Download TE-2Q-2008

Title: The Wonder of Jesus
Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide
Teachers Edition:
Final Publication Copy
The Wonder of Jesus
by
Roy Adams
April, May, June
2008
Title: The Wonder of Jesus
Contents: The Wonder of Jesus
Contents
1
Who Was Jesus?–March 29–April 4 ...........................11
2
The Mystery of His Deity–April 5–11 .......................23
3
The Reality of His Humanity–April 12–18 ...................35
4
The Wisdom of His Teachings–April 19–25 ...................47
5
The Wonder of His Works–April 26–May 2 ....................59
6
The Challenge of His Sayings–May 3–9 ......................71
7
The Puzzle of His Conduct–May 10–16 .......................82
8
The Intensity of His Walk–May 17–23 .......................94
9
The Tenderness of His Love–May 24–30 .....................108
10
The Meaning of His Death–May 31–June 6 ...................120
11
The Power of His Resurrection–June 7–13 ..................132
12
The Efficacy of His Priestly Ministry–June 14–20 .........144
13
His Return as King and Friend—June 21–27 .................156
http://www.absg.adventist.org
Editorial Office:
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Silver Spring, MD 20904
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TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
Contents: The Wonder of Jesus
Come visit us at our Web site:
http://www.absg.adventist.org
Principal Contributor:
Roy Adams
Editor:
Clifford R. Goldstein
Associate Editor:
Soraya Homayouni Parish
Publication Manager:
Lea Alexander Greve
Editorial Assistant:
Sharon Thomas-Crews
Pacific Press Coordinator:
Paul Hey
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TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
Contents: The Wonder of Jesus
Art Director and Illustrator:
Lars Justinen
Concept Design:
Dever Design
The following teachers edition components were written by the
following:
1. The Lesson in Brief: Tresa Beard, freelance writer, Silver
Spring, Md., U.S.A.
2. The Learning Cycle, lessons 1-7: John Fowler, associate
director, Education Department, General Conference of Seventh-day
Adventists, Silver Spring, Md., U.S.A.
3. The Learning Cycle, lessons 8-10: Lynn Ripley, associate
pastor, Austin First Seventh-day Adventist Church, Austin, Texas.
4. The Learning Cycle, lessons 11-13: Fylvia Fowler Kline,
principal, Rogue Valley Adventist School, Oregon, U.S.A.
The Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide is prepared by the
Office of the Adult Bible Study Guide of the General Conference
of Seventh-day Adventists. The preparation of the guides is under
the general direction of a worldwide Sabbath School Manuscript
Evaluation Committee, whose members serve as consulting editors.
The published guide reflects the input of the committee and thus
does not solely or necessarily represent the intent of the
author(s).
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TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
Contents: The Wonder of Jesus
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TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
Bible Versions: Jesus Through the Eyes of Mark
Bible Versions Table
Scripture references other than from the King James Version
quoted by permission in this Bible Study Guide, for
Teachers Edition Second Quarter 2008, are as follows:
NASB.
From the New American Standard Bible, copyright ©
the Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,
1975, 1977. Used by permission.
NIV.
Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New
International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984,
International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan
Bible Publishers.
NKJV.
Texts credited to NKJV are from the New King James
Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used
by permission. All rights reserved.
RSV. Bible texts credited to RSV are from the Revised
Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971, by
the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of
the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission.
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TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
Introduction: The Wonder of Jesus
A Hope Big With Immortality
Of all the people immortalized over millennia upon the pages
of history, Jesus of Nazareth had the shortest period of public
labor. Only three and a half years.
But what a three and a half years they were!
Socrates taught for 40, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40,
Jesus for not even four. Yet the impact of Christ’s short
ministry infinitely exceeds that of the combined 130 years of
those three Greek giants.
Someone once wrote that “the grandest paintings of Raphael,
Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci are but a reflection of
Jesus, the Light of the world. Haydn, Handel, Bach, and
Mendelssohn gave to the world their best melodies in the
symphonies and oratorios they wrote to glorify Jesus Christ. Art,
culture, music, philosophy—all have been enriched by His
teachings. But Christ offers far more than philosophy, art, and
music. These cannot save. Jesus offers light and life and
salvation to sinful men.”
That statement, however eloquent, falls short of doing
justice to the richness of Jesus, for that quote is in the
context of the West only; Christ’s appeal, in contrast, is
universal, transcending all political, ethnic, and cultural
borders.
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TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
Introduction: The Wonder of Jesus
“You should search the Bible,” Ellen G. White writes, “for
it tells you of Jesus. As you read the Bible, you will see the
matchless charms of Jesus. You will fall in love with the Man of
Calvary, and at every step you can say to the world, ‘His ways
are ways of pleasantness, and all His paths are peace.’ You are
to represent Christ to the world. You may show to the world that
you have a hope big with immortality”—Life Sketches, p. 293.
With Jesus at its center, Christianity is also a historical
religion, meaning that it revolves around a person whose life and
work are amenable to historical study and analysis. Yet, at the
same time, we cannot circumscribe Jesus Christ within the
confines of history. For the reality of His person is
suprahistorical (above history)—there’s a point beyond which
historical analysis cannot probe. History cannot take us into the
mysteries of salvation, or into the wonders of what Christ’s
death offers the world. For all that history offers, it cannot
begin to fathom what Ellen G. White called “a hope big with
immortality.”
This quarter centers on Jesus, on who He was, on what He
taught, on what He did—and on what He is doing now. That last
clause, “on what He is doing now”, makes all the difference in
the world. It is what might be called “the mystery of the present
tense,” a crucial element that distinguishes Jesus from every
other historical figure, for what other historical figure, no
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TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
Introduction: The Wonder of Jesus
matter how great, is doing anything for us now?
