Sunday School Lesson
May 10
Lesson 11 (KJV)
Promising Peace
Devotional Reading: Zechariah 8:18–23
Background Scripture: Zechariah 8
Zechariah 8:1–8, 11–17
1. Again the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying,
2. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.
3. Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain.
4. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
5. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
6. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the Lord of hosts.
7. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
8. And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
11. But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the Lord of hosts.
12. For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.
13. And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.
14. For thus saith the Lord of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the Lord of hosts, and I repented not:
15. So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.
16. These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
17. And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord.
Key Verse
Again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.—Zechariah 8:15
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Describe the expressions of the peace that God promises.
2. Explain why jealousy is not a sin or character defect when applied to God.
3. Write a couplet that dedicates his or her life to embracing God’s “new normal.”
HOW TO SAY IT
athazagoraphobia | ay-thaz-uh-gor-uh-foe-bee-uh. |
Haggai | Hag-eye or Hag-ay-eye. |
Zechariah | Zek-uh-rye-uh. |
Introduction
A. Don’t Forget Me!
There’s a little-known psychiatric condition called athazagoraphobia. It refers to an irrational fear of being forgotten. The associated anxiety can be debilitating. Sufferers may feel the need to check in with family constantly while traveling. Or they might excessively remind a coworker about an upcoming meeting. Changes in plans can bring on panic attacks. Sufferers’ lives are filled with anxiety and fear.
A few passages of the Bible speak of a fear of being forgotten by God (example: Lamentations 5:20); many more speak of the reality of people forgetting Him (example: Jeremiah 3:21). That fact speaks directly to an important role of prophets: pointing out the reality of God’s memory and its implications for us (example: Zechariah 10:9).
B. Lesson Context
By one count, there are at least 30 men in the Bible by the name of Zechariah. The one who wrote the book of today’s study was a prophet from a priestly family; his recorded ministry occurred after the Babylonian exile (Ezra 5:1, 2; 6:14; Nehemiah 12:12, 16). The datings in Zechariah 1:1, 7; 7:1 compute to a time between late 520 BC and late 518 BC.
The setting in post-exilic Jerusalem is essential to understanding the book of Zechariah. Twenty years after the return from exile, signs of God’s continued favor seemed to have disappeared (Ezra 4:24; Haggai 1:1–11). Many of those who had returned from exile undoubtedly wondered if God had forgotten them.
I. Stability
(Zechariah 8:1–8)
A. Return to Zion (vv. 1–3)
1. Again the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying.
The phrase the word of the Lord … came to occurs dozens of times in the Old Testament as a standard introduction to a prophecy. Much rarer is inclusion of the description of hosts, most occurring in this book (compare Isaiah 39:5; Zechariah 7:4; 8:18). It serves to stress God’s power. God is therefore both fully present and fully capable to accomplish whatever He determines to do.
2a. Thus saith the Lord of hosts.
As if to doubly stress the Lord’s power, the prophet uses the phrase the Lord of hosts again. This is a favorite phrase of Zechariah, occurring more than 50 times in his book.
2b. I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.
There is no doubt in the prophet’s mind that the Lord has the right to be jealous for His people; they are His exclusively (see Joel 2:18). God’s jealousy is not like that of a boy who has a fit if he sees his girlfriend flirting with someone else. The biblical concept of jealousy when applied to God indicates a profound sense of caring and commitment.
This is even more apparent where a word in the original language is translated “jealousy” in one passage but “zeal” in another. For example, the Hebrew noun translated “jealous” here and “jealousy” in Ezekiel 8:3, 5 is rendered “zeal” in Isaiah 9:7; 37:32; 59:17; 63:15. The Greek noun translated “jealousy” in 2 Corinthians 11:2 is the same one translated “zeal” in Philippians 3:6.
Overlap in meaning is affirmed in English by a dictionary entry that offers one meaning of jealousy as “zealous vigilance.” The common idea is one of fervency. God’s jealousy implies His right to protect His people and to be angry at those who would hurt them (Zechariah 1:14, 15). God will show what it means to have Him fully present in His infinite power, intent on keeping safe those who are His own.
3a. Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem.
