#044 Jesus Supports His Claim (John 5:31-47) - Life of Christ = Week 09 - Thursday

³⁰“I can do nothing on My own. Only as I hear do I judge, and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

³¹“If I testify about Myself, My testimony is not valid. ³²There is Another who testifies about Me, and I know that the testimony He gives about Me is valid. ³³You people have sent messengers to John, and he has testified to the truth. ³⁴I don’t receive man’s testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. ³⁵John was a burning and shining lamp, and for an hour you were willing to enjoy his light.

Testimony of Jesus’ Acts

³⁶“But I have a greater testimony than John’s because of the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish. These very works I am doing testify about Me that the Father has sent Me. ³⁷The Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have not heard His voice at any time, and you haven’t seen His form. ³⁸You don’t have His word living in you, because you don’t believe the One He sent. ³⁹You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, yet they testify about Me. ⁴⁰And you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

⁴¹“I do not accept glory from men, ⁴²but I know you—that you have no love for God within you. ⁴³I have come in My Father’s name, yet you don’t accept Me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. ⁴⁴How can you believe? While accepting glory from one another, you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God. ⁴⁵Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. ⁴⁶For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me. ⁴⁷But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

Discussion Of Authority
John 5:31-47

Other Resources: 

The Perfect Example of Jesus John 5 https://virtualbiblestudy.com/lessons/john/5/

https://youtu.be/eVVYvY6qqnU

#043 Resurrection And Life (John 5:15-29) - Life of Christ = Week 09 - Wednesday

¹⁵The man went and reported to the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

Jesus Defends His Sabbath Healing

John 5:16–47

¹⁶Therefore, the Jews began persecuting Jesus because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. ¹⁷But Jesus responded to them, “My Father is still working, and I also am working.” ¹⁸This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill Him: not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.

¹⁹Then Jesus replied, “I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way. ²⁰For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing, and He will show Him greater works than these so that you will be amazed. ²¹And just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever He wishes. ²²The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, ²³so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

Life and Judgment

²⁴“I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.

²⁵“I assure you: An hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. ²⁶For just as the Father has life in Himself, so also He has granted to the Son to have life in Himself. ²⁷And He has granted Him the right to pass judgment, because He is the Son of Man. ²⁸Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice ²⁹and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of judgment.

Resurrection And Life
John 5:16-29

Other Resources: 

The Perfect Example of Jesus John 5 https://virtualbiblestudy.com/lessons/john/5/

https://youtu.be/GbLDiGGJHL8

#042 Jesus Heals a Lame Man by a Pool (John 5:1-15) - Life of Christ = Week 09 - Tuesday

Jesus Heals a Lame Man on the Sabbath

John 5:1–15

¹After this a Jewish festival took place, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ²By the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there is a pool, called Bethesda in Hebrew, which has five colonnades. ³Within these lay a multitude of the sick—blind, lame, and paralyzed—waiting for the moving of the water, ⁴because an angel would go down into the pool from time to time and stir up the water. Then the first one who got in after the water was stirred up recovered from whatever ailment he had.*

⁵One man was there who had been sick for 38 years. ⁶When Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had already been there a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to get well?”

⁷“Sir,” the sick man answered, “I don’t have a man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, someone goes down ahead of me.”

⁸“Get up,” Jesus told him, “pick up your bedroll and walk!” ^9aInstantly the man got well, picked up his bedroll, and started to walk.

^9bNow that day was the Sabbath, ¹⁰so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “This is the Sabbath! It’s illegal for you to pick up your bedroll.”

¹¹He replied, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Pick up your bedroll and walk.’ ”

¹²“Who is this man who told you, ‘Pick up your bedroll and walk’?” they asked.

