Women’s Bible Study -
For the Joy that was Set before Him
John 18-21
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Lesson Twelve
Review of John 18 - John 21
Study for meeting held______
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Our study this year has led us through Jesus’ betrayal, crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and several of His appearances to comfort and instruct His disciples. As we review these passagesand apply them to our lives, may we rejoice in the blessed truths God gives us through John’s heart and pen; keeping in mind the truth we have taken for our theme this year:
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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Day One –
The Price of Ransom - Matthew 20:18
We begin our review by considering what Jesus had told His disciples prior to the opening of John 18.
Today we look at passages from the gospels which highlight Jesus’ words to the disciples concerning His suffering, death and resurrection.
Prayer: May we begin our lesson in prayer, asking our Heavenly Father to guide us in our study, that we may be blessed by reading the words of Jesus concerning His knowledge of what lay ahead for Him.
Read: John 16:15-20; and 31-33 Mark 10:32-34
Study:
1. What did Jesus tell the twelve disciples as they went toward Jerusalem five days before He was crucified?
Matthew 20:17-19
2. How does Mark 10:35-40 show they did not understand?
3. What did Jesus teach them about places in His kingdom? Mark 10:41-45
4. When He entered Jerusalem what was the attitude of the people? Mark 11:7-10
5. What was the attitude of the Jews just five days later? Mark 15:11-14
6. Did the disciples remember, and thus understand, that Jesus had told them He would be killed?
Notes: “The meaning of the cross is salvation. Christ's death was a saving death. It was not saving for everybody. On the contrary, it was judgment unto condemnation for some people. But God’s main purpose with the cross of Christ was salvation. The death of Jesus Christ was the deliverance of guilty sinners from eternal damnation by Christ's suffering their punishment in their stead. It was redemption of others by payment of the ransom. Christ paid theransomto God. This was Christ's own explanation of His death: "The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life aransomfor many" (Matt. 20:28). Notes cont.
Day One continued “The death of Christ was satisfaction of divine justice. Satisfaction was the essence of the cross. Christ died under condemnation of the heavenly tribunal. Hanging on the tree, He was cursed of God.Satisfaction was possible for Jesus of Nazareth because He was (and is) not only a real, sinless man but also the eternal Son of God. Manhood was required to suffer punishment deserved by men. Godhead enabled Him to bear infinite wrath. Godhead gave His suffering infinite worth and value. This costly sacrifice was the price ofransom.” Prof. D. Engelsma in the SB article: The Saving Death of Jesus Christ
Meditate: May we take these words of Jesus from Mark 10:45 with us today, rejoicing in what our Savior has done for us. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto,
but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Prayer: May we close in prayer of thanksgiving to God, for the grace He has given us in the sacrifice of His only Begotten Son.
Redeemed by Thee, I stand secure in peace and happiness;
And in the Church, among Thy saints, Jehovah I will bless. Psalter #69 st. 7
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Day Two –
The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? - John 18:1-14
Our study in John began with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is hard to understand why John does not write of Jesus’ struggle with taking the cup His Father gave Him, but he does not. He begins with Judas’ betrayal.
Today we review Jesus’ arrest in the garden and being led to Annas the High Priest.
Prayer: May we begin in prayer, asking God to bless us as we look again at this passage, that we may be blessed in remembering what Jesus endured for us.
Read: John 18:1-14
Study:
1. What had Judas done previous to this time, and who came with Him into the garden?
2. What two attributes of Jesus do we read about in verses 4-6?
3. Who was Jesus concerned for, and why?
4. What did Jesus tell Peter about the cup His Father gave Him?
5. What was that prophetic counsel Caiaphas had told the Sanhedrin? John 11:47-53
Notes: “Gethsemane! Amazingly profound mystery! Unfathomable it is, because it reflects a depth of suffering that human soul can never probe. It is the moment of anticipation, but its anticipation is that of the steep descent into the terrible darkness of desolation.
Gethsemane! Amazing obedience! Who can fathom its depth, the depth of an obedience that indeed shrinks before the terrifying prospect of a "cup" that is a veritable abyss of suffering, but that is at the same time perfect in its complete and active submission to Father's demand?
Gethsemane! Blessed mystery! Awesomely dark, yet incomprehensible in its light! For through the darkness of the garden shines the light of the cross. And the light of the cross is the light of an eternal love! For there, in the garden, the will of the Father and the will of the suffering Servant of Jehovah meet. And while it is that very meeting that makes the cup so bitter, yet the mystery of salvation is that they meet in sweet accord! And meeting, they reveal a love, amazing and uniquely divine, for sinners such as you and I.”
Prof. H.C. Hoeksema in the SB article: Gethsemane Day Two cont.
Day Two continued
Meditate: May we take John 18:11 with us today and be blessed by remembering Jesus’ willingness to drink the cup of God’s wrath for our salvation.
Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath;
the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
Prayer: May we close our study in prayer, asking our Heavenly Father to impress upon our hearts the cost of our salvation.
