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Three Years That Changed the World – He is Risen Just As He Said

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Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 22

He is Risen – Just as He Said

(Jesus in John 20)

When Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot and subsequently arrested by representatives of the chief priests and elders, He voluntarily submitted to be taken to trial before the Sanhedrin (The governing body of Jewish Temple). Jesus did this as it was a fulfillment of what the Old Testament prophets spoke of (read – Isaiah 53). This was all a part of God’s plan. The initial accusations and charges didn’t rise to the level of requiring death, but when the high priest asked Jesus; “are you the Messiah, the Son of God? It was His response that provides the answer to Why the Resurrection? “You have said so, Jesus replied. But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 26:64). To the Jewish leaders who heard this response by Jesus, they considered it blasphemy, for to them Jesus was declaring himself to be equal with God. However, their method of punishment for such a claim was to stone the person to death. This was not the plan of God but instead Jesus would be presented before a Roman governor named Pontius Pilate who ultimately would pronounce judgement to crucify Him. As such, hundreds, if not thousands would witness the horrendous punishment inflicted by the Roman soldiers upon Jesus (a fulfillment of what the prophets foretold) and ultimately nailed Him to the cross because God willed it so. At any point, Jesus could have called the entire host of angels to stop such a cruel punishment, but He voluntarily submitted Himself to die for the sins of the world. Jesus was nailed to the cross and there were sufficient witnesses to that fact – four gospel accounts, 27 New Testament books, hundreds and probably thousands who witnessed the crucifixion and death. After His death, Jesus was placed in a tomb. The religious leaders went to great extremes to ensure His body stayed there and even had a stone rolled in front of the opening of the tomb to ensure his body could not be stolen. Well, 3 days later Jesus rose from the dead, because He is God and to fulfill what He told His disciples He would do. Now, there have been plenty of doubters and skeptics from then until now who claim it didn’t happen. To deny the resurrection doesn’t mean it didn’t happen but the evidence that it did happen is overwhelming! You will have to read the attached lesson to see for yourself and if I didn’t cover it thorough enough – read the Bible for yourself and draw your own conclusions. Consider this:

Why the Resurrection? Because that was always God’s plan to redeem fallen man and ransom us from eternal separation from the One who created us. All He asks is that we trust and believe Him.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:16-18)

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10)

He is Risen Just as He Said – Jesus in John 20Download

Three Years That Changed the World – Death on a Cross

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Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 21

Death on a Cross

(Jesus in John 19)

When I embarked on this study – “Three Years That Changed The World”, primarily focusing on the Gospel of John – I knew that this chapter (John 19) would be the most difficult of them all as it describes the detail of the death of Jesus on the cross. It also brings to mind as to who is truly responsible for the death of Jesus on the cross. Was it the Jewish religious leaders, was it Pilate, or was it the Roman government as a whole?

While it’s true that all 3 groups listed above played a significant role in the actual crucifixion itself, the real reason all of this took place was God’s predetermined plan to create a way for Jesus to take on the sins of all those who would believe in him and create a path of redemption through his shed blood on the cross they crucified him on. Jesus was not a victim, and his death was not because of any scheme of man, it was because the Father willed it so. How do we know this:

“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” (Acts 2:22-24)

As we see from John’s description of the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus, it saddens my heart to read the vehement and cruel animosity the religious leaders had toward Jesus. Even Pilate attempts to lessen the punishment by declaring Jesus to be innocent but he is unsuccessful in stopping their cries to crucify him.

So the question of the day is – “Why the Cross”? Because we are all sinners and our sin separates us from a Holy and Righteous God; “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The only one who could bridge that gap between fallen man and God is Jesus Christ; “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8),  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18). It is your choice to believe!

