Sunday School Lesson

November 29

Lesson 13 (KJV)

IMPARTIAL LOVE

 

DEVOTIONAL READING: Matthew 12:1–8

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: James 2

 

JAMES 2:1–13

1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

 

KEY VERSE

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?—James 2:5

 

LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER

Unit 3: Godly Love Among Believers

LESSONS 9–13

 

LESSON AIMS

After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:

1. Identify specific behaviors that demonstrated the church’s underlying partiality.
2. Explain how following Jesus’ command to love should have prevented Christians from showing favoritism.
3. Discuss practices of his or her church that may discriminate against certain types of individuals and develop a plan to correct those actions.

 

HOW TO SAY IT

Galilee Gal-uh-lee.

Jerusalem Juh-roo-suh-lem.

Leviticus Leh-vit-ih-kus.

Messiah Meh-sigh-uh.

Nazareth Naz-uh-reth.

 

Introduction

1. Discrimination

A long-standing view among many people of various faiths holds that wealth is a sign of God’s blessing. We reason (even if ubconsciously) that if God is showing favor to this person, we should honor that person also. On the other hand, poverty is a sign of God’s withholding His favor, perhaps even of God’s curse. We reason that if people are suffering from poverty, their relationship with God must be negative, and we should not accommodate them.

Nowhere is this erroneous belief seen more clearly than in prosperity gospel preaching and teaching. Simply put, ministers of this false doctrine teach that healing and wealth can both be yours … if you have enough faith, which is shown through how much money you give to the church. This often results in the ministers themselves becoming wealthy while their congregants wait for miracles of health and wealth that never seem to show up. The ministers are afforded great honor and position while many people suffer. But should wealthy members receive more attention and have more influence than members with little money? Are the wealthy really more beloved by God?

1. Lesson Context

James described himself as a “servant of … the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1). This author could have made a bolder claim, however, for he was the half brother of Jesus. Everyone in their hometown of Nazareth assumed they were natural brothers, two out of five: Jesus, James, Joses, Juda, and Simon (Mark 6:3). The order the brothers are listed in implies that James was the second oldest of the brothers and would have become the family head after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. The boys grew up together in a faithful Jewish household in rural Galilee. They both learned the carpenter’s trade in their father’s workshop and studied and worshipped in the village synagogue.

Although James did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah during Jesus’ ministry (John 7:5), a dramatic change occurred after the resurrection, following an encounter with the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:7). Acts tells us that the brothers of Jesus (including James) were part of the earliest fellowship in Jerusalem that became the church (Acts 1:14). James became a leader in the Jerusalem church (15:13).

It is not surprising, therefore, to find that James was very familiar with Jesus’ teachings. He echoes the oral instruction of Jesus with confidence that his own teaching is true to Jesus’ original intent.

The epistle of James reflects a very early stage in the development of the church, when it was composed primarily of Jewish Christians. The congregation he is addressing in the letter seems to be made up entirely of Jewish believers in Christ. So, for example, James could easily reference Jewish customs or laws without needing to explain himself to his audience (see James 2:8–11, below). His audience would have been familiar with the value of the Jewish law for ethical guidance, while understanding its inadequacy for salvation by faith in Christ.

1. Favoring the Wealthy

(JAMES 2:1–4) A. Attitude of Jesus (v. 1)

1. My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

Following the assertion that religion God desires from His people requires caring for the afflicted and pursuing holiness (James 1:27), James transitioned to a discussion about respect of persons. This biased treatment can be seen in favoritism, where we treat one person better than others. It can also be seen in prejudice, in which we treat a person worse than others. Note that James does not seem concerned about whether a person deserves better or worse treatment.

The grammar of this verse may be difficult, but James was not saying that Jesus discriminated against people. Far from it! James exhorted his audience to be faithful in following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ in the ways they interact with others. Doing so requires knowing how Jesus interacted with others. Because Jesus is God, Christians can look at God’s own attributes and know what Jesus is like, and vice versa. So if God is not a respecter of persons (Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25), we know that Jesus is also no respecter of persons.

