The themes in the gospel written by John the apostle.

We've just finished the study of the gospel written by Mark.
Mark took us on a whirl wind tour of Christ's life on earth as the Messiah.
His was probably the first gospel written.

This new quarter we look at an account of the gospel written much later, after the news of the gospel had been preached in much of the Roman Empire. A new generation was on the scene that was not alive when Jesus was on earth. A lot of things had changed, including the fall the of Jerusalem in 70 AD. John, himself, who was probably the youngest of the disciples, was now an old man, the last still alive of the original twelve.

In many ways it was written for us, who never had the physical Jesus among us. We need to find and believe in Jesus by faith, not sight.
"That we may BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing we may have life in His name." John 20:30
This statement is for us.
"Jesus said to Thomas, because you have seen me, you believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." John 20:29

SIGNS
People kept asking for signs.
John 2:18 "What sign do you show to us, seeing that You do these things?
John 6:30 "What sign do you show us then, that we may see, and believe thee? what do you work?

The people want signs.
What John is pointing out is that the signs were given, they were in plain sight, BUT the people still did not believe and demanded Jesus show a sign that they specify at the time they they specify. Yet, Jesus never produced a sign at their demand. If they had eyes to see and ears to hear they would recognize the signs were all there. If they chose not to believe, no display of signs would be given at their request to satisfy their curiosity or their false expectations.

John chose to write about seven miracles as signs.
All of them point to Christ's ministry and our need for Christ to work a spiritual renovation in our lives.

1. Water Into Wine (John 2:1-11) Six empty jars of stone were filled with water which He then turned into wine. These six stone jars normally held water used for ceremonial cleansing, but He turned it to wine, the symbol of His cleansing blood.


2. Healing the Nobelman?s Son (John 4:43-54) A lesson on the necessity of faith! Do we take Jesus at His word and believe, or demand more evidence.

3. The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-15) Do we want to be made whole? No man devised method or law can make us whole. Only Jesus can.


4. The Feeding of the 5000 (John 6:1-5) Physical food is for the moment, it perishes, but Jesus says I AM the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty (John 6:35). Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you (6:27)

5: Walking on the Water (John 6:16-25) A storm was threatening the disciples' lives when they saw Jesus walking toward them on the water. The Master of earth and sea! When they recognized Him they let him into the boat and immediately reached their destination. Without Him, they were struggling, sinking, but with Him they arrived.

6: Healing The Man Born Blind (John 9:1-41) Physical blindness is contrasted with the spiritual blindness of many. Jesus said He came so the blind would see and those who claim they can see, but refuse to really see, would become blind.

7. Cleansing of the temple. (John 2) Cleansing the soul temple from sin. Jesus death on the cross tears down the old and builds up the new.

He gave the ones that help the people and gave honor and glory to God, and showed the work that God does..

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

The focus on SEVENS in John's writings.

We know there are a lot of sevens in Revelation.
Seven churches, seven spirits, seven candlesticks, seven stars, seven lamps, seven seals, seven horns, seven eyes, seven trumpets, seven angels, seven thunders, seven heads, seven crowns, seven plagues, seven vials, seven mountains, seven kings.

But we usually don't hear that much about the sevens in the gospel written by John.

He gives seven miracles which are called signs. Signs of what?
"they are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." 20:31

There are seven I AM statements:

In the Old Testament, God revealed His name to Moses: ?I AM WHO I AM. Exodus 3:14.
When Jesus said: In (John 8:58) , Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. The verbs Jesus uses are in stark contrast with each other: Abraham was, I AM.
The Jews understood Jesus was claiming to be one with God, and they picked up stones to stone Him. They understood what John also told us was true, in the first verse of this gospel, but they would not believe.

John records seven I AM statements of Jesus.

1. "I am the bread of life. (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)
2. "I am the light of the world. (John 8:12; 9:5)
3. "I am the door. (John 10:7 and 9,)
4. "I am the good shepherd. (John 10:11, 14)
5. "I am the way and the truth and the life. (John 14:6)
6. "I am the true vine. (John 15:1, 5).
7. "I am the resurrection and the life. (John 11:25)

"I am He" (John 18:4?6) and the mob drew back and fell to the ground, for at that moment (for a brief moment) His divinity flashed through His humanity. But they still would not believe.

Lesson One

The Wedding in Cana
John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
John 2:11 NKJV, This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and manifested His glory and His disciples believed in Him.

There are several things that help us better understand our Savior.

