Tag: John Bible study

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John Bible Study, Day 30: We Are on the Winning Side

Online Bible Study for the Gospel of John
John Bible Study from the book Living Water

Today’s passage: John 16:16–33

Focus verse: “Take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

As Jesus continues his last instructions to his disciples, he talks of his departure, which his disciples will mourn, and the world will celebrate. But as a woman struggles through childbirth, and then rejoices over the birth of her baby, so too the disciples’ grief will turn into joy.

Jesus will see them again, which means they’ll see him again. No one will be able to steal their joy in Jesus. He continues to offer encouragement, mentioning answered prayer and Father God’s love for them.

The disciples start to understand. At last, they believe. This is a good thing because he has little time left to explain, so they better understand now.

He affirms their belief in him and warns they’ll soon scatter, each retreating to his own home. Though they will leave him, Jesus won’t be alone. His Father will stay.

Jesus says he’s telling them these things to give them peace. And even though the world will pile trouble upon them, “Don’t worry,” Jesus says, “I have overcome the world.”

Jesus wants them not to worry but to overflow with peace. By extension, he tells us the same.

Worry occurs when we look at our life from a human perspective. We see threats all around us, we feel the burden of living for Jesus in a world that is against him, and we combat an enemy set on causing us pain. These worries can weigh us down and rob us of our peace. 

Yet, through God’s perspective, we can see through fresh eyes. We know how the story ends. We know that Jesus, through his ultimate sacrifice, has forgiven our sins and defeated the evil one. He has overcome.

Though we may not realize the full release that his victory gives us now, we will experience it completely as we persist in following him and being his disciple. This should fill us with peace. 

Since Jesus has overcome the world, if we believe in him and follow him, we, too, can overcome our world through him. If we align with Jesus, we are on the winning side.

Questions:

  1. When has your grief turned into joy?
  2. What should you do to keep worry at bay and not be overwhelmed by it?
  3. How should knowing that Jesus overcame the world affect you and your actions?
  4. How can you experience peace through Jesus?
  5. Do you feel you’re on the winning side? If not, what should you do?

Discover what else John says about overcoming the world and the evil one in 1 John 2:13–14, 1 John 4:4, and 1 John 5:1–5. What insights can you glean from these passages?

Read the next lesson or start at the beginning of this study.

Tips: Check out our tips to use this online Bible study for your church, small group, Sunday school class, or family discussion. It’s also ideal for personal study. Come back each Monday for a new lesson.

Read more in Peter’s new book, Living Water: 40 Reflections on Jesus’s Life and Love from the Gospel of John, available everywhere in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Bible Study

John Bible Study, Day 29: The Advocate

Online Bible Study for the Gospel of John
John Bible Study from the book Living Water

Today’s passage: John 16:6–15

Focus verse: “When he comes, he [the Advocate] will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:8)

Jesus tells his disciples he will soon leave. This dismays them. But he says his departure is for their good. Unless he leaves, the Advocate can’t come. Why must Jesus go before the Advocate can arrive?

From a practical standpoint, maybe while Jesus is with them, they don’t need the Advocate’s help. Another thought is that the full release of the Advocate won’t occur until Jesus redeems humanity’s death sentence through his sacrificial death. Regardless, Jesus leaves, and the Advocate will appear.

Who is this Advocate? We mentioned him in Day 26, “Holy Spirit Power.” There we confirmed the Advocate is none other than the Holy Spirit of God, whom John calls the Spirit of truth. John 16:7 uses the name Advocate.

Other translations of the Bible provide other helpful labels. These include Comforter, Helper, Intercessor, Counselor, Companion, Strengthener, Paraclete, and Holy Ghost. These help us better grasp the work, range, and power of the Holy Spirit.

Not only is the Advocate for our benefit, but Jesus also says the Holy Spirit will speak to the world. He will convict them and reveal truth to them about sin, righteousness, and judgment. Jesus explains each of these three items.

First, the Advocate will show people their sinful nature. This is because they don’t believe in Jesus. Left on our own, we fall short of Father God’s perfect standard. But Jesus bridges that gap, providing a path to reconcile us with his Papa.

