November 12th Lesson Plan
The Gospel of John
November 12th Small Group Lesson Plan
The Testimony of John the Baptist
This week we will be focusing on John 1:19-51. In these verses we get to see the Testimony of John the Baptist and see how Jesus calls his first disciples. Starting in verses 19-34 John the Gospel writer tells us about the Testimony of John the Baptist. In verse 19 he starts with, “And this is the Testimony of John..” As stated last week John the writer wants to give facts and examples of how Jesus is God. He wants to prove Jesus is who he said he is and he wants to give eyewitness accounts of how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies. So John the Baptist starts with, “I am not the Christ”- takes the attention off himself. Then he moves to quoting Old Testament scripture- In verse 23 he says, “I am the voice of the one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said.” This is found in Isaiah 40:3. John the Baptist is saying- get cleaned up, the King is coming! He knows who he is doesn’t really matter- he wants to get across what’s most important to him- This is to carry out the work the Lord has set before him.
It goes on in verse 26-27- “John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even He who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” Again, so quick to take the focus off himself and point to the One he is telling everyone about. I love this as a reminder when we find ourselves carrying out the work God has given us and the World sees it- that instead of boasting about ourselves- we point them to the Father- who truly gives us the strength, talents, skills and purpose to carry out His will.
Behold the Lamb of God
Verse 29- “29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Key words in this verse are: Lamb of God, takes away and the World. First the Lamb of God- this is Old Testament references to the Jewish people. Bible scholar David Guzik says;
The Lamb of God: John used the image of the sacrificial lamb, represented many times in the Old Testament. Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of every time that image is displayed.
· He is the lamb slain before the foundation of the world.
· He is the animal slain in the Garden of Eden to cover the nakedness of the first sinners.
· He is the lamb God would Himself provide for Abraham as a substitute for Isaac.
· He is the Passover lamb for Israel.
· He is the lamb for the guilt offering in the Levitical sacrifices.
· He is Isaiah’s lamb to the slaughter, ready to be shorn
· Each of these lambs fulfilled their role in their death; this was an announcement that Jesus would die, and as a sacrifice for the sin of the world. (Guzik)
Next- “takes away”- Saying that Jesus bears our sin, puts them upon Himself and takes them away by his sacrifice of His own Life.
Then the next key word- the World. This means the Entire World! Past, present and future- All of Us! What a powerful statement. As followers of Christ, this means that this is our job as well- To tell the World. That means everyone in your life (obviously at the right time), but that we can’t withhold the Gospel from anyone intentionally. Jesus will later say as the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations”- John the Baptist is carrying out the work the Lord has given him. What a fulfilling feeling to know your carrying out your Life mission.
John the Gospel writer confirms John’s witness in verse 34, “And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” More examples and eyewitness accounts of who Jesus is.
Jesus Calls the first Disciples
Now starting In verse 35-39 it says how John the Baptist says to two of his disciples, “Behold the Lamb of God”- again taking the focus off himself and pointing it to Jesus. It then says in 37 that those 2 disciples of John started following Jesus. Verses 38-39, “38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What are you seeking?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
39 Jesus said to them, “Come and you will see.”
This brings up the Question of Life- “What are we seeking?” We have that Jesus hole in our heart that only He can fill- this is To be truly Loved! When this base need is met, we will find the other things God has in store for us. He then says, “Come and you will see”- Jesus is saying follow me, learn from me, connect with me which will make you be more like Me. What a promise! If we Remain in Jesus, he will teach us these things.
Reading on in verse 40 it tells us how one of these 2 disciples was Andrew- brother of Peter. Andrew told Peter that “We have found the Messiah” and then in verse 42 it says, “He brought him to Jesus” - Isn’t this awesome how Andrew right away brought people to Jesus. A reminder of what we should always be trying to do ourselves.
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
In verses 43-51 its awesome to watch the different ways the disciples are called to follow Jesus. They all come from different backgrounds and situations. In verse 47 Jesus says to Nathanael, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” David Guzik talks about how This is implying how Jesus is impressed, based off Nathanael’s behavior, that he does not wear a mask. Such an awesome picture that we are to put away our masks- Come to God as we are- and let Him work in our lives.
Jesus finishes in verse 51, “He then added, “Very truly I tell you,[i] you[j] will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’[k] the Son of Man.”
Jesus is saying something extremely important right here- “I Am the Way to Heaven” He is referencing Daniel 7:13-14, “where the King of Glory who comes to judge the world was called the Son of Man.” Bible commentator Leon Morris says, “The term, ‘The Son of man’, then points us to Christ’s conception of Himself as of heavenly origin and as the possessor of heavenly glory. At one and the same time and points us to His lowliness and His sufferings for men. The two are the same.” (Morris)
What an amazing story of the different ways we can come to Jesus. This part of scripture shows us how the first of the disciples came to follow Jesus. This passage also gives us eyewitness of accounts testifying to the identity of Jesus Christ through John the Baptist, And the disciples Andrew, Nathanael and Philip. What a story!
Discussion:
1. All of the Disciples had different testimonies of the way they came to Jesus. What is My testimony? How can I bring people to Jesus through it?
2. Jesus gives us models on how to live. Jesus was publicly Baptized-Have you been Baptized? If not, What’s keeping you from making that public statement?
3. Who is 1 person I can pray for and help them commit their life to Jesus?