1. He showed His sympathy for people, and His desire to minister to their happiness, coming into close contact with people in their daily lives: linking Himself with the interests of humanity.
2. He mingled with people to benefit them and to win their friendship, rejoice with them.
3. He honored the marriage covenant by performing His first miracle to enhance the wedding. By attending this feast, Jesus honored marriage as a divine institution.


Why did He answer His mother the way He did?
1. It was not a rude remark, though it sounds that way in English.
2. Mary, for thirty years had treasured the events of His birth in her heart, but did not understand her Son's mission. Like others she was eager for Him to finally declare Himself, show His power, take the throne and bring freedom and peace to Israel.
Jesus gently told her that time was not now.
3. A mother is the guide of the child's early life, but Jesus was not only the "son of man" He was the "Son of God", even at the age of twelve, He gently pointed out that He needed to be about His Father's business. He had come to do His heavenly Father's will, and though He loved and respected His earthly parents, His heavenly Father's will for His life was His guide.

What spiritual truth did this miracle provide?
1. Those water pots were generally used to hold water for purification rituals. The water represented baptism into His death; the wine, the shedding of His blood for the sins of the world.

"At the first feast, the wedding in Cana, He attended with His disciples, Jesus gave them the cup that symbolized His work for their salvation. At the last supper He gave it again, in the institution of that sacred rite by which His death was to be shown forth "till He come." 1 Corinthians 11:26

2. "To the mind of Jesus the gladness of the wedding festivities pointed forward to the rejoicing of that day when He shall bring home His bride to the Father's house, and the redeemed with the Redeemer shall sit down to the marriage supper of the Lamb....
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready." "Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." Revelation 19:6, 7, 9. {DA 151.1}

John Introduces the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

What or Who is the Word? Verse 14 tells us:
1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
It is Jesus, Immanuel, God with us.

The text links right back to the first verse in scripture.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God....

In the beginning GOD WAS there.
In the beginning JESUS WAS there.

Jesus, the Logos or Word, (the communicating link of God with humans), was there in the beginning, there is no starting date for Him, He was already there in the beginning.

* Jesus, the Word was with God (the Father) from the beginning
* Jesus, the Word, was God (in the highest sense, he is God)
* He is God with God the Father!

John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Gen 1: 26) and God said, Let US make.....

* Jesus was the active Creator, the One Who spoke and it was so (Ps. 33:9), the One Who got down on His knees and shaped the first human with His own hands and breathed into him the breath of life. (Gen.2:8) He created everything that was created. Without Him nothing was created.

John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

This Word is LIFE, life underived, His is Self existent Life, which He gives to His creatures.
Without His life being continually given to us to sustain us physically, mentally, spiritually we could not live. As Paul said: "In Him we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:28)
Throughout John's gospel he shows Christ pleading with people to believe, that believing they might have life through his name.

John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Light is truth! Jesus is the truth and the light without Him there is only darkness.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
3:20 For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
3:21 But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

The Word was Made Flesh

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The Word, a personal being Who was with God the Father, and Who was God with God the Father, was MADE flesh. A body was prepared for Him. (Heb. 10:5)

Phil. 2:6 (The Word, Jesus) Who, being in the form of God, (His whole being embodies everything that is God) thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (there was, no question that He was equal with God, though Satan challenged and is still challenging that)
2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

John is here also combating a growing philosophy of "logos" (the word) Wisdom, truth, light and life is NOT some abstract divine power which initiates seekers of higher wisdom into new levels of consciousness so they can find "god" within themselves (basically the principle of the new age type of thinking).
John is emphasizing that the True Logos is a very personal Being, it is Jesus Himself, Who came to this world to reveal the true nature of God. It is only in Him where mankind can see the real glory, truth and light of God, which is full grace and truth. We cannot find truth and light or life in ourselves, only in Him, He is the Word (given us in scripture which testify of Him) He was made flesh and dwelt among us.

In John 14:7-9 Jesus answers a request to see the Father: " If you had known me, you should have known my Father also: and from henceforth you know him, and have seen him. he that has seen me has seen the Father.

He is said to have been "in the world" which he made, yet in such manifestation and veiling of His glory that the world as such did not apprehend the wondrous presence. Yet He came to reveal God, in the only way they could begin to apprehend it. There has been no other, and will be no other like Him, the Son of God and the Son of man. He is in the highest sense absolutely unique in the history of mankind.

Lesson Three

Hearing or not Hearing the Word.
Believing or not believing

What does it mean to hear and believe?

