## Study of the Book of John

## John 9-21

I. Jesus the Door John 9:l-10

A. The Parable (1-6)

1. There is only one door to the sheedfold.

2. The sheep know and follow the voice of the shepherd.

B. The Explanation (7-10)

1. Jesus is the door and all others are false teachers who care not for the sheep.

2. Enter in through the door (Jesus) and one receives salvation and peace.

3. Jesus came to give abundant life.

II. Jesus the Good Shepherd. v 11-29

Are all shepherds good? No. Jesus points to Himself as the Good Shepherd, but the prophet Ezekiel warned about bad shepherds who did not go after stray sheep or search for the lost one. Jesus called bad shepherds who came before Him "thieves and robbers" (John 10:8). One way of recognizing a good shepherd, Jesus said, is to listen to his voice.

- He "calls his own sheep by name," and they follow Him.
- In Israel today shepherds still walk before their sheep, calling them by name, and the sheep follow.
- In the United States, however, sheep dogs drive the sheep, and the shepherd follows behind.
- In our walk with Jesus we must be sure that He is leading, and we are following.
- If we're His sheep, we're in His loving care.

A. The Good Shepherd "gives his life for the sheep". (11-18)

1. Only the shepherd would do that.

2. The hireling would allow the wolf to ravage the sheep.

3. Only the shepherd truly cares for the flock.

4. There are other sheep, but there is only one shepherd (and. there will be only one fold).

B. He giveth His sheep eternal life (19-29)

1. Unbelief indicates that one is not a sheep and therefore will not follow the shepherd.

2. His sheep enjoy eternal life - they shall never -perish.

3. Because they are nestled. deep within the safety of God's hand.

C. Jesus is the Father. v3O-42

1. They are one - mystery of the trinity

2. They are inseparable - "...the Father is in me, and I in Him."

3. The works Christ did testified to the fact that They were One.

II. Second, is there more than one door into the safety of the sheepfold?

"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep." (John 10:7)

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

A. The Jews did not see Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

1. Rather, they thought He had a demon and was mad.

2. But a few caught glimpse of the Light shining in their darkness and asked, "Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" (John 10:21).

3. These were beginning to listen, to hear what Jesus was saying.

B. Today, "thieves and robbers" are still leading many people away from the Good Shepherd by teaching that there is more than one door into the sheepfold.

1. But those who listen to the words of the good Shepherd and follow Him will not be lead astray.

2. Note the words of Jesus to all those who are His sheep:

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:27-28)

III. Christ reveals His power 11:1-44

A. Jesus is informed that a dear friend is very near death (1-6)

1. Jesus told them! that death would not be the victor.

2. The sickness will be used to show the glory of God (just as the blindness)

3. Jesus waited for two days before beginning His journey - this was no doubt to make sure Lazarus would be dead and buried when they got to Bethany.

B. Jesus informs His disciples that they are going to Judea (7-19)

1. The disciples reminded Him that he would be risking His life to return.

2. Jesus reminded them that He wasn't walking in darkness, He knew exactly what He was doing.

3. He also reminded them of why He was going to Bethany; to 'awake Lazarus from sleep'.

a. This passage does not teach 'soul sleep'.

b. Jesus simply was implying that it would be as if Jesus were waking him from sleep.

c. The disciples misunderstood this truth and Jesus had to tell them - plainly 'Lazarus is dead'!

4. Jesus recognized there lack of faith and said He was glad for their sakes that He wasn't there.

5. Thomas then reveals that weak and doubting faith along with his great love of the Saviour.

C. Martha informs Jesus that He is too late (20-27)

1. She reveals her faith to Jesus v20-24

a. If thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

b. But I know...God will ...

2. Jesus reveals Himself to her.

a. I AM the resurrection and the life.

b. Whosoever...believeth in me shall never die.

3. She reaffirms her faith in Him.

D. Jesus calls for Mary. (28-33)

1. Mary had remained in the house grieving the loss of her brother.

2. She left quickly when she knew Jesus was calling.

3. Her response was the same, "If..."

4. Jesus was moved by compassion for her.

E. Jesus calls for the tomb. (34-42)

1. He wept - over the pain and suffering people suffer due to death.

2. He commanded the stone to be removed from the tomb.

3. He rebukes Martha's doubt.

4. He prays for the benefit of those about Him - that they might realize this miracle is from God.

F. Jesus calls for Lazarus (43-44)

1. It is said that the power of His Word was so great that if He had not called Lazarus by name that every grave would have opened.

