Palm Sunday – The Jewish people placed Palm leaves on the ground and sang songs (in what is called the Hallel) as Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. Hallel means Praise God.
The songs were based on Psalms 113-118.

The people cried out “Hosanna” and were crying out to God to save them. The Jewish people were thinking and hoping Jesus was the long awaited Messiah.

They thought the Messiah would save them from their human enemies. God’s plan was much more important. He wanted to send them a Messiah (Savior) who would save them from their sins.

The Last Supper – In the time before Jesus, the Jewish priests did ceremonial sacrifices of animals to atone for sin. In times after Jesus, priests in various Christian denominations would use a sacrament they called Penance to forgive sins. They also remembered the sacrifice Jesus made when they would ceremonially re-create the sacrament of the Eucharist, modeling what Jesus said to do at the Last Supper.

Jews participate in a Passover Seder (Meal). In the Hebrew Testament, they were told to do this each year to remember what occurred on the First Passover. On this day, Jews, being held as slaves in Egypt were told to sacrifice an unblemished lamb, and then to put the blood of the lamb onto the lintels (outside doorposts) of their dwellings. When the angel of death came across the land, only in those homes which were covered by shed blood of unblemished lambs – were the firstborn children spared.

The Pharaoh of Egypt was one who lost his son this way on this first Passover. This may seem terrible, but if you read the entire account in the book of Exodus, (or watch the movie), you will see Pharaoh was terribly mistreating the Israelites, and God gave Pharaoh multiple chances and warnings to let the Israelites return to Israel.

Jesus’s Prayer – After the Last Supper, Jesus went up onto the Mount of Olives to pray. This was His prayer:
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  (43)  An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  (44)  And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke22:42-44)

Jesus knew what lay ahead for Him. Later that night, Jesus was tortured and mocked. Then He was hung on a cross until He died.
If you haven’t seen the movie “The Passion of the Christ”, it is a re-enactment of the Catholic Stations of the Cross. Years ago, I watched this movie in a movie theater. When the movie ended, the audience just sat in their seats “stunned” by what they had just seen.

Jesus’ Death on the Cross – Most people are aware that Jesus died on a cross.

But why did Jesus die on that “Old Wooden Cross”? Because, the ceremonial sacrifices of animals as practiced by the Jews, and the Sacrament of Penance as performed in many Christian denominations do not result in the forgiveness of sins. Only the sacrifice of the Lamb of God paid the debt owed for our sins.
There is no passage in scripture which suggests a man or woman, priest or not, has the ability to forgive sin.

The Jewish people have not been able to sacrifice animals for the atonement of sins at the Temple because the Temple was destroyed by the Roman soldiers on or about 70 A.D.. Many Jews are hoping a temple will be rebuilt so they can resume this religious rite.

However, all sins were paid for on the cross. Sins of Jews, Gentiles, and Christians (past, present, and future) were put on Jesus as He hung upon the cross.

Consider these words of Jesus shortly before He died:

Mat 27:46  About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice,

“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”
(which means “My God, my God,
why have you forsaken me?”).

What does this mean? Why did God forsake His Son?
The answer: “God is holy”.
When Jesus, the unblemished Lamb of God, took all the sins of the world upon Himself, God who is Holy could not be with His Son, who was now filled with all the sins of the world,
past, present, and future.

Jesus must have felt the Father’s separation and said:

“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”

Resurrection Sunday – With great power, God, the Father, raised Jesus from the dead. And with that same great power, it means He can also raise us from the dead.

Anything Else?

By this it sounds like sin isn’t what determines whether we spend eternity in heaven or hell? True

So what determines where we spend eternity?

1. You have to have faith that Jesus died on that
“Old Wooden Cross” to pay for your sins.

2. You have to have an ongoing spiritual relationship with God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
This is what it means to be “Born Again”.

There is a passage in the Book of Romans in the New Testament which says:

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
(10)  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness,
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
 (Romans 10:9-10)

Although they may not know it, when Jews celebrate the Passover, and Christians commemorate Holy Week, both are looking to a Messiah that God sent to save us.

Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest !

which loosely translates:

“Save us, we pray Lord”

John 3: 1-8

Setting: At the end of John Chapter 2, we learn Jesus was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover which would have been March or April of that year.  The population was aware there was something out of the ordinary about Jesus as John notes: “Many saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in His name” (John 2: 23). Another point: The Pharisees were a politically powerful, wealthy religious sect of the Jews.  Unlike the Sadducees (another powerful religious sect), the Pharisees believed in life after death.  One of those Pharisees, named Nicodemus, decided to visit Jesus to learn more about what He was teaching.