It's an important question? The gospel of John makes it clear this question's answer is an absolute essential defining mark between life and death -- eternal life, or eternally perished.

John 3:16 Whosever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life!



What does it mean to "hear"?
How many go to church every week to hear a sermon but did they really hear?
How many believe things about Jesus, but never really believe IN Jesus?


"Through faith they will come to know God by an experimental knowledge. They have proved for themselves the reality of His Word, the truth of His promises. They have tasted, and they know that the Lord is good.

Believe that He is ready to help you by His grace, when you come to Him in sincerity. You must fight the good fight of faith.

"He is able to take those who are dead in trespasses and sins, and by the operation of the Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead, transform the human character, bringing back to the soul the lost image of God. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are changed from being rebels against the law of God into obedient servants and subjects of His kingdom. They are born again, regenerated, sanctified through the truth. This power of God the skeptic will not admit, and he refuses all evidence until it is brought under the domain of his finite faculties. The Youth's Instructor, February 7, 1895. {FE 332.1}

Lesson Four
Witnesses


What is a witness:
1. a witness is someone who has seen or experienced something firsthand and can give an account or testimony about it.

2, a witness also refers to one who seeks to testify, and give evidence, proclaiming the truth about something they know or have seen,

John describes the disciples as witnesses ": ?That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands?we proclaim also to you? (1 John 1:1, 3).

The testimony of the disciples, as direct witnesses of Jesus, was foundational evidence for the early Christian church.
But what about us, many generations removed, with no actual contact with people who walked and talked, saw and heard, and were in close contact with the Messiah, what witnesses do we have to assure us that Christ was, indeed, the Messiah?

Witnesses discussed in Lesson Four

John the Baptist -- proclaimed Christ as the
"Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world!" (John 1:36
After seeing the Holy Spirit descend, John the Baptist proclaimed --
"This is the Son of God" (John 1:34)

John (the author) and Andrew responding to the Baptist's witness, follow Jesus and spend an evening with Him .
Andrew finds his brother Simon Peter and tells him
"We have found the Messiah!" (John 1:41)

Philip responds to Jesus call and immediately finds Nathaniel telling him:
"We have found Him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote" (John 1:45)

Nathaniel, after meeting Jesus declares
"Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel" (John 1:49)

Nicodemus was a little slower to grasp who Jesus was, but he saw that Jesus was no ordinary man.
""Rabbi we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with Him" {3:2}
But we know that night time talk with Jesus made a deep impression on him. When he saw Jesus,
"lifted up" on the cross, he remembered and stepped out to be a witness for Jesus.

My buddy and I discuss the SS lesson every week. Here's a short from this Sabbath's lesson: SSGG #Shorts - Two Ministries.

This is a longer clip focused on the Samaritans' reaction to Jesus: SSGG Bonus - Direct Connection With God.

The full discussion is here: SSGG 11/02/24 - Themes in the Gospel of John: "The Testimony of the Samaritans".

Did anything in the lesson pop out at you?

There are many thoughts we can glean from these lessons. John's gospel more than any of the others reveal Christ, Who He is, Why He came, and the depth of gospel of salvation.

This weeks lesson has focused on Jesus encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well.

Many have noted the comparison from the last chapter -- Jesus encounter with Nicodemus.
Several things impressed themselves into my thinking.
The first was Jesus ability to penetrate through human problematic thinking, and reach the heart.
That great ability in itself is proof that He is Divine. Gently, yet forcefully, compassionately yet earnestly, unobtrusively, yet skillfully, uplifting the listener and yet pointing out their need.


Nicodemus -- he was at the top! Well respected, religious leader, a man of influence, member of the Sanhedrin, member of the chosen race, economically well situated. According to the thinking of his day, he was in favor with God, a child of Abraham. But he sensed his need --

The Samaritan woman -- she was at the bottom, not respected, a woman seeking to avoid people, member of the despised race, probably used and abused.

Yet, Christ reached out to both and offered them what they needed most.
Nicodemus needed to realize he needed a Savior. His forms and position could not save. He needed the new birth into life with the Savior.
The woman KNEW she needed a Savior but didn't know how to find Him.

We tend to think of the Samaritan woman as sinful, casting off husbands like changing ones clothes -- five husbands, now shacking up with a sixth man,. But we are thinking in 21st century American terms. Women back then did NOT divorce their husbands. Husbands could "put away their wives" but wives did not divorce their husbands.