Next, the Advocate will instruct people about righteousness. This is the opposite of sin. For those convicted of wrongdoing, we want to do better. Left to our own strength, we may make progress in moving from sinful living toward right living, but we can only do so much.

Regardless of how hard we try, we’ll never live perfect lives and satisfy Old Testament expectations. Instead, we need Jesus to save us and the Advocate to guide us. This is the New Testament solution to the limits of the Old Testament, which can’t save us.

Third, the Advocate will address judgment. Just as the prince of the world, Satan, stands condemned, so too are those who don’t place their trust in Jesus to save them from the sentence they have earned through their less-than-perfect behavior.

Our wrong actions (sin) prods us to repent, which then moves us toward holy living (righteousness). In doing so, the condemnation we deserve turns into the salvation that we can’t earn.

Our rescue only comes from trusting in Jesus. And the Advocate—God’s Holy Spirit—will guide us into that.

Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Holy Spirit.

Questions:

  1. What does sin mean to you? 
  2. What does righteousness mean to you?
  3. How do you reconcile sin with righteousness?
  4. What does judgment mean to you? 
  5. How does the Advocate influence who you are and what you do?

Discover more about judgment in Romans 2:1–10. Read about sin and righteousness in Romans 3:21–26 and Romans 6. What insights can you glean from these passages?

Read the next lesson or start at the beginning of this study.

Tips: Check out our tips to use this online Bible study for your church, small group, Sunday school class, or family discussion. It’s also ideal for personal study. Come back each Monday for a new lesson.

Read more in Peter’s new book, Living Water: 40 Reflections on Jesus’s Life and Love from the Gospel of John, available everywhere in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Bible Study

John Bible Study, Day 28: Don’t Fight Against God

Online Bible Study for the Gospel of John
John Bible Study from the book Living Water

Today’s passage: John 15:18–John 16:5

Focus verse: “They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.” (John 16:2)

Too many people do not see God at work and instead oppose those who follow him in fresh ways.

Jesus warns his followers about what awaits them. First, their church (that is, their synagogue) will expel them. We’ve already seen this threatened in Day 16, “Rule Follower” and Day 22, “Faith or Fear?”

Beyond that, people will kill them. Religious persecution is what Saul (later called Paul) does in the first part of the book of Acts before he encounters Jesus and goes all in to serve his Savior.

These opponents—these persecutors of faith—will do so in the name of their religion. They assume they’re acting in service to God, but their actions oppose him instead.

This means these killers aren’t coming from the world but from within God’s family. Though we should expect persecution from secular society when we go all in to follow Jesus, opposition shouldn’t come from among God’s other children. Yet it does.

Throughout history, this internal persecution happens whenever a new move of God occurs. The biggest movement of God was Jesus coming to fulfill the Old Testament law.

Many of the Jews don’t see this, and so they oppose him. They end up killing him. He’s a martyr and a human sacrifice—one to end the need for all sacrifices. 

This pattern of religious conflict continues from the time of Jesus. Consider the Reformation. In that era, Christians opposed other Christians. Christians hated other Christians. And Christians killed other Christians. 

Another sad time of Christian versus Christian hostility happened at the birth of the Charismatic movement. This occurred in the early 1900s and again at its rebirth in the 1960s.

Each time God is at work doing a new thing. Each time, many of his people mount a significant opposition. And God’s messengers suffer as a result.

Don’t label the people who follow God into his new ways of doing things as heretics and oppose them.

Instead, we’d be better to heed the words of Gamaliel who tells the religious leaders, “Don’t bother with them. If they’re doing this on their own, they’ll fail. But if it’s of God, we can’t stop them—and could end up fighting against God himself” (Acts 5:38–39).

That is, don’t fight against God and the work he is doing.

When we peer into the past, we easily spot the errors of people who missed seeing God’s movement. It’s much harder to spot God at work when we’re living in the middle of it and people align as being for or against it.

But instead of removing the people we disagree with from our church, we should check and see if God is at work. 

Instead of arguing, let’s listen.