2. Lazarus had been bound in the grave clothes of death but Jesus said, "Loose him and let him go"

3. Jesus the Life is victorious over death!

IV. The Council reveals their plot. 11:45-57

A. The council met to decide what they should do about Jesus (45-48)

1. They were afraid the Romans would have to intercede and then take action against all Jews.

2. Note: they were concerned first about their 'place' or position on the council second on the list was the nation.

B. Caiaphas speaks up (49-52)

1. He tells the rest that they know nothing about the matter.

2. He says it would serve their purpose better to let Jesus die.

3. He was actually prophesying a fact that fit neatly into God's purpose.

C. Conspiracy is set in motion (53-57)

1. Jesus, aware of all of this, walked no more openly.

2. The Passover was near and they thought surely he would come.

3. They put the word out among the people so that they could take Jesus.

V. John reveals the final events of Christ's public ministry before the cross.

A. Christ and His friends. v1-11

Note: While the Jewish leaders were plotting to slay Christ, His friends were honoring Him in Bethany. (Notice the individuals)

1. Martha is busy about serving the meal - she pictures one working for Christ - not one complaint although the task was great.

2. Mary is anointing the feet of Jesus with a very expensive ointment - she pictures one worshipping Christ - no price too great to offer to the Savior Note: the ointment cost a year's wages for the common worker.

3. Judas is complaining and criticizing - he pictures one who opposes Jesus - anytime you have someone trying to do something for Christ you always have one ready to criticize what is being done.

4. Jesus is defending Mary from these vicious attacks. Jesus is our advocate - go between - defender - "If God be for us, who can be against us?" Ro. 8:31b

5. Lazarus is being sought by the Jewish leaders that they might destroy him also - he pictures the walk and witness of a child of God - many believed on Jesus because of Lazarus.

B. Jesus and His entry into Jerusalem. 12-19

1. He entered in this manner to fulfill prophecy.

2. Note: Zechariah 9:9

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." (Zec 9:9)

3. The entire nation of Israel was not declaring Him king, but those who had witnessed the miracle at Bethany were.

4. The Pharisees were unable to squelch His popularity among those in Jerusalem.

C. Jesus and the Gentiles. v20-36

1. At His birth, Gentiles came from the east; now at His death they come again.

2. The Jews told Jesus, "We would see a sign" (Mt. 12:38), but the Gentiles said, "We would see Jesus!"

3. Jesus said, "The hour is come".

4. Jesus now predicts the sufferings He would soon endure.

a) He must die

b) This was the purpose He came into the world

c) He must be lifted up - this does not speak of honor, but rather it speaks of the crucifixion

D. Christ and the Jews v37-50

1. They would not believe on Him! v37

a. they had seen evidence of His sonship.

b. their eyes had been blinded and their hearts hardened because they had spurned God's grace

2. They would not confess Him. v42

a. many of the chief rulers did believe in Him.

b. they were afraid they would be cast out of the synagogue

c. they loved their position more than they loved their Lord and Savior

3. "...I come ... to save the world" v47

a. At the first advent Jesus came as Savior - when He returns He shall come as judge

b. He came to do what the Father commanded

VI. Preparation for the Cross. 13:1-21:25

A. Instruction by the Son of God. 13:1-16:33

1. Concerning humility. v1-12

a. We are called to be servants regardless of what assignment the Lord gives us.

b. Following the Passover meal and just prior to His arrest in Jerusalem, Jesus called His disciples to accept the mission of servanthood.

c. He taught them what being a part of His ministry was all about by becoming a servant Himself.

d. It must have been with some surprise that the disciples watched Jesus rise from the table, remove his outer robe, and wrap a towel around His waist.

e. Assuming the role of a lowly servant, Jesus began to wash the disciples' feet.

f. Peter initially objected and Jesus told him that he would not understand what He was doing until later.

2. Concerning forgiveness. v1-20

a. This is not just an illustration of humility, but also it illustrates the importance of forgiveness.

b. At first Simon Peter wouldn't let Jesus wash his feet. v6

c. Then he wanted Jesus to wash him completely. v9

d. Note the explanation of verse ten.

1) In the natural life a man who had just bathed needs only to wash the dust off his sandaled feet when he returns home.

2) In the spiritual life a man who has been cleansed from sin need not think that all is lost when he sins in his walk through life.

3) He needs only to confess these sins to be entirely clean again.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

e. Judas was never saved! v11

f. Jesus explains His purpose in this lesson.

1) "I have given you an example..."

2) Be a servant to each other, forgive one another, and love one another.

3) Both humility and forgiveness is what we expect others to do!

4) However, they would understand this lesson later on.

