Have you attended a dinner that was very special to you? What made it special? If you were hosting a dinner for someone very special, what actions would you take to be a good host? The Explore the Bible Study: Honoring Jesus (I have tweaked the title) focuses on a dinner in John 12.

After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead on the outskirts of Jerusalem, Jesus’ opponents began plotting to kill Him, so he left Jerusalem for a while (see John 11:53).  Jesus has now returned to Bethany, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, for a very special dinner.

This special dinner occurred at Simon the leper’s home (See Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9). Simon had probably been healed by Jesus, thus allowing the meal to take place at his home. Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, were guests. This dinner could have been for the purpose of celebrating Lazarus’ resurrection. Martha helped serve the meal, and then Mary anointed Jesus’ feet. The purpose for the anointing in John 12 pointed to his death and burial which was moving ever closer.

It is out of this dinner and the anointing of Jesus with oil that we discover the ways in which we should honor Jesus.

We Should Honor Jesus by Serving – John 12:1-3

Imagine you were a guest at this dinner. A healed leper, Lazarus who was raised from the dead, and Mary and Martha were present. What would be the emotions you would be experiencing? How would you respond as you were served by Martha and observed Mary anointing Jesus’ feet?

Bethany is about two miles southeast of Jerusalem. It is located on the eastern side of the Mount of Olives. This visit and dinner was a major event in Jesus’ life because it was leading up to His last days, death, burial, and resurrection.

The tables for this special dinner would have been surrounded by low couches. Guests would recline on one elbow while eating. Jesus, Lazarus, and others were reclining when Mary served Jesus in a very special and unique way. She served Jesus by anointing Him with expensive oil and an extravagant amount of perfume as one would prepare someone for burial. 

John only indicates that Mary anointed Jesus’ feet. When Matthew and Mark recorded this event, they noted that the woman anointed Jesus’ head. It’s most likely she anointed His feet and head in keeping with Jewish burial practices. John simply focused on the act of sacrificial service Mary took in order to honor Jesus.

Had you been sitting at the table, would you have understood the purpose behind the way Mary honored Jesus? Do you think Mary understood what she was doing? Can you describe a time when you only understood why God led you to serve Christ in a certain way, but you later realized it’s significance after looking back to the event?

In keeping with modesty and decorum for a dinner, most would not serve someone in this manner, especially since women did not let their hair down in public. But Mary’s willingness to honor Christ in this moment and in this manner prompted her to ignore all traditions. This truly was an act of service to honor Christ that transcended every tradition that was in place at the time.

Believers should honor Christ as Lord in the way in which we serve Him. There will be times when that act of worship through serving will be so powerful that we will be willing to ignore all customs and manners in order to do what God leads us to do.

How do we balance our actions when there is conflict between what our culture finds acceptable and what God might be leading us to do to serve and worship Him?

We Should Honor Jesus by Giving our Time and Resources – John 12:4-8

John previously pointed out the extravagance and expense of the perfume and oil. But now he reveals the response of the profiteer from one of the guests dining with Jesus. In this case, it was Judas, the one who would soon betray him for money. 

How can our giving of time and resources be misunderstood by others? How did Jesus’ response to Judas reveal the fact that Judas didn’t really care about the poor? 

Notice how Jesus got straight to the issue with Judas’ protest. Judas didn’t really care about the poor so Jesus pointed out that the poor would always be with them. He also pointed out the priority of honoring Jesus in this manner. He stated that this was a time to honor Jesus directly in this manner. There will be another time to put resources toward the poor because they will still be present after Jesus has left them. He was pointing out that this was certainly a time to honor Christ while He was still with them.

How might someone express attitudes like Judas’ today? How can we avoid responding the way Judas did to those who give their time and resources?

Judas’ response is not unusual, but it is sad. There seems to always be that one individual in a church or group of Christians who questions the value of giving time and resources in a manner that brings honor to Christ. Some might even say, this money should be used for the poor and needy in our community. They are the ones who usually only examine the money but never offer sacrifices themselves. They are too busy counting the pennies and considering where all the money is going. They don’t appreciate the hearts of those who desire to honor Christ through their gifts of time and resources.

