Book of John,  Discipleship

#27 John 7:25-52

October 19, 2021 /

Let’s get started…

Leader:  Have your Student write down the Passage and the Questions. Then, give them a week to prepare.

Passage: John 7:25-52

Questions: 

  • 1) What is Jesus teaching in verses 28-30?
  • 2) What is Jesus teaching in verses 37-39?
  • 3) What questions do you have?

Then, this week the Student will:  

  • Read the Passage every day!
  • Handwrite the Passage
  • Answer the questions 

When you do meet again, you will go over this… 

John 7:25-52

25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah? 27 But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”

28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, 29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.”

30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Still, many in the crowd believed in him. They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs than this man?”

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.

33 Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”

35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks? 36 What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”

37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”

41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.”

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” 43 Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. 44 Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.

45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards replied.

47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 51 “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”

Notes for Leader:

Open your time together with prayer. Be sure to ask the Holy Spirit to lead the conversation and teach what needs to be learned and heard during your discussion. He will give you the words that you need! May you grow closer together and closer to Jesus.

Briefly review what you learned last week. Now, let’s see what else we can discover about who Jesus is…

1) What is Jesus teaching in verses 28-30?

First, realize that in this passage, as in the world today, many people are confused about who Jesus is.  Jesus repeats himself because our belief in the truth about Jesus determines where we will spend eternity!  This is important!!  

In v28, Jesus is sent from the Father.  The people “do not know Him” = the Father.  Jesus knows the Father, so we can know God if we know Jesus.

Jesus was claiming to be God, so the people “tried to seize him”.

Note:  In v31, many believed in Jesus… because “who could do more signs than him”! Their belief was not deep and full of understanding, it was actually rather shallow. They did not want to miss out since he seemed to be as amazing as their weak understanding of how the Messiah would be. But, Jesus meets us right where we are at! Even if our understanding is low and our faith is small. He then grows us into a deeper understanding and relationship with him! Press in!! Jesus will meet you right where you are!

2) What is Jesus teaching in verses 37-39?

v37 Anyone who is thirsty, come to me and drink.  Remember in John 4:10-14 Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well and offered her “living water”.  No one is excluded from his offer! Now, Jesus adds that whoever believes in him (Jesus), streams of living water will flow from within that person!  In v39, these streams = Spirit  This promise is simple… come to Jesus and drink (believe in Him) and you will receive living waters (His Spirit)!

We can also see this relationship in John 1:32-33, Ezekiel 36:25-27 and Isaiah 44:1-4.

Do not be discouraged if you look at your own life and do not see “rivers of living water” flowing from you. Jesus is working in you. And with His Spirit, there is tremendous hope of what he can do through you if you allow Him to. These “rivers of living water” can be seen as blessing to those people around you, as his fruit pours out of your life into their lives. You can also recognize it as you experience His unwavering joy through all circumstances.  

Summary: 

Jesus knows the Father

Know Jesus = Know the Father

Jesus offers living water (Spirit)

Know Jesus = Have the Spirit

Therefore, knowing Jesus is the key!!

If you are looking at your life and wondering where the “rivers of living water” are, then come to Jesus and drink! If you can see some flowing of water in your life, then pray and ask Jesus to fill you to the point of overflowing. Seek him. He will answer.

3) What questions do you have?

Don’t be nervous about this one… the Holy Spirit will help you answer. If you are discipling a young child (and most others!), remember that they are not expecting a doctoral dissertation when you answer, so keep it simple and true. And, it is ok to say, “I am not sure, let’s look into that together.” And then add that question to your study for next week. 

Allow the Spirit to lead a great conversation!

***Here is the passage and questions for next week’s study. Give your student the week to write out the passage and prepare for your discussion.

Passage: John 8:1-11

Questions: 

  • 1) What is it the woman deserved?
  • 2) What does Jesus give her?
  • 3) Why do the Pharisees leave?
  • 4) What questions do you have?