Key Thought: John points to the witnesses who give evidence of Jesus’ identity. John the Baptist, Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip, Nathaniel, and Nicodemus as well as John himself.
October 26, 2024

1. Have a volunteer read John 1:19-23.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. How did John the Baptist explain his ministry and mission?
3. Personal Application: In what way shall we as Seventh-day Adventists do the same kind of ministry as John the Baptist? What parallels are here? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of you relatives states, “Since Jesus called John the Baptist Elijah, and John said he wasn’t Elijah, but had the same message to prepare people for Jesus’ appearance, and Elijah is to appear before Jesus comes the second time, who is this Elijah and what message does he have?” How would you respond to your relative?
   (Note : Micah 4:4-6 tells us about Elijah. The message to prepare people for Jesus’ second coming in Revelation 14:6-14. Elijah according to the SOP is the SDA Church.)

2. Have a volunteer read John 1:29-39.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What proclamation does John the Baptist make about Jesus and His mission?
3. Personal Application: In what ways can you testify that Christ and your faith has changed your life? What changes would you like to still see happen? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “How successful was John the Baptist in bringing people to Christ? In numbers it doesn’t seem to be many. So how do we measure success in Spiritual things?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read John 1:43-51.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What did Philip’s message reveal about his faith in Jesus already?
3. Personal Application: How do we get people to “come and see” in our personal witness about Jesus Christ? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “So how did Nathaniel, who was skeptical of Jesus, end up going to see Him and what did Jesus do to convince him of who He was?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read John 3:1-21.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How does the testimony of Nicodemus support the theme of John’s gospel?
3. Personal Application: What does it mean to be born again, and why did Jesus put such emphasis on it? 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/4-witnesses-of-christ-as-messiah-teaching-plan/

Daily Lesson for Sunday 20th of October 2024

As last week’s lesson illustrated, the Gospel of John begins with Jesus Christ, the Word, in His eternal existence before Creation. But in that same prologue, John the Baptist appears as a witness to Jesus. Some Jews in Jesus’ time expected two messiahs, one priestly and the other royal. John clearly teaches that John the Baptist did not claim to be one of these messiahs but, rather, was a witness to the one true Messiah.

Image © Providence Collection at Goodsalt.com

The religious leaders sent priests and Levites to ask John who he was. With Messianic expectations high in Judea, it was important for John the Baptist to clarify his relationship to those expectations. He was not the Light, but he was sent from God to bear witness to the Light and to prepare for the coming of the Messiah (John 1:6-8). That’s why he answered them as plainly as he could, saying: “I am not the Christ” (John 1:20).

Also, John baptized with water, but Christ would baptize with the Spirit (John 1:26,33). John was not worthy to loosen Jesus’ sandal strap (John 1:27). Christ was preferred before John because He was before John (John 1:30). Jesus was the Son of God, and John merely pointed to Him (John 1:34).

In the days of rutted and rock-filled roads, servants were sometimes sent ahead of the king to level the surfaces of roadways and to take out sharp turns so as to smooth the way of the king. So, in fulfillment of prophecy, John came in order to prepare the hearts of the people for Jesus.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24d-04-the-testimony-of-john-the-baptist/