Read John 3: 1-2

What was the name of the Pharisee who came to see Jesus?

Did the Pharisees believe in life after death?  (See the “Setting”)

Another
powerful religious sect, the Sadducees, did not believe in life after death.

Most Pharisees and Sadducees had taken a position that Jesus was not the Messiah, and surely not the son of God.  They tried to convince others to be skeptical about Jesus.

In verse 2, Nicodemus addresses Jesus as Rabbi (Teacher), a title which conveyed respect.

What does Vs 2 reveal about Nicodemus’ thoughts toward Jesus?

Read John 3: 3

Jesus knew what Nicodemus really wanted to know; the real reason Nicodemus had come.

What does Jesus say must happen in order to see the Kingdom of God?

Read John 3: 4

Wow!  Nicodemus is asking a deep, and important question.  He was a scholar in the Jewish religion, and probably very intelligent.  And he was searching to understand.

And he asks what?

Read John 3: 5 – 6

What 2 things does Jesus say are requirements to enter the Kingdom of God?

If we assume that all men (and women) are sinful, what might be the implications of “flesh gives birth to flesh”?

God is “all holy”.  Just as light and darkness cannot occupy the same space, God’s holiness will not allow Him to be in the presence of unpaid for sin.  In God’s word, we are told that “the wages of sin is death”. (Romans 6:23)  This means separation from God.  The “wages” we will receive for ‘unpaid for sin’ is separation from God.

In verse 6, what does the verse say the Spirit gives birth to?

If we assume, and you can, that the Holy Spirit is holy (without sin), why would it be good for our human spirits to be born again by the Holy Spirit?

When we are “born again”, the Holy Spirit comes into us, and we become spiritually connected to God.  This is something God does for us.  It occurs after we believe Jesus died to make payment for our sins, and we want to follow Him as Lord.  We become covered in the righteousness which Jesus won for us at the cross.

But where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly; that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.    (Romans 5:20-21 WEB)

What is/are the advantage(s) of being “born again” versus being ‘slaves to sin’?

Then in verse 7, Jesus says to Nicodemus:

“don’t be so surprised I say you must be born again.”

In verse 8, Jesus compares a “born again” believer to the wind.

“The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

What can we learn about a person who becomes “born again”?

Will changes in the person be something we are able to fully understand?

Will we wonder if this person has truly changed or maybe just changed temporarily?

In this study, we will examine God’s love
for us.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
 in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.

What does the word “demonstrate” mean?  If someone demonstrated a new device or tool to you, what would they be doing?

In this verse, it says God demonstrates His love towards us.

How did He do this?

What was our condition when God did this for us?

Let’s consider another set of verses. 
The apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 2:4-7 (NKJV)

(4) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5)  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) (6) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (7) that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

How does God’s mercy affect His love for us? See verse 4?

In Verse 5, what do you think “dead in trespasses” refers to?

Comment on verses 4 – 6

God because of His love for us and because He is rich in mercy, He makes us  “alive together with Christ.”  In the same way Christ rose from the dead, we begin to participate in a new life with Christ.

In verse 7, describe what God wants us to experience.

The apostle Paul wrote the following to Titus, a young leader of a new church:

(3) For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.  (4)  But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, (5)  not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to His mercy, He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, (6)  whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, (7)  that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
(Titus 3:3-7 NKJV)

What does verse 3 say about our condition before Jesus?

Can you relate to any of these?

What does verse 4 say that God our Savior showed toward man?

In verse 5-7, do you conclude it is our righteousness or God’s mercy and grace which allow us to be justified before God?

righteousness meaning “found to be all right before God”

The New English Translation translates vs 7 this way:

And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.

When you read this passage, does it appear to you that we become heirs of eternal life because of what Jesus did for us?

Are you coming to the conclusion that God’s word demonstrates His love toward us?

Let’s examine what Jesus said:

Greater love has no one than this ,
than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

(Jesus speaking in John
15:13 NKJV)

Final Question:

Why would Jesus lay down His life for us?

This bible lesson uses a parable taught by Jesus to give us a better understanding of what it means to “Love our neighbor”.

