Daily Lesson for Thursday 10th of October 2024

John 11:1-57 is filled with sadness—the sad news of a dear friend’s illness (John 11:1-3); the weeping over his death (John 11:19,31,33); the sisters’ lament that Lazarus would not have died if Jesus had been present (John 11:21,32); and Jesus’ own tears (John 11:35).

But Jesus had delayed two days before starting His journey to Lazarus (John 11:6), even indicating that He was glad that He had not gone earlier (John 11:14-15). This action was not from any cold-heartedness. Rather, it was to reveal God’s glory.

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

By the time we get to John 11:17-27, Lazarus had been dead four days. After four days, his body would already be rotting and, as Martha said , “ ‘Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days’ ” (John 11:39, NKJV). No doubt, Jesus’ delay only helped to make the miracle that followed even more astonishing. To raise a rotting corpse? What more proof could Jesus have given that indeed He was God Himself?

And, as God, as the One who created life to begin with—Jesus had power over death. Thus, Jesus uses this opportunity, that of Lazarus’s death, to reveal a crucial truth about Himself. “ ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die’ ” (John 11:25-26, ESV).

Just as Jesus showed He is the Light of the world (John 8:12, John 9:5) by giving the blind man sight (John 9:7), so here He raises Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43-44), demonstrating that He is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25).

This miracle, more than any other, points to Jesus as the Life-Giver, as God Himself. It provides strong support for John’s theme that Jesus is the divine Son of God and that, by believing, we can have life through Him (John 20:30-31).

However, by the time we get to the end of this incredible story (John 11:45-54), in which many who saw believed (John 11:45), a powerful but sad irony unfolds. Jesus shows that He can bring the dead back to life, and yet, these men think that they can stop Him by killing Him? What an example of the foibles of humanity in contrast to the wisdom and power of God!

<–Wednesday Friday–>

(0)

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24d-02-the-resurrection-of-lazarus/

Daily Lesson for Wednesday 9th of October 2024

This long section of John 9:1-41 is the only portion of John where Jesus is not the main actor on the stage, though He is certainly the subject of discussion. Just as the question of sin started the story (John 9:2), the Pharisees think Jesus is a sinner because He healed on the Sabbath (John 9:16,24), and they will slander the healed man as “born in utter sin” (John 9:34, ESV).

Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com

A curious reversal occurs. The blind man comes to see more and more, not just physically but spiritually, as he is growing in his appreciation for Jesus and believing more strongly in Him. The Pharisees, in contrast, become more and more blind in their understanding, first being divided over Jesus (John 9:16) and then not knowing where He came from (John 9:29).

Meanwhile, his recounting of this miracle gives John the opportunity to tell us who Jesus is. The theme of signs in John 9:1-41 intersects with several other themes in the Gospel. John reaffirms that Jesus is the Light of the world (John 9:5; compare with John 8:12). The story also deals with Jesus’ mysterious origin. Who is He, where is He from, what is His mission (John 9:12,29; compare with John 1:14)? The figure of Moses, who is referenced in previous miracle accounts, also appears in this chapter (John 9:28-29; compare with John 5:45-46 and John 6:32). Finally, there is the theme of the response of the crowd. Some love darkness rather than light, while others respond in faith (John 9:16-18,35-41; compare with John 1:9-16, John 3:16-21, and John 6:60-71).

So scary here is the spiritual blindness of the religious leaders. A once-blind beggar can declare, “ ‘Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing’ ” (John 9:32-33, NKJV). And yet the religious leaders, the spiritual guides of the nation, the ones who should have been the first to recognize Jesus and accept Him as the Messiah—they, despite all the powerful evidence, cannot see it, or they don’t really want to see it. What a powerful warning about how our hearts can deceive us!

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

(0)

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24d-02-the-healing-of-the-blind-man-part-2/

Join It Is Written Sabbath School host Eric Flickinger and one of this quarter’s authors, Dr. Thomas R. Shepherd, as they provide additional insights into this week’s Sabbath School lesson, “The Beginning of the Gospel.”

(0)

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/2-signs-of-divinity-it-is-written-discussions-with-the-author/

View an in-depth discussion of Signs of Divinity in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris.
Click on the image below to view the video:

With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

(0)

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/2-signs-of-divinity-hope-sabbath-school-video-discussion/

Key Thought : Though Jesus took upon Himself our humanity, He always had His Divinity. John used Christ’s miracles to point to Jesus’ Divinity.
October 12, 2024

1. Have a volunteer read John 6:14,15, 26-36.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. How did the people respond to His miracles, and how did Jesus use this to try to teach them who He was?
3. Personal Application: How can we avoid getting caught up in material things at the expense of the spiritual? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of you relatives states, “Why is it so important to believe that Jesus is God? Some believe He was a prophet, others believe He was the Son of God like we become the sons of God, others believe that He was the Son but that He didn’t exist from eternity because He is the Son. What difference does it make. Why is it so important?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read John 9:1-16.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What did the disciples think was the cause of his blindness, and how did Jesus correct them?
3. Personal Application: What should this story tell us about the danger of being blinded by our own beliefs that could cause us to miss important truths? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Is Jesus able and willing to heal today, instantly or gradually through direct miracles or simple remedies? How come we don’t see many miracles today?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read John 9:17-34.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What questions did the leaders ask, and how did the blind man answer?
3. Personal Application: Do you know anyone, despite powerful evidence of the Scripture and nature, who still refuses to believe that Jesus is God and our Savior? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “What are some of the things Christians believe that are “foolish” to the wise according to the flesh and that they mock and reject?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read John 11:38-44.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What did Jesus do to support His claim?
3. Personal Application: If anyone doesn’t believe Jesus raised Lazarus from being dead for four days, how can they believe Jesus is coming back to raise the dead to life eternal? 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).

(0)

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/2-signs-of-divinity-teaching-plan/