Zechariah’s ministry includes encouraging the returned exiles to finish rebuilding the temple (see Ezra 4:24–5:2). When God declares His intention to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, He refers to the temple as the specific place of His dwelling (see also Zechariah 1:16). Zion can refer to the entire city of Jerusalem or to only the temple area. Both of these represent the entire nation. For the returned exiles, God’s presence signifies the restoration of His favor (compare Isaiah 52:8; Zechariah 2:10; contrast Ezekiel 10).
3b. And Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth.
Though the Jews had suffered judgment, Zechariah reinforces God’s intentions on their behalf. God’s renaming of Jerusalem uses a term that evokes themes of loyalty and trustworthiness (compare Isaiah 1:26; Jeremiah 33:16). Post-exilic Jerusalem is to have a reputation of residents who keep faith with one another. That trustworthiness is to be without limit as the covenant between God and His people is fully honored.
In the New Testament, the “new Jerusalem” represents the final, complete fulfillment of God’s intention (Revelation 3:12; 21:2, 10; compare Galatians 4:26). In this sense, the city reflects the mountain about which Zechariah prophesies next.
3c. And the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain.
The renaming continues. The mountain to which Zechariah refers is the hill upon which the temple will be rebuilt. A comparison of the date in Ezra 6:15 (which computes to March 12, 515 BC) with that in Zechariah 7:1 (which computes to December 7, 518 BC) indicates that this rebuilding project is not yet complete.
To designate the mountain of the Lord of hosts as the holy mountain serves to set it apart from normal human activity; it is to be reserved wholly for God’s use. Such an image of God’s holy mountain shows up several times in prophecy in this regard (examples: Isaiah 66:20; Ezekiel 20:40; Joel 3:17; contrast Isaiah 65:11).
The redesignations of both the city and the mountain project the idea of uncompromised loyalty to God—true faithfulness.
B. Restoration of Jerusalem (vv. 4–8)
4. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
A noticeable effect of God’s active presence will be the longevity of God’s people. Only a country enjoying peace and stability sees its citizens reach old age. Disease, war, and injustice attack the hardest those least able to protect themselves, and this certainly includes those of advanced age. But in the future prophesied, no one is neglected.
5. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
Similarly, there will be no injustice in the city to threaten the safety of boys and girls. Referring to the oldest and youngest is a way of expressing the totality of the security and stability in God’s kingdom (compare Jeremiah 30:20). All God’s people are to be deeply invested in extending His security and care toward one another. From the last generation to the next, all are to be safe from harm (compare 31:13). This is a powerful promise for those who had experienced the violence of exile.
What Do You Think? What’s the single most important thing your church can do right now to make it a welcome haven for people of all ages? Digging Deeper |
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the Lord of hosts.The new normal God is instituting is so marvellous as to seem fantastical, even impossible, to the original readers. The original word being translated “marvellous” is also translated “wonders,” referring to miracles, in Psalm 78:11. People will undoubtedly struggle to believe what God promises to do. Perhaps doubt is here expressed in the model of Gideon’s question in Judges 6:13. But for God it is no problem; the Lord of hosts has the power to fulfill each promise He makes.
7. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country.
Again we see the imagery of extremes. The phrasing from the east … and from the west indicates a complete whole (compare Psalm 107:3; Isaiah 43:5). For the returned exiles, this likely recalls their fellow Israelites’ being taken into exile in Assyria, as well as other migrations that seem permanent (compare 11:11).
The word translated save is frequently used in contexts of liberation from foreign oppressors (examples: Exodus 14:30; Judges 6:14). This association causes problems in the first century AD for those who think of this connection rather than that of being saved from the oppression of sin (compare and contrast Luke 1:71; Acts 1:6; Colossians 1:13).
8. And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.The powerful themes presented thus far are repeated. To exist fully as God’s people suggests their taking His characteristics of truth and righteousness as their own. God’s loyalty to His people is thus to come full circle in their loyalty to Him. That has been God’s intent since the first sin (compare John 12:32). In the New Testament, God’s intent to include Gentiles is sharply clear. Even so, that inclusion is nothing new, as underlined by quotations from the Old Testament in the New (see Acts 13:47; Romans 15:12; etc.). Zechariah’s prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment in the church.