Death on a Cross – Jesus in John 19Download

Three Years That Changed the World – Betrayal in the Garden

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Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 20

Betrayal in the Garden

(Jesus in John 18)

Jesus finished his teaching time with his disciples (John 13-17):

  1. He taught them to serve (John 13)
  2. He comforted and encouraged them (John 14)
  3. He taught them to lean into him, abide in him, obey him and to love him (John 15)
  4. He prepared them for what was about to take place with not just himself (death on a cross) but also the persecution they would face (John 16)
  5. He taught them how to pray (John 17)

After Jesus finished praying, he and the disciples left Jerusalem, then cross the Kidron Valley, and head to the western slope of the Mount of Olives where they will visit the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus frequented this area to teach his disciples and to pour out his heart to the Father. It will be Judas who betrays Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and his personal knowledge of its significance will aid Judas as he guides the religious leaders in arresting Jesus there. It is sad to think that Judas (a trusted friend) will betray Jesus in this sacred place, but Judas, who is motivated by greed, seems to care more for himself than anything else.

There is an interesting parallel to another garden mentioned in the Bible – the Garden of Eden, where a different type of betrayal occurred.

The Garden of Eden

  1. A beautiful place where God walked and communed directly with Adam and Eve
  2. A perfect place of intimacy between God and his creation
  3. A place where Satan tempted Eve to betray God (commit sin) and led Adam to do the same

The Garden of Gethsemane

  1. A sacred place where Jesus communed with his Father
  2. A quiet place where Jesus often taught his disciples and shared his deepest thoughts
  3. A place where Satan led Judas to betray Jesus

The remainder of John 18 tells the story of the arrest of Jesus, his 3 religious trials and his 3 civil trials, along with Peter’s denial of Jesus, not just once but 3 times.

It is worthwhile to stop and remind ourselves that, despite the hatred, jealousy and evil desires that the Jewish religious leaders had toward Jesus, they were only capable of pulling off this sham trial and ultimately the most vile and criminal death sentence ever brought against an innocent man, because God allowed it. This plot to kill Jesus had been in the works for some time (John 5:18) but now in God’s timing he permitted Judas to betray him and hand him over to the religious leaders so they could carry out their plans to silence Jesus. Sadly, Pilate is unable to stop the vehement and vicious hatred the religious leaders had for Jesus, and as we will see in the next chapter, they will cry out – “crucify him”!

Betrayal in the GardenDownload

Three Years That Changed the World – Understanding the Heart of God (Jesus in John 17)

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Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 19

Understanding the Heart of God

(Jesus in John 17)

Jesus concludes his teaching time (John 13-16) with his disciples. During his time with them in the upper room – Jesus:

  1. Washed the disciples’ feet – showing he deeply loved them (John 13:1-12)
  2. Ate a final meal with them where he tells them he would be betrayed by one of them (John 13:18-30) and that he was about to die (John 13:31-38)
  3. Provided comfort that he would not leave them alone and would send the Holy Spirit to indwell them and teach them everything they needed to know. (John 14)
  4. Instructs them to remain in his love (abide in him) and warns them that the world will hate them just as they hated him, but to remain strong. (John 15)
  5. Instructs them to not lose hope, because even in anticipation of his death on the cross he boldly declares, “I have overcome the world!” (John 16)

Now Jesus moves to a time of prayer as recorded in John 17. Jesus begins his prayer by looking upwards to where God dwells. When Jesus asks the Father to “glorify your Son” he was asking that the eternal plan of redemption (salvation) be consummated exactly as it had been sovereignly ordained. This prayer by Jesus considers that his death on the cross (though future) was a certainty and would be perfectly accomplished because nothing could prevent the Father’s purposes from being realized. It is also important to understand that only Jesus (who lived a sinless life) could accomplish this work (presenting himself as a sacrifice for sin) that the Father requested him to do. Were it not for the cross, there would be no salvation from sin (for anyone), no hope, and no eternal destiny for anyone other than total separation from God.

