Speaker 1: Hidden within the pages of John's gospel lies the most
Speaker 1: stunning revelation in human history, the moment when eternity stepped
Speaker 1: into time. Written by the disciple who rested on Jesus's
Speaker 1: chest at the Last Supper, this isn't just another biblical account.
Speaker 1: It's a prophetic masterpiece that unveils the true identity of
Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. John saw what others missed. While the synoptic
Speaker 1: gospels show us jesus earthly ministry, John reveals his divine
Speaker 1: nature through seven miraculous signs that point to one truth.
Speaker 1: Jesus is the eternal I Am. From water transformed into wine,
Speaker 1: to death, conquered at an empty tomb. Each miracle whispers
Speaker 1: of a greater reality. This gospel prophetically declares Jesus as
Speaker 1: the Word who spoke creation into existence, the light piercing
Speaker 1: through darkness, the bread that satisfies eternal hunger. John's vivid
Speaker 1: testimony doesn't just record history. It reveals the cosmic place
Speaker 1: of redemption that was set in motion before the foundation
Speaker 1: of the world. To day, as prophecy continues to unfold
Speaker 1: and signs multiply around us, John's gospel stands as the
Speaker 1: ultimate lens through which we understand not just who Jesus was,
Speaker 1: but who he is and who he's coming to be.
Speaker 1: Every verse pulses with divine purpose. Every chapter unveils eternal truth.
Speaker 1: Before anything existed, there was the Word. John opens chapter one,
Speaker 1: verse one, with this truth. In the beginning was the Word,
Speaker 1: and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Speaker 1: This wasn't just any beginning. This was the same beginning
Speaker 1: Moses wrote about when God spoke creation into existence. The
Speaker 1: Word had always been there, John continues in verse two.
Speaker 1: He was in the beginning with God while nothing else existed.
Speaker 1: The Word was already there with God, not as a
Speaker 1: separate being, but as God himself. It's like trying to
Speaker 1: separate light from the sun, impossible, because they are one.
Speaker 1: Everything came through this word, John explains in verse three.
Speaker 1: All things were made through him, and without him. Nothing
Speaker 1: was made that was made, Every star, every mountain, every
Speaker 1: breath of air, all of it came into being because
Speaker 1: the Word spoke it into existence. Nothing exists without his
Speaker 1: creative power. In verse four, John tells us in him
Speaker 1: was life, and the life was the light of men.
Speaker 1: The Word wasn't just a creator who made things and
Speaker 1: walked away. He was life itself, and that life became
Speaker 1: light for people. This light shows truth and hope. But
Speaker 1: here's the amazing thing about this light that John mentions
Speaker 1: in verse five, and the light shines in the darkness,
Speaker 1: and the darkness did not comprehend it. Even when darkness
Speaker 1: tries to overcome this light, it can't. The darkness doesn't
Speaker 1: understand it, can't figure it out, and definitely can't put
Speaker 1: it out. God sent a man to prepare the way.
Speaker 1: John writes in verse six there was a man sent
Speaker 1: from God whose name was John. This was John the Baptist,
Speaker 1: and he had a specific mission that would change everything.
Speaker 1: His job was simple but crucial. Verses seven and eight
Speaker 1: explain this man came for a witness, to bear witness
Speaker 1: of the light that all through him might believe. He
Speaker 1: was not that light, but was sent to bear witness
Speaker 1: of that light. John the Baptist was like a herald
Speaker 1: announcing the arrival of a king. He wasn't the main event.
Speaker 1: He was pointing to some one far greater. Later, in
Speaker 1: verse fifteen, John the Baptist makes a stunning claim. John
Speaker 1: bore witness of him and cried out, saying this was
Speaker 1: he of whom I said, he who comes after me
Speaker 1: is preferred before me, for he was before me. Think
Speaker 1: about this, John the Baptist was born before Jesus, but
Speaker 1: he's saying Jesus existed before him. The religious leaders got
Speaker 1: curious and sent priests and levites from Jerusalem to ask
Speaker 1: John who he was. Starting in verse nineteen, they questioned
Speaker 1: him directly. John was completely honest. Verse twenty tells us
Speaker 1: he confessed and did not deny, but confessed I am
Speaker 1: not the Christ. He could have taken credit for himself,
Speaker 1: but he refused. They kept pressing him. Verse twenty one
Speaker 1: records their questions, and they asked him, what, then are you, Elijah?
Speaker 1: He said, I am not. Are you the prophet? And
Speaker 1: he answered no. John wasn't trying to be mysterious. He
Speaker 1: just knew exactly who he was and who he wasn't. Finally,
Speaker 1: they demanded an answer. In verse twenty two, then they
Speaker 1: said to him, who are you that we may give
Speaker 1: an answer to those who sent us? What do you
Speaker 1: say about yourself? John's response in verse twenty three was perfect.
Speaker 1: He said, I am the voice of one crying in
Speaker 1: the wilderness makes straight the way of the Lord. As
Speaker 1: the prophet Isaiah said. When they asked about his baptizing,
Speaker 1: John explained. In verse twenty six. John answered them, saying,
Speaker 1: I baptize with water. But there stands one among you
Speaker 1: whom you do not know. Someone was already there among them,
Speaker 1: but they couldn't see who he really was. John's humility
Speaker 1: shines through in verse twenty seven. It is he who
Speaker 1: coming after me is preferred before me, whose sandal strap
Speaker 1: I am not worthy to loose. In that culture, untying
Speaker 1: someone's sandals was the job of the lowest servant. John
Speaker 1: was saying he wasn't even worthy to be Jesus's lowest servant.
Speaker 1: The next day, everything changed. Verse twenty nine records the
Speaker 1: moment the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him
Speaker 1: and said, behold the lamb of God who takes away
Speaker 1: the sin of the world. John recognized Jesus as the
Speaker 1: sacrifice that would deal with humanity's biggest problem sin. John
Speaker 1: continues his testimony in verse thirty. This is he of
Speaker 1: whom I said, after me comes a man who is
Speaker 1: preferred before me, for he was before me. He still
Speaker 1: emphasizing that Jesus, though younger in human years, existed before
Speaker 1: John was even born. John admits he didn't always know
Speaker 1: who Jesus was. Verse thirty one explains, I did not
Speaker 1: know him, but that he should be revealed to Israel.
Speaker 1: Therefore I came baptizing with water. God had a plan
Speaker 1: to reveal Jesus to the nation, and John's baptizing was
Speaker 1: part of that plan. Then John shares what happened when
Speaker 1: he baptized Jesus. Verse thirty two tells us and John
Speaker 1: bore witness, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven
Speaker 1: like a dove, and he remained upon him. This was
Speaker 1: God's sign to John about who Jesus really was. God
Speaker 1: had given John's specific instructions. Verse thirty three records, I
Speaker 1: did not know him, but he who sent me to
Speaker 1: baptize with water said to me upon whom you see
Speaker 1: the spirit descending and remaining on him, This is he
Speaker 1: who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. This was how John
Speaker 1: would recognize the Messiah. John's conclusion is powerful and final.
Speaker 1: Verse thirty four states, and I have seen and testified
Speaker 1: that this is the son of God. John had seen
Speaker 1: the proof with his own eyes, and now he was
Speaker 1: telling every one who would listen. The true light was
Speaker 1: coming into the world. John explains in verse nine that
Speaker 1: was the true light, which gives light to every man
Speaker 1: coming into the world. This wasn't just any light. This
Speaker 1: was the real thing, the original source that makes it
Speaker 1: possible for any one to see truth. But there was
Speaker 1: a problem. Verse ten reveals the tragedy. He was in
Speaker 1: the world and the world was made through him, and
Speaker 1: the world did not know him. Imagine an artist walking
Speaker 1: through his own art gallery and no one recognizes him
Speaker 1: as the creator. The word had made everything, but people
Speaker 1: didn't recognize their maker. It got even more personal. Verse
Speaker 1: eleven tells us he came to his own and his
Speaker 1: own did not receive him. These weren't strangers. These were
Speaker 1: his own people, the ones who had been waiting for him.
Speaker 1: Yet when he came, they turned him away. But not
Speaker 1: everyone rejected him. Verse twelve brings hope. But as many
Speaker 1: as received him to them, he gave the right to
Speaker 1: become children of God to those who believe in his name.
Speaker 1: Anyone who believed in him and received him got something incredible.
Speaker 1: They became God's children. This wasn't about human effort or
Speaker 1: family connections. Verse thirteen clarifies who were born, not of blood,
Speaker 1: nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the
Speaker 1: will of man, but of God. Being God's child isn't
Speaker 1: something you inherit from your parents or achieved through trying hard.
Speaker 1: It's something God does for you when you believe. Then
Speaker 1: comes the most amazing moment in history. Verse fourteen declares,
Speaker 1: and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and
Speaker 1: we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only
Speaker 1: begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, the
Speaker 1: eternal Word, who existed before creation, became a human being
Speaker 1: and lived right here with people. John and the other
Speaker 1: disciples saw his glory first hand. This wasn't just any human.
Speaker 1: This was the unique son of the Father, completely filled
Speaker 1: with grace and truth. Grace means getting good things you
Speaker 1: don't deserve. Truth means reality as God sees it. Jesus
Speaker 1: was both perfectly combined. Every one benefits from what Jesus brought.
Speaker 1: Verse sixteen explains, And of his fullness we have all
Speaker 1: received and grace for grace. It's like having an endless
Speaker 1: supply of grace. When you use up one portion, there's
Speaker 1: another one ready and waiting. This was completely different from
Speaker 1: what came before. Verse seventeen makes the comparison, for the
Speaker 1: law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came
Speaker 1: through Jesus Christ. Moses brought rules that showed people what
Speaker 1: God expected. Jesus brought grace and truth that made it
Speaker 1: possible to actually live in relationship with God. Finally, John
Speaker 1: reveals something that no one had ever experienced before. Verse
Speaker 1: eighteen tells us no one has seen God at any time,
Speaker 1: the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of
Speaker 1: the Father. He has declared him. People had always wondered
Speaker 1: what God was really like. Jesus, who has always been
Speaker 1: close to the Father's heart, came to show them exactly
Speaker 1: who God is. The next day, John the Baptist was
Speaker 1: standing with two of his followers when Jesus walked by.
Speaker 1: Verse thirty five sets the scene again. The next day,
Speaker 1: John stood with two of his disciples. These men had
Speaker 1: been learning from John, but they were about to meet
Speaker 1: someone far greater. When John saw Jesus, he repeated what
Speaker 1: he had said before. Verse thirty six records, and looking
Speaker 1: at Jesus as he walked, he said, behold the lamb
Speaker 1: of God. John wasn't trying to keep his disciples for himself.
Speaker 1: He was pointing them to Jesus. The two disciples immediately
Speaker 1: understood what John meant. Verse thirty seven tells us the
Speaker 1: two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. They
Speaker 1: left John and started walking after Jesus. This wasn't just
Speaker 1: casual curiosity. They were making a choice to follow. Jesus
Speaker 1: noticed them following and asked simple question. Verse thirty eight records.
Speaker 1: Then Jesus turned and, seeing them following, said to them,
Speaker 1: what do you seek? They said to him, rabbi, which
Speaker 1: is to say, when translated, teacher, where are you staying.
Speaker 1: They wanted to know where he lived so they could
Speaker 1: spend time with him. Jesus gave them an invitation that
Speaker 1: changed their lives. Verse thirty nine continues, he said to them,
Speaker 1: come and see. They came and saw where he was staying,
Speaker 1: and remained with him that day. Now it was about
Speaker 1: the tenth hour. Instead of just telling them, Jesus invited
Speaker 1: them to experience it for themselves. One of these two
Speaker 1: men was Andrew, and he couldn't keep the news to himself.
Speaker 1: Verse forty tells us one of the two who heard
Speaker 1: John speak and followed him was Andrew Simon, Peter's brother.
Speaker 1: Andrew would become one of the Twelve Disciples, but first
Speaker 1: he had something important to do. Andrew immediately went to
Speaker 1: find his brother. Verse forty one records he first found
Speaker 1: his own brother, Simon and said to him, we have
Speaker 1: found the Messiah, which is translated the Christ. Andrew was
Speaker 1: convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, the one their people
Speaker 1: had been waiting for. Andrew brought Simon to Jesus, and
Speaker 1: something interesting happened. Verse forty two tells us and he
Speaker 1: brought him to Jesus. Now, when Jesus looked at him,
Speaker 1: he said, you are Simon, the son of Jonah. You
Speaker 1: shall be called Cephus, which is translated a stone. Jesus
Speaker 1: immediately knew who Simon was and gave him a new
Speaker 1: name that described what he would become. The next day,
Speaker 1: Jesus decided to go to Galilee and found another man
Speaker 1: to follow him. Verse forty three explains the following day,
Speaker 1: Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and he found Philip
Speaker 1: and said to him, follow me. This time Jesus took
Speaker 1: the initiative and called Philip directly. Philip was from the
Speaker 1: same town as Andrew and Peter verse forty four ADS.
