#246 (John 21:1-14) Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples - Life of Christ = Week 50 - Monday

Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples
John 21:1-14

Intro Questions

A Miraculous Catch of Fish at Lake Galilee

John 21:1–14

¹After this, Jesus revealed Himself again to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed Himself in this way:

²Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of His disciples were together.

^3a“I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them.

^3b“We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing.

⁴When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore. However, the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

^5a“Men,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?”

^5b“No,” they answered.

⁶“Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” He told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. ^7aTherefore the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!”

^7bWhen Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer garment around him (for he was stripped) and plunged into the sea. ⁸But since they were not far from land (about a hundred yards away), the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. ⁹When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish^† lying on it, and bread.

¹⁰“Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus told them. ¹¹So Simon Peter got up and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish—153 of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.

¹²“Come and have breakfast,” Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?” because they knew it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish.

¹⁴This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.^[1]

---

^[1] Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp. 251–252). Holman Bible Publishers.

Text Graphic

Later Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Lake of Galilee. This is how it happened: A group of us were there—Simon Peter, Thomas, "The Twin," Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, my brother James and I and two other disciples.
Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing."
"We'll come too," we all said. We did, but caught nothing all night. At dawn we saw a man standing on the beach but couldn't see who he was.
He called, "Any fish, boys?"
"No," we replied.
Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get plenty of them!" So we did, and couldn't draw in the net because of the weight of the fish, there were so many!
Then I said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" At that, Simon Peter put on his tunic (for he was stripped to the waist) and jumped into the water and swam ashore. The rest of us stayed in the boat and pulled the loaded net to the beach, about 300 feet away. When we got there, we saw that a fire was kindled and fish were frying over it, and there was bread.
"Bring some of the fish you've just caught," Jesus said. So Simon Peter went out and dragged the net ashore. By his count there were 153 large fish; and yet the net hadn't torn.
"Now come and have some breakfast!" Jesus said; and none of us dared ask him if he really was the Lord, for we were quite sure of it. Then Jesus went around serving us the bread and fish.
This was the third time Jesus had appeared to us since his return from the dead.

• 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 can I apply it to my life this week?
• 
  
• 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.

OPEN: 

• What has been your best fishing, hunting or camping?
• What is your favorite food at a cookout?

DIG:

• The seven disciples have returned to the Galilee district, about 90 miles from the place
• Whom do you know who needs Jesus who was killed and rose again. What might they have discussed on the way? 
• In fishing all night, using nets, do you think Peter just wanted something to do, or did he return to his old business? 
• Why did Jesus' followers have difficulty recognizing him after the resurrection? 
• How would you feel if you had been fishing with the disciples all night? How does Jesus' preparation of breakfast relate to what he did for them in John 13:1-17? 

REFLECT:

• Where do you go to get away from it all? How does God meet you there? 
• When was the last time you received a bountiful blessing? Did Jesus get your attention through this blessing?

A Call from the Beach
Jesus had performed a similar miracle for the disciples before. Luke 5:1-11 records how the disciples had experienced an unsuccessful night of fishing, only to have a record-breaking catch on Jesus' instructions. At the time, the disciples had been amazed to see that not only did Jesus teach, heal, and cast out demons, but he also cared about their day-to-day routine. Here the disciples had gone back to what they knew best—fishing. And Jesus came to them right where they were, performing another miracle to demonstrate his great love for them. Jesus meets us where we are, gently showing us where he wants us to be. Is he standing on the beach calling to you? Pull in your boat and listen!


In this passage Jesus recommissioned Peter. Perhaps Peter needed special encouragement after his denial.

Willingness to Serve
In this beach scene, Jesus would lead Peter through an experience that would remove the cloud of his denial. Peter had denied Jesus three times. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him. Peter had repented, and here Jesus was asking him to commit his life. Peter's life changed when he finally realized who Jesus was. His occupation changed from fisherman to evangelist; his identity changed from impetuous to "rock"; and his relationship to Jesus changed—he was forgiven, and he finally understood the significance of Jesus' words about his death and resurrection. It is one thing to say you love Jesus, but the real test is willingness to serve him.