Questions:

  1. When have you opposed other Christians in the name of religion? 
  2. What can you do to not repeat this mistake? 
  3. When have other Christians opposed or persecuted you? Was it justified?
  4. How do you react when the world persecutes you?
  5. What must you do to listen and not argue?

Discover how the early church dealt with disagreement in Acts 15:1–21. What insights can you glean from this passage?

Read the next lesson or start at the beginning of this study.

Tips: Check out our tips to use this online Bible study for your church, small group, Sunday school class, or family discussion. It’s also ideal for personal study. Come back each Monday for a new lesson.

Read more in Peter’s new book, Living Water: 40 Reflections on Jesus’s Life and Love from the Gospel of John, available everywhere in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Bible Study

John Bible Study, Day 27: The Vine and the Branches

Online Bible Study for the Gospel of John
John Bible Study from the book Living Water

Today’s passage: John 15:1–17

Focus verse: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Farmers who grow grapes and fruit know a truth that seems counterintuitive to everyone else. An unpruned vine or tree doesn’t produce much fruit, if any. To the uninformed, it seems backward. Logic suggests that the more branches, the more fruit. But this isn’t the case. 

Though a vine or fruit tree may have many branches loaded with flowers, too many blossoms produce small and undesirable fruit, which are worthless for sale and of little use.

In extreme cases it produces no fruit. This is because the plant divides its sustenance between all the branches and flowers. If it has too many blossoms, none of the blooms receive enough nourishment to thrive. As a result, the harvest disappoints.

Given this, wise farmers prune their grapes and fruit trees with care. With practiced skill, they cut off the weak branches, the damaged limbs, and the competing boughs so that the remaining healthy ones can thrive and produce much fruit.

So it is with us and Jesus. 

This word picture of vine and branches helps us better understand our Messiah. He is the vine (such as a grapevine or a fruit tree), and we are the branches.

In this, Jesus is the source of our nourishment. He’s the giver of life. He is the means of our support, our sustenance, and our existence. Without him we are nothing and can do nothing.

For us, as branches, we completely depend on him. We can produce fruit only through him. Just as farmers trim fruit trees and grapevines to produce more fruit, so too, God prunes us to be more productive for him. 

A more sobering thought is cutting off unproductive branches from the vine. What a horrifying image, to have our life severed from Jesus. Yet, even if our unproductive nature has separated us from Jesus, we have hope.

Paul mentions branches grafted—that is, reattached—back onto the tree. The grafted branch can again receive life-giving sustenance and survive.

Later in John, Jesus reminds us that he loves us, chooses us, and appoints us to bear fruit for him. Take comfort in this and go produce fruit.

Questions:

  1. What fruit are you producing? 
  2. Is your attention divided between too many things? What can you eliminate so you can produce more fruit?
  3. How open are you to Jesus pruning you to produce more? 
  4. What must you change to make sure you’re getting your nourishment from him?
  5. If you ever feel lopped off from the vine, do you believe Jesus can graft you back?

Discover more about grafted branches in Romans 11:11–24. What insights can you glean from this passage?

Tips: Check out our tips to use this online Bible study for your church, small group, Sunday school class, or family discussion. It’s also ideal for personal study. Come back each Monday for a new lesson.

Read more in Peter’s new book, Living Water: 40 Reflections on Jesus’s Life and Love from the Gospel of John, available everywhere in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Categories
Bible Study

John Bible Study, Day 27: The Vine and the Branches

Today’s passage: John 15:1–17

Focus verse: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Farmers who grow grapes and fruit know a truth that seems counterintuitive to everyone else. An unpruned vine or tree doesn’t produce much fruit, if any.

To the uninformed, it seems backward. Logic suggests that the more branches, the more fruit. But this isn’t the case. 

Though a vine or fruit tree may have many branches loaded with flowers, too many blossoms produce small and undesirable fruit, which are worthless for sale and of little use.

In extreme cases it produces no fruit. This is because the plant divides its sustenance between all the branches and flowers. If it has too many blossoms, none of the blooms receive enough nourishment to thrive. As a result, the harvest disappoints.