This next portion of Jesus’ prayer (John 17:6-19) is primarily focused on the 11 remaining disciples. As Jesus continues his prayer, he will emphasize that it will be their belief, faith and trust that will sustain them, for it won’t be until after the resurrection of Jesus that they will fully grasp why he had to die. Jesus was concerned for his disciples because he knew that the world (those who reject Jesus and the entirety of evil) would be hostile toward them and he already warned them as such. John 16:1-11). Jesus will ask the Father for  their “spiritual protection”, and he also asks the Father to sanctify and purify them as they prepare to preach the truth to the world.

Jesus finishes his prayer by praying for all future believers (John 17:20-26), that they will be united together, in the same way that He is united to the Father.

Understanding the Heart of God – Jesus in John 17Download

Three Years That Changed the World – Words of Peace and Joy in the Midst of Persecution (Jesus in John 16)

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Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 18

Words of Peace and Joy in the Midst of Persecution

(Jesus in John 16)

Jesus is preparing his closest disciples for the persecution (trouble) they are about to face. In just a few short hours Jesus will be handed over to the Jewish religious leaders by Judas Iscariot, and they will begin a “mock” trial with the purpose of proving Jesus was a blasphemer and this will ultimately end in the crucifixion of Christ. Although they will have no grounds for killing Jesus, they will proceed to do so anyway bringing on the most vile and painful death known to man by crucifying Jesus on a cross. Jesus knew this would happen and although he knew Peter would deny him and the others would briefly scatter, he shared these words so they would still trust him in the midst of that persecution.

“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me” (John 16:1-3)

Although these words were specifically spoken to the disciples, the reality is that all Christ Followers (Christians) will face persecution and tribulation until they are taken to be with Him in death or “rapture” or until Jesus returns and establishes his final kingdom on earth.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:9-14)

Jesus needed to proceed as God ordained it because it was necessary and beneficial to not just the 11 disciples he spoke to, but to all those who choose to believe in him. Had Jesus not voluntarily gone to the cross there would be no gospel (good news). Sin separates us from a Holy God and needs to be atoned for and that is exactly what is accomplished through Christ’s death on the cross. Christ “redeems” those who believe making them at-one (At-one-ment) with God. Jesus knew all this and although he prepared the disciples for what was about to take place, he knew they would briefly fall away which is why he made this declaration; “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”. Next (John 17) Jesus will pray to his Father, knowing that only He could protect the disciples during the dark hours they were soon to face. Stay tuned – we will pick up there in our next lesson.

Peace and Joy in the Midst of PersecutionDownload

Three Years That Changed the World – Words About Proper Relationships (Jesus in John 15)

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Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 17

Words About Proper Relationships

(Jesus in John 15)

Jesus continues teaching his closest disciples just hours before he is to be crucified and in this chapter of John he teaches them about the importance of proper relationships.

He begins with the importance of having a proper relationship with God and it is no accident that he makes his seventh “deity claim” in which he declares “I am the true vine”. Each of these “I am” statements found in the gospel of John are his undeniable claims to deity. As such he is declaring himself to be God.

  1. “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35)
  2. “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)
  3. “I am the door/gate” (John 10:7)
  4. “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11)
  5. “I am the resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25)
  6. “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6)
  7. “I am the true vine” (John 15:1-5)

Understanding who God is helps in our having a proper relationship with Him. A true believer recognizes they belong to the vine (Christ) and will choose to abide (remain) in Christ by following him and being obedient to his words. This is the evidence of a genuine follower (disciple of Christ) and results in the blessings found in God’s will (His glory).

We must also maintain proper relationships with one another and one of the primary marks of a Christ follower is shown by how we love one another. It’s not optional – it is a command and love for one another is to be mutual. True Christian love is the churches most powerful example to an unbelieving world. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14)

The final instruction found in John 15 is to maintain a proper relationship with the world. We are to be in the world but not of the world so the world can see the difference. This will allow us to properly declare the truth that Jesus is God, the promised Messiah!