Who was this amazing Jesus? What was He like? What did He do
while here? What is He, indeed, doing for us now? And finally,
why should He be a concern for people in the twenty-first
century?
The answers, as we will see, are far from academic. On the
contrary, they affect the destiny of every human being.
Roy Adams, a native of the Caribbean, the author of this
quarter’s Bible study guide, is an associate editor of the
Adventist Review, the international magazine of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church. He is married to Celia (nee Wilson), and they
have two adult children, Dwayne and Kimberly.
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TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
Lesson 1
TE-2Q-2008-01-The Lesson In Brief . . .
Key Text: Matthew 16:13–15
The Student Will:
Know: Understand that Jesus’ life and ministry was not
just a myth, but He was truly the Messiah—Son of the
living God.
Feel: Sense a need to be at one with Jesus who is a
very personal Savior to every believer.
Do: Profess that Jesus came to save a fallen world from
the disastrous effects of sin.
Learning Outline:
I. Who Do Men Say That I am?
A. The question of the identity of Jesus was repeated
throughout His ministry on earth.
B. The disciples were very familiar with the talk of
the day about who Jesus really was.
C. Jesus wanted the disciples to be sure of who He was, in
spite of what others were saying.
II.
Savior or Prominent Historical Figure?
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TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
Lesson 1
A. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries new
scientific criteria would be applied to the study of
the Bible.
B. Rational thought replaced the biblical view of a
divine being coming to rescue humanity from sin.
C. Jesus was no longer presented as a Savior but as a
historical figure—a good man/teacher that lived long
ago.
III. Biblical Faith Prevails
A. By the twentieth century, the scientific view of who
Jesus had begun to waver.
B. Today, the Christian point of view prevails among
many—upholding Jesus as the Savior of a sinful world.
C. Our faith in Jesus rests on the New Testament
accounts of the disciples, who witnessed the many
miracles of Jesus and testified that He was the
Messiah.
D. Jesus himself claimed to be the Son of God.
Summary: Over the centuries there has been much debate about
the true identity of Jesus. However, in spite of scientific
applications to Bible teachings, faith in Jesus as the Savior of
the world prevails.
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Lesson 1
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TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
Lesson 1
TE-2Q-2008-01-Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate!
Just for Teachers: We focus this quarter on heaven’s most
important gift to us–Jesus! Nothing in history is as great
or as significant as the Person of Jesus, His life and
ministry, His teachings and His promises, and His death,
resurrection, and return. Each lesson this quarter presents
an opportunity to motivate your class to discover anew the
wonder that Jesus is. At the end of each lesson, class
members should be led to have a fresh and life-sustaining
experience with Him.
A thousand questions confront us each day, but none is so
crucial as the one that Jesus Himself raised: “ ‘Who do
people say the Son of Man is?’ ” (Matt. 16:13, NIV). A
truthful answer provides meaning to our life in the midst of
chaos and
defines our destiny in terms of eternal life and
fellowship with God.
Discuss with the class two aspects of this question.
First, what do people today say Jesus is? Consider
atheists, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, scientists,
philosophers, and others. What do they say about Jesus?
Second, who do you say Jesus is? How does your answer affect
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Lesson 1
your life?
STEP 2—Explore!
Just for Teachers: Who was Alexander the Great? Who was
Abraham Lincoln? Who was Mahatma Gandhi? Who was Martin
Luther King? Who was Carl Marx? Knowing the right answer to
these questions may or may not make any difference to the
way we live. Not so, the question, Who is Jesus? Explore
with the class the importance of this question.
Bible Commentary
Matthew 16:13–17 is basic to the understanding of Christ and
His mission. When Jesus asked the question, “‘ Who do people
say the Son of Man is?’ ”, He was challenging every
generation and every human being with the need to face the
issue honestly and squarely. Three common attitudes emerge:
indifference, admiration, and acceptance.
I. Indifference
Nazareth typifies indifference to and rejection of Christ:
“‘Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?’ ” (Matt. 13:55, NIV).
Yes, Jesus was a carpenter, but He was more than that. It is
this additional dimension of the nature of Christ—that Jesus
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Lesson 1
is God in flesh—that offends many. Nazareth was blind and
indifferent to Christ for the same reason that many today
are indifferent to Him. Christ makes His appearance not as a
good teacher, a miracle worker, a consummate dispenser of
wisdom, but as one who demands to Himself absolute adherence
as the Son of God. That claim to divinity is too bitter to
swallow for those who are seething in self-importance. And
self is the first thing Christ commands us to give up.
Nazareth saw Jesus as its son, confined to a geographic and
historic locale. But Jesus cannot be so confined. He is the
Creator of the world and the Lord of history. And what’s
more, He must ever be understood as God’s self-disclosure to
sinful humanity. He is Emmanuel—God with us (Matt. 1:23).
Consider This: Why does indifference to Jesus mean denial
and rejection?
II. Admiration
Admiration of Christ as a great man, a towering moral
authority, a teacher without peer, a great prophet, has been
history’s common verdict. The disciples themselves answered
Christ’s question by referring to what others were saying
about Him—that He was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or
one of the prophets (Matt. 16:14). Each offered a
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Lesson 1
recognition of dignity and authority.
Each was a symbol of moral and spiritual courage against
evil of his time. Christ is
greater than these. Yet who
has ever defined or lived
ethics as Jesus did? Who has
ever taught the magnificence
of love as Jesus in the
parable of the good Samaritan
or the lost son? Who in the
endless drama of world history
spoke and modeled a kingdom of
grace?
Yes, Jesus is a person without match. He is worthy of all
admiration. But that’s not the answer Christ expects. He
demands an either/or answer: Either He is God or He is not.
Consider This: Why is admiration of Jesus—as a good man, a
remarkable teacher, or a martyr—not an acceptable answer?