Given this, wise farmers prune their grapes and fruit trees with care. With practiced skill, they cut off the weak branches, the damaged limbs, and the competing boughs so that the remaining healthy ones can thrive and produce much fruit.

So it is with us and Jesus. 

This word picture of vine and branches helps us better understand our Messiah. He is the vine (such as a grapevine or a fruit tree), and we are the branches.

In this, Jesus is the source of our nourishment. He’s the giver of life. He is the means of our support, our sustenance, and our existence. Without him we are nothing and can do nothing.

For us, as branches, we completely depend on him. We can produce fruit only through him. Just as farmers trim fruit trees and grapevines to produce more fruit, so too, God prunes us to be more productive for him. 

A more sobering thought is cutting off unproductive branches from the vine. What a horrifying image, to have our life severed from Jesus. Yet, even if our unproductive nature has separated us from Jesus, we have hope.

Paul mentions branches grafted—that is, reattached—back onto the tree. The grafted branch can again receive life-giving sustenance and survive.

Later in John, Jesus reminds us that he loves us, chooses us, and appoints us to bear fruit for him. Take comfort in this and go produce fruit.

Questions:

  1. What fruit are you producing? 
  2. Is your attention divided between too many things? What can you eliminate so you can produce more fruit?
  3. How open are you to Jesus pruning you to produce more? 
  4. What must you change to make sure you’re getting your nourishment from him?
  5. If you ever feel lopped off from the vine, do you believe Jesus can graft you back?

Discover more about grafted branches in Romans 11:11–24. What insights can you glean from this passage?

Read the next lesson or start at the beginning of this study.

Tips: Check out our tips to use this online Bible study for your church, small group, Sunday school class, or family discussion. It’s also ideal for personal study. Come back each Monday for a new lesson.

Read more in Peter’s new book, Living Water: 40 Reflections on Jesus’s Life and Love from the Gospel of John, available everywhere in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Categories
Bible Study

John Bible Study, Day 26: Holy Spirit Power

Online Bible Study for the Gospel of John
John Bible Study from the book Living Water

Today’s passage: John 14:15–31

Focus verse: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16–17)

Jesus promises to send us an advocate, the Holy Spirit. As our advocate, he will guide us and live in us forever. Holy Spirit and Spirit occur hundreds of times in Scripture, in both the Old and New Testaments.

The synonym advocate is much less common, appearing only six times. Five are in John’s writings and the sixth one in Job.

An advocate is someone who stands for us before another, such as arguing our case, offering support, or pleading on behalf of someone else. The Holy Spirit serves as our advocate to Father God.

Through Scripture we learn of a second role of our Advocate. Sent from God for our benefit, the Advocate will teach us what we need to know and remind us of Jesus’s words. He will help us do what we should do. And he will live in us forever.

A third name for the Holy Spirit is “Spirit of truth.” This only occurs in John’s writing. Since John is a poet, it makes sense that he would use this intriguing phrase. This phrase occurs three times in his biography of Jesus and once more in his first letter.

In each instance in the book of John, he quotes Jesus as saying the “Spirit of truth.”

In these contexts, Jesus talks of sending an Advocate to help us and be with us forever. He refers to the Holy Spirit. This makes the Spirit of truth a synonym for the Holy Spirit.

I like the label Spirit of truth. It better conveys who the Holy Spirit is and what he does: he comes to show us the truth.

In his first letter, John writes about discerning between the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception, Satan. This is an important distinction to make. Not all that’s spiritual is good.

Though I doubt people will start referring to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth, remember that the Holy Spirit, our Advocate, shows us God’s truth.

Questions:

  1. What do you think about having an Advocate in heaven?
  2. What do you think about having an Advocate to teach you and remind you what Jesus said?
  3. How is the Holy Spirit at work in your life? 
  4. Do you embrace his power or pull away? Why?
  5. How do you react to the line “Not all that’s spiritual is good”?

Discover more about the Advocate in Job 16:19, John 15:26, John 16:7, and 1 John 2:1. Read about the Spirit of truth in John 16:13 and 1 John 4:6. What insights can you glean from these passages?