Speaker 1: Now Philip was from Bethsaeda, the city of Andrew and Peter.
Speaker 1: These men already knew each other, which made it easier
Speaker 1: for the news about Jesus to spread. Like Andrew, Philip
Speaker 1: couldn't keep quiet about Jesus. Verse forty five records. Philip
Speaker 1: found Nathaniel and said to him, we have found him
Speaker 1: of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets
Speaker 1: wrote Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Philip was
Speaker 1: convinced that Jesus was the one the Old Testament had promised,
Speaker 1: but Nathaniel had doubts about Jesus' home town. Verse forty
Speaker 1: six tells Us and Nathaniel said to him, can anything
Speaker 1: good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, come
Speaker 1: and see. Nazareth wasn't known for producing any one important,
Speaker 1: so Nathaniel was skeptical. When when Jesus saw Nathaniel coming,
Speaker 1: he said something that shocked everyone. Verse forty seven records
Speaker 1: Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward him and said of him,
Speaker 1: behold an Israelite, indeed in whom is no deceit Jesus
Speaker 1: immediately recognized Nathaniel's honest character. Nathaniel was amazed that Jesus
Speaker 1: knew him. Verse forty eight continues, Nathaniel said to him,
Speaker 1: how do you know me? Jesus answered and said to him,
Speaker 1: before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree,
Speaker 1: I saw you. Jesus had seen Nathaniel when no one
Speaker 1: else was around. This convinced Nathaniel completely. Verse forty nine
Speaker 1: records his response. Nathaniel answered and said to him, Rabbi,
Speaker 1: you are the son of God. You are the King
Speaker 1: of Israel. In one moment, Nathaniel went from skepticism to
Speaker 1: complete faith. Jesus told Nathaniel this was just the beginning.
Speaker 1: Verses fifty and fifty one conclude. Jesus answered and said
Speaker 1: to him, because I said to you I saw you
Speaker 1: under the fig tree, do you believe you will see
Speaker 1: greater things than these? And he said to him most assuredly,
Speaker 1: I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open
Speaker 1: and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the
Speaker 1: son of Man. Jesus promised that Nathaniel would witness even
Speaker 1: more amazing things in the future. Three days later, there
Speaker 1: was a wedding in Cana. John chapter two, verse one
Speaker 1: tells us on the third day there was a wedding
Speaker 1: in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
Speaker 1: Jesus and his disciples were also invited. During the celebration,
Speaker 1: a problem arose. Verse three explains, and when they ran
Speaker 1: out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to him,
Speaker 1: they have no wine. Running out of wine at a
Speaker 1: wedding was a social disaster that could shame the family.
Speaker 1: Jesus's response seemed distant at first. Verse four records Jesus
Speaker 1: said to her woman, what does your concern have to
Speaker 1: do with me? My hour has not yet come. But
Speaker 1: Mary told the servants in verse five, whatever he says
Speaker 1: to you, do it. Near them stood six large stone
Speaker 1: water jars. Verse six describes them. Now there were set
Speaker 1: there six water pots of stone, according to the manner
Speaker 1: of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.
Speaker 1: These held water for ceremonial washing. Jesus told the servants
Speaker 1: to fill the jars with water. Verse seven records Jesus
Speaker 1: said to them, filled the water pots with water, and
Speaker 1: they filled them up to the brim. Then Jesus said,
Speaker 1: in verse eight, draw some out now and take it
Speaker 1: to the master of the feast. What happened next amazed
Speaker 1: every one. Verse nine explains when the master of the
Speaker 1: feast had tasted the water that was made wine and
Speaker 1: did not know where it came from. But the servants
Speaker 1: who had drawn the water knew. The master of the
Speaker 1: feast called the bridegroom the water had become wine. The
Speaker 1: master was impressed with the quality. Verse ten records, and
Speaker 1: he said to him, every man at the beginning sets
Speaker 1: out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk,
Speaker 1: then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now. Um,
Speaker 1: this wine was better than anything served before. John explains
Speaker 1: the significance in verse eleven this beginning of signs. Jesus
Speaker 1: did in Cana of Galilee and manifested his glory, and
Speaker 1: his disciples believed in him. This was Jesus's first public miracle.
Speaker 1: Jesus went to Jerusalem for passover. Verse thirteen explains, now
Speaker 1: the passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus
Speaker 1: went up to Jerusalem. At the temple, he found something
Speaker 1: that made him angry. Verse fourteen describes what he saw
Speaker 1: and he found in the temple those who sold oxen
Speaker 1: and sheep and doves, and the money changes doing business.
Speaker 1: The temple courtyard had become a market place. Jesus responded
Speaker 1: with force verse fifteen records. When he had made a
Speaker 1: whip of cords, he drove them all out of the
Speaker 1: temple with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out
Speaker 1: the chang's money and overturned the tables. Jesus had strong
Speaker 1: words in verse sixteen, and he said to those who
Speaker 1: sold doves, take these things away. Do not make my
Speaker 1: father's house a house of merchandise. He called the temple
Speaker 1: his father's house. The Jewish leaders demanded proof of his authority.
Speaker 1: Verse eighteen records. So the Jews answered and said to him,
Speaker 1: what sign do you show to us, since you do
Speaker 1: these things. Jesus gave them a mysterious answer. In verse nineteen.
Speaker 1: Jesus answered and said to them destroy this temple, and
Speaker 1: in three a days I will raise it up. The
Speaker 1: leaders were confused, thinking he meant the building, but verse
Speaker 1: twenty one clarifies, but he was speaking of the temple
Speaker 1: of his body. Jesus was predicting his own death and resurrection.
Speaker 1: The disciples only understood this after he rose from the
Speaker 1: dead during Passover. Many believed because of his miracles, but
Speaker 1: verse twenty four explains, but Jesus did not commit himself
Speaker 1: to them because he knew all men. Jesus could see
Speaker 1: into people's hearts. A Pharisee named Nicodemus came to Jesus
Speaker 1: at night. Chapter three, Verse one introduces him. There was
Speaker 1: a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of
Speaker 1: the Jews. He was an important religious leader. Nicodemus acknowledged
Speaker 1: Jesus's divine power in verse two. This man came to
Speaker 1: Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know
Speaker 1: that you are a teacher, come from God. For no
Speaker 1: one can do these signs that you do unless God
Speaker 1: is with him. Jesus immediately addressed the heart issue. Verse
Speaker 1: three records Jesus answered and said to him most assuredly,
Speaker 1: I say to you, unless one is born again, he
Speaker 1: cannot see the Kingdom of God. This confused Nicodemus completely.
Speaker 1: Verse four shows his confusion. Nicodemus said to him, how
Speaker 1: can a man be born when he is old? Can
Speaker 1: he enter a second time into his mother's womb and
Speaker 1: be born. He was thinking only about physical birth. Jesus
Speaker 1: explained two kinds of birth. In verse five, Jesus answered
Speaker 1: most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born
Speaker 1: of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom
Speaker 1: of God. Physical birth wasn't enough. Verse six clarifies that
Speaker 1: which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that
Speaker 1: which is born of the spirit is spirit. Jesus used
Speaker 1: the wind as an example in verse eight. The wind
Speaker 1: blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it,
Speaker 1: but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.
Speaker 1: So is every one who is born of the spirit.
Speaker 1: Jesus was surprised at Nicodemus's confusion. Verse ten shows Jesus
Speaker 1: answered and said to him, Ah, you the teacher of Israel,
Speaker 1: and do not know these things. Mikya, a religious leader
Speaker 1: should understand spiritual truth. Jesus made an amazing claim in
Speaker 1: verse thirteen. No one has ascended to heaven but he
Speaker 1: who came down from heaven, that is the son of
Speaker 1: Man who is in heaven. He came from heaven with authority.
Speaker 1: Jesus referred to Moses lifting up the bronze serpent in
Speaker 1: verse fourteen. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in
Speaker 1: the wilderness, even so must the son of Man be
Speaker 1: lifted up. Anyone who looked at it lived. Then comes
Speaker 1: the famous verse sixteen. For God so loved the world
Speaker 1: that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes
Speaker 1: in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God's
Speaker 1: love motivated this gift. Verse seventeen clarifies God's purpose, for
Speaker 1: God did not send his son into the world to
Speaker 1: condemn the world, but that the world, through him might
Speaker 1: be saved. Jesus came to rescue, not judge. Later, when
Speaker 1: John the Baptist's disciples worried about Jesus's popularity, John responded
Speaker 1: humbly in verse thirty, he must increase, but I must decrease.
Speaker 1: Jesus decided to leave Judea when the Pharisees heard about
Speaker 1: his popularity. Chapter four, verse three tells us he left
Speaker 1: Judea and departed again to Galilee. Chose to go through Samaria.
Speaker 1: Jesus came to Jacob's well around noon. Verse six tells us,
Speaker 1: now Jacob's well was there. Jesus, therefore, being wearied, from
Speaker 1: his journey, sat thus by the well. It was about
Speaker 1: the sixth hour. A Samaritan woman came to draw water.
Speaker 1: Jesus surprised her by asking for a drink. In verse seven,
Speaker 1: a woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said
Speaker 1: to her, give me a drink. This was unusual, because
Speaker 1: Jews avoided Samaritans. The woman expressed her surprise in verse nine.
Speaker 1: Then the woman of Samaria said to him, how is
Speaker 1: it that you, being a Jew, ask a drink from me,
Speaker 1: a Samaritan woman, For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
Speaker 1: Jesus offered her something better. In verse ten. Jesus answered
Speaker 1: and said to her, if you knew the gift of
Speaker 1: God and who it is who says to you give
Speaker 1: me a drink, you would have asked him, and he
Speaker 1: have given you living water. She was confused about practical matters.
Speaker 1: In verse eleven, the woman said to him, Sir, you
Speaker 1: have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep.
Speaker 1: Where then do you get that living water? Jesus explained
Speaker 1: the difference in verse fourteen. But whoever drinks of the
Speaker 1: water that I shall give him will never thirst. But
Speaker 1: the water that I shall give him will become in
Speaker 1: him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.
Speaker 1: Jesus then revealed he knew her personal history. When she
Speaker 1: mentioned the Messiah, Jesus made a stunning revelation. In verse
Speaker 1: twenty six, Jesus said to her, I who speak to
Speaker 1: you am he The woman ran to tell her town
Speaker 1: about Jesus. Many Samaritans believed because of her testimony, and
Speaker 1: even more believed after hearing Jesus personally. Meanwhile, a nobleman
Speaker 1: from Capernium came begging Jesus to heal his dying son.
Speaker 1: Jesus told him in verse fifty, go your way, your
Speaker 1: son lives. The man believed and found his son healed
Speaker 1: at the exact moment Jesus spoke. This was Jesus' second
Speaker 1: sign in Galilee. After Jesus's time in Samaria, another Jewish
Speaker 1: feast approached. Chapter five, Verse one tells us after this
Speaker 1: there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went
Speaker 1: up to Jerusalem. Jesus returned to the Holy City for
Speaker 1: this celebration. In Jerusalem was a pool called Bethesda. Verse
Speaker 1: two describes it. Now there is in Jerusalem by the
Speaker 1: sheep Gate a pool which is called in Hebrew bethesda.
Speaker 1: Having five porches, this place attracted desperate people seeking healing.
Speaker 1: The area was filled with sick people. Verse three explains
Speaker 1: in these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed,
Speaker 1: waiting for the moving of the water. Hundreds came here
Speaker 1: hoping for a miracle. Among them was one man whose
Speaker 1: situation was tragic. Verse five tells us, now a certain
Speaker 1: man was there who had an infirmity thirty eight years.
Speaker 1: For nearly four decades, this man couldn't walk. Jesus saw
Speaker 1: him and knew his condition. Verse six records when Jesus
Speaker 1: saw him lying there and knew that he already had
Speaker 1: been in that condition a long time, he said to him,
Speaker 1: do you want to be made well? Jesus tested his faith,
Speaker 1: the man revealed his hopelessness. Verse seven shows the sick
Speaker 1: man answered him, Sir, I have no man to put
Speaker 1: me into the pool when the water is stirred up.
Speaker 1: But while I'm coming, another steps down before me. Others
Speaker 1: always got there first. Jesus didn't need the pool. Verse
Speaker 1: eight records Jesus said to him, rise, take up your bed,
Speaker 1: and walk. Three simple commands changed everything. The healing was instant.
Speaker 1: Verse nine tells us, and immediately the man was made well,
Speaker 1: took up his bed and walked, and that day was
Speaker 1: the Sabbath. After thirty eight years, he was healed on
Speaker 1: the Sabbath. The religious leaders complained about rule breaking. Verse
Speaker 1: ten a records the Jews therefore said to him who
Speaker 1: was cured, it is the Sabbath. It is not lawful
Speaker 1: for you to carry your bed. They cared more about
Speaker 1: rules than miracles. The man explained what happened. Verse eleven
Speaker 1: shows he answered them, he who made me well, said
Speaker 1: to me, take up your bed and walk. He didn't
Speaker 1: know who Jesus was, yet later Jesus found him in
Speaker 1: the temple. Verse fourteen tells us. Afterward, Jesus found him
Speaker 1: in the temple and said to him, see, you have
Speaker 1: been made well. Sin no more lest a worse thing
Speaker 1: come upon you. Jesus warned about spiritual health. The man
Speaker 1: told the religious leaders it was Jesus. This made them angry.
