John Chapter 1 Study Questions—Week 1
Vs. 1 How many persons are in named verse 1–2? (Two, the
Word and God the Father) How many of
these persons are divine? (Two)
Vs. 1–4 What is the history of the Word? (Compare verses 1–4
with verse 14, & 17)
In other words, was the Son of God in existence prior to the
first Christmas, according to John?
(Yes, God the Son has always existed, but He became man as
well about 2,000 years ago.)
Vs. 3 What work was the Son of God, Jesus Christ, an agent
of completing in verse 3? (Creation)
[A subcontractor is connected to General contractor, but the
sub is one that glues the pipes, – agent.]
Vs. 4 What is the noun in verse 4 that is repeated
twice? (LIFE) Why would John start talking about life so soon in this
gospel? (Read John 20:30–31, the
purpose statement for the book)
Vs. 4 What does “in Him” mean? (Jesus is the Source of life)
Vs. 5 Now, Jesus is also the source of light. Light is true truth and holy behavior, that
which conforms to written moral/ethical law of God. Jesus reveals the truth
about man and God.
Vs. 6–7 What are the clues in verses 6-7 that John the
author (and Apostle) is not talking about himself when he uses the name
“John?” (He is speaking in the third
person; he refers to this person as John or he rather than “I” or me. (see
verses 15, 19–23)
Vs. 7 “That all through him might believe.” Do you remember the purpose statement for
this book? (John 20:30–31; Converted to
questions it is: Who is Jesus? What is
belief? What does real everlasting and
abundant life look like?)
Vs. 9 is referring back to vs. 1–3, the true light is the
Word, vs. 1–17, the Word became flesh and His name is Jesus
Vs. 10 Who does the “He” refer to in this verse? (The Word =
Jesus)
Vs. 11 What race was Jesus (Yeshu’a), the Word, the light, the God-man? (Jewish)
Vs. 11–12 These verses contrasts two groups of people. Who are they? They are not the Jews and Gentiles. (Believers and Unbelievers; Believers = the children of God)
Vs. 12–13 born of God, born from above. We will see this
again in chapter 3, the new birth
Vs. 15 Who is the John in verse 15? The Answer is clear in vs. 19–23 (John the
baptizer)
Vs. 16 What is the key word in verse 16? (GRACE) [unmerited, unearned, undeserved
love and favor]
Vs. 17 Moses was great, he gave us special revelation from
God, the first five books of the Bible.
Vs. 17 Which one is greater, Moses or Jesus? (JESUS)
Vs. 18 Who is giving us special revelation in verse 18?
(Jesus) [See John 14:26, 16:13–14]
The author of the Gospel of John was present for Jesus words
in chapter 14–16 when He described how He would reveal his truth to others by
means of his Apostles. (John is an example of Jesus giving Special Revelation
from God in a book written by an Apostle of Christ)
Vs. 17–18 If Jesus did not write anything, how he can be a
greater revealer than Moses?
(Jesus wrote through the Apostles and the New Testament
prophets. John is one of the Apostles)
Vs. 23 John the baptizer identifies himself with the
prophecies about the introducer of the Messiah. He quotes Isa. 40:3. [Also see Malachi 3:1–2, 4:5–6; both predict
the ministry of John the baptizer.]
Vs. 24 What was a Pharisee like in the 1st
century? (A rule-centered conservative
Jew trying to earn God’s favor by works.)
Vs. 26–27 Who is John the baptizer talking about in vs.
26–7? (The answer is in vs. 29–30, John
the baptizer)
Vs. 29 What was a lamb to the Jews? (A sacrificial
substitute, blood on the door post, Passover)
Vs. 30–34 John the baptizers testimony, vs30–34, Who is
Jesus? (The Son of God)
Vs. 40 We meet Andrew. What is Andrew’s testimony, Who is
Jesus? See 41–42
(The Messiah, the anointed One)
Vs. 43 We meet Philip in vs. 45. Philip, Who is Jesus? (The
One Moses wrote about in the 1st five books of the Bible)
John Chapter 1 Study Questions (Back of page)
Vs 40 We meet Andrew. What is Andrew’s testimony, Who is
Jesus in vs. 41–42?
(The Messiah, the anointed One)
Vs. 46 What are some problems with Nazareth? (Gentiles,
poor, lesser education, in the North)
Vs. 47–49 Nate, Who is Jesus? (A great teacher, the Son of
God, the King of Israel)
Vs. 50 What does real belief look like? (Nathanial)
Vs. 51 Gen 28:12 This is an allusion to Jacob’s ladder,
Jesus is the ladder from heaven to earth.
Review
The
Apostle John’s purpose statement for writing this book is CSB John 20:30–31 Jesus performed many other signs in
the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are
written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by
believing you may have life in His name.
Thus, we are looking for John to tell us, 1) Who is
Jesus? 2) What is believing? (Belief,
unbelief, and make-belief will illustrate this) 3) What is this “life” that Jesus offers?
John the apostle, Who
is Jesus? Jesus is God and one with the
Father, who also is God. Jesus was the primary
agent of creation, the Creator of everything.
Jesus is eternal, He had no beginning.
Jesus is the source of life.
Now John, the apostle, spent three years with Jesus. He saw Him die on the cross and he entered Jesus’ empty
tomb. Now John the Apostle calls forth
a list of other witnesses to tell us who Jesus is.