Words About Proper RelationshipsDownload

Three Years That Changed the World – Words of Comfort (Jesus in John 14)

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Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 16

Words of Comfort

(Jesus in John 14)

Jesus, who had just told the disciples that one of them was going to betray him, recognizes they were troubled in spirit, and he chooses to calm their heart s by saying; “Let not your hearts be troubled”. He now spends time (still in the upper room) helping them to understand why.

The first several verses of John 14 (specifically 1-6), Jesus will once again affirm his deity. He will declare; “if you believe in God, believe also in me”, and “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This specific declaration is the 6th of the seven “I Am” statements (deity claims of Jesus) in John’s Gospel.

  1. “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35)
  2. “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)
  3. “I am the door/gate” (John 10:7)
  4. “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11)
  5. “I am the resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25)
  6. “I am the way, the truth and the life”(John 14:6)
  7. “I am the true vine” (John 15:1-5)

There is some confusion among the disciples as to their full understanding of what Jesus means when he says he is leaving them and then returning. This requires further teaching by Jesus and even some mild rebuke for their lack of full understanding after being with him for so long. The disciples were human and (like us) struggled with doubt and even despair as they faced losing the one who has loved and guided them for the last 3 years.

Jesus will spend the balance of John 14 telling them about the coming of the Holy Spirit who will be their advocate, their helper, counselor and their guide. In addition, Jesus will instruct them to follow his commands, specifically by loving God and loving others and to be obedient to all that he taught them. Toward the end of John 14, Jesus once again says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” because he recognizes the weight of the moment. They need only to trust him and God’s will shall be accomplished.

Words of ComfortDownload

Three Years That Changed The World – A Love That Knows NO Limits (Jesus in John 13)

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Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 15

A Love That Knows No Limits

(Jesus in John 13)

As John pens the words in chapter 13, the 3½ years of Jesus’ public ministry (to Israel) had ended. Jesus was about to prepare his closest disciples for what was soon to take place for his “hour had now come”. This preparation will come through a series of discussions, lessons, and guidance over the next 5 chapters (John 13-17).

“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” (John 13:1)

Jesus knew that his time to “leave this world” and “go to the Father” was in reference to his soon crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus will begin to prepare his closest disciples for what was about to take place and what they were to do. God was in complete control! These teachings/instructions would not be easy for the disciples to accept or even understand but the love of Jesus will become even more evident during this week. Although they will struggle and even feel overwhelmed, through the power of the Holy Spirit, at least 11 of them will endure.

Through the first 12 chapters of the Gospel of John, we witnessed the love that Jesus has for all of mankind (John 3:16) but most notably for his sheep (those who knew him as their savior) to be a special love. He will put that love on full display through humble service, his teachings and ultimately his death on the cross. Contained in these chapters (John 13-17) will be a practical demonstration of Jesus’ continual love for them and the first demonstration of that love will be washing the disciples’ feet.

Despite that love, Jesus knows that one of his very own will betray him. Jesus gave Judas every opportunity to fully trust in him, though Judas’ heart was already moving in the direction of betrayal, Jesus still washed his feet giving him a chance to repent of his sin (the betrayal of Jesus) and receive the same spiritual cleansing that the other 11 disciples were given.

Shortly after Judas is exposed for his betrayal and leaves the room, Jesus will give the other disciples a new commandment to live by – “To Love One Another” and in doing this, everyone will know they are his disciples as they continue his ministry. This will become the focus of the remainder of the time Jesus has with him before his arrest and this “love for others” will become the distinction between the works-based system of “pious religious leaders” and the faith-based practice of the genuine Spirit filled disciples.