Speaker 1: They persecuted Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. Jesus responded
Speaker 1: in verse seventeen, my father has been working until now,
Speaker 1: and I have been working. He claimed God as his father,
Speaker 1: This made them want to kill him more. Verse eighteen explains,
Speaker 1: therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him
Speaker 1: because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also said
Speaker 1: that God was his father, making himself equal with God.
Speaker 1: Jesus explained his relationship with the Father. Verse nineteen declares,
Speaker 1: Then Jesus answered and said to them most assuredly, I
Speaker 1: say to you, the Son can do nothing of himself,
Speaker 1: but what he sees the Father do. For whatever he does,
Speaker 1: the son also does. In like manner. Jesus claimed authority
Speaker 1: over life and death. Verse twenty one states an as
Speaker 1: the Father raises the dead and gives life to them,
Speaker 1: even so the Son gives life to whom he will.
Speaker 1: He also claimed authority to judge all people. Jesus crossed
Speaker 1: the Sea of Galilee. Chapter six. Verse one tells us
Speaker 1: after these things, Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee,
Speaker 1: which is the Sea of Tiberius. A huge crowd followed
Speaker 1: him because of his healing miracles. Jesus went up on
Speaker 1: a mountain with his disciples. Verse four adds now the passover,
Speaker 1: a feast of the Jews was near. The timing was important.
Speaker 1: Jesus saw the crowd coming and tested Philip. Verse five records.
Speaker 1: Then Jesus lifted up his eyes, and, seeing a great
Speaker 1: multitude coming toward him, he said to Philip, where shall
Speaker 1: we buy bread that these may eat. Jesus already knew
Speaker 1: what he would do. Philip calculated the impossible cost. Verse
Speaker 1: seven records answered him, two hundred denari worth of bread
Speaker 1: is not sufficient for them, that every one of them
Speaker 1: may have a little. Andrew found a boy with lunch.
Speaker 1: Verse nine continues, there is a lad here who has
Speaker 1: five barley doves in two small fish. But what are
Speaker 1: they among so many? It seemed hopeless. Jesus organized the crowd.
Speaker 1: Verse ten tells us. Then Jesus said, make the people
Speaker 1: sit down. Now there was much grass in the place.
Speaker 1: So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
Speaker 1: Jesus took the boy's lunch and gave thanks. Verse eleven explains,
Speaker 1: and Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks,
Speaker 1: he distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to
Speaker 1: those sitting down, and likewise of the fish as much
Speaker 1: as they wanted. Every one was fed completely. The food
Speaker 1: multiplied as Jesus distributed it. When finished Jesus said in
Speaker 1: verse twelve, gather up the fragments that remain, so that
Speaker 1: nothing is lost. They collected twelve baskets of leftovers. The
Speaker 1: crowd recognized this miracle. Verse fourteen records then those men,
Speaker 1: when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said,
Speaker 1: this is truly the prophet who is to come into
Speaker 1: the world. They wanted to make him king, but Jesus withdrew.
Speaker 1: That evening, the disciples crossed the lake without Jesus. A
Speaker 1: strong wind made rowing difficult. Verse nineteen tells us, so
Speaker 1: when they had rowed about three or four miles, they
Speaker 1: saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat,
Speaker 1: and they were afraid. Jesus calmed them in verse twenty,
Speaker 1: but he said to them, it is I, do not
Speaker 1: be afraid. They received him into the boat and immediately
Speaker 1: reached shore. The crowd looked for Jesus the next day.
Speaker 1: When they found him in Capernium, they asked when he arrived.
Speaker 1: Jesus challenged their motives in verse twenty six, most assuredly,
Speaker 1: I say to you, you seek me not because you
Speaker 1: saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves
Speaker 1: and were filled Jesus told them to seek eternal food.
Speaker 1: Verse twenty seven explains, do not labor for the food
Speaker 1: which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life,
Speaker 1: which the Son of Man will give you. They asked
Speaker 1: what work God required. Verse twenty nine records Jesus's answer,
Speaker 1: this is the work of God that you believe in
Speaker 1: him whom he sent. They demanded a sign and mentioned manner.
Speaker 1: Jesus corrected them in verse thirty two, most assuredly, I
Speaker 1: say to you, Moses did not give you the bread
Speaker 1: from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread
Speaker 1: from heaven. When they asked for this bread, Jesus made
Speaker 1: his famous declaration in verse thirty five. I am the
Speaker 1: bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger,
Speaker 1: and he who believes in me shall never thirst. Jesus
Speaker 1: explained that all the Father gives him will come, and
Speaker 1: he will raise them up on the last day. The
Speaker 1: Jews complained because he claimed to come from heaven. Knowing
Speaker 1: his earthly family, Jesus explained that no one can come
Speaker 1: unless the Father draws them. He repeated in verse forty eight,
Speaker 1: I am the bread of life. He compared himself to manner,
Speaker 1: saying those who ate it died, but whoever eats the
Speaker 1: bread from Heaven will live forever. Jesus made his most
Speaker 1: shocking statement in verse fifty one. I am the living
Speaker 1: Bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of
Speaker 1: this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that
Speaker 1: I shall give is my flesh, which I shall give
Speaker 1: for the life of the world. This caused arguments among
Speaker 1: the Jews. Jesus continued explaining about eating his flesh and
Speaker 1: drinking his blood for eternal life. Many found this teaching
Speaker 1: too hard and stopped following him. Jesus asked the twelve
Speaker 1: if they wanted to leave. Two Peter answered in verse
Speaker 1: sixty eight, Lord, to whom shall we go, you have
Speaker 1: the words of eternal life. Jesus stayed in Galilee because
Speaker 1: the Jews in Judea wanted to kill him. Chapter seven,
Speaker 1: Verse two tells us now the Jews Feast of Tabernacles
Speaker 1: was at hand. This was a major festival. Jesus's brothers
Speaker 1: urged him to go publicly. Verse four continues, for no
Speaker 1: one does anything in secret, while he himself seeks to
Speaker 1: be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself
Speaker 1: to the world. But verse five clarifies, for even his
Speaker 1: brothers did not believe in him. Jesus told them his
Speaker 1: time hadn't come yet. Verse eight explains, you go up
Speaker 1: to this feast. I am not yet going up to
Speaker 1: this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.
Speaker 1: After his brothers left, Jesus went secretly at the feast.
Speaker 1: People were divided about him. Some said he was good,
Speaker 1: others that he deceived people, but they spoke quietly for
Speaker 1: fear of the leaders. Half Way through the feast, Jesus
Speaker 1: taught in the temple. The Jews marveled at his teaching
Speaker 1: without formal education. Jesus explained in verse sixteen, my doctrine
Speaker 1: is not mine, but his who sent me. Some Jerusalem
Speaker 1: residents wondered if he was the Christ, since he taught
Speaker 1: openly without arrest. Jesus cried, oht in verse twenty eight.
Speaker 1: You both know me, and you know where I am from,
Speaker 1: and I have not come of myself. But he who
Speaker 1: sent me is true whom you do not know. They
Speaker 1: tried to arrest him, but couldn't because his hour hadn't come.
Speaker 1: Many believed, asking if the Christ would do more signs
Speaker 1: than Jesus. On the last day, Jesus stood and cried
Speaker 1: in verse thirty seven, if any one thirsts, let him
Speaker 1: come to me and drink. He promised rivers of living
Speaker 1: water flowing from believers, referring to the spirit. The people
Speaker 1: were divided. Officers sent to arrest him returned, saying in
Speaker 1: verse forty six, no man ever spoke like this man.
Speaker 1: The Pharisees were angry, but Nicodemus suggested they should hear
Speaker 1: Jesus before judging. After the divided reactions at the Feast
Speaker 1: of Tabernacles, everyone went to their own homes. Chapter seven,
Speaker 1: verse fifty three tells us, and everyone went to his
Speaker 1: own house. The festival was ending and people were returning
Speaker 1: to their daily lives, but Jesus had nowhere to go
Speaker 1: for the night. Chapter eight, verse one explains, but Jesus
Speaker 1: went to the mount of Olives while others went to
Speaker 1: comfortable homes. Jesus spent the night outdoors on the mountain.
Speaker 1: Early the next morning, Jesus returned to the temple to teach.
Speaker 1: Verse two tells us, Now early in the morning he
Speaker 1: came again into the temple, and all the people came
Speaker 1: to him, and he sat down and taught them. People
Speaker 1: were eager to hear more of his teaching. While Jesus
Speaker 1: was teaching, a dramatic interruption occurred. Verse three records then
Speaker 1: the scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman caught
Speaker 1: in adultery, And when they had set her in the
Speaker 1: midst they publicly humiliated this woman by placing her in
Speaker 1: front of every one. The religious leaders explained the situation
Speaker 1: to Jesus. Verse four continues, they said, to him, teach her.
Speaker 1: This woman was caught in adultery. In the very act
Speaker 1: they claimed to have caught her committing adultery, which was
Speaker 1: a serious crime under Jewish law. They reminded Jesus of
Speaker 1: what the law required. Verse five states, now, Moses in
Speaker 1: the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But
Speaker 1: what do you say. According to the law of Moses,
Speaker 1: adultery was punishable by death through stoning. But this was
Speaker 1: actually a trap designed to get Jesus in trouble. Verse
Speaker 1: six explains this. They said, testing him, that they might
Speaker 1: have something of which to accuse him. But Jesus stooped
Speaker 1: down and wrote on the ground with his finger, as
Speaker 1: though he did not hear Jesus didn't respond immediately, but
Speaker 1: bent down and wrote something in the dirt. When they
Speaker 1: kept pressing him for an answer, Jesus stood up and
Speaker 1: gave them a response they didn't expect. Verse seven records,
Speaker 1: so when they continued asking him, he raised himself up
Speaker 1: and said to them, he who is without sin among you,
Speaker 1: let him throw a stone at her first. Jesus challenged
Speaker 1: them to examine their own hearts first. Then Jesus returned
Speaker 1: to writing on the ground. Verse eight tells us and
Speaker 1: again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. Jesus
Speaker 1: continued writing, perhaps listing their own sins for them to see.
Speaker 1: The accusers began to leave one by one as they
Speaker 1: realized their own guilt. Verse nine explains. Then those who
Speaker 1: heard it being convicted by their conscience, went out one
Speaker 1: by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last,
Speaker 1: and Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in
Speaker 1: the midst. Starting with the older men, they all quietly departed.
Speaker 1: When Jesus looked up, only the woman remained. Verse ten records.
Speaker 1: When Jesus had raised himself up and saw no one
Speaker 1: but the woman, he said to her, woman, where are
Speaker 1: those accusers? Of yours. Has no one condemned you. Jesus
Speaker 1: asked where her accusers had gone. The woman confirmed that
Speaker 1: every one had left. Verse eleven tells us she said
Speaker 1: no one, Lord, and Jesus said to her, neither do
Speaker 1: I condemn you. Go and sin no more. Jesus showed
Speaker 1: both mercy and justice. He didn't condemn her, but he
Speaker 1: told her to stop sin. Later, Jesus spoke to the
Speaker 1: people again with another important declaration. Verse twelve records then
Speaker 1: Jesus spoke to them again, saying, I am the light
Speaker 1: of the world. He who follows me shall not walk
Speaker 1: in darkness, but have the light of life. Jesus identified
Speaker 1: himself as the light that guides people out of spiritual darkness.
Speaker 1: The Pharisees immediately challenged this claim. Verse thirteen states. The
Speaker 1: Pharisees therefore said to him, you bear witness of yourself,
Speaker 1: Your witness is not true. They argued that his testimony
Speaker 1: about himself wasn't valid. Jesus explained why his testimony was
Speaker 1: actually valid. Verse fourteen responds Jesus answered and said to them,
Speaker 1: even if I bear witness of myself, my witness is true,
Speaker 1: for I know where I came from and where I
Speaker 1: am going. But you do not know where I come
Speaker 1: from and where I am going. Jesus knew his divine
Speaker 1: origin and destination. Jesus pointed out their limited perspective. Verse
Speaker 1: fifteen explains, you judge according to the flesh. I judge
Speaker 1: no one. They judged based on external appearances, while Jesus
Speaker 1: or spiritual realities. Jesus revealed that his judgment carried divine authority.
Speaker 1: Verse sixteen continues, and yet if I do judge, my
Speaker 1: judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I
Speaker 1: am the Father who sent me. When Jesus did judge,
Speaker 1: it was with the father's authority. Jesus reminded them that
Speaker 1: their own law required two witnesses. Verse seventeen states, it
Speaker 1: is also written in your law that the testimony of
Speaker 1: two men is true. Jewish law required multiple witnesses to
Speaker 1: establish truth. Jesus explained that he had the required witnesses.