However, most who make this challenge, usually aren’t on the front lines when the church calls for help with time and resources to help the poor and needy. Yes, there is a time to sacrifice time and resources to help poor and needy in our communities, but there are also times and opportunities that require sacrifices of time and resources in order to simply worhip and honor Christ. While there must be a balance, one should be careful to not criticize those who desire to give their time and resources to honor Christ in ways that might seem extravagant at the time.

As long as actions align with Scripture, we should celebrate anyone who willingly sacrifices time and resources to worship our Lord in Spirit and truth. Mary took the time; she stepped across cultural norms and provided costly resources to honor Christ.

Mary saw the anointing as an expression of grateful love for the One who raised her brother from the tomb. She attached its significance to His upcoming death. Following His burial, women came to the tomb with spices to anoint His body, but Mary of Bethany was not among them (Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:40,47; Mark 16:1; John 19:25).  In one sense Mary was the only one who had the chance to anoint Jesus. By the time the other women got to the tomb, Jesus was gone. – ETB Leader Commentary

When We Honor Jesus, We Can Experience Persecution – John 12:9-11

Honoring Jesus can attract a crowd. However, the crowd may not always embrace Jesus, which could lead to persecution for those who are trying to honor him. 

Sadly, those who didn’t like Jesus would rather kill a man whose life had been restored than to honor the One who restored His life! This reveals the hardness of the hearts of those who continued to ignore the message of salvation. They didn’t want to give up their power or their position to follow Jesus. One can only imagine what kind of revival the crowd would have experienced had they responded by honoring Christ.

Honoring Jesus

What are some ways in which you can honor Christ through extravagant, sacrificial service?

What are some ways in which you can honor Christ through extravagant giving of resources and time?

What can we do to encourage one another when people don’t understand the ways in which we honor Christ?

We can honor Christ by extravagantly serving Him by serving others in His name. We can honor Christ by giving our time and resources to Him. When we do so, we can demonstrate the gospel to a lost world as Mary demonstrated the burial of Christ by anointing Jesus with oil and perfume.

Mary, Martha, Simon the leper, and especially Lazarus had first-hand experience with the amazing way in which Jesus worked. News of His work to restore life to Lazarus spread throughout the region. 

As believers, we have firsthand experience with the ways in which Jesus has worked in our lives and the lives of others. We have firsthand experience with the life-giving, transforming power of the Good News of Jesus. This should prompt us to honor Christ as Mary did. 

The downloadable teaching helps provide more details for this study, along with some tools you can use in guiding a group Bible study. 

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LifeWay Explore The Bible Resources

These teaching helps are intended to be used as a supplement to your study of Lifeway's Explore the Bible curriculum resources. Portions of this material are taken directly from content copyrighted to Lifeway Christian Resources Explore the Bible and is used with permission.  This material has not been reviewed by Lifeway Christian Resources. 

1 Thessalonians 4:13 informs believers that, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope” While we will grieve at someone’s death, followers of Christ don’t have to “grieve like the rest, who have no hope.” The Explore the Bible Study: I Am the Resurrection reminds us of this truth as we examine John, chapter 11.

We see a group in John 11 who were grieving over the death of a loved one named Lazarus. At this point they were grieving because they had lost hope.  They felt that, if only Jesus had been there, Lazarus could have been healed. But opposition had grown against Jesus in Jerusalem, so He had left the city and traveled to an area east of the Jordan River. It was there that news came that His beloved friend, Lazarus, was sick and close to death in the town of Bethany.  Jesus deliberately delayed going to him, actually waiting until Lazarus was dead. While this sounds like someone who didn’t care, there was a greater lesson this day for those who had seen Jesus perform miracles.

The passages today bring the work of Jesus to a climax and provide clarity to other verses regarding Jesus as the one Who gives life: “Life was in Him” (John 1:4); “The Son also gives life to anyone He wants to” (John 5:21); “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35); “Anyone who follows Me . . . will have the light of life” (John 8:12);  “I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance” (John 10:10); I give them eternal life, and they will never perish – ever! (John 10:28).

It was in this setting that the “if only” statement was expressed to Jesus by a grieving sister, Mary – “If only Jesus had been there, Lazarus would not be dead.” Let’s first examine the response and how it reveals the reality of grief that comes when someone loses a loved one or close friend. This miracle gives us the full understanding of Jesus as the life-giver and the eternal hope we have through Him!