Luke, Chapter 10

Setting:  Jesus is now engaged in His earthly ministry.  At that time Jesus was considered to be a Rabbi or Teacher.  He had an unusual understanding of the Old Testament scripture and could and did speak with authority about the Law.

Within the Jewish religious hierarchy, there were disagreements about what portions of the scripture were most important.  Some thought all of what we call the Old Testament should be studied and revered.  Most thought that the first five books of the Bible had a greater relevance than the other books in what we call the Old Testament.  They called these first five books the “Law” or the “Torah”.    In this study, Jesus teaches about Love.

Read Luke, Chapter 10: 25-26

An expert in the Law poses a difficult question to Jesus.

Rather than answering  directly, Jesus asks him “What is written in the Law?”

Read Luke 10: 27-28

The expert in the Law (or Torah) responded to Jesus by quoting two verses from the Torah.  (Recall that these are the first five books of the bible.)

The expert in the Law gave a precise and accurate answer. It was a good answer, and Jesus responded in a positive manner to his reply.

Read Luke 10: 29

This verse says “he wanting to justify himself”.  We cannot know exactly what was in the mind of this man.  Here are several possibilities:

•    he was trying to better understand the Law

•    he was trying to make himself look good

•    he was trying to trip up Jesus

Jesus understood “the thoughts and attitudes” of this man’s heart.  So Jesus gave him an answer that had at least the following attribute –  it was designed to help this man understand the depth of the two verses the man had quoted from the Law.

Jesus used a parable, as He did often, to help people to better understand “the spirit” of the Law.  We, as humans, often want to see things in “black and white”, but Jesus wanted him (and us) to understand the deeper subtleties of verses in the Old Testament.

Read Luke 10: 30-37

Three men had a chance to help the man who had been robbed and beaten:

• a priest – an Old Testament priest; supposedly a representative of God
• a Levite – a group of people who managed the affairs of the temple.
• a Samaritan – Samaritans were people who were of a “mixed blood” lineage. Part Jew, part Gentile.  They were considered to be unclean. They were despised by Jews.

Who does this expert in the Law say was the best neighbor? (see vs 36-37)    

What are some messages Jesus might have been trying to teach with this parable?   

In your own life, how are you doing with:  ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’.  (Luke 10:27 NIV)    

In your own life, how are you doing with:
‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  (Luke 10:27 NIV)  

Point of View: Realize that learning to love God and to love our neighbor, in a more meaningful way, grows and develops as we walk closer to God.

 

Types of Questions:      Observation         Interpretation         Application

If you have the Quest Study Bible:

 On page 1522, read the sidebars in the left column:

 Why did Jesus include a priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan …?

Could a priest and a Levite really have ignored a dying man?

 Jesus asks His disciples a question:

“Who do you say I am?”

Setting:  Jesus is in the third year of His three year earthly ministry.  Caesarea Philippi is an area about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee.  He had recently been tested by the Pharisees and Sadducees to show them a sign from heaven.  They were testing Him because Jesus had gathered much favor among the people for the miracles He had been performing.

Read  Matthew 16: 13-14

What question did Jesus ask His disciples to answer?    

What answers were given by various disciples?   

Why might they have given these answers?   

In this context, a prophet would be thought of as someone through whom God would speak or someone through whom God might do a miracle.

From a human perspective, was it reasonable to wonder if Jesus was a prophet?   

Read Matthew 16: 15

Jesus asked:
“Who do you say I am”?

Do you think the various disciples were hoping someone else would answer first?   

Peter’s tendency was to act or respond quickly.  This is what he said.

Read Matthew 16: 16

What two statements did Peter make about the identity of Jesus?   

The word Messiah means in Greek: “Christos”,   in English: “the Christ” or the “anointed one”. The Jews of that day were waiting for a Messiah or Anointed One to save them.  Their belief was “the Christ” would save them from the tyrannical rule of the Roman government.

When Peter made the point, you are “the Son of the living God”,  he was implying Jesus had a divine or godly nature. 

Read Matthew 16: 17

Who does Jesus say revealed Jesus’ identity to Peter?   

If we are to come to a knowledge of the identity of Jesus, what does this statement by Jesus reveal to us?   

Read Matthew 16: 18 – 20

Peter had come to the realization of the divine nature of Jesus.  And either the other disciples had not yet come to this realization, or else they were not quite ready to admit this.

Because of Peter’s faith, Jesus told Peter (and the other disciples) that He would use Peter’s faith to build His church.  Even Hades would not get in Peter’s way, because of the faith Peter had in Jesus as Messiah and as the Son of God.

