Daily Lesson for Tuesday 12th of November 2024

Time and again, John records the attempts of the religious leaders to seize Jesus, to bring Him to trial, and to sentence Him to death. A theme in John’s Gospel, stated often by Jesus, is that His time or hour had not yet come, by which He meant the time for His crucifixion (John 2:4; John 7:6,8,30; John 12:7,23,27; John 13:1; John 17:1).

Now the hour had come. Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, brought before Annas, then Caiaphas the high priest, then twice before Pilate.

John has called upon many witnesses from every walk of life to testify that Jesus was the Christ. Now John calls upon Pilate, the governor who tried Jesus. This was an important testimony because Pilate was a Roman, a governor, and a judge; most of the other witnesses were Jews and commoners.

Image © The Classic Bible Art Collection – Formerly Standard Publishing at Goodsalt.com

Jesus was brought to Pilate early on Friday morning (John 18:28). His plan was to dispatch the prisoner quickly to His fate. But Jesus’ demeanor drew Pilate’s attention. The governor questioned Jesus closely and heard from His lips, “ ‘For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice’ ” (John 18:37, ESV).

Though the governor ultimately condemned Jesus to death, he nonetheless three times proclaimed Jesus innocent (John 18:38; John 19:4,6). And over the cross he wrote the words “ ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews’ ” (John 19:19, ESV), completing his witness to who Jesus is. And yet despite his testimony of Christ’s innocence, he nevertheless condemned Jesus to death.

Pilate had the Truth Himself standing before him and yet—allowing the mob to bully him—Pilate sentenced Jesus to death anyway! What a tragic example of not following what your conscience and heart tell you is correct!

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24d-07-the-unwitting-witness-of-pilate/

John has written what is possibly the most well-known Bible verse in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son” which has had many say 
Lord, I Have Made Thy Word My Choice – Hymn 273 and
Give Me The Bible – Hymn 272. John writes of many people who turned to Jesus in this quarter’s studies. Here are two hymns from which to choose for your theme hymn this quarter.

The myriad of Bible texts we are given in the Sabbath Afternoon study tell the story of why: 
I Do Believe – Hymn 486, I Know Whom I Have Believed – Hymn 511, leaving us at the end of the week to sing 
Rejoice, Rejoice Believers – Hymn 599.

Our Bibles are full of those wonderful people who had such amazing faith and really believed: 
Hymn 11 – The God of Abraham Praise topped off with 
Hymn 304 – Faith Of Our Fathers. I would like to add from the pre-1985 hymnal 
497 – Dare To Be A Daniel.

Faith is a strong part of believing which is shown to us on Wednesday by the quote from Ellen White at the end of the day’s study: 
Hymn 523 – My Faith Has Found A Resting Place and then we can say 
My Faith Looks Up To Thee – Hymn 517.

We have been blessed to have the Bible so we are able to read all the miracles of Jesus, and we can believe, even though those who witnessed the miracles still had uncertainty as to who Jesus was, and then we have all of history to view of what Jesus said would happen to our poor old world down through the ages to today: 
Hymn 272 – Give Me The Bible. And, we can see that Jesus’ statement that the Gospel would go to all the world is happening right now: 
Hymn 378 – Go, Preach My Gospel.

 Please continue to search the scriptures this week to be blessed, and to bless many others.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/7-blessed-are-those-who-believe-singing-with-inspiration/

Key Thought: Jesus is the greatest witness to His own Divinity and mission, but also we have the witness of Mary, Pilate, and Thomas as well.
November 16, 2024

1. Have a volunteer read John 12:1-8.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What was the significance of Mary’s actions here? How was this a witness as to who Jesus was?
3. Personal Application: Knowing that Jesus knows what’s in your heart, what should this tell us about the need of Christ as our righteousness? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of you relatives states, “Mary did a great sacrificial thing, and yet Judas had a negative response with different objects to her actions. But Jesus seemed to know each person’s motives. Why does it seem that the social outcasts are treated much worse than the rich and powerful?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read John 18:38, John 19:4-22

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How is Pilate’s verdict connected to the theme of John’s gospel?
3. Personal Application: How can we learn from Pilate’s example about allowing people to keep us from doing what we believe is right? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” How do we define truth and what does the Bible present as truth?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read John 20:19-31.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What can we learn from Thomas about faith and doubt? What mistake did Thomas make?
3. Personal Application: How do you keep faith in challenging times? Do you need physical proof in order to be sure of your faith? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “Why are you a Christian; why do you believe Jesus is God and is the only way of salvation?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read John Matthew 24:2, 6-8, 14.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What do we have today that those living in Jesus’ time didn’t have that should help us believe?
3. Personal Application: Does the fulfillment of prophecy in Daniel help us have a stronger and more tangible belief in the Bible and in Jesus? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/7-blessed-are-those-who-believe-teaching-plan/