Grief is a reality – John 11:32-37

These family members and friends couldn’t understand Jesus’ delay in coming to heal Lazarus. They felt that, since Lazarus was dead, there was no longer a need for Jesus to do anything. They weren’t ready for the lesson Jesus was going to teach them because of their grief.  While Jesus can heal, there is something much greater than healing; it is what Jesus offers beyond physical healing.

Jesus was troubled over the fact that the sisters—and the Jewish mourners—did not yet fully understand who He was. – They could not get through their grief to see Jesus for who He was. They could only see the loss they had experienced. When people struggle with someone’s death today, they often ask, “Why didn’t God heal him?” or “Why did God let him/her die?” So Jesus responded to the people’s grief as the Son of God and Son of man. The Son of God had every right to be angry with an enemy that had ruined His perfect creation and hurt those He deeply loved. He also had every right to be disturbed that He, the Lord over death, stood right there in the people’s midst, and all they could do was weep and wail hopelessly.

Jesus is deeply concerned that you do not grieve hopelessly, but recognize that His presence, hope, and life are right there with you, and that He has power, even over death!

Consider how you might respond to the ETB Personal Study Guide question on page 122 – “How does Jesus’s emotional response help us approach Him with our hurts and pains?”Not only did they grieve as people without hope, but they also doubted Jesus.

Doubt is natural – John 11:38-40

Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. The tomb would have been a cave with a large, round stone sealing it. To this day there are tombs like this scattered throughout Israel.

We again see the emotion of Jesus. He was deeply moved as He approached the tomb and now Martha, the other sister to Lazarus, approaches him expressing doubt. Martha believed Jesus could have healed Lazarus, but now he was dead. 

“Her reaction, however, contradicted her earlier expression of faith in Jesus as the Son of God (John 11:27). She believed Jesus could ask the Father to intervene in the situation, but when faced with the reality of Lazarus’s tomb, Martha hesitated. Jesus gently reminded her that she would see the glory of God, as long as she believed.” – ETB Leader Guide

How is understanding that Jesus is not only one who heals but one who rules over death, help us deal with doubt when a believer dies or when we are facing death? What should this do regarding putting one’s faith in Christ, even as we face death?

When people believe Jesus is only strong enough to do something in the here and now, it will be difficult for them to understand that Jesus can do anything regarding the hereafter. This is where faith is required, and trust is given through God’s Word. Jesus reminds Martha, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” God’s Word is oftentimes the only thing that helps us overcome our doubt. It is always constant and will remind us that we can overcome doubt that comes when we do as Martha did and act on human rationale and logic.

In what ways has God’s Word and your personal relationship with Christ helped you overcome doubt?

Martha’s faith was going to be challenged to think of Jesus as one who overcomes death and not just a healer of those who are sick. What happens next is something that no one could understand at the moment. It would require trust. While we may grieve and even doubt, ultimately, we must trust Jesus.

Trust is a Must – John 11:41-46

In what ways do we discount or underestimate our Savior’s power because 2,000 years separates us from His earthly ministry?

Jesus earlier had told His disciples that Lazarus’ sickness would result in their seeing God’s glory. Indeed, the delay in Jesus coming to Bethany was for the purpose that the Son of God would be glorified through the raising of Lazarus from the dead (see 11:4). Jesus displayed His power over death and the grave. 

During His ministry, Jesus raised three people from the dead: a little girl (see Mark 5:35-42), an only son (see Luke 7:11-15), and a beloved friend (see John 11:3,44). Like the previous six miracle-signs John featured, this raising of Lazarus from the dead was designed to reveal who Jesus is. He is the resurrection and the life.

Jesus’ miracles were not intended just to alleviate temporary pain but to convince people to trust Him for hope, joy, and eternal life.  We can be certain Jesus loves us and works for our good and God’s glory even in death. We can deal confidently with death by having a relationship with Him.

Just like today, when God demonstrates His power to save, there will be those who respond by believing in Jesus and there will those who will become more cynical . . . until their death. Then someone might say, “they are in a better place,” indicating that their doubt about eternity was never resolved. Trust is a must!

