Sunday School Lesson
February 14
Lesson 11 (KJV)
Called to Support
Devotional Reading: Romans 4:13–25
Background Scripture: Mark 15:40; 16:1–9; Luke 8:1–3; John 20:10–18
Luke 8:1–3
1. And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
2. And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
3. And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
Mark 15:40
40. There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome.
John 20:10–18
10. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12. And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
Key Verses
It came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, and certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils.—Luke 8:1–2
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. List the acts of devotion by the women who followed Jesus.
2. Explain the importance of women being the first eyewitnesses to testify about Jesus’ resurrection.
3. Describe some ways to demonstrate his or her loyalty to Jesus.
HOW TO SAY IT
| Alphaeus | Al-fee-us. |
| Arimathaea | Air-uh-muh-thee-uh (th as in thin). |
| Chuza | Koo-za. |
| Galilee | Gal-uh-lee. |
| Herod Antipas | Hair-ud An-tih-pus. |
| Magdala | Mag-duh-luh. |
| Magdalene | Mag-duh-leen or Mag-duh-lee-nee. |
| rabboni | rab-o-nye. |
| Salome | Suh-lo-me. |
| synagogue | sin-uh-gog. |
| Tiberias | Tie-beer-ee-us. |
| Zebedee | Zeb-eh-dee. |
Introduction
A. Celebrity
Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) declared, “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.” The idea is that bad publicity at least keeps the public aware of the celebrity’s existence. Not getting any publicity can be the death knell to a person’s “well-knownness.”
There is no doubt that Jesus was a celebrity, although the term doesn’t do justice to Him. He was celebrated for the value of His teachings and for the miracles that He performed. His teachings and His miracles both brought joy to those who followed Him. As we consider some of the women who experienced that joy, theirs can be ours as well.
B. Lesson Context
Jesus became well known in the Jewish villages and towns of Galilee by traveling among the people. Peter described this by saying Jesus “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), a ministry that included teaching, healing, and casting out demons (see Mark 1:14–15, 34). Jesus traveled with a large group that included the core 12 disciples and others. The opportunity for women to play a prominent role in Jesus’ ministry made it unusual. Jerusalem had no famous women rabbis. The Jewish high council, the Sanhedrin, had no female members. The prominent sects, the Sadducees and Pharisees, were made up of men only.
The inclusion of women who were not the wives or other family of the disciples was even more unusual (compare 1 Corinthians 9:5). Many charges were made against Jesus during His ministry, including drunkenness, Sabbath breaking, blasphemy, and using the power of Satan (see Mark 3:22–23; Luke 7:34; John 5:18; etc.). Because women traveled with them regularly, we might expect similar charges regarding sexual sins. But no record claims that either Jesus or any of His disciples (male or female) were accused of sexual immorality while they ministered together.
Mary Magdalene was one of these women. She has been especially misunderstood throughout history. Some factions have tried to uncover a romantic entanglement between Mary Magdalene and Jesus. These stories are found only in sources written long after the first century.
For example, a second- or third-century nonbiblical collection of sayings called The Gospel of Philip presents Mary Magdalene as Jesus’ “companion.” The Gospel of Mary, another heretical document, claims that Jesus revealed special, secret knowledge to Mary alone.
Other fanciful legends claim that Mary traveled from Jerusalem after the crucifixion to the south of France. Medieval accounts sometimes included Mary in the legends concerning the Holy Grail—the cup Jesus supposedly used at the last supper and that supposedly was used to collect some of His blood at the cross. Yet the actual biblical accounts about Mary Magdalene are sparse on details and have none of these legendary elements. Her real witness is even greater than those!
I. Women in Jesus’ Ministry
(Luke 8:1–3; Mark 15:40)
Luke 4:14–15 introduced Jesus’ first preaching tour of Galilee. Now Luke 8:1 takes us to the beginning of Jesus’ second preaching tour there.
A. Day by Day (Luke 8:1–3)
1a. And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.
Luke summarizes Jesus’ strategy for the near future: He continued to tour Galilee, visiting every city and village. Cities were larger population centers that had markets and government officials. Villages were small clusters of homes where people who worked the farms lived, perhaps alongside a few merchants and craftsmen. Both villages and cities would have one or more synagogues, which were community centers for Jewish worship.
