Intended as companions to the Blackaby Study Bible, these guides also stand alone as a complete study of a book of the Bible.

The lessons include:

• Leader's Notes
• 7 studies based on reference materials included in the Blackaby Study Bible
• An explanation and interpretation of Scripture
• A story that illustrates the passage in focus
• Other Bible verses related to the theme
• Questions for reflection
• Suggestions for application in everyday life.

Encounters with God The Gospel of JOHN

Thomas Nelson

Contents

An Introduction to the Gospel of John...................................................7An Overview of Our Study of the Gospel of John..........................................9Lesson #1: Jesus Is God's Word..........................................................13Lesson #2: Jesus Is the True Light......................................................27Lesson #3: Jesus Is the Bread of Life from Heaven.......................................39Lesson #4: Jesus Is the Good Shepherd...................................................49Lesson #5: Jesus Is the Life-Giver......................................................59Lesson #6: Jesus Is the Vine............................................................69Lesson #7: Jesus Is the Sacrificial Lamb for the Forgiveness of Sin.....................79Notes to Leaders of Small Groups........................................................93

Chapter One

JESUS IS GOD'S WORD

Word: a message of assurance, guarantee, authorization, promise, command, order, creation, or information-conveyed with the intent of being received and acted upon

B Bible Focus

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.... He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'" And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him (John 1:1-5, 10-18).

John's cornerstone of understanding is that words have life-giving meaning. All words flow from a living source of meaning, reflect ongoing life-related meaning, and produce life-imparting meaning in the minds and hearts of those who perceive, receive, and believe them.

In a broad and sweeping overview, the longstanding Jewish understanding of words was this:

Some words are names. Names embody the identity of a person-that person's attributes, personality characteristics, and nature. Names embody the full and true nature of something. The one whose name is above all names-Jesus-embodies the full and true nature of God, and therefore, of all things God created. In this, Jesus was and is truth.

Some words are verbs. They motivate action and compel response. They have energy and are full of life. Jesus, God's Word spoken into the world, gave life to the world.

Some words are adjectives and adverbs. They embody nuances of form, beauty, importance, effectiveness, and understanding. They differentiate good from evil and good from best, and thus, give focus and direction. They are integral to a person's understanding of the true, narrow, life-filled way of God that is best for man to pursue. Jesus was not just a man, He was the Son of God, and was the ultimate revelation of God.

It is no accident that Jesus identified Himself as the way, the truth, and the life to His disciples (John 14:6).

The Jew from ancient times also considered words to have importance and some degree of power.

The ancient world regarded the spoken word as a deed. They believed spoken words had as much impact as the blow of a hammer or a tender kiss. Jews for thousands of years believed the word uttered from an individual's mouth changed the world. The expulsion of air from the body-in a direction and with a degree of form and energy-impacted the immediate atmosphere surrounding a person and had both a ripple effect and a chain reaction that extended outward. In this way, words took on creative and spiritual power in both the natural and supernatural realms.

Jesus as the Word of God, John said, held all meaning in His being. He embodied the entire nature of God, had the authority and power to implement every desire of God, and was the full revelation of God's love.

Jesus, as God's expression of Himself into the world, created everything-the natural world and the spiritual world. He alone has full authority to create something from nothing, and to transform a sinful man or woman into a forgiven child in right standing with God. He alone is the author of life.

Jesus fully communicated God's plan and purpose for the world, and fully atoned for sins so we might live in a restored and loving relationship with our heavenly Father.

Words are capsules of meaning about who God is, who we are, how to have a relationship with Him, and how best to live in relationship with other people. Jesus was the fullness of meaning in all of these ways. He is the ultimate embodiment-the incarnation-of God. Jesus is the ultimate man, reflecting who we become as we allow the Holy Spirit of God to indwell us and to work in and through us. He is the ultimate embodiment of how to live in constant, intimate relationship with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the ultimate expression of how we are to live in relationship with others.

One of the great mysteries and glories of God is that we human beings have been given the gift of language. Our ability to hold memories in the form of words, to convey concepts by means of words, and to express the full depth of our own ideas and feelings in words, sets us apart from all other creatures. It is by our words that we present the Word of God to others. What a tremendous privilege and responsibility we have to convey the Word to the world!

What meaning has Jesus given to you?

What identity has Jesus given you?

For what purpose has Jesus created you? In what ways is the word of your life an extension of His Word to your world?

In what ways does God call you to speak His Word to those you encounter every day?

A Application for Today

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

Most children in the western world have heard that statement, and many have used it in reply to those who have taunted, ridiculed, or criticized them. The statement, however, is far from the truth.

Words can and do inflict pain-sometimes deep emotional, psychological, or spiritual pain. Words can produce tremendous inner turmoil, discouragement, anger, fear, and bitterness.

Consider the impact any one of these statements might have to inflict pain:

"I don't love you anymore."

"You can't do anything right"

"Nothing you do will ever matter or succeed."

"You are stupid."

"I don't want you around-never did, don't now, never will."

Ouch!

Consider the impact repeated expressions such as these might have on a person over time, especially on a young child.

Have you ever been the victim of hurtful words? Have you ever spoken words you know hurt others? How is the pain magnified by the fact that once spoken, words cannot be recalled?

