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/

Daily Lesson for Monday 11th of November 2024

Six days before Passover, Jesus came to visit Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised to life. Simon, who had been healed of leprosy, hosted a feast in appreciation for what Jesus had done for him. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was sitting at the table with the guests (John 12:1-8).

Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com

The perfume was very expensive, worth about a year’s wages for the common laborer. Mary probably brought this gift as an expression of gratitude to the Savior for the forgiveness of her sins and for the resurrection of her brother. She intended it to be used someday for the burial of Jesus. But then she heard that He would soon be anointed King. In that case, she would be the first to bring Him honor.

Mary probably did not intend for her gesture to be noticed, but John notes, “The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume” (John 12:3, ESV). Judas responded with a quick rebuke, stating that the perfume should have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. Jesus immediately put Mary at ease by stating, “ ‘Let her alone; . . . The poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always’ ” (John 12:7-8, NKJV).

A recurring theme runs through the Gospel. Jesus knows what is in people (John 2:24-25; John 6:70-71; John 13:11; John 16:19). In this instance at Simon’s feast, Jesus knows what is in Judas. John is careful to point out who Judas is—a self-serving thief (John 12:6).

“The fragrant gift which Mary had thought to lavish upon the dead body of the Saviour she poured upon His living form. At the burial its sweetness could only have pervaded the tomb; now it gladdened His heart with the assurance of her faith and love. . . . And as He went down into the darkness of His great trial, He carried with Him the memory of that deed, an earnest of the love that would be His from His redeemed ones forever.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 560.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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

Daily Lesson for Sunday 10th of November 2024

Jesus was not shy in declaring who He was, nor in calling on witnesses to testify to who He was, even witnesses who were long gone, including Abraham. “ ‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad’ ” (John 8:56, NKJV).

Image © Pacific Press at Goodsalt.com

“Through type and promise God ‘preached before the gospel unto Abraham.’ Galatians 3:8. And the patriarch’s faith was fixed upon the Redeemer to come. Said Christ to the Jews, ‘Your father Abraham rejoiced that he should see My day; and he saw it, and was glad.’ John 8:56, R.V., margin. The ram offered in place of Isaac represented the Son of God, who was to be sacrificed in our stead. When man was doomed to death by transgression of the law of God, the Father, looking upon His Son, said to the sinner, ‘Live: I have found a ransom.’ ”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 154.

Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation. He received the promise that, through him, all nations would be blessed. This blessing came through the Messiah, born through his lineage.

Abraham was also the father of those who respond to God in faith (Hebrews 11:8,17-19). His willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-24), the son of promise, was not only an evidence of faith but a window into the plan of salvation.

When Jesus said, “ ‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day’ ” (John 8:56, NKJV), the leaders responded, “ ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?’ ” (John 8:57, NKJV).

Jesus’ answer was astounding. “ ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM’ ” (John 8:58, NKJV).

Jesus uses language reminiscent of what God said to Moses at the burning bush. This was a claim to be God, the self-existent One. No question, the leaders understood the implication of what He said because they then “took up stones to throw at Him” (John 8:59, NKJV).

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24d-07-harking-back-to-abraham/

Daily Lesson for Sabbath 9th of November 2024

Image © Pacific Press

Read for This Week’s Study: John 8:54-58, Genesis 12:3, Romans 4:1-5, John 12:1-8, John 19:4-22, John 20:19-31, Daniel 2:1-49, Daniel 7:1-28.

Memory Text:

“Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’ ” (John 20:29, NKJV).

Throughout his Gospel, John has a diversity of people—people with different backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences—all testifying to who Jesus was.

“ ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’ ” (John 1:36, NKJV). “ ‘We have found the Messiah’ ” (John 1:41, NKJV). “ ‘We have found Him of whom Moses . . . wrote’ ” (John 1:45, NKJV). “ ‘Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ ” (John 1:49, NKJV). “ ‘Could this be the Christ?’ ” (John 4:29, NKJV). “ ‘We ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world’ ” (John 4:42, NKJV). “ ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’ ” (John 6:68, NKJV). “ ‘I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world’ ” (John 11:27, NKJV). “ ‘Though I was blind, now I see’ ” (John 9:25, NKJV). “ ‘Behold your King!’ ” (John 19:14, NKJV). “ ‘I find no fault in Him’ ” (John 19:6, NKJV). “ ‘My Lord and my God!’ ” (John 20:28, NKJV).

Who were some of these people, and why did they testify as they did to the identity of Jesus?

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, November 16.

Sunday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24d-07-blessed-are-those-who-believe/

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The Mission program of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is an opportunity for us to understand the needs of others and share in supporting them. Please click on the image below to watch the Mission Spotlight presentation for this week:

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/mission-spotlight-for-november-9/