Jesus’ preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God took three forms. First, He taught on this by use of parables (example: Luke 8:4–15). Second, He demonstrated the nearness of the kingdom through power over demonic forces (8:26–39). Third, He performed miraculous healings, even raising the dead (examples: 8:43–48, 53–56).
1b. And the twelve were with him.
The twelve refers to those disciples whom Jesus also called apostles (see Luke 6:13–16).
2a. And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities.
Certain women also followed Jesus from village to village. Perhaps because “the twelve” of the previous verse were all men, sometimes we forget that women also travelled with Jesus. They played important roles in His ministry, though often in the background (see Luke 8:3c, below).
The Greek word translated healed suggests a total restoration, not just the absence of disease. Physical health is restored when infirmities are overcome; spiritual health is restored when evil spirits are driven out.
2b. Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils.
The name Mary is a form of the name of Moses’ sister, Miriam; she was a prophetess and musician-leader of women during the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 15:20). Mary’s nickname, Magdalene, comes from her home, the village of Magdala located near Tiberias on the western coast of the Sea of Galilee. This would be like calling someone from the city of Dallas “Tex,” a nod to his home state.
Mary Magdalene is mentioned at least twice in each Gospel, making her one of the most frequently mentioned women in the New Testament. Hers is the most dramatic story among these women, for Jesus drove seven devils from her. Those were malevolent nonhuman spiritual beings that could enter and influence a person. We can assume that the situation was fully beyond Mary’s ability to control. No details exist in the Gospels about this exorcism, but Mary’s story seems to have been known among Jesus’ followers.
Many mistakenly identify Mary Magdalene with the sinful woman who washed Jesus’ feet in Luke 7:36–50. That proposal seems to be strengthened by the similar account of a woman named Mary who anointed Jesus’ feet in John 12:1–3. But the sinful woman of Luke 7 is not named there, and Mary Magdalene is named not long after (today’s text). We might conclude therefore that Luke surely (1) would have known whether the two women were one and the same and (2) would have made the identification if it were the case. But that is an argument from silence.
The claim that the Mary of John 12 was Mary Magdalene ignores the fact that there are five other women by the name of Mary in the Gospels, so we should take care not to misidentify them (example: Matthew 27:56, 61). The Mary of John 12 is Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.
3a. And Joanna the wife of Chuza’s steward.
Joanna likely had resources to contribute to the costs of sustaining the traveling group. Her husband, Chuza, served the Galilean governor Herod Antipas. Chuza’s position as steward was a trusted one, and likely came with an excellent salary.
3b. And Susanna.
Susanna is otherwise unknown in the New Testament. She shares a name with a Jewish heroine whose story occurs in an apocryphal (spurious) addition to the book of Daniel.
3c. And many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
At least some of the many others were undoubtedly motivated to be near Jesus because of being healed by Him. They followed Jesus out of selfless gratitude and provided money, time, and other support for His ministry. Such women were the unsung heroes of the group, just as many noble women in churches are today.
| What Do You Think? In what ways can you improve your behind-the-scenes support of your church’s ministries? Digging Deeper What was an occasion that surprised you when your behind-the-scenes support suddenly thrust you into the limelight, such as in Acts 6? How did you handle it? |
B. In Crisis (Mark 15:40)
40a. There were also women looking on afar off.
Our text skips ahead to the crucifixion, where several women refused to abandon Jesus (compare and contrast Mark 14:27, 50–52, 66–71; John 19:26, 38–39). While some women watched from afar off, others stood much closer—close enough to hear Jesus speak from the cross (John 19:25–26). One or more women may be in both groups, moving back and forth as Jesus suffered. The listing in John 19:25 differs from what follows here, suggesting that none of the Gospel writers intended to give an exhaustive listing of the women present.
40b. Among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome.
Mary Magdalene is perhaps the leader of this group, being named first. The second Mary is further identified by the naming of her sons. James the less is likely the son of Alphaeus mentioned in the list of apostles (Mark 3:18); the phrase the less may distinguish him from the more prominent apostle James, the son of Zebedee. This Mary may also have been the mother of Levi/Matthew (Mark 2:14). The third woman, Salome, is probably “the mother of Zebedee’s children” (Matthew 27:56).
The time for following Jesus was not over for these loyal women. They remained with Him in those dreadful hours, watching and waiting for an opportunity to minister to the Savior once more. That opportunity came a few hours later when they observed where Jesus’ body was laid (Mark 15:47) and resolved to remedy His hasty burial with customary spices (16:1).