Do you believe Jesus is the Messiah, “the Christ”,  the One who came to save us?   

Realize you can pray to God and ask Him to reveal this to you.  Ask God to reveal to you if Jesus is the Messiah who came to save you us from your sins and the penalty of your sins. 

Do you realize Jesus can use you in some way to help build His church?   

Once you know Him as your Savior and acknowledge Him as Lord in your life, He will use you to play a part in building His church.

 

 If you need access to the bible
verses used here go to:
Matthew 16: 13-20 @ Bible Gateway.com

 

Types of Questions:

     Observation

        Interpretation

  Application

 

If you have the Quest Study Bible:

On page 1437, in the right column read: “On what rock did Jesus build His church”?

On page 1437, in the right column read: “What are the gates of Hades”?

On page 1437, in the right column read: “What authority did Jesus give to Peter”?

In this study, we will read about how Jesus reached out to others to follow Him.

Matthew, Chapter 4

Setting:  After Jesus returned from His wilderness experience, He heard John the Baptist had been put in jail. He left His hometown of Nazareth, and traveled about 15 miles to a seaport city on the Sea of Galilee.

Read Matthew  4: 17

Why is He telling them to do this?

The word repent means to turn away from things which are contrary to God’s ways, and to turn towards ways that are pleasing to God.

Read Matthew 4: 18-20

What is the name of the two fishermen that Jesus called to follow Him.

What does Jesus promise to them?

What does this mean?  

Read Matthew 4: 21-22

The next two Jesus called to follow Him were also fishermen.

What were their names?

Now if we switch over to the Gospel of John, we can develop a better understanding of why these fishermen would leave their nets, and their families, and then be willing to follow Jesus.

Read John 1: 29-34

John the Baptist’s role was to precede and prepare the way for Jesus.

What are some things John the Baptist testifies about Jesus?

• vs 29 –  
• vs 30 –
• John the Baptist was born before Jesus.  So what does John mean when he says Jesus “was before me”?   
• vs 32 – Who do you think sent John to baptize with water?  
• vs 33 –  What will Jesus do regards Baptism? We will learn more about this when John meets with a Pharisee, named Nicodemus.
• vs 34 –  What did John the Baptist testify?

When John the Baptist testifies that Jesus is the “Chosen One”, he is testifying that Jesus is the “One, anointed by God” (this is what “Christ” means).  John was testifying that Jesus was and is the long awaited Messiah.

Read John 1: 35-42

Here we see the same account which we previously read in the gospel account written by Matthew.  However, the apostle John includes more details that help us to understand that Peter, Andrew, John, and James did not make a rash or impulsive decision to follow Jesus.

What reason does Andrew give to Peter in verse 41?  

Read John 1: 43-46

In these verses, we see Jesus calling two more men to come follow Him.

What are the names of these 2 men?  

Nathaniel wasn’t impressed that Jesus was from Nazareth.  He made that point to Philip.  Jesus, as God, understood that Nathaniel needed something extra to believe that He, Jesus, was in fact the Christ / the Messiah.

Read John 1: 47-51

What caused Nathaniel to believe there was something special about Jesus? &

What prophecy does Jesus make in verse 51?

Jesus has called 6 of the apostles.  Its interesting to note that at this time they believed He was the Messiah / the Christ / the Chosen One of God, but they did not understand He was and is God.  If the Jews had noticed, the Old Testament scriptures revealed that God would “literally” be with them.  Their most famous prophet, Isaiah, prophesied:

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”   (Isaiah 7:14 NIV)

The word Immanuel translates literally as “God with us”.

Before ending this study, please review Jesus’ promises in verses 50 and 51.

Realize Jesus gives us good reasons to believe He is the Son of Man and also the Son of God.  Ultimately we believe by faith.  But because God meets us where we are, this faith is often supported by other actions God brings our way.

What do you believe about Jesus?   How is God with us?  

*********************************************************

Types of Questions:      Observation         Interpretation         Application

If you have the Quest Study Bible:

On or about page 1554, in the left column read the sidebar notes titled:

Did Simon and Andrew act impulsively?

Why was Nathaniel suspicious of Nazareth?

Background: Before beginning His earthly ministry, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit to go into the desert for a time of fasting and prayer.  While He was in the desert, the devil came with the idea of taking Him away from the mission His Father had prepared for Him.