So how did she come to have six men in her life?
I tend to think she was a REJECTED woman.
Possibly death deprived her of her first husband. To be a widow without a husband was not easy for a woman in those days. Possibly the other men took her in, used her, got tired of her, sent her away with a bill of divorce, rejected again and again. The last "sixth" man didn't even give her the status of a wife, but she just needed SOMEONE to give her security so agreed.

Then she met the SEVENTH!
He had not come to use or abuse her, He came to give her the "water of life"!
Jesus reveals His divine knowledge and His ability to see into the depths of human hearts. He doesn't condemn or shame the woman, but instead sees a scared and embittered heart that's longing for something better. He has the answer, the balm of healing, the hope of salvation, the living water of joy in Him, and the ability to gently lead her to realize He has come to save her!

She is filled with joy! So much so, she isn't even disturbed when the disciples return and cast questioning and rather unfavorable glances her way. She must proclaim the good news! She has found the Savior. Leaving her water pot behind, a symbolic action, for the water it draws is not living water, it's soon gone. She will no longer search for security with every person her offers it, requiring a price. She has found the Messiah, she has found the living, life transforming, life sustaining water Jesus spoke about, She runs to her city to invite everyone to come see Jesus.

I was surprised to find that the rabbi's were not to even talk to women or teach them, no wonder the disciples were so surprised besides the fact she was samaritan.

John the Baptist's Testimony

John the Baptist -- proclaimed Christ as the
"Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world!" (John 1:36)
After seeing the Holy Spirit descend, John the Baptist proclaimed --
"This is the Son of God" (John 1:34)

John's witness is a powerful witness but the devil has a plan to destroy both John's witness and Jesus mission.
He uses a tactic that has often worked to nullify the influence of God's work.

DIVIDE -- bring in controversy -- get people jealous and envious of each other, get them acting out of harmony with the principles of God's selfless love.
Who is the greatest?? Fill people with resentment by making them feel slighted, fill them with jealousy because someone received more recognition. Sadly this selfishness, self exaltation is the default response of even the disciples of John and of Jesus.

BUT John the Baptist does not give place to this fight for self recognition.

John 3:28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
3:29 He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

3:35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.
3:36 He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.

"Looking in faith to the Redeemer, John had risen to the height of self-abnegation. He sought not to attract people to himself, but to lift their thoughts higher and still higher, until they should rest upon the Lamb of God....
So with the followers of Christ. We can receive of heaven's light only as we are willing to be emptied of self. We cannot discern the character of God, or accept Christ by faith, unless we consent to the bringing into captivity of every thought to the obedience of Christ. To all who do this the Holy Spirit is given without measure. In Christ "dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and in Him ye are made full." Colossians 2:9, 10, R. V. {DA 181}

The video is up for this upcoming Sabbath School lesson: SSGG 11/09/24 - Themes in the Gospel of John: "More Testimonies About Jesus"

This week's Gospel Gem: Jesus is the Billboard

Jesus said He draws everyone to Himself by what He did. Let's lift Him up, not anyone or anything else.

A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF THE MESSIAH

Yes, the Jewish people were hoping for a Messiah who would rid them of their enemies, elevate their nation among the other nations and supply them with all the needs (and wants) of their temporal lives.
They were eager to accept Him as their Messiah when He fed the 5000 with just a couple of fish and five little barley buns. They remembered the story of Israel in the wilderness and how manna came from heaven to relieve their physical hunger ever day. Here was a man like Moses who would supply them with the physical essentials of life.

But Jesus, though He supplies for our physical needs, was far more interested in the spiritual nourishment and drink people needed to be lifted out of the pit of sin and fitted for life eternal with Him. That's why He came into this world, He didn't come to make things more comfortable for temporal life in a doomed world. He came to offer spiritual food, salvation and life eternal.
All through the gospel of John, we see Jesus pleading with the people to believe in Him, for He is LIFE, He offers something far greater than just making their short life on earth a little more pleasant.

John begins His gospel declaring that Christ is the WORD, the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... and the Word became flesh and dealt among us.

Then Jesus talks about eating His flesh -- the flesh that is the Word.
He emphasizes the need to believe.

So what do we learn from all this?

And what does it mean to "believe"? Is it just an intellectual assent? Is it a form of positive thinking that will make good things happen?

We know the devils believe Christ is the Son of God, but they won't have eternal life.

What is it that people need to believe? What does it mean to believe?

Here are some answers from a better writer than I am:

Is belief in Jesus enough? Some people think so. Some people think the key is belief plus...

