Search The Scriptures —Study 5 — John 2:23 – 3:21

Study 5 From the Book of John is: John 2:23 – 3:21

1. Why was Jesus not satisfied with the faith spoken of in 2:23? Cf. 4:48; 6:26, 30; Mt. 13:14. Is my faith the kind that pleases God?
2. What was right and what was lacking in Nicodemus's assessment of Jesus? How did Jesus's answer correct to him. What is involved in being 'born of the spirit', and why is it needed? Cf. Mt. 18:3; Jn. 1:12, 13; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 8:8, 9.
3. Why was the lifting up of the Son of man necessary? (Note 'must' in verse 14.) On what ground are men judged and condemned? Where do you stand in relation to these truths?

Notes

1. Verse 5. 'Born of water' probably refers to John's baptism.
2. Verse 8. As with the wind, so with the movement of the Spirit, the effect is real and recognizable, although the process is hidden
3. Verses 12, 13. The gospel speaks of heavenly things, of which Christ is the sole revealer. Cf. 3:31, 32; Mt. 11:27.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 4 — John 2:1-22

Study 4 From the Book of John is: John 2:1-22

1. Verses 1 -11. present the first of the seven 'signs' (see introduction), which reveal the identity of Jesus and stimulate faith (verse 11). What particular aspect of Jesus's glory does this miracle display? What change in our life does turning the water into wine represent? Cf. 2 Cor. 5:17. What can we learn from Mary's response to Jesus?
2. The idea of the 'Temple' unites verses 13-17 with 18-22. How does Jesus appear in each incident? By what authority does He drive out the traders? Cf. Mal. 3:1-3. What crisis does this incident foreshadow in the mind of Jesus? What did He foresee concerning the cost and character of His mission?

Notes

1. Verse 4. The English, even in RSV, makes Jesus' words seem disrespectful, but in the Greek the form of address is perfectly courteous. Jesus makes it clear that He depends upon no human instructions, even from His mother, but only upon that which God appoints. He is awaiting His Father's instructions.
2. Verses 14-16. See TNTC. (p.61) for discussion whether there were two cleansings of the Temple, one at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, as here, and one at the end, as recorded in the Synopstics

ABBRVIATIONS:

TNTC stands for Tyndale New Testament Commentary

RSV stands for Revised Standards Version (1946-52)

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Search The Scriptures —Study 3 — John 1:35-51

Study 3 From the Book of John is: John 1:35-51

1. Describe what it was that brought each of these five men to Jesus. How far did they understand who Jesus was? What account of Him can you give to others?
2. Verses 48, 49. Why did Jesus's answer elicit the response of Nathaniel? See 2:25. What do verses 47-50 reveal of Nathaniel's character?

Notes

1. Verse 42. Cephas – Peter - Rock
2. Verses 47, 51. An allusion to the story of Jacob in Gn. 32:24-29 and 28:12, 13.
3. Verse 51. This word, as shown by the plural 'you', was spoken not about Nathanael only, but about all the disciples. Jesus would be revealed to them as the true and final Mediator between God and man.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 2 — John 1: 19-34

Study 2 From the Book of John is: John 1: 19-34

1. What do we learn here about (a) the character, (b) the work, of John the Baptist? See also verses 6:8 and 3:28-30.
2. Verses 26-34. What testimony does John the Baptist here bear to Jesus? How much of this did John learn about Him through his experience at Christ's baptism? Do these truths mean something to you?

Note. Verse 29. 'He saw Jesus coming': probably after the forty days in the wilderness, when He was tempted by Satan. That Jesus's baptism had already taken place is shown by verse 32. Cf. Lk. 3:21,22

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Search The Scriptures —Study 1— John 1:1-18

Study 1 From the Book of John is: John 1:1-18

1. Why is Jesus here called 'the Word'? What is His relation to God; to the world; to men? See the whole passage.
2. Who does not, and who does become a child of God? By what means is one brought into this new status?
3. Note all the allusions to 'light' and associated ideas (e.g., 'glory') in this passage. How much of the purpose of Jesus' coming does this explain?

Note. Verse 16. 'Grace upon grace' i.e., one grace succeeding another.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 0— Introduction

Study 0 From the Book of John is: The Introduction of the book of John

The author of this Gospel claims to have been an eye-witness of the scenes that he records (1: 14; 19:35; cf. 1 Jn. 1:1-3), and in 21:24 his identity with 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' is asserted. Among the many reasons for identifying this disciple with John the son of Zebedee, one of the most striking is the Evangelist's habit of referring to the Baptist as 'John' only, and never mentioning the son of Zebedee by name.

The other three Gospels are chiefly concerned with our Lord's ministry in Galilee; a bare hint is all that they give us that He so much as visited Jerusalem between His baptism and the final Passover (Mt. 23:37; Lk.13:34; and Lk. 4:44). John, on the other hand, has little to say about our Lord's work in Galilee (2:1-12; 4:43-54:6); for the most part the scene of his narrative is Judaea, and especially Jerusalem, where almost from the first the Lord was rejected (1:11; 4:43, 44;5; etc.).