Paul also used the idea of impartiality toward others in several ways. It served as an assumption for his famous speech in Athens, where he claimed that all human beings are the offspring of one man and one God (Acts 17:24–28). Peter, too, with an initial animosity toward Gentiles, also came to understand that God wants to welcome all people into His family (10:34–35; see 15:7), allowing Peter to evangelize and baptize Cornelius and his household (10:44–48).

A SPECIAL FOOTBALL CAMP In 2010, Ed McCaffrey, a former wide receiver for the Denver Broncos, recruited former and current Broncos players to serve as coaches at a new football camp. High school players attended, but as mentors and friends, not campers. The campers were about 40 players with Down syndrome, from age 7 to adults.

To this day at the Dare to Play Football Camp, each camper is paired with a buddy from a high school football team. The camp fills a need often lacking for people who have Down syndrome​—​the opportunity to play a team sport. The experience not only teaches football skills but also nurtures friendships for children and adults who are frequently left out of group activities. Sadly, it’s not just secular society that pushes certain people to the sidelines. Churches often struggle to be communities where children and adults with special needs are genuinely integral to the faith family. What can you and your church do to team up with people who usually don’t get to participate? —A. S.

 

1. Case Study (vv. 2–4)

2–3. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool.

James offered a hypothetical situation to illustrate why having respect for one person over another is unfitting for Christians. What if during your weekly assembly as a church, two visitors appeared? One wears expensive, sparkling-clean clothes and flaunts his wealth by wearing an expensive gold ring. The other one wears dirty, ragged clothes and has no jewelry.

James suggested the man with the appearance of wealth would be escorted to a comfortable seat where he could hear and see everything in the service. The man who seems poor would be told to sit on the floor or stand in the back. These behaviors would seem natural in a boardroom or restaurant perhaps, but in the church, this hypothetical situation should make us feel very uneasy.

 

What Do You Think?

How do the implications of verses 2–3 for you change, if at all, as you realize that those working at minimum wage in America are in the top 10 percent standard of living in the world?

Digging Deeper

In what ways are “the poor” of today wealthier than “the rich” of the first century AD? Why is this question important?

 

4. Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

Because this scenario would not be surprising in many settings, it is not hard to imagine that such a thing could happen in a church assembly. James’s two-part rhetorical question leaves no wiggle room to justify the behavior he described. Such actions reveal partiality in the fellowship. Anyone who participated in that partiality is a judge whose evil thoughts run counter to what God desires.

The Greek word translated thoughts here has a deeper sense than ideas that simply drift through our brains, quickly dismissed or discarded. It implies a pattern of thinking, a reasoning process (compare Matthew 15:19). Such corrupt reasoning makes it easy to justify one’s reasons for sinning against others. In this case, the ungodly thing is to show partiality by discrimination for the wealthy and against the poor.

 

What Do You Think?

In what way could you turn sympathy into action were you to see the issue of James 2:2–3 actually occur in your church?

Digging Deeper

Should your action focus on correcting the perpetrator or on comforting the victim? Why?

 

1. Favoring the Poor (JAMES 2:5–7) A. In Faith (v. 5)
2. Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Throughout the Old Testament, God expressed in various ways that He has chosen the poor (examples: Leviticus 23:22; Zechariah 7:10). Though this may imply that God does not care for the wealthy, that is clearly untrue. We all “live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28) in God, no matter our socioeconomic status (compare Exodus 23:3). Instead, God’s choosing the poor acknowledges that they require His help in unique ways because their low status disadvantages them. Even today, we see the wealthy often having better access to education, job opportunities, legal representation, etc. The Lord does not shun or neglect the poor as society often does, but cares for them and expects His people to do the same (examples: Deuteronomy 15:11; Psalm 72:4; Isaiah 25:4).