Impetuous Peter jumped out of the boat and swam to the shore when he realized that it was Jesus on the beach. Clearly he wanted to talk to Jesus and to experience Jesus' forgiveness.

https://www.youtube.com/c/edmondchurchofchrist

Other Resources:

Diving Deeper - John 21:1-7

https://youtu.be/gVGa1N_ITYI?list=PLhYtut3yPj985SSv2lVAUQwrsPyVaMNKJ

Jul 20, 2025 = Pleasant Ridge exists to lead people into a life-changing walk with Jesus Christ!

https://rrffh.blogspot.com/2025/08/deeper-waters.html

https://youtu.be/pafH6vauX3E

https://youtu.be/wJnY8D6Wrzg

#186 Most of the People Do Not Believe in Jesus (John 12:37-43) - Life of Christ = Week 38 - Monday

Most of the People Do Not Believe in Jesus
John 12:37-43

Intro Questions

Isaiah’s Prophecies Fulfilled

37Even though He had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in Him. 38But this was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet, who said: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39This is why they were unable to believe, because Isaiah also said: 40“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they would not see with their eyes or understand with their hearts, and be converted, and I would heal them.” 41Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke about Him.

42Nevertheless, many did believe in Him even among the rulers, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, so they would not be banned from the synagogue. 43For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

Text Graphic

• 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 can I apply it to my life this week?
• 
  
• 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.

OPEN:

• Are you more like the salesman who could sell an icebox to an Eskimo, or more like the Eskimo who buys one? 

DIG:

• What are some of the miraculous signs Jesus has done in this Gospel? How do the prophecies from Isaiah 53:1 and 6:10 account for the people's disbelief despite these signs? 
• What is the author implying about Jesus in John 12:41 (see John 8:58)? 
• What inhibits the leaders from speaking? How does this illustrate John 12:25-26? 

REFLECT:

• Where do you find it most difficult to live your faith: At home or work? Why? 
• If you had to sacrifice social status or certain relationships to follow Jesus, what would you get in return? 
• How do you let people know where you stand with God?

"Step into Jesus"

“He went in and said to them, ‘Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.’ But they laughed at Him . . . He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’ (which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’). Immediately, the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this, they were completely astonished.”  (Mark 5:39-42) 

A ruler came to Jesus asking Him to heal his child. While asking, the ruler was informed that his child had died. Instead of praying for, encouraging, and consoling him, Jesus told him not to be afraid, but to believe! 

Jesus went to the child, where some people were mourning and crying over the child’s death. When Jesus proclaimed that the child was not dead, they laughed at Him. 

One of my greatest struggles is to receive a leading from God and then to step out in faith on that leading. The thought of proclaiming the Word and acting on it brings the fear of what others will say if it does not happen. John 12:42-43 says, “Yet at the same time, many even among the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees, they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.” 

Jesus must have known this fear because He immediately told the ruler not to be afraid, but to believe. The encouragement not to fear was not for his child’s death, but for his faith to believe that God was in control. 

How often do you receive a Word from the Lord or feel His leading, but do not act out of fear of what others might think? To do nothing would be the equivalent of what those mourning for the girl did – laugh at the thought that God could change the natural order of this world. 

The next time God leads you to step out in faith, do it! To do otherwise would be to laugh at God and His desire to act in your life. 

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/c/edmondchurchofchrist

https://youtu.be/j9EaWgINVxk

#185 Jesus Explains Why He Must Die (John 12:20-36) - Life of Christ = Week 37 - Friday

Jesus Explains Why He Must Die
John 12:20-36

Intro Questions

Greeks Ask to See Jesus

John 12:20–50

²⁰Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. ²¹So they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”

²²Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. ²³Jesus replied to them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

²⁴“I assure you: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop. ²⁵The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant also will be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

²⁷“Now My soul is troubled. What should I say—‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But that is why I came to this hour. ^28aFather, glorify Your name!”

^28bThen a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again!”

²⁹The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him!”

³⁰Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for Me, but for you. ³¹Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. ³²As for Me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to Myself.” ³³He said this to signify what kind of death He was about to die.

³⁴Then the crowd replied to Him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah would remain forever. So how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

³⁵Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going. ³⁶While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.^[1]

---

^[1] Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp. 186–187). Holman Bible Publishers.

Text Graphic

• 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 can I apply it to my life this week?
• 
  
• 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.

OPEN:

• Are you more likely to panic in big crises or small ones? Explain.

DIG:

• What brings Gentiles to Jerusalem during a time of a Jewish feast? 
• What was so unique about their request that Philip would first filter it through Andrew? 
• Jesus said several times that "his time had not come" (2:4; 7:6,30). What regarding this request caused him to say that now it has come? 
• In Jesus' parable (v. 24), who is the kernel of wheat? How is this related to the Gentiles' request? 
• What is he calling his disciples to do in verses 25-26? What promise do they receive? 
• In verses 27-32, what is about to occur "now"? How does this affect Jesus? Why did the crowd deny the reality of Jesus' future death (vv. 32-34)? 

