Learning Jesus | Week 25
Learning Jesus Week 25
The Visibly Glorious in the Already & Not Yet
Key Word – Long >> Central Passage – John 11:1-44
Jonah was an Old Testament prophet whom God commanded to go to Nineveh (Assyria) in order to warn the city of impending judgment if its citizens did not repent. The Assyrians were a wicked people, and they were fearsome enemies of Israel. The prophet Amos had already foretold that Assyria would destroy the northern Kingdom of Israel. Jonah knew God was merciful and that He would relent if Assyria repented. This meant Amos’ prophecy would come true! Desiring vengeance, not mercy, Jonah’s response was to flee to Tarshish, the exact opposite direction from Nineveh.
God disciplined Jonah’s disobedience by casting him into the sea where he drowned. God sent a fish to swallow Jonah so that his body would be preserved in the tomb of its belly. After three days in Sheol, the place of the dead, Jonah repented and asked God to allow him to complete his mission. God resurrected Jonah and the fish spewed him out upon the shore. Jonah preached. The Assyrians repented. Jonah sulked. The book of Jonah ends there.
Does Jonah ever see that the same God who extended mercy to his enemies extended mercy to His prophet when he raised him from the dead? How could a man, let alone a prophet of God, miss seeing such a wondrous sign? The author of the book of Jonah is most likely Jonah himself, so in that we have our answer.
Now, why are we learning about Jonah? Remember that after Israel rejected Jesus as their Messiah, Jesus promised the Jews that the only sign they would receive is the sign of Jonah, meaning the sign of resurrection. The story of the resurrection of Lazarus completes the LAST of John’s seven Messianic signs, and it also contains the fifth of Jesus’ seven “I Am” statements in John: “I am the resurrection and the life.”
Day 1 -- John 11:1-32.
This is one of the longest stories in John’s gospel, and it follows a classic and well-developed story arc, developed around how those close to Jesus, those considering Jesus, and those conflicted with Jesus respond to His claim to have power over life and death. Today we shall focus on His disciples’ responses.
1. Review John 11:1-16. Note Jesus’ choices to wait two days and to risk return to enemy territory.
a. What is Jesus claiming about Himself to the Twelve? See John 11:4, 9-10, 14-15.
b. What does Thomas’ response to Jesus’ claim reveal about his faith? Consider what he has gained and what he still lacks. See John 11:16.
2. This is the gospels’ second story about Martha and Mary, who along with their brother Lazarus, are clearly in Jesus’ friendship circle. In the first story, Martha anxiously occupied herself only with serving Jesus, so He commanded her to occupy herself with learning from Him. Review John 11:1-3, 17-32.
a. What is Jesus claiming about Himself to Martha? See John 11: 23, 25-26.
b. What does Martha’s response to Jesus’ claim reveal about her faith? Consider what she still lacked and what she gained. See John 11: 21-22, 27.
Background Notes – One thing we see here is Jesus’ disciples did not understand Jesus’ power over death. For example, both Martha and Mary understand that Jesus is the Messiah and that He has power that could have PREVENTED Lazarus’ death, but Jesus had to tell them that He has power OVER death.
3. The Twelve and the sisters were disciples LEARNING to respond to Jesus’ claims with faith.
a. What does Jesus do to train their faith?
b. Do you see any similarities in how God is training your faith right now? Explain.
Day 2 – John 11:32-44
Background Notes – The English Standard Version, states that when Jesus heard Mary and the Jews wailing, “he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” The literal meaning is that Jesus was indignant, which means He was angry! Jesus has already taught that He is God and therefore has power over sin and death. His righteous anger is likely due to their unbelief in His claims. But we should also consider how as God Jesus knows the wages of sin upon humanity like no other mourner at the funeral. Now, having added humanity to His deity, He is experiencing a funeral with flesh on. “Jesus wept” is the shortest verse in the Bible. The word “wept” refers to silent weeping. As you read, try to visualize Jesus angry with tears wetting His cheeks while mourning sinners wail in unbelief all around Him.
1. Martha believes the stone stands between the mourners and the stench of death. Jesus reminds her He had promised she would see the glory of God if she believed. The “you” in verse 40 is singular, so in this very public moment, Jesus is speaking personally to Martha.
