CFC Small Group Bible Study Summer 2015

Jesus the TransformerJohn 20:1, 11-29

CFC Small Group Bible Study Summer 2015

Introduction

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

This is a wonderful statement that tries to help people overcome their fears by indirectly stating that fearless people can go through any situation. But becoming fearless is difficult because in any situation fears can arise.

Many people in our passage had fears because Jesus Christ, the Son of God had died on the cross three days prior. Mary Magdalene had lost the one she loved, Jesus. The disciples were in fear that the Jewish authorities would arrest them. Thomas was afraid that he was wrong in trusting in Jesus as the Messiah. But through this passage we see how Jesus transformed these people in spite of their fears, and can still transform us today.

Commentary

John 20:1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. After Jesus had taken seven demons out of Mary Magdalene, she became a follower of Jesus. (Luke 8:1-3)

John 20:17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. “I have not yet ascended” does not deny the fact that Jesus’ spirit went to the presence of the Father in heaven at the moment of his death but affirms that his bodily ascension after his resurrection had not yet occurred. (ESV study bible)

John 20:19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” The Jews did not believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, so they killed him. The disciples feared the same fate for their lives, since they were Jesus’ followers.

John 20:19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Although multiple doors were locked, Jesus came and stood amongst the disciples in his resurrection body with his nail-pierced hands, feet and side.

John 20:23 If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld. The idea is not that individual Christians or churches have authority on their own to forgive or not forgive people, but rather the church proclaims that those who believe in Jesus have their sins forgiven, and that those who do not believe in him do not have their sins forgiven. (ESV study bible)

Discussion

1. Share about a time when you or a situation you faced changed for the better. (i.e. Through relationship(s) that was/ were formed, academic situation, athletics, finances, etc.)

1. Read John 20:1, 11-29. There are many different types of situations that we face in life, but the one constant is that Jesus is always working to transform us for the better. What can we learn from this passage?

1. Please share something that convicted you today and how you plan to apply it this week.