Speaker 1: Verse eighteen declares, I am one who bears witness of
Speaker 1: my sol and the father who sent me bears witness
Speaker 1: of me. Both Jesus and the Father testified to his identity.
Speaker 1: The pharisees asked about his father Verse nineteen records. Then
Speaker 1: they said to him, where is your father? Jesus answered,
Speaker 1: you know neither me nor my father. If you had
Speaker 1: known me, you would have known my father. Also, they
Speaker 1: didn't understand that Jesus was talking about God as his father.
Speaker 1: Jesus spoke about his departure, which confused his listeners. Verse
Speaker 1: twenty one explains, Then Jesus said to them again, I
Speaker 1: am going away, and you will seek me and will
Speaker 1: die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.
Speaker 1: Jesus warned them about dying in their sins if they
Speaker 1: didn't believe. Jesus emphasized the importance of believing in him.
Speaker 1: Verse twenty four declares, Therefore I said to you that
Speaker 1: you will die in your sins, For if you do
Speaker 1: not believe that I am He, you die in your sins.
Speaker 1: Believing in Jesus's identity was literally a matter of life
Speaker 1: and death. Jesus spoke about future understanding. Verse twenty eight explains,
Speaker 1: Then Jesus said to them, when you lift up the
Speaker 1: son of Man, then you will know that I am
Speaker 1: He and that I do nothing of myself. But as
Speaker 1: my father taught me, I speak these things. They would
Speaker 1: understand his identity after his crucifixion, as Jesus walked along,
Speaker 1: he and his disciples encountered a man with a tragic condition.
Speaker 1: Chapter nine, Verse one tells us, now, as Jesus passed by,
Speaker 1: he saw a man who was blind from birth. This
Speaker 1: wasn't someone who had lost his sight later in life.
Speaker 1: He had been born without the ability to see. The
Speaker 1: disciples had a theological question about this man's condition. Verse
Speaker 1: two records, and his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who
Speaker 1: sinned this man or his parents? That he was born blind.
Speaker 1: They assumed that someone's sin had caused this blindness. Jesus
Speaker 1: corrected their assumption about suffering and sin. Verse three explains
Speaker 1: Jesus answered neither this man nor his parents sinned, but
Speaker 1: that the works of God should be revealed in him.
Speaker 1: Sometimes suffering exists so that God's power can be displayed
Speaker 1: through healing. Jesus spoke about the urgency of his mission.
Speaker 1: Verse four states, I must work the works of Him
Speaker 1: who sent me while it is day. The night is
Speaker 1: coming when no one can work. Jesus knew his time
Speaker 1: on earth was limited. Jesus made another declaration about his identity.
Speaker 1: Verse five declares as long as I am in the world,
Speaker 1: I am the light of the world. Jesus identified himself
Speaker 1: as the source of spiritual illumination. Then Jesus did something
Speaker 1: unusual to heal the blind man. Verse six tells when
Speaker 1: he had said these things, he spat on the ground
Speaker 1: and made clay with the saliva, and he anointed the
Speaker 1: eyes of the blind man with the clay. Jesus made
Speaker 1: mud and put it on the man's eyes. Jesus gave
Speaker 1: the man specific instructions. Verse seven continues, and he said
Speaker 1: to him, go wash in the pool of siloam, which
Speaker 1: is translated sent. So he went and washed, and came
Speaker 1: back seeing The man obeyed and received his sight. The
Speaker 1: neighbors were amazed by the transformation. Verse eight records. Therefore,
Speaker 1: the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he
Speaker 1: was blind, said, is not this he who sat and begged?
Speaker 1: They could hardly believe this was the same person. Some
Speaker 1: people weren't sure it was really him. Verse nine explains
Speaker 1: some said this is he, others said he is like him.
Speaker 1: He said, I am he. The man had to confirm
Speaker 1: his own identity. Because the change was so dramatic, people
Speaker 1: wanted to know how this miracle happened. Verse ten asks Therefore,
Speaker 1: they said to him, how were your eyes opened? They
Speaker 1: were curious about the method of healing. The man gave
Speaker 1: a simple, factual account. Verse eleven responds, he answered and said,
Speaker 1: a man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes,
Speaker 1: and said to me go to the pool of siloam
Speaker 1: and wash. So I went and washed, and I received sight.
Speaker 1: He told exactly what had happened. They brought the formerly
Speaker 1: blind man to the Pharisees for investigation. Verse thirteen tells
Speaker 1: us they brought him, who formerly was blind, to the Pharisees.
Speaker 1: The religious leaders wanted to examine this case themselves. There
Speaker 1: was a problem with the timing of the miracle. Verse
Speaker 1: fourteen explains, now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made
Speaker 1: the clay and opened his eyes once again, Jesus had
Speaker 1: performed a healing on the sabbath day. The Pharisees questioned
Speaker 1: the man about how he received his sight. Verse fifteen
Speaker 1: records then the Pharisees also asked him again how he
Speaker 1: had received his sight. He said to them, he put
Speaker 1: clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.
Speaker 1: The man gave the same straightforward account. The religious leaders
Speaker 1: were divided in their opinions about Jesus. Verse sixteen shows
Speaker 1: their disagreement. Therefore, some of the Pharisees said, this man
Speaker 1: is not from God because he does not keep the Sabbath.
Speaker 1: Others said, how can a man who is a sinner
Speaker 1: do such signs? And there was a division among them.
Speaker 1: They asked the formerly blind man for his opinion about Jesus.
Speaker 1: Verse seventeen records they said to the blind man again,
Speaker 1: what do you say about him? Because he opened your eyes?
Speaker 1: He said, he is a prophet. The man recognized Jesus
Speaker 1: as so some one sent from God. The Jewish leaders
Speaker 1: didn't believe the man had really been born blind. Verse
Speaker 1: eighteen tells us but the Jews did not believe concerning
Speaker 1: him that he had been blind and received sight until
Speaker 1: they called the parents of him who had received sight.
Speaker 1: They decided to question his parents. The parents confirmed their
Speaker 1: son's identity and blindness, but were afraid to say more.
Speaker 1: Verse twenty explains His parents answered them and said, we
Speaker 1: know that this is our son and that he was
Speaker 1: born blind. They verified the basic facts, but the parents
Speaker 1: refused to explain how their son received sight. Verse twenty
Speaker 1: one continues, but by what means he now sees we
Speaker 1: do not know, Or who opened his eyes, we do
Speaker 1: not know. He is of age. Ask him, he will
Speaker 1: speak for himself. They directed the questions back to their
Speaker 1: adult son. The parents were afraid of being expelled from
Speaker 1: the synagogue. Verse twenty two explains his parents said these
Speaker 1: things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had
Speaker 1: agreed already that if anyone confessed that he was Christ,
Speaker 1: he would be put out of the synagogue. There were
Speaker 1: serious consequences for believing in Jesus. The religious leaders called
Speaker 1: the man back for more questioning. They tried to get
Speaker 1: him to denounce Jesus, but the man stood firm. Eventually
Speaker 1: they threw him out of the synagogue. When Jesus heard
Speaker 1: about this, he found the man and revealed himself as
Speaker 1: the Son of God. The man believed and worshiped Jesus.
Speaker 1: Jesus began teaching with the parable about shepherds and sheep
Speaker 1: Chapter ten, Verse one starts most assuredly, I say to you,
Speaker 1: he who does not enter the sheep fold by the door,
Speaker 1: but climbs up some other way, the same as a
Speaker 1: thief and a robber. Jesus contrasted legitimate shepherds with those
Speaker 1: who had evil intentions. Jesus described the proper way to
Speaker 1: enter the sheepfold. Verse two explains, but he who enters
Speaker 1: by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. True
Speaker 1: shepherds didn't need to sneak in. They had legitimate access.
Speaker 1: The doorkeeper recognized genuine shepherds. Verse three continues to him,
Speaker 1: the door keeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice,
Speaker 1: and he calls his own sheep by name and leads
Speaker 1: them out. Real shepherds had a relationship with both the
Speaker 1: doorkeeper and the sheep. Jesus described the intimate relationship between
Speaker 1: shepherd and sheep. Verse four states, and when he brings
Speaker 1: out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the
Speaker 1: sheep follow him, for they know his voice. The sheep
Speaker 1: trusted their shepherd and followed willingly. But sheep wouldn't follow strangers.
Speaker 1: Verse five explains, Yet they will by no means follow
Speaker 1: a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do
Speaker 1: not know the voice of strangers. Sheep had the wisdom
Speaker 1: to recognize and avoid dangerous voices. The listeners didn't understand
Speaker 1: this teaching. Verse six tells us Jesus used this illustration,
Speaker 1: but they did not understand the things which he spoke
Speaker 1: to them. The spiritual meaning of the parable wasn't clear
Speaker 1: to them. Yet Jesus explained the parable more directly. Verse
Speaker 1: seven declares, then Jesus said to them again, most assuredly,
Speaker 1: I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
Speaker 1: Jesus identified himself as the way into the sheep fold.
Speaker 1: Jesus condemned false leaders who came before him. Verse eight states,
Speaker 1: all who ever came before me are thieves and robbers,
Speaker 1: but the sheep did not hear them. Jesus distinguished himself
Speaker 1: from false messiahs and corrupt religious leaders. Jesus emphasized his
Speaker 1: role as the door. Verse nine explains, I am the door.
Speaker 1: If any one enters by me, he will be saved,
Speaker 1: and will go in and out and find pasture. Jesus
Speaker 1: provided both security and freedom for his followers. Jesus contrasted
Speaker 1: his purpose with that of thieves. Verse ten declares, the
Speaker 1: thief does not come except to steal and to kill
Speaker 1: and to destroy. I have come that they may have life,
Speaker 1: and that they may have it more abundantly. Jesus came
Speaker 1: to give life, not take it. Then Jesus made one
Speaker 1: of his most famous declarations. Verse eleven states, I am
Speaker 1: the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for
Speaker 1: the sheep. Jesus was willing to die for those who
Speaker 1: followed him. Jesus distinguished himself from hired workers. Verse twelve explains,
Speaker 1: but a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one
Speaker 1: who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming
Speaker 1: and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf catches
Speaker 1: the sheep and scatters them. Hired hands abandoned sheep when
Speaker 1: danger came. Hired workers didn't really care about the sheep.
Speaker 1: Verse thirteen continues. The hiring flees because he is a
Speaker 1: hirling and does not care about the sheep. They work
Speaker 1: for money, not out of love. Jesus spoke about his
Speaker 1: intimate knowledge of his followers. Verse fourteen declares, I am
Speaker 1: the good shepherd, and I know my sheep, and am
Speaker 1: known by my own. There was mutual recognition and relationship.
Speaker 1: Jesus revealed his global mission. Verse sixteen explains, and other
Speaker 1: sheep I have which are not of this fold. Them
Speaker 1: also I must bring, and they will hear my voice,
Speaker 1: and there will be one flock and one shepherd. Jesus
Speaker 1: would gather followers from beyond Israel. Jesus explained why the
Speaker 1: Father loved him. Verse seventeen states, Therefore, my father loves
Speaker 1: me because I lay down my life that I may
Speaker 1: take it again. Jesus's willing sacrifice please the Father. Jesus
Speaker 1: emphasized the his death would be voluntary. Verse eighteen declares,
Speaker 1: no one takes it from me, but I lay it
Speaker 1: down of myself. I have power to lay it down,
Speaker 1: and I have power to take it again. This command
Speaker 1: I have received from my father. Jesus chose to die.
Speaker 1: No one could force him. The people were divided again
Speaker 1: about jesus teaching. Some thought he was demon possessed and crazy,
Speaker 1: while others pointed to his good works and asked how
Speaker 1: a demon possessed man could open the eyes of the blind.
Speaker 1: A man named Lazarus became seriously ill in the village
Speaker 1: of Bethany. Chapter eleven. Verse one tells us, now a
Speaker 1: certain man was sick. Lazarus of Bethany, the town of
Speaker 1: Mary and her sister Martha. Lazarus lived with his two
Speaker 1: sisters in a small town near Jerusalem, This was the
Speaker 1: same Mary who had anointed Jesus with expensive perfume. Verse
Speaker 1: two clarifies it was that Mary who anointed the Lord
Speaker 1: with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair.
Speaker 1: Whose brother Lazarus was sick. John helps readers identify which
Speaker 1: Mary this was. The sisters sent an urgent message to
Speaker 1: Jesus about their brother. Verse three records therefore, the sisters
Speaker 1: sent to him saying, Lord, behold, he whom you love
Speaker 1: is sick. They expected Jesus to come immediately, since he
Speaker 1: loved Lazarus. When Jesus heard the news, he made a
Speaker 1: surprising statement. Verse four explains when Jesus heard that, he said,
Speaker 1: this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory
Speaker 1: of God, that the Son of God may be glorified
Speaker 1: through it. Jesus saw a bigger purpose in this illness.