Because the poor do not possess wealth, James suggested that it is easier for them to be rich in faith and trust in God, not worldly riches (contrast 1 Timothy 6:10). As Jesus taught, the poor are heirs of the kingdom (Luke 6:20; compare Matthew 5:3). They must inherit this kingdom, because they would never have the wealth to purchase it. They would never seize it, because it has been promised to them if they truly love the Lord. All worldly goods may be stripped away, but no one can prevent anyone from loving God or prevent God from loving that person.

 

RICH IN GOD

My good friend Kathy, a recently retired nurse, has participated in three short-term missions to Niger. She was overwhelmed during her first trip by all the poverty she saw: the makeshift homes, the unsanitary conditions, the suffocating smoke from kerosene cooking fires. It wasn’t until the second mission trip that she could actually see the people. That trip enabled Kathy to answer the question “Hasn’t God chosen the world’s poor to be rich in faith?” with a resounding yes!

Kathy’s team serves a group of about 40 widows, teaching nutrition and conducting medical clinics for them and their children. Following the team’s work, these first-generation Christians (formerly Muslims) always lead the team in worship. Kathy has been profoundly touched by these women, who have little materially but sing and dance and preach with great passion and joy because of Jesus.

Joy without material possessions? Faith without economic security? In Christ, these things are the rule, not the exception! How does this challenge your own ideas about faith? —A. S.

 

1. Against Oppression (vv. 6–7)
2. But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

The charge of despising the poor implies that the church really was honoring the rich. Remember, these were visitors to the assembly, not rich members whose deeds (whether good or bad) were known to the church in general. The only reason they were treated with esteem was a preference for and deference to rich people.

The prophets of the Old Testament frequently summarized the corruption of Israelite society by pointing out how its rulers and rich landowners oppressed others (see Ezekiel 18:12; Zechariah 7:10). This offended the Lord, becoming a primary cause of His judgment (Malachi 3:5). This resulted in the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem, destruction of the temple, and deportation of many of the people of Judah to Babylon in 586 BC (2 Chronicles 36:15–21).

The wealthy in James’s society notoriously oppressed the poor and used the corrupt courts to their advantage. Their wealth and their influence made them invincible in controversies with the poor (contrast Luke 18:1–5). Honoring those who so treated others put the church in danger of honoring people just like those God had judged in the exile.

 

What Do You Think?

What discrimination and/or favoritism challenges do Christians face regarding someone considered “poor” by US standards but “rich” by third-world standards?

Digging Deeper

How does that question speak to you personally?

 

7. Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

The word translated blaspheme is elsewhere translated “reviled” (Matthew 27:39) and “defamed” (1 Corinthians 4:13). Though it does not always have religious overtones, the Greek word always identifies deep disrespect and contempt. The dishonoring tactics of the rich are an insult to that worthy name, Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:9–11). Attacking and exploiting poor people, those God has chosen for an extra measure of love and grace, is a grave insult to God himself.

No person should be denied access to the fellowship of believers based on economic status, whether rich, poor, or somewhere in between. At the same time, any societal power structure that facilitates preference for the rich and disrespect of the poor should not be tolerated within the church. We are called to teach and act as Jesus did when it comes to “respect of persons” (James 2:1).

 

What Do You Think?

When finding yourself a victim of discrimination, in what contexts is it best to push back verbally versus merely walking away? Why?

Digging Deeper

Considering the reverse, how should you react in cases where others behave in a patronizing or overly deferential way toward you? Why?

 

 

1. Favoring the Neighbor

(JAMES 2:8–13)

1. Royal Law (vv. 8–11)
2. If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.

The designation royal law works on two levels. First, this is the “king of laws,” the one that controls and orders all things we should do. Second, this is the “law of the King.” No law that contradicts this one will come from Jesus, and no law will replace it.

This magnificent meta-command comes from the scripture as originally delivered by Moses, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (Leviticus 19:18). This command served as the backdrop for Jesus’ teaching on who one was obliged to love as a neighbor (Luke 10:36–37). This law is also found in Paul’s letters (examples: Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14). Only in keeping this law can it be said that ye do well.

