Week 3 Discussion – Come and See: Exploring the Gospel of John

Welcome to our 12-week Bible study, Come and See: Exploring the Gospel of John, covering the life, teachings, and miracles of Jesus. “Come and See” how the Gospel of John reveals the depth of God’s love and grace, and how it can transform your life.

Through this study, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus is, what he accomplished, and how to respond to him in faith, obedience, and love. You’ll also learn about his role as the Son of God and what his life and death mean for us today.

Each week, we’ll explore a different theme from the Gospel of John, including love, grace, and forgiveness. We’ll also take time to reflect on what it means to be a follower of Christ and how we can apply these teachings to our lives.

If you haven’t registered, no problem at all. Register now (yes, right now!) for this in-person Bible study and experience a deeper understanding of the Scriptures, fellowship with other believers, and the joy of growing in your faith as you share the Gospel of Jesus with others.

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Week 3: Overview

Here’s a quick recap of what we covered in Week 3 using Justin Buzzard’s John: A 12-Week Study (Knowing the Bible) as our weekly discussion guide:

• Find out what John believed was the most pressing need of our broken world, both in his time and in the present day.
• Explore the significance of John the Baptist’s testimony, including his declaration of Jesus as “the Lamb of God,” and other distinctive statements.
• Enhance our comprehension of the identity and purpose of Jesus.
• Investigate the reasons for following Jesus as his initial disciples did and the outcomes we can anticipate when we do so.
• Discover the significance of Jesus’ initial recorded miracle and its relevance to our present-day lives.

In John 1:19-34, John writes about the testimony of John the Baptist. What does John the Baptist say about who he is and who Jesus is when questioned by Pharisees?

First, John the Baptist denies being the Messiah, Elijah, and the Prophet when questioned by Pharisees — Jewish leaders in hostile opposition to Jesus.

It’s important to note and understand that John denies being the Messiah (the anointed one; the coming King) because Pharisees thought that John may have thought he was due to his preaching and baptizing people.

While it may be strange to some that John is questioned about whether he’s Elijah, although Elijah and John the Baptist did have rugged lifestyles that resembled one another, one must take into account the context of the day and time in which the question is posed. Remember, Elijah never actually died — for he was taken up to Heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2) — and it was prophesied in Malachi 4:5-6 that Elijah would return. Knowing this tidbit of information is likely the reason the Pharisees questioned whether or not John the Baptist was Elijah.

As for why they questioned whether or not John the Baptist was the Prophet, again, although John the Baptist was a prophet, this had to do more with Moses’s prophecy of the coming of the Prophet, Jesus himself as expressed Deuturonomy 18:15-18.

While John the Baptist denies being the Messiah, Elijah, and the Prophet when questioned by Pharisees, John shadows the words of Isaiah 40:5 in declaring that John himself is a forerunner sent to prepare the way for Jesus to come, and save the world from sin.

Based on Exodus 12:1-14, what connections do you see between this description of Jesus and the grace God showed his people in instituting the Passover ritual? What does John 1:29 say about what our broken world most needs?

Exodus 12:1-14 describes how God instituted the Passover ritual as a way to protect his people from the plague of death that was about to strike Egypt. This ritual involved the sacrifice of a lamb and the application of its blood on the doorposts of the Israelites’ houses, which would cause the destroyer to pass over them.

In John 1:29, John the Baptist describes Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” This description connects Jesus with the sacrificial lamb of the Passover ritual, which also took away the threat of death from the Israelites.

The Passover ritual was a demonstration of God’s grace towards his people, as he provided a way for them to escape the judgment of death. Similarly, through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, God provided a way for all people to escape the judgment of sin and death.

Therefore, the connection between John 1:29‘s description of Jesus as the Lamb of God and the grace God showed his people in instituting the Passover ritual highlights the continuity of God’s plan of salvation throughout history and the centrality of Jesus in that plan.

How would you explain the difference between the baptism performed by John and the baptizing Jesus came to do?

While John’s baptism was a physical act of cleansing for repentance and forgiveness of sins, Jesus’ baptism was a spiritual experience that unites believers with Christ and empowers us to live a new life through the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ baptism also involved his death and resurrection, making it a symbol of our participation in His victory over sin and death.

What made the disciples of John the Baptist decide to follow Jesus? What do the events of John 1:35-37 teach us about John the Baptist’s ministry and about what all Christian ministry is ultimately meant to do?

