Sunday Morning Bible Study

September 5, 2010

Introduction

Announce:  Baptism.  Servant School.

Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel preached? Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk – Meat – Manna Preach for a decision

This is the last week of Jesus’ life.

A few days earlier, Lazarus was raised from the dead and there were a lot of people who in awe of Jesus and at His power.

We are at Sunday, the day of the “triumphal” entry into Jerusalem, people shouting “Hosanna”.

A group of Greeks show up and would like to talk to Jesus.

It might not sound at first as if Jesus is saying anything that would interest these Greeks, but pay attention…

12:23-26 Jesus Teaches on Glory

:23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.

:23 the hour has come – We’ve seen over and over in the Gospel of John how perfectly timed God’s plans were.  There was a special moment to which everything was leading, specifically the cross.  This theme of the “hour” is seen in verses like:

(Jn 7:30 NKJV) Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

That special “hour” has now come.  This last week is why Jesus came.

:23 glorified – doxazo – to praise, magnify; to honor; to adorn with luster; to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged

The theme of today’s study is going to be about “glory”

Jesus right now, today, is “glorified”

His is the ultimate glory:

(Re 1:13–14 NKJV) —13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire

We too will one day be glorified

(1 Jn 3:2 NKJV) 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Note that “we shall be like Him”.  That’s a strong statement.  There will be more than a few similarities between Jesus being glorified and us being glorified.

The question is, just how does that happen?  Is there a process involved?

:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

:24 Most assuredly – the Greek is “amen, amen”, or, “truly, truly”.  Jesus always says this before He makes a profound statement.  What follows is very, very important.

Play “Seeds” clip.  It’s the burying of a grain of wheat that causes a seed to sprout.

If a grain of wheat stays dry and safe above the ground, it stays a single grain.

But once the grain is buried in the ground, the “death” of that grain is what results in germination, wheat begins to grow, which then produces many grains of wheat.

It may sound as if Jesus is simply talking about a principle that will apply to Him.  But be careful, this same principle applies to all of us.

:25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

:25 He who loves his life

:25 loves – phileo – to love; to like; to treat affectionately or kindly, to welcome, befriend

:25 life – psuche – breath; life; the soul; the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.)

:25 lose – apollumi – to destroy; to destroy; to lose

:25 hates – miseo – to hate, pursue with hatred, detest

:25 keep – phulasso – to guard; to watch, keep watch; to guard a person (or thing) that he may remain safe; to keep from being snatched away, preserve safe and unimpaired; to guard from being lost or perishing

This saying of Jesus is recorded by all the other gospel writers.

This is not an issue where John is “filling in the blanks”.  Here John records what was in the other gospels too because this is something VERY important to Jesus.

(Mt 16:24–26 NKJV) —24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark (8:34-38) and Luke (9:23-26) record the same thing

(Mk 8:34–38 NKJV) —34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

(Lk 9:23–26 NKJV) —23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.

Lesson

Letting go of the world

There’s a sense in which you need to “hate” your life in this world.

It doesn’t mean that you “hate life”.  It means that there are things in this world that are not good for you to be too attached to.

We need to be careful that we’re not clinging to things in this world that are going to end up taking us to hell.

We see a problem developing in the life of Lot in the book of Genesis.

The city of Sodom was sort of like the booming metropolis of Las Vegas in the ancient world.

It had every sort of sinful pleasure a person could imagine.

First we see Lot choosing to live close to Sodom.

Then we see Lot living in Sodom.

When God warned Lot to flee Sodom because of the judgment that was coming, Lot was a bit reluctant, but finally left when the angels dragged him out of Sodom.

But as he and his family were fleeing, Lot’s wife had a hard time letting go of her life in Sodom, she turned back to look at Sodom and was turned to a pillar of salt.

Jesus said,

(Lk 17:32–33 NKJV) —32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

Lot’s wife wanted to “save” her life in the world, she couldn’t “let go” of worldly things, and she lost her life as a result.

Sometimes we are just too in love with the idea of “success” and wealth.

Illustration

Dear Ann Landers:  Please print this response to “Class of ‘73,” who felt inadequate when he compared his success with that of his college classmates.

My husband is probably one of the guys he admires.  We have moved six times in 10 years, always for a better-paying, more prestigious job.  Each move requires establishing new friendships and becoming part of the community.  I dream of staying in one place long enough for my children to develop ongoing relationships, but I know it will never happen.