III. Acceptance
Answers to who Christ is vary. However laudable such answers
may be, Christ is not interested in adoration or flattery.
What others say does not matter. Individual decision must
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Lesson 1
not be colored by crowd psychology or another’s perception.
Jesus’ demand is personal and intimate: “What do you as a
person say?’” To this pointed question came the profound
reply from Peter: “ ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the
living God’ ” Peter’s confession unequivocally accepts that
Christ is of God, and that He is the Messiah.
Such a
Christological confession cannot come from human discovery,
and Jesus was the first to point (Matt. 16: 16, NKJV). this
out: “ ‘Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My
Father who is in heaven’ ” (Matt. 16:17-18, NKJV).
To know Christ, we must turn to God’s revelation. Only those
who accept His revealed Word and the working of the Holy
Spirit will be able to say that Christ is “my Lord, my God”
(John 20: 8), or with Paul, “God blessed for ever” (Rom.
9:5). Such a confession is a result of not knowing about
Christ, but knowing Him—in person, in faithful acceptance,
and in loyal obedience.
Consider This: Why did Christ’s ministry often involve oneon-one situation(Matt. 19:16–23; Luke 18:35–42; 19:1–10;John
3:7; 1:43–49; 4:21–24; 5:5–9)?
STEP 3—Practice!
Thought Questions:
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Lesson 1
 “Never can humanity, of itself, attain to a knowledge of
the divine.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 412.
Why?
 What was Satan’s motive in each of the three temptations
he used against Christ? (Matt. 4:1-11)? Why was it necessary
for Christ never to doubt His Sonship? Why is it necessary
for us to accept Him as God’s self-disclosure?
Application Questions:
 “They shall call his name Emmanuel, which being
interpreted is, God with us” (Matt. 1:23). What does Christ
as “Emmanuel” mean to your life in various aspects—mental,
physical, social, communal, and spiritual?
 Every religion has a basic message that is traced back to
an important person: Judaism to Moses, Islam to Muhammad,
Buddhism to Buddha, Hinduism to Krishna. But with
Christianity, it is not merely the message of Jesus that is
important but Jesus Himself. Begin with Him, and then
examine what He said and did. Why is the person of Jesus so
important?
STEP 4—Apply!
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Lesson 1
Just for Teachers: We learned this week that Jesus is more
than a great Man, a wondrous Teacher, and a profound
Prophet. He is the Son of God. Encourage your class to share
as to what they can do with this great truth.
Thought Questions:
 Jesus is the Son of God and often spoke of God as His
Father. Jesus also taught us to address God as our Father.
Is there a difference between His claim and our prayer? If
there is, how does that difference affect our relationship
to the Godhead?
 As Son, Christ came to reveal the Father (John 14:9), to
glorify Him (vs. 14:13), and to do His works (John 4:34,
10:32). How does being God’s children impact our
practical
life as children of God?
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Lesson 2
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TE-2Q-2008-02-The Lesson in Brief . . .
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Key Text: John 17:5
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The Student Will:
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Know: Comprehend that Christ existed (eternally)
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with the Father before the earth began.
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Feel: Experience gratitude toward Jesus for His
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communion with us.
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Do: Live a life that honors the preexistent,
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divine Son of God.
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13
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Learning Outline:
I. The Preexistence of Christ
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A. The prophet Isaiah refers to the coming Messiah
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as the eternal God and Father.
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B. Bible writers show that Jesus existed before
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the world began—before He was conceived as a man.
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C. Jesus acknowledged His own preexistence with
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the Father before He came to earth.
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Lesson 2
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II.
The Unity of Father and Son
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A. The Bible describes Jesus as being the only Son
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(monogenes) that came forth from God the Father.
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B. Jesus’ everlasting fellowship and communion
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with God the Father continued while He was here on
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earth.
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8
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III. The Divinity of Jesus
A. Jesus declared, “ ‘Anyone who has seen me has
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seen the Father’ ” (John 14:9, NIV), showing
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Himself to be divine.
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B. New Testament writers establish the truth that
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Jesus is One with the Father.
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C. Jesus—who was both divine and human—offered
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Himself to die for the sins of the world.
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17
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Summary: Jesus, the Son of God, existed eternally with the
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Father before the world began and is both divine
20
and human.
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the Father before coming to save humanity, and
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remained in constant communion with God while here
Jesus spoke of His own existence with
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Lesson 2
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on the earth.
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Lesson 2
TE-2Q-2008-02-Learning Cycle
STEP 1—Motivate!
Just for Teachers: “The divinity of Christ,” says Ellen
White, “is the believer's assurance of eternal life.”—The
Desire of Ages, p. 530. Motivate your class to study how the
divinity of Christ helps each one to live a life that will
reflect His character, and how each can daily confess as
Thomas did, “My Lord and my God”! (John 20:28, NIV).
The difference between Christ and every other person is
that He is God. He claimed to be God, and He recognized His
mission as one set by His Father. Read some of His claims to
divinity (John 5:23; 10:30; 14:7,9; 17:5) and discuss: Was
Jesus right in making such claims? Either Jesus was right in
affirming His divinity or He was living in delusion. Yet who
in history can ever pass a verdict that Jesus was a deluded
person making lofty claims?
Jesus had a mission statement for Himself: “I am
come that they might have life, and that they might have it
more abundantly” (John 10:10). Why is the divinity of Jesus
an absolute essential for Him to fulfill His mission?
STEP 2—Explore!
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Lesson 2
Just for Teachers: Lead your class to focus on the deity of
Christ. Every one of the 66 books of the Bible testify to
the nature and mission of Christ. The Old Testament looked
forward to His incarnation, and the New Testament looked
back to His life and ministry—and both testify to the deity
and humanity of Christ. John 3:16 is an excellent summary of
the nature of Christ—He is God’s Son, coexistent and
coequal, sent to provide eternal life to all who believe.