Witness # 1: John the baptizer, Jesus’ cousin, the
forerunner of the Messiah. John the
baptizer claimed Jesus was greater than himself, existed before John. Jesus is
God’s lamb, that removes the sins of both Jews and Gentiles, Jesus baptizes
with the Holy Spirit (who also is God and one with the Eternal Son of God,
Jesus, and God the Father, three persons, yet one in being.) Jesus is the Son of God and the Lamb of God.
Witness # 2: Andrew, Jesus is the Messiah (anointed one,
prophesied in the O.T. to come to Israel).
Witness # 3: Philip: ”We have found the One Moses wrote
about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from
Nazareth!"
Witness # 4: Nathanial:
Jesus is a great teacher, the Son of God, the king of Israel.
What does saving faith or belief look like? vs. 11–13 Embracing,
receiving, taking, Jesus the Messiah. The new birth, birth from God must
proceed believing.
Nathanial shows us what belief (saving faith) looks like.
John the Apostle ends this section by telling us that Jesus
is Jacob’s ladder on which the angels go up and down (Gen 28:12). Jesus is the connection between heaven and
earth.
What does unbelief look like? John 2:23–25 (empirical
excitement over miracles)
Contrasted with those in vs. 22 (deep trust in what the
Bible says)
John Chapter 3 Study Questions—Week 2
Vs. 1 What was a Pharisee like? (Rule-centered, conservative, religious Jew) A Ruler of the Jews
means one who served on the council of the 70, the Sanhedrin (today Nicodemus
would be a Senator or cabinet member, a leading government official)
Vs. 2 According to this verse, who is Jesus? (One who comes from God) How do we know
Jesus came from God, according to Nick?
(Only someone with God’s power could do these sign miracles)
Vs. 2 Why do people do things at night, under the cover of
darkness? (to hide what they are doing)
Vs. 3 In this verse, what has to come before belief, saving
faith?
(A new birth, to be born from above, to be born from God)
Vs. 5 What has to happen before someone can enter the
kingdom? (They must be born again, in verse 3 it was required in order to see
the kingdom)
Vs. 6 Everything can only reproduce after its kind. Two horses don’t mate and make a frog.
(The flesh produces flesh, only the Spirit can produce
spiritual life)
Vs 8. Can man control the direction of the wind? (No)
Can man control the work of the Spirit? (No. With water? No.
With a decision? No)
Vs. 10 Nicodemus was a teacher of the O.T. Bible. Jesus’ question tells us what about
The O.T.? (Nick
should have already known about being born from above, O.T. – the metaphor
circumcised heart, a heart of flesh to replace a heart of stone, the Holy
Spirit “in” or “upon” a believer, David, Daniel, Anna, Simeon)
Vs. 13 What is Jesus’ claim here about who He is? (The Son
of Man, in Dan 7:13, a divine being who returns to heaven on the clouds and
speaks to the “Ancient of Days”)
Vs. 14 What will Jesus be lifted up upon? (A cross, see John 12:32–34)
Vs. 15 What two key words are in this verse? (Belief and Life)
What gift does belief cause us to receive, according to this
verse? (Result: everlasting life)
Vs. 16 How many people are here? (2) What does God the Father give? (The Son) Why?
(to keep believers from perishing in hell)
Belief is not just in God, here is it? “In Him” What have all the testimonies about
Jesus stated in this gospel up to this point? Who is Jesus, chapters 1–3? (Read
the text for the list: Creator, Life, King of Israel, Son of God, Messiah, One
from heaven, etc.)
Believing in Jesus is fully embracing all of those claims
about His person as fact.
Vs. 17 “Saved” means to be delivered. Delivered from what
according to verses 16 and 36?
(Everlastingly perishing in the fires of hell, being under God’s wrath
against sin)
Vs. 18 Who are the two groups of people in this verse?
(Believers and unbelievers)
What is the result of genuine belief? (Escape judgment) What about unbelief? (Increase
judgment)
Vs. 19–21 What does this teach us about man’s
condition? (People love sin and hate
truth being taught and righteousness modeled because it exposes their sin. This
is why the new birth must come first, and why people run from the truth and
cannot believe without God’s direct work.)
Vs. 30–31 What is John the baptizer’s testimony about Jesus
here? (Jesus is from heaven and He is the boss)
Vs. 32 What does this verse tell us about the natural man?
(He chooses to not believe the truth)
Vs. 33 What does belief look like here? (Accepting the
truth, verbally confessing the truth)
Vs. 34–35 How many divine persons are here? (3) What is the Father’s relationship to the
Son? (Love and giving) What does the
Son have as a result of the Father’s action?
(All authority) Who does the Son send? (The Holy Spirit)
Vs. 36 How do we get this everlasting abundant life? Or what has to come first? (Belief)
John Chapter 3 Study Questions (Back of Page)
Who are the two groups of people in verse 36? (Believers and unbelievers)
What does unbelief look like? (An obstinate will & vs. 19–21 a love of sin)
Is just saying you believe the same as saving faith? (No,
see 2:23–25, 1:12–13, 3:3, 5, and 8)
(This is why being born-again is a big deal!)
The New birth precedes a deep trust in the Person and work
of Jesus and in His Word, the Bible.
Genuine faith and repentance precedes conversion, the moment
we are “saved,” or delivered from wrath.
The new birth precedes faith and comes first. Faith and repentance precede conversion. At this point we have entered into a New
Covenant relationship with King Jesus.
Review
Who is Jesus?