3. Concerning His betrayal. v21-30

a. The disciples were unaware of Judas' intent to betray the Lord.

b. They had placed their confidence in Judas because he was their treasurer.

c. Even after the declaration of Jesus in verse 26 they still never suspected Judas.

4. Concerning His departure. v31-38

a. A new commandment given upon His preparation for departure. 'Love one another'

b. This was to be the identifying mark of all of His disciples.

c. Jesus promises that His disciples would follow afterwards.

d. Jesus foretells the denial of Peter.

e. Note: Peter is silent for once!

5. Concerning Heaven (14:1-14)

a. Provision in the Father's house

b. Promise of His return

c. Prospect of doing greater works

d. Promise of answered prayer

6. Concerning the Comforter (14:15-26)

a. He will abide forever

b. He will dwell within us

c. He will teach us

7. Concerning Peace (14:27-31)

a. It is peace that cannot be obtained anywhere else

b. His departure was not cause to mourn but rather to rejoice

c. Time was short because soon Satan would make his bid to destroy Christ

d. Jesus said, "the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me"

e. He was saying that Satan had no power over Him

8. Concerning Fruitfulness (15:1-17)

a. Every unfruitful branch (disciple) is taken away

1) taken away = physical death

2) taken away = lifted up and encouraged to bear fruit as one might do with the unfruitful branch of a vine

b. Purge = prune, this is done through the Word of God

c. We can do nothing without Christ, but we can do all things through Him (Ph.4:19)

d. Our fruit bearing brings glory to God e. The key to a joyful life in Christ is bearing fruit as His disciples

9. Concerning the World (15:18-16:6)

a. The world hates Christ

b. Followers of Christ are aliens in the world

c. The world will persecute you because you are a follower of Christ

d. The persecutors do not know God

e. Christ's words and works rebuke them

f. The Comforter shall testify of Christ and so will His disciples

g. The persecution will often be in the name of God and will often be unto death

10. Concerning the Holy Spirit (16:7-15)

a. He will reprove the world... of sin ...of righteousness ...of judgment

b. He will guide us into all truth

c. He will show us things to come

1) He gives us insight into the truths of God's Word

2) He gives us insight into the future of God's work

d. He will glorify the Father

11. Concerning His Return. Jn 16:16-33

a. This section concludes the Upper Room Discourse and deals primarily with the emotions of the disciples.

1) They were sorrowing...

2) They were confused about some of Jesus' teaching...

3) And they were afraid.

b. One of the recurring themes in this section is joy (Jn 16:20-22, 24, 33).

1) The Eleven were certainly not experiencing much joy that night!

2) But what Jesus said to them eventually made a difference in their lives, and it can make a difference in our lives today.

3) The Lord explained how His people can have joy in their lives.

c. The Spirit Encourages the Christian (16:16-22)

1) The disciples were greatly disturbed and discouraged because Christ was going to leave them. "A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father." (John 16:16)

2) Christ seemed to be saying, "Because I am going away, you will see Me again!"

3) There is a twofold meaning here.

a) First, they would "see Him again" after His resurrection from the dead...

b) But they would also "see Him" when the Spirit came to dwell with them.

4) They would exchange physical sight for spiritual insight.

5) Today, we "see Jesus" (Heb. 2:9) through the Spirit's teaching of the Word of God.

6) Christ compares the events of His suffering to the birth of a child: travail is followed by joy.

7) The disciples did weep and lament, but their sorrow was changed to joy.

8) We today have sorrow and suffering; but when Christ returns, it will turn to joy.

9) Christ gives the kind of joy that the world cannot take away.

d. The Spirit Helps the Christian Pray (16:23-33)

1) "In that day" refers to the day when the Spirit would come and begin His ministry among them.

2) While Christ was on earth, the disciples were accustomed to taking their questions and needs to Him personally.

3) When Christ returned to heaven, He sent the Spirit to assist them in their praying (Rom. 8:26-27), and instructed them to pray to the Father personally.

4) Bible prayer is to the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit.

5) It will not be necessary for Christ to beg the Father on our behalf (v. 26) because the Father is willing to answer our requests (v. 27).

6) The testimony of the disciples must have gladdened Christ's heart, but He warned them of their coming failure (v. 32).

7) What a blessing to hear the Lord say, "Be of good cheer!" (v. 33)

8) He was about to be arrested and crucified, yet He gives peace and joy to His followers!

9) He promises them His victory: "I have overcome the world" (33).

B. The Intercession of the Son of God. (John 17:1-26)

Someone has aptly termed this chapter "The Holy of Holies of John's Gospel." We have the privilege of hearing the Son conversing with the Father. We could spend many weeks meditating on the truths in this chapter, but for this study we will only touch upon the highlights.