Bible Commentary
Neither human intelligence nor insight can arrive at the
truth that Christ is God, just as reason cannot prove the
existence of God. This is an area where we have to rely by
faith in God’s self-disclosure in the Word of God (1 Tim.
3:16), and it is faith in what the Word reveals that
provides us an understanding of the mystery that is Jesus.
Hence, the question: What does the Bible say about the deity
of Jesus? The answer may be looked at from two perspectives:
of Himself and of others.
I. Christ: His Claims
Did Jesus know who He was? Was He conscious of His divinity?
If He was not conscious of His uniqueness, then we have no
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Lesson 2
right to attribute that “specialness” to Him.
Jesus claimed a special relation of equality with God the
Father. “I and my Father are one,” He declared (John 10:30).
“I am in the Father, and Father in me” (John 14:10). So
intimate was His status with God that Jesus equated one’s
attitude to Him with the attitude to God. Thus, to know
Jesus was to know God (John 12:44); to hate Him was to hate
God (John 15:23); to honor Him was to honor God (John 5:23);
to believe in Him was to believe in God (John 12:44); and to
see Him was to see God (John 12:45, 14:9). To preach the
gospel was to preach in the name of the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit—all three being coequal and coeternal Persons of
the Godhead (Matt. 28:19). Jesus further claimed that He
shared the glory of the Father from eternity (John 17:5,
24). Can a man, however good and great, make such claims?
Jesus not only called God His Father but also asserted His
coeternity with Him. “Before Abraham was, I am,” He declared
in a dialogue with Jewish leaders (John 8:58). “I AM” is the
name by which Yahweh revealed Himself to Moses (Exod. 3:14).
Jesus applied this title to Himself, thus claiming His
perfect equality with God. And some people were angry
because they understood His claim and were ready to stone
Him to death for blasphemy. Could Jesus have committed the
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Lesson 2
sin of blasphemy? When Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my
God” (John 20:28), Jesus did not refuse either designation.
He knew He was God.
Consider This: How do the eight great “I AM” statements
(John 6:35; 8:12, 58; 10:7, 9, 11, 14; 11:25, 14:6; 15:1, 5)
reinforce the divinity and messiahship of Jesus? Without
Christ being divine, there is no full revelation of God, no
salvation, and no eternal life.
Jesus performed functions that are prerogatives of God
alone. He forgave sin (Mark 2:5, Luke 7:48). He claimed that
He is life (John 14:6, 11:25) and that He had the right to
bestow life (John 5:21, 10:10). He came to be the Savior of
the world (Mark 10:45) and will judge the world at the end
of history (John 8:15–17). No created person can make such
claims.
II. Christ: Biblical Testimony About His Deity
Four specific biblical testimonies are illustrative.
John 1:1–3, 14. The text marks out four points. The Word
(i.e., Jesus, vs. 14) independently and eternally existed.
The Word is distinct from but equal with God the Father. The
Word was with God and was God. The Word is the Creator. The
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Lesson 2
Word is Jesus.
Matt. 1:21–23. The invasion of the Son into history in
Bethlehem placed two names upon Him: Jesus meaning
“Saviour,” denoting the work only God can do; Emmanuel,
meaning “God with us,” notifying God’s identification with
human beings.
Gal. 4:4. If Christ had His origin only in Bethlehem, He
would have been just an ordinary man. But the Bible pictures
His birth as a divine intervention in history—-“When the
fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son” (Gal.
4:4). That is to say, God sent the Son from His heavenly
throne to be born as a babe on earth. It is to this
preexistent state that Jesus referred when He prayed, “
‘Glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I
had with You before the world was’ ” (John 17:5, NKJV).
Heb. 1:8. Of the Son, God says: “Your throne, O God, will
last for ever and ever” (Heb. 1:8, NIV). God the Father
introduces the Son as God at His incarnation.
Consider This: Look up the following texts and discuss how
they testify to the divinity of Christ (John 5:23; Acts
7:59, 60; Eph. 1:3, 4; Phil. 2:5, 6, 10, 11; Col. 1:15, 16).
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Lesson 2
STEP 3—Practice!
Just for Teachers: Consider a few important principles as to
why the deity of Christ is important for the universe as
well as for you as a person. How does Christ’s divinity play
a role in your life?
Thought Questions:
 Jesus was aware of His God-given mission on earth: “ ‘The
Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give his life as a ransom for many’ ” (Mark 10:45, NIV).
What is your mission, and in what practical ways can you
manifest it?
 Ellen White points to the divinity of Christ in these
powerful words: "In Christ is life, original, unborrowed,
underived.” —The Desire of Ages, p. 530. Make a list of what
these three descriptions mean.
Application Question:
A creature cannot be the Savior. Therefore, it was necessary
for God the Son to come into this world to be our Savior.
What does this say about those of us who are charged to be
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Lesson 2
messengers of salvation?
STEP 4—Apply!
Just for Teachers: We learned this week that Jesus is God.
As followers of Jesus, what can we do with this great truth?
Ask class members to share their inmost thoughts, fears, and
promises.
Thought Questions:
 “My Father and I are one,” said Christ. They both are one
in nature, one in character, and one in purpose. Is it
possible for us to say “Christ dwells in us”? If it is
possible, how would that be seen in our lives?

To accept Christ as God is to accept each other as brothers
and sisters without any barrier or prejudice. How does the
divinity of Christ help us to appreciate universal unity among
Christian believers? (Eph. 2:13, 14).
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Lesson 3
TE-2Q-2008-03-The Lesson in Brief . . .
Key Text: Hebrews 4:15
The Student Will:
Know: Recognize that Jesus was both divine and human.
Feel: Cultivate a desire to overcome sin just as Jesus
did.