We drive the BMW that “Class of ‘73” admires.  Actually, we have two.  What I wouldn’t give for a husband who is satisfied with his job, his salary and the city where we live.  My husband’s lucky I am committed to keeping our family life strong and loving.  Some days I want to throw in the towel.  I envy your wife, Mr. “Class of ‘73.”

-- K.B., Anytown, USA, The Columbus Dispatch, 9/26/91, p. 2E

Illustration

Catching Monkeys

Trappers in Africa (see Monkey treats) have developed a very simple way of catching monkeys.  They will take something like a gourd or a coconut, and attach it to a tree with a rope or chain.  Then they bore a small hole in the other end of the coconut, just large enough for a monkey to stick its hand into.  Then they fill the coconut with “monkey treats”.  When the monkey puts its hand inside the coconut, he grabs the monkey treat, and as long as he holds onto the monkey treat, he is unable to pull his hand back out of the coconut.  Monkeys are quite greedy little creatures.  They will not let go of the monkey treats.  The trappers can easily capture the monkey.

I have found a video of this principle in action, filmed live in New York City.

Play Catching a monkey in NYC

What are the “monkey treats” that you find tempting?  Are you able to let them go?  Why don’t you?

:26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

:26 follow me – It’s a good thing to follow the teachings of Jesus.

:26 serves – diakoneo – to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon

:26 follow – akoloutheo – to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him; to join one as a disciple

But Jesus says it’s more important that you follow Him, not just His teachings.

Jesus set an example for us to follow.  Part of that example involves what we do when we are suffering.

 (1 Pe 2:18–23 NKJV) —18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

Lesson

Pain and glory

The theme of today’s lesson was “glory”.

Where does “glory” come from?  How does it come?

It comes as we learn to deal with suffering.

(Ro 8:17 NKJV) and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

(Php 3:10 NKJV) —10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Real life doesn’t come from pampering yourself, real life comes from dying to self.

Illustration:

A man paid a visit to his local psychologist.  When the doctor asked him what had prompted the visit, the man said, “I’m suffering from an inferiority complex.”  In the ensuing weeks, the psychologist put his new patient through an intensive battery of tests.  Next came the long wait while the test results were tabulated and appropriate correlations were made.  Finally, the doctor called the man and asked him to return to the clinic.  “I have some interesting news for you,”  the doctor began.  “What’s that?” asked the man.  “It’s no complex,” the psychologist retorted.  “You are inferior.”

-- Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back, by Charles Swindoll, p. 117

The problem with going through difficult times is that we get lost in trying to answer the question, “Why?”

When we follow Jesus, we will find that we too will go through pain, but there will be a reason for it.

We may not always see the reason immediately, but it’s there.

Jesus said the grain of wheat becomes more fruitful when it “dies”, when it is planted in the ground.

Someone put it this way:  “The person God uses the most must first be hurt the most”.

Illustration

F.B. Meyer wrote,

“I used to think God’s treasures were on shelves on above another, and the higher you reached, the more you received.  But now I know that God’s treasures are on shelves one lower than the other, and the lower you go, the greater the reward.”

Illustration:

Watchman Nee wrote:

“Our spirit is released according to the degree of our brokenness. The one who has accepted the most discipline is the one who can best serve.  The more one is broken, the more sensitive he is.  The more we desire to save ourselves, in that very thing we become spiritually useless.  Whenever we preserve and excuse ourselves, at that point we are deprived of spiritual sensitivity and supply.  Let no one imagine he can be effective and disregard this basic principle.”

12:27-33 Predicting the Cross

:27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

:27 soul – psuche – breath; the soul

:27 troubled – tarasso – to agitate; to cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mind; to render anxious or distressed

There’s a sense in which Jesus is not exactly looking forward to the suffering and death that’s up ahead.  It “troubles” Him.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, it seems that He struggled.

(Mk 14:35–36 NKJV) —35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

:27 for this purpose I came to this hour –

Even though Jesus is struggling, He knows why He’s at this place.

He knows that His very reason for coming to this planet was to go to the cross.

Lesson

The purpose of the cross

The Bible tells us that the result of our sin and rebellion against God is death, separation from God:

(Ro 6:23 NKJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You can pay the price for your sin by yourself, but that would require going to hell.  God doesn’t want you to do this.

Jesus came to take your place.  He came to die in your place.

On the cross, God exchanged our sin for Jesus’ goodness.

(2 Co 5:21 NLT) For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

There was purpose in Jesus’ death.  There was purpose in Jesus’ suffering.  He did this because He loved us.

(1 Jn 3:16a NLT) We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us.

Jesus knew this purpose.  This is why He as God took on human flesh.  He came to die.  He didn’t come to have an easy life, He came to die for us.