A Love That Knows No Limits – Jesus in John 13Download

Three Years That Changed the World – Hosanna in the Highest (Jesus in John 12)

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Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 14

Hosanna in the Highest – Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord

(Jesus in John 12)

At the conclusion of John 11 we learned that the religious leaders were so spiritually blind that they openly rejected the one who claimed “I am the Resurrection and the Life”. They objected so vehemently that they were about to hatch a plan to have Jesus arrested, tried and put to death, hoping to forever silence him. Jesus knew that the Sanhedrin was plotting to have him arrested and ultimately killed but it wasn’t in God’s timing quite yet. There was still more for Jesus to do.

Jesus, the one who had been ministering for the past 3 and a half years performing miracles, wonders, and signs was on his way to Jerusalem (with a few brief stops) in what is commonly called the “triumphal entry” where He formally/officially presents Himself to Israel as the Messiah and Son of God. When this takes place, it will infuriate the religious leaders which will set in motion the chain of events that will quickly lead to his death at the precise time that was foreordained by God. In fact the remaining 10 chapters of the Gospel of John (John 12-21) cover approximately a 7 day period.

It might have been perceived by the crowd (perhaps they hoped) that Jesus would prove to be the promised Messiah that (they thought) would liberate them from Roman rule and domination and establish the promised kingdom (II Samuel 7:1-16). Jesus was their king, but their deliverance would come later when he is nailed to a cross for the sins of the world and raises from the dead, ascends to heaven, and awaits his final return to rule and reign as promised.

John records for us in chapter 12 of the anguish that Jesus felt knowing of his soon death on the cross where he would bear the sin of the world and the ultimate shame that would bring on him (someone who knew no sin) and for a brief moment separate him from the Father. John will close out the chapter with a rebuke by Jesus against the spiritual blindness of the Jews (those who will call for him to be crucified) who refused to believe in Him.

My prayer is (if you haven’t already done so) that you will open your eyes and see that Jesus is the Savior and Messiah and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior (“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, Romans 10:9-10) and be able to say; Hosanna in the Highest, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the Highest – Jesus in john 12Download

Three Years That Changed The World – “I Am the Resurrection and the Life”, Jesus in John 11

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Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 13

Jesus – I Am the Resurrection and the Life

(Jesus in John 11)

This chapter (John 11) introduces the story of Lazarus and his two sisters Mary and Martha. All three of these individuals have a very close relationship with Jesus and in addition to what John records here in chapters 11 & 12, Luke has a short narrative about Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. The chapter (John 11) begins by mentioning that Lazarus was very sick and quickly succumbs to whatever ailed him and he subsequently dies. Lazarus is not the focal point of this story but the events surrounding him, his sisters and his ultimate death will bring about a miracle in which Jesus will raise Lazarus from the dead.

There was a total of 4 days that passed before Jesus went to the location where Lazarus was. By the time Jesus arrives – Lazarus had already been dead. Jesus knowing what he was going to do (raise Lazarus from the dead) declared that himself and God were to be glorified through this, and the delay in the time of his arrival had nothing to do with Lazarus and everything to do with God’s plan.

Jesus knew full well that Lazarus was dead and that he would raise him from the dead (something the disciples would witness) to bring glory to God and to confirm himself to be equal with God (only God can raise someone from the dead).

Jesus uses this moment to reveal to Martha that he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. Martha, though she believed in Jesus, may not have fully understood what Jesus was about to do. Jesus boldly declares the 5th of the 7 “I am” statements recorded in the Gospel of John – “I am the resurrection and the life”. Each of these “I am” statements are claims of deity (Jesus declaring himself to be God) and will cause some to believe in him and others to reject him.

The purpose of raising Lazarus from the dead extended beyond seeing Lazarus alive again. This was a sovereign act of Christ, designed to glorify himself and the Father by putting his resurrection power on full display to not just Martha and the others at Lazarus’ tomb but to all who read John’s Gospel.

The whole purpose for why John wrote his Gospel account is this: “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31). My hope is that you too will believe and in doing so will have eternal life in the presence of God.

Part 13 – I Am the Resurrection and the Life – John 11Download