It is important to observe that in the record of Jesus's ministry up to His death, seven miracles are recorded in this Gospel. These are (1) the turning of water into wine (2:1-11); (2)the healing of the nobleman's son (4:46-54); (3) the healing of the impotent man (5); (4) the feeding of the five thousand (6:4-13) (5) the walking on the water (6:16-21); (6) the healing of the man born blind (9: 1-7); (7) the raising of Lazarus from the dead (11:1-44). John calls these miracles 'signs', by which he means that they have a meaning beyond themselves, and point to the identity of Jesus as the Christ, and to His corresponding works in the spiritual realm, such as the raising of the spiritually dead, the opening of the eyes of the spiritually blind, etc.

The purpose of the Gospel, and particularly of the signs recorded in it, is clearly stated, 'that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name (20:31). It shows the divine Word coming to His own people, revealing the Father to them both by teaching and by 'signs', and yet rejected and persecuted to the death. To the world this Gospel reveals the tremendous claims of the Lord Jesus and the awfulness of rejecting Him. To the disciple it reveals the implications of accepting Him, showing the interdependence of love and obedience, of life and feeding upon the Lord, of fruit-bearing and abiding in Him.

The section 7:53-8:11 is omitted by all the oldest Greek manuscripts now existing, with one exception, and its style and vocabulary are more like those of Luke (in whose Gospel four manuscripts insert it) than those of John. But though this section was probably not written by John, it bears every evidence of truth, and we may thankfully accept it as part of the inspired Word of God.

Search The Scriptures —Study 19 — 1 Kings 22

Study 19 From the Book of 1 Kings is: 1 Kings 22

End of the Book 1 Kings - We are starting with the book of John tomorrow

1. Compare the attitude of the tow kings in regard to asking counsel of the Lord. Did they not both err: Ahab because he would not have done it at all but for Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat because he did it after the decision was made? Di we sometimes find ourselves committing both these errors?
2. What may we learn from Ahab's foolish hatred of Micah? What was the reason for it, and to what end did it lead? Cf. Jn. 8:40. Are we ever guilty of asking advice only from people who will tell us what we want to hear?

Notes

1. Verse 3. 'Ramoth-gilead': possibly one of the towns mentioned in 20:34.
2. Verse 6. These prophets were probably prophets of the calf-worship with Jeroboam had established (12:28, 29). In name they may have been prophets of Jehovah, God of Israel, but they were not true prophets as Micah was.
3. Verse 31. An ungrateful return or Ahab's clemency; see 20:31-34. It underlines the truth of the unknown prophet's prediction in 20:42.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 18 — 1 Kings 21

Study 18 From the Book of 1 Kings: 1 Kings 21

1. Consider the parts played by Ahab, Jezebel, a
   
   nd the elders of Jezreel respectively in the murder of Naboth. What was the special guilt of each? What was it that distinguished Elijah from all these? What do we learn from his example of the qualities God wants in us if He is to do His work?
   
2. Sum up what you have learnt from Ahab's from chapters 20 and 21.

Notes

1. Verse 2 and 3. Ahab's offer was fair in itself, but when he failed to gain his desire he was displeased. Yet Naboth, according to the law, had the right to refuse. See Nu. 36:7
2. Verse 15. We learn from 2 Ki. 9:26 that Naboth's son's were also put to death, that there might be no surviving heir.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 17— 1 Kings 20

Study 17 From the Book of 1 Kings is: 1 Kings 20

The reappearance of true prophets of Jehovah in this chapter is striking. It seems to indicate that Elijah's ministry had effected a change in the whole attitude of public opinion, and even in Ahab himself.

1. What was the difference between Ben-hadad's two demands which made Ahab reject the second, though he had yielded to the first? What threat did Ben-hadad make, and what was Ahab's answer?
2. How many times in this chapter is the intervention of a prophet recorded? What may we ourselves learn from the messages these men were sent of God to deliver?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 16 — 1 Kings 19

Study 16 From the Book of 1 Kings: 1 Kings 19

Prophets among the people of Israel were held in high regard. Elijah therefore supposed that after so great a moral victory as that won on Mount Carmel king and nation would return to Jehovah. But, Jezebel had no such awe in her heart, and Elijah found himself faced by her wrathful fury. It was a rude shock to all his hopes.

1. What difference do you notice between the account of Elijah's flight at this time and that of his previous flights to Cherith and Zerephath? What causes for his deep depression and sense of failure can you think of? Read the story of verses 4-18 in the light of Ps. 103, 13, 14. How did God comfort, teach and restore Elijah?
2. When God's call came to Elisha, how did he respond? Are you thus ready to do God's will, in whatever sphere of service He may appoint? Cf. Mk. 1:15-20. What do we learn from this passage about the way God plans for His work to be begun by one of His servants and carried on by another? Cf. 1 Cor. 3:6.

Notes

1. Verse 8. 'To Horeb the mount of God': the site of God's covenant with Israel (see Dt. 4: 9-20). This was probably the object of Elijah's journey from the first.
2. Verse 19. 'Twelve yoke of oxen' indicates a wealthy farm.

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