¹³But the man who was cured did not know who it was, because Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

¹⁴After this Jesus found him in the temple complex and said to him, “See, you are well. Do not sin any more, so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.” ¹⁵The man went and reported to the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

Healing At Pool of Bethesda (Jerusalem)

Second Passover April A.D. 28

John 5:1-3, 5-9a

Healed Man Questioned
John 5:9b-15

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
•  
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
•  
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

Other Resources: 

The Perfect Example of Jesus John 5 https://virtualbiblestudy.com/lessons/john/5/

https://youtu.be/jKKdXYar3Uw

#041 Religious Leaders Ask Jesus About Fasting (Matthew 9:14-17; Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39) - Life of Christ = Week 09 - Monday

Observations on Fasting

Matthew 9:14–17; Mark 2:18–22; Luke 5:33–39

^{Mk 2:18}Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. People came and asked Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast [^{Lk 5:33a}fast often and say prayers], but Your disciples do not fast?”

^{Mt 9:15}Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests be sad while the groom is with them? The days will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

^{Lk 5:36a}He also told them a parable: ^{Mk 2:21–22a}“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth, and a worse tear is made. ^22aAnd no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins. ^{Lk 5:38–39}But new wine should be put into fresh wineskins. ³⁹And no one, after drinking old wine, wants new, because he says, ‘The old is better.’ ”

Disciples Not Fasting
Matthew 9:14-17
Mark 2:18-22
Luke 5:33-39

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
• Why is Jesus questioned about fasting?
• What is Jesus implying by the parable? (Luke 5:34-35) (Luke 5:36-39) How does this relate to Levi's call and to the disciples not fasting?
• What is the new cloth? Old garment? New wine? Old wineskins?
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
• 
  
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

A Fast Question (Luke 5:33-39) by Toby Levering

Walking the line - Life of Christ = Week 09 - Sunday

Walking The Line Video

Steve Reischl ACAPPELLA "When You're There".mov - Life of Christ = Week 08 - Saturday

#040 Matthew (Levi) is Called (Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32) - Life of Christ = Week 08 - Friday

Jesus Calls Matthew

Matthew 9:9–13; Mark 2:13–17; Luke 5:27–32

^{Lk 5:27–28}After this, Jesus went out [^{Mk 2:13a}went out again beside the sea] and saw a tax collector named Levi [^{Mt 9:9}Matthew] [^{Mk 2:14a}Levi the son of Alphaeus] sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” ²⁸So, leaving everything behind, he got up and began to follow Him.

²⁹Then Levi hosted a grand banquet for Him at his house. Now there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were guests with them. ³⁰But the Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to His disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

³¹Jesus replied to them, “The healthy don’t need a doctor, but the sick do. ^{Mt 9:13}Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew the Tax Collector

Tax collectors such as Matthew were Jews who gathered taxes from their fellow Jews for the Roman government as independent contractors. The Romans placed taxes on land, goods produced and sold in Palestine, and products that passed through the region. These tax agents were allowed to keep any money they raised above the amount levied by the Romans—a practice that led to extortion and corruption. They were hated by other Jews—particularly the Pharisees—because they sold themselves into the employ of the Roman Empire. But Jesus associated with these despised tax collectors, showing that God’s grace extends to all people.

Matthew (Levi) is Called (Galilee)
Matthew 9:9
Mark 2:13,14
Luke 5:27,28

A famous person you admire is coming to dine with you tomorrow. What would you do to get ready?

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
• Tax collectors lined their pockets with money they collected. How might the disciples (Luke 5:1-11) feel about Jesus' choice?
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

Some Unusual Suspects (Luke 5:27-32) by Toby Levering

Eating With Sinners

Matthew 9:10-13
Mark 2:15-17
Luke 5:29-32

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
• Why choose Levi? What is the irony here? (Luke 5:31-32)
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
• In this story, what do you have to do to qualify as a disciple?
• In the way you relate to "undesirable types," are you more like Levi (inviting them to your party), the Pharisees (looking down on them), or the disciples (unsure what to do)? Why?
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

============

Mark 2:16 ‐‐  “When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw Him eating with the ‘sinners’ and tax collectors, they asked His disciples: ‘Why does He eat with tax collectors and “sinners”?’" 