II. Mary, Jesus’ Witness
(John 20:10–18)
We meet Mary Magdalene for the third time, this occasion being resurrection morning. Arriving at the tomb, she had found it opened (John 20:1). She ran to tell Peter and John, who then ran to the tomb to see for themselves (20:2–9).
A. Sad Scene (vv. 10–11)
10–11. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre.
Once again, the reaction of the disciples can be compared and contrasted with that of Mary Magdalene (see on Mark 15:40, above). Whereas the men went home to think about what the empty tomb could mean, Mary stayed.
| What Do You Think? In what ways can you help encourage the members of your church to adopt and develop the “staying power” of Mary? Digging Deeper In what ways is Mary’s “staying power” like and unlike your own? Why? |
The sepulchre was a cave-like room carved into the limestone hillside. Although Mary already knew it was empty, she probably hoped to notice something missed earlier, some hint of what had happened. Mary’s heart was broken at this apparent insult to her Lord.
The Great Disappointer
My wife and I thought our family was complete with a son and daughter when we learned that another child was coming. Several months later, we welcomed Mary Elizabeth into our home. Five weeks after that, our delight turned to grief with Mary’s sudden death.
I retreated into work and studies, an expression of denial and deep disappointment in the dashing of our hopes and dreams for Mary. My wife poured herself into caring for our other two children. In doing so, she nurtured them through their grief, in contrast to my emotional absence.
The disciples’ reaction of heading home suggests that they reacted to Jesus’ death as I did to Mary’s: back to “business as usual” to occupy their minds. Mary Magdalene responded more as my wife did: seeking to find whatever meaning and solace she could in the middle of her pain. By doing so, Mary Magdalene met the risen Lord. What does this suggest about proper Christian reactions to death, the great disappointer?
—C. R. B.
B. Angels Appear (vv. 12–13)
12. And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
Jesus’ body had been laid on a carved ledge inside the tomb. But instead of holding that body, it had become witness to the presence of two angels. Though their white clothes could have clued Mary regarding their identity (compare Matthew 28:2–3; Luke 24:4), the angels also could have looked rather ordinary (Mark 16:5; see John 20:13, below). Their sitting at the head and the feet emphasized the absence of the expected occupant.
13. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
Despite their unexpected presence, Mary did not seem to recognize the two angels as supernatural beings. Their question was not a rebuke but an act of kindness, inquiring as to the nature of her pain. Though addressing her as Woman may seem abrupt or rude to modern ears, the term here should be taken as a respectful address.
Regardless of who these two were or why they were there, Mary blurted out the cause of the great burden on her heart. The mystery of Jesus’ absence could be solved if someone would just tell her where they have laid him, presumably in another tomb for reasons unknown to Mary. She did not consider that Jesus may not be dead (compare Luke 24:5–8).
C. Rabboni Revealed (vv. 14–18)
14. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Apparently not expecting an answer from the white-clad visitors, Mary turned from the tomb and saw another person in the garden. We are told this is Jesus before Mary knew, much like we knew the other two were actually angels. How could she have failed to recognize this person she loved so much? Perhaps her tears obscured her vision.
This is not the only time after the resurrection that disciples fail to recognize Jesus (see Luke 24:13–16; John 21:4). His post-resurrection body was different in some way (Luke 24:30–32; John 20:19, 26). But that body also bore the marks of the crucifixion (John 20:20, 27). The changes in His appearance plus the utter impossibility of His being alive probably contributed mightily to her lack of recognition.
| What Do You Think? What improvements can you make in staying on guard against things that cloud your full awareness of Christ in your life? Digging Deeper In what ways do the blindnesses in Matthew 15:13–14; 23:16–26; John 9:39–41; 2 Peter 1:5–9; and Revelation 3:17 warn you to action in this regard? |
15. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus repeated the angels’ question (John 20:13, above), thus pushing to the heart of Mary’s suffering. He already knew she was weeping because of His death and was seeking His body.
Mary, still not recognizing Jesus, repeated her response (John 20:13). She assumed this man was the gardener and therefore someone who would know what had happened (see 19:41). The tomb where Jesus’ body had been placed, that of Joseph of Arimathaea (19:38–42), was apparently located within a well-maintained garden.
| What Do You Think? Since Jesus already knew the answer to the question He was asking, what does His technique teach you about how to counsel grief-stricken people? Digging Deeper How does 1 Kings 19:9b–10 further help frame your answer? |
16. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Jesus did not explain. In one of the most dramatic moments found in the Gospel accounts, He simply spoke her name.