REFLECT:

• In what area of your life are you in denial? 
• Where is Jesus calling you to die so that you might live? What do you tend to hold on to rather than follow Jesus? 
• Do you feel like you are walking in the dark, the light, or in some shadowland right now?

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

Living On

Basketball legend Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash earlier this year and the outpouring of grief was great. Ballplayers and sportscasters offered condolences to family and colleagues. Other celebrities have also passed from the land of the living. Comic actor Orson Bean was killed when a car hit him while he was walking. Iconic Kirk Douglas survived a massive stroke and thrived until the age of 104. Action actor Robert Conrad is gone as well as broadcast journalist and author Jim Lehrer (especially appreciated by Oklahomans for his “One-Eyed Mack” novel series). Each death leaves a void in the families and friends. Social media makes us think we have some connection to these public figures, so total strangers feel a loss as if an actual friend or relative died.

Just lately, two fine Christian women completed their life’s race and gained the final victory. Neither was famous or wealthy or influential beyond their own families. One died after an extended illness; the other died suddenly. In each case, death rocked the survivors and initiated a busy scramble to contact relatives and close friends, to make funeral arrangements, to reschedule appointments and obligations and to plan travel. Dozens of lives were disrupted and inconvenienced—because death is inconvenient. In these two cases, though, alongside the grief is a quiet joy because death is not the end of the story and these two women have gained the hope of their lives. They gave their lives to Jesus Christ and He gave them everlasting life in return.

“The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servants also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me” (John 12:25-26 NIV).

We say that celebrities will “live on” in their films, the sports awards and records, the books they wrote and the lines they spoke. In fact, in a surprisingly short time they will be forgotten by almost all but their own families and the most dedicated trivia buffs. Countless lives have crossed the earth and God alone knows how many more will seem momentarily important before Jesus returns to redeem this earth finally. Those who have truly committed themselves to Him in faithful obedience will actually live on—they continue to exist and thrive and act beyond our sight. They will never be forgotten by the Lord they have served through their lives.

Writers and actors, athletes and musicians, all bring us momentary happiness and often a little awe at human accomplishment. None of them give our lives ultimate meaning and joy. One Christian may touch and influence another person to find that ultimate meaning and lifelong joy in obedience and allegiance to Jesus Christ. And that Christian will live on twice: once in continuing life in the presence of the Lord and again in the heart of the one who received God’s grace through an encouraging word. We have no idea how many days we have left in this life. By our obedience to Jesus, we can be assured of living on when this life is past. In that day, we will be reunited with all the other faithful souls we’ve loved and miss—but who yet live on.

 

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

I love deeper Bible study

Q. What does Jesus mean when He says, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32).

A: Jesus is using a figure of speech called a "double entendre" to emphasize the irony of his sacrificial death on the cross.

In one sense, "lifted up" means crucified--the last thing that anyone in the first century, including Jesus, would want to happen to them. Crucifixion was shameful, horrible, despicable, and unbelievably painful.

In a different sense, however, "lifted up" means exalted, glorified, praised, and displayed for everyone to admire. This kind of thing is what everyone wants for their children and grandchildren. You would think these two senses of "lifted up" would be incompatible.

The irony is that God would accomplish the ultimate exaltation by the ultimate degradation. Being lifted up on the cross for the world to see, in all His weakness and tortured suffering, is what Jesus rightly anticipated would be the means of making him so attractive to the world as a whole.

Such a sight, normally so repulsive, something no one would want to talk about, has formed the heart of God's Good News that for over 2000 years Christians have proclaimed throughout the world.

--Steve C. Singleton

deeperstudy.com

https://www.youtube.com/c/edmondchurchofchrist

Other Resources:

Working Document for DBS

Title: The Easy Option by Ken Jones

v  Ken has recently been studying John

Ø  Begin with the End in Mind

§  Stephen Covey = The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Ø  Things that we dread

§  Surgery, debt, etc.

Ø  Stay the course

 

 

Text: John 12:27-29

²⁷ “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” ²⁹ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

 

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

·         Review and retell the story.

Reflections for applications:

v  "Now my soul is troubled...”

v  “...and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’”

o   “Easy Option” (Shall I quit?)

v  This very reason

v  Encouragement

o   Moses

o   Elijah

 

Digging Questions:

·        How is your faith?

·        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?