II. Prosperity
(Zechariah 8:11–17)A. Reversal of Fortunes (vv. 11–15)
11. But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the Lord of hosts.
Here God moves the new normal a step further. This time of restoration will not follow any pattern expected by the residue (same word translated “remnant” in lesson 10). God has a change in mind that vastly exceeds what their recent experience may predict. Thus far, they have faced the uphill battles of reclaiming their land, rebuilding their heritage, and maintaining priorities while doing so (see Ezra 4; Haggai 1:2–4). The result has been poor harvests and inadequate clothing (1:5–11).
12. For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.This promise reads like a reversal of the curse God put on all the earth after Adam and Eve’s sinning (Genesis 3:17–19). Similar prophecies draw even clearer parallels (see Ezekiel 34:25–29; Haggai 2:15–19). Lists of blessings elsewhere reflect similar promises (example: Leviticus 26:3–10).
The promise of good harvests goes hand in hand with the promise of stability in the land. That in turn implies no war, no raids, and no political unrest to destroy the fruitfulness of the land.
What Do You Think? What can Christian teachers do to head off misunderstandings of the “remnant” concept? Digging Deeper |
Used to Be Poor
When I was a kid, my family was poor. But we didn’t know it because all our friends were also poor. I was born in the midst of the Great Depression. My parents provided for us what they could and taught us to be grateful to God.
When the post-World War II recovery came, being not quite as poor as we used to be made us think we were rich. How much richer could a family be than to have a new Chevrolet in the driveway, a 10-inch (black and white) television set in the living room, and two pairs of shoes for every child in the family?
Zechariah’s people knew what it was to be poor. They had been political exiles and had returned to a land that had been plundered by the enemy. So when the prophet told them of peaceful prosperity that was coming, they would appreciate it as God’s gift when it became reality.
What “poor” experiences help you anticipate the spiritual riches God is yet to give you?
—C. R. B.
13. And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.
Bringing the themes of blessing and curse full circle, God reminds His people of His original promise to bless the nations through Abraham (Genesis 12:2, 3). They had been a curse in that while claiming to belong to God, they were disloyal and followed every kind of wrong behavior.
No one could have looked at pre-exilic Judah and understood either who God is or what belonging to Him really means. Instead of drawing the nations toward God, their behavior ridiculed Him. But now God’s people will prove His love and His power in this new normal of living in God’s presence. Just as Abraham was a blessing to the world by demonstrating a life lived in loyalty to God, so will they be. Despite their history of disobedience, God promises restoration without fear of reprisal.
Hands is frequently a symbolic reference of strength and ability in the Old Testament (see lesson 10). To strengthen one’s hands is to renew one’s power and motivation to act. This results in a person being encouraged and empowered to act confidently in the service of God.
14. For thus saith the Lord of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the Lord of hosts, and I repented not.
God reiterates the old pattern of relationship that characterized Israel and Judah before their exiles (compare Zechariah 8:11, 13, above). We note that repented is not in the normal sense of “regret for having sinned,” since God is sinless. Rather, the idea is that of “comfort,” as the same Hebrew word is translated in Isaiah 52:9; 66:13; etc.
15. So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.
Passages such as Jeremiah 4:27, 28 reveal God’s former resolute intention to punish the people of the covenant. In something of a parallel, the verse before us now reveals God’s resolute intent to do the polar opposite. On fear ye not, compare the discussion on fear in lesson 10.
What Do You Think? What are some ways to respond to those who resist the gospel on the basis that God is inconsistent in bestowing blessings? Digging Deeper |
Renewal of Responsibility (vv. 16, 17)16, 17. These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord.
God’s people must reflect His character in their relationships. This is why the themes of judgment (justice) and peace turn up again. These two concepts go hand in hand and should define the lives of God’s people.
The word gates refers to a city’s entrance where legal issues were settled (example: Ruth 4:1, 2, 11). To practice justice there is to set the proper example for everyone watching to do so as well. There will be no bribes, no partiality shown to anyone (see Exodus 23:8; Isaiah 33:15, 16; etc.). For God to state what He hates establishes boundaries of human behavior. This is reminiscent of other blessing/curse and love/hate declarations (examples: Deuteronomy 12:31; 16:22; Proverbs 6:16–19).