The life of a follower of Christ is a pretty “cush” place to be – eternal life without fear of what comes after death; abundance and peace personally delivered by the Spirit of God; and nice friends who are comfortable being around.  It would be easy to focus only on what Christ has brought you… if it weren't for those five pesky words after the first and greatest commandment – “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  

If eternal life, peace, abundance, and the fellowship of believers are great for you, surely you love the unbeliever enough to want them to have the same?  Human nature is comfortable with gravitating towards that which is easiest and most pleasurable, but Jesus constantly demonstrated a lifestyle that cared more about others.  Jesus lived an intentional life to love others:  When He and His followers were hungry, He saw the hunger of the 5,000; when Jesus was being wined and dined by the rich and powerful, He saw a repentant woman who was worshipping Him with her treasured possession; when Jesus was pressed in by the crowds desiring to hear and see Him, He saw their oppressed and helpless nature; when cultural norms expected certain behavior, Jesus responded according to the person’s soul and not cultural norms.  

Jesus could have easily just fed Himself, enjoyed the adulation of the rich and famous, quenched His thirst, and found gratification in the thousands clamoring to Him… but He loved others more than Himself.  His every movement, every word, and every opportunity were filled with being used by God to touch the lives of others no matter the discomfort, cost, or inconvenience.  

In John 4:34 Jesus revealed to His disciples His passion when they challenged His time with the woman at the well, “My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to finish His work.”  The Father’s work for Jesus was to love people.  Loving people was not a ministry project, but the very nourishment and fulfillment of His life.  Bringing others to the throne of God to have eternal life and to experience His abundance was His greatest joy.  

Pray for God not only to give you opportunities to be “salt and light” for Christ, but that your soul and spirit are fed by loving others more than yourself.  Pray that your soul hungers for the opportunity to share Christ and His love so that you are filled with the love of Christ!

John 13:34‐35 ‐‐ “A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another."  

=================== 

Other Resources:
An Outsider's Story


Further Reading
The Kingdom of God as a New Way of Living in the World

#039 Paralytic Healed (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26) - Life of Christ = Weak 08 - Thursday

Healing of a Paralyzed Man

Matthew 9:1–8; Mark 2:1–12; Luke 5:17–26

^{Mt 9:1}So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own town ^{Mk 2:1b–2a}Capernaum again. After some days, it was reported that He was at home. ^2aSo many people gathered together that there was no more room, even near the door.

^{Lk 5:17}On one of those days while He was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and also from Jerusalem. And the Lord’s power to heal was in Him. ^{Mk 2:2b}And He was speaking the message to them.

^{Lk 5:18–19}Just then some men came, carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and set him down before Him. ^19aSince they could not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof ^{Mk 2:4b}[and] removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they ^{Lk 5:19b}lowered him on the stretcher through the roof tiles into the middle of the crowd before Jesus.

^20aSeeing their faith He said, ^{Mt 9:2b}“Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.”

^{Lk 5:21}Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason: “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

²²But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus replied to them, “Why are you reasoning this in your hearts? ²³Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ²⁴But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He told the paralyzed man, “I tell you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”

²⁵Immediately he got up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God. ²⁶Then everyone was astounded, and they were giving glory to God. And they were filled with awe and said, “We have seen incredible things today!”

Paralytic Healed (Capernaum)
Matthew 9:1-2
Mark 2:1-5
Luke 5:17-20

Who were your 4 closest friends in high school? What was one memorable prank you pulled off together?

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
•  How might the Pharisees and teachers have felt? (Luke 5:17-19, 20, 21-23, 24-26)
• The man came for healing, so why did Jesus raise the issue of forgiveness? How would the friends react to Jesus' words? (Luke 5:20) To his actions? (Luke 5:24)
• What new realm of Jesus' authority is demonstrated here?
• What motivates the Pharisees to respond as they do to the situation?
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
• Who are you most like in this story? Why?
• Are you a little paralyzed now -- emotionally, spiritually, relationally? What needs to happen to you to "take your mat and go home"?
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