On the flip side ...

Just as words have the power to hurt, they also have tremendous power to heal, to encourage, to build up, and to reward.

"I love you more than life itself!"

"I can't wait to be with you."

"You are wonderful!"

"You did a fabulous job."

"You deserve the best."

How do you feel when you hear such statements?

Who speaks words of love, encouragement, or reward into your life? How do you feel toward the person who makes such statements?

Do you frequently speak encouraging words? If not, what holds you back?

Not only can words hurt or heal, they have the power to create. Words are at the beginning of virtually all inventions and innovations. What you can express in words often is what can be established in reality. Even words that depict a fantasy often reflect what we suspect may be a possible reality in the distant future, in eternity, or in the unseen spiritual realm.

Given the tremendous power of words, how important is it we choose our words carefully, intentionally, and closely monitor how we speak to others?

What difference might our choice of words have on our ability to convey the gospel of Jesus Christ effectively?

S Supplementary Scriptures to Consider

The Bible tells us everything in our world today was created by God's spoken words:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said ... Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good (Genesis 1:1-3, 31).

Have you ever been part of a creative process that began with an idea uttered in words? How do you respond to the fact that in the first chapter of Genesis, God called everything that He made good? Do you believe God has said the same thing about His creation of you? In what ways is it important for us to acknowledge that all of our creative ability comes from God? In what ways is it important to create those things-and those relationships-that God will call good?

According to the Gospel of John, the first miracle of Jesus was a creative miracle, resulting from Jesus speaking:

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them to the brim. And he said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!" (John 2:1-10)

Mary wanted Jesus to provide wine in her timing. Jesus insisted that He operate on His own schedule. How often do we want God to speak to us when we want to hear, or want God to act on our behalf when we want Him to act? What does God do? In what ways did Jesus perform this miracle in partnership with human beings? In what ways does God ask us today to be partners in His practical miracles of provision to those who are experiencing need? Consider Mary's statement, "Whatever He says to you, do it" (John 2:5). How was this a statement of her faith in Jesus? In what ways are we expressing faith in God-and in others' ability to hear from God-when we say, "Whatever Jesus says to you, do it"? Wine at a wedding was a symbol of joy. The more wine, and the better the wine, the greater the joy. In what ways does God command us to create those things that instill joy or cause joy to increase?

God does not speak idle or ineffective words. Everything He has ever spoken, and everything He speaks today, is with intention. His words change us and the world around us:

"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it" (Isaiah 55:10-11).

Have you ever had something someone said to you stick in your mind and nag at you to the point you finally acted on their words, perhaps long after the words were first spoken? Have you seen this principle at work in the life of another person, perhaps your own child? In what ways might you be encouraged by these verses when it comes to words you say in witness to Jesus Christ as the Savior? In what ways is God alone responsible for the impact our words might have on another person's life?

Jesus, who created everything that exists-seen and unseen-is the only human being who ever fully finished anything:

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit (John 19:28-30).

In what ways are we each privileged to begin new things-new systems, new organizations or entities, new ministry outreaches? In what ways must we each entrust what we create to God to bring the things we create to fruition or fulfillment?

I Introspection and Implications

1. What is the most valuable thing you have ever created? How do you feel about your creation? 2. In what ways does everything we create take on a life of its own? 3. What responsibility do you feel for editing something you have said or created? Changing it? Adding to it? Although we can never take back something we have spoken, in what ways can we heal the verbal injuries or rectify the verbal misunderstandings we may have caused? 4. Take stock of your own verbal communication. What would you describe as the main themes? (Think in terms of just one person. What do the two of you talk about most?) How would you describe your overall communication ability (to mean what you say and say what you mean)? Do you talk more than you listen? Is this true of your conversations with God in prayer? 5. Do you see yourself as a creative person? In what ways? Have you underestimated your own creative ability?

C Communicating the Good News

To a great extent, our sharing the good news of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is a matter of getting the Word out. Consider each of the statements below:

"It doesn't matter how eloquently you talk about Jesus as long as you bring up His name and tell about Him to the best of your ability." "The longer and better you know Jesus as Lord, the greater your vocabulary when it comes to telling others about Him." "Your tone of voice in talking about Jesus says as much as the words you use." "A person who really knows-and remains keenly aware of-the saving and forgiving power of Jesus Christ can't help but talk about Him to others who don't know Him."

Do you agree or disagree with these statements? In what ways are you feeling challenged to become a better communicator about your Savior and Lord?

Chapter Two

JESUS IS THE TRUE LIGHT

Light: the primal energy of all creation, the illuminating Source of all that is true

B Bible Focus

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world (John 1:6-9). There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 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. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God" (John 3:1-21). (Continues...)

Excerpted from Encounters with God The Gospel of JOHNby Henry Blackaby Richard Blackaby Thomas Blackaby Melvin Blackaby Norman Blackaby Copyright © 2007 by Henry Blackaby, Th.M., D.D. Richard Blackaby, M.Div., Ph.D. Thomas Blackaby, M.Div., D.Min. Melvin Blackaby, M.Div., Ph.D. Norman Blackaby, M.Div., B.L., Ph.D.. Excerpted by permission.
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