John Bible Study - Lesson 31

Read the passage below using the 2 different Bible translations:

John 11:45-57 New International Version (NIV)

The Plot to Kill Jesus

⁴⁵ Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. ⁴⁶ But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. ⁴⁷ Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. ⁴⁸ If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

⁴⁹ Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! ⁵⁰ You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

⁵¹ He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, ⁵² and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. ⁵³ So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

⁵⁴ Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.

⁵⁵ When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. ⁵⁶ They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” ⁵⁷ But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

John 11:45-57 New Living Translation (NLT)

The Plot to Kill Jesus

⁴⁵ Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. ⁴⁶ But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. ⁴⁷ Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. ⁴⁸ If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”

⁴⁹ Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! ⁵⁰ You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”

⁵¹ He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. ⁵² And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.

⁵³ So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.⁵⁴ As a result, Jesus stopped his public ministry among the people and left Jerusalem. He went to a place near the wilderness, to the village of Ephraim, and stayed there with his disciples.

⁵⁵ It was now almost time for the Jewish Passover celebration, and many people from all over the country arrived in Jerusalem several days early so they could go through the purification ceremony before Passover began. ⁵⁶ They kept looking for Jesus, but as they stood around in the Temple, they said to each other, “What do you think? He won’t come for Passover, will he?” ⁵⁷ Meanwhile, the leading priests and Pharisees had publicly ordered that anyone seeing Jesus must report it immediately so they could arrest him.

Note:

Here are the 3 questions for you to answer. I have given some basic answers below the questions to help you understand the passage. Answer the questions first yourself before you look at my answers. Take a moment before you begin and ask God to help you understand what you are reading.

3 questions to answer:

1.    Content: What is this passage about?

2.    Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

3.    Application: How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

Answers to the questions above and some background:

Content: What is this passage about?

·        Some of the Jews believed after seeing Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead. Others went and told the Pharisees what Jesus did.

·        The Chief Priests and the Pharisees call a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

The Sanhedrin was the supreme council, or court, in ancient Israel. The Sanhedrin was comprised of 70 men, plus the high priest, who served as its president. The members came from the chief priests, scribes, and elders.

·     During the meeting the leaders expressed their fear that if Jesus kept on doing what He was doing the Romans would destroy their Temple along with the Jewish Nation.

·     Caiaphas, the High Priest, said it was better for one man to die than the whole nation to be destroyed.

·        As the high priest at that time Caiaphas was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation and to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world

·        From that time on the High Council/Sanhedrin began to plot Jesus’ death.

·      Jesus realizing what the High Council was up to, discontinued His public ministry for a while and left Jerusalem staying with His disciples in a village called Ephraim located in the wilderness.

·        It was time for the Passover and many people started coming to Jerusalem for the purification ceremony. (The Law ordained no special purification's before the Passover, but on the general principle of ceremonial cleanness, a large number of pilgrims would necessarily go up before the feast to observe the legal rights and offer the required sacrifices. The time required varied from one to six days)

·        People were looking for Jesus wondering if He would come to the Passover.

·        Meanwhile, the leading priests and Pharisees had publicly ordered that anyone seeing Jesus must report it immediately so they could arrest him.

Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

·        The signs that Jesus performed moved people to believe He was the Messiah. It was foretold by the Prophet Isaiah that the Messiah would perform miraculous signs:

Isaiah 35:5-6 Living Bible (TLB)

⁵ And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf. ⁶ The lame man will leap up like a deer, and those who could not speak will shout and sing! Springs will burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

Jesus’ miracles were confirmed in the Gospels:

The gospels record at least 37 detailed miracles of Jesus

The miracles of Jesus are supernatural signs/miracles which included healing, exorcisms, resurrection of the dead and control over nature

The seven signs/miracles of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John are:

1.     Changing water into wine in John 2:1-11 - "the first of the signs"

2.     Healing the royal official's son in Capernaum in John 4:46-54.

3.     Healing the paralytic at Bethesda in John 5:1-15.

4.     Feeding the 5000 in John 6:5-14.

5.     Jesus' walk on water in John 6:16-24.

6.     Healing the man born blind in John 9:1-7.

7.     Raising Lazarus From The Dead (John 11:1-44)

  

Jesus confirms His signs/miracles to reassure John the Baptist:

Matthew 11:4-6 Living Bible (TLB)

⁴ Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him about the miracles you’ve seen me do— ⁵ the blind people I’ve healed, and the lame people now walking without help, and the cured lepers, and the deaf who hear, and the dead raised to life; and tell him about my preaching the Good News to the poor. ⁶ Then give him this message, ‘Blessed are those who don’t doubt me.’”