Living Your Life In Light Of Jesus' Resurrection

As we conclude a study of this passage, let’s consider the life of Lazarus after his resurrection. We know that Lazarus was raised from the dead only to die physically again one day. 

How would you finish Lazarus’ story after his resurrection? How would he have lived? What would have been his legacy of faith? How do you suppose he faced death when it was his time to die again?

Imagine Lazarus living a life of faith because of the new life he was given through Christ. Imagine how he faced his death the second time. What a powerful message of hope and faith he might have portrayed to a lost world who had no hope without Christ.  What a powerful message this communicates to believers today. Jesus, through Lazarus, gives us the complete gospel message.

1. We were dead in our trespasses and sins. Ephesians 2:1 tells us that you were “dead in your trespasses and sins.” We were just like Lazarus spiritually. We were dead and in the tomb, destined for decay. But now . . .
2. Jesus gives us new life as described in Ephesian 2:4-5: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,  made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses.”
3. We are expected to do something with our new life in Christ as Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:1-5 – “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature . . .”

Can you be as confident as Billy Graham?

How can you express your confidence about life and death with people who are desperate for hope?

Make a list of people you know who are grieving, but are struggling with trusting Christ, and begin praying for them.

While most of our stress levels go up when we know we are going to go through security checks like the ones many of us have experienced at an airport or a major event, we realize that it is designed for our personal safety and security. Yet we always breathe a sigh of relief when we are finally through the process because we know we are cleared for entry. The Explore the Bible Study: I Know My Own, focuses on a different kind of security. It's the security provided by The Good Shepherd.

As we examine John 10, we will learn of how Jesus provides security for believers, and we will identify ways we can rely more fully on the security He offers.  He used the shepherd-sheep analogy to speak to the difference between His ministry and that of the Pharisees.

If want to see a great video overview of the passage, check out this VIDEO from Campus Crusade. It gives you a glimpse into Jesus’ interactions as He tells the story of the Good Shepherd.

If We are His Sheep, We Can Feel Secure Knowing Jesus Guides Us – John 10:1-6

The key elements described in this setting include a sheep pen, the gate to the sheep pen, those who desire to steal the sheep, the shepherd of the sheep, and obviously, the sheep! The Sheep Pen was an enclosure typically comprised of a cave, a wall, or a fence of some type. Typically, shepherds kept their sheep corralled at night to protect them and provide basic security from wild animals. The “door” would have been a single-entry gate by which sheep could enter and exit the pen. The doorkeeper attended the door or gate and allowed access to those who entered the sheep pen including the sheep.

The motives of those who weren’t legitimate shepherds were personal gain. They only came to deceive so they could steal and destroy the sheep. 

How do false teachers, religions, or ideologies “rob and steal” today?

Jesus tells us in this passage that “the sheep hear his voice." He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. In the ancient sheep pens, there were usually more than one shepherd’s sheep in the pen. This passages states that those who knew their shepherd’s voice responded by following Him. The evidence that the sheep were part of the shepherd’s flock were: they heard his voice, he called them by name, he led them, they follow, he goes ahead of them, he protects them, they never follow a stranger but actually run away from strangers.

What does the evidence described have to do with feeling secure? 

How do they compare with having a personal relationship with Jesus? 

How does the fact that Jesus knows your name as His sheep make you feel more secure, even when you are “outside of the sheep pen?”

How does going out of the sheep pen with the shepherd leading relate to how we, as believers, should live our faith? 

The sheep that respond to the shepherd in Jesus’ analogy represent God’s people. In the world of shepherding, the shepherd developed a relationship with his sheep, whereby they came to recognize his voice. Sheep gained a sense of security from the one who constantly provided green pastures, still waters, and a secure place to bed down.

If We are His Sheep, His Security Provides Us Protection and Provision – John 10:7-10

Jesus had already indicated that the religious leaders were robbing people of their security instead of offering them security through a growing relationship with God.

Jesus uttered the third of His seven “I am” sayings recorded in John’s Gospel when He said “I am the gate”(door). Jesus used these sayings to identify Himself as God’s Son. Jesus proclaimed to be the only legitimate access (gate) to God for people needing forgiveness, life, and security. No one could enter the security of the sheep pen or go out to find food and water except through Him. Following Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, would give them security because they would be saved—rescued, liberated, and preserved. The Good Shepherd would protect them, and He would provide for their needs—find pasture. 