How do we SEE the glory of God? Pretend you are Martha sharing this story with someone who wasn’t present. Explain how you saw the glory of God that day.
Does explaining this from Martha’s perspective remind you of the day you understood Jesus’ power over your death? Meditate on that a bit.
2. Some Jews observe that Jesus healed a man born blind (a Messianic miracle), but failed His friend Lazarus. Remember Jesus promised one more public sign to the Jews. This is it.
a. Read Jesus’ prayer (v42). What is it specifically that the Jews must believe?
b. How would their belief fulfill Jesus’ promise to Martha that she would SEE the glory of God?
3. Jesus called: “Lazarus, come out!” and the “dead man” obeyed. What does this tell you about the power of Jesus over your current struggle? Consider how our struggles are due to the power of sin, “the power of death” in our lives.
Day 3
Background Notes – As high priest, Caiaphas was head of the Sanhedrin, which was Israel’s highest judicial authority and consisted of the chief priests, most of whom were Sadducees as well as some Pharisees and elders.
The Pharisees and Sadducees did not agree on the doctrine of resurrection. The Pharisees taught the “resurrection at the last day,” and this is the doctrine Martha affirmed when Jesus questioned her about Himself. The Sadducees did NOT believe in the resurrection of the dead. Given that most of the chief priests were Sadducees, this is a bit ironic. This means that those priests who conducted the sacrifices that put the people in a right relationship with God did not believe in an e t e r n a l relationship with God.
Read John 11:44-54.
1. The Effects of Fear
a. What do the chief priests and Pharisees fear? See John 11:47-48. Determine what they fear will most affect them personally.
b. What were the results of their fear for themselves, the people, and Jesus Himself?
Note that the Sanhedrin, who resolved to arrest Jesus, had without a trial already declared Him guilty and sentenced Him to death. They chose to reject Jesus’ promised sign of Jonah but, ironically, did not deny that Jesus raised Lazurus from the dead.
Read Luke 17:11-19.
2. Remember that before Jesus healed the first leper as recorded in each of the synoptic gospels, no Jew had ever been healed of leprosy before, so the healing of a leper was regarded as a miracle only the Messiah would be able to perform. Jesus healing ten lepers is an absolutely perfect response to His being rejected by Israel’s high priest. How so?
Background Notes – As high priest, Caiaphas chose personal political position over the people’s spiritual and physical salvation. How does Jesus respond? He heals ten lepers. In Lesson Six of Learning Jesus, which you can review by going to gracelaredo.org/learningjesus, we learned that a healed leper had to report to the high priest so that he and his priests could declare him healed, cleanse him, and then restore him back to the community. In the process, the healed leper made many offerings to demonstrate that he had passed from death to LIFE! (Leviticus 14). Consider that Caiaphas and his priests had to do this ten times!
3. Read John 11:51-52. Think about the Samaritan leper who returned to thank Jesus. Enjoy a time of praise and worship with the Lord for His goodness to you and to us His Church.
Day 4 –
Read Luke 17:20-21.
As you read the background notes below, which are both more extensive and heady, highlight some of the key phrasings and then engage in the reflection questions below.
Background Notes – Understanding these first two verses is important because this semester Jesus will be giving instruction on what we often call “end times” or kingdom eschatology. He will explain how God will move toward the consummation of His plan to restore His children to a glorious relationship with Himself. D.A. Carson notes that the Jewish thinking of the day regarding the kingdom is that its arrival would be visibly glorious; Jesus’ humble ministry did not meet Jewish expectations. According to Carson, “Jesus’ reply puts a double emphasis on kingdom and the time of its coming”; to capture this emphasis, which is clearer in the Greek, Carson rewords it in this way: “For behold, the kingdom of God in the midst of you is.”
In Yoda fashion, Jesus delays the verb “is” to emphasize the glory is greater than what the Pharisees seek. Jesus the King is in their midst. If the King is present, the kingdom has arrived. The verb, Carson states, is used most commonly in the futuristic present. Try not to break your brain too much, but think about why a futuristic present verb is absolutely perfect for the occasion. Jesus has been rejected, but He did not remove Himself. The Son of Man is presently present with His people, and He is moving toward futureconsummation. So even now after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, we the Church are still living in an age of “already, but not yet.”