Speaker 1: Jesus loved this family deeply. Verse five confirms. Now Jesus
Speaker 1: loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. This wasn't just
Speaker 1: casual friendship. Jesus had genuine affection for all three siblings.
Speaker 1: But Jesus didn't rush to help immediately. Verse six tells
Speaker 1: us so when he heard that he was sick. He
Speaker 1: stayed two more days in the place where he was.
Speaker 1: Jesus deliberately delayed his response, which must have seemed strange
Speaker 1: to his disciples. After two days, Jesus finally decided to
Speaker 1: go to Judea. Verse seven records. Then after this he
Speaker 1: said to the disciples, let us go to Judea again.
Speaker 1: Jesus announced his intention to travel toward Jerusalem. The disciples
Speaker 1: were alarmed by this plan. Verse eight shows their concern.
Speaker 1: The disciples said to him, Rabbi, lately the Jews sought
Speaker 1: to stone you, and are you going there again? They
Speaker 1: remembered the recent threats against Jesus's life. Jesus explained that
Speaker 1: he operated according to divine timing. Verse nine responds Jesus answered,
Speaker 1: are there not twelve hours in the day. If anyone
Speaker 1: walks in the day, he does not stumble because he
Speaker 1: sees the light of this world. Jesus walked in God's
Speaker 1: perfect timing and was safe. Jesus then spoke about their
Speaker 1: friend Lazarus. Verse eleven tells us these things he said,
Speaker 1: and after that he said to them, our friend Lazarus sleeps,
Speaker 1: but I go that I may wake him up. Jesus
Speaker 1: used sleep as a metaphor for death. The disciples misunderstood
Speaker 1: what Jesus meant. Verse twelve records their response. Then his
Speaker 1: disciples said, Lord, if he sleeps, he will get well.
Speaker 1: They thought Jesus meant natural sleep, which would be good
Speaker 1: for someone who was sick. Jesus had to speak more
Speaker 1: plainly about what had happened. Verse fourteen states. Clearly, then,
Speaker 1: Jesus said to them plainly, Lazarus is dead. Jesus told
Speaker 1: them directly that their friend had died. Jesus revealed why
Speaker 1: the delay had been necessary. Verse fifteen explains, and I
Speaker 1: am glad for your sakes that I was not there,
Speaker 1: that you may believe. Nevertheless, let us go to him.
Speaker 1: Jesus's absence would make the coming miracle more powerful. When
Speaker 1: Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had been dead for four days.
Speaker 1: Verse seventeen tells us, so when Jesus came, he found
Speaker 1: that he had already been in the tomb four days.
Speaker 1: By Jewish understanding, the soul departed after three days, making
Speaker 1: resurrection impossible. Martha heard that Jesus was coming and went
Speaker 1: to meet him. Verse twenty records now Martha, as soon
Speaker 1: as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him,
Speaker 1: but Mary was sitting in the house. Martha was always
Speaker 1: the more active sister. Martha expressed both faith and disappointment.
Speaker 1: Verse twenty one tells us, now, Martha said to Jesus, Lord,
Speaker 1: if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
Speaker 1: She believed Jesus could have prevented the death, but Martha
Speaker 1: still had her Verse twenty two continues, but even now,
Speaker 1: I know that whatever you ask of God, God will
Speaker 1: give you. Martha believed Jesus still had special power with God.
Speaker 1: Jesus made a promise about resurrection. Verse twenty three states
Speaker 1: Jesus said to her, your brother will rise again. Jesus
Speaker 1: assured Martha that Lazarus would live again. Martha thought Jesus
Speaker 1: meant the final resurrection. Verse twenty four responds Martha said
Speaker 1: to him, I know that he will rise again in
Speaker 1: the resurrection at the last day. Martha believed in future resurrection,
Speaker 1: but not immediate restoration. Jesus made one of his most
Speaker 1: powerful declarations. Verse twenty five declares Jesus said to her,
Speaker 1: I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes
Speaker 1: in me though he may die, he shall live. Jesus
Speaker 1: claimed to be the source of both resurrection power and
Speaker 1: eternal life. Jesus continued his promise about eternal life. Verse
Speaker 1: twenty six explains, and whoever lives and believes in me
Speaker 1: shall never die. Do you believe this? Jesus asked Martha
Speaker 1: to respond with faith to this incredible claim. Martha made
Speaker 1: a powerful confession of faith. Verse twenty seven records she
Speaker 1: said to him, Yes, Lord, I believe that you are
Speaker 1: the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come
Speaker 1: into the world. Martha declared her belief in Jesus's identity
Speaker 1: as the Messiah. When Mary came to Jesus, she fell
Speaker 1: at his feet and said the same words as Martha.
Speaker 1: Jesus was deeply moved by their grief and asked to
Speaker 1: see the tomb. Then comes the shortest verse in the Bible.
Speaker 1: Verse thirty five simply states Jesus wept at the tomb.
Speaker 1: Jesus commanded them to remove the stone. Martha worried about
Speaker 1: the smell, but Jesus reminded her about believing. After praying publicly,
Speaker 1: Jesus called with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth, the
Speaker 1: dead man came out still wrapped in burial clothes, and
Speaker 1: Jesus told them to unwrap him. Many who witnessed this
Speaker 1: miracle believed in Jesus, but some reported it to the Pharisees,
Speaker 1: who began plotting to kill both Jesus and Lazarus. Six
Speaker 1: days before passover, Jesus returned to Bethany, where he had
Speaker 1: raised Lazarus from the dead. Chapter twelve, Verse one tells us, Then,
Speaker 1: six days before the passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where
Speaker 1: Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he had raised
Speaker 1: from the dead. This was a significant return to the
Speaker 1: place where Jesus had demonstrated his power over death. The
Speaker 1: people of Bethany prepared a special dinner to honor Jesus.
Speaker 1: Verse two explains. There they made him a supper and
Speaker 1: Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat
Speaker 1: at the table with him. Martha was doing what she
Speaker 1: did best, serving others. Lazarus, who had been dead just
Speaker 1: days before, was now sitting and eating with Jesus. During
Speaker 1: this dinner, something beautiful and costly happened. Verse three records
Speaker 1: then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of
Speaker 1: spikenard anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet
Speaker 1: with her hair, and the house was filled with the
Speaker 1: fragrance of the oil. Mary brought out an expensive bottle
Speaker 1: of perfume worth a year's wages, and poured it all
Speaker 1: on Jesus's feet. Judas is Scariert criticized Mary's act. Verse
Speaker 1: five records his complaint, why was this fragrant oil not
Speaker 1: sold for three hundred dinari eye and given to the poor.
Speaker 1: But John reveals Judas's real motivation in verse six. This
Speaker 1: he said, not that he cared for the poor, but
Speaker 1: because he was a thief and had the money box,
Speaker 1: and he used to take what was put in. Jesus
Speaker 1: defended Mary's act of worship. Verse seven records his response,
Speaker 1: But Jesus said, let her alone. She has kept this
Speaker 1: for the day of my burial. Jesus revealed that Mary's
Speaker 1: anointing had a deeper meaning she was preparing his body
Speaker 1: for burial. Meanwhile, words spread that Jesus was in Bethany.
Speaker 1: Verse nine tells us, now a great many of the
Speaker 1: Jews knew that he was there, and they came not
Speaker 1: for jesus sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus,
Speaker 1: whom he had raised from the dead. People came to
Speaker 1: see both Jesus and Lazarus, the living proof of Jesus's power.
Speaker 1: The chief priests decided they had to kill Lazarus two.
Speaker 1: Verse ten records their shocking plan. But the chief priests
Speaker 1: plotted to put Lazarus to death also. Their reasoning was
Speaker 1: practical but evil. Verse eleven explains because on account of him,
Speaker 1: many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
Speaker 1: The next day, news spread that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
Speaker 1: Verse twelve tells us the next day a great multitude
Speaker 1: that had come to the feast when they heard that
Speaker 1: Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, the crowds organized a royal
Speaker 1: welcome for Jesus. Verse thirteen records their actions. Took branches
Speaker 1: of palm trees and went out to meet him and
Speaker 1: cried out, Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the
Speaker 1: name of the Lord, the King of Israel. The people
Speaker 1: got down palm branches and used them like flags to
Speaker 1: waive in celebration, but Jesus chose a humble entrance. Verse
Speaker 1: fourteen tells us, then Jesus, when he had found a
Speaker 1: young donkey sat on it. As it is written, Jesus
Speaker 1: deliberately chose to ride on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy and
Speaker 1: sending a men message of peace rather than war. Verse
Speaker 1: fifteen quotes the prophecy fear not, daughter of Zion, Behold
Speaker 1: your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt. A
Speaker 1: king riding on a donkey was a symbol of peace,
Speaker 1: not war. The disciples didn't understand this at first. Verse
Speaker 1: sixteen explains his disciples did not understand these things at first,
Speaker 1: but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these
Speaker 1: things were written about him, and that they had done
Speaker 1: these things to him. The crowd that had witnessed Lazarus
Speaker 1: being raised continued to tell others about this miracle. More
Speaker 1: people came out to see Jesus because they had heard
Speaker 1: about Lazarus. The Pharisees watched helplessly, as verse nineteen records
Speaker 1: their frustrated conversation. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, you
Speaker 1: see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look the world has
Speaker 1: gone after him. Among the crowds were some Greeks who
Speaker 1: wanted to meet Jesus. Verse twenty one records their request.
Speaker 1: Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsada of Galilee,
Speaker 1: and asked him, saying, Sir, we wish to see Jesus.
Speaker 1: Philip brought this request to Jesus through Andrew. When Jesus
Speaker 1: heard that Greeks were seeking him, he knew something significant
Speaker 1: was happening. Verse twenty three records his response. But Jesus
Speaker 1: answered them saying the hour has come that the son
Speaker 1: of Man should be glorified. The fact that non Jewish
Speaker 1: people were seeking Jesus meant his message was about to
Speaker 1: spread world wide. Jesus used a farming illustration to explain
Speaker 1: what was about to happen. Verse twenty four tells us
Speaker 1: most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of
Speaker 1: wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone.
Speaker 1: But if it dies, it produces much grain. Like a
Speaker 1: seed that must die to produce a harvest, Jesus would
Speaker 1: have to die to produce spiritual fruit. Jesus taught about
Speaker 1: the cost of following him. Verse twenty five explains he
Speaker 1: who loves his life will lose it, and he who
Speaker 1: hates his life in this world will keep it for
Speaker 1: eternal life. Those willing to sacrifice for Jesus gain eternal life.
Speaker 1: As Jesus thought about his approaching death, he felt troubled.
Speaker 1: Verse twenty seven records, Now my soul is troubled, and
Speaker 1: what shall I say? Father? Save me from this hour?
Speaker 1: But for this purpose I came to this hour. Jesus
Speaker 1: chose to submit to God's will. Jesus prayed for God
Speaker 1: to be glorified. Verse twenty eight continues, Father, glorify your name.
Speaker 1: Then a voice came from heaven, saying, I have both
Speaker 1: glorified it and will glorify it again. God spoke orders
Speaker 1: from heaven. Jesus announced that Satan's power was about to
Speaker 1: be broken. Verse thirty one declares, now is the judgment
Speaker 1: of this world. Now the ruler of this world will
Speaker 1: be cast out. Jesus revealed how his death would affect
Speaker 1: the world in verse thirty two, and I, if I
Speaker 1: am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples
Speaker 1: to myself. Despite all the miracles Jesus had performed, many
Speaker 1: people still didn't believe. Verse thirty seven explains, but although
Speaker 1: he had done so many signs before them, they did
Speaker 1: not believe in him. This fulfilled what Isaiah had prophesied
Speaker 1: about people rejecting the Messiah, Jesus made one final public appeal.
Speaker 1: Verse forty four records. Then Jesus cried out and said,
Speaker 1: he who believes in me believes not in me, but
Speaker 1: in him who sent me. Jesus emphasized that believing in
Speaker 1: him was the same as believing in God the Father.
Speaker 1: Before passover, Jesus knew his hour had come. Chapter thirteen.
Speaker 1: Verse one tells us, now before the feast of the Passover,
Speaker 1: when Jesus knew that his hour had come, that he
Speaker 1: should depart from this world to the Father. Having loved
Speaker 1: his own who were in the world, he loved them
Speaker 1: to the end. During supper, Jesus did something shocking. Verse
Speaker 1: four records rose from supper and laid aside his garments,
Speaker 1: took a towel and girded himself. Jesus took off his
Speaker 1: outer robe and wrapped a towel around his waist like
Speaker 1: a servant. Verse five tells us after that he poured
Speaker 1: water into a basin and began to wash the disciple's
Speaker 1: feet and to wipe them with the towel with which
Speaker 1: he was girded. Washing feet was the most humble job available.
