Learning Jesus | Week 36
Learning Jesus Week 36
Intimacy° = Fruit° = Joy°
Key Word – abide >> Central Passage – See text below and Day 5.
This week you have three different handouts: 1) The complete text of John 14-16 color-coded 2) John 14-16 background notes 3) This landing page with the directions and questions.
The purpose of different handouts is to allow you to keep these handouts side by side as you reflect and pray through the text. This will give you greater ease in navigating the work of this lesson. Yes, work! One of the big ideas of this week is that intimacy with Jesus takes time and effort. That’s the formula for work. But as we shall see, the degree to our intimacy with Jesus is the degree to the fruit we bear for Him and the degree to our JOY in Him. It all starts with intimacy.
1) TEXT Handout -- Color-Coding Legend & Purpose
Jesus’ Admonitions Jesus’ Promises The Apostles’ Questions/Statements
The text has been color-coded so that you can see Jesus’ admonitions/commands and promises and where the apostles interjected a question or statement during His final discourse. What is not color-coded is part of the context around these statements, but the color-coding, along with the bolded words, help us to see Jesus’ development and structure more easily.
2) BACKGROUND NOTES Handout
On Days 2-4, you will read a chapter per day using the background notes of the day. You can read the notes, then read the text back and forth. The directions below give more information about that work.
3) THIS LANDING PAGE Handout -- Directions for Reading and Note-Taking
Day 1 -- Read through Jesus’ final discourse once from beginning to end in one sitting. Circle or underline what is new to you or strikes you as interesting. As you read, keep in mind that Jesus is describing His relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and He is also describing the new relationship the three-in-one will have with believers after Jesus rises from the dead.
Day 2 -- Read through John 14 using the background notes. Most notes include a “consider” invitation. In the margin you can jot your thoughts on that or any new insight you’ve gained from this second reading. Pray through the text for yourself and others. Write a few of your prayer points in the blank space next to the text.
Day 3 -- Read through John 15 using the background notes. Most notes include a “consider” invitation. In the margin you can jot your thoughts on that or any new insight you’ve gained from this second reading. Pray through the text for yourself and others. Write a few of your prayer points in the blank space next to the text.
Day 4 -- Read through John 16 using the background notes. Most notes include a “consider” invitation. In the margin you can jot your thoughts on that or any new insight you’ve gained from this second reading. Pray through the text for yourself and others. Write a few of your prayer points in the blank space next to the text.
Day 5 --
The degree to our intimacy with Jesus is the degree to the fruit we bear for Him and the degree to our joy in Him. It all starts with intimacy.
a. Circle the ways below you have pursued to build intimacy in your relationship with Christ --
Bible reading Bible study Bible memorization
prayer (underline every “type” of prayer you have engaged in regularly)
praise, seeking His kingdom, confession, forgiving, petitioning, seeking protection & standing firm against the enemy for self/others
fasting solitude/silence surrender worshiping with music extended time with God
community worship community biblical teaching accountability friendships practicing hospitality
evangelism teaching serving those in need using a talent or gift for God’s kingdom
sacrificial giving cutting non-eternal activities or investments limiting self biblical secrecy
b. Choose 2-3 from your list. How have these deepened your intimacy with God?
c. How has pursuing your education or engaging in your work developed intimacy with Christ?
d. How has engaging with your family and those closest to you developed intimacy with Christ?
e. Review your answers. Enjoy a time of prayer. Ask God to show you what first moves you could take to deepen your relationship with Him.
f. How can you put first moves intentionally on your calendar?
Optional Memory Verses – Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do NOTHING.