Read the next lesson or start at the beginning of this study.

Tips: Check out our tips to use this online Bible study for your church, small group, Sunday school class, or family discussion. It’s also ideal for personal study. Come back each Monday for a new lesson.

Read more in Peter’s new book, Living Water: 40 Reflections on Jesus’s Life and Love from the Gospel of John, available everywhere in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Categories
Bible Study

John Bible Study, Day 25: Jesus Is the Way

Online Bible Study for the Gospel of John
John Bible Study from the book Living Water

Today’s passage: John 14:1–14

Focus verse: Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)

Jesus has but a few hours left on earth. He wants to make the most of every moment. The teacher gives last-minute instructions to his disciples, trying to encourage them, which they’ll need in the days, months, and years ahead.

He talks about his father’s house with many rooms, about him preparing a place for them, and about him coming back to get them so they can be with him. If this isn’t cryptic enough, Jesus adds, “You know the way to where I’m going.”

Thomas, one of Jesus’s twelve disciples, doesn’t. Speaking for the rest of them, he seeks clarification: “We don’t know where you’re going, so how can we know how to get there?”

Jesus gives him a five-part answer, which John records for us. Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Let’s explore this.

First, Jesus opens with, “I am.” Don’t miss this. In the Old Testament, God the Father tells Moses to think of him as I am. When Jesus repeats this phrase in his concise answer, it’s intentional.

We’re reminded that Jesus also exists as God, as God the Son. Jesus is the I am, just as much as the Father. (See Day 17 Bonus Content: “I Am.”)

Next, Jesus gives the first of three instructive phrases, saying that he is “the way.” Jesus himself serves as the path to God the Father. As our Messiah, he points us in the right direction.

He provides the means for us to get there. Soon he’ll do this by serving as the ultimate sin sacrifice for all of humanity, past, present, and future.

Jesus adds that he is “the truth.” He personifies what is real. He exemplifies truth, proclaims truth, and models truth. We can always rely on the words of Jesus as dependable. His words will set us free (John 8:31–32).

After confirming that he is the way and the truth, he adds that he is “the life.” Not only does Jesus give us life, but he is life. After giving us life at creation, he continues as one who lives forever. We, as his followers, will enjoy eternity with him.

The final of the five key phrases in this verse is “through me.” Jesus is the door to Father God. The first four parts of Jesus’s answer culminate in his conclusion: through him we reconcile with God the Father, our spiritual Papa.

Jesus supplies what we need for our journey in this life and into the next. He is the source of life, of truth, and of the way to the Father.

Questions:

  1. How can you encourage others, as Jesus encouraged his disciples?
  2. What does it mean to you that Jesus is the way?
  3. What does it mean to you that Jesus is the truth?
  4. What does it mean to you that Jesus is the life? 
  5. How does Jesus being the way, truth, and life influence how you live your life?

Discover more about Jesus being truth and life in Luke 20:21, John 11:25, and John 18:37. What insights can you glean from these passages?

Read the next lesson or start at the beginning of this study.

Tips: Check out our tips to use this online Bible study for your church, small group, Sunday school class, or family discussion. It’s also ideal for personal study. Come back each Monday for a new lesson.

Read more in Peter’s new book, Living Water: 40 Reflections on Jesus’s Life and Love from the Gospel of John, available everywhere in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Categories
Bible Study

John Bible Study, Day 24: Jesus’s New Command

Online Bible Study for the Gospel of John
John Bible Study from the book Living Water

Today’s passage: John 13:18–38

Focus verse: “A new command I give you: Love one another.” (John 13:34)

Though love is a common theme throughout Scripture, Jesus places an even greater emphasis on it. So does John. 

John often writes about love. Except for Psalms, John’s biography of Jesus mentions love more than any other book of the Bible. The book of 1 John continues this emphasis on love, which also recurs in 2 John, 3 John, and Revelation.

In John, we read that God loves us, that God loves Jesus, that Jesus loves us, and that we are to love one another. We also read in John that Jesus loves Lazarus, and that John is the disciple Jesus loves.