1. Christ Prays for Himself (17:1-5)

a. Our Lord's burden was the glory of God, and this glory would be realized in His finished work on the cross.

b. The word glory is used five times in these verses.

1) He glorified the Father in His miracles (John 2:11; 11:40), to be sure; but He brought the greatest glory to the Father through His sufferings and death (see John 12:23-25; 13:31-32).

2) From the human point of view, Calvary was a revolting display of man's sin; but from the divine point of view, the cross revealed and magnified the grace and glory of God.

c. He finished the work.

1) Jesus anticipated His return to heaven when He said, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do" (John 17:4).

2) This "work" included His messages and miracles on earth (John 5:17-19), the training of the disciples for future service, and most of all, His sacrifice on the cross (Heb. 9:24-28; 10:11-18).

3) It is on the basis of this "finished work" that we as believers have the gift of eternal life.

d. Here we see exactly what eternal life is all about

1) Jesus was able to grant eternal life by the power of the Father

2) The basis of eternal life was knowing the true God and the Son

3) Jesus declares that His mission is accomplished

a) NOTE: He had not gone to the cross yet - but - He knew His hour had arrived

b) Jesus knew that Judas had gone to betray Him and that soon the mob would come to take Him

4) Jesus asked the Father to glorify Him - this was soon to take place

2. A prayer for His followers (17:6-26)

a. We Know His Name: v6-10

1) Christ has given His own eternal life (John 17:2), but He has also given them the revelation of the Father's name (John 17:6).

2) The Old Testament Jew knew his God as "Jehovah," the great I AM (Ex. 3:11-14).

3) Jesus took this sacred name "I AM" and made it meaningful to His disciples:

- "I am the Bread of Life" (John 6:35)
- "I am the Light of the world" (John 8:12)
- "I am the Good Shepherd" (John 10:11)

4) In other words, Jesus revealed the Father's gracious name by showing His disciples that He was everything they needed.

5) But the Father's name includes much more than this, for Jesus also taught His disciples that God—the great I AM—was their Heavenly Father.

6) The word Father is used 122 times in John's Gospel!

7) In His messages to the Jews, Jesus made it clear that the Father sent Him, that He was equal to the Father, and that His words and works came from the Father.

8) It was a clear claim to Deity, but they refused to believe.

b. We Know His Safety: v11-12

1) God keeps His own.

2) Our safety depends on the nature of God, not our own character or conduct.

3) When He was on earth, Jesus kept His disciples and they could depend on Him. "I kept them in Thy name" (John 17:12).

4) If the Saviour could keep His own while He was on earth, should He not be able to keep them now that He is glorified in heaven?

5) He and the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, are surely able to guard and secure God's people!

6) The believer, then, is secure in Christ for many reasons: the very nature of God, the nature of salvation, the glory of God, and the intercessory ministry of Christ.

c. We Have His Word: v13-19

1) The Word of God is the gift of God to us.

a) The Father gave the words to His Son (John 17:8)

b) The Son gave them to His disciples who, in turn, have passed them along to us as they were inspired by the Spirit.

c) The Word is divine in origin, a precious gift from heaven.

2) The Word of God enables us to overcome the world.

a) It gives us joy. v13

b) This inward joy gives us the strength to overcome.

"... for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Neh 8:10b)

c) The believer does not find his joy in the world but in the Word.

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts." (Jer 15:16)

3) The Word not only imparts the joy of the Lord, but it also assures us of His love. v14

a) The world hates us, but we are able to confront this hatred with God's own love, a love imparted to us by the Spirit through the Word.

b) The world hates us because we do not belong to its system and will not be conformed to its practices and standards.

c) The Word reveals to us what the world is really like; the Word exposes the world's deceptions and dangerous devices.

d) The world competes for the Father's love (1 John 2:15-17), but the Word of God enables us to enjoy the Father's love.

e) One of the first steps toward a worldly life is the neglect of the Word of God.

4) The Word of God not only brings us God's joy and love, but it also imparts God's power for holy living. v15-17

a) We are in the world but not of the world, and we must not live like the world.

b) True sanctification (being set apart for God) comes through the ministry of the Word of God.

"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." (John 15:3)

c) When we were saved, we were set apart for God.

d) As we grow in our faith, we are more and more experiencing sanctification.

e) We love sin less and we love God more.

f) We want to serve Him and be a blessing to others.

g) All of this comes through the Word.