The royal law is the overriding ethic applicable in any situation. We should always act with love for others. When we have an opportunity to show God’s love to others, we must do so.

If we violate this law, we are certainly guilty of violating others. If we keep the law of love, however, we cover a multitude of other sins (see 1 Peter 4:8).

9. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Acting with respect to persons (see commentary on James 2:1, above) violates the intent of the royal law and is therefore sinful. Showing preference for the rich and dishonoring the poor reveals us as transgressors.

10–11. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

The law was a package, not a pick-and-choose buffet of options. To be in compliance meant 100 percent blamelessness. One violation made a person a breaker of the whole law. The standard is not comparative (“I keep the law better than my brother”), but absolute (“I keep the law perfectly”). A murderer who avoids committing adultery still violates the entire law.

James was not interested in every obscure commandment in the law of Moses or trying to bind such things upon Jewish Christian believers. Perfect adherence to the Jewish laws was not a means of salvation apart from faith in Christ. Jesus both taught and lived the ethic that we should love our neighbors, regardless of economic standing. James’s point to any self-satisfied readers was for them to correct their neglect of the direct teachings of Jesus. They could not reflexively disregard the poor and honor the rich and claim to keep Jesus’ own law.

 

1. Law of Liberty (vv. 12–13)
2. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

The law of liberty is the other foundational ethic that runs throughout this chapter: love frees us to keep God’s commands rather than constraining us with the commands. In other words, instead of trying to prevent us from destructive actions, it encourages us to act in life-affirming ways, ultimately beneficial for us and for other involved parties. It is freeing to have relationships within the church not based on social status. It is liberating not to focus on ourselves and instead care for the poor, the elderly, the ill, and the mistreated of our society. Our faith in Jesus makes us “free indeed” (John 8:36).

This law frees us from the discrimination our society encourages but that God does not tolerate. Freedom for our souls comes when we stop judging others on the basis of wealth, education, social status, family connections, race, or age. The true seeker of Jesus should find a welcoming fellowship in the church, no matter what. 13. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Jesus, in teaching the Lord’s Prayer, warned that if we withhold forgiveness, we should not expect God’s forgiveness (Matthew 6:14–15). This is not some bargain we make with God, as though God will be nice to us if we are nice to others. It is a test of one’s heart. In the same way, if we fail to show mercy, we await judgment without mercy.

Discrimination, prejudice, and partiality are all types of judging others. When we favor a rich person because of her wealth and disfavor a poor person because of his poverty, we make moral judgments without mercy. James wants mercy to win this battle. He wants mercy to win out in our lives and to be shown in the way we treat others. In this way, mercy will overrule judgment.

 

Conclusion A. Two Laws

Over 1,900 years ago, James gave definitive answers for how the church should live and behave. James offered these two ethical foundations—​the royal law and the law of liberty—to guide the church. Both of these were learned from his half-brother, Jesus.

These two laws go together. If we see others as our neighbors in need—whether they are beloved friends or reviled enemies—we must show mercy, not discrimination. If we set aside our natural impulse to favor certain visitors, we will find unexpected opportunities to share the love that wells up in our hearts. We should lead with love, never doubting God’s willingness to show kindness to us.

Churches should practice self-examination using these complementary laws. What things do we do that favor certain people over others? Do our church leaders represent the diversity of our church body, or are they predominately well-off financially, well-educated, and of a certain ethnicity that does not represent the whole? Is our congregation known as a loving place or a judgmental place? Our answers to these questions will help us see as a congregation how we measure up to the standard of the two laws.

Jesus did not treat people according to divisions of wealth or poverty, or perceived blessings or curses. James, his brother, did not either. Instead, James and Jesus show that God loves the poor, and we should too. This issue has not gone away in the nearly 2,000 years since James wrote, and we do well to listen to him today.

 

What Do You Think?

What more can you do to stay alert to unbiblical cultural trends that creep into the church?