When asked which command is the greatest, it shouldn’t surprise us that Jesus’s answer focuses on love.

He says the most essential command is for us to love God. The second most important one is to love others. Though John doesn’t include this teaching in his book, the other three biographers of Jesus do (Matthew 22:36–40, Mark 12:28–31, and Luke 10:25–28).

The basis for loving God stems from the Old Testament. Many times, Deuteronomy says we are to serve and love God with all our heart and our soul (such as Deuteronomy 10:12). Another verse instructs us to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Now, in this passage, Jesus tells his disciples he’s giving them a new command. Jesus’s new command is to love one another. 

But don’t stop. Continue reading. By loving one another we prove we’re his disciples. Love is our witness. To make sure we don’t miss it, Jesus repeats his command to love each other (John 15:17).

It’s clear that to love God is most important. Jesus confirms this Old Testament command and then extends that instruction of loving God by adding that we should love one another too. By loving God first, he enables us to love others.

But love is a confusing word in today’s modern society, covering the full gamut of emotions from preference to passion. For us to understand the love Jesus is talking about, we should apply the words of Paul from his letter to the Corinthian church.

He writes, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, does not boast, and is not proud. Love honors others, isn’t selfish, doesn’t get upset, and doesn’t keep track of other’s offenses.

Love celebrates truth and disapproves of evil. Love always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres” (see 1 Corinthians 13:4–8).

We can follow Paul’s explanation of love when we obey Jesus’s new command—his instruction—to love each other.

Questions:

  1. How can you better love God?
  2. How can you better love others?
  3. What does it mean to serve and love God with all your heart, soul, and strength?
  4. Does your love for others serve as a witness that you’re Jesus’s disciple?
  5. Which one of Paul’s love attributes do you need to work on the most?

Discover more about love in John 14:15, John 14:23–30, and John 15:9–17. What insights can you glean from these passages?

Read the next lesson or start at the beginning of this study.

Tips: Check out our tips to use this online Bible study for your church, small group, Sunday school class, or family discussion. It’s also ideal for personal study. Come back each Monday for a new lesson.

Read more in Peter’s new book, Living Water: 40 Reflections on Jesus’s Life and Love from the Gospel of John, available everywhere in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

Categories
Bible Study

John Bible Study, Day 23: Washing Feet

Online Bible Study for the Gospel of John
John Bible Study from the book Living Water

Today’s passage: John 13:1–17

Focus verse: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15)

John shares the story of when Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. This perplexing account confuses many people and often leaves us wondering how to react. Before we explore this, let’s pull back and look at the context.

Jesus’s days on earth are nearing their end. He loves his followers. And despite the physical and spiritual pain he will soon endure when he dies on the cross as a sacrifice for the collective sins of humanity, his love will persevere.

At this challenging time, he wants to show his disciples how much he loves them.

They’re reclining around the Passover meal, when Jesus gets up to wash his disciples’ feet. Feet washing is an expected custom of the day that should occur before the meal, but no servants are around to perform this menial task.

The disciples may assume they can skip the tradition this one time. 

Jesus has other ideas. He’ll do it. Taking on the role of servant, the master intends to serve his followers. He will wash and dry their feet before they eat.

This makes Peter squirm. The idea of his Rabbi doing this humble job doesn’t sit right with him. And he may feel guilty for not volunteering to do this himself instead of leaving the task to Jesus.

When he objects, Jesus says, “Though you don’t understand what I’m doing now, you will later.”

Peter says, “I won’t let you wash my feet. Not now. Not ever.”

Jesus persists. He washes the disciples’ feet, including Peter’s. Completing his task, Jesus returns to his place at the table. After the meal, he explains what he did.

“You call me ‘Teacher,’ and you’re right to do so. I’ve taught you one more thing through my example. As I have washed your feet, wash each other’s. Now that you know this, do it. You’ll receive blessings when you do.”

In an act to show his love, Jesus humbled himself to wash his disciples’ feet. Since a pre-meal foot washing is no longer a custom today, we’re left to ponder if we should physically wash one another’s feet or treat this as a figurative command to serve one another.