How does Jesus’ promise of salvation, protection, and provision help you deal with those times when you feel insecure?

Continuing His application of the shepherd-sheep illustration, Jesus declared, “I am the good shepherd.” This is the fourth of seven “I am” sayings in John’s Gospel. Jesus shifted His emphasis from being the access to the sheep pen to being the Good Shepherd.

Being His Sheep Means we have a Shepherd Who Died to Rescue Us. – John 10:10-18

Jesus’ audience would most likely remember Amos 3:12 as Jesus described the sacrifices a shepherd would make to save his sheep: As the shepherd snatches two legs or a piece of an ear from the lion’s mouth, so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be rescued with only the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch. A shepherd took his job so seriously that he would actually lay down his life for his sheep. Many times he had to prove to an owner that he did everything he could to protect the sheep from thieves and predators. The picture God paints in this passage is that of a shepherd who tried every way possible to protect the sheep. His proof that everything possible was done was that he would at least present a body part that he snatched from the lion’s mouth.

Additionally, 1 Samuel 17:34-35, describes David as a shepherd who knew how to protect his father’s sheep. He placed his life in danger to rescue his father’s sheep.

Also notice the progression in these verses in John:  I know my sheep – they know me – The Father knows Me – I know the Father.  We can experience the same kind of relationship with Jesus and the Father as they have with one another. What security! Jesus also reveals that his sheep include both Jews and Gentiles. He continues to emphasize that salvation is for all who hear His voice and follow.

In verse 17, “I am laying down my life so I may take it up again” refers to Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection. When Jesus states in verse 18, “on My own,” He indicates that He chose to die. It was not dictated to Him by circumstances. It was an intentional choice because of His love for the Father and His sheep!

As a result of Jesus’ discourse, debate and division arose among the Jews. Some said Jesus was demon-possessed and insane, while others countered that a demon-possessed person could not speak as Jesus did or give sight to the blind as He had done. Then, in verses 22-30, Jesus was back in Jerusalem for the Festival of Dedication, which took place during our month of December. While Jesus was walking in the temple complex in Solomon’s Colonnade, the religious leaders surrounded Him and demanded that if He was the Messiah, He should say so plainly.

It was at this point that Jesus not only responded to them, but He also stated emphatically that He guarantees eternal life to those who hear His voice and follow Him because He is God’s Son.

If we are His Sheep, Jesus Gives Us a Guarantee—John 10:25-30 

Jesus declared that He and the Father are one. This affirmation is one of the most precise statements of Jesus’ Deity in the Bible. Believers can feel secure precisely because the Father and the Son are united in their love for sinners, in their quest to save sinners, and in their very being as God. Notice the words Jesus used to define the security we have when we follow Christ: eternal life, never perish, no one could snatch His followers from His hand.

In light of the guarantee in these verses, why do believers still fail to rely on Jesus for their security? How should knowing you are completely secure in Christ change the way you live? The way you view life?

Do You Hear His Voice? How Secure Are You?

Throughout these passages, Jesus emphasized that His sheep hear His voice, He knows them, and they follow Him. He also emphatically stated that those who don’t believe, aren’t His sheep. Only those who are His sheep can experience true security.

Imagine that you are so secure in your relationship with Christ that you respond to Him as the Good Shepherd like these sheep respond to their shepherd

Think about people you know who don’t know Christ. As you consider Jesus as the Shepherd, what thoughts or feelings do you have about the spiritual insecurity those people face? What can you do to help them see that you are secure in Christ?

What hinders you from hearing the voice of Jesus and following Him? What changes might you need to make this week to walk more closely to Him so you can more easily hear His voice?

Perhaps you have realized through a study of this passage that you aren’t secure in your relationship with Jesus. Consider talking with the Lord or someone about how you can resolve the lack of security you may feel.

The downloadable teaching helps provide more details for this study, along with some tools you can use in guiding a group Bible study. 