Luke 7:20-23 Living Bible (TLB)

^20-22 The two disciples found Jesus while he was curing many sick people of their various diseases—healing the lame and the blind and casting out evil spirits. When they asked him John’s question, this was his reply: “Go back to John and tell him all you have seen and heard here today: how those who were blind can see. The lame are walking without a limp. The lepers are completely healed. The deaf can hear again. The dead come back to life. And the poor are hearing the Good News. ²³ And tell him, ‘Blessed is the one who does not lose his faith in me.’”

·        The Jewish leaders determined that Jesus was a threat to their power and control over the Jewish people. They also feared that the Roman army would come and destroy both the Temple and Jewish nation.

·        Caiaphas, the High Priest declared, “it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.” He also prophesied that Jesus would bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.

·        Jesus had fulfilled Caiaphas’ prophetic words.  Jesus has brought together God’s people from around the world. Believers have faith and confidence that Jesus is the way the truth and the life and only through Him can they be saved and reconciled back to God.

The Apostle Paul gives us perspective on God’s plan for His people:

Romans 11:25-32 New Living Translation (NLT)

God’s Mercy Is for Everyone

²⁵ I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. ²⁶ And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say,

“The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem,
    and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness.
²⁷ And this is my covenant with them,
    that I will take away their sins.”

²⁸ Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ²⁹ For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. ³⁰ Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. ³¹ Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy. ³² For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.

Ephesians 3:6 New International Version (NIV)

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

The idea is this, not every Jew or Gentile will be saved but those who are saved will makeup God’s kingdom. God does not want anyone to perish, yet many still continue to reject Him choosing to live apart from God and His truth. Therefore, in many cases people are deciding to take eternity into their own hands. This is why God is giving people the gift of faith.  Those who receive it and follow Jesus will be led to an eternity that is blessed and free of sin. Others who choose not to follow will be separated from God.

Just as God led the Jews to the Promised Land, God leads His people into Heaven where Jesus has prepared a place for believers:

John 14:1-3 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Paul makes the argument about God’s Sovereignty, the effect of free will and God’s mercy.

Excerpts from Romans 9:

¹⁴ What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! ¹⁵ For he says to Moses,

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
    and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

²² What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? ²³ What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory—²⁴ even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? ²⁵ As he says in Hosea:

“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;
    and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”

²⁶ and,

“In the very place where it was said to them,
    ‘You are not my people,’
    there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”

Israel’s Unbelief

³⁰ What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; ³¹ but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. ³² Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.³³ As it is written:

“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall,
    and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

The point is we cannot earn our Salvation. Many Jews however, believed that works and good deeds could earn them the right standing with God. But the truth is this: only through Jesus can any of us be saved.    

·        God has revealed Himself and His truth through His Word, the Bible. God’s Story is told through the nation of Israel whom He chose to be His people. Through God’s ordained genealogical line, the Messiah Jesus would come to rescue people from the consequences of sin stemming from the fall of mankind. God graciously also included the Gentiles to be part of His Kingdom. Symbolically “Israel” is represented by all of God’s people which include Jews and Gentiles. God wants everyone to be saved!

1 Timothy 2:1-4 New Living Translation (NLT)

Instructions about Worship

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. ² Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. ³ This is good and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

Application: How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

·        Display mercy, grace and love so others will know that a life devoted to Jesus has transformational power.

·        Don’t let fear take hold in your life. God has equipped you with everything you need to live a life dedicated to serving Him. He has given you the Holy Spirit for comfort, wisdom and strength. He has given you His Word and speaks directly to you and your situation.

·        Pray continuously! Pray for the lost, those separated from God to be saved!

Don’t forget:

John’s main purpose in writing this Gospel:

·        To tell the world that Jesus is the Messiah for the Jews and Gentiles

·        The events were recorded so that we might believe and have eternal life

John 20:30-31 New International Version (NIV)

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Questions to ponder:

·        What miracle has Jesus performed for you?

·        Do you have doubts about what Jesus can do in you and through you?

·        Will you trust Jesus to transform your life so you can live devoted to Him and God’s purpose?

·        Who is God preparing for you to tell your God story to?

·        Do you believe Jesus has prepared a place for you in Heaven?

Have a great week…………….Dave