5) The Word gives us what we need to serve Him as witnesses in this world. v18-19

a) Sanctification is not for the purpose of selfish enjoyment or boasting; it is so that we might represent Christ in this world and win others to Him.

b) Jesus set Himself apart for us, and now He has set us apart for Him.

c) The Father sent Him into the world, and now He sends us into the world.

d) We are people "under orders" and we had better obey!

d. We Share His Glory: v20-26

1) Here our Lord focuses our attention on the future.

2) He has already prayed about security and sanctity; now the burden of His prayer is unity.

3) He is concerned that His people experience a spiritual unity that is like the oneness of the Father and the Son.

4) One of the things that most impresses the world is the way Christians love each other and live together in harmony.

5) It is this witness that our Lord wants in the world "that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me" v21.

6) The lost world cannot see God, but they can see Christians; and what they see in us is what they will believe about God.

a) If they see love and unity, they will believe that God is love.

b) If they see hatred and division, they will reject the message of the Gospel.

7) Jesus has assured us that some will believe because of our witness (John 17:20), but we must make sure that our witness is true and loving.

8) There is every reason why believers should love one another and live in unity.

a) We trust the same Saviour and share the same glory.

b) We will one day enjoy the same heaven!

c) We belong to the same Father and seek to do the same work, witnessing to a lost world that Jesus Christ alone saves from sin.

d) We believe the same truth.

9) How do we know that Christians go to heaven?

a) Because of the price that Jesus paid (1 Thes. 5:9-10)

b) Because of the promise that Jesus made (John 14:1-6)

c) And because of the prayer that Jesus prayed (John 17:24).

d) The Father always answers His Son's prayers, so we know that believers who die do go to heaven to behold the glory of God.

10) In v25-26, there are no petitions. Jesus simply reported to His Father about the ministry in the world, and He made several declarations that are important to us.

a) He declared that the world does not know the Father, but that we believers know Him because the Son has revealed the Father to us.

b) He also declares the importance of truth and love in to the believer.

C. The Climax of Jewish Unbelief.18:1-19:42

1. The Arrest (18:1-14)

a. Jesus deliberately met Judas and his band, for He knew what was about to happen.

b. It is interesting to note that the arrest took place in a garden.

1) Christ, the Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45), met the enemy in a garden and triumphed.

2) While the first Adam met the enemy in a garden and failed.

3) Adam hid himself, but Christ openly revealed Himself.

c. Judas stood with the enemy.

1) People will always go where their hearts are.

2) Judas had Satan in his heart and so stood with Satan’s crowd.

3) Sad to say, Peter mixed with this same crowd!

d. Note how Jesus stunned them when He used the divine name, "I AM HE!"

e. In v. 8, Jesus warned His disciples to go away, lest they fall into trouble.

1) He had already told them they would scatter (16:32).

2) But Peter preferred to remain and fight—and got into danger because of it.

3) Peter’s sin was not that he "followed afar off," but that he followed at all!

4) He should have obeyed the Word and departed.

f. Verse 9 refers back to 17:12, where Christ spoke of the disciples’ salvation.

1) Here He is talking about their physical protection.

2) So we see that, Christ keeps us in two ways: He preserves our souls in salvation and keeps our bodies, sealing them by His Spirit, until the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13-14).

g. In using the sword, Peter was definitely disobeying Christ.

1) Christ does not need our protection; the weapons we are to use to fight Satan are spiritual ones (2 Cor. 10:4-6; Eph. 6).

2) Peter used the wrong weapon, had the wrong motive, acted under the wrong orders, and accomplished the wrong result!

3) How gracious of Jesus to heal Malchus (Luke 22:51) and protect Peter from harm.

2. The Denial (18:15-27)

a. The focus shifts to Peter now, and we see his sad decline.

1) In the Upper Room, Peter had boasted three times that he would remain true to Christ.

2) In the Garden, he had gone to sleep three times when he should have been praying.

3) Then he denied the Lord three times, and in John 21 had to confess his love for Christ three times!

4) In the Upper Room Peter fell into the snare of the devil.

5) In the Garden he yielded to the weakness of the flesh.

6) And now in the courtyard, he would surrender to the pressures of the world.

7) How important it is to watch and pray!

b. We do not know who the unnamed disciple was in v. 15.

1) It may have been Nicodemus

2) Or Joseph of Arimathea

3) Both could have been on friendly terms with the high priest.

4) Whoever he was, this disciple led Peter into a sin by opening the door for him!

c. Verse 18 says "it was cold," so Peter sat by the fire.

1) Peter was cold both physically and spiritually and had to warm himself at the enemy’s fire.