Download PDF Version

Download Word Version

LifeWay Explore The Bible Resources

These teaching helps are intended to be used as a supplement to your study of Lifeway's Explore the Bible curriculum resources. Portions of this material are taken directly from content copyrighted to Lifeway Christian Resources Explore the Bible and is used with permission.  This material has not been reviewed by Lifeway Christian Resources. 

Have you ever had an eye exam? What was the most difficult part of the examine? What did you discover about your vision? Sometimes what we see or don’t see has nothing to do with the health of our vision. Have you ever looked for something, finally realizing it was right in front of you and you just didn’t see it? This was the case for those who saw a blind man healed in John 9. The Explore the Bible Study: You Have Seen Him will remind you that spiritual blindness causes people to miss seeing Jesus.

According to John 9, Jesus, using mud, healed a man who was blind from birth. While this miracle was an act of grace for the blind man, it was also intended to help people see Jesus for who He really was. Instead, it prompted more questions for and criticisms of Jesus. It was through this experience that Jesus again revealed Himself as God’s Son, the Messiah, sent from God, to reveal God’s redemptive plan to the world. Sadly, most in the crowd could not see Jesus for who He really was, even though they had physical sight to see that the Messiah was right in front of them. They were blind and in need of healing that could only come from Jesus. The blind man’s encounter and healing is introduced to us in John 9:1-7.

The remainder of John 9 describes the flurry of questions and confusion that this man’s healing stirred up in the Jewish community which revealed the spiritual blindness of those who observed the healing of this blind man.

Cynicism blinded the neighbors. They just couldn’t “see” how this could happen! – John 9:8-12

How do our “neighbors” today express their blindness to Jesus and His work of redemption? How do they respond when someone is transformed by the saving power of Christ? 

How would you feel if you were the blind man, and no one believed you? How would someone who is miraculously saved today respond if people questioned his spiritual healing? How can we protect ourselves from this type of cynicism?

 One might let the neighbor’s cynicism slide but notice how the religious leaders responded.

Religious tradition and bias blinded the religious crowd – John 9:13-17

This cynical crowd, including neighbors, brought this man to the Pharisees. They wanted answers because this amazing miracle took place on the Sabbath—how dare anyone heal someone on the Sabbath! The Pharisees asked their cynical questions and the man who used to be blind answered in the same way he did with his neighbors. His story didn’t change. 

These religious leaders used the Sabbath as an excuse to accuse Jesus. They really viewed this healing by Jesus as a threat to their power.  Jesus was calling attention to their inadequacies, their lack of compassion, and their blindness to the ways of God. While they used tradition as their excuse it was more about their bias toward Jesus because He “performed such signs.” 

Their final bias was very revealing about their own state. It was in the form of a question, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” They couldn’t see beyond what they knew about themselves and humanity. They should have been grateful that God sent someone who could heal a blind man. Through their bias they reminded everyone that all men are sinners. They revealed that only someone who was sinless could perform such miracles. They revealed that Jesus was sinless because He was from God – He was and is God! Sadly, they were blind to their own line of questioning. They still couldn’t see Jesus!

Sometime believers respond in a similar way to someone who, having been spiritually blind for so long, is suddenly and miraculously saved? Why is this so? How can we protect ourselves from the rationalization and bias of the Pharisees?

One would think at least the parents would stand by their son. Yet we see how fear blinded them too.

Fear blinded the parents – John 9:18-23

This is a sad story for the parents, yet we must not be too quick to judge. John tells us they were afraid of the Jews. This is an indictment toward the culture of fear that had been created by the community. They had a set of rules that were way beyond the scope of the Bible and these rules were to be followed. If not, then there would be severe consequences. In this case, if they defended their son, they would be banned from the synagogue.  They were afraid they would be ostracized by the community. 

However, if you look closely at John’s record, there is another phrase that’s very important. They were afraid because “the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed him as the Messiah.” This phrase doesn’t mention the son. It doesn’t mention standing for their son. These parents were afraid of being identified or associated with anything or anyone, in this case their son, that might lead the crowd to assume they confessed Jesus as the Messiah. Their real fear was being identified with Christ.

What fears pressure us to remain quiet about being identified as one who confesses Jesus as Messiah? What should we learn from the reaction of these parents regarding the pressures from the community toward our belief in Christ?

Finally, the blind man speaks up boldly. He was the only one who could see that day. Everyone else was blind!

The blind man gave sight to the blind! – John 9:24-34

In the course of his defense, this blind man whose sight was restored boldly asks all those who questioned him, “You don’t want to become his disciples too, do you?”  He was amazed that they couldn’t see where He came from! He reminded them that God was listening to Jesus and that, if He weren’t from God, He wouldn’t be able to do anything. This blind beggar whose sight had been restored saw much more than anyone that day. Sadly, their response was to throw the man out. They neither celebrated his healing nor accepted his testimony about Jesus. 

You can't see Jesus until you see your sin!

This is not the end but only the beginning for the blind man. Later Jesus found him. Here is how John describes that encounter in John 9:35-41: 35 Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, and when he found him, he asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, Sir, that I may believe in him?” he asked. 37 Jesus answered, “You have seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38 “I believe, Lord!” he said, and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and asked him, “We aren’t blind too, are we?” 41 “If you were blind,” Jesus told them, “you wouldn’t have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

What this blind beggar whose sight was restored experienced physically led to an encounter with Jesus that led to his spiritual transformation. He believed in and worshipped Jesus! One would think this final conversation would lead the Pharisees who were still listening to respond in like manner, but they didn’t. It only fueled their anger because they realized they were the ones who were blind. They were blind to Jesus as their Savior, but in their rejection of Christ, they did see for the first time, that they too were sinners in need of a Savior.

What can you learn from the blind beggar’s encounter with Jesus? What warnings should we note regarding how we respond when someone’s life is changed because of the good news of Jesus?

Jesus tied the conversation of blindness to the one thing that separated people from God: sin. To refuse to see this truth—as the Pharisees, neighbors, and parents did—has eternal consequences! May we have the sight of the blind man. People must see themselves as sinners before they can see Jesus as their Savior. Consider how you should help others see their sin and see Jesus.

The downloadable teaching helps provide more details for this study, along with some tools you can use in guiding a group Bible study. 

Download PDF Version 

Download Word Version

LifeWay Explore The Bible Resources

These teaching helps are intended to be used as a supplement to your study of Lifeway's Explore the Bible curriculum resources. Portions of this material are taken directly from content copyrighted to Lifeway Christian Resources Explore the Bible and is used with permission.  This material has not been reviewed by Lifeway Christian Resources. 

There are all types, sizes, and color temperatures of lights.  There are warm white light bulbs that produce a yellowish light. There are the cool white lights that produce light similar to a fluorescent. There are daylight lights that produce a blue-white light that is the equivalent of outdoor light. There are the LED, florescent, incandescent, black light, and halogen bulbs. Did you know that LED lighting is the most conventional light source used for open surgery. It reduces the shadows. Thank goodness surgeons use good lighting! There is the light used in forensics to discover blood at a crime scene. Now there is a special light used by many dentists to detect oral cancer. Light is even used to measure blood flow in veins and arteries. But there is only one light that gives eternal life. This light is not a thing but a person--Jesus Christ. The Explore the Bible Study: I Am The Light will focus on helping you understand more fully what Jesus meant when He proclaimed that He is the light.

As the Light, Jesus reveals all that is hidden in the darkness – John 8:3-11

These religious leaders were using the adulterous woman as a pawn, but Jesus, as The Light, exposes the dark sins that were evident in all who were present in this confrontation.

The hypocrisy of their actions is so obvious to all. If they had really been serious about sin, they would have dealt with the man as well, as outlined in Deuteronomy 22:22. But, their actions were not about redemption. This is obvious by the way they used this woman as their pawn. They only desired to discredit Jesus. Instead, Jesus discredits them because of their own hypocrisy. 

Then Jesus acts redemptively in how He treats the woman. Jesus, The Light, did not ignore her sin, but He forgave and gave instructions. He told her to “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” This is not the first time Jesus used this phrase. In John 5:1-15, Jesus instructed the invalid by the Pool of Bethesda to do the same. Jesus was not speaking of sinless perfection. He was warning them and all who have experienced His forgiveness to not return to sinful lifestyle choices. His words demonstrated grace and mercy while demanding holiness on the part of the one forgiven. Forgiveness comes with the expectation that we will not continue down the same dark path. If one has truly experienced God’s love, one will naturally desire to pursue holy living.

To see the darkness within us and to receive Christ’s forgiveness is to experience a heart change. The forgiveness Jesus gives is not cheap, and it does not excuse sin. If we truly understood the cost of that forgiveness, we would no longer choose to continue down the dark path of habitual sin. 

Consider the darkness Jesus sees in your heart. If you have received his forgiveness and experienced His salvation, then your life will be different. Are you striving to drive out the dark influences of sin that continue to influence you? Or do you walk away as the scribes and Pharisees did?

Jesus overturned the judgment of the religious leaders because they too had sinned. Not one of them could “cast the first stone.” It is against this backdrop that Jesus introduces the second of the great “I Am’s,” “I am the light of the world.”

As the Light, Jesus gives life – John 8:12-18

God gives us illustrations in creation regarding light and darkness that should help us understand what Jesus is saying regarding light. Perhaps one of the most notable illustrations comes from the state of Alaska. The northernmost city in Alaska is Barrow. During the winter, residents don’t see the sun for 67 days, but they enjoy over 80 days of uninterrupted daylight during the summer. The darkness during the winter does bring challenges to the residents, but when the light is constant, it’s very different. Even produce is known to grow larger because of so much light -- Alaska has won world records for their 76-pound rutabaga and 127-pound cabbage. Light gives opportunity for growth that isn’t as available when darkness is prevalent.

In addition to taking advantage of the long daylight hours to grow produce, Alaska and other places that experience days of darkness have turned to technology to sustain growth year around. This has led to the use of the LED and fluorescent bulbs to to produce full-spectrum light that plants need in order to grow.

Jesus linked Himself to God’s identity as the great I AM (Exodus 3:14). In doing so, Jesus claimed equality with God the Father. As the light, His presence exposes sins, such as the hypocrisy of the religious leaders and the immorality of the adulterous woman. On a more positive note, Jesus illuminates the path of anyone who follows Him, thus giving them life.

Jesus said that, as the “light of the world,” those who followed Him would never walk in darkness but would have the “light of life.” How would you explain what Jesus is saying about Himself?

Jesus also points out that the human standards, by which the Pharisees judged Him (and others), were flawed. They only looked at the external that was superficial, and showed partiality. In the previous verses the adulterous woman was judged but not the man. Their motives for judging the woman weren't pure either; it was tainted by their own sinful/selfish desires.

Notice also the justification Jesus gave to indicate His testimony was valid. He knew where He came from and where He was going. 

Then Jesus makes a set of interesting statements, “I judge no one” and then, “I and the Father who sent Me judge together." Many have focused on the first statement regarding what Jesus said about not judging anyone using it to justify sinful lifestyle choices and other sins. But Jesus is not saying He doesn't judge sin. The fact is sin was already judged. Jesus came so that those living under the judgement of sin might be redeemed. We are already judged and found guilty. There is no need for Him to come and judge us. His purpose for coming was explained in John 3:17 – “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” But, one day Jesus will judge -- see John 5:22-24.

Since man’s judgment is flawed, why do we struggle so much with the fact that God judges us?

Jesus Is The Light

Jesus, as the Light of the world illuminates even the darkest corners of our lives, revealing the sin that is prevalent. This illumination only confirms that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. Because all have sinned, judgment has already been cast. So, as the Light, Jesus gives life to those who follow Him.  He promises that we will no longer be condemned to walk in darkness. Forgiven by His grace, we can walk in His light. Yet, one must remember that, for those who refuse to follow Jesus, a day will come when Jesus and the Father will formally judge all who reject Him.

Take a moment to write down what it means to you as a believer that you are no longer walking in darkness because of Jesus.

How can you introduce others to the Light of the world so they can follow Him out of darkness?

The downloadable teaching helps provide more details for this study, along with some tools you can use in guiding a group Bible study. 

Download PDF Version 

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LifeWay Explore The Bible Resources

These teaching helps are intended to be used as a supplement to your study of Lifeway's Explore the Bible curriculum resources. Portions of this material are taken directly from content copyrighted to Lifeway Christian Resources Explore the Bible and is used with permission.  This material has not been reviewed by Lifeway Christian Resources.