Do: Live a life that is free from the slavery of sin
through the power of Christ.
Learning Outline:
I. The Divine and Human
A. In the New Testament, Jesus is presented as both
human and divine.
B. Although He was human, Jesus lived a sinless life.
C. The man Jesus—being also God—deserves our worship.
II.
Opposing Views of the Nature of Christ
A. The disciples testified with conviction about the
mystery of the divine—human nature of Jesus,
notwithstanding any opposition that would arise.
B. By the early first-century, opposing views of the
nature of Christ began to arise: some supported His
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Lesson 3
divine nature, others His human nature.
C. The Bible reveals attributes of Christ’s nature that
prove His humanity, such as thirst, growing weary or
tired, and weeping.
III. Tempted As We Are
A. Jesus, of His own free will, denied the exercise of
His divine power while here on earth.
B. Jesus came to earth in the flesh, was tempted (as we
are), was obedient, and finally suffered the death of a
sinner, all for the benefit of fallen human beings.
C. As our High Priest, Jesus understands our human
weaknesses. Because He Himself lived and suffered in
the flesh, He knows what it is like to be tempted in
that flesh.
Summary: Although Jesus was divine, He suffered in the flesh
and experienced our weaknesses. He did not use His divinity to
overcome sin and temptation, yet He lived a sinless life.
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
32
Lesson 3
1
TE-2Q-2008-03-Learning Cycle
2
3
STEP 1— Motivate!
4
5
Just for Teachers: Using John 1:14, lead your class to
6
consider the question, Why is the humanity of Christ
7
important in our understanding of the person and
8
mission of Christ?
9
10
John 1:1–3, 14 is foundational to understand the nature
11
of Christ and its significance to Christ’s ministry.
12
This passage teaches us three great truths. First,
13
John, the beloved of Christ’s disciples, introduces
14
Christ as the Word. This Word existed from the
15
beginning, along with God, coequal and coeternal with
16
Him. Second, being God, the Word took upon Himself the
17
“flesh”—that is, human nature—and dwelt as man on
18
earth. Third, the reason for His incarnation is that
19
the human race may see His glory, may know the Father
20
and the fullness of His grace and truth. It is through
21
this grace that we are saved (John 3:16, Eph. 2:5–8).
22
Consider This: Why is it necessary for Christ to become
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
33
Lesson 3
1
human to be our Saviour? Can Christ be our Saviour
2
without either His divinity or His humanity? Explain.
3
4
STEP 2—Explore!
5
6
Just for Teachers: “The humanity of the Son of God is
7
everything to us. It is the golden chain that binds our
8
souls to Christ, and through Christ to God. . . .
9
Christ was a real man. . . . Yet He was God in the
10
flesh.”—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, p.
11
244. As you study the humanity of Christ, consider its
12
mystery, reality, and relevance.
13
14
Bible Commentary
15
I. Christ’s Humanity: Its Mystery
16
God Incarnate. The word incarnation is not found in
17
Scripture, but the doctrine that God in Christ took
18
humanity permeates throughout the New Testament. Christ
19
called Himself “Son of Man” more than 70 times. He is
20
"the second man . . . from heaven" as opposed to Adam
21
"the first man . . . of the earth" (1 Cor. 15:47).
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
34
Lesson 3
1
2
Why incarnation? Other religions do teach incarnation,
3
but the key difference between them and that of the
4
Bible is twofold. First, the biblical narrative of
5
incarnation has the end purpose of redemption from sin
6
(Mark 10:45); it is through taking human nature, “God
7
was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” (2
8
Cor. 5:19). Assumption of humanity is God’s ultimate
9
revelation of His love toward a sinful human race (John
10
3:16). Christ took upon human nature in order to bear
11
“our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die
12
to sins and live for righteousness” (1 Pet. 2:24, NIV).
13
Second, the Bible never portrays incarnation as myth or
14
magic that some divine being plays in the drama of
15
human struggle. Rather the Bible reveals incarnation as
16
a real entry of God in space and time, whereby the Son
17
of God takes a real body and a real human nature
18
through which He inaugurates and completes the plan of
19
salvation (Gen. 3:15; Eph. 1:7–8).
20
21
Consider This: How does God become man? How can Christ
22
be God and Man at the same time? The biblical answer is
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
35
Lesson 3
1
an invitation to a faith affirmation: “Great is the
2
mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh”
3
(1 Tim. 3:16).
4
5
II. Christ’s Humanity: Its Reality
6
The issue. That Christ was really human would hardly be
7
a theological issue today. But in the early years of
8
the church, it was a hotly contested problem. As the
9
gospel spread beyond the borders of Judea, its converts
10
were largely from a Greek worldview rooted in a spirit-
11
matter dualism, with the spirit being good and the
12
matter being evil. Hence the question posed by the
13
Greeks: How can God, who is good, incarnate in human
14
flesh, which is evil? Therefore, Christ did not have a
15
truly human nature but an appearance, an illusion, of a
16
human body. Against such Gnostic heresy, John, whose
17
Gospel is the most compelling in its emphasis on
18
Christ’s divinity, not only affirms that Christ came in
19
the flesh (John 1:1–3, 14) but pronounces that “every
20
spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come
21
in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of
22
the Antichrist” (1 John 4:3, NKJV).
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
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Lesson 3
1
2
Scriptural evidence for Christ’s humanity. Jesus called
3
Himself a man (John 8:40) and was called a man by
4
others: Peter (Acts 2:22), Paul (1 Cor. 15:21, 1 Tim.