Ancient covenants established between kings and citizens frequently listed the positive attributes and actions of the ruler before listing the expected reciprocal responsibilities of the citizens. Zechariah’s prophecy is essentially a covenant in miniature: it institutes a new normal of peace in light of God’s presence with His people.
What Do You Think? Which kind of change should you work on most: learning to love what the Lord loves, or learning to hate what the Lord hates? Why? Digging Deeper |
Conclusion
A. God Dwells with Us
When a relationship needs to go from bad to good, someone has to make the first move. The text for today tells of a time when God did just that. The bad relationship between God and His covenant people was wholly the fault of the people. Logically, therefore, they should have made the first move. But God in His compassion took the initiative, promising great things to His people. And so it still is: God promises great things for us when we actually deserve quite the opposite. He is determined to redeem all who are willing to acknowledge Him as sovereign Lord. Do you?
B. Prayer
Father, may our allegiance be to You alone! Strengthen us to reflect that value and Your character daily. We pray for this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
C. Thought to Remember
Only God offers true restoration and peace.
KID’S CORNER
Jesus Gives Light and Life
Sunday, May 10, 2020
John 8:12-20
John 8:12-20
(John 8:12) Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
In John 1:3, we learned that all things came into being through Jesus. When God created the world, in Genesis 1:3, God’s first words were, “Let there be light.” Jesus created the world’s light and all the sources of all light throughout the universe. Jesus is also the spiritual light and life of the world. To avoid walking in or practicing a way of life described as darkness, we must follow Jesus day-by-day. In John 1:5, we learned that the darkness cannot comprehend or overcome the light. Jesus’ use of “I am” in this verse is His reference to His deity as in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life.” The LORD provided bread in the wilderness to feed the Israelites after He freed them from slavery in Egypt. The LORD also led them with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. Jesus is the spiritual light and life that leads us through the moral and spiritual darkness of this world. Moses led the Israelites out of physical slavery and into the Promised Land. Jesus leads His followers out of spiritual slavery and slavery to sin into eternal life. To have spiritual life and light we must follow Jesus.
An often-used synonym for the spiritual light that Jesus gives is “truth.” When we follow Jesus, we follow the truth—the truth of Jesus’ words in the Gospels and the truth of the whole of Scripture. Spiritual darkness includes the moral darkness and spiritual falsehoods that lead to death, but the truth of Jesus can lead us out of moral and spiritual darkness and into the truth of God and all reality (for Jesus created all the reality of the world). Those of whom the Bible calls “this world” walk in moral and spiritual darkness. When Jesus spoke to the religious authorities and unbelievers in John 8:23, He said, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of ‘this world,’ I am not of ‘this world’.” Therefore, without the help of the Holy Spirit unbelievers will not comprehend the light (the truth) that they often seek to overcome when they “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).
As Christians, to help unbelievers we must pray for them as well as teach them the truth of the Scriptures. Those who follow Jesus do not walk in moral and spiritual darkness; rather, they become lights that shine in the darkness. In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” To let our lights shine we must walk in the truth of Jesus that includes Jesus’ words and deeds. As Christians, we must walk in the eternal life and light that Jesus gives us now. In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If we follow Jesus and His teachings daily, we will have the light we need to walk in this life, and we will always be with Jesus.
(John 8:13) So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.”
The Pharisees did not refute the truth of Jesus’ words, for they could not overcome or comprehend the truth. They challenged Jesus by saying His testimony (like a witness in a trial) was not valid (legally acceptable). Because it was not valid, they said His testimony should not be accepted. They said His witnessing about himself was not valid because it did not conform to the Law of Moses regarding testimony in a legal proceeding or trial. In Deuteronomy 19:15, we learn that to legally substantiate that something happened or is true there must be two witnesses. In their efforts to suppress the truth, the Pharisees wanted to completely disqualify Jesus as a witness for himself; they claimed that Jesus testified in His own behalf and there was no second witness.
(John 8:14) Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
Jesus replied that He was emotionally, mentally, and spiritually qualified to testify in His own behalf because He knew where He had come from (from His Father in heaven) and where He was going (back to His Father in heaven) when His saving work in the world was done. Jesus knew himself, but because the Pharisees did not know Jesus, that He was sent by the Father and returning to the Father and that He was the Son of God, they did not consider His testifying about himself as valid. If they had known God and Jesus, they would have accepted His testimony as the testimony of the divine Son of God.