And she knew His voice. She had heard Jesus say her name many times before. All her plans unraveled, for there was no corpse to minister to.
Mary addressed Jesus with the title of respect she had used many times. Rabboni is a variation on the title rabbi, which means “my teacher.” The form used by Mary may imply heightened respect, something like “my honored teacher.”
A Familiar Voice
“Grampa, this is your granddaughter. I’m in trouble in [a foreign country]. I’ve been arrested on a phony charge, and I need $500 so I can be released and come home.”
In my surprise, I thought that the call might be genuine. However, some things didn’t ring true: no name, wrong number, vague about details, almost but not quite my granddaughter’s voice.
I told the caller I would call back, hung up, and called my granddaughter’s phone number. She, in her familiar voice, assured me that she was in no trouble. Such scam calls can purport to come from many sources: the IRS, the Social Security Administration, your bank, a computer company, even a “kidnapper”!
When Mary met Jesus, she didn’t recognize Him at first. She was still in shock from the events of the last few days. But when Jesus spoke, there was no longer a question about His identity. She knew the sound of her rabbi’s voice.
We should stay in the Word of God so much that we are familiar with His voice there. That way, if we should get a “scam call” of false teaching, we’ll know it’s not the Lord.
—C. R. B.
17. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Jesus’ command Touch me not has a dimension beyond merely rejecting a hug. Apparently, Mary’s desire was to somehow detain Jesus, to cause Him to stay with her and the other disciples. However, Jesus would ascend to His Father. There would be no negotiating His departure.
Instead of clinging to Him, Mary was to go back to the men who had been there earlier (John 20:10, above) and update them on what had actually happened and been said at the tomb.
18. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
Mary Magdalene did not prepare an elaborate presentation for the disciples. Her testimony was basic and beautiful.
Sometimes the most effective witnessing is in telling of our experience with Jesus and the changes He brings to our lives. Mary had plenty to say that day—explaining how a heartbroken, sobbing woman became a joyous, confident eyewitness for the disciples.
Jesus knew her name, and He called her to serve Him by being His witness.
Conclusion
A. He Found Her
We often portray nonbelievers who come to church as “seekers”; we say that those who seek Jesus will find Him. In today’s story, Mary Magdalene, a firm disciple and believer, was a seeker in a different sense: she sought Jesus’ body and was not easily dissuaded from her quest. But that quest was mistaken, for there was no longer a dead body.
Try as she might, Mary did not find Jesus. He found her. Jesus had first found Mary to deliver her from demonization. He then found her weeping in a tomb, a woman for whom the recent days had been a dark nightmare.
Isaiah promised, “[God] will come and save you” (Isaiah 35:4). As it was with Mary, so it is with us: If we seek Jesus but don’t find Him, it may be because our search is based on a mistaken idea. We clear up any mistakes by reading the facts of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension in the Bible. That’s where hearing His call starts.
| What Do You Think? In what ways does Jesus’ resurrection encourage you most today? Why? Digging Deeper When was an occasion that a time of discouragement was overcome by refocusing on His resurrection? How did you grow from this experience? |
B. Prayer
Father, we thank You for the hope we have through Your Son Jesus, a hope that overcomes our fears. May we—like Mary and the other women who followed Jesus throughout His ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection—never lose our desire to serve You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
C. Thought to Remember
Jesus knows where and how to find those who seek Him.
KID’S CORNER
How to Recognize a True Disciple
Sunday 14, 2021
John 16:12-22
John 16:12-22
(John 16:12) “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
Jesus could have told His disciples all the details about His arrest, flogging, crucifixion, death, and burial prior to His resurrection from the dead, but Jesus knew that in their present state of anxiety they could not bear to learn these facts. He could have explained the meaning and purpose of His atoning sacrifice for sinners, but Jesus decided that the Holy Spirit could remind them of what He had taught them that they did not understand at the time and reveal new truths and meanings after He ascended into heaven. Jesus’ policy and that of the Holy Spirit seems to be revealed in this verse: Jesus will not tell His true disciples any more about themselves, others, or the future than they can bear. Jesus will not give any of His disciples any more than they can handle with the help of the Holy Spirit.
