Week 6 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 6: Overview

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

• Jesus’ extraordinary power to meet people where they are by being ordinary.
• Two life-changing truths Jesus shares to help us approach life’s difficulties.
• The power of prayer and speaking God’s truth when all is lost.
• The importance of recognizing and responding to the spiritual needs of the Father rather than our own.
• What Jesus’ growing popularity and existence meant back then and what it means to us and the world today.
• How Jesus shatters our expectations, assumptions, and presuppositions in today’s culture as he did in the culture back then.

In John 11:1-12:19, Jesus’s ministry was full of friendship, a few unique and special relationships as well as strong bonds of friendship. How does this expand your portrait of Jesus? What do you make of the fact that ordinary people can have a friendship with the Song of God?

Jesus’s ministry was characterized by his ability to form deep and meaningful relationships with people, which expands our portrait of him beyond just a miracle worker or teacher as thought by many groups of people in his day, excluding those who believed He was the Son of God. These relationships, such as with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, demonstrate Jesus’s compassion and love for others, as well as his willingness to enter into their lives and share in their joys and sorrows.

The fact that ordinary people can have a friendship with the Son of God highlights the accessibility of Jesus and his message of salvation to all people, regardless of their social status or background. It also underscores the importance of personal relationship and intimacy with Jesus, as opposed to just a formal or distant belief in him. This idea is reinforced throughout the New Testament, where Jesus is described as a friend to sinners and invites all who are weary and burdened to come to him and find rest.

In John 11:4, Jesus teaches two life-changing truths. First, Jesus knows the future. Second, God has bigger purposes for human suffering than humans are able to see. How could these statements by Jesus transform your approach to life’s difficulties?

The statement by Jesus in John 11:4 that he knows the future can transform our approach to life’s difficulties by giving us a sense of peace and trust in God’s sovereignty, even in uncertain situations. It can help us to let go of anxiety and worry and rely on God’s wisdom and guidance for the future.

The statement that God has bigger purposes for human suffering than humans are able to see can also transform our approach to difficulties by giving us a broader perspective on our suffering. Instead of seeing it as meaningless or hopeless, we can trust that God is working something good out of it, even if we cannot see it at the time. This can give us hope and comfort in the midst of pain and hardship.

How does John 11:5 and the rest of John chapter 11 further clarify why Jesus didn’t immediately go to Lazarus?

In John 11:5, the text states that “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” The remainder of John 11 clarifies that Jesus delayed his journey to Lazarus to allow for God’s glory to be revealed through Lazarus’ resurrection.

Jesus knew that Lazarus’ death would ultimately result in greater faith in him and God’s power to raise the dead. Thus, Jesus’ delay was not due to a lack of love or concern for his friends, but rather a desire to use their situation for a greater purpose.

According to John 11:14-15, why is Jesus glad that he wasn’t there when Lazarus died?  What do these two verses, along with 11:4, teach us about the point of this sign that Jesus is performing?

In John 11:14-15, Jesus tells his disciples that he is glad he wasn’t there when Lazarus died so that they may believe. These verses, along with John 11:4, teach us that the point of this sign that Jesus is performing is to strengthen the faith of his disciples and those who witness the miracle, so that they may believe that Jesus is the Son of God and have eternal life. The delay in Jesus’ arrival and the subsequent resurrection of Lazarus is meant to serve as a powerful testimony to the truth of Jesus’ claims and his divine power over life and death.

Before raising Lazarus, Jesus engages with Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Mary.  Jesus interacts with Martha and Mary very differently.  How does Jesus respond to Martha, and how does he respond to Mary?  What does this teach us about Jesus?

In John 11, Jesus interacts with Martha and Mary in different ways. When Martha comes to him, Jesus engages her in a theological discussion about the resurrection and assures her of his power to raise Lazarus. However, when Mary comes to him, Jesus is moved to tears by her grief and simply weeps with her.

This teaches us that Jesus is not a one-size-fits-all type of friend. He meets people where they are and responds to them in the way that they need in that moment. He is both a compassionate friend who empathizes with our pain and a wise teacher who challenges us to deepen our faith.

What does Jesus do immediately before raising Lazarus from the dead?  How does Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead?  What can we learn from this scene about the power of prayer and the power of God’s voice?

Before raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus weeps with Mary and those who were with her. Then, he approaches the tomb and commands the stone to be rolled away, followed by a prayer to the Father thanking Him for hearing Him and raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus then calls out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” and Lazarus emerges from the tomb, still wrapped in burial cloths.

This scene teaches us several things. Firstly, it shows the deep compassion and humanity of Jesus, as He weeps with those who are grieving. Secondly, it demonstrates the power of prayer and how God hears and responds to the prayers of His people. Finally, it reveals the incredible power of God’s voice, which has the ability to bring life back to the dead.

In John 11:49-50, how does Caiaphas preach the gospel without knowing it?

In John 11:49-50, Caiaphas, the high priest, suggests to the other Jewish leaders that it is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to perish. Although he did not realize it, his words prophesied that Jesus would die for the salvation of all people, which is the central message of the gospel. Thus, Caiaphas preaches the gospel unwittingly by prophesying about the redemptive work of Jesus.

In John 12:1-8, how does Jesus respond to Judas, and what is surprising about this response?

In John 12:1-8, Judas criticizes Mary for pouring expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet, saying that the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. However, Jesus defends Mary’s actions and rebukes Judas, telling him to leave her alone and that she has anointed him for his burial. 

What is surprising about this response is that Jesus, who was known for his concern for the poor, seems to prioritize the act of anointing him for his burial over the practical concerns of helping the poor. This may suggest that Jesus is highlighting the importance of recognizing and responding to the spiritual significance of his impending death and resurrection, rather than solely focusing on material needs.

Reviewing John 12:11 and John 11:48, why did the chief priests decide that they also wanted to put Lazarus to death?

According to John 12:11, the chief priests decided to put Lazarus to death because many Jews were turning away from them and believing in Jesus because of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 

In addition, John 11:48 suggests that the chief priests were concerned that Jesus’ growing popularity would lead to a Roman crackdown that would result in them losing their position and authority.

Read Zechariah 9:9-17 to get a sense for the expectations that were in people’s minds as their “King of Israel” entered Jerusalem.  Less than a week later, how did the people treat Jesus (see John 19:14-16)?

In Zechariah 9:9-17, the people expected their king to come riding on a donkey, bringing peace and freedom from oppression. However, less than a week later, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people mocked, insulted, berated, abused, and ultimately rejected him as their king and demanded his crucifixion (John 19:14-16).

Don’t forget to read through the three sections in Week 6 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 7!

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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