Read Matthew 4: 1-2

What was Jesus experiencing?  

Why do people go without eating (i.e. fasting)?  

Comment: In this case, Jesus was
fasting as a means of connecting in a deeper way with His heavenly Father.  Jesus wanted to have a special time of prayer
as He readied Himself for His ministry.

When we fast, it often will make our time of prayer better.  Why?

Read Matthew 4: 3-4

How did the tempter (the devil) tempt Jesus in verses 3 and 4?

What did Jesus respond?  

Comment: Jesus responded by quoting from the word of God.  He used a verse we find in the Hebrew scriptures:  See Deuteronomy 8:3

He humbled
you, and allowed you to be hungry,
 and fed you with manna, which you didn’t
know,
 neither did your fathers know;  that he might teach you
 that man does not live by bread only,
 but man lives by every word
 that proceeds out of the LORD’s mouth.
Deuteronomy 8:3

How can we be fed by the word of God?  

How can we be fed “more” by the word of God ?

Read Matthew 4: 5 – 6

What does the devil suggest to Jesus? 

What does the devil tell Jesus will happen? 

Comment:  The devil is using “deception” to assert God would
ask Jesus or anyone to do such a foolish act. 
In scripture the devil is called the “father of lies”.  (John 8:44)

Jesus
replies in verse 7:

“Again, it is written,
‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’”

What did Jesus answer? 

Once
again Jesus used a word of God from the Old Testament.   Jesus said it is improper to test God.  See Exodus 17:2 in the Old Testament.

So the people
contended with Moses, and they said,
“Give us water to drink!”
 Moses said to them, “Why do you
contend with me?
Why do you test the LORD?”
(Exodus 17:2 NET)

Comment: In the Hebrew scriptures,
there were many times when the people tested God.  It is not good for us to test God.  The point:  If God hasn’t asked you to do something, don’t
do something reckless just to see if God rescues you.

Read Matthew 4: 8 – 9

How did he try to bribe Jesus?  What did he offer?   

What did the devil want Jesus to do?   

Read Matthew 4: 10

Where did Jesus tell Satan to go?         

Then
Jesus told Satan who people should rightfully worship!

Who does Jesus say it right to worship?  

Comment:  The devil never mentioned
“serve”.     But Jesus knew that whom you
worship, you also serve.

Several times in the Old Testament, this idea of serving false gods is mentioned.  The following is one such passage Jesus may have been referencing in His reply:

Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you are really turning to the LORD with all your hearts, remove from among you the foreign gods and the images of Ashtoreth. Give your hearts to the LORD and serve only him. Then he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
    (1 Samuel 7:3 NET)

It is not unusual for us that “things” get in the way of our relationship with God.  How might some “things” be getting in your way of worshiping God?   

Read Matthew 4: 11

What then happened to Jesus?  

Comment:  Angels came and took care of
Him (i.e. they ministered to Him).  They
probably brought Him food and something to drink as His time for fasting was
complete.

What happened to the devil?   

Comment:  He left and went looking for others to tempt and to deceive.

Comment  As Jesus prayed and fasted and meditated on the word of God, the Holy Spirit revealed the devil was using scripture taken out of context.

---

If you have the Quest Study Bible

On or about page 1415, on the bottom of the page, read:

Does the Spirit lead us into temptation?

---

An Extra Reading

There is one area where God encouraged the Israelites to test Him.
See Malachi 3:10

  In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,  (2)  “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”  (Matthew 3:1-2)

 Setting:  This book was written 20 to 40 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus by Matthew a follower of Jesus.   Matthew recounts the Baptism of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

In verse 1, John the Baptist was preaching “the kingdom of heaven has come near”.   By the end of this chapter, we will see this prophesy fulfilled.

In verse 2, what reason does John give as to why the people should repent?  

What do you think it means “to repent”?

 (3)  For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.”  (Matthew 3:3 WEB)

In the Old Testament, Isaiah the prophet, made the prophesy we read in verse 3.  Isaiah’s ministry was about 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ.

If John the Baptist is “the voice” in verse 3,  what is his purpose as described in Isaiah’s prophecy?  

Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.  (5)  Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.  (6)  They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.  Matthew 3:4-6 WEB

• Describe John’s Clothing.   
• What food did John consume?   

What do you think your initial thoughts would be, if a neighbor explained to you about what he saw when he attended one of John the Baptist’s gatherings?      