5
2:5), Pilot (John 19:5), scribes (John 7:46). He had a
6
human mother (Luke 1:26-35; Gal. 4:4), was subject to
7
the normal laws of human development (Luke 2:40, 52),
8
and had a real body and real blood (Matt. 26:26, 28;
9
Heb. 2:14; 1 John 4:2). He experienced common human
10
needs and emotions: hunger (Matt. 4:2), thirst (John
11
19:28), sleep (Matt. 8:24), weariness (John 4:6), love
12
and compassion (Mark 10:21), anxiety (Heb. 5:7), need
13
for obedience (Heb. 5:8), and dependence on God (Matt.
14
26:39-44).
15
16
Consider This: Read Philippians 2:5–8. How does Paul
17
relate the two natures of Christ? Consider the
18
apostle’s usage—“form of God” and “form of a slave.” In
19
both cases “form” is the same Greek word morphe. What
20
does this show regarding the reality of both natures of
21
Christ?
22
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
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Lesson 3
1
P “In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound Himself
2
to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the
3
eternal ages He is linked with us.”–Ellen G. White, The
4
Desire of Ages, p. 25. What does this passage mean to you?
5
6
III. Christ’s Humanity: Its Relevance
7
Why did God the Son take upon Himself human flesh and
8
retain it as an eternal link with humanity? Two
9
significant reasons may be noted:
10
11
To reveal God (Matt. 11:27, John 1:14). Outside of
12
Christ we have either incomplete or false concepts of
13
God. The Greeks conceived God as pure mind, wisdom, or
14
beauty. Some Eastern religions view Him as the
15
immovable, the unchangeable force that plays hide and
16
seek in the predicament of humanity and then withdraws
17
to some mysterious self-contemplation. There are tribes
18
that see God in terms of sexual force. Humanists
19
interpret God in terms of moral imperatives and social
20
justice. Against such notions, Christ came proclaiming
21
that "God is love" (1 John 4:8, NIV) and that He is our
22
Father (Matt. 6:9). “Christ came to reveal God to the
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
38
Lesson 3
1
world as a God of love, full of mercy, tenderness, and
2
compassion.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the
3
Church, vol. 5, pp. 738, 739.
4
5
To deal with the problem of sin (Gen. 3:15, Isa. 53:4-
6
6, John 3:16, Rom. 5:6–11). The core purpose of
7
incarnation is that Jesus “shall save his people from
8
their sins” (Matt. 1:21; cf. 1 John 4:9). Hence, God’s
9
Son came in the form of a helpless babe in Bethlehem
10
and allowed Himself to be the Man of the cross. So the
11
apostle says, God “loved us, and sent his Son to be the
12
propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Without His
13
divinity, Christ could not have been qualified to be
14
our Savior; without His humanity, He could not have
15
taken the cross on our behalf. It is the God-Man, Jesus
16
the Christ, who saves us from sin, and concludes the
17
great controversy by His victory over sin, death and
18
Satan (Rev. 11:15–18).
19
20
STEP 3—Practice!
21
22
Just for Teachers: Note the implications of the
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
39
Lesson 3
1
humanity of Christ to our Christian faith and life.
2
3
Thought Questions:
4
 “I perceive that there is danger in approaching
5
subjects which dwell on the humanity of the Son of the
6
infinite God.”—Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible
7
Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1,129. What are some of these
8
dangers, and how should we deal with them?
9
10
 Christ is both God and man. And He was tempted “as we
11
are” (Heb. 4:15). Did Christ’s nature provide him an
12
advantage over us in facing sin? In what ways are the
13
temptations of Jesus the same as or different from
14
ours?
15
16
STEP 4—Apply!
17
18
Just for Teachers: We have learned so far that Jesus is
19
both God and Man. As His followers, how do we relate to
20
this great truth?
21
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
40
Lesson 3
1
Thought Questions:
2
 “I can do all things through Christ which
3
strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13). How can we relate this
4
promise to the divine-human natures of Christ?
5
6
 Some say that the moral and ethical example of Christ
7
as a man is what makes Him our Savior. Is this right?
8
If so, why? If not, why not?
9
10
11
12
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
41
Lesson 3
1
2
TE-2Q-2008-04-The Lesson in Brief . . .
3
4
Key Text: John 7:46
5
6
The Student Will:
7
Know: Recognize that Jesus showed compassion for
8
ordinary people, including the weakest of society.
9
Feel: Nurture a desire to minister to people
10
personally, as Jesus did.
11
Do: Live a life of humility, forgiving others as
12
we have been forgiven.
13
14
15
Learning Outline:
I. The Words of Jesus
16
A. Jesus was not just a wise Teacher; He spoke as
17
one with authority.
18
B. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught
19
attitudes and behaviors that were contrary to the
20
social norm for that time and for the present
21
time.
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
42
Lesson 4
1
2
II. A Revelation of God
3
A. Jesus gave us the greatest revelation of God.
4
B. The Savior’s loving regard for children and the
5
weakest members of society is a manifestation of
6
the true character of God.
7
C. Jesus taught that we must forgive others just
8
as we have been forgiven.
9
10
III. Humility and Grace
11
A. Jesus gave us the greatest example of humility
12
by becoming a man and dying the death of a
13
criminal—a sinner.
14
B. The true meaning of grace can be seen in the
15
parables and real-life experiences of Jesus.
16
C. The Lord’s examples of grace show that the
17
undeserving can receive help and forgiveness in
18
times of need.
19
20
Summary: The words and actions of Jesus reveal the true
21
nature of God and teach us the real meaning of
22
humility.
23
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
43
Lesson 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
TE-2Q-2008-04-Learning Cycle
20
21
STEP 1—Motivate!
22
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
44
Lesson 4
1
Just for Teachers: “You are a teacher who has come from
2
God” (John 3:2, NIV). History joins Nicodemus in
3
acclaiming Jesus as a great teacher. Other religious
4
founders, philosophers, and leaders may also be great
5
teachers. But what separates Jesus from all others? The
6
wisdom of His teachings? His ethical benchmarks? His
7
philosophic insights? His profound definition of life
8
and its meaning? Ask your class to focus on where lies
9
the uniqueness of Jesus as a teacher.