Speaker 1: Only the lowest servants did this work. When Jesus came
Speaker 1: to Peter, Peter was shocked. Verse six records. Then he
Speaker 1: came to Simon Peter, and Peter said to him, Lord,
Speaker 1: are you washing my feet? That Peter couldn't believe Jesus
Speaker 1: would do such humble work. Peter refused to let Jesus
Speaker 1: wash his feet, but Jesus told him in verse eight,
Speaker 1: if I do not wash you, you have no part
Speaker 1: with me. When Peter heard this, he went to the
Speaker 1: opposite extreme. In verse nine, Simon Peter said to him, Lord,
Speaker 1: not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
Speaker 1: After washing everyone's feet, Jesus explained what he had done.
Speaker 1: Verse fourteen states, if I, then your lord and teacher
Speaker 1: have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one
Speaker 1: another's feet. If Jesus was willing to serve his followers
Speaker 1: should serve each other. Jesus told them this was an
Speaker 1: example to follow. Verse fifteen declares, for I have given
Speaker 1: you an example that you should do as I have
Speaker 1: done to you. Jesus wasn't just teaching with words, He
Speaker 1: was showing them how to live. Then Jesus became troubled
Speaker 1: as he thought about betrayal. Verse twenty one tells us
Speaker 1: when Jesus had said these things, he was troubled in
Speaker 1: spirit and testified, and said, most assuredly, I say to you,
Speaker 1: one of you will betray me. The disciples were shocked
Speaker 1: and confused. Jesus identified the betrayer by giving bread to
Speaker 1: Judas Iscariot. Verse twenty seven explains, Now after the piece
Speaker 1: of bread Satan entered him, then Jesus said to him,
Speaker 1: what you do, do quickly? Judas immediately left. Verse thirty
Speaker 1: concludes having received the piece of bread, he then went
Speaker 1: out immediately, and it was night. Judas left the light
Speaker 1: and warmth of being with Jesus and stepped into darkness.
Speaker 1: After Judas left, Jesus spoke about what was coming. Verse
Speaker 1: thirty one tells us so when he had gone out,
Speaker 1: Jesus said, now the son of Man is glorified, and
Speaker 1: God is glorified in him. With Judas gone, events leading
Speaker 1: to Jesus's death were set in motion. Jesus told his
Speaker 1: disciples his time with them was almost over. Verse thirty
Speaker 1: three explains, little children, I shall be with you a
Speaker 1: little while longer. You will seek me and as I
Speaker 1: said to the Jews where I am going, you cannot come.
Speaker 1: So now I say to you. Before leaving, Jesus gave
Speaker 1: them a new commandment. Verse thirty four records a new commandment.
Speaker 1: I give to you that you love one another as
Speaker 1: I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Speaker 1: This wasn't ordinary love. It was love like Jesus had
Speaker 1: shown them. Jesus explained that this love would identify his followers.
Speaker 1: Verse thirty five declared by this, all will know that
Speaker 1: you are my disciples if you have love for one another.
Speaker 1: Peter asked where Jesus was going and insisted he was
Speaker 1: ready to die for him. Verse thirty seven shows Peter's
Speaker 1: bold declaration. Peter said to him, Lord, why can I
Speaker 1: not follow you? Now? I will lay down my life
Speaker 1: for your sake. But Jesus knew Peter better than Peter
Speaker 1: knew himself. Verse thirty eight records Jesus's shocking prediction. Jesus
Speaker 1: answered him, will you lay down your life for my sake?
Speaker 1: Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not
Speaker 1: crow till you have denied me Three times. Jesus saw
Speaker 1: his disciples were troubled, so he offered comfort. Chapter fourteen.
Speaker 1: Verse one tells us, let not your heart be troubled.
Speaker 1: You believe in God, believe also in Me. Jesus promised
Speaker 1: to prepare a place for them in verse two, in
Speaker 1: my Father's how so many mansions. If it were not so,
Speaker 1: I would have told you I go to prepare a
Speaker 1: place for you. When Thomas asked about the way, Jesus
Speaker 1: gave one of the most important statements in the Bible.
Speaker 1: Verse six declares, Jesus said to him, I am the Way,
Speaker 1: the Truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Speaker 1: Father except through me. Jesus claimed to be the only
Speaker 1: path to God. Jesus explained that knowing him means knowing
Speaker 1: the Father. When Philip asked to see the Father, Jesus
Speaker 1: responded in verse nine, he who has seen me has
Speaker 1: seen the Father. So how can you say, show us
Speaker 1: the Father. Jesus made amazing promises about prayer. Verse thirteen explains,
Speaker 1: and whatever you ask in my name, that I will
Speaker 1: do that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Speaker 1: Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit in verse sixteen,
Speaker 1: and I will pray the Father and he will give
Speaker 1: you another helper that he may abide with you forever.
Speaker 1: Jesus promised not to leave them as orphans. He explained
Speaker 1: that love shows itself through obedience. In verse twenty one,
Speaker 1: he who has my commandments and keeps them, it is
Speaker 1: he who loves me. And he who loves me will
Speaker 1: be loved by my Father, and I will love him
Speaker 1: and manifest myself to him. Jesus promised that the Holy
Speaker 1: Spirit would continue their education. Verse twenty six declares, but
Speaker 1: the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send
Speaker 1: in my name, he will teach you all things and
Speaker 1: bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Speaker 1: Jesus offered them his peace as a farewell gift. Verse
Speaker 1: twenty seven explains peace I leave with you My peace
Speaker 1: I give to you. Not as the world gives. Do
Speaker 1: I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled,
Speaker 1: neither let it be afraid. Jesus used a grape vine
Speaker 1: to teach about relationship with his followers. Chapter fifteen, Verse
Speaker 1: one begins, I am the true vine, and my father
Speaker 1: is the vine dresser. Jesus explained what happens to unfruitful
Speaker 1: branches in verse two. Every branch in me that does
Speaker 1: not bear fruit, he takes away, and every branch that
Speaker 1: bears fruit he prunes that it may bear more fruit.
Speaker 1: Jesus emphasized staying connected to him. Verse four declares, abide
Speaker 1: in me and I in you. As the branch cannot
Speaker 1: bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine,
Speaker 1: neither can you unless you abide in me. Verse five
Speaker 1: explains I am the vine, you are the branches. He
Speaker 1: who abides in me and I in him bears much fruit.
Speaker 1: For without me you can do nothing. Apart from Jesus,
Speaker 1: his followers can accomplish nothing spiritually valuable. Jesus promised that
Speaker 1: abiding in him leads to answered prayer. Verse seven declares,
Speaker 1: if you abide in me and my words abide in you,
Speaker 1: you will ask what you desire, and it shall be
Speaker 1: done for you. Jesus repeated his commandment about love. Verse
Speaker 1: twelve states, this is my commandment that you love one
Speaker 1: another as I have loved you. He described the greatest
Speaker 1: expression of love in verse thirteen. Greater love has no
Speaker 1: one than this than to lay down one's life for
Speaker 1: his friends. Jesus changed their status from servants to friends.
Speaker 1: Verse fifteen states, no longer do I call you servants,
Speaker 1: for a servant does not know what his master is doing.
Speaker 1: But I have called you friends. For all things that
Speaker 1: I heard from my father, I have made known to you.
Speaker 1: Jesus warned that the world would hate them. Verse eighteen
Speaker 1: tells us, if the world hates you, you know that
Speaker 1: it hated me before it hated you. He explained why
Speaker 1: in verse nineteen, if you were of the world, the
Speaker 1: world would love its own. Yet, because you are not
Speaker 1: of the world, but I chose you out of the world.
Speaker 1: Therefore the world hates you. Jesus promised to send the
Speaker 1: Holy Spirit to testify about him. Verse twenty six states,
Speaker 1: but when the helper comes, whom I shall send to
Speaker 1: you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds
Speaker 1: from the Father, he will testify of me. Jesus continued
Speaker 1: preparing his disciples for persecution. Chapter sixteen. Verse one tells
Speaker 1: us these things I have spoken to you, that you
Speaker 1: should not be made to stumble. Jesus wanted to prevent
Speaker 1: them from losing faith when difficult times came. Jesus warned
Speaker 1: them about being thrown out of synagogues and even killed.
Speaker 1: Verse two explains, they will put you out of the synagogues. Yes,
Speaker 1: the time is coming that whoever kills you will think
Speaker 1: that he offers God's service. Religious people would persecute Christians,
Speaker 1: thinking they were serving God. Jesus explained why this persecution
Speaker 1: would happen Verse three states, and these things they will
Speaker 1: do to you because they have not known the Father
Speaker 1: nor me. Persecution comes from ignorance of God's true nature.
Speaker 1: Jesus told them his departure was actually beneficial for them.
Speaker 1: Verse seven declares, Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It
Speaker 1: is to your advantage that I go away. For if
Speaker 1: I do not go away, the helper will not come
Speaker 1: to you. But if I depart, I will send him
Speaker 1: to you. The Holy Spirit could only come after Jesus left.
Speaker 1: Jesus explained what the Holy Spirit would do in the
Speaker 1: world Verse eight states and when he has come, he
Speaker 1: will convict the world of sin and of righteousness and
Speaker 1: of judgment. The Spirit would convince people about these three
Speaker 1: crucial truths. Sin because they don't believe in Jesus, righteousness
Speaker 1: because Jesus goes to the Father, and judgment because Satan
Speaker 1: is already defeated. Jesus promised that the Spirit would guide
Speaker 1: them into all Verse thirteen declares, However, when he the
Speaker 1: Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into
Speaker 1: all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority.
Speaker 1: But whatever he hears, he will speak, and he will
Speaker 1: tell you things to come. The Spirit would be their
Speaker 1: teacher and reveal future events. Jesus use the illustration of
Speaker 1: a woman in childbirth to explain their coming experience. Verse
Speaker 1: twenty one explains a woman when she is in labor
Speaker 1: has sorrow because her hour has come, But as soon
Speaker 1: as she has given birth to the child, she no
Speaker 1: longer remembers the anguish for joy that a human being
Speaker 1: has been born into the world. Their pain would turn
Speaker 1: to permanent joy. Jesus promised direct access to the Father
Speaker 1: in prayer. Verse twenty three states, and in that day
Speaker 1: you will ask me nothing. Most assuredly I say to you,
Speaker 1: whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will
Speaker 1: give you. They would be able to pray directly to
Speaker 1: the Father without needing Jesus to intercede. Jesus predicted the
Speaker 1: disciples would abandon him, but concluded with victory. Verse thirty
Speaker 1: three declares, these things I have spoken to you, that
Speaker 1: in me you may have peace in the world. You
Speaker 1: will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have
Speaker 1: overcome the world. Despite coming troubles, Jesus had already won
Speaker 1: the ultimate victory. Then Jesus prayed his magnificent high priestly
Speaker 1: prayer in Chapter seventeen. He lifted his eyes to heaven
Speaker 1: and asked to be glorified. Verse one begins, Father, the
Speaker 1: hour has come, glorify your son, that your son also
Speaker 1: may glorify you. Jesus asked to be glorified through his
Speaker 1: coming death and resurrection. Jesus reminded the Father of the
Speaker 1: authority he had been given. Verse two explains, as you
Speaker 1: have given him authority over all flesh, that he should
Speaker 1: give eternal life to as many as you have given him.
Speaker 1: Jesus had power to give eternal life to those the
Speaker 1: Father chose. Jesus defined eternal life in simple terms. Verse
Speaker 1: three declares, and this is eternal life that they may
Speaker 1: know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom
Speaker 1: you have sent. Eternal life means having a personal relationship
Speaker 1: with God and Jesus. Jesus reported that he had completed
Speaker 1: his earthly mission successfully. Verse four states, I have glorified
Speaker 1: you on the earth. I have finished the work which
Speaker 1: you have given me to do. Jesus had accomplished everything
Speaker 1: the Father sent him to do. Jesus asked to return
Speaker 1: to his pre incarnate glory Verse five requests and now, O, Father,
Speaker 1: glorify me together with yourself with the glory which I
Speaker 1: had with you before the world was. Jesus wanted to
Speaker 1: return to his position with the Father before creation. Jesus
Speaker 1: reported on his work with the disciples Verse six, tells Us,
Speaker 1: I have manifested your name to the men whom you
Speaker 1: have given me out of the world. They were yours.
Speaker 1: You gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
Speaker 1: Jesus had revealed God to those the Father gave him.
Speaker 1: Jesus prayed specifically for his disciples protection. Verse eleven requests,
Speaker 1: Now I am no longer in the world, but these
Speaker 1: are in the world, and I come to you, Holy Father,
Speaker 1: Keep through your name those whom you have given me,
Speaker 1: that they may be one as we are. Jesus wanted
Speaker 1: them unified and protected while he was gone. Jesus explained
Speaker 1: that he had protected them while he was with them.