We Have Seen Remarkable Things (Luke 5:17-26) by Toby Levering




Scribes Question Authority
Matthew 9:3-8
Mark 2:6-12

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
•  
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
•  
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

Luke 5:21-26

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
•  
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
•  
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

Further Reading

The Son of Man Forgives Sins

#038 Leper Cleansed (Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16) - Life of Christ = Weak 08 - Wednesday

A Leper Healed

Matthew 8:1–4; Mark 1:40–45; Luke 5:12–16

^{Mk 1:40}Then a leper [^{Lk 5:12}a man covered with leprosy] came to Him, and begged on his knees [^{Lk 5:12}fell on his face] before Him, saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

⁴¹Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched him. “I am willing,” He told him. “Be made clean.” ⁴²Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. ⁴³Then He sternly warned him and sent him away at once, ⁴⁴telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

⁴⁵Yet he went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news, with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But He was out in deserted places, and they [^{Lk 5:15}large crowds] would come to Him from everywhere ^{Lk 5:15b–16}to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. ¹⁶Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.

Leper Cleansed
Matthew 8:1-4
Mark 1:40-45
Luke 5:12-16

What illness are you most afraid of catching? Why?

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
• By touching the leper before he heals him, what is Jesus demonstrating? (Luke 5:13)
• Why does Jesus try to silence him? (Luke 5:14)
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
• When have you felt shunned, like a leper? How did Jesus "touch" you then?
• Who are the "lepers" in your life? What would it mean for you to touch them for Christ?
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.

https://youtu.be/yI6ryS9_Lwk

Be Different: Different Pace by Randy Roper

I Am Willing (Luke 5:12-15) by Toby Levering



Jesus Often Withdrew (Luke 5:16) by Toby Levering



Mark

1. Why was leprosy considered bad? (v. 40) (Leviticus 13) Why is the leper unsure of Jesus' desire to help?

2. What is significant about Jesus touching the leper prior to healing him? (v. 41) What do the crowds expect?

3. Jesus said, "Don't tell". (44) Why the secrecy? Why did he disobey and talk? (v. 45)

Further Reading:
“Lepers Healed, the Kingdom of God is Here”

Document for DBS

Series: Be Different “Making Transformative Moves” Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Title: Different Pace

Bookmark: Click Here

Opening Thoughts: What does the pace of your life reveal about the priorities of your life? While observing Sabbath is not commanded for New Testament Christians, practicing Sabbath is an important way to rest, refocus and revel in the goodness of God.

v  Weather can change your pace

o   We are suffering from an epidemic of busyness and distraction.

§  Romans 12:2

o   Your pace of life will reveal your priorities in life

===============================================================

Text: Luke 5:12-16

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy

¹² While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

¹³ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

¹⁴ Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

¹⁵ Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. ¹⁶ But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

===============================================================

Summarize the main story: Describe the events of the story in your own words.

v  Review and retell the story.

Reflections for applications:

v  Jesus extracted himself from the masses & the movement of the world to be with God

v  A different pace…

o   Genesis 2:2-3 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

o   Exodus 20:8-10 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.

o   For many of us the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it. We will just skim our lives instead of actually living them. -John Mark Comer quoting John Ortberg in The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

v  Things that considering a different pace will help us do.

o   Reconnect with God

§  If the devil can’t make you bad he will make you busy.

§  Live slowly enough to think deeply about God. J.I. Packer

o   Restore your mind, body & soul

§  Matthew 11:28 ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

§  Exodus 31:17 (“(The Sabbath) will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.”

o   Remember your true identity

o   Revel in the goodness of God

§  Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

 

Digging Questions:

·         How will you respond to Be Different?

·         What do these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?

·         What is God calling us to do?

Take Away Challenges

·         What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?

·         Whom do you know who needs to hear this?

·         What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or actions need to be addressed or changed?

Hash tags #Give #Generosity

Sunday sermon link          https://youtu.be/yI6ryS9_Lwk

Kevin’s Blog Link to more resources: Click here for Kevin’s Blog Notes

Comments and resources with some more resources:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+5%3A12-16&version=NIV