O let Thy strength and presence cheer, for trouble and distress are near;
Be thou not far away from Me, I have no source of help but Thee. Psalter #47 st.6
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Day Three –
Peter’s fall - John 18:15-27
John wrote about Peter’s activities during Jesus’ trial before Annas in the Palace.
Today we review Peter’s fear and fall, and Caiaphas’ examination of Jesus.
Prayer: May we begin today by asking God to impress upon us the weakness of our own hearts as we consider Peter’s denials.
Read: John 18:15-27 Luke 22:54-62
Study:
1. What did we learn about Peter in verses 15-18?
2. According to verses 19-24, how did Jesus make it clear that the Sanhedrin already knew what He taught and who His disciples were?
3. How was Jesus treated by the Sanhedrin?
4. What more do we learn about Peter in verses 25-27?
5. According to what we learned from the other gospels, John does not record the harsh details of Peter’s denials (his cursing and swearing). Why would John leave out those details?
6. What lesson for our lives do we learn from Peter’s denial?
Notes: “What are the reasons for Peter’sdenial? The Reformed child of God asks: Why did God will that this denial should take place? Where is the wisdom of this terrible chapter?
Here are the reasons, they are five:
First, Simon must go through a process where he may bear the name Peter. He was altogether too self-confident. You all know his boasting: I shall never be offended even though all these are. I will go to prison and to death for Thee! I shall never deny Thee!He was too proud and too self-centered. He was glorious inhisstrength. Peter has to learn that apart from Christ he can do nothing.
Second, the devil must have his hour. Jesus must suffer death in all its forms. Death is also separation of that which belongs together. And so the devil shall do his part to tear Peter away from Jesus. He tore all 12 away, and the foremost will deny Christ with swearing and curses. That's the devil's part too.
Third, all of the church, to the end of time, must have a good warning. O, I am glad that the story of Peter's denial is there. I would plead with you: do not look down on Peter. Peter is you! His denial is there that you may learn that you must rest on the Rock of ages. Notes cont.
Day Three continued “Fourth, God must show His love and loving-kindness. “And Jesus turned and looked upon Peter!" (Luke 22:60-62) Those words ought to be written in gold; they should be engraved on pure diamonds. Do you see that look? I assure you that I can see that look. I assure you that I have experienced that loving look of Jesus.God must be able to give us a wonderful example of the kind of LOVE He has for all His children dear. The denial of Peter must serve to give you and me this look of Jesus. It is heavenly in quality. That look of Jesus from a face, bloody and weary, with eternal death written upon it, is expressive of God's own heart for you, my brother.
Fifth, and this is the most important reason: God must be proven to be the Rock of all the ages. When all is said and done, and the judgment day come, out of all the ages and out of all the eternities shall arise the granite Rock, and the Rock is God, Triune!” Rev. G. Vos in the SB article: His Own Received Him Not
Meditate: May we take John 18:26-27 with us today, and strive to examine our lives and guard against the many ways we deny Jesus.
One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith;
Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
Prayer: As we close today’s study may we give thanks to our Godfor His mercy in bringing us to repentance.
My transgressions I confess, grief and guilt my soul oppress;
I have sinned against Thy grace and provoked Thee to Thy face;
I confess Thy judgment just, speechless, I Thy mercy trust. Psalter #140 st. 2
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Day Four –
The King and His Kingdom - John 18:28-40
From before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, and the religious trials, Jesus was quickly taken to Pilate.
Today we begin to review the illegal civil trials of Jesus before Pilate.
Prayer: May we begin by asking God to lead us in our study, and reveal to us anew, the nature of His Kingdom.
Read: John 18:28-40
Study:
1. Why did the Jews bring Jesus to Pilate? Why couldn’t they judge Him themselves?
2. What did Jesus explain to Pilate concerning His kingdom and His kingship?
3. According to verse 38, what did Pilate inform the Jews about Jesus?
4. What did Pilate ‘offer’ the Jews?
5. What was the response of the Jews?
Notes: “Jesus' word to Pilate inJohn 18:36, is a word that is absolutely crucial to the right understanding of the kingdom: "My kingdom is not of this world." To be sure, Jesus described the origin of His kingdom. He is king. Make no mistake about it. He has a kingdom: "My kingdom." This kingdom, however, does not originate in this world. It originates from heaven. But the origin determines its nature. It is not this-worldly, but other-worldly. It is heavenly.
The proof is plain and abundant. First, it stands in the nature of the case. That which comes from heaven, specifically, from God through the crucified and risen Christ in the Spirit of Christ, must be as heavenly as its source. Notes cont.
Day Four continued “Second, the heavenly nature of the kingdom is indicated by the implication that Jesus drew from the heavenly origin of His kingdom: His servants do not fight. The servants do not fight to defend their king from death. They do not fight to promote the kingdom. They do not use physical force, or the threat of it, to extend or maintain the kingdom. Jesus referred to the prohibition against physical force that He had given to Peter in the garden: "Put up thy sword into the sheath" (John 18:10, 11). Unmistakably, it describes the kingdom as spiritual. Being spiritual, the kingdom of God can only be promoted and defended by spiritual means. This spiritual means is the Word of God (II Cor. 10:3-5).