Speaker 1: Verse twelve states, while I was with them in the world,
Speaker 1: I kept them in your name. Those whom you gave me,
Speaker 1: I have kept, and none of them is lost, except
Speaker 1: the son of Perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Speaker 1: Only Judas was lost fulfilling prophecy. Jesus prayed that his
Speaker 1: disciples would have his joy fulfilled in themselves. Verse thirteen explains,
Speaker 1: but now I come to you, and these things I
Speaker 1: speak in the world, that they may have my joy
Speaker 1: fulfilled in themselves. Jesus wanted them to experience complete joy.
Speaker 1: Jesus acknowledged that the world would hate his disciples. Verse
Speaker 1: fourteen states, I have given them your word, and the
Speaker 1: world has hated them because they are not of the world,
Speaker 1: just as I am not of the world. Christians don't
Speaker 1: belong to the world system. Jesus didn't pray for God
Speaker 1: to remove his disciples from the world, but to protect them.
Speaker 1: Verse fifteen clarifies, I do not pray that you should
Speaker 1: take them out of the world, but that you should
Speaker 1: keep them from the evil one. Christians must stay in
Speaker 1: the world, but be protected from Satan. Jesus prayed for
Speaker 1: their sanctification through truth. Verse seventeen declares, sanctify them by
Speaker 1: your truth. Your word is truth. God's word would set
Speaker 1: them apart for holy purposes. Jesus extended his prayer beyond
Speaker 1: his immediate disciples. Verse twenty states, I do not pray
Speaker 1: for these alone, but also for those who will believe
Speaker 1: in me through their word. This prayer included all future
Speaker 1: Christians throughout history. Jesus prayed for unity among all believers.
Speaker 1: Verse twenty one declares that they all may be one,
Speaker 1: as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
Speaker 1: that they also may be one in us, that the
Speaker 1: world may believe that you sent me. Unity among Christians
Speaker 1: would convince the world of Jesus's divine mission. Jesus concluded
Speaker 1: by expressing his desire that believers would eventually be with
Speaker 1: him in heaven. Verse twenty four requests, Father, I desire
Speaker 1: that they also, whom you gave me, may be with
Speaker 1: me where I am, that they may behold my glory
Speaker 1: which you have given me, for you loved me before
Speaker 1: the foundation of the world. Jesus wanted his followers to
Speaker 1: see his heavenly glory and share in his eternal presence.
Speaker 1: This prayer covered everything Jesus had completed. His earthly work
Speaker 1: was protecting his current disciples, had provided for future believers,
Speaker 1: and had prepared a way for all of them to
Speaker 1: join him in heaven. It was the perfect conclusion to
Speaker 1: his earthly ministry before facing the cross. The night air
Speaker 1: was thick with tension as Jesus led his disciples across
Speaker 1: the Kidren Valley to a garden. He knew well this
Speaker 1: place had been their refuge many times before, but to
Speaker 1: night would be different, as recorded in John eighteen two
Speaker 1: to three. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the
Speaker 1: place because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.
Speaker 1: So Judas came to the garden guiding a detachment of
Speaker 1: soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees.
Speaker 1: They were carrying torches, lanterns, and weapons. The flickering light
Speaker 1: of torches cut through the darkness as an armed crowd approached.
Speaker 1: Jesus didn't run or hide. Instead, he stepped forward to
Speaker 1: meet them. When he asked in John eighteen four, who
Speaker 1: is it you want? They answered Jesus of Nazareth. His
Speaker 1: simple response in John eighteen five six caused something extraordinary
Speaker 1: to happen. I am, he, Jesus said, And Judas, the traitor,
Speaker 1: was standing there with them. When Jesus said, I am He.
Speaker 1: They drew back and fell to the ground. The power
Speaker 1: in those words was undeniable. Here was the same Jesus
Speaker 1: who had spoken creation into existence, and even in his
Speaker 1: moment of surrender, his divine nature couldn't be hidden. He
Speaker 1: asked them again in John eighteen seven, who is it
Speaker 1: you want? When they repeated their answer, Jesus made his
Speaker 1: intentions clear. In John eighteen eight nine, I told you
Speaker 1: that I am he. If you are looking for me,
Speaker 1: then let these men go. This happened so that the
Speaker 1: words he had spoken would be fulfilled. I have not
Speaker 1: lost one of those given to me. Even in his arrest,
Speaker 1: Jesus was protecting his followers, but Peter, impulsive as always,
Speaker 1: couldn't stand by and watch. John eighteen ten eleven tells Dries.
Speaker 1: Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and
Speaker 1: struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear.
Speaker 1: The servant's name was Malchus. Jesus commanded Peter, put your
Speaker 1: sword away. Shall I not drink the cup the Father
Speaker 1: has given me. This wasn't a moment for fighting. This
Speaker 1: was the moment Jesus had been preparing for his entire ministry.
Speaker 1: The cup of suffering that the Father had given him
Speaker 1: was not to be avoided, but embraced. The soldiers bound
Speaker 1: Jesus and led him first to Annas, the former high
Speaker 1: priest who still held tremendous influence. As John eighteen thirteen
Speaker 1: fourteen explains, they brought him first to Annas, who was
Speaker 1: the father in law of Caiaphas, the High priest that year.
Speaker 1: Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders
Speaker 1: that it would be good if one man died for
Speaker 1: the people. Meanwhile, Peter and another disciple followed at a distance.
Speaker 1: The other disciple, known to the high priest, was able
Speaker 1: to enter the courtyard, but Peter was left outside until
Speaker 1: this disciple spoke to the servant girl at the door
Speaker 1: as they warmed themselves by a fire in the courtyard.
Speaker 1: The first test of Peter's loyalty came. John eighteen seventeen
Speaker 1: records one of this man's disciples too, Are you, the
Speaker 1: girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, I am
Speaker 1: not inside. Annas questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.
Speaker 1: Jesus answered, in John eighteen twenty to twenty one, I
Speaker 1: have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in
Speaker 1: synagogues or at the temple where all the Jews come together.
Speaker 1: I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those
Speaker 1: who heard me, Surely they know what I said. This
Speaker 1: bold response prompted an official to strike Jesus, but Jesus
Speaker 1: remained calm, asking in John eighteen twenty three, if I
Speaker 1: said something wrong, testify as to what is wrong. But
Speaker 1: if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?
Speaker 1: While Jesus faced questioning with dignity, Peter was crumbling under
Speaker 1: pressure when servants and officials asked if he was one
Speaker 1: of Jesus's disciples. John eighteen twenty five shows us he
Speaker 1: denied it, saying I am not. The third denial came
Speaker 1: from an unexpected source. One of the high Priest's servants,
Speaker 1: a relative of Malchus whose ear Peter had cut off,
Speaker 1: recognized him. John eighteen twenty six twenty seven tells us,
Speaker 1: didn't I see you with him in the garden. Again,
Speaker 1: Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began
Speaker 1: to crow. The sound must have cut through Peter's heart
Speaker 1: like a knife, reminding him of Jesus's prediction. Just hours before.
Speaker 1: Early in the morning, the Jewish leaders brought Jesus to
Speaker 1: the Roman governor Pontius Pilot, but they wouldn't enter the
Speaker 1: palace themselves, as John eighteen twenty eight explains, to avoid
Speaker 1: ceremonial uncleanness. They did not enter the palace because they
Speaker 1: wanted to be able to eat the passover. Pilot came
Speaker 1: out to meet them, asking what charges they brought against Jesus.
Speaker 1: Their evasive answer in John eighty six thirty revealed their
Speaker 1: true motives. If he were not a criminal, we would
Speaker 1: not have handed him over to you. When Pilots suggested
Speaker 1: they judge Jesus by their own law, they revealed their
Speaker 1: deadly intent in John eighteen thirty one. But we have
Speaker 1: no right to execute any one. Pilot then took Jesus
Speaker 1: inside for a private conversation. His first question was direct,
Speaker 1: Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus answered with
Speaker 1: a question of his own in John eighteen thirty four,
Speaker 1: Is that your own idea? Or did others talk to
Speaker 1: you about me? When Pilot denied being a Jew, Jesus
Speaker 1: gave him a profound answer in John eighteen thirty six,
Speaker 1: My kingdom is not of this world. If it were
Speaker 1: my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the
Speaker 1: Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.
Speaker 1: This led to Pilot's famous question in John eighteen thirty seven,
Speaker 1: you are a king, then, Jesus replied, you say that
Speaker 1: I am a king? In fact, the reason I was
Speaker 1: born and came into the world is to testify to
Speaker 1: the truth. Every One on the side of truth listens
Speaker 1: to the me. Pilot's response in John eighteen thirty eight
Speaker 1: has echoed through history. What is truth? Finding no basis
Speaker 1: for charges? Pilot tried to release Jesus by offering the
Speaker 1: crowd a choice between Jesus and Barabas, a rebel and murderer,
Speaker 1: but John eighteen forty tells us they shouted back, no,
Speaker 1: not him, give us Barabbas. Hoping to satisfy the crowd's
Speaker 1: blood lust, Pilot had Jesus flogged. The soldiers mocked him,
Speaker 1: placing a crown of thorns on his head and a
Speaker 1: purple robe around his shoulders, saying in John nineteen three,
Speaker 1: hail king of the Jews, and they slapped him in
Speaker 1: the face. Pilot brought Jesus out again, declaring in John
Speaker 1: nineteen four. Look, I'm bringing him out to you to
Speaker 1: let you know that I find no basis for a
Speaker 1: charge against him. When Jesus appeared wearing the crown of
Speaker 1: thorns and purple robe, Pilot said in John nineteen five,
Speaker 1: here is the man. But the chief priests and officials
Speaker 1: shouted in John nineteen six, crucify, crucify. The crowd's demands
Speaker 1: grew more intense when they claimed in John nineteen seven,
Speaker 1: we have a law, and according to that law, he
Speaker 1: must die. Because he claimed to be the son of God.
Speaker 1: Pilot became even more afraid. He asked Jesus in John
Speaker 1: nineteen nine, where do you come from? But Jesus gave
Speaker 1: him no answer. Frustrated, Pilot reminded Jesus of his power
Speaker 1: in John nineteen ten. Don't you realize I have power
Speaker 1: either to free you or to crucify you. Jesus responded
Speaker 1: in John nineteen eleven, you would have no power over
Speaker 1: me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore,
Speaker 1: the one who handed me over to you is guilty
Speaker 1: of a greater sin. Finally, the Jewish leaders played their
Speaker 1: trump card, shouting in John nineteen twelve, if you let
Speaker 1: this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Any
Speaker 1: one who claims to be a king opposes Caesar. Pilot
Speaker 1: brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat.
Speaker 1: John until fourtaneen to fifteen records the final exchange. Here
Speaker 1: is your king, Pilot said to the Jews. But they shouted,
Speaker 1: take him away, take him away, crucify him. Shall I
Speaker 1: crucify your king? Pilot asked, we have no king but Caesar.
Speaker 1: The chief priests answered with those words. Pilot handed Jesus
Speaker 1: over to be crucified. Carrying his own cross, Jesus walked
Speaker 1: the road to Golgotha, the place of the Skull. John
Speaker 1: nineteen seventeen eighteen gives us the stark details. Carrying his
Speaker 1: own cross, He went out to the place of the Skull,
Speaker 1: which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him,
Speaker 1: and with him two others, one on each side and
Speaker 1: Jesus in the middle. Pilot had a sign prepared and
Speaker 1: fastened to the cross. John nineteen nineteen to twenty tells
Speaker 1: us Pilot had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross.
Speaker 1: It read, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.
Speaker 1: Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place
Speaker 1: where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the
Speaker 1: sign was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. The chief
Speaker 1: priests protested, wanting the sign to read that Jesus only
Speaker 1: claimed to be king, but Pilot's response in John nineteen
Speaker 1: twenty two was final. What I have written, I have written.
Speaker 1: At the foot of the cross, soldiers divided jesus clothes
Speaker 1: among themselves, but his under garment was seamless, woven in
Speaker 1: one piece from top to bottom. John nineteen twenty four
Speaker 1: records let's not tear it, They said to one another,
Speaker 1: Let's decide by lot who will get it. This happened
Speaker 1: that the scripture might be fulfilled. That said, they divided
Speaker 1: my clothes among them, and cast lots for my garment.
Speaker 1: Near the cross stood jesus mother, his mother's sister, Mary,
Speaker 1: the wife of Clopus, and Mary Magdalene. Even in his agony,
Speaker 1: Jesus showed love for his mother. John nineteen twenty six
Speaker 1: twenty seven tells us when Jesus saw his mother there
Speaker 1: and the disciple whom he loved, standing near by, he
Speaker 1: said to her, woman, here is your son, and to
Speaker 1: the disciple, here is your mother. From that time on,
Speaker 1: this disciple took her into his home. As death approached,
Speaker 1: Jesus knew that everything was now completed. John nineteen twenty
Speaker 1: eight says later, knowing that everything was now finished and
Speaker 1: so that scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, I am thirsty.
Speaker 1: A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked
Speaker 1: a sponge in it, put it on a hissop branch,
Speaker 1: and lifted it to Jesus's lips. After receiving the drink,
Speaker 1: Jesus spoke his final words. John nineteen thirty records when
Speaker 1: he had received the drink, Jesus said, it is finished.