Jesus is from God, and does miracles, He descended from
heaven and will return to heaven (thus He is divine), He was lifted up on a
cross, He was a gift from God the Father, He came to save both Jews and
Gentiles, Jesus is the One and Only Son of God, Jesus is the light that exposes
sin and is thus hated by men, Jesus is the Messiah (the one promised to come to
deliver God’s people in the Old Testament Bible), Jesus is the groom, John the
baptizer is the groom’s friend, Jesus is from above, Jesus is from heaven,
Jesus was sent by God the Father, Jesus speaks God’s words and gives the Holy
Spirit
What is Belief?
It is more than mental assent that Jesus is from God and
does miracles, belief follows being born from above, belief is illustrated by
the wilderness Jews looking at the brazen snake on a pole in order to be
healed, belief includes understanding the Son of Man, Jesus, was lifted up on a
cross (John 12:32–34), believing must be in Jesus, and this includes believing
all the facts and declarations about Him in John chapters 1–3, belief precedes
everlasting life, belief is in the one and only Son of God, believing removes
the threat of perishing, being punished, and being judged for every violation
of God’s moral law, believing results in living by the truth, believing is the
same as coming to the light (the truth, Jesus, holiness), belief produces works
accomplished by God, belief is illustrated by John the baptizer’s humility,
love for Jesus, and pointing others to Jesus, belief includes accepting Jesus’
testimony of who He is and what is true truth, belief includes accepting as
truth God’s Words, belief removes one from the status of being under God’s
wrath for committing sins to the status of having everlasting life.
What is Life?
It is related to the Holy Spirit, it becomes everlasting
life in heaven for those who embrace Christ by faith and repentance (See John
12:40) [Nicodemus was already practicing repentance as a strict Jew, what he
lacked was being born from above so he could believe, exercising the gift of
faith, along with his repentance, thus neither Jesus nor John bring it up in
this chapter], spiritual life comes by a work of the Holy Spirit (born from
above, spiritually awakened), once a person genuinely believes, they receive
everlasting life that begins now and lasts forever in the kingdom of God,
heaven, life is the opposite of perishing, it is displayed by living by the truth
(following the principles found in the Bible), life is the opposite of being
under God’s wrath, everlasting life follows belief and is possessed by those
who chose to believe in the Son of God, Jesus [to deeply trust in both who He
is and what He did].
John Chapter 4 Study Questions—Week 3
Vs. 1–4 Judea is in the south, Galilee is in the North,
Samaria is half-way between the two
(See map. If going from Raleigh to Henderson on Rt. 1, you
will go through Franklinton)
Vs. 5 How does John the Apostle, know about Jacob and
Joseph? (The O.T. Bible, Genesis is one of the books read weekly in the
synagogue, Jacob camped in this area, Gen 33–34)
So the Apostle John believed that the book of Genesis was
Redemptive history, accurately describing real people, places, and events. The Bible is true. Genesis is historical fact.
Vs. 6 Which of the two natures of Jesus the Messiah does
this verse focus on? (Human) Can a
phantom get physically weary and thirsty? (No)
Vs. 7 Who were the Samaritans? (Half-breeds from the Assyrian deportation and importation) Why
were they racially different than Jews? (They were from Iran, the Medo-Persian
area)
Vs. 10 How do we in our culture understand “living
water”? What is a metaphor?
[a figure of speech] (in her culture it was moving water
from a river or stream)
What question from John’s purpose statement shows up in this
verse? (Who is Jesus?)
(“the gift of God” let’s see if the context tells us what
this is. In Chpt. 3 it was the Son)
Vs. 11 What is the answer to this lady’s question? In Chpt. 1 John showed us Jesus was greater
than Moses. Could He also be greater than Jacob? (Chapter 1 ended with Jesus being Jacob’s ladder, the connection
between earth and heaven. Jacob dreamed about Jesus, Jesus is greater than
Jacob.)
Vs. 13–15 Here we see Jesus and the figurative use of water
– Remember “water” in John 3? Born of
water and of the Spirit? (See John
7:38–39)
Vs. 16–19 Jesus is not a racist or a male chauvinist. Who is
Jesus here? What characteristics do we
see in Jesus thus far in this text? (He is concerned more about this lady than
cultural norms. He is kind, but firm, positive but accurate.)
Vs. 21 What key word is in this verse? (Believe Me)
A change is coming in worship (This was radical to the Jews)
Vs. 22 What is salvation?
Why the Jews? (Gen. 11–12, of
the family of nations, one family is chosen to reach all the families of the
earth, to be a nation of priests and a light to the other nations, Abraham
& Sarah. The Jews had the only true
Scriptures, and had the forerunner to the Messiah, John the baptizer.)
Vs. 23 How important is being alive spiritually to
acceptable worship? (Vital) Who gives
spiritual awakening and then spiritual life?
(The Holy Spirit) How important is worshiping according to the truth,
the Bible? (Vital)
Vs. 24 What does this verse tell us about God the
Father? [This is a problem for cults
and false teachers] (God the Father does not have a body)
Vs. 25 The Samaritans have the Pentateuch, the first five
books of the Bible. With this lady’s
knowledge of the first five books of the Bible, oral tradition influenced by
the writing prophets, and possibly John the baptizer preaching ministry nearby,
whom is she looking for?
(The Messiah)
Vs. 26 Who is Jesus? (The Messiah)
Vs. 34 How important is surrendering to God’s will? (Very) Where can we find it? (The Bible)
Vs. 36 We have figurative speech here. What is the harvest
or the fruit? (People) What key word is
here? (everlasting life)
Vs 36–37 Coming to faith is a process like farming and involves
sowing, watering, and reaping.