(John 8:15) “You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone.
Jesus accused the Pharisees of judging by their own “this world” standards and not God’s standards. They claimed to judge by the Law of Moses, but their words and actions showed that they judged by their own sinful human standards. The standards of darkness and of this world motivated them to try to trap Jesus and kill Him on more than one occasion. Jesus revealed how they judged by human standards instead of God’s standards when they brought the woman caught in adultery for Him to judge and condemn. Following the Law of Love, Jesus did not come to judge and condemn sinners, but to save them, so He did not condemn the woman. The Pharisees did not really judge according to what the Bible taught; instead, they judged others based on their own human sinfulness, their Pharisee-made laws and rules that set aside the Law of God, the Law of Love—just as most governments (human and religious) of this world do today.
Jesus did not judge people based on human standards, but by God’s standards as revealed in the Scriptures, God’s Word (up to that time before Jesus’ commands in the Gospels were written). Jesus did not come to judge the world but to save it. In John 3:19-21, we learned, “And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” The Pharisees judged by human standards that were evil; therefore, they condemned Jesus who is “the true light of the world,” who came to save the world and not judge.
(John 8:16) “But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.
Jesus said that even if He judged, and He will judge on the Last Day when He returns, His judgment is valid because He is not judging by himself. The Father and He, two witnesses, judge together; therefore, His judgment is valid according to the Law of Moses rightly interpreted and applied. Jesus and the Father together make valid judgments because of who they are: God the Father and the Son of God, who the Father sent to save and not condemn. Yet, judgment does come in relation to Jesus. In John 3:16-18, we learned, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
(John 8:17) “Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true.
To substantiate what He taught (and as an example to all believers) Jesus referred to the Scriptures. Jesus always upheld the Law of God in the Hebrew Scriptures and gave the correct divine interpretation and application of God’s law. After making the claims about who the Father and who the Son were, and indicating that because of who they were their judgment was valid, Jesus referred them back to the Word of God written. As well as being divine, the Father and the Son fulfilled the Law of Moses in the Scriptures. They were God and they judged by God standards—not human standards or the standards of this world.
(John 8:18) “I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”
In several ways throughout John’s gospel, Jesus declared that He was the Son of God and His Father gave testimony that He was the Son of God. The signs and works Jesus did that accompanied His words about himself were some of the ways the Father who sent Him into the world gave witness in behalf of Jesus. In John 10:37-38, Jesus told the Jews, “If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” The Father and Jesus always worked and spoke together in perfect agreement.
(John 8:19) So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.”
For the most part, with Nicodemus being a notable exception, the religious leaders refused to believe Jesus or accept the signs He performed as from God. They chose to remain in darkness and suppress the truth Jesus’ signs pointed toward because their deeds were evil. Therefore, even though they knew many facts about God from the Scriptures, they did not know God. They knew neither Jesus nor the Father. Jesus then made the amazing statement to them (and to us) that means: to know Me is to know the Father. Throughout the Bible, Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father.
(John 8:20) These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.
The temple treasury was not where the priests stored the temple treasures or offerings. The treasury was where the priests collected offerings for various temple purposes in trumpet-shaped boxes. It was near, or in the place in the temple, where the women could meet but could go no further into the temple. By teaching in the temple treasury, Jesus could teach both men and women. The Pharisees wanted to arrest Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees tried to entrap Jesus. The temple police had been sent to arrest Jesus. The only significant reason that John gives for Jesus not been arrested after His stupendous claims about himself is “His hour had not yet come.” It was not God’s perfect timing, perfect place, and perfect way for Jesus to be arrested to fulfill the Old Testament prophets, and “His hour” eventually came when He glorified the Father and the Father glorified Him.
Jesus Gives Light and Life
Sunday, May 10, 2020
John 8:12-20
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12—KJV). Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12—NASB). Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12—NRSV).