Hashtags #Power #Love #Purpose

Sunday sermon link    https://www.youtube.com/@EdmondChurchofChrist

Comments about some details:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%202&version=NIV

https://youtu.be/J0pkiCSErjg

#018 Jesus Faces Temptations (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12,13; Luke 4:1-13) - Life of Christ = Week 04 - Wednesday

Devil Tempts Jesus (Mountain in the Wilderness)
Matthew 4:1-11
Mark 1:12,13
Luke 4:1-13

Jesus Tempted by Satan

Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–13

^{Lk 4:1a}Then Jesus returned from the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit. ^{Mk 1:12–13}Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. ¹³He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals^†, and the angels began to serve Him. ^{Lk 4:2b}He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, He was hungry.

^{Mt 4:3}Then the tempter approached Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴But He answered, “It is written: ‘Man must not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

⁵Then the Devil took Him to the holy city, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will give His angels orders concerning you,’ and, ‘In their hands they will lift you up, so you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ”

⁷Jesus told him, “It is also written: ‘You must not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

⁸Again, the Devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹And he said to Him, “I will give You all these things if You will fall down and worship me.”

¹⁰Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You must worship the Lord your God, and you must serve Him only^†.’ ”

^{Lk 4:13}After the Devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him for a time. ^{Mt 4:11b}And immediately angels came and began to serve Him.^[1]

---

^[1] Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp. 30–31). Holman Bible Publishers.

Other Resources:

Temptation Matthew 4

If you were the emperor of the world, what would be your first decree?
Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, to be tempted there by Satan. For forty days and forty nights he ate nothing and became very hungry. Then Satan tempted him to get food by changing stones into loaves of bread. "It will prove you are the Son of God," he said. But Jesus told him, "No! For the Scriptures tell us that bread won't feed men's souls: obedience to every word of God is what we need."
Then Satan took him to Jerusalem to the roof of the Temple. "Jump off," he said, "and prove you are the Son of God; for the Scriptures declare, 'God will send his angels to keep you from harm,'… they will prevent you from smashing on the rocks below." Jesus retorted, "It also says not to put the Lord your God to a foolish test!"
Next Satan took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the world and all their glory. "I'll give it all to you," he said, "if you will only kneel and worship me." "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "The Scriptures say, 'Worship only the Lord God. Obey only him.'" Then Satan went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus.


#Temptation

Footnotes:  
Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world.
Scriptures Holy Writings--the Old Testament.
temple The special building in Jerusalem for Jewish worship.
synagogue(s) Synagogues were places where Jews gathered for prayer, a study of the Scriptures, and other public meetings.

Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will

• God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
• We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
• Define “temptation.” Distinguish life’s tests and discipline from things that Satan uses to draw people into evil (James 1:12-15).
• "Straightway” after what? (Mark 1:12) Why is it important that we notice the time of our Lord’s temptation?
• Are we to conclude the Holy Spirit led Jesus into temptation? (Mark 1:12) Explain.
• What can we learn from Jesus' temptation? What does the word “drove” mean to you? (Mark 1:12-13) Was Jesus tempted during the entire forty days? (Mark 1:13; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13).
• Are we to understand there were actual animals with Jesus in the wilderness? Discuss. (Mark 1:13) Just what was the ministry of the angels to Jesus?
• Under what circumstances (Luke 4:1-2) was Jesus tempted: After a spiritual high? At a weak moment? At a new stage in life?
• Satan is the “ruler of this world” (John 12:31; Ephesians 2:2). How did he achieve such a status in God’s world?
• Why was it necessary for Jesus to have this dramatic encounter with Satan?
• Read 1 John 2:15-16 and explore the areas Satan uses to tempt. Which of these did Satan use to tempt Christ?
• What was the essence of the Eden temptations? What about Jesus’ wilderness temptations?
• In each temptation, what was it's appeal? Its price? How does Jesus resist them? How does Satan's use of Scripture differ from the way Jesus uses it?
• How are the 3 temptations similar? Different?
• Why were the temptations directed at Jesus immediately after he was affirmed by God at his baptism (Luke 3:22)?

Reflective Questions for a Response — Live it today.