This is what believers are to do with unbelievers, just like
Jesus did with the Samaritan woman.
Vs. 39 What does belief look like in this verse? (Accepting
the testimony of witnesses, like at a trial)
John Chapter 4 Study Questions (Back of Page)
Vs. 40–42 Does everyone believe at the same time? (No) What does belief look like here? (Listening to God’s word from Jesus, and
accepting it as true truth.) Is it a blind faith, or a reasonable, rational,
factual faith? (A faith based on
factual evaluation.)
Review
Jesus was concerned about people that other individuals
wanted to reject. This lady knew that
her life was messed up. She knew that
she was a sinner and needed help. She
was looking for the Messiah. He sought
her out and engaged her in conversation.
He spoke directly and clearly, identifying Himself as the Messiah. Jesus shows us the Father’s heart and desire
to “save” or “deliver” sinners from the power, control, and consequences of sin
in their life. God wants to begin a New
Covenant relationship with this lady that will fill her life with joy. She can be totally satisfied with
Jesus. He can meet her greatest needs
by giving her the Holy Spirit. The
Father is seeking worshipers who will worship him in spirit and truth. Many of the Samaritans responded to Jesus
with faith. Will we join them?
John Chapter 5 Study Questions—Week 4
The third sign is here.
The first was at a wedding in Cana (John 2) and the second was the
healing of a Jewish official’s son in Galilee (John 4). John lists a group of signs that give
evidence of who Jesus is. He also lists
a number of “I am” sayings that also show us who Jesus is.
I am:
q
the bread of life
q
the resurrection and the life
q
the door
q
the good shepherd
q
the way, the truth, and the life,
q
I am He
He is the God-Man.
Vs. 1 All Jewish males were required to go to Jerusalem for
three feasts (Passover, Booths, Weeks)
Vs. 2 double pool with 5 porch covered walkways with rows of
columns
Probably St. Anne’s pool, found by archeologists
Vs. 3d–4 probably not original (Textual Criticism compares
the 5,000 + Greek manuscripts we have and helps us determine the most probable
original text)
(These sentences do explain the Jewish tradition of why
people would be waiting for the water to move, and thus they are helpful, but
should have been placed in the margin or added as a footnote)
Vs. 5 What is Jesus’ question? (Do you want to be well?) How would you answer this question?
Vs. 8–9 Who must Jesus be here? (God, he is healing on His
own authority, the purpose of the sign was to give evidence that Jesus is God)
Vs. 10 Jews = Jewish leaders, not the whole race or every
person in Jerusalem (John will use this term again to show why the leaders of
the Jewish people, both Pharisees and Sadducees rejected Yeshua as their
Messiah)
Was this activity illegal or unlawful by Roman law, Old
Testament law or by Jewish oral tradition?
(Oral tradition only)
Vs. 14 He was sick for 38 years; the man may have been 58
years old or older.
Here the sickness was a chastisement that God allowed. In
John 9 there is a man born blind that occurred not a chastisement for anyone’s
sin, but only for God’s glory.
Vs. 15 Does this look like belief, unbelief, or make-belief?
(Unbelief, compare to John 9)
Vs. 17–18 Who is Jesus here? (The eternal Son of God, equal to the Father) How many divine
persons are here? (Two)
Vs. 19 The standard operating procedure for Jesus during His
earthly humiliation was submission to the Father’s will in His human nature.
Vs. 20 What is the Father’s relationship to the Son here?
(He loves Him, reveals truth to Him)
Vs. 21 Which one of our three purpose statement terms is in
this verse? (Life, the Son gives this
life to whomever He wants to)
Vs. 22–23 What will be the Son’s future role? (Judge of all people)
Vs. 24 What does belief look like? (Hearing and believing
the Word of God) Note the detailed
description of everlasting life (It is the opposite of the spiritual death that
we are born with, those who have this life will not come under God’s judicial
punishment for sin, ever.)
Vs. 25–29 What does it say here about judgment,
resurrection, and life? (A spiritual
resurrection, being born from above, or being born again, takes place as some
hear the Word of God. There will be a future resurrection of all people. The people that have done good deeds will
experience the resurrection of everlasting life, and those who have done evil
deeds will experience the resurrection of everlasting judgment. Every living person has done evil deeds and
those deeds are paid for in one of two places: the lake of fire or the cross of
Jesus)
John Chapter 5 Study Questions (Back of Page)
Vs. 30 What is Jesus modeling for us in this verse? (Humble
dependence on God, living by faith and not only by what we see)
Vs. 31–36 What are some of the evidences listed here that
Jesus is the God-Man? The witnesses:
1.) Jesus 2.) God the Holy Spirit 3.) John the baptizer 4.)
Jesus’ signs (supernatural miracles)
Vs. 37–39 What does belief look like here? (Having the Word of God in us, understanding
Jesus is God, understanding the Bible tells us about the Messiah, Jesus, and
choosing to trust Jesus’ person and cross-work.)
Vs. 40 What is keeping people from believing? (Not a lack of
evidence, it is their obstinate will) What is believing? (It is the same as
coming to Jesus in faith, dependent trust and this deep trust will always be
joined with repentance, turning from sin unto God.)
Vs. 41–46 What does this section teach us about belief? (Pride, self-love and a lack of love for God
fuels unbelief, Belief is the opposite
of these things.) The main goal of each born again believing person is to
glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Do you see this in this text?