Third, that Jesus' description of the origin of His kingdom was also the description of its heavenly nature is proved from Jesus' statement inJohn 18:37that He establishes and promotes His kingdom by bearing witness to the truth. The kingdom of God is the oddest kingdom that ever there was. Although the kingdom of God is always at war in history, it employs only the truth for its defense and advancement. This is clear testimony by Christ that His kingdom is heavenly.
Fourth, there is proof of the heavenly nature of the kingdom of God in the conclusion that Pilate came to on the basis of Jesus’ word in verse 36, “My kingdom is not of this world." Pilate concluded that the kingdom of Jesus was no threat to Rome as the Jewish leaders had made it out to be - a threat by plots of sedition, by physical force, by revolution. “I find in him no fault” was the verdict of the representative of Rome, who had an eagle-eye for rival kings and kingdoms (John 18:38).”
Prof. D. Engelsma in the SB article: The kingdom of God
Meditate: May we take John 18:36 with us today and consider the kingdom of Christ, and how blessed we are to be a part of that kingdom through His sacrifice.
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Prayer: May we close our study in thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father for the knowledge of the heavenly Kingdom of our risen Savior.
For His the kingdom, His of right, He rules the nations by His might;
All earth to Him her homage brings, the Lord of lords, the King of kings,
The Lord of lords, the King of kings. Psalter #48st.6
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Day Five –
He opened not His mouth - John 19:1-9
Pilate had Jesus scourged and prepared for the cross, but when the Jews made another charge, Pilate spoke again to Jesus.
Today we will review Pilate’s mistreatment of Jesus, his strange question to Him, and Jesus’ reply.
Prayer: As we begin to look at God’s Word, may we ask Him to reveal to us the willingness of His Only Begotten Son to take on the sins of the world of God’s elect.
Read: John 19:1-9
Study:
1. What treatment did Jesus receive at the hands of Pilate and the soldiers?
2. According to verse 4, what did Pilate declare again to the Jews concerning Jesus?
3. How did the Jews react when they saw Jesus with a purple robe and a ‘crown’? (vs. 5-6)
4. According to verse 7, why did the Jews tell Pilate their laws said Jesus had to be put to death?
Questions cont.
Day Five continued
5. How did Pilate react to that explanation, and what strange question did he ask Jesus?
6. What was Jesus’ answer?
Notes: “And He opened not His mouth. O, this does not mean that He never opened His mouth. Did He not speak to His enemies in the garden of Gethsemane? Did He not open His mouth before Annas—seeJohn 18:20-23? He also spoke before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. And of His appearance before Pontius Pilate we read that He gave a good testimony, witnessing of the fact that He is the King of the Jews, and also reminding the Roman governor of the fact that he would have no power except it were given Him from above. The meaning, we understand, is that He did not open His mouth in rebellion. He never opened His mouth to ward off the enemy, to escape the cross. He suffered in perfect submission and obedience; He never attempted to escape from the way of suffering and the power of the enemy. He was dumb as a sheep before her shearers.If ever a man had the right to resist, and also the power, it was surely this Jesus of Nazareth. Hence, how utterly amazing is His silence! Indeed, how true it is:YetHe opened not His mouth. Why this perfect and complete submission?
This Silent Sufferer is our Mediator. He did not appear merely as another of the sheep; He stood in the place of all the sheep. He was the Head, the representative, Head of sinners, of an entire congregation of elect sinners, an elect multitude which no man can count. He was not merely Jesus of Nazareth; He was the Christ, our Chief Prophet, Only High Priest, and Eternal King. He came to redeem us, hopelessly lost but eternally elect sinners. Unto Him was given a definite charge, mandate, as recorded inJohn 6:39. Salvation is solely a matter between God and Christ; our salvation stands or falls with Him.
Hence, bearing our guilt He must also bear the punishment. What He must bear is so much more than what all the reprobates in hell will ever bear. Indeed, each reprobate pays for his own sin. Jesus bears the punishment for the sins of all the elect. And, He must suffer this infinite wrath of God in perfect and conscious obedience. In that one awful moment of eternity, upon the cross of Calvary, never to be understood by us, Christ must experience, in all its fullness, the awfulness of the wrath of God upon all our sins.
Now we understand His silence. A short while ago we wrote that if ever a man had the right to open His mouth it was this Jesus of Nazareth. Let us change this, shall we: If ever a man had no right to open His mouth it was this Jesus of Nazareth. Hence, as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, being led to the cross, so the Lamb of God stood before His divine Executioner; and, as our Mediator, looking up, as it were into the eyes of the living God Who sent Him, He responds: Even so, Father, Thy law is written in My heart; I come Thy will to do; glorify Thyself and reveal Thy righteousness through Me, even in deepest hell; save Me, not from this hour, but out of this hour.” Rev. H. Veldman in the SB article: The Silent Sufferer