I am firmly in the camp that belief is enough to secure eternal life. As John 20:31 says, "but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

You can check out our discussion on the upcoming lesson here: SSGG 11/16/24 - Themes in the Gospel of John: "Blessed Are Those Who Believe"

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE
To believe in Jesus is the key to eternal life.
There is no other way. He is life, He is the Way, the Truth. Without Him there is no salvation.

But as asked earlier -- what does it mean to believe?

It's more than intellectually acknowledging His existence and His Divinity. There will be people who believe Jesus was a Divine man who lived on earth 2000 years ago, who will not be saved. (Luke 13:26-27)
Nor is it an issue whether or not our works can earn us salvation. They don't. Even the best works don't earn us salvation. That was obviously a very serious issue in Christ's time. They were depending on their forms and rituals and national heritage to save them. But none of that can save. They needed the Savior!

However, one cannot honestly read the Bible and say works have nothing to do with salvation. So what do they have to do with belief in Jesus, and salvation?

Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
11:20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
11:21 But as for those whose heart walk after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, says the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].

Ezekiel 33:11 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
But we realize if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. Ezekiel 33::13
All of our good deeds will not pay for even one sin. We are totally dependent upon Christ for forgiveness of sin and for the power and guidance to live according to God's will. God promises to give us a new heart -- a transformation. And He promises to do this good work in us throughout our life time --" he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ: Phil. 1:6

Believing in Him is absolutely key, without Him there is absolutely no salvation.
Yet, there are always two ditches that the enemy of our souls tries to push us into. He doesn't really care which ditch, just as long as he pushes us off that narrow road to Heaven.

The Bible makes it clear that those who genuinely believe in Christ WILL also obey Him.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

God is also in the business of transforming our character, so we must believe in that as well.

Believing means believing what God said is true. When He says "This is the way walk ye in it". It means we are to walk in the way He tells us. We obey because we believe He knows what is best, and right, and we trust Him, even if our natural desires don't feel inclined to obey.

Turn to Biblical list of the people of faith and read about those who had strong belief in God which showed itself by obedience, yet not the act is of value if it is not done in faith. But an act done in faith is pleasing to God. Believe and faith and obedience get all wrapped up in one package.

Hebrews 11:4 "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice", showing His belief, while Cain offered his own selection, that's not believing in God's Word.

11:5 By faith Enoch was translated ...he had this testimony, that he pleased God. ..without faith it is impossible to please [him]: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark

11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed;

11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: but a ram was provided, all signifying the love of God in giving His Son, the Lamb of God to die for our sins.

True belief
Is fully trusting in Him for our salvation.
It is believing that God is very real, active, personally involved and interested in us today.
Entrusting ourselves to Him in full commitment. Living according to His will and His commandments.

1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
3:8 He that continues in sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

THE MOST EFFECTIVE WITNESS FOR JESUS

What is the most effective witness?
Is it the preacher with good, solid sermons? They have their place!
Is it the Bible worker who has a text for every question? They too have an important place!

But the most effect witness is a life transformed. It is solid evidence of God's amazing work in a human life.

In today's lesson we have the account of Mary and her gift of perfume for Jesus.
Three people are mentioned in this account. All three had experienced very meaningful encounters with Jesus. All three had their own type of "belief" in Christ. All three had before them, the evidence that Jesus had the power of LIFE and resurrection, as Lazarus sat at the feast with them.
But only one of them had the true belief that connected with Christ's gift of Life and Salvation.

There was Simon, the Pharisee. He had been diagnosed with leprosy and healed by Jesus. In gratitude he held this feast. But his belief in Christ was filled with doubt, "This man if he were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner," (Luke 7:49)

Then there was Judas Iscariot. (Simon's son, John 12:4) and one of Jesus twelve disciples. This man had walked and fellowshipped in close association with Jesus for about three years! He believed, in his own manner, that Jesus was the Messiah, but was frustrated because Jesus was not the Messiah he, Judas, wanted. Though he had walked with Christ for about three years, he was still walking in darkness, shutting out the light. After seeing Mary pouring expensive (to him wasteful) perfume on Jesus, and hearing Christ's gentle rebuke concerning his critical remark that it was a waste, Judas headed out to see the chief priest to offer a plan to betray Jesus. (Mark 14:10) He turned from the full blaze of light, and was headed out into complete darkness.

