Sabbath School Lesson for October 19-25, 2024
Overview and Introduction to Lesson 4, Witnesses of Christ as the Messiah
Memory Text: “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ ” John 3:3 NKJV
The Gospel of John shows us many unprecedented miracles and signs that point to Jesus as the Messiah: turning water into wine, feeding thousands with just a few loaves of bread, giving sight to someone born blind, and raising someone from the dead after being in a tomb for four days. John’s Gospel also brought to our attention a variety of people from different walks of life, who recognized the Lamb of God.
He began with the powerful testimony of John the Baptist, who pointed out and identified Jesus as the Lamb of God on at least two occasions. This wilderness evangelist, sent “to prepare the way of the Lord” (Isaiah 40:3), had disciples, simple fishermen, who heard his preaching about the Messiah and were easily persuaded to become Jesus’ first disciples.
The third chapter of John introduced us to a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin, Nicodemus, who was also drawn to Jesus in the early days of His public ministry. Jesus shared a new concept with this earnest seeker of truth–that Jews didn’t automatically receive eternal life. They, too, must be converted and be born again into His spiritual kingdom, just like the Gentiles.
Taken largely from John, chapters 1 and 3, we will read and study…
- Sunday: The Testimony of John the Baptist–Who was this well-respected preacher?
- Monday: The Lamb of God–Who was Jesus, born in Nazareth?
- Tuesday: The Two Disciples of John–Who were the early followers of Jesus?
- Wednesday: Philip and Nathanael–Who was this friend of Philip, and how was he convinced to follow Jesus?
- Thursday: The Witness of Nicodemus–Who was the unlikely visitor who came to Jesus in the darkness of night?
Sunday: The Testimony of John the Baptist
The Jews definitely had developed many flawed ways of thinking about the promised Messiah. One secluded sect, the Essenes, even believed that there would be two messiahs–a priestly one (from the line of Aaron) and a kingly one (a descendant of King David). John the Baptist had the most correct view at the time, however, and became a powerful witness of the one true Messiah, in the person of his cousin, Jesus of Nazareth.
John the Baptist was pressed many times to identify himself. His favorite answer, after denying that he was the Messiah, or even the prophet Elijah (as many thought him to be) was to proclaim that he was “the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’ ” (a quote from Isaiah 40:3).
John differentiated himself from the Messiah by pointing out that he was baptizing people with water, but that the Messiah would baptize them with the Holy Spirit (John 1:26, 33). He humbly maintained that he was not worthy to even loosen the sandal strap of Christ (John 1:27). This “voice crying in the wilderness” also declared that Christ, or the Messiah, existed before him, which was why He was preferred and was the One they should welcome (John 1:30).
Bible Verses:
John 1:19-23
- Why was John the Baptist so careful about how he identified himself?
- Why was there such confusion about who he was?
John 1:24-28
- How was John’s baptisms different from those of Christ?
Monday: The Lamb of God
John the Baptist, calling Jesus of Nazareth the Lamb of God, emphasized the reason for the Messiah’s first appearance on earth. The Messiah’s first work was represented by the animal sacrificial system. Jesus’ death for our sin was necessary before salvation could be fully realized and understood by the universe.
All the way back to Genesis 3:15, the human family was promised a Seed that would defeat Satan. Many prophets alluded to this Seed. Especially Isaiah, who talked about Him being wounded for our transgressions. He compared Him to a lamb, brought to the slaughter. See Isaiah 53.
John the Baptist, and many other apostles in the New Testament and prophets in the Old Testament, bore witness to Jesus’ role as the Lamb of God, who died for our sins so that we could have eternal life.
Bible Verses:
John 1:29-37
- Who did John the Baptist say Jesus was?
Mark 10:45, Romans 5:6, and 1 Peter 2:24
- What do these verses tell us about why Jesus died on the cross?
Tuesday: Two Disciples of John
John the Baptist pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God right after His baptism. But later, two of his followers heard him do it again and they immediately began to follow Jesus. Jesus saw them following behind and asked them what they wanted. They made their intention clear by asking Him where He was staying. They obviously wanted to stay there too (John 1:35-39).
There’s been some question about who these two disciples were, because although Andrew is known to be one of them, the other one isn’t mentioned by name. It’s commonly thought, however, that the other disciple was indeed John, the Gospel writer, and brother of James, both fishermen who became disciples. (Other Gospel writers, like Mark, were also hesitant to refer to themselves by name, perhaps as an indication of their modesty.)