If we pursue a literal foot washing, we do so as a rite since the act no longer serves the practical purpose it once did. The practice carries no value now.

The better practice may come from applying Jesus’s example and looking for ways to serve others. When we do, we act in his name. Our actions will bless the people we help, and our obedience to Jesus will bless him.

Questions:

  1. How can you better love others?
  2. How willing are you to serve others in a menial way?
  3. Where do you fit on the humility/pride scale?
  4. What can you do to figuratively wash one another’s feet? 
  5. What do you think about your actions serving as a blessing to God?

Discover more about washing feet in 1 Timothy 5:9–10. What insights can you glean from this passage?

Read the next lesson or start at the beginning of this study.

Tips: Check out our tips to use this online Bible study for your church, small group, Sunday school class, or family discussion. It’s also ideal for personal study. Come back each Monday for a new lesson.

Read more in Peter’s new book, Living Water: 40 Reflections on Jesus’s Life and Love from the Gospel of John, available everywhere in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Bible Study

John Bible Study, Day 22: Faith or Fear?

Online Bible Study for the Gospel of John
John Bible Study from the book Living Water

Today’s passage: John 12:37–50

Focus verse: Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue. (John 12:42)

After John writes that many people believe in Jesus because he raised Lazarus from the dead, John seems to flip-flop. Next, he says the opposite. He writes that despite the supernatural signs Jesus performed, the people still don’t believe in him.

John sites Isaiah, who asks, “Who will believe?” (see Isaiah 53:1). Another time Isaiah prophesies that unbelief will result from those who interact with Jesus (Isaiah 6:10).

After building a Scriptural case that no one will believe Jesus, John reverts to the outcome of Lazarus’s resurrection. He confirms that a few Jews believe in Jesus.

John explains this discrepancy. Yes, some Jews believe Jesus, but they keep quiet. They’re afraid to tell anyone. Their belief is secret. They keep their faith to themselves. Why?

They stay quiet because of threats from the Pharisees. Jesus’s growing popularity threatens these religious leaders. He’s taking their followers. They can’t tolerate that.

The people’s approval is more important to them than God’s. So, they oppose Jesus and his miraculous raising of Lazarus from the dead. They pressure anyone who believes in Jesus. 

The Pharisees threaten to expel from the synagogue anyone who professes their faith in Jesus. This would block them from taking part in any religious practices. It would remove them from spiritual interactions with other Jews.

These are both key parts of Jewish society. In effect, the Pharisees will ostracize anyone who believes in Jesus.

This isn’t the first time the Jewish leaders make this threat. Recall Day 16, “Rule Follower,” when Jesus gave sight to the blind man.

When they interrogate the blind man’s parents, they cover two items. First, they confirm that the man was born blind. Then they ask how the man can now see.

The parents are afraid to give credit to Jesus. Instead, they defer to their son, saying “We’re not sure. Ask him. He’s an adult.”

They respond this way, not because they don’t know the answer, but because they fear the ramifications if they acknowledge Jesus as the source of their son’s healing.

Though these parents believe Jesus healed their son, they won’t say so out of fear.

In the same way, many of the people who put their faith in Jesus because he raised Lazarus from the dead, give in to fear over retaliation from the Pharisees should they take a public stand.

Questions:

  1. How valuable is your faith if you won’t share it with others? 
  2. If you are a silent believer, what must change?
  3. How can you make sure you don’t elevate the approval of others over the approval of God?
  4. Have you ever ostracized or threatened another person because their theology was different than yours? How can you correct that mistake? 
  5. When have you let fear keep you from saying or doing what is right?

Discover more about the blind man’s parents in John 9:18–23. What insights can you glean from this passage?

Read the next lesson or start at the beginning of this study.

Tips: Check out our tips to use this online Bible study for your church, small group, Sunday school class, or family discussion. It’s also ideal for personal study. Come back each Monday for a new lesson.

Read more in Peter’s new book, Living Water: 40 Reflections on Jesus’s Life and Love from the Gospel of John, available everywhere in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.