Speaker 1: With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Speaker 1: The work of salvation was complete. Because it was preparation
Speaker 1: day and the bodies were not to remain on the
Speaker 1: ye crosses during the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders asked Pilot
Speaker 1: to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.
Speaker 1: The soldiers broke the legs of the two criminals, but
Speaker 1: when they came to Jesus, they found he was already dead.
Speaker 1: John nineteen thirty four tells us, instead, one of the
Speaker 1: soldiers pierced jesus side with a spear, bringing a sudden
Speaker 1: flow of blood and water. John, who witnessed these events,
Speaker 1: testified to their truth in John nineteen thirty five. The
Speaker 1: man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony
Speaker 1: is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and
Speaker 1: he testifies so that you also may believe. These things
Speaker 1: happened to fulfill scripture. Not one of his bones will
Speaker 1: be broken, and they will look on the one they
Speaker 1: have pierced. As the sun began to set, a secret
Speaker 1: follower of Jesus stepped forward with courage. Joseph of Arimathea
Speaker 1: had been hiding his faith out of fear of the
Speaker 1: Jewish leaders, but now he couldn't stay silent. John nineteen
Speaker 1: thirty eight tells us later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilot
Speaker 1: for the body of Jesus. Now, Joseph was a disciple
Speaker 1: of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders.
Speaker 1: With Pilot's permission, he came and took the body away.
Speaker 1: Joseph wasn't alone in this sacred task. Another secret believer
Speaker 1: joined him, Nicodemus. The same Pharisee who had come to
Speaker 1: Jesus by night early in his ministry. John nineteen thirty
Speaker 1: nine records he was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who
Speaker 1: earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture
Speaker 1: of myrrh and aloes about seventy five pounds. The amount
Speaker 1: of spices Nicodemus brought was fit for a king, an
Speaker 1: expensive tribute that showed his deep respect for Jesus. Together,
Speaker 1: these two men prepared Jesus body for burial. John nineteen
Speaker 1: forty describes the process taking Jesus body. The two of
Speaker 1: them wrapped it with the spices in strips of linen.
Speaker 1: This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. Time was
Speaker 1: running short, the Sabbath was approached, and they needed to
Speaker 1: finish before sundown. Fortunately, there was a garden near the
Speaker 1: place where Jesus had been crucified, and in that garden
Speaker 1: was a new tomb. John nineteen forty one to forty
Speaker 1: two concludes at the place where Jesus was crucified there
Speaker 1: was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb
Speaker 1: in which no one had ever been laid. Because it
Speaker 1: was the Jewish day of preparation, and since the tomb
Speaker 1: was nearby, they laid Jesus there. The tomb was sealed
Speaker 1: and jesus body lay in the darkness. To his followers,
Speaker 1: it seemed like the end of everything they had hoped for.
Speaker 1: Early on the first day of the week, while it
Speaker 1: was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb. What
Speaker 1: she found there changed everything. John twenty one tells us
Speaker 1: early on the first day of the week, while it
Speaker 1: was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and
Speaker 1: saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
Speaker 1: Her immediate thought was that someone had stolen Jesus's body.
Speaker 1: She ran to tell Simon, Peter and the other disciple,
Speaker 1: the one Jesus loved. John twenty d two records her
Speaker 1: breathless announcement, they have taken the Lord out of the tomb,
Speaker 1: and we don't know where they have put him. Peter
Speaker 1: and the other disciple raced to the tomb. John twenty
Speaker 1: four shows us both were running, but the other disciple
Speaker 1: out ran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent
Speaker 1: over and looked in at the strips of Lynn lying there,
Speaker 1: but didn't go inside. When Peter arrived, he went straight
Speaker 1: into the tomb. John twenty six seven describes what he saw.
Speaker 1: Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight
Speaker 1: into the tomb. He saw the strips of Lynn lying there,
Speaker 1: as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around
Speaker 1: Jesus's head. The cloth was still lying in its place,
Speaker 1: separate from the linen. The other disciple followed Peter inside,
Speaker 1: and John twenty eight tell us finally the other disciple,
Speaker 1: who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He
Speaker 1: saw and believed the grave clothes weren't scattered as they
Speaker 1: would be if thieves had stolen the body. They were
Speaker 1: neatly arranged, as if Jesus had simply passed through them.
Speaker 1: The disciples went back to where they were staying, but
Speaker 1: Mary remained at the tomb, weeping. As she bent over
Speaker 1: to look into the tomb, she saw two angels in
Speaker 1: white seated where jesus body had been. John twenty thirteen
Speaker 1: records their question, Woman, why are you crying? She answered,
Speaker 1: They have taken my lord away, and I don't know
Speaker 1: where they have put him. When she turned around, she
Speaker 1: saw a man standing there, but she didn't recognize him
Speaker 1: as Jesus John twenty fifteen shows us the conversation. He
Speaker 1: asked her, woman, why are you crying? Who is it
Speaker 1: you are looking for? Thinking he was the gardener, she said, Sir,
Speaker 1: if you have carried him away, tell me where you
Speaker 1: have put him, and I will get him. Then Jesus
Speaker 1: spoke her name Mary. She turned toward him and cried
Speaker 1: out in Aramaic raboni, which means teacher. Jesus told her
Speaker 1: in John twenty seventeen, do not hold on to me,
Speaker 1: for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go
Speaker 1: instead to my brothers and tell them I am ascending
Speaker 1: to my Father and your father, to my God and
Speaker 1: your God. Mary Magdalen became the first witness to the resurrection,
Speaker 1: running to tell the disciples, I have seen the Lord.
Speaker 1: That evening, the disciples were gathered together with the doors
Speaker 1: locked for fear of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly Jesus came
Speaker 1: and stood among them. John twenty nineteen records on the
Speaker 1: evening of that first day of the week, when the
Speaker 1: disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of
Speaker 1: the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood amoung them and said,
Speaker 1: peace be with you. After showing them his hands and side.
Speaker 1: The disciples were overjoyed. Jesus breathed on them and said
Speaker 1: in John twenty twenty two twenty three, receive the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1: If you forgive any one's sins, their sins are forgiven.
Speaker 1: If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.
Speaker 1: But Thomas, one of the twelve, wasn't with them when
Speaker 1: Jesus appeared. When the others told him they had seen
Speaker 1: the Lord, he responded in John twenty twenty five. Unless
Speaker 1: I see the nail marks in his hands and put
Speaker 1: my finger where the nails were and put my hand
Speaker 1: into his side, I will not believe. A week later,
Speaker 1: Jesus appeared again, when Thomas was present. John twenty twenty
Speaker 1: six to twenty seven tells us though the doors were locked,
Speaker 1: Jesus came and stood among them and said, peace be
Speaker 1: with you. Then he said to Thomas, put your finger here,
Speaker 1: see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it
Speaker 1: into mine. Heard say, stop doubting and believe. Thomas answered
Speaker 1: in John twenty twenty eight, My Lord and my God.
Speaker 1: Jesus said to him in John twenty twenty nine, because
Speaker 1: you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed of those
Speaker 1: who have not seen and yet have believed. Some time later,
Speaker 1: Jesus appeared to his disciples by the Sea of Galilee.
Speaker 1: Seven of them were together, Simon, Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, the
Speaker 1: sons of Zebedee, and two others. Peter, perhaps feeling restless,
Speaker 1: announced in John twenty one three, I'm going out to fish.
Speaker 1: The others said we'll go with you. They went out
Speaker 1: and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Speaker 1: Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but
Speaker 1: the disciples didn't recognize him. John twenty one five records
Speaker 1: his question, friends, haven't you any fish? When they answered no,
Speaker 1: he told them in John twenty one six, throw your
Speaker 1: net on the right side of the boat and you
Speaker 1: will find some. They did, and were unable to haul
Speaker 1: the net in because of the large number of fish.
Speaker 1: The disciple whom Jesus loved was the first to realize
Speaker 1: who was speaking to them. John twenty one to seven
Speaker 1: tells us then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter,
Speaker 1: it is the Lord. As soon as Simon Peter heard
Speaker 1: him say it is the Lord, he wrapped his outer
Speaker 1: garment around him, for he had taken it off and
Speaker 1: jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat,
Speaker 1: towing the net full of fish. They were not far
Speaker 1: from shore, only about a hundred yards. When they landed,
Speaker 1: they saw a fire of burning coals with fish on
Speaker 1: it and some bread. John twenty one ten eleven continues,
Speaker 1: Jesus said to them, bring some of the fish you
Speaker 1: have just caught. So Simon Peter climbed back into the
Speaker 1: boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of
Speaker 1: large fish, fifty three. But even with so many, the
Speaker 1: net was not torn. Jesus invited them to have breakfast,
Speaker 1: saying in John twenty one twelve, come and have breakfast.
Speaker 1: None of the disciples dared ask him, who are you?
Speaker 1: They knew it was the Lord. John twenty one thirteen
Speaker 1: describes the scene. Jesus came, took the bread and gave
Speaker 1: it to them, and did the same with the fish.
Speaker 1: This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his
Speaker 1: disciples after he was raised from the dead. After breakfast,
Speaker 1: Jesus turned his attention to Peter. Three times Peter had
Speaker 1: denied knowing Jesus, and now Jesus would give him three
Speaker 1: opportunities to affirm his love. John twenty one fifteen records
Speaker 1: the first exchange. When they had finished eating, Jesus said
Speaker 1: to Simon Peter, Simon's son of John, do you love
Speaker 1: me more than these? Be Yes? Lord, he said, you
Speaker 1: know that I love you. Jesus said, feed my lambs. Again,
Speaker 1: Jesus asked in John twenty one sixteen, Simon's son of John,
Speaker 1: do you love me? Peter answered, yes, Lord, you know
Speaker 1: that I love you. Jesus said, take care of my sheep.
Speaker 1: The third time Jesus asked the question, Peter was hurt.
Speaker 1: John twenty one to seventeen shows us the third time
Speaker 1: he said to him, Simon's son of John, do you
Speaker 1: love me? Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the
Speaker 1: third time? Do you love me? He said, Lord, you
Speaker 1: know all things. You know that I love you. Jesus said,
Speaker 1: feed my sheep. Jesus then spoke about Peter's future, saying
Speaker 1: in John twenty one to eighteen to nineteen, very truly,
Speaker 1: I tell you, when you were younger, you dressed yourself
Speaker 1: and went where you wanted. But when you are old,
Speaker 1: you will stretch out your hands and some one else
Speaker 1: will dress you and lead you where you do not
Speaker 1: want to go. Jesus said this to indicate the kind
Speaker 1: of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he
Speaker 1: said to him, follow me. Peter turned and saw the
Speaker 1: disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He asked Jesus in
Speaker 1: John twenty one twenty one, Lord, what about him? Jesus
Speaker 1: answered in John twenty one twenty two, if I want
Speaker 1: him to remain alive until I return, what is that
Speaker 1: to you? You must follow me. This statement led to
Speaker 1: a rumor among the believers that this disciple would not die,
Speaker 1: but John twenty one twenty three clarifies. But Jesus did
Speaker 1: not say that he would not die. He only said,
Speaker 1: if I want him to remain alive until I return,
Speaker 1: what is that to you. John concludes his gospel with
Speaker 1: a personal testimony in John twenty one twenty four. This
Speaker 1: is the disciple who testifies to these things and who
Speaker 1: wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
Speaker 1: And then, with a sense of the vastness of jesus works,
Speaker 1: he ends in John twenty one twenty five, Jesus did
Speaker 1: many other things as well. If every one of them
Speaker 1: were written down. I suppose that even the whole world
Speaker 1: would not have room for the books that would be written.
Speaker 1: The story of Jesus's passion, death, and resurrection was complete,
Speaker 1: but the impact of these events would continue to change
Speaker 1: lives forever. We've just walked through the most powerful chapters
Speaker 1: in all of human history, the final days of Jesus Christ,
Speaker 1: from his willing surrender in the garden to his triumphant
Speaker 1: resurrection and restoration of his disciples. Every moment reveals the
Speaker 1: depth of God's love for you and me. This isn't
Speaker 1: just an ancient story. It's the foundation of hope for
Speaker 1: everyone who believes. Jesus didn't just die and rise again
Speaker 1: for the people of his time. He did it for you.
Speaker 1: Right where you are today. The same power that raised
Speaker 1: Jesus from the dead is available to transform your life.
Speaker 1: If this journey through John's Gospel has touched your heart,
Speaker 1: please hit that subscribe button and ring the notification bell
Speaker 1: so you never miss our deep dives into God's word.
Speaker 1: And don't keep this to yourself. Share this video with
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Speaker 1: Your share might be exactly what someone needs to encounter
Speaker 1: the Living Christ. Remember the tomb is empty, Jesus is alive,
Speaker 1: and that changes everything. Thanks for joining us on this
Speaker 1: incredible journey through the Gospel of John