John 15:4-5 (emphasis mine)
re-jesus space
1. Share --
o your experience with reading the same text three times, writing insights, praying
o your day 5 answers
2. With your group brainstorm prayer ideas based on our text. I got you started with three ideas.
Praise God with praises, confessions, petitions -- for Jesus’ intimacy with the Father and the Holy Spirit | that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit indwell you | that Jesus has overcome the world
God’s joy and strength to you, kpaulson@gracelaredo
JOHN CHAPTERS 14 to 16 background information
John 14:1
Jesus is going to be arrested the very night He gives this admonition to the apostles. They are about to be “troubled.” Remember He has already repeatedly prophesied of the Father’s plan for the Son’s arrest, trial, death, and resurrection. So consider what they are to “believe about the Father and about the Son.”
2
This promise is for the apostles and all who believe in Christ. The promise is a place in New Jerusalem which is currently in heaven, but will be on earth after Jesus’ second coming. Consider how Jesus is preparing for a family to dwell together as one.
3-4
We just studied how Jesus will rapture the Church, His bride, to take her to heaven. We know the Church will be taken to heaven because Jesus here says, “to where I am going.” After His resurrection, Jesus will ascend to heaven. This is where He is going. This affirms that believers will be raptured and taken to heaven before the tribulation. Consider how this promise comforts you. (See also 1 Cor 15:51-53; 1 Thess 4:13-18).
5
This is the first of five interruptions to Jesus’ discourse. Notice that Jesus does respond to their questions, but He also moves the conversation back to what He wants said before His passion begins. Consider how each interruption reveals that the apostles do not have a complete understanding of the Father’s plan for our complete salvation through the work of the Son. Consider why Jesus is patient with their incomplete understanding.
6-7
This is John’s sixth “I am” statement. Notice Jesus uses the definite article “the” as opposed to the indefinite article “a.” (I am the way v.s. I am a way.) Consider how Jesus’ claim silences the claims of all other world religions about how we have access to our Creator.
8-9
Jesus has taught that He and the Father are one repeatedly. Consider how Jesus is making a direct claim to deity in these verses.
10-11
Consider how Jesus’ words here reveal the content of each believer’s faith. What must you believe if you claim Jesus as your Savior?
12
Jesus’ ministry lasted three years. He sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the Church was born (Acts 2). The Church has been at work in Jesus’ name for over two thousand years. Consider in what sense, then, Jesus means that the Church will do “greater” works than He did.
13-14
Jesus’ name is His Person, His Works, and His overall character. We ask in His name because He has all authority, He is the goal of our prayer, and we have a relationship with Him as our Mediator. Consider a prayer you have brought to Jesus recently. Are you asking on the basis of His authority, His sake, and His relationship with you?
15
Review Jesus’ previous two admonitions (vs 1 and 10-11). Reflect on the relationship between believing, loving, and obeying. (See also 1 Jn 5:3.)
16-21
Jesus has been the apostles’ Comforter, consoling, encouraging, and interceding for them. In the Greek the Holy Spirit is called allon Parakleton, meaning “another Comforter,” for the Holy Spirit and Jesus are the “same kind”; both are God. The Holy Spirit has been known to the apostles because He has been withthem, but He has not indwelled them. Before Christ sent the Holy Spirit to indwell all believers (Acts 2), the Holy Spirit indwelt relatively few individuals, but He did not indwell them permanently (See Psalm 51.). Consider the new relationship the apostles and ALL believers enjoy with the Holy Spirit that OT saints did not. Consider why believers are given this new relationship with the Holy Spirit.
22-24
Jesus answers Judas’ questions with both a promise and an admonition He already gave in verse 16. Consider that relationship between believing, loving, and obeying again. Besides the Holy Spirit, who also will indwell the believer? Consider the magnitude of this in our new relationship with God through the death and resurrection of the Son of God.
25-26
How did the apostles remember the details we have been reading in the gospels? Here we have our answer to that question.
27-31
In these verses Jesus promises peace and commands rejoicing. Consider how Jesus Himself is trusting the Father’s promise and obeying this command as He anticipates Satan’s (the ruler of the world) coming against Him in His passion.