Andrew, one of the first disciples, soon went to his brother, Simon, and told him about finding the Messiah. When Simon was brought to meet Jesus, he was surprised to have Jesus change his name to Cephas, or Peter, which meant a stone.
Bible Verses:
John 1:35-42
- Why might common fishermen be among John the Baptist’s followers?
- What made them attracted to Jesus and later become Christ’s first disciples?
- Why do you think Jesus called Simon, a new name which meant a rock? How would he later fit that description?
Wednesday: Philip and Nathanael
After speaking to Andrew’s brother, Simon Peter, Jesus found another follower in Bethsaida named Philip. Philip, excited about finding Jesus of Nazareth, went to his friend Nathanael to tell him about this son of Joseph. Nathanael showed his prejudice by wondering if anything good could come out of Nazareth.
But, Nathanael, as Philip’s friend, went to meet Jesus and Jesus greeted him by calling him an honest Israelite. This compliment must have surprised and pricked his conscience, after Nathanael had said such unkind things about Jesus earlier. But then, when Nathanael asked how he seemed to know him, Jesus replied by saying He saw him talking with Philip under a fig tree.
Jesus must have not been anywhere near the fig tree where he and Philip had talked, because Nathanael then exclaimed, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49). Jesus then promised that Nathanael would see more wondrous things than this–which also turned out to be surprisingly true.
Bible Verses:
John 1:43-46
- How did Philip’s enthusiasm compare with your own willingness to tell others about Jesus?
- How do we know when it’s right to reach out to our friends like Philip did, even when they might respond rudely?
John 1:47-51
- What would it take for you to follow Jesus as closely as these two disciples?
Thursday: The Witness of Nicodemus
How heartening it is to know that Jesus’ patient efforts to reach the Pharisees wasn’t wasted. There was one wealthy, ruling Pharisee named Nicodemus, who came searching for Jesus on his own in the dark of night, not wanting any attention drawn to their exchange. Jesus knew instantly where Nicodemus’ faith and understanding was lacking, however, and got right down to the heart of the matter–his need for God to transform his life and be spiritually re-born.
Jesus’ gentle explanation that followed included the most popular verse in the whole Bible, John 3:16, which summarizes the whole gospel. This beloved verse explains why God’s Son came to this earth. God loves us and wants us to give us eternal life. What better reason could there be for us to follow Him.
Although we don’t see Nicodemus openly following Jesus, his faith must have grown after their nightly encounter, because he defended Jesus in front of the Sanhedrin council (John 7:50-52). And, in the end, he was bold enough to gently remove Christ’s body from the cross and place Him in a tomb provided by Joseph of Arimathea, another secret follower of Jesus.
Bible Verses:
John 3:1-2
- What does this secretive event tell us about Nicodemus?
John 3:3-12
- Why did Nicodemus need to hear about the new birth?
- How do you think this conversation made Nicodemus feel?
John 3:13-21
- How were these final words the answer to Nicodemus’ original question?
- What does it really mean to say that God is with us, in the person of Jesus? Who was He and why did He come to earth in the flesh?
Friday: Final Thoughts
The witnesses we have seen this week vary in the degree of faith they had in Jesus being the Messiah. John the Baptist was probably the strongest witness, clearly declaring His cousin Jesus as the Lamb of God, the One who takes away our sin. He was so consistent and adamant in his witness that he was soon beheaded for his faith in the Messiah.
Some of John’s followers, simple fishermen who became Jesus’ first witnesses/disciples, were somewhere in between when we look at the amount of faith they had. They wanted to believe, but needed more proof to grow their faith. Jesus tenderly worked personally with them to show them who He was.
Then there was Nicodemus, a wealthy, proud member of the Sanhedrin. With little spiritual experience and background to instruct his faith, despite his religious upbringing, he, nevertheless, reached out to Jesus in a most unobtrusive way and asked questions about Jesus’ identity. Jesus recognized that spark of faith that initially brought him to Jesus, knowing that this earnest seeker of truth would support Him faithfully as time went on.
One Christian author had this to say about faith: “Through faith we receive the grace of God; but faith is not our Savior. It is the hand by which we lay hold upon Christ, and appropriate His merits, the remedy for sin…Repentance comes from Christ as truly as does pardon.” ~The Desire of Ages, p. 175.
Through the faith God gives us, and by following obediently His methods of making it grow, each of us can become a witness for Christ.
Next Week: The Testimony of the Samaritans
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