After advising the Pharisees to stop hunting for the kingdom because the King is here, Jesus turns to His disciples who trust He is the “already” to prepare them for the “not yet” signs of kingdom consummation.
1. Reflect on the “already, not yet.”
o As one born after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, how are you faring while in living in the tension of the Spirit lives in me and yet I am longing to live in the Kingdom with my King?
o Jesus promised a glory greater than the Pharisees were seeking. We already learned that they sought a kingdom they could control. Spend time in prayer asking God where you are seeking kingdom control. Then seek His forgiveness and restoration.
Read Luke 17:22-37.
Background Notes – In this passage, Jesus is preparing the disciples who are currently with Him and those who will follow this generation for the future “not yet.” He references His death and departure, a time when believers shall be removed while unbelievers remain, and a time when enemies of the Jews shall gather to devour them. Prophets speak as “from the LORD,” so prophecy is characterized by swift shifts between present, near future, distant future, and distant-distant future because God is not limited in time as we are. He is eternal and omnioscient. So do not be surprised that Jesus who is God and the Prophet did not order these events as linearly as you would like.
2. By answering the questions below, you will see a clearer order of the events Jesus references.
o When Jesus returns, who will see Him? (v24)
o Before Jesus returns, what must happen to Jesus that this generation will be responsible for doing? (v25)
o What will unbelievers be doing before Jesus returns that they were also doing in Noah and Lot’s days? (vs26-30)
o What choice shall the tribulation force upon those living during this judgment? (vs31-33)
o Only Noah and his family were saved from the flood. Only Lot and his daughters were saved when Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. So when the Son of Man returns after the tribulation, what should unbelievers expect? What should believers expect? (vs34-36)
Background Notes – The tribulation will be a time of persecution against the Jews like never seen before in history (Matthew 24:21).The answer to the disciples’ question (Luke 17:37) is that Jesus will return after the tribulation to where the Gentile nations (the vultures) will gather to destroy the Jews (See also Matthew 24:27-28). According to several Old Testament books, believing Jews will be in Bozrah, or in Greek, Petra (Micah 2:12-13; Jeremiah 49:13-14; Isaiah 34:1-7; 63:1-6).
3. Since Jesus is returning, why should everyone everywhere from this minute until His return prepare to meet Him? Take time to pray about this for yourself and for those God calls you to lead in love and truth.
Day 5 – Luke 18:1-14
Background Notes – Jesus has just warned His disciples that as God’s children living side by side with children of darkness they will long for His return. He further instructed them that while disciples of all times look for Jesus’ return with great longing, God has a longer view for consummating the kingdom, one that will bring greater glory to Himself. Read the two parables that follow this particular teaching as answering this question: How should a kingdom citizen pray while he or she waits for the King to return?
1. How is God characterized in these two parables?
2. Given His nature, how should we who long to be with Him forever pray while we wait?
Optional Memory Verse – 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:7-8
3. Knowing the character of God (Q1) and how DUE to His character you should seek Him in a particular way (Q2), practice what you just learned right now. Enjoy Him; enjoy being His child.
REFLECTION Questions
These questions along with the Central Passage will usually be the focus of your group’s discussion each week.
Other than the glory of God Himself, nothing is more visibly glorious than the dead brought back to life.
We saw that Jonah’s resurrection brought distant-from-God Gentiles into the kingdom and foreshadowed Lazarus’ resurrection which brought close-to-God Jews into the kingdom. Lazarus’ resurrection foreshadowed THE resurrection of the Fully God, Fully Man. Jesus’ resurrection brought and brings Jews and Gentiles into the kingdom, one soul at a time.
God is taking the long view of glory. This increases our longing for Him but also His glory as we live in His kingdom already yet wait for its final consummation.
1. How do you see evidence in your current life that God is presently present with you and is moving you from one degree of glory to another?
2. How would you like to see God’s glory working in you this semester? Use this space to take notes so that you can pray over one another for this.
3. Enjoy a sweet time in prayer.
COMMUNITY GROUP TIME
• Discuss the Central Passages questions. (This week that is Days 1-2.)
• Open Share Time -- Allow time for each to share “starred” insights or questions from Days 1-5. Allow others to respond to the shared insight.
• Is anyone able to recite all or part of Luke 18:7-8?
• Discuss Reflection Questions.
• Close in prayer.