Digging Deeper Do we eliminate favoritism within the church by refusing to recognize social classes, or does such refusal invite other problems? Why?

 

1. Prayer

Father God, You created all people. You did not create us to discriminate and hate, but to love and accept others. You have loved us without partiality. May we love You in return and show this as we love others who cross our paths. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

 

1. Thought to Remember

Begin with love.

 

 

KID’S CORNER

Have A Blessed Day!

Sunday, November 29, 2020

John 13:12-20

John 13:12-20

(John 13:12) So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?

In John 13:1-11, we learned how Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, including the feet of Judas. Then, we related His cleansing to the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We made these interpretations based on reading the entire Gospel of John and the three synoptic gospels (what Jesus told His disciples they would later understand). In John 13:12-20, we will learn and apply some of what Jesus meant when He taught the disciples as much as they could understand at that point in His ministry.

There may be symbolism in Jesus “taking off” or “laying down” His outer robe to graciously and humbly wash His disciples’ feet, because Jesus graciously and humbly “laid down” His life when He died on the cross to save us from our sins. Then, Jesus “put on” or “took up” His life when He rose from the dead. After returning to His dinner, Jesus began to explain what His actions should mean to His disciples in their relationship with each other and those they would serve as apostles in the Church.

(John 13:13) “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am.

As disciples (students), Jesus became their Teacher, but He also came as “The Teacher” of the world. All those who seek to follow Jesus’ words and example as Jesus intended are His disciples. The Jewish rabbis and Greek philosophers also had disciples who learned and passed on their teachings to others. Gamaliel was a teacher of Saul before Saul became a disciple of Jesus. After Jesus rose from the dead, He called Saul to become the Apostle Paul. Socrates was a teacher of Plato, who wrote books about the teaching of Socrates (books and teachings that many still study). Unlike Gamaliel and Plato, Jesus’ teachings and very words are the messages or teachings that God the Father sent Him to share with the world, and believers and unbelievers still study Jesus’ words (some to joyfully follow Him and some to hatefully dismiss Him as they try to destroy people’s faith in Jesus).

Jesus claimed to be and is more than a teacher. He is more than a prophet or messenger sent from God. Jesus claimed to be and is “The Lord.” As we have seen, see here, and will see again, Jesus applied the divine name “I Am” to himself. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God sent from the Father, and to prove who He claimed to be, Jesus performed signs that only God could perform—no one has been able to duplicate the works of Jesus or teach better Truths than Jesus. Just as Jesus, the Word made flesh, worked with the Father in creating all things that have been created, Jesus could speak only a word and heal the sick, feed the multitudes, and raise the dead. Jesus demonstrated that He is the Creator and Sustainer of all life and all creation. Christians are right to call Jesus their Teacher and their God, but Jesus will not truly be so for them if they refuse to do what He has taught His followers to do. Jesus said His disciples were right to call Him their Teacher and Lord. Jesus accepted the worship of Thomas when he worshiped Jesus and said in John 20:28, “My Lord and My God!” The children of Light do not walk in darkness when they study, believe, and follow (obey) Jesus’ teachings in the Bible and His leadership as their Lord—the Holy Spirit will guide their understanding and empower them.

(John 13:14) “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

Remember how Jesus’ disciples argued among themselves about who among them was the greatest (see the International Bible Study Commentary on John 13:4). To correct their ideas and behavior, Jesus wanted His disciples to wash one another’s feet graciously and humbly; that is, to live and work together happily and be willing to serve each other and others no matter how small or how big the task. Some churches consider foot washing a sacrament (or ordinance) like Baptism and the commemoration of the Lord’s Supper. In some churches, the pastors wash the feet of some designated church members and indicate the importance of Christians being willing to serve one another. In some churches, church members wash the feet of one another. A Bible study group or Sunday school class might discuss whether they should try to wash the feet of one another or not as part of their lesson on these verses, and then discuss their experience afterward. Reasons to do so or not do so would also make interesting discussion.