Mary, a woman who was known as a sinful woman, but also a forgiven woman, (Luke7: 47), a transformed woman, who loved Jesus with all her heart. To her Jesus says, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace. (Luke 7:50)
Her witness for Christ is still being told all over the world, where ever the gospel is preached. (See Mark 14:9)

Lesson Eight
The Witness of Fulfilled Old Testament Prophecies

Jesus is referred to "as the Word". Scripture is also called "the Word".
The scriptures in the hands of the Jewish people were what we called, The Old Testament.

OT Scripture testifies of Jesus


It would have been awesome to be walking on that road to Emmaus listening to Jesus give that bible study to two travelers. But we can look in scriptures as well to see how they testify (witness) that Jesus is indeed the promised Messiah!

Some of the most significant prophecies regarding our Savior:

The Birth of Jesus:
Isaiah 7: 14;
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 18:32 I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
1 Tim. 1:2 Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

Micah 5:2, But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth
Matth. 2 :1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king,

The Forerunner John the Baptist

Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
John 1:23 He said, I [am] the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

His Anointing:
Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him
John 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up;

Temple cleansed
Psalms 69:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up;
John 2:16-17 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

Trouble with Family
Psalms 69:8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.
Mark 3:31 There came then his brethren and his mother,[to try and persuade him to be more compliant] 3:33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
3:34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

Triumphal Entry
Zech 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he [is] just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
John 12:13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed [is] the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
12:14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
12:15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.

Judas at the Last Supper
Psalms 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
John 13:18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

Thirty Pieces of Silver
Zechariah 11:12 And I said unto them, If you think good, give [me] my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty [pieces] of silver.
11:13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was priced at of them. And I took the thirty [pieces] of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
Matth 26:15 And [Judas] said, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
Matth. 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, ...
27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself... 27:7 And they took counsel, and took the silver and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.

Crucifixion
Psalms 22:16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
22:17 I may tell all my bones: they look [and] stare upon me.
22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
Psalms 34:20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

John 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
Matt. 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

And the most read OT description of Jesus dying for our sins, is found in
Isaiah 53

Amen! This is The Greatest Miracle. The life you receive through this miracle is why you live a godly life. Ultimately, you will either bear fruit because you have life or be burned because you don't.

Jesus was a narcissist. He just would not stop lifting Himself up. Check out our full discussion of this topic at SSGG 11/23/24 - Themes in the Gospel of John: "Fulfilling Old Testament Prophecies" and share any comments, questions, or concerns.

Jesus was no more a narcissist than a are the life saving team risking their lives to save people on a sinking ship in the midst of a huge storm, shouting to drowning people to grab the lifeline and be pulled into safety.

What Jesus has done goes far beyond the heroic, self denying rescue personnel.
Jesus IS God, one with the Father. The only Savior (both the Father and the Son are said to be the only Savior) because they are one God, in two persons. That is who Jesus is.
The very One Who spoke and creation happened, the very One Who gave the law in the Old Testament, came to this earth as a human to save the transgressors of God's law,-- all who truly believe in Him.

People think the Old Testament God is different from Jesus. That's not correct. The Old Testament is all about Jesus. Jesus was the member of the Godhead who spoke and acted in the Old Testament. He was the One in the cloud of fire leading Israel, He was the Rock from which flowed life giving water. He was also the One Who routed Israel's enemies when they appealed to Him for help. He is the way, the truth and the life.

When Jesus tried to reveal this truth to critics in Jerusalem, He did NOT stand there thinking -- boy, I'm sure going to show these guys who I really am, I've got more ammunition than they ever bargained for-- I'm going to show them.
NO!
Jesus wept over stubborn Jerusalem "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem," he said, "thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but ye would not." Again He weeps over the devoted city, exclaiming, "O that you would have known, even thou in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace." Then with tears in His eyes and quivering lips, He pronounced the irrevocable sentence, "But now they are hid from thine eye." {BTS, September 1, 1908 par. 5}

A narcissist is a "wanno be" who lifts himself up above everyone, but is NOT what he wants people to think he is. His behavior is usually very selfish and putting the other person to disadvantage.
That is NOT Jesus, not even remotely.

Jesus was willing to lay it all aside, in order to save us.
He IS God, one with the Father. They are one together in all of salvation. Perfect, unselfish love. Perfect holiness. To see Jesus, is to see the Father. It is reality. It is the ONLY way of salvation.

So why compare the awesome LOVE, the total unselfish love of Christ to a self serving narcissist?

The video addressed exactly that question. Was any of it unclear? Maybe watch it again. It?s less than 60 seconds.

So true. He was the express image of the Father.

Yes, far beyond. He came to give life to the dead.