The Hour of Glory: The Cross and the Resurrection
Lesson 12
The Hour of Glory: The Cross and the Resurrection
(John 18-20)
Copr. 2024, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.
Introduction: Have you been rejected by someone you loved? Have you ever said, or even thought, “If you reject me then I will reject you?” It is typical human behavior to measure your love by the degree to which you have been shown love. Thank God that Jesus was not like that! In our study of the Gospel of John this week we will see first hand that Jesus has a love unlike anything we can fathom. A love that overlooks the insult or injury that He experienced from us. Let’s dive into our study of the Bible and learn more!
- Deserted by the Disciples
- Read John 18:15. This text refers to a time when Jesus is being subjected to trials leading to His death. What is the unwritten message about the loyalty of Jesus’ disciples? (Only two of Jesus’ disciples followed Him in his trials.)
- Why do you think that is?
- Read John 18:25-27. What is Peter saying about his relationship to Jesus? (He denies that he is a disciple of Jesus.)
- Jesus’ disciples believe that He is the Messiah. Yet all but one desert Him in His greatest time of need. How would you react if you were Jesus?
- Read John 18:15. This text refers to a time when Jesus is being subjected to trials leading to His death. What is the unwritten message about the loyalty of Jesus’ disciples? (Only two of Jesus’ disciples followed Him in his trials.)
- Rejected by the People
- Read John 18:38-40. We read that Pilate decides that Jesus is innocent, but instead of doing his duty as a judge, he hopes that the crowd will show common sense and release Jesus rather than “a robber.” What does the crowd decide?
- Put yourself in Jesus’ place. You are God and have come down from heaven to save the people because you love them. How would you react to the people choosing a robber over you? Jesus is not robbing them, but giving up His life for them!
- Read John 19:3-5. How do you like to be disrespected? How do you like to be hit on the head, or hit at all?
- What disrespect was shown to Jesus in addition to hurting Him? (They were mocking Him by saying that He was no king. In fact, He was their God and their Creator.)
- Think about a time in your life when you were disrespected by someone who you considered to be substantially inferior to you. How did you react?
- Recently, a fellow in an old, dirty-brown pickup truck followed me into a parking lot at the university where I teach and started mocking me because I was driving an older Corvette and not new mid-engine Corvette. How would you react to that kind of mocking? (Is a guy in an old brown truck entitled to mock others over their cars? I recall years ago when I drove an old mini-van, I would look around at a stoplight and conclude that everyone was driving a more valuable vehicle. It did not cross my mind to mock them! To be mocked is bad, but Jesus was being mocked by those He had created! Those absolutely inferior to Him.)
- Read John 19:6-7. How would you react if a crowd demanded your death because they refused to believe the truth of who you are? (Mocking is one thing, killing you because of disrespect is even worse.)
- Read John 19:14-15. The King of the Jews is Caesar? What additional disrespect does this show to Jesus? (These are the leaders of the Jewish nation, the nation whose purpose was to be a light to the nations! They now claim a pagan for their king as opposed to Jesus?)
- Read Matthew 26:39-40. This is another example of Jesus being let down by His disciples. Could Jesus have decided that He had enough of “this cup” from these ungrateful people who are repeatedly rejecting Him and disappointing Him?
- Read John 18:38-40. We read that Pilate decides that Jesus is innocent, but instead of doing his duty as a judge, he hopes that the crowd will show common sense and release Jesus rather than “a robber.” What does the crowd decide?
- Crucified
- Read John 19:16-18. Jesus suffered excruciating pain which the Gospel of John does not discuss. Why do you think John omits the painful details? (John claims a very close relationship with Jesus. I think it was too difficult for him to detail Jesus’ torture.)
- Read John 19:23-24. What mocking do you see in this account? (Jesus is crucified naked. He is displayed for all to see, including those who are insulting Him. What humiliation!)
- Read John 19:26-27. Who has not abandoned Jesus? (His mother and the disciple John. We know that John is referring to himself in this text by what he writes in John 21:20-24 at the end of his gospel.)
- If you were Jesus, what would the presence of John and your mother do for your spirit? (They have not abandoned Him. I would be encouraged. However, I would not want my mother to see this.)
- What does Jesus’ words about the care of His mother teach us? (In the midst of this torture and humiliation, Jesus is still looking out for His mother.)
- Read John 19:30. What is finished? (Jesus has defeated sin. He came to earth as a human, He lived a perfect life, and now He has died a terrible death on our behalf so that we can go to heaven. What a victory! The Life Application Commentary reports that this Greek word can mean, “it is paid in full.” Jesus paid our penalty in full, even though we were hurting Him, mocking Him, and rejecting Him. Such love!)
- The Resurrection
- Read John 20:1-2. Why does Mary say, “We do not know where they had laid Him?” (This plural suggests that Mary was with other women. This is confirmed by Mark 16:1.)
- What would be going through your mind if you were Mary? (On top of all of the abuse Jesus suffered, His dead body has now been moved.)
- Why would they believe that Jesus’s body was stolen as opposed to Jesus coming to life?
- Read John 20:3-7. Does this report of the scene support the idea that someone had stolen Jesus’ body? (Thieves do not neatly fold things when they leave.)
- Read John 20:8. What does the “other disciple” believe? (John is the “other disciple” who sees the folded linen. He concludes that Jesus arose from the dead.)
- Read John 20:9-10. Does this correct my suggested conclusion that John believed Jesus rose from the dead? (I don’t think John is including himself with the other disciples. Instead, I think he is telling us that he believed, but the others have not yet reached this conclusion.)
- Read John 20:11-13. Why do the two angels speak to Mary and not Peter and John? (The disciples left. If John believed that Jesus was raised from the dead, what is he doing going back home? He should be sharing that news with others.)
- Read John 20:14-16. Why does Jesus appear first to Mary and not to the disciple “that Jesus loved?” (Mary still thought that Jesus’ body had been stolen. That might be the reason. Or, John and Peter had gone home, but Mary was not leaving. Mary was absolutely devoted to Jesus.)
- Read John 20:17. What does Jesus’ statement tell us about that Mary is doing? (She is clinging to Him. She is holding Him. This reinforces the picture of her extraordinary devotion to Him.)
- How has Mary’s attitude changed? (She has gone from complete sadness and frustration, to absolute joy.)
- Is this the best answer as to why Jesus first appeared to Mary?
- How has Mary’s attitude changed? (She has gone from complete sadness and frustration, to absolute joy.)
- Read John 20:18. Is Jesus concerned about His disciples? The disciples who deserted Him?
- Friend, words cannot adequately describe the love that Jesus has for you. His love is not measured by your love for Him. Even if trouble comes your way, think about what Jesus did to save you. Will you promise to put all of your personal concerns and troubles into the context of what Jesus did for you?
- Read John 20:1-2. Why does Mary say, “We do not know where they had laid Him?” (This plural suggests that Mary was with other women. This is confirmed by Mark 16:1.)
- Next week: Epilogue: Knowing Jesus and His Word.