(John 16:13) “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
The fact that Jesus is “the Truth” and the Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of Truth” indicates that when Jesus’ earthly work in the flesh was finished that the Holy Spirit would come and carry on the work of God the Father and God the Son—the redeeming and sanctifying work of God through the Son and the Spirit within Jesus’ disciples then and forever. Jesus walked beside His disciples when He walked with them on earth. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would walk (and now walks) within His disciples. The Holy Spirit lives inside Jesus’ disciples, and the Spirit teaches Jesus’ disciples from within them. The Holy Spirit then (and today) lives closer to Jesus’ disciples that Jesus could himself, because on earth Jesus could only live and work beside His disciples. The Holy Spirit would also teach Jesus’ disciples more about the future (see especially the Book of Revelation).
Today, the Holy Spirit interprets and applies the meaning of the Bible for Jesus’ disciples, the Book written by Jesus’ first-generation disciples as the Holy Spirit led them. He still works within Jesus’ disciples. The Holy Spirit will come into the true disciples of Jesus Christ as Peter taught in Acts 2:38, after some in the crowd believed that Jesus is both Lord and Christ and that they had crucified Him (directly or indirectly with their approval): “Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Today, the Holy Spirit will guide Jesus’ disciples into all the truth when He explains and applies what the Bible teaches to those who study the Bible with the intention of obeying Jesus in everything He taught in the Bible. Today, the Holy Spirit teaches Jesus’ disciples whatever the Father and the Son want taught to Jesus’ disciples. These will be truths that further explain, illustrate, and apply the words of Jesus in the Bible. Today, the Holy Spirit will declare some things that will happen in the future to prepare Jesus’ disciples for that future. The Holy Spirit will never teach anything contrary to what the Bible teaches, because the Holy Spirit will not contradict or deny what He inspired the writers to write in the Bible. The disciples of Jesus must discern the spirits, as John taught in 1 John 4:1-3, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world.” The Holy Spirit will never approve what God has commanded people not to do in the Bible.
(John 16:14) “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
The Father glorified the Son, and the Son glorified the Father when they revealed the truth about each other to the disciples and all who would come to saving faith in Jesus Christ by receiving the truths Jesus revealed. As the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus Christ by revealing and rightly applying the truth of the Bible inside the mind and heart of true believers in Jesus. The Holy Spirit helps Jesus’ disciples understand the Bible’s teachings and apply them to their lives so they can obey and serve Jesus courageously and faithfully as they love and live for Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit will keep teaching the truth as Jesus taught the truth, and the truths He teaches will be consistent with what Jesus taught when He walked on earth. The Holy Spirit will never contradict the commands or the teachings of Jesus Christ in the Bible.
(John 16:15) “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.
Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father, and the Father loves Jesus and has given Him everything. Think deeply about these words of Jesus. Jesus said, “All that God has is mine!” Everything that belongs to God the Father, which includes everything beyond whatever God has created, belongs to Jesus and the Father together. The Father has an almighty, divine, and holy nature, and so does Jesus Christ, His Son. For any mere man to make such claims would be outrageous and obviously false. The fact that God raised Jesus from the dead after He was crucified, dead, and buried indicates that Jesus told the truth about himself and His relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit declares and imparts to Jesus’ disciples everything they need to know about Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the things that are to come. The Holy Spirit gives them the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). The fact that Jesus’s first disciples received and did bear (and His disciples today still receive and bear) the Spirit’s fruits and gifts also indicates that Jesus told the truth about himself and could do all He said He would do. See Ephesians 4:11-13 for a list of some of Jesus gifts to the Church.
(John 16:16) “A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”
Following the principle that Jesus declared to His disciples in John 16:12, Jesus did not tell them in advance what He would later explain to them. For example, after His resurrection, Jesus met some of His disciples on the road to Emmaus, and after He left, they said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” (see Luke 24:13-35). After Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit explained Jesus words and works even more to His disciples. As Jesus spoke to them in John 16, we know that in a little while Jesus would be arrested, crucified, and buried and they would no longer see Him. We also know that in a little while what Jesus foretold them did happen: Jesus rose from the dead and they saw Him. Today, the disciples of Jesus do not see Jesus face-to-face, but they rejoice as the Holy Spirit indwells them. They will rejoice even more when they see Jesus face-to-face and begin to live forever with Him and all who love Him.
(John 16:17) Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?”