(John 13:15) “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

Jesus could have given a thirty minute or longer sermon to teach His disciples the importance of serving one another and others; however, they should have learned to serve as Jesus served just by watching Him helping them and others as He met people’s needs in His daily life. They may have disregarded Jesus’ previous instructions about selfless service, and that may be one reason Jesus chose to teach them by a loving example instead of reprimanding them. Jesus knew His teaching with “words only” would not be as effective as “showing by example” what He expected of them, and then pointing out what He had done was an example for them to follow. He intended them (and all His subsequent disciples) to begin serving others as a way of life, not just that they should wash the feet of each other. As they followed Jesus and washed feet, Jesus may have also intended them to teach others about how He spiritually and morally cleansed His followers, and why believers needed to confess and repent of their sins to stay clean.

(John 13:16) “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.

Since a master is perceived to be greater than a servant by “this world’s” evaluation (because a servant does what the master tells them and masters seldom serve servants), servants should not expect to be so above their master that they would refuse to do what their master asks or would do himself as their master—unless what the master asks and does is contrary to the teachings of the Bible. Peter and John revealed the standard Jesus set for His disciples when they were on trial before the Sanhedrin (their religious authorities or “masters” in Jerusalem) by saying to these leaders in Acts 4:19-20, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard (about and from Jesus).”As the Teacher, Jesus’ teachings and actions were always consistent with what the Father wanted taught and shown to His disciples and us. Jesus was their Master and our Master. As their Teacher and Lord, they acknowledged Jesus as their Master and they “intellectually” considered themselves His servants—until it came to serving one another as Jesus would serve them. Since Jesus, their Master, served as He did, even to the point of washing someone’s feet, and since they were not greater than their Master, who was their Teacher and their Lord, they needed (and we need) to learn how to serve others as Jesus did. We know the Apostle Peter learned this lesson well, for when a lame beggar asked Peter for a handout, Peter took “him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong” (Acts 3:7).

Similarly, a messenger is not greater than the one who sends him to deliver a message. Consider how Jesus never made himself greater than His Father who sent Him as His messenger into the world. Consider how Jesus never did anything contrary to the Law of Love or different from the way He expected people to act in compliance with the teaching of His Father. Jesus reliably communicated the message of God to His disciples, to the world, and to us in the Bible, and He sends the Holy Spirit into His disciples to help us understand the Bible. Too many make rules for others that they have no intention of following themselves. Every command of God that the Father and the Son have given us they follow and teach us by their example.

(John 13:17) “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Jesus expected His disciples to have more than an “intellectual” belief, or a theological doctrine they could remember, or a statement of faith they could recite. Jesus expected His disciples to do what He taught them as their Teacher and Lord to save the world. He expected them to really consider Him their Lord and do what He said whether they understood all His reasons or not. In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus’ last words to His disciples before He ascended into heaven included their responsibility to teach others as He had taught them: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Christian faith begins with learning, believing, and receiving Jesus as the Son of God, as your Lord and Savior and as your Teacher who taught the truth. Remember what Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” True Christian faith motivates Jesus’ followers to do things, as Jesus taught in John 13:17, and they are happy when they do things as Jesus taught. The Apostle Paul continued to write in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” If we learn and do as Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul taught and promised, we will be blessed. We will be happy. We will have a blessed day. The Apostle James also emphasized this truth in James 2:14, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?” Jesus promised blessedness and happiness to those who know and do “these things;” which means what He showed and told His disciples and what they have shown and told us, Jesus’ followers, in the Bible.

(John 13:18) “I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.’