• If the devil had three shots at you, what three temptations would he use?
• Name some ways that you believe Satan is working to destroy the things that are precious to God in our time.
• What can help you resist? What encouragement does this story provide?
• What does it mean to you that all the authority and splendor of the kingdoms of the world has been given to Satan (Luke 4:5-6)?
• Jesus told his disciples to pray: “Deliver us from the evil one.” Consider taking some time now to offer this prayer for yourself and others.
• I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
• You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this?
• How does this equip us to be better disciples and help empower us to “make disciples”?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2kRWOiwKh0

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 Desire

Bookmark: Click Here

Opening Thoughts: To be truly different means to crave eternal things -- the things that matter most -- rather than simply feeding on a constant diet of immediate gratification and temporary happiness. For what do you hunger?

v  What do you want?

o   Order anxiety

o   Largest menu = 1,800 in Budapest Hungry

o   Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

o   Romans 7:21-23 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

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

Text: Luke 4:1-13

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, ² where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

³ The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

⁵ The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶ And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. ⁷ If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

⁸ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

⁹ The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. ¹⁰ For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you carefully;
¹¹ they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

¹² Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

¹³ When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

 

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

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 resisted every temptation

o   The greatest enemy of hunger for God s not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. – John Tyson

o   What do you want?

o   What does God want?

o   John 4:34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

o   What if the desires of God’s heart were the desires of your heart?

o   To be filled with the Spirit means to first be emptied of self.

o   Fasting

§  Will you consider making a commitment to fast this week?

 

Digging Questions:

·         How will you respond in being different? What transformative move needs to be made?

·         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 #Desire #Focus #

Sunday sermon link https://youtu.be/X2kRWOiwKh0

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+4%3A1-13&version=NIV

 




Temptation

The devil, also called Satan, tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden; here he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Satan is a fallen angel. He is real, not symbolic, and is constantly fighting against those who follow and obey God. Satan's temptations are strong, and he is always trying to get us to live his way or our way rather than God's way. One day Jesus will reign over all creation, but Satan tried to force his hand and get him to declare his kingship prematurely. The devil's temptations focused on three crucial areas: (1) physical needs and desires, (2) possessions and power, and (3) pride. If Jesus had given in, his mission on earth—to die for our sins and give us the opportunity to have eternal life—would have been lost. But Jesus did not give in! When temptations seem especially strong, or when you think you can rationalize giving in, consider whether Satan may be trying to block God's purposes for your life or for someone else's life.

Jesus was tempted by the devil, but he never sinned! Although we may feel dirty after being tempted, we should remember that temptation itself is not sin. We sin when we give in and disobey God. Remembering this will help us turn away from the temptation.

The Whole Truth
Satan used Scripture to try to convince Jesus to sin! Sometimes friends or associates will present attractive and convincing reasons why you should do something you know is wrong. They may even find Bible verses that seem to support their viewpoint. Study the Bible carefully, especially the broader contexts of specific verses, so that you understand God's principles for living and what he wants for your life. Only if you really understand what the whole Bible says will you be able to recognize errors of interpretation when people take verses out of context and twist them to say what they want them to say. Jesus was able to resist all of the devil's temptations because he not only knew Scripture, he also obeyed it. Ephesians 6:17 says that God's Word is a sword to use in spiritual combat. Knowing Bible verses is an important step in helping us resist the devil's attacks, but we must also obey the Bible. Satan had memorized Scripture, but he failed to submit to it. Knowing and obeying the Bible helps us follow God's desires rather than the devil's.

The Temple was the religious center of the Jewish nation and the place where the people expected the Messiah to arrive (Malachi 3:1). The Temple was the tallest building in the area, and this "roof" was actually a pinnacle on the corner wall that jutted out of the hillside, overlooking the valley below. From this spot, Jesus could see all of Jerusalem behind him and the country for miles in front of him.

The Test
This time of testing showed that Jesus really was the Son of God, able to overcome the devil and his temptations. A person has not shown true obedience if he or she has never had an opportunity to disobey. We read in Deuteronomy 8:2 that God led Israel into the wilderness to humble and test them. God wanted to see whether or not his people would really obey him. We too will be tested. Because we know that testing will come, we should be alert and ready for it. Remember, your convictions are only strong if they hold up under pressure!

Did the devil have the power to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world? Satan may have been lying about his implied power, or he may have based his offer on his temporary control and free rein over the earth because of humanity's sinfulness.

Other Resources:

Step Up to the Challenge June 5, 2022 Glenn Robb

https://vimeo.com/717378001

Tempting Jesus (Luke 4:1-13 Toby Levering

Jesus' Temptation in the Wilderness

https://youtu.be/0WPvEKuToa8

Death By Natural Causes // September 8, 2024

Preacher: Wayne Roberts

https://youtu.be/_GZ9HrWGypM

Further Reading:
Jesus in the Wilderness
Lenten Reflection: Luke 4:5-8