Of course, the disciples would not have understood all Jesus said. Jesus only intended to tell them enough for them to remember that what He promised did happen and He spoke truthfully. They did not understand what Jesus would do or how Jesus would go to go to the Father. They did not know why Jesus would want to go to the Father. They would only learn many things after the Holy Spirit came to teach them from within them.
(John 16:18) So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.”
By essentially repeating John 16:17, Jesus showed that He knew that these questions had led to considerable discussion among them and that they may have speculated a great deal about what He meant, even as His disciples today would have done if they we were there. Certainly today, many of Jesus’ disciples often wish Jesus were visibly present with them—even though the Holy Spirit dwells within them and gives them joy.
(John 16:19) Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’?
John indicated that Jesus did not ask His question because He lacked knowledge. Jesus knew what they were talking about and He wanted them to know that He knew what they were talking about. Jesus exactly repeated what they were talking about, so they knew He was not speculating about what they might have been thinking and talking about based on what He had told them.
(John 16:20) “Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.
Jesus told them what they needed to know without telling them more than they could bear. “Very truly” meant this is certainly so, this is indeed the case, and this certainly will happen. Today, some might use the expression, “Mark my words.” All Jesus foretold them did happen. As Jesus suffered crucifixion, His followers at the foot of the cross wept and mourned and felt pain. When Jesus was buried, those who buried Him and those who knew that He had really died wept and mourned and felt pain. Those of this world, the religious leaders for example, rejoiced that they had silenced Jesus and had scattered His band of followers. They rejoiced that they would never hear anymore from Jesus or His disciples. But Jesus went on to foretell that the disciples’ pain would turn to joy. They would suffer when they could no longer see Jesus, but they would rejoice when they saw Him again. Knowing the rest of the story, we know that the world did n0t silence Jesus or His followers. The religious leaders and others of this world did not rejoice for long with the thought that they had killed Jesus. Remember what happened on the Day of Pentecost when Peter preached in Acts 2:36-37, “‘Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.’ Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’” Then, Peter told them in Acts 2:38, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” and about three thousand persons became disciples.
(John 16:21) “Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.
Jesus then compared their sorrow and joy to the sorrow and joy of a woman giving birth to her baby. When Jesus died for them, they would experience pain and sorrow, but after Jesus rose from the dead, they would experience joy and new life—they would be born again or born anew. Their blessings would so outweigh their sorrow and pain that they would not remain sorrowful. They would become new people, new courageous Spirit-filled disciples teaching about Jesus in the world. Today, having repented of their sins, Jesus’ disciples live and love as new people, as courageous Spirit-filled disciples in the world who teach about the words and works of Jesus.
(John 16:22) “Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”
Once again, Jesus promised them that their thinking about and later experiencing separation from Him (especially in the ways they would be separated by His death and burial) would cause they pain; however, He also promised that He would see them again and when they did see Him their hearts would rejoice, and no one could take their joy from them. If we ask ourselves how Jesus’ disciples could suffer and face certain death as they did because they followed Him, the answer lies in at least these three facts. First, the Holy Spirit dwelt within them. Second, they had the joy of Jesus within them. Third, nothing and no one could take their joy from them. After Jesus returned to His Father by ascending into heaven, we read about the disciples’ joy in Luke 24:52-53, “And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.” Today, with great joy, Jesus’ disciples trust Jesus and all Jesus’ promises.
How to Recognize a True Disciple
Sunday 14, 2021
John 16:12-22
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come (John 16:13—KJV).
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come (John 16:13—NASB).
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come (John 16:13—NRSV).
How can we tell the true disciples of Jesus from His many followers in the crowds? Jesus’ disciples believed His signs and what He said. They wanted to learn everything He taught. They wanted to be with Him all the time, so they followed Him wherever He went. They loved Jesus and wanted the best for Him. They did what He told them. They took risks with Him and suffered for Him. Perhaps you can think of more characteristics, for Jesus’ true disciples think and act like Jesus’ first disciples. We know how Jesus treats His disciples by the way He treated His first disciples. Jesus does not give His disciples more than they can bear or cope with at the time. Before His arrest, Jesus did not tell His disciples all the details about His trial and suffering on the cross, for He knew they could not bear it then. Jesus’ disciples have the Spirit of Truth with them and in them to guide them into all the truth they need to know. The Spirit teaches Jesus’ disciples what He hears from the Father and the Son, and Jesus’ disciples can pray to the Father and the Son. The Spirit declares what Jesus’ disciples need to know about the future. When Jesus’ disciples weep, mourn, and suffer pain, they know their pain will turn to joy. Because they know Jesus, their hearts rejoice in all circumstances and no one can take the joy of Jesus from them.