There was purpose in His suffering.

:28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”

:28 glorify … glorified … glorify – doxazo – to praise, magnify; to honor; to adorn with luster; to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged

Perhaps the Father is talking about the glory that came from Lazarus being raised, and now the glory that will come after the cross when Jesus is raised.

:29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”

:29 thundered – bronte – thunder

There was an actual, physical, audible sound that the people heard.  They heard thunder, but John has already told us that God the Father had actually spoken audibly and we know that Jesus heard and understood it.

:30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.

It’s ironic that when God spoke, the people God intended to speak to didn’t understand.

:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

:31 judgment – krisis – a separating; judgment

:31 the ruler of this world – Satan

When Jesus was tempted by Satan, Satan offered to give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would simply bow down to him.

Satan acted as though he was the ruler of the world.  Jesus didn’t argue with Satan.  But He also didn’t bow down to him either.

(Mt 4:8–9 NKJV) —8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

When did Satan become the “ruler of the world”?  When Adam and Eve sinned, and gave up their right to rule the world created by God.

:31 cast out – ekballo – to cast out, drive out, to send out

We might look at the events at the end of the book of Revelation as when Satan meets his final eternal destiny.

(Re 20:10 NKJV) The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

But the truth is that the actual victory over Satan took place at the cross.

It was at the cross that Jesus paid for our sins by dying in our place.

(Heb 2:14–15 NKJV) —14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Even though Satan’s final demise won’t take place for awhile yet, Satan’s actual defeat took place at the cross.

The cross would be the fulfillment of the ancient prophecy in Genesis, when mankind fell through sin.  At that time, God spoke to Satan, the serpent:

(Ge 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Jesus’ “heel” was bruised when He died on the cross.

Satan’s defeat, being bruised on the “head” was sealed at the cross.

:32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

:33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

:32 lifted up – hupsoo – to lift up on high, to exalt

We think “lift up” is talking solely about praising someone.

It is a very common concept of preachers to use this verse and to say that if we “lift up” Jesus, if we “praise” Him loud enough, then all men will come to Him.

To be honest, the context is talking about “glorifying” Jesus (vs. 23).

(Jn 12:23 NKJV) But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.

But John clarified that “lifted up” referred to the death He would die, being lifted up on the cross.

Actually, Jesus has already used this language

(Jn 3:14 NKJV) —14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

:32 will draw all peoples

Is Jesus saying that all people will be saved if He is crucified?

No, He is saying that the way of salvation will be open to all peoples.

Remember who Jesus is answering at this moment, the “Greeks” (John 12:20)

Salvation is not just for the Jew, but for all people because of what Jesus did at the cross.

:33 signifying – semaino – to give a sign, to signify, indicate; to make known

Lesson

Finish your race

Illustration

In the winter of 1925, the city of Nome Alaska faced a deadly epidemic of Diphtheria.  The city was hundreds of miles from the nearest civilization, cut off by snow and ice.  Teams of sled dogs and their drivers were asked to transport the life saving serum through one of the worst winters on record.

Play “Togo and Balto” clip.

The dogs and their drivers did not quit.

Jesus knew was up ahead of Him.

He chose to stay on track and follow what God wanted for him.

The writer of Hebrews says,

(Heb 12:1–3 NKJV) —1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Put aside the weights, the “monkey treats”.  Finish the race.

We all know what it’s like to want to quit.

We need to look to Jesus.  Look to what Jesus says in this passage.

A runner will never know just how he might have placed in the final standings if he quits.

Illustration:

Arnold Toynbee, the historian, says every nation, movement, or organization can face its crisis hours in one of four ways.

1. Retreat to the past

2. Leap into day dreams about the future.

3. Retreat within and give itself to mystical experience.

4. Take hold of its crisis and transform it into something useful.

How do you know that the rough time you’re facing isn’t going to end up being one of the “high points” in your life?

If you quit, you will never find out.

Is there a purpose in my suffering?

I can say emphatically that the answer is “Yes”.

1. To use me in the lives of others

(2 Co 1:3–4 NKJV) —3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

I can tell you that the teachers I most like to listen to are the ones who have been through great difficulty.  I know that they understand.

2. To refine my character.

(Ro 5:3–5 NLT) —3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Sometimes it’s only through the furnace of affliction that God is able to remove the impurities of our character and to make us a little more like Jesus.

3. I may not know all the reasons.

… at least in this life. But that’s okay.  I know I can trust Him.

(2 Co 4:16–18 NLT) —16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.