2) He had "walked in the counsel of the ungodly" and was now "standing in the way of sinners."

3) He would soon "sit in the seat of the scornful".

d. While Christ was suffering, Peter was warming himself, not sharing Christ’s sufferings at all.

3. The Rejection (18:28-40)

a. Consider the illegal aspects of Christ’s trial.

1) It was held at night.

2) The prisoner was assumed to be guilty and treated that way.

3) The court hired false witnesses.

4) The judge permitted the prisoner to be mistreated while bound.

5) The court allowed the accused no defense.

b. After the secret night trial, the crafty religious leaders led Jesus to Pilate for the final death sentence.

c. In 18:33 through 19:15, we read the sad record of Pilate’s cowardly indecision.

1) At least seven times Pilate went from the hall to the Jews outside, trying to work out a compromise.

2) Pilate crucified Christ because he was a coward, "willing to content the people" (Mk 15:15).

3) Christ explained to Pilate the spiritual nature of His kingdom but did not explain His statement "My kingdom is not of this world."

4) Had the Jews received Him, He could have established His kingdom on earth.

5) But they rejected Him, for His kingdom is of a spiritual nature, within people’s hearts.

6) One day when He returns, He will establish His kingdom on earth.

d. Pilate’s question, "What is truth?" has been asked by philosophers for ages.

1) In 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the truth."

2) John 17:17 says, "Thy Word is truth"

3) First John 5:6 states that "the Spirit is truth." The Spirit and the Word point to Christ, the Truth.

e. The world makes the wrong choice when it comes to spiritual matters.

1) The mob preferred a murderer to the Prince of Life!

2) They chose the lawbreaker, not the Lawgiver!

3) The Jews rejected their true Messiah, but they one day will accept Satan’s false Messiah, the Antichrist (5:43).

f. Men reject Jesus for different reasons.

1) Judas rejected Christ because he listened to the devil.

2) Pilate listened to the world

3) Herod obeyed the flesh.

4) "You have a custom," said Pilate (18:39).

a) How sad that Pilate knew the religious customs, but did not know Christ!

b) People are like this even today, careful to observe religious holidays and customs, but ignorant of the Savior of the world.

c) Illustration of woman in England concerning Nativity scene.

d) Rejection means eternal judgment, but faith means eternal life.

e) Everyone must make a decision.

4. The Trial Continues. 19:1-16

a. Ridiculed by the soldiers. V1-3

1) Pilate had called Him "King of the Jews" (John 18:39)

2) So the soldiers decided that the "king" should have a crown and a robe.

3) The Jews had mocked His claim to being a Prophet (Matt. 26:67- 68), and now the Gentiles mocked His claim to being a King.

b. Why a crown of thorns? V4

1) Sin had brought thorns and thistles into the world (Ge. 3:17)

2) So it was only fitting that the Creator wear a crown of thorns as He bore the sins of the world on the cross.

3) The very metal He had created and placed in the ground was used to make nails to pound through His hands and feet.

c. For the third time, Pilate went out to face the people, this time bringing Jesus with him.

1) He was sure that the sight of this scourged and humiliated prisoner would arouse some pity in their hearts; but it did not.

2) For the second time, Pilate declared that he found no fault in Jesus, but his words only aroused their hateful passions more.

d. "Behold the man!" v5-6

1) Pilate was saying, "Look at this poor fellow! Hasn't He suffered enough?"

2) Take pity on Him and let me release Him."

3) For the third time, Pilate announced, "I find no fault in Him!"

4) "Go ahead and crucify Him if that what you want!"

e. The Response of the Jews. V7

1) There was no doubt that they wanted Jesus dead; nothing else would do.

2) But they wanted Pilate to order it done.

f. Pilate's fear. V8-9

1) The Son of God?

2) Pilate's wife's warning.

(Mat 27:19) "When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him."

3) He asks Jesus, "Where did you come from?"

4) Jesus did not answer Pilate's question because He had already answered it. Cf Jn 18:36-37.

g. Pilate's frustration. V10-12

1) Pilate realized that he really didn't have any power.

2) He tried to release Jesus, but was intimidated by the people.

3) He finally gives in to their demands.

h. The order for crucifixion. V13-16

1) Matthew tells us that Pilate washed his hands before the crowd (Matt. 27:24), but this did not cleanse his heart.

2) It was actually Pilate who was on trial, not Jesus!

3) Pilate brought Jesus before the crowd one more time and said, "Behold your King!"

4) The crowd had the last word: "We have no king but Caesar!"

