Faith in Christ Jesus:
2
Timothy 1:12 defines FAITH as knowing
the trustworthy character and motives of Jesus, and being confident in His limitless promise-keeping ability, and
consequently committing
yourself entirely to His keeping. We are
studying the Gospel of John, answering these questions: 1)
What is revealed of Jesus’ character,
motives, and abilities? 2) What is
indicated that you could confidently commit to Jesus’?
Light & Shadow, John 12:1-11
In spite
of the abundance of witnesses to, and themselves also having seen, the recorded
and unrecorded miracles (John 21:25) of Jesus, powerful politicians and
religionists will kill Jesus! Why?
1.
John 7:20; Were Jesus’ words & works satanic?
2.
John 8:52; Was Jesus lunatic?
3.
John 8:41; Was Jesus illegitimate?
4.
John 7:52; Was
Jesus born in Galilee?
5.
John 11:50; How was it
politically expedient?
6.
John 18:30; Was Jesus an evildoer?
7.
Mark 15:10; Why did the
priests envy Jesus?
Where the light of Truth, Understanding, Wisdom,
and Holiness shines brightly, objects that BLOCK the light will cast a shadow!
Mary appears to be the ONLY follower
of Jesus who understood what would happen to Jesus within the week. She had been guarding and reserving this
costly perfume for the day of His burial!
(Remember that in John 6:7, 200 denars was insufficient
to feed 5,000 men with their families!)
These things understood not his
disciples… John 12:16. But Mary was
enlightened. Her own brother was support
for her Faith and Expectation. She would
have lingered at the tomb of Jesus at least four days (John 20:11-). She had a hope all the others had missed!
Judas already intended (same word as John 14:22,”thou wilt”)
to betray Jesus. The Greek word, “mellw”,
means “to be at the point of doing
something, to already have it in mind, to intend”. Judas’ character is revealed in his anger
(John 12:5), in his lack of regard (care, solace) for the poor, in his kleptw
embezzling (John 12:6). That name is transferred
to false teachers, who do not care for the “sheep”, but abuse their confidence
for personal gain (John 10:8).
The “Light” of truth shined on
Mary and Judas, revealing the faith of the one, and the filth of the other! So it is that discovering the trustworthy
character, motives, and abilities of Jesus, uncovers light and shadow in
ourselves.
Light & Shadow, John 12:1-11
GROUP ONE:
Read John 12:1, 2, & 9
Describe what was happening in Bethany. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
How did Lazarus’ experiences and
testimony affect people?
Positive reactions: _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _.
Negative reactions: _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _.
Jesus was having an affect on
people through Lazarus. Why is that
significant?
It is significant because _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
GROUP TWO:
Read John 12:3 & 7.
What did Mary do? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _.
What did Jesus say was her
motive? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
Read Luke 10:42.
What does that reveal about Mary?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
What would you say is the affect
Jesus had on her life? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
GROUP THREE:
Read John 12:4-6 & 10-11.
What was already in Judas’ mind
that he intended to do? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
Hypothetically,
is it possible to persuade someone whose mind is set? _ _ _ .
Describe an “open mind” _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
Describe a “closed mind”. _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
What were the chief priests
willing to do with any evidence that Jesus is the Messiah? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
EVERYONE:
Read John 12:8
Regarding opportunity, when may
we respond to the poor? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
When may we respond to Jesus? _ _
_ _ _ _.
All we have is the moment we are in!