Vs. 44 How many gods are there? (One)
Vs. 45 Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible. The law’s role is seen here as an accuser
and revealer of sin. The law shows that
no one deserves the resurrection of life.
They will get this mercy by unmerited favor and love [grace] or not at
all.
Vs. 46 This is an argument from the lesser to the greater,
remember chapter 1? Jesus is greater
than Moses. You must first believe that
all men are sinners as Moses proved by giving us God’s standard seen in the Ten
Commandments before you realize you need a deliverer. (You don’t want wear a cumbersome parachute unless the plane is
in trouble and it is going to crash.)
If you don’t believe Moses, you won’t believe Jesus. If you don’t recognize that you are a sinner
(one who has not kept God’s rules 100% of the time, sinning by both commission
and omission), then you cannot truly understand that you need a Savior from
sin, who is the Lord of Lords, Jesus the Messiah. The “Good News” (the gospel) only appears to be good news to those
who recognize they are in big trouble and need an escape from the wrath to
come. Salvation is by faith alone, by Christ alone, by Grace alone, for the
glory of God alone. The Bible alone is
the final authority on what is truth and error and how to be delivered from the
coming punishment of all sin.
John Chapter 6–9 Study Questions—Week 5
Chapter 6
In John 6 we witness the 4th sign: Jesus
miraculously feeds five thousand people. For the 5th sign, He walks
on water and when “make-believers” come for more free food; He says I am the
bread of Life. The source of life is Jesus; you can’t have everlasting,
abundant life apart from Him.
He said, “Everyone who believes in Me has everlasting life,
I am the bread of life.”
Many disciples desert him, the twelve disciples stay, so
chapter 6 gives us a contrast between make-belief and belief. Believers continue to follow Jesus, most
make-believers quit after a period of time (Judas stays longer for the money.)
Jesus asks, “Are you twelve going to leave also?”
John 6:68–71 Simon Peter answered, "Lord, who will
we go to? You have the words of eternal life.
69 We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One
of God!" 70 Jesus
replied to them, "Didn't I choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is the
Devil!" 71 He was
referring to Judas, Simon Iscariot's son, one of the Twelve, because he was
going to betray Him.
Vs. 68–71Who is Jesus in these verses? (The Lord, the One
who has the words of everlasting life, the Holy one of God.)
The 11 true disciples vs. Judas is another contrast between
real belief and make-belief. What does
belief and unbelief look like? (Belief
is loyalty and continuing, unbelief is betrayal and quitting.)
[John 20:28–31 Thomas responded to Him, "My Lord and my
God!" 29 Jesus said,
"Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without
seeing are blessed." 30 Jesus
performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not
written in this book. 31 But
these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,
and by believing you may have life in His name.]
Chapter 7
Vs. 14 This feast is called Booths, Succoth, or Tabernacles,
7:2 tells us this is the feast of Booths,
It lasted 8 days. [See Lev. 23:34–37; Num. 29:12–39; Deut.
16:13–16 to learn about this feast.]
Vs. 16 Who is the One who sent Jesus? (God, the Father) So Jesus is the One who is revealing the
Father’s truth to mankind.
NAU John 7:17 "If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know
of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.
Vs. 17 What has to come before knowing? It is evidence or
verification in this verse? (No, choosing
to do God’s will and this involves a submission to God. Faith is a reasoned
step into the light, but it is a step we must choose to do, it involves seeing
the unseen, not believing that which is not true. We must choose to submit to God before the evidence can help us
verify and know the truth. The Bible is
true, we must first choose to surrender to that truth, and then we will be
capable of seeing that it is verifiable, understandable, and reasonable. We cannot know the truth as an independent
rebel. This stance makes us incapable of understanding spiritual truths.)
Vs. 18 What does this verse teach us about Jesus? (He was seeking to bring glory to God.)
Man’s greatest purpose in life is to glorify God. Jesus was sent and He is
eternal. Jesus is true truth and speaks true truth, Jesus is without sin.
Chapter 8
“I am the light of the world, Before Abraham was, I am”
John 8:31–32 31 So Jesus said to the Jews
who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, you really are My
disciples. 32 You will know
the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Vs. 34 This freedom is freedom from slavery to sin, see vs.
34 everyone who sins without the new birth is a slave to sin.
Chapter 9
The Sixth sign that John records is in chapter nine.
Vs. 1 The question, who sinned in relation to this illness,
if asked of the paralytic in chapter 5, what would the answer be? (The
paralytic sinned) Now the blind man’s sickness in chapter 9 has a different
cause in this fallen world. See if you
can spot it as we read this section.
John Chapter 6–9 Study Questions (Back of Page)
Chapter 9
Vs. 3 What is Jesus’ answer to the question of who sinned in
verse 3? (Neither he nor his parents)
Vs. 5 Here is another “I am” saying, repeated from chapter
8, “I am the light of the world” (light is truth and holiness. The world is all the people on earth.)
Vs. 11 How did the blind man receive his sight? (He obeyed
Jesus’ instruction.) His instructions on what to do are different for each
blind person healed in the gospel records.
Vs. 14 On which day of the week did the sixth sign take
place? (Saturday, the Sabbath)
Vs. 16 What are the two positions among the Pharisees about
Jesus’ ability to perform signs?
(1. Jesus has a special connection with God. 2. Jesus is a
lawbreaker, thus is getting his power somewhere other than from God.)