Without naming Judas as His betrayer at that time, Jesus then spoke of Judas, partly because Judas would become a prime example of one who had the opportunity to know “these things,” but who chose not to do “these things” that Jesus showed as an example and taught. Judas was not blessed or made happy when he betrayed Jesus for love of money; rather, Judas threw his money away and killed himself in misery. Jesus wanted His disciples to know that He had chosen each one of them and He had taught them the same truths together, but blessedness or happiness would only come from living on the basis of what He taught. They would not be happy or blessed by relying on their misguided feelings of exceptionalism for being chosen by Jesus to be one of His disciples. Jesus told them that He knew who He had chosen (including Judas) and one of them (Judas) would not only reject obeying Him but betray Him to His enemies. Why did Jesus tell them this? Jesus said He did so to fulfill the Scripture in Psalms 41:9, “Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.” Jesus knew that because of Judas’ immoral unrepentant character, Judas would not change and Judas would betray Him in accordance with Old Testament prophecy.

(John 13:19) “From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.

As we read in the Greek New Testament, Jesus’ words “I am” are to be preferred to the translation “I am he.” Because Jesus is the LORD God, “I Am,” Jesus made His divine foreknowledge known to His disciples because He knew that He would soon suffer betrayal and the authorities would arrest Him—leading to His crucifixion. He wanted them to know that He was not caught by surprise or had failed in His mission. His suffering and death were included in His mission to save us from the eternal consequences of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Jesus wanted His disciples to know that as the Son of God He was also a true prophet of God. He would do what the Father wanted according to the Scriptures. Jesus expected His followers to do as He did and obey God according to the Scriptures as the Holy Spirit led them and reminded them of all He taught from and in fulfillment of the Scriptures.

(John 13:20) “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

As we have seen, by beginning a teaching with the words “Truly, truly,” Very truly,” or Amen, Amen,” Jesus indicated a deeply serious and important teaching that He expected His followers to learn and obey from the heart. Earlier, Jesus taught that the Father had sent Him into the world, and those who accepted the Father would accept Him. Furthermore, anyone who accepted Jesus would accept the Father. Now, Jesus began to prepare His disciples to follow His plans for them. He would send them out into the world. Jesus would send the ones who would do as He taught out into the world to preach the good news about Him. Those who received them and the good news they taught would receive Jesus (they do not yet know that Jesus will soon leave them, and then they would be indwelt by the Holy Spirit to accompany them). Then, those who received Jesus because of their teaching would receive the Father who sent Him, and also receive the gift of eternal life. Jesus was bringing His disciples into His worldwide mission, but He would only bring in those who would do the things He taught—and Judas did not fit into that category.

 

Have A Blessed Day!

Sunday, November 29, 2020

John 13:12-20

 

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them (John 13:17—KJV).

If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them (John 13:17—NASB).

If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them (John 13:17—NRSV).

As I walked out of a store recently, a customer behind me said to me, “Have a blessed day!” Though I have received that blessing before, I was truly blessed to hear it and receive it again, and I turned and thanked her. In today’s world where we hear so many cursing others, it is truly a blessing to hear someone bless you, for the blessing can send happiness into your heart. “Have a blessed day” is a Christian blessing; so how can we always enjoy a blessed day? After Jesus humbly washed His disciples’ feet, in John 13:13, Jesus said to them, “You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am.” Jesus taught and showed His followers how to serve others, and He said, “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” Three fundamental or key elements in the Christian faith bring blessings to Christians. First, Christians accept Jesus as their Teacher. They believe what He taught about God, himself, and reality as revealed in the Bible. Second, Christians accept Jesus as their Lord. Christians believe Jesus is the Lord over all of life, and they kneel before Jesus because they have received Him as the Lord over all their life. Christians face the world and all they see and hear with hope and happiness because they know their everlasting future is secure in the hands of their Savior. Building their lives on these foundational truths, Christians receive God’s blessing when they live according to what they know and believe to be true; when they love and serve others as Jesus commanded. Have a blessed day!

 

Thinking Further

Have A Blessed Day!

Sunday, November 29, 2020

John 13:12-20

Name _____________________________

 

1. Did the disciples know what Jesus did as He did it? What reason did Jesus give them for what He did? Did they understand more about what He did later?

 

 

2. What three titles best describe Jesus in these verses of Scripture?

 

 

3. Was Jesus a messenger? If so, how was Jesus a messenger? What kind of messengers did Jesus expect His disciples to be?