5. The Crucifixion. John 19:17-37

a. Initial events vl7-22

1) The place - Golgotha (17)

a) the place of the skull

b) called that either because it looked like a skull or because it was a place of execution where skulls accumulated

2) The prisoners thieves (18)

(Isa 53:12) "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." 3) The plaque (19-22)

a) Pilate wrote it - or better he authorized it to be written

b) Pilate had always referred to Jesus as the king of the Jews

c) Pilate wanted all to know that he had found no fault in Him.

d) He wanted all to see that Jesus was not a common criminal as was the other two

e) It was customary for the prisoner to wear his accusation around his neck, and then have it placed upon the cross

f) Note the three languages were significant:

Hebrew = religious Greek = philosophy and culture Latin = law and government

g) The chief priests wanted to change what was written - they are still trying to change what has been written - but it stood then and will stand now!

b. The seamless garment v23-24

1) It was a common practice for the soldiers to divide the belongings of those crucified - leaving those, who were on the cross, naked

2) These four Roman soldiers did this with Jesus' clothes until they came to the seamless robe

3) This seamless garment represented the seamless righteousness of the Lord Jesus

4) The soldiers decided to gamble for it rather than destroy it - this they did, unknowingly, to fulfill the prophetic scripture.

(Psa 22:18) "They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture."

c. The final events v25-30

1) Jesus committed the care of His mother unto John the beloved.

2) Jesus fulfilled the prophetic scriptures in His death.

(Psa 22:15) "My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death."

3) With the voice of victory He cries out "It is finished"

a) The sufferings of Christ is finished

b) The atonement is finished

c) The law is finished

(Rom 10:4) "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

d. A bone of Him not broken v3l-37

1) The purpose of breaking their legs was to hasten death upon them

2) But Jesus was already dead. (33)

3) A soldier, in order to insure that he was dead, thrust a spear into the side of our Lord.

4) The spear pierced Jesus' heart allowing the watery fluid from the sac surrounding the heart and the blood from the interior of the heart to escape v34-37

5) Once again, all of this fulfilled prophetic scriptures.

(Psa 34:20) "He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken."

(Zec 12:10) "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."

4. The burial John 19:38-42

a. Two secret disciples come out in the open - Joseph and Nicodemus

b. They removed the body of Jesus from the cross (38)

1) Jesus was placed there in anger

2) He was removed in love - I wonder how carefully and gently they were in removing the nails from His hands and feet

c. They prepared the body of Jesus according to their customs (v39-40)

1) wrapped in linen cloth

2) anointed with spices

d. They placed his body in the borrowed tomb of Joseph (41-42)

1) Note: Mt. 27:57-60

2) Is. 53:9 said he would make his grave with the rich.

3) It was borrowed because He would only need it for a short time.

NOTE: These two Jewish rulers had defiled themselves by handling the dead body of Jesus - so that they could not partake of the passover - they were unconcerned though because they had come to trust the Iamb of God Himself!

D. Climax of faith for the disciples: the Resurrected Christ. 20:1-31

1. The Empty Tomb. V1-9

a. Mistaken conclusion. V1-4

1) Upon arriving at the empty tomb, Mary immediately assumed that someone had taken Christ’s body away.

2) She runs to tell the disciples what had happened.

3) Peter and John come running to see the empty tomb.

a) Why did John outrun Peter? (v. 4)

b) There may have been a physical reason: perhaps John was younger than Peter.

c) But there is also a spiritual lesson here:

d) Peter had not yet reaffirmed his devotion to Christ, and therefore his "spiritual energy" was low.

1] Isaiah 40:31 says that those who wait on the Lord "shall run and not be weary,"

2] but Peter had rushed ahead of the Lord and disobeyed Him.

3] Peter’s sin affected his feet (John 20:4), his eyes (John 21:7), his lips (He denied the Lord)

b. Confusing inspection. V5-10

1) They saw the graveclothes, but Jesus was not in them.

a) just a shell was left, like a cocoon.

b) the napkin (covering for the face) was found neatly folded in a place away from the rest.

c) the significance is that if grave- robbers had been there, the place would have been left in a shambles.

2) At this point in time, they believed the evidence, and they believed Mary, but they didn’t understand that He was resurrected.

3) They returned home, but Mary remained nearby.

2. The Joyful Reunion. V10-31

a. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. V10-18

1) As she grieved over her missing Lord, she looks inside the tomb.

2) There she sees two angels who ask her why she was weeping.

3) She tells them what she believes to be true, that someone had taken Him away.

b. She sees Jesus.

1) She turns and sees Jesus, but doesn’t recognize Him.