Can you remember back to chapter three, which of these two views
did Nicodemus hold?
(The first, Jesus is from God)
Vs. 17 This statement by the one healed is in contrast to
the statements made by the man healed in chapter 5 (“I don’t know who healed me”).
According to the healed blind man, who is Jesus?
(He is a prophet, one with special revelation from God and authenticating
signs)
Vs. 21 After the barmitsvah ceremony (At 12–13 years-old), a
Jewish boy was a son of the commandments and morally responsible before God for
himself. Look at vs. 13, and then vs. 22,
“the Jews” are the Jewish leaders, specifically the Pharisees here. John is
showing us that the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus, not every Jew in Palestine
(He wrote his book to the scattered Jews outside of Palestine).
Vs. 25 Here is empirical evidence. There is physical proof
of this sign, verifiable in a court of law.
The sign does not produce faith in the Pharisees who already chose to
not believe regardless of the facts. The
signs confirm the faith of those who have already submitted to God and His truth.
Vs. 29–33 What do we learn about Jesus here from this man’s
testimony? (Jesus is not a sinner; He is doing supernatural works—not magical tricks. God hears Jesus, Jesus
is from God, and this sign verifies this.)
Vs. 35–38 According to these verses, who is Jesus? (The one and Only Son of God, The Lord, the
God-Man who can accept worship because He is God)
What does belief look like in these verses? (Choosing to listen to God’s true messenger
[today it is reading and studying the Bible with others or by ourselves], deep
trust in Jesus as God in the flesh, worshiping Jesus, the God-Man)
Vs. 40–41 Human’s are responsible for ignoring the evidence
of who Jesus is and choosing not to believe.
(The problem with these people is they love sin and have an obstinate
will. The evidence is overwhelming that
Jesus is God. They don’t lack evidence,
they lack integrity and a love for the truth.)
“Faith comes by hearing, that is, hearing the Word of God” [Rom.
10]
Matthew 13:23 23 "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good
soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who
indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some
thirty."
Hear the Word [read and
listen to the Bible], understand what the Bible verses mean, and follow John 7:17—choose
to believe the truth. Choose to
surrender to Jesus as Lord, Master, Boss.
The Bible is true!
John Chapter 10–12 & 14 Study Questions—Week 6
Context: Based on John 9:40–41 it is clear that the Pharisees
are in the audience and are still addressing Jesus in Chapter 10. Thus Jesus is
still speaking to the Pharisees.
Chapter 10
Vs. 1–6 The sheep and the Shepherd, Jesus is a true
shepherd; the Pharisees are the false shepherds that are talked about in Ezek
34. The people are the sheep. In John 10, the real sheep, true believers, enter
the kingdom on God’s terms (faith, repentance, surrender, a deep trust in the
good Shepherd, Jesus.) Real sheep are loyal and follow Jesus’ teachings while
rejecting the teachings of the false Shepherds. This false teaching included the
merit system of the Pharisees which required earning salvation by works rather
than by GRACE)
Vs. 7 Here is another “I am” saying, “I am the door of the
sheep”
You need to be born from above to see the door and enter the
door; Jesus is the door and the only door to abundant, everlasting life. (The shepherds would sleep in the hole in
the fence, so their body functioned as a gate or door.)
Vs. 9 What happens to those who enter by God’s appointed
door? (They are saved from perishing
[vs. 28], from God’s wrath against sin and sinners)
Vs. 10 Here is a contrast of Jesus with the Pharisees
What do we learn about “life” in this verse? What qualities does the life Jesus gives have, and when does He give this life? (It is an abundant, full, and complete
life)
Vs. 11 What is the I am saying here? (I am the Good Shepherd) What does the Good Shepherd do for the
sheep? (He lays down His life, dies for
the sheep). The Context of chapters 9–10 shows us that the reason He lays down
His life is to save the sheep and give them abundant life upon their
conversion.
Vs. 12–13 The loyalty goes both ways, the Shepherd to the
sheep and the believers to the Savior
Vs. 14 Who is Jesus? (The Good Shepherd) One characteristic
of belief is knowing Jesus personally.
Vs. 15 How does God the Son relate to God the Father? (Intimate knowledge and relationship) What
did Jesus come to do? (Die in the place of the sheep; he lived a holy life in
our place, died in our place)
Vs. 16 Salvation is going to go beyond Jewish believers to
also include Gentile believers.
They will become one people, God’s spiritual children, Jesus
will be the leader.
Vs. 17–18 Jesus was not under the curse of death, He had to
willingly give His human life for His death to occur.
Vs. 19 The Jewish leaders, mainly the Pharisees are divided
again.
Vs. 20–21 What are the two Jewish answers to the question,
Who is Jesus? (Crazy and demonic, and One that does miraculous signs from God)
What has been John’s answer to this question? (Jesus is God, the God-Man)
Vs. 22 Feast of Dedication = Festival of Lights, Hanukkah
Vs. 24 “Are you the Messiah?” Who is Jesus? Is Jesus the
Messiah?
Vs. 25 All the signs hold the witnesses fully responsible
for choosing not to believe in spite of the evidence before their eyes
(obstinate will and love of sin).