10
11
It lies in who He is. Socrates and Confucius, Buddha
12
and Krishna, Shakespeare and Tolstoy, found their
13
authority in logic, ethics, morality, poetry, humanism,
14
or philosophy, but Christ’s authority was His own life:
15
He is God speaking God’s will. He did not come seeking
16
truth; He was the truth, the way, and the life (John
17
14:6).
18
It lies in His authority. When Jesus finished
19
speaking, the crowds were “amazed” (Matt. 7:28,29,
20
NIV). The word translated “amazed” literally means,
21
“blown away.” His teachings were so compelling, so
22
pointed, so divine that people were astonished and
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
45
Lesson 4
1
unsettled. There was no room for debate: His word was
2
God’s word. “My teaching,” He said,
3
comes from him who sent me” (John 7:16, NIV).
“is not my own. It
4
5
Consider This: What other factors underscore Jesus as a
6
unique teacher?
7
8
STEP 2—Explore!
9
10
Just for Teachers: Suppose archaeologists suddenly came
11
upon fragments of an ancient book entitled,
12
“Autobiography of Jesus” or “My Teachings, by Jesus of
13
Nazareth.” Would that change anything that we believe
14
as the teachings of Christ based on the Gospels? If
15
not, why not? Reflect on John 21:24-25 for a possible
16
answer.
17
Bible Commentary
18
While the Bible is the means through which Christ the
19
Word speaks to us (2 Tim. 3:16, 17), the Gospels in a
20
special way records the wonder of Christ’s teachings on
21
many essentials of life—from where we came from to
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
46
Lesson 4
1
where we are headed, and all the in—between issues. But
2
this week we focus on Christ’s teachings on who God is
3
and how we ought to live.
4
5
I. What Christ Taught About God
6
Discuss what some concepts of God found outside of
7
Christ are, and what is wrong with such notions?
Christ incarnated as a human being to dispel false
8
9
notions that Satan had instilled in human minds,
10
and to reveal the true nature of God. If indeed God was
11
speaking through His Son (Heb. 1:1, 2; John 1:1–3, 14),
12
it is important for us to recognize that Jesus is the
13
ultimate disclosure of God. What did He disclose about
14
God?
15
16
Christ taught that God is our Father (Matt. 6:9–14). In
17
the heart of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us a
18
model prayer in which He bids us to relate to God as
19
Father—intimate, personal, caring, and loving; not a
20
distant, impersonal force or idea. "Father" is Christ's
21
favorite way of describing God. He uses it 4 times in
22
Mark, 15 times in Luke, 44 times in Matthew, and no
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
47
Lesson 4
1
less than 107 times in John—an ascending increase in
2
usage. Does this signify the importance of the concept
3
of God as Father to the growing faith community?
4
5
Christ taught that God our Father is one of love,
6
grace, and truth (John 1:14, 3:16). The Fatherhood of
7
God presents God in terms of true love (1 John 4:16).
8
God's love not only has created us, but has sought out
9
to redeem us when we have chosen to wander away in sin
10
(Rom. 5:6–8). In describing God’s love, the New
11
Testament uses the word agape, a sacrificial, outgoing,
12
unmerited love. It neither changes nor oscillates; it
13
is utterly dependable. It is love for love’s sake. It
14
loves us not because we deserve it, but because we are
15
in need of it. By His agape, God has given the utmost
16
dignity to human life, so that if there had been only
17
one sinner, Christ would have died for that single
18
prodigal.
19
20
II. What Christ Taught About How We Should Live
21
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) stands as the
22
epitome of Christian lifestyle and conduct. Through
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
48
Lesson 4
1
this most significant sermon ever preached, Jesus
2
presented not an impossible idealism or a perfectionist
3
legalism but a standard of conduct for those saved by
4
His grace. The Sermon on the Mount is the divine
5
manifesto for the believer’s life. Note two keys to
6
understanding this sermon.
7
8
First, the Sermon on the Mount is God’s eternal call to
9
be different. This is the same call that came to Noah,
10
Abraham, Israel—and now His disciples. Christ wants a
11
people who are not “like them” (Matt. 6:8, NIV). Jesus
12
demands of His disciples to be different from those
13
around them—in the way they believe, worship, relate,
14
live, love, or die. The purpose is not to form an
15
isolationist cult, but to be a distinct and permeating
16
remnant—like salt to make the food edible or light to
17
dispel darkness (Matt. 5:13-16). Discipleship is a call
18
to be different.
19
20
Second, the Sermon on the Mount is an affirmation of
21
the moral law through the unique technique of extension
22
by the Lord who Himself authored that law, thus
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
49
Lesson 4
1
establishing the eternal relevance of the Decalogue
2
(Matt. 5:17–19). Jesus does this masterfully by using
3
two phrases, “It was said . . . but I say unto you.”
4
The contrast introduces a more demanding definition and
5
a transparent lifestyle. Sin moves from act to thought
6
(5:21–42), prayer from the mechanical to the relational
7
(6:7–13), righteousness from what one does to in whom
8
one lives (6:14–34), relationship from blood to
9
brotherhood (7:1–12), love from the near to the other
10
(7:43–48), and the ultimate living principle from the
11
hypocritical to a radical one of commitment (7:21–27).
12
13
Consider This: The Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-11) are not a
14
cafeteria of choices from which Christians can choose
15
and select. They must possess all just as they must
16
have the components of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.
17
5:22, 23).
18
19
STEP 3—Practice!
20
21
Just for Teachers: Take some time to let your class
22
members share with each other how the Sermon on the
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
50
Lesson 4
1
Mount is relevant to some of the burning issues, such
2
as child and spousal abuse and status of marriage in
3
society today.