2) Perhaps her eyes were clouded with tears, or perhaps she was looking for a battered and beaten body that she had watched Nicodemus and Joseph remove from the cross.

3) When Jesus called her name, then she knew it was Him.

c. She is commissioned to go tell His disciples that He is risen and that He will ascend to the Father.

d. She obeys and returns to the disciples with His message.

2. Jesus appears to the disciples. V19-23

a. There were five appearances of the resurrected Christ on this day.

1) First to Mary Magdalene cf Jn 20

2) Second to other women.Cf Mt 28

3) Third to the disciples on the Emmaus road. Cf Luke 24

4) Fourth to Simon Peter. Cf Luke 24

5) Fifth to the ten disciples. Cf Jn 20

b. The disciples minus Thomas. V19-23

1) Jesus appears to them giving them peace. v19-20

a) The disciples needed this word from the Lord.

b) They were assembled secretly ‘behind closed doors’ for fear of the Jews.

c) The basis for their peace was in the proof of the resurrection.

2) Jesus commissions them to reach the lost. V21

a) As my Father hath sent me…

b) even so send I you.

(LUKE 19:10) FOR THE SON OF MAN IS COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST.

3) Jesus instructs them to ‘receive the Holy Ghost’. V22

a) If they were going to be sent like Jesus, then they must have the anointing of the Spirit.

b) This was promised in John 7:37-39 and in John 14:17.

4) He gave them the power and the authority to accomplish the task set before them.

a) Only God can forgive sin.

(MARK 2:7) WHY DOTH THIS MAN THUS SPEAK BLASPHEMIES? WHO CAN FORGIVE SINS BUT GOD ONLY?

b) This authority is to declare what God does when a person either accepts or rejects Jesus Christ.

c) As the early believers went forth into the world, they announced the good news of salvation.

d) If sinners would repent and believe on Jesus Christ, their sins would be forgiven them!

e) All that the Christian can do is announce the message of forgiveness; God performs the miracle of forgiveness.

f) If sinners will believe on Jesus Christ, we can authoritatively declare to them that their sins have been forgiven; but we are not the ones who provide the forgiveness!

c. Jesus deals with Thomas’ doubt. V24-31

1) At first Thomas doubted. V24-25

a) He missed the blessing of seeing the resurrected Lord because he missed church that Sunday evening.

b) He refused to believe the testimony of the other disciples.

c) He walked by sight, not by faith.

2) Jesus returned eight days later. V26-29

a) The greeting was the same: ‘Peace’.

b) He strengthened Thomas’ faith

c) He declared a blessing on all who have not seen, yet have believed.

3) A summary of thought on Jesus and eternal life. V 30-31

3. The Return to Fishing. 21:1-14

a. A night of defeat. V1-3

1) Peter acted without orders.

a) He had forsaken all to follow Christ.

b) Now he was turning back to his old life.

c) As a result of his influence others were also turning back.

2) Everything here points to defeat.

a) It was dark: indicating that they were not walking in the light.

b) They acted without command: when we forsake God’s instruction defeat is not far away.

c) Their efforts failed: Jesus said, "Without me ye can do nothing."

b. A morning of decision. V4-17

1) Jesus stood on the shore watching. V4

a) When we get out of God’s will, we can be sure that Jesus is waiting where we left Him.

b) Not only that, but He is watching us work ourselves to death…living our lives in the power of the flesh.

c) The disciples didn’t recognize Him.

2) Jesus asked to see the fruit of their labor. V5

a) This reminds us that there is a time coming when we will stand before Him and give an accounting of how we have invested our lives.

b) Only that which has been built on the proper foundation will stand the test.

3) Jesus gives divine direction. V6

a) He knew where the fish were, He created them!

b) When they followed His direction, there was a great result.

c) Only when we follow His leadership in our lives will we see the success that we desire

4) Jesus is finally identified. V7-8

5) Jesus feeds them again. V9-14

Note: This entire scene was to open the eyes of Peter.

a) The catch of fish was to remind him that Jesus had called him to be a fisher of men.

b) The fire of coals would take him back to his denial.

c) The shores of Galilee would remind him of past victories with Christ: feeding of 5000, walking on the water, when he caught the fish with the coin, Jesus stilling the wind and waves, etc. .

4. The Return to Ministry. V15-25

a. Peter had denied Christ publicly; so he had to make it right publicly.

b. Peter receives the added respon- sibility of being a shepherd.

c. Note: 1 Peter 5:1-4 d. Jesus spoke of how Peter would die.

1) Peter questions the Lord about John.

2) Jesus rebukes him and tells him to "follow thou me".

Conclusion: v24-25