Vs. 26 What is another reason why the Pharisees are ignoring
the evidence before them? (They do not yet belong to God. See John 8:23–24,
38–44)
Vs. 27 What 3 things in this verse display a genuine belief
in Jesus the Messiah? (Hearing His voice, continually following Jesus, having a
two way intimate relationship with Jesus)
Vs. 28–29 What is the life like that Jesus gives to real
believers? (Everlasting, secure, unchangeable, the opposite of perishing)
Vs. 30 Who is Jesus? (Equal with God the Father, therefore,
God the Son)
John Chapter 10–12 & 14 Study Questions (Back of Page)
Chapter 10
Vs. 31–32 Do the Pharisees think Jesus is just claiming to
be a Rabbi? (No, they are going to put Him to death for blasphemy—for claiming
to be God. Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic,
or Lord.)
Vs. 35 What is John and Jesus’ view of the Bible? (It is without
error, all prophecies must be fulfilled.)
Vs. 36 Who is Jesus? (The One sent to earth by God the
Father, the Son of God)
Vs. 38 How close of a relationship does Jesus have with God
the Father? (intimate)
Vs. 39 What does unbelief look like? (hostility to Jesus)
Vs. 40–42 (See John 1:28. The new location is Bethany across
the Jordan, below the sea of Galilee, just south of the Yarmurk river where it joins
the Jordan River near the city of Adam.)
Belief in these verses is choosing to accept the truth and the facts even
if it is unpopular or costly.
Chapter 11
In John 11 we have another sign to verify that Jesus is the
God-Man. A dead man raised after 4
days.
Vs. 25–27 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the
life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live . . . 27 She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that
You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world." (John 11:25, 27)
Who is Jesus here? (The
Messiah, Son of God in the flesh)
Vs.
41–48, 53 41 Then they took away the stone from
the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes
and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 "And I know that You
always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that
they may believe that You sent Me."
43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud
voice, "Lazarus, come forth!"
44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with
grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them,
"Loose him, and let him go." 45 Then
many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed
in Him. 46 But some of them
went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. 47 Then the chief priests and the
Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man
works many signs. 48
"If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the
Romans will come and take away both our place and nation" . . . 53 Then, from that day
on, they plotted to put Him to death.
(John 11:41-48, 53)
Vs.
41–48, 53
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after he was in the tomb for four
days. Jesus is the resurrection. Jesus
is the Life and can give life to even the dead.
Chapter 12
What does unbelief look like in these next verses?
Vs. 10–11 10 “Therefore the chief priests decided
to also kill Lazarus, 11 because he was the reason many of the Jews
were deserting them and believing in Jesus“(John 12:10–11).
Vs. 10–11 They were planning a murder to cover up the
evidence that the Messiah was in their midst.
Were they lacking facts or evidence?
(No, they had eye witness reports of the resurrection. They had a heart and will problem).
Chapter 14
Vs. 14:5–11
Vs. 6 Do you see any other way to get to heaven apart from
Jesus the Messiah?
Vs. 11 Faith is not blind, fact-less, or a pipe-dream here.
It is factual. What are we to believe
about Jesus here? (Jesus is the Son of
God, the God-Man who came to earth, who is one with God the Father.) Do you
believe in the Jesus of the Bible yet? (Yes/No)
John Chapter 18 & 19 Study Questions—Week 7
(see additional page, part b)
John Chapter 18 & 19 Study Questions (Back of Page)
John Chapter 19 & 20 Study Questions—Week 8
This Greek word for “it is
finished” requires several English words to translate it. This verb is a consummative perfect
passive. Grammatically the perfect
tense when it is a consummative perfect refers to a completed process that has
ongoing results into the future. The
passive voice is always significant when it is used. The cross-work of Christ “has been completed,” the sin debt has
been paid in full. The Mission was accomplished;
the task of redemption was finished.
What
has Jesus accomplished (John 17:4, 19:28) and completed by hanging in extreme
pain on the cross? Why was His death a
victory and not a defeat? 1.) Jesus
fulfilled all the prophecies about the Messiah that had to occur before His
death. Some estimate that there are
over 332 prophecies fulfilled in the person, Jesus of Nazareth. Several of these prophecies were fulfilled
just seconds before He spoke this word of victory (Psalms 69:3, 21), “it is
accomplished” and it stands completed forever (perfect tense). 2.) His suffering and earthly humiliation
was now over (Phil. 2:6–11; Heb. 1:3, 2:10–18). He will never suffer humiliation again and will never die again
(Rom. 6:9; Heb. 5:7–10). 3.) His penal
vicarious substitutionary atonement has paid for the sin of His sheep (John
10:27) in full (Isaiah 53:4–8, 10–11; Mark 10:45; John 1:29; Ephesians 5:25,
10–11; Heb. 1:3, 10:12–14, 19; 1 Peter 2:24).
The work of redemption was finished (Romans 5:6–11, John 10:11–18,
Ephesians 1:7, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 9:24-28, 1 Peter 1:18, Romans
8:32). The Holy wrath of the Father
against sin and sinners was appeased for all those who would believe (1 John
2:2, Ephesians 5:2, 25; Hebrews 2:17; 9:11–15). The important burial and resurrection were sure events to follow
(1 Corinthians 5:4) that Jesus knew would occur as the God-Man. He was so confident of this; He could
declare victory before releasing His spirit.
Even though these prophecies were future, they would surely come to
pass. Likewise, the prophecies He had
completed were the ones that had to occur before His death. 4.) The spiritual forces of darkness,
expecting this to be a battle that they had won, immediately discover after
Jesus’ victory cry that the cross-work of Christ brought their defeat (Genesis
3:15, John 12:31, Romans 8:33–34, Colossians 2:14–15, Hebrews 2:14, 1 John
3:8). The spiritual world radically
changed. 5.) Christ’s personal mission
and work on earth has been fully completed (Matthew 1:21, John 12:20–23, 17:4;
Luke 19:10; Galatians 4:4–5; 1 Timothy 1:15).
The God-Man lived perfectly in obedience to the Father and thus
completed every task according to the Father’s plan (John 8:29; 12:27; Luke
9:51). The completion of Jesus Christ’s
humiliation, of living a perfect life in our place, and the completion of His
work on the cross to pay for our sin changed the universe. His six hours on the cross was the most
radical event of human history.
Jesus
had completed His work on earth and had physically died in the place of
sinners. It is very significant that
Jesus declares His victory while on the cross for our benefit. He did not have to wait for His resurrection,
ascension, or His seating in heaven (Acts 2:29–36, Psalms 24:1–10) to occur
before He loudly proclaimed that the war had been won. From that moment on, Satan, sin, and death
have all been defeated foes awaiting the appointed time when they will join together
in the lake of fire, the second death.
All three of these enemies are on limited time. Jesus is Lord of the living and of the dead
(Rom.14:9) and He is the Victor. It has
been accomplished, the redemption of believers, and it remains completely finished
forever. The believer’s redemption has
been paid in full and can not be added to by any type of human works (Eph.
2:8-9). The risen Christ is received by
a believing and repentant heart by the sinner, but it is His shed blood that is
the basis for their forgiveness, not the sinner’s actions to receive God’s free
gift of everlasting life (Rom. 6:23).
Chapter 19
Vs. 31 There are four types of crosses that were used by the
Romans (pole l, a T, an X, or like most pictures, +). The wood found on the spike
through a man’s heal in Israel in an archeological discovery was from an Olive
tree (they also had oaks and pines in Palestine with numerous fruit trees).
Olive trees grow short, the vertical beam would be about 7–8’ high, leaving the
victim close to the soldiers. The
victim only carried the upper “I” beam. There was a peg or a nail fastened to
the beam for the victim to sit on to prolong the pain. It usually took 36 hours or more, but death
came shortly after the broken legs prevented the victim from lifting up his
body with his legs to get a breath of air and often sent clots into the
lungs. The upper nails went through the
wrist bone, the lower 7” nail went through the heel into the wood out the wood
and into the other heel and then was bent over. Most of the time
John Chapter 19 & 20 Study Questions (Back of Page)
there was also a stone tablet installed under the feet to
bear the body weight. Sun exposure,
dehydration, swollen wounds with tetanus could each eventually cause the death of
the victim long before asphyxiation.
Sometimes they would hit the victim under the arm with a hammer before
lifting them up, which would probably break several ribs. It appears Jesus’ heart ruptured due to the
physical, emotional, and spiritual agony and stress after 6 hours.
Chapter 19
Vs. 36–37 the Messiah is still fulfilling Old Testament
prophecies
Vs. 41 Jesus was placed in a garden tomb
Vs. 42 its location was near the hill of the skull
Chapter 20
Vs. 1 Mary of Magdalena, from the southern section below the
Sea of Galilee was the first to arrive at the tomb. If one was making this up,
your first witness would not been a female in this day, nor a former mental
case (she had seven demons).
Vs. 2 John and Peter are informed about the tomb
Vs. 3–4 The two go to the tomb and examine the evidence
Vs. 5–7 Who gets there first? (John) Who enters first?
(Peter) Notice the details.
Vs. 8 What is the proper response to the evidence? (Belief)
Is this a blind faith contrary to fact, or a reasoned acceptance of the truth
observed) (2nd option)
Vs. 9 This verse explains why they were not expecting this
and why Peter does not yet believe.
Vs. 16–17 What proof does Mary have of the resurrection of
Jesus? (She recognized his voice, saw him, and touched him, and she saw angels
at the tomb)
Vs.19–20 What do ten of the disciples see and hear?
(Jesus) What did he show them?
(The wounds from crucifixion)
Vs. 21 This is the Great Commission in John. How did Jesus come into the world in regards
to His social status, personhood, and appearance? (He was poor, average appearing, human baby) Jesus’ disciples are
also to relate to people with dignity and compassion because they are made in
God’s image.
Vs. 22 Here is a temporary filling of the Holy Spirit until
Pentecost.
Vs. 24 Thomas is missing.
Vs. 25 Willfully unbelieving Thomas, refusing to believe eye
witness accounts
Vs. 26 Who shows up again a week later? (Jesus)
Vs. 27 What does Jesus say to Thomas? Now that you have viewed the eye witness
accounts, what would Jesus say to you? (Don’t be an unbeliever, but believe,
exercise the gift of faith)
Vs. 28 According to Thomas who is Jesus? (Lord and God) He
died preaching this in India.
Vs. 29 Do you want to be blessed? How can you be, according to this verse? (believing the testimony of the Word of God
without demanding a miraculous sign)
Vs. 30 Does John record every supernatural sign Jesus did?
Vs. 31 Why did John write down the signs included in this
book? (so that we would believe and by faith receive everlasting abundant life) Who is Jesus? (The Messiah, the son of God,
the God-Man)
So, the entire testimony of this book of “eye witness
accounts” draws to a close much like it began. SB John 1:49 "Rabbi," Nathanael
replied, "You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
Is Jesus your King, Master, Boss, Savior, Deliverer, Lord?
(Yes/No)
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