John 15:1-9
Jesus gives His seventh and final “I am” statement, and this statement defines our new relationship in Christ. During this time, vine growers did not construct supports for their vines; instead, vines grew along the ground. So that the vine would bear fruit, the vine grower would place a rock to lift the vine off the ground. The words “take away” is airó which can also mean “to lift up,” and that would be in keeping with the vine growers’ practice of the day. The Messiah lifts up fruitless vines so that they will bear fruit and then He prunes or cleanses them. Verse 6 is referring to what will happen when a believer stands before the judgment seat of Christ with barren branches. See 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 which teaches that even if a person who has trusted Christ for salvation bears no fruit whatsoever, he will enter heaven. However, he will receive no rewards; his barren branches when tested by fire will burn to ashes. John 15:1-7, the heart of this discourse, contains both a promise “I am the vine; you are the branches” and a command to abide in Christ. Consider the reciprocity of this command and this promise in our relationship with Jesus Christ.
10-11
Consider how over the course of His life and unto death on a cross Jesus abided in the Father’s love. He is our example. Reflect on how abiding in the love of Christ has brought you joy and how not abiding in the love of Christ has brought you sorrow.
12-13
Previously Jesus taught that we should love others as ourselves. Consider now Jesus’ new command to love others as He loves us. Given what He has already shared about our new relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, how is that possible?
14-16
These promises strongly connect to all the verses that proceed them. First, regarding verses 14-15, saints are still servants, but now we are also friends. Consider how Jesus describes the friend relationship and how that relationship works in conjunction with our being servants. The promise of verse 16 is that we are chosen/appointed to bear fruit. With great joy, reflect on the verses that lead up to this promise that we are chosen/appointed to bear fruit.
18-25
Not all promises are positive, but we know that God works all things to good for those who love Him (Romans 8:29), so the end will be good. Given the weight of this promise, Jesus provides four reasons why the world hates believers. Consider the “good” of each of those reasons.
26-27
How does the witness of the Holy Spirit and the witness of believers work in conjunction? Consider how this combined witness is a promise and rejoice!
John 16:1-6
Because of their witness with the Holy Spirit, Jewish believers will be excommunicated for following Messiah Jesus, and some will be killed. We see this in the book of Acts when Saul of Tarsus rounded up believers to have them killed (Acts 8). Later Paul becomes a believer and along with ten of the other apostles, he dies a martyr’s death. Consider why Jesus promises the apostles persecution before they experience it.
7-11
The Holy Spirit will convict unbelievers of three things: sin, righteousness, and judgment. The sin is the sin of unbelief. The righteousness is the righteousness of Christ that His ascension to heaven proves. The judgment is the judgment of unbelievers at the Great White Throne Judgment. Consider how these convictions support the character of the merciful and righteous Judge and how they support believers who witness of Him.
13-15
The Holy Spirit inspired the writing of the New Testament. This writing itself glorifies the Son. Consider how the Spirit bringing glory to the Son supports that Jesus, who is the Head of the Church (Ephesians 4), is the center of our worship according to the glorious plan of the Father.
16-24
Jesus says, “A little while” because the apostles will see Jesus three days after His crucifixion. Consider why Jesus chose to compare that to a woman giving birth to a child and why He repeats His admonition to His disciples that they should ask for what they need of the Father in His name.
25-30
In keeping with believers’ new relationship with God as both servants and friends, Jesus promises He will speak to His disciples plainly. After His resurrection, Jesus will be on earth for forty days teaching His followers without any parables. Consider how this connects to Jesus’ reminder AGAIN to ask for what the apostles need of the Father in His name. Since Jesus’ current ministry as our High Priest on the throne is to intercede for us at the Father’s right hand, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence (Hebrews 4 and 7).
31-32
The promise that the apostles shall abandon Jesus will be fulfilled within hours of Jesus speaking it.
33
This verse contains two promises, one negative and one positive, and one admonition. Consider how these are all grounded in your relationship to the Father through the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit.