BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com
BIBLE STUDY LESSON
For
the week beginning Sunday March 30, 2014
____________________________________________________________
BELIEVE
EXCLUSIVELY
(JESUS
is the only way to GOD)
John
14
In John chapter 14, JESUS continues
to teach HIS disciples in private. Here HE focuses on trying to encourage them
to hold fast to the belief that HE has revealed to them exactly what GOD THE
FATHER is like. In the Greek, the word New Testament writers use for “promise”
is “epaggello” (ep-ang-el-ee-ah), and it is “an announcement of
divine assurance of good”.
John 14:1-3 is arguably, one of the
most beautifully written passages in, perhaps, the most beautifully
written book, in all of Scripture. It comes in the form of a “divine
promise”, to those who believe in CHRIST JESUS. Here in this
passage, JESUS, first, encourages, and then, makes a promise to HIS
followers with these divine words; “Let not your heart be troubled: ye
believe in GOD, believe also in ME. In MY FATHER’s house are many mansions: if
it were not so, I would tell you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto MYSELF;
that where I AM, there ye may be also” (KJV).
It is a promise that is made at a
time when the cumulative weight of all the previous revelations that JESUS had
laid on HIS disciples had begun to set in and depress them. Remember, HE had
already revealed to them that HE would go away, and, they would not
be able to follow HIM (John 7:34, 8:21, 12:8 & 35, and 13:33). HE had
also revealed to them that HE would die (John 12:32-33), and, that one
of them would betray HIM (John 13:21). Furthermore, HE had already revealed
to Peter that he would deny HIM, not once, but three times
before daybreak (John 13:38). And also, that satan would be working against
them (Luke 22:31-32), and, at that time, everyone of them would fall
away from HIM (Matthew 26:31).
And so we see it is a statement
that was much needed to try and comfort and allay the fears of what was about
to befall HIS disciples in the very near future. It is said that a
person’s heart is at the center of their personality, and that, we must
keep our hearts with all diligence. Our soul’s sorrow is relieved when we
trust in the word of GOD, and CHRIST says, if you trust GOD, trust also in
HIM.
“I AM the WAY, THE TRUTH, and
THE LIFE” is what JESUS said to a “doubting” Thomas in John 14:6. It is the
sixth of JESUS’ seven great “I AM statements” found in the Gospel of John.
JESUS tells us plainly that if we have seen HIM, we have already seen GOD, and if
we “know” HIM and “have” HIM in us, we already possess “Eternal Life”.
In the final analysis, all man
ever really seeks is a better life for himself and his family. He never seeks
knowledge, just for knowledge sake, but rather, for what that knowledge can do
to make his life more worth living. It is JESUS’ claim, that obedience to HIM
is the only true foundation that we can securely build upon. It is HIS
contention that life through HIM is the only life worth living. No one can
go to the FATHER, but by JESUS, because, HE alone, is “THE WAY” to GOD. In
HIM, we see exactly what GOD is like. And only HE can usher us, into GOD’s OWN
glorious presence, without fear, without guilt, and, without
shame.
Anyone who believes in CHRIST
JESUS will desire to do the same work that HIS earthly ministry demonstrates to
us that HE did. But JESUS says that we can do even greater works than HE did,
and this is simply because many of us will have much more time on this earth
than HE had. In addition, we are able to ask GOD for anything within HIS
Will, and, in the name of JESUS, and HE will grant it, because all of
JESUS’ work during HIS earthly ministry, brought glory to HIS FATHER in Heaven
(Vs. 12-14). And if we do the work of CHRIST JESUS, we too, will bring glory
the SAME, our FATHER, WHO art in Heaven.
John 14:15-31 is the conclusion of
JESUS’, now famous, “Upper Room Discourse” to HIS disciples. Up until
this point, very little had been mentioned, regarding the HOLY SPIRIT. In the
New Testament Greek, the word used for “Comforter” is “Parakletos”
(Par-ak-lay-tos), and it is “an Intercessor”, or “a Counselor”. “Comforter”
is the word translated here and used by JESUS to describe the function of
the HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM HE would send soon after HIS departure back into
Heaven. This COMFORTER would stand as a force against man’s own “sin nature”
that would lead him into all truth. HE would also be a force that
unbelievers would not be able to see or receive into their lives. Only
those, who receive CHRIST first, will be able to partake in this wonderful gift
from GOD the FATHER.
And while the SPIRIT of GOD was
now dwelling with the disciples in the person of CHRIST JESUS, HE would
later come to “indwell” anyone who chose to follow JESUS through the
cross. This type of reaction on people by the HOLY SPIRIT would be different
from the way HE came upon people and inspired them in the Old Testament times.
In those days, the HOLY SPIRIT would come upon people for a period, and then
would leave them. But this time that JESUS spoke of now, the time of the
first “Pentecost”, would be a time when the HOLY SPIRIT would come to dwell in
the Christian Believer forever.
The HOLY SPIRIT is intended to
actually fulfill the role of JESUS HIMSELF, in the lives of those, who believe
on HIM. It was JESUS’ way of not abandoning us like orphans, and
leaving us at the mercy of satan and his demons, who, of course, have no mercy.
That is why, the way we treat the HOLY SPIRIT is the way we treat CHRIST
JESUS. When we accept JESUS into our lives, our bodies become the temple of
the HOLY SPIRIT, and since the HOLY SPIRIT wrote the word of GOD, the way we
treat GOD’s word (the Bible) is the way we treat GOD in HIS fullness.
Our love of GOD is shown by our
willingness to obey CHRIST through the prompting of the HOLY SPIRIT, which seeks to guide us into all
righteousness. GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON, and GOD the HOLY
SPIRIT are indeed ONE and inseparable. JESUS left us with a peace of
mind and heart that cannot be found in the world. And we can now come to rest
in the thought, that, this life is, by no means, is the final act of the human
drama.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
Official Website
No comments:
Post a Comment