The decision of John’s disciples to follow Jesus also teaches us that true discipleship involves following Jesus above all else. Andrew and the other disciple recognized that Jesus was the Messiah, and they were willing to leave John and follow Jesus. True discipleship involves recognizing Jesus as Lord and following him wherever he leads, even if it means leaving behind what we once held dear.

The events of John 1:35-37 teach us that John the Baptist’s ministry was ultimately meant to point people to Jesus Christ. As believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we are not the source of salvation but are called to proclaim the gospel message and to bear witness to the light — Jesus Christ. Christian ministry is not about promoting ourselves, but about promoting Christ and his message of salvation.

Isaiah 9:6-7 sums up many expectations of Jesus to be the Messiah, the coming king or “anointed one.” What does this Old Testament passage teach us to expect from the Messiah?

Isaiah 9:6-7 teaches us to expect the coming of a great King who will establish an everlasting kingdom of righteousness and peace, bring salvation and freedom to his people, and be the fulfillment of God’s promises to his people. This prophecy ultimately finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is the true Messiah and King.

In John 1:35-51, Jesus calls his first five disciples, and as they get to know Jesus, they say and declare different things about him. What is the significance of each of these declarations, and how do they deepen our understanding of who Jesus is and what he came to accomplish?

In John 1:35-51, Jesus calls his first disciples, and they make various declarations (shown below) that demonstrate that Jesus is not just a teacher or a prophet, but the long-awaited Messiah, the Son of God, and the Son of Man. Through these declarations, we can understand what Jesus came to accomplish: to save humanity from sin, fulfill messianic prophecies, and establish his kingdom on earth.

1. “Rabbi” (verse 38): This declaration by Andrew, one of the first disciples, signifies that Jesus is a teacher and a respected authority.
2. “Messiah” (verse 41): This declaration by Andrew’s brother, Simon Peter, means that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah who will save his people.
3. “Son of God” (verse 49): Nathanael declares that Jesus is the Son of God, which indicates his divine nature and authority.
4. “King of Israel” (verse 49): Nathanael’s declaration also acknowledges Jesus as the rightful king of Israel, fulfilling the messianic prophecy.
5. “Son of Man” (verse 51): Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man, a title that emphasizes his humanity and his mission to save humanity through his sacrificial death.

In John 1:51 Jesus alludes to Genesis 28:12 and Jacob’s vision of a ladder between heaven and earth. Here Jesus reveals that he is the ladder that links heaven and earth. In today’s culture, what “ladders” do people try to build between heaven and earth, attempting to bypass Jesus as Savior?

In today’s culture, people try to build ladders to heaven through various means such as possessions, wealth, fame/influence, power, career, sexuality, religious rituals, self-righteousness, and morality. Today’s culture believes that one’s own efforts or achievements will earn them a place in heaven, or that another faith belief offers access to divine truth and salvation apart from Jesus Christ.

However, Jesus himself declared that he is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), and no one can come to God except through him. Therefore, any attempt to bypass Jesus as Savior and build a ladder to heaven by one’s own means ultimately leads to disappointment and spiritual emptiness.

What do we learn about the ultimate purpose of what Jesus came to do, given that his first miracle — turning water to wine at Cana — kept a party going?

Jesus performs his first miracle by turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana. This seemingly small miracle reveals important truths about Jesus and his ultimate purpose. Jesus performed this sign to reveal his divine power and authority and to cause his disciples to place their faith in him.

In addition, the fact that Jesus performed this miracle at a wedding feast shows that he came not only to bring spiritual salvation but also to bring joy and abundance to people’s lives, symbolizing the abundance of grace and blessings that he came to bring.

Don’t forget to read through the three sections in Week 3 of Justin Buzzard’s John: A 12-Week Study (Knowing the Bible) on Gospel Glimpses, Whole-Bible Connections, and Theological Soundings. Then take time to reflect on the Personal Implications these sections are likely to have on your walk and relationship with Lord Christ Jesus and his people.

Take a moment now to ask for the Lord’s blessing and help as you engage in this study of John. And take a moment also to look back through this unit of study, to reflect on a few key things that the Lord may be teaching you — and perhaps to highlight or underline these to review again in the future.

We hope these notes have been helpful in catching up on what we’ve covered so far. We’re excited to continue our study of John together next week in Week 4!

In the meantime, explore a very engaging animation video from the Bible Project team that explains the first twelve chapters of the Gospel of John. Additionally, you can read Mark L. Strauss’ article “John: The Gospel of the Eternal Son Who Reveals the Father.”

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