 

 

4. What did Jesus say servants were not greater than? What did Jesus say messengers were not greater than?

 

 

5. Why did Jesus tell His disciples about the fact that one of them would betray Him?

 

 

 

 

Discussion and Thinking Further

 

1. Did the disciples know what Jesus did as He did it? What reason did Jesus give them for what He did? Did they understand more about what He did later? They knew He washed their feet, but they did not know why He did so. He told them that they would understand later. After He washed their feet, He told them that He was giving them an example to follow. Later, after Jesus died, rose again, and sent them the Holy Spirit, they understood more about what He did and why (some of what we discussed in the lesson prior to this lesson on John 13:1-11).

 

2. What three titles best describe Jesus in these verses of Scripture? Lord, Teacher, and Master
3. Was Jesus a messenger? If so, how was Jesus a messenger? What kind of messengers did Jesus expect His disciples to be? Yes. Jesus said that He did what He saw His Father do and taught what His Father told Him to teach and they were always in complete agreement. Jesus expected them to follow His example and teach what He taught.

 

4. What did Jesus say servants were not greater than? What did Jesus say messengers were not greater than? Servants are not greater than their master. Messengers are not greater than the one who sent them.

 

5. Why did Jesus tell His disciples about the fact that one of them would betray Him? So they would know that He was not caught by surprise. So they would know that He had the gift of prophecy. So they would know that Jesus knew the Scriptures and intended to fulfill the Scriptures with His perfect obedience to His Father. So they would believe Jesus is “I am,” the title for the LORD God given to Moses on the mount. So they would receive Him and the Father as He had revealed the Father and himself to them.

 

 

Word Search

Have A Blessed Day!

Sunday, November 29, 2020

John 13:12-20

Name ___________________________________

 

A N O T H E R Q L O R D C J K

G Z V C K E C B C K Y B H D W

B A S R H R E R U T P I R C S

D M U C X N X S E Y S T O T K

K Z A T F P V L C L O F S C R

S E H G J L B Z K G D U R B E

T R S T N A V R E S S Q G E C

N C E C T G K L X E B O R L E

J K S G J Q P T J A D S F I I

N P R L N M W F M V R E R E V

M D H D A E A A K N I N T V E

T A O X Q X S B Q B G R M E T

Z V E N U T H S C R H K H G L

U W T X E O E J E N T S O B Y

K S Q R D V D X T M L C R G X

 

Washed

Robe

Table

Done

Teacher

Lord

Right

Another

Example

Servants

Messengers

Master

Scripture

Believe

Receive

 

True and False Test

Have A Blessed Day!

Sunday, November 29, 2020

John 13:12-20

Name _________________________________

 

Circle the True or False answers. Correct the False statements by restating them.

 

1. The disciples grew increasingly excited when they learned that Jesus came to serve them and meet all their needs because He believed they were greater than He is. True or False

 

2. Jesus told the disciples that they were right to call Him their Teacher and Lord. True or False

 

3. Twice in these verses that we have studied Jesus used “I am” to speak of himself. True or False

 

4. Jesus told His disciples that they should offer foot washing services to the rich whenever they came to church. True or False

 

5. By serving His disciples, Jesus said that He was setting an example and they should serve one another as He served them. True or False

 

6. Jesus said that servants were often greater than their masters because they often served better than their masters. True or False

 

7. Jesus said that messengers who felt better than the one who sent them could change the message they were given to deliver. True or False

 

8. Jesus never said or did anything that would lower himself to the level of a servant or a messenger. True or False

 

9. Jesus knew that His betrayer would fulfill Scripture. True or False

 

10. Whoever receives Jesus receives the one who sent Him. True or False

 

True and False Test Answers

1. False
2. True
3. True
4. False
5. True
6. False
7. False
8. False
9. True
10. True

 

Prayer

Father God, You created all people. You did not create us to discriminate and hate, but to love and accept others. You have loved us without partiality. May we love You in return and show this as we love others who cross our paths. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.