Thinking Further
How to Recognize a True Disciple
Sunday 14, 2021
John 16:12-22
Name _________________________
1. What will the Spirit of Truth do when He comes to the disciples?
2. How will the Spirit of Truth glorify Jesus?
3. Why can (or will) the Spirit of Truth take what belongs to Jesus and declare it to His disciples?
4. Why would the disciples weep and mourn? What would the world do as the disciples wept and mourned?
5. What would happen to Jesus’ disciples after their time of pain at the loss of Jesus?
Discussion and Thinking Further
1. What will the Spirit of Truth do when He comes to the disciples? He will guide them into all the truth. He will not speak on His own. He will speak whatever He hears. He will declare to them the things that are to come.
2. How will the Spirit of Truth glorify Jesus? He will take what belongs to Jesus and declare it to His disciples.
3. Why can (or will) the Spirit of Truth take what belongs to Jesus and declare it to His disciples? Jesus said that all that the Father has is His. That is why the Spirit of Truth can take what belongs to Jesus and declare it to Jesus’ disciples.
4. Why would the disciples weep and mourn? What would the world do as the disciples wept and mourned? They would weep and mourn because Jesus had been crucified and buried and they could no longer see Him. The world would rejoice.
5. What would happen to Jesus’ disciples after their time of pain at the loss of Jesus? After Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to them in various ways their hearts would rejoice, and no one could take that joy from them. They would continue to rejoice as Jesus interpreted the Old Testament Scriptures and how they applied to His coming and what He did, and after He taught them even more truths about their discipleship and His plans for them before He ascended into heaven. Their joy continued after He ascended into heaven and no one could take it from them.
Word Search
How to Recognize a True Disciple
Sunday 14, 2021
John 16:12-22
Name ____________________________
K M N D R B X O I B Z Y T J Z
A J Y S O E W Q J S E B H I N
H F M R Z T H E U Z T L E D V
Y O N L D J S T V N S R N A O
E T R A V U W D A M R Y A I R
D Y X O S E F Y U F X U R E J
C K M N E B J E B J L B O Z H
Z H E P S E L P I C S I D M L
O M I T B Z E C I O J E R K T
D G N L R X V S P I R I T H B
Y O J H D D E C L A R E O A E
F H P K Y U X V B D K N X C R
M D M N A M O W N J C L I V H
A T C H Q F B L A B O R F A C
X Y N O I J D N F E D E O S P
Bear
Spirit
Declare
Father
Disciples
Weep
Mourn
Pain
Joy
Woman
Labor
Child
Born
Hearts
Rejoice
True and False Test
How to Recognize a True Disciple
Sunday 14, 2021
John 16:12-22
Name ____________________________
Circle the True or False answers. Correct the False statements by restating them.
1. Jesus told His disciples that He could tell them much more, but He did not want to tell any of His Father’s secrets to them. True or False
2. The Spirit of Truth can hear the truth and declare the truth because He is a Person. True or False
3. Jesus told His disciples that the Spirit of Truth would guide them into all the truth. True or False
4. The Spirit of Truth glorified Jesus when He took what was Jesus’ and declared it to them as Jesus promised. True or False
5. The Father owns more than Jesus owns, because He is so much greater than Jesus. True or False
6. Before He prayed, Jesus explained in great detail to James and John exactly what He meant by saying, “A little while and you will no longer see me.” True or False
7. Before He prayed, Jesus took Andrew and Peter aside and told them that He was going to the Father by ascending into heaven. True or False
8. Jesus did not tell the other disciples what He told James, John, Andrew and Peter because He wanted to surprise them. True or False
9. Jesus foretold His disciples that they would weep and mourn and have pain, but the world would rejoice. True or False
10. Jesus promised His disciples that their pain would turn to joy and when He saw them again their hearts would rejoice, and no one would take their joy from them. True or False
True and False Test Answers
- False
- True
- True
- True
- False
- False
- False
- False
- True
- True
Prayer
Father, we thank You for the hope we have through Your Son Jesus, a hope that overcomes our fears. May we—like Mary and the other women who followed Jesus throughout His ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection—never lose our desire to serve You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.