Questions for Early Judean ministry (April, 27 AD) Sections 28-34
28. Jesus clears the temple (John 2:13-25)
John’s Gospel presents seven signs, the first of which appears in this chapter. What is a sign and what is its purpose?
Who were the money changers and what were they doing in the Temple?
Why did Jesus clear the Temple?
What resulted from this incident?
What did Jesus mean with His statement “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days”?
What role should strategy have in ministry?
The Passover celebration took place yearly at the Temple in Jerusalem. Every Jewish male was expected to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem during this time (Deuteronomy 16:16). This was a week-long festival – the Passover was one day, and the Festival of Unleavened Bread lasted the rest of the week. What was ironic about the money changers being in the Temple working their craft during the Festival of Unleavened Bread?
The entire week commemorated the freeing of the Jews from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12:1-13). Of what other kind of slavery had they fallen victim?
The Temple area was always crowded during Passover with thousands of out-of-town visitors. The religious leaders crowded it even further by allowing money changers and merchants to set up booths in the Court of the Gentiles. They rationalized this practice as a convenience for the worshipers and as a way to make money for Temple upkeep. However, they did not seem to care that foreigners found it difficult to worship because of this set-up. What lessons can we learn about rationalization and worship from this poor example?
30. John the Baptist's last testimony (John 3:23-36)
An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and the Jewish leaders over ceremonial cleansing. The appropriate means of achieving ceremonial cleansing of their bodies and eating utensils was of great interest to the Jewish community. When the matter was brought to John, the question of Jesus’ ministry in relation to John’s ministry surfaced. Why do you think that John (the author of this passage, thought it was important to note that the John (the Baptist) answered their queries of ritualistic cleansing by directing them toward Jesus?
The loyalty of these disciples to their master, John, is evident as they allowed envy to enter into their thinking about Jesus. John’s reply affirmed his previous testimony about Jesus. It also provided an important insight into John’s character. What do you think that insight is?
What lesson can we learn from this concerning our loyalties?
Knowing a teachable moment had presented itself, John informed his students that one “can receive only what is given him from heaven” (v.27). What did he mean by that?
Knowing God has given everything, one who loves God will not envy another person’s gifts, abilities, or accomplishments. John understood his role in relation to Jesus as that of “the best man” to the groom at a wedding. John instructed those who had supported and followed his ministry that Jesus must become greater, while he, John, “must become less” (v.30). Sometimes Christian leaders can be tempted to focus more on the success of their ministries than on Christ. As we worship and work in ministry, how can we put this into practice?
Why did John the Baptist continue to baptize after Jesus came onto the scene? Why didn’t he become a disciple too?
John knew that he was “from the earth,” whereas Jesus, as God’s Son, was “from heaven” (v.31). John taught his disciples that their relation with God’s Son had eternal consequence. We usually discuss the implications regarding our salvation, but what consequences come from our continuing relations (or their fluctuations) with the Son?
Those who believe in and obey Jesus have eternal life. Those who don’t believe and obey are in sin and have the abiding wrath of God on them. The Greek word for wrath is “orge” which denotes God’s abiding opposition to sin. Are Christians ever subject to this “orge”?
Compare John 3:34 to Hebrews 1:2. What conclusions do you draw from these two passages?
Do the same for John 3:35-36 and Matthew 12:31, Mark 3:28-29; John 15:26 and Luke 12:8-10.
32. Jesus tells about the spiritual harvest (John 4:27-38)
When the disciples rejoined Jesus, they did not dare ask Him about His conversation with the Samaritan woman but rather inquired about His physical well-being. Perhaps they thought that hunger had deprived Him of His senses, as He should have known better than to talk with such a woman. Why was it considered so strange for Jesus to speak to the Samaritan woman?
What does this focus on the material teach us about humans in general?
What does this teach us about God’s priorities?
What does this teach us about cultural taboos?
Jesus then continued the disciples’ education, instructing them that His “food” was to “do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (v.34). What importance should the discovery and fulfillment of God’s will in our lives have?
Notice the tie of “food” with “doing the will of God” in verse 34. We tend to think of spiritual food as something we take in, such as Bible study, prayer, and church attendance. However, Jesus seems to imply that spiritual nourishment comes from action. Check out John 17:4 and then discuss what this means to us.
In verse 35, Jesus commented that the harvest does not have a particular time in the future, that it surrounds us at all times. Don’t we sometimes excuse ourselves from witnessing by saying that our families or friends aren’t ready to believe? How should we live out this truth?
What do you think the wages Jesus offers in verse 36 are?
What was Jesus referring to when He talked about the “planter” and the “harvester”? Isn’t it interesting that they receive equal wages?
Since the disciples were the first believers in Christ, who was Jesus referring to in verse 38 as “others” who have already done the work?
Notice that the Samaritan woman immediately returned to her city and was able to convince many to come out and meet Jesus – in spite of her past life. What lessons should we draw from that?
After they met Jesus themselves, the other Samaritans stated that they believed in Him for themselves, not just because of what she had told them. What do you make of that?
How does this relate to doctrines such as infant baptism?
How does the woman identify Jesus in each of the following verses? a) John 4:9; b) John 4:11; c) John 4:19; d) John 4:29
What was the compelling argument the woman used in verse 39? How does this inform our evangelistic tactics?
What did the disciples learn (about Jesus, themselves, their mission) from the encounter with the Samaritans (John 4:31-38)?
Meditate on John 4:34. How true is this of you? How do you need to grow in this area?
Why do you think Jesus went home to Galilee even when a revival seemed to be breaking out in Samaria and He knew John 4:44 to be true? What does this say about His character and mission? (cp. John 1:11)
What characterized the message of John’s preaching? (cp. Luke 3:15-20)
In his day, one of the duties of a slave was to remove his master’s shoes. What does this tell us about John’s view of his relationship to Jesus?
How does this submissive view of himself in relation to Christ relate to his ability to stand up to Herod Antipas?
Herodias was Herod’s niece and also his brother’s wife. She treacherously plotted John the Baptist’s death (Matthew 14:1-12). The Herods were a murderous and deceitful family. Rebuking a tyrannical Roman official who could imprison and execute him was extremely dangerous. With all the sin that could be preached about in society, why do you think John chose to “beard” Herod?
