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then
they will look on Me whom they pierce. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one
mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” ”
Zech. 12:10, he also wrote, “And one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds
between your arms? Then he will answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the
house of my friends.’”
What are some of the lessons that can be drawn from the dynamics between Jesus
and these religious leaders in John 8:12-30?
The religious leaders neither knew Jesus nor the Father
because they were so caught up in their traditions and philosophies that they
were self-deceived.
Secondly, Jesus tells them, “ ‘You are from beneath’ ” (John
8:28), they had a form of godliness but denied its power. These religious
leaders not only deceived themselves but deceived others as well, but despite
this bad leadership, many Jews were able to get beyond it and see for
themselves, who Jesus was (John 8:30).