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  (8)  Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! Matthew 3:7-8 WEB

In Israel, the common people were under several heavy burdens.  One came from the Romans who extracted large sums of money through taxation.  The other came from the Jewish religious rulers who also demanded a form of taxation, as well as a strict requirement to follow the Law of the old testament as “they” interpreted it to mean.

Do you think John the Baptist held the Pharisees and Sadducees in high regard?    

What might John the Baptist mean by “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance”?    

 If they weren’t producing fruit, what might you infer?    

John continued:

Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.  (10)  “Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire. Matthew 3:9-10 WEB

The religious leaders were counting on their lineage.  They thought their “blood lines” which could be traced back to Abraham, gave them some sort of special spirituality.

Why do you think  John the Baptist was telling them this was faulty reasoning?  

I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.  (12)  His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”  Matthew 3:11-12 WEB

What “substance” does John say he is using for doing baptisms?   

John says someone “more powerful” is coming after him.  John is referring to Jesus.

What does John say the One “more powerful” than he will baptize with?   

We will review Baptism with the Holy Spirit in a subsequent study.  The idea of Baptism with fire probably means those who don’t respond to the calling of the Holy Spirit will be under judgment before God, for the sins they have committed. 

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.  (14)  But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”  (15)  But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.   Matthew 3:13-15 WEB

 Why does John the Baptist question the request Jesus makes of John to baptize Him?   

 If you were in John’s place, why would this seem out of order?   

Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.  (17)  Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”  Matthew 3:16-17 WEB

In these 2 verses, we see or hear from the three unique persons of the Trinity.

Jesus is present in bodily form.  If we were a part of that audience, we could have seen and touched Him.

• How was the Holy Spirit represented?  
• How was the Father represented?       

In verse 14, we see John the Baptist humble himself before Jesus.  Do you think John realized he was in the presence of the promised Messiah?  

What impact would this have on you if you witnessed this event?  

Bible verses used here are from the World English Bible (WEB) unless indicated differently.  The World English Bible is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation.  That means you may make PDF copies of this lesson.  This version is based on the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible first published in 1901.

Types of Questions:
      Observation          Interpretation
Application

If you have the Quest Study Bible:

On page 1414, in the left column read: “What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire?”

On page 1414, review “How can we understand the Trinity?” on the bottom of the page.

In the dictionary, on page 1848, you can read a brief description about Abraham, and why he is held in such high regard by Christians and Jews.

 

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
(John 1:1)

Have you ever heard of Jesus being referred to as the Word of God?   

Have you ever heard of Jesus being referred to as the Word of God “made flesh“?  

Sometimes we will hear Jesus referred to as the Incarnate Word of God.  This means God took His very word and made it into flesh.  Doesn’t this mean God made His word into a human being?  

Can you imagine that God is powerful enough to do this?  In what other ways does God show He would be powerful enough to accomplish something of this magnitude?   

The above verse says “And the Word was with God, and the Word was God“.

What point is the Apostle John making about Jesus?   

Returning to  John 1: 2-3

(2) The same was in the beginning with God.
(3)  All things were made through him.
Without him was not anything made
that has been made.

“The same” is referring to “the Word” from the previous verse.  So John is saying “the Word” was with God in the beginning.  Do you agree?  

What conclusions do you come to when you read verse 3?  

In this same chapter, John writes in verse 14:

The Word became flesh, and lived among us.  We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

What point does John make about “the Word” in this verse?  

What is the relationship between “the Word” and  “the Father”?  

A little background about this Gospel account will help to put the gospel John wrote into perspective.   Most scholars believe the other Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) had been completed by 70 A.D..  It is believed by most that John’s account was completed about 90 A.D..  John was led by the Holy Spirit to write a more spiritual account of the life of Jesus.  Near the end of this gospel, John states his purpose in writing this gospel:

Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book;  (31)  but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.   (John 20:30-31)

Who does John identify as “the Son of God”?  

As you study this lesson, list at least three three things which you think are “profoundly” important that will help you better understand about the person of Jesus Christ.  

 

 

Bible verses used here are from the World English Bible (WEB) unless indicated differently.  The World English Bible is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation.  That means you may make PDF copies of this lesson.  This version is based on the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible first published in 1901.

Types of Questions:
   Observation          Interpretation
Application

If you have the Quest Study Bible:

On page 1552, in the introduction, read: “Why read this book?”

On page 1553, in the right column read: “Why did John use the Word  as the name of a person?”