Small Group Lesson Plan for April 29th: The Book of John 14:1-14

Small Group Lesson Plan for April 29th:

The Book of John 14:1-14- Jesus-The Way to the Father

                Please read John 14 verses 1-14- We are still in the upper room with Jesus and His disciples.  It is the night before Jesus is going to the cross.  Jesus is pouring out His heart to prepare His disciples for His departure.  Jesus starts with “Don’t let your Hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and Trust also in Me.”  Jesus knows He has said some heavy things to the disciples.  He said one of them is going to betray Him (Judas), He said they would all deny Him and have a failure in courage standing up for Him and He said that He would be leaving them.  So they had good reason to feel this way.  But its important to remember that we can have a troubled life, but an untroubled Heart- because we have a Faith and Hope in Jesus Christ.  One of the reasons We are put on this Earth is to build our character.  I know throughout my life- its been the trials and troubles that have shaped me the most and made me more like Christ.  Jesus is telling the disciples and us that we will have trouble, but we will have peace through these troubles because of what He says in the second part of that verse- “Trust in God, and Trust also in Me.”  We can put our troubles, our faith and our hope in Jesus Christ and the result will be a peaceful heart.  Jesus will say in  a couple chapters in John 16:33: 33 “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.”

                He goes on to tell us about going to prepare a place for us (verse 2)-Jesus says there will be “many rooms.”  There is going to be believers from all over the world- from all different backgrounds that will be one with Christ.  David Guzik brings up a great point-“Love prepares a place for loved ones- think of a mother preparing a new room for a new baby on the way.  Jesus is preparing for us a new room out of love in Heaven.”(Guzik)  And Jesus promises to come back for us(verse 3)- that means the distance between us and Jesus will be no more!  Friends- this is by far the best part of Heaven.  Streets of gold and pearly gates are not what makes Heaven- Heaven.  What makes Heaven- Heaven is that we will be in the presence of Jesus Christ.  In this life here on Earth We have a Jesus size hole in our heart that gets plugged when we become believers in Jesus’ salvation for us.  It feels even more full when we are in His word, emersed with His truth.  But in Heaven that hole will be completely filled!  We will physically be able to embrace our savior Jesus Christ! 

                Moving to verse 5- Thomas, the disciple asks, “Lord we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”  Doesn’t this bring up a great point about how there is so much scripture that we don’t understand and how important it is to study it, Meditate on it, ask questions about it, learn from it and get all that we can out of it. There is something refreshing about someone admitting they don’t understand, but they want to know more. There is so much about the Bible that I don’t know the meaning behind, but that’s what is so awesome about the Bible resources out there now.  They can help explain the context so much more for us.  I highly encourage you to find one that works for you.

Now by Thomas asking this -Jesus is able to answer with, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”  Jesus is offering himself to humanity. David Guzik says-  “This statement says- I don’t know where I am going and Jesus says I am the way- it’s like we are saying I’m confused in this world and Jesus says I am the truth- we are saying I feel dead inside with no hope and Jesus replies I am eternal life.”(Guzik)   Everything we need in life is right there in that statement.

The second part of this statement is very controversial in our society today-  Jesus says, “No one comes to the father except through me.”  Friends-We are simply the messengers with this statement. These are Jesus‘s words, not ours.  Jesus is saying, plain and simple. I am the only way to God and to heaven.  If you want the way, the truth and eternal life- you have to follow and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior- He says I am the way to God. This has also been a very consistent theme in both the Old Testament and New Testament.  When Moses came down with the 10 Commandments- the first of the 10 was- “You shall have no other Gods before me.”  A lot of people look at this statement and say that is not fair. There should be many more ways.  Well let me ask you a question- Would you be able to walk up to Jesus hanging on the cross- after being humiliated, tortured, flogged and bearing the sins of the entire world and say- “that’s great for a start, but I think you need to do more.”   What more could God do than that?  This is the ultimate display of Love and humility God is showing to his people.   Actually-Christians historically are the most inclusive group of humanity. The Roman’s would say, “Look at the Christians. They include everybody”  As a Christian- you can be a slave with a rich person, you can be a barbarian, or a gentile, or a Jew and all can come under the umbrella of Jesus.  The ground is completely level under the cross. It is saying that every tribe, every culture, every language can come- if you come by Jesus. 

Philip Goes on to say in verse 8, “Show us the Father”- Jesus replies, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father”  We have 4 gospels of eyewitness testimony to the life and teachings of Jesus.  If we had a physical picture of God, it would not be as reliable as the picture of Jesus in these 4 gospels. There’s teachings, miracles and works to show Jesus is God. 

Jesus goes on to say in verse 12, “Truly, Truly I say to you, Whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do”  - The work did not end with the disciples and it does not end with us. Now this doesn’t mean we’ll do greater physical miracles than Jesus.  But it will be greater in magnitude through the great commission and spreading the Gospel of Jesus. 

Jesus goes on in verses 13-14, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”  What this is saying is- The way the great works of God gets done through us- is in prayer.  To ask in Jesus’ name means you ask in His merits.  Meaning- I’m not coming in my name, but Jesus. Would I rather go to the bank in my name or in Elon Musk’s name?  Jesus gives us the right to come to his throne in his name!  I’d rather go to heaven in Jesus’ name than mine. It also means to go in His  Nature and character- this is so the things I pray for- are the things that Jesus wants.  Remember that the goal of prayer is to not get my will done, but to get God‘s will done.  When we are able to discern the word of God- we are able to truly come forward in His name. 

So we turn to His word for discernment, guidance and wisdom- so that we can go out to do His greater works in this world. In our families, at the Fire station and to the public we serve. So let that be your prayer this week- to see clearly how God wants you to do greater works in this world through the name of Jesus.

 Discussion:

1.        How have troubles in your life brought you closer to God?  How can trusting in Jesus through these troubles give us peace in them?

2.        What are some ways/ resources you can use/ or friends you have that can help you interpret scripture to understand it more?

3.        What are some ways to make sure you are doing works in Jesus’ name?  His will, not ours?