Jesus drew parallels between His mission and the LORD saving the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. In John 6:35, using the divine name “I am” for himself and comparing himself to the manna from heaven the Israelites ate in the wilderness, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” Like the pillar of fire that led the Israelites in the wilderness, in John 8:12, again using the divine name for himself, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” In John 1:3, we learn that all things came into being through Jesus, and in Genesis 1:3, God’s first words were “Let there be light.” Jesus created all the light that helps us live, provides warmth, and sustains life. Jesus gives spiritual light to His followers, and He promised that by following Him they can avoid walking in spiritual darkness. The LORD led the Israelites into the Promised Land, and Jesus frees believers from sinful living and leads them into life eternal. A synonym for “light” is “truth.” Jesus could have said, “I am the truth of the world” and those who follow the truth will not remained trapped in spiritual deception and falsehood. In John 14:6, Jesus told His followers that He was the truth and the life. Prior to His crucifixion, Jesus told Pilate, “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:37). Jesus’ statement to Pilate remains a stunning indictment of those who rejected Jesus and put Jesus to death. However, Jesus rose from the dead and remains the ultimate source of supernatural light and spiritual life.
Thinking Further
Jesus Gives Light and Life
Sunday, May 10, 2020
John 8:12-20
Name ____________________________
- What types of light are there? What type of light is Jesus?
- How can someone avoid walking in darkness? What kind of darkness did Jesus mean?
- What standards did the Pharisees use when judging? What standards did Jesus use when judging?
- Who were or what were Jesus’ two witnesses in His behalf?
- If you know Jesus, who else will you know? Who did the Pharisees not know?
Discussion and Thinking Further
- What types of light are there? What type of light is Jesus? There is so-called natural light that Jesus created (see John 1:3 and Genesis 1:3). There is Jesus, who is moral Light, spiritual Light and the Truth (a synonym for light).
- How can someone avoid walking in darkness? What kind of darkness did Jesus mean? By following Jesus, the Light, in word and deed, you can avoid walking in darkness. Jesus meant moral and spiritual darkness, living according to the flesh or mere human standards and philosophies, instead of living according to God’s standards, the revealed will of God in the Bible.
- What standards did the Pharisees use when judging? What standards did Jesus use when judging? They used human standards that people devised; their standards were according to the flesh, their selfish emotions and desires. Jesus used divine standards; God’s standards as revealed in the Bible. Jesus obeyed the two great commandments, the Law of Love, Jesus loved God and His neighbors.
- Who were or what were Jesus’ two witnesses in His behalf? Jesus, who is the Son of God, and God the Father.
- If you know Jesus, who else will you know? Who did the Pharisees not know? If you know Jesus, you will also know God the Father. The Pharisees did not know God.
Word Search
Jesus Gives Light and Life
Sunday, May 10, 2020
John 8:12-20
Name ___________________________
I R C E K G H O E C P V I O G
W E X J W F T L R N X W Y N T
X H Y M C O R I E W J P I W E
J T Q G S H E G T Y A H R U S
W A J A V D A H D K C L M B T
K F S Y K L S T L A N S K A I
S G B R Z R U D E B W B I D M
X W E W X O R T R H U M A N O
N H O F M W Y R S A J N D B N
G J A L I K H W E W D S Q E Y
W F X O L L Q D O V Q N K L J
Z E K H K O B I K N E Y A E H
K F Y L V L F L O F K O S T D
C A J E S U S A R T P U H Y S
S D Q I P X N V C H S R N W E
Light
World
Whoever
Follows
Jesus
Walk
Life
Testimony
Valid
Human
Standards
Know
Father
Teaching
Treasury
True and False Test
Jesus Gives Light and Life
Sunday, May 10, 2020
John 8:12-20
Name ________________________________
- Jesus created light and He is the light of the world. True or False
- By following Jesus, we will have the light of life. True or False
- To practice immorality and live in deception and falsehood is to walk in darkness. True or False
- Sometimes the darkness comprehends and overcomes the light. True or False
- The scribes and Pharisees trusted Jesus to lead them out of the darkness and into the light. True or False
- To judge or live according to the flesh is to judge or live according to human standards instead of God’s standards. True or False
- Jesus’ judgments were always true and valid. True or False
- Jesus did not testify in His own behalf because the Father testified in His behalf. True or False
- The Pharisees did not know Jesus or His Father. True or False
- To know Jesus is to know His Father also. True or False
True and False Test Answers
- True
- True
- True
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- True
Prayer
Father, may our allegiance be to You alone! Strengthen us to reflect that value and Your character daily. We pray for this in Jesus’ name. Amen.