4
5
Thought Questions:
6
 Some versions begin the Beatitudes with “Blessed are
7
they. . . .” and others begin with “Happy are they. . .
8
.” Which is more appealing to you, and why? Is there a
9
difference between the two?
10
11
 Implied in Matthew 5:17–20 is the notion that some
12
have evidently thought that Jesus was opposed to the
13
law. What would have prompted such thinking?
14
15
Application Questions:
16
 Fasting is not a popular practice these days. Can you
17
think of reasons in favor of fasting?
18
19
 The Lord’s Prayer has six petitions. Identify them.
20
How can one use this as a model in private and public
21
prayers?
22
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
51
Lesson 4
1
STEP 4—Apply!
2
3
Just for Teachers: We learned this week the wondrous
4
nature of the teachings of Jesus. Probe your class with
5
questions such as these: Where does the wonder lie?
6
Have you felt a tug at your heart as you contemplated
7
some of Christ’s teachings? Which of His teaching is
8
the most timely and relevant to you this week?
9
10
Application Questions:
11
 Jesus taught us to address God as our Father. If God
12
is our Father, what are we to each other? And how is
13
that new relationship in Christ reflected in Christ’s
14
teaching on our relationship to each other?
15
16
 Christ taught us to pray: “Forgive us our debts, as we
17
forgive our debtors” (Matt. 6:12). What does this
18
imply to our day-to-day life?
20
19
TE-2Q-2008-05-The Lesson in Brief . . .
21
22
Key Text: Matthew 3:2
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
52
Lesson 5
1
2
The Student Will:
3
Know: Discuss how the kingdom of heaven is as much
4
a present reality as it is a future hope.
5
Feel: Sense a desire to experience the compassion
6
of God on a daily basis.
7
Do: Share the message of God’s kingdom with
8
others.
9
10
11
Learning Outline:
I. The Compassionate Christ
12
A. Jesus didn’t just simply speak words of
13
comfort; He also ministered to the needs of
14
others.
15
B. Many of the experiences of Christ—such as
16
feeding the 5,000—give us a visual picture of why
17
He came to the earth: to show humanity that He is
18
able to provide for their every need, both
19
physical and spiritual.
20
C. Jesus demonstrated His power over everything
21
that concerns humanity.
22
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
53
Lesson 5
1
II.
Messiah
2
A. Jesus did not seek recognition or personal gain
3
but lived His life for the benefit of others,
4
showing that He came to save us.
5
B. John the Baptist and many other people were
6
uncertain at first about Jesus being the true
7
Messiah.
8
C. The words, actions, and miracles of Jesus
9
revealed the fulfillment of the Messianic
10
prophecies.
11
12
III. The Kingdom of God: For Now and Forever
13
In the life of Christ we are shown that the
14
kingdom of God is both a present and a future
15
reality.
16
17
Summary: The works of Jesus were evidence that He was truly
18
the Messiah. But He did not come simply to speak
19
of a future hope. He showed that God’s kingdom—
20
filled with love and compassion, free from sin and
21
suffering—could become a reality for every
22
believer now.
23
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
54
Lesson 5
1
TE-2Q-2008-05-Learning Cycle
2
3
STEP 1— Motivate!
4
5
Just for Teachers: “His name shall be called
6
Wonderful,” prophesied Isaiah (9:6). Wonder and mystery
7
mark the life and ministry of Jesus. His birth, death,
8
resurrection, and ascension are wonders of cosmic
9
proportion. His teachings are filled with wonder and
10
defy all human understanding. This week we study the
11
wonder of His works.
12
13
Of all the miracles Jesus performed, which is the most
14
wonderful, and why?
15
16
After discussing the above question, read Matthew
17
11:4, 5. To the Baptist’s query whether He was the
18
Messiah, Jesus sent back the response: Tell John that
19
“the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have
20
leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
21
and the good news is preached to the poor” (Matt. 11:5,
22
NIV, italics supplied). Why does Jesus list “preaching
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
55
Lesson 5
1
the good news” along with miracles? Is it because the
2
good news is the most wondrous of all miracles?
3
4
STEP 2—Explore!
5
6
Just for Teachers: In Nazareth, Jesus announced His
7
Messianic mission by quoting a passage from Isaiah and
8
then affirming that He is the fulfillment of that
9
prophecy. Read Luke 4:16-31 and let the class identify:
10
(a) the power behind Jesus’ works; (b) the gospel and
11
its relation to freedom and healing; (c)the meaning of
12
the “year of the Lord.”
13
14
Bible Commentary
15
Jesus “went about doing good, and healing all that were
16
oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38). From this verse
17
we note three characteristics of the work of Jesus: His
18
ministry was without frontiers; His ministry was the
19
embodiment of righteousness; His ministry was one of
20
deliverance.
21
I. A Ministry Without Frontiers
TE 2Q 2008 The Wonder of Jesus by Roy Adams
56
Lesson 5
1
Jesus “went about” is how Peter describes the
2
extensiveness of His ministry (Acts 10:38). Matthew
3
also says: “Jesus went through all the towns and
4
villages” (Matt. 9:35, NIV). Christ’s ministry is not
5
restricted to one locality or one people. He is the
6
Lord of the universe, and He came “to seek and to save
7
that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). The lost is the
8
planet, and hence His mission is to Galilee, Judea,
9
Samaria and through His disciples to the ends of the
10
world (Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 1:8). He is the Lord of
11
the universe and a Man with a message for all people.
12
Hence He or His message cannot be restricted to
13
frontier of any kind—be it geography, culture, caste,
14
language, or tribe.
15
16
Consider This: The Adventist church today has a global
17
mission, with the aim of reaching every unreached
18
community around the world. How does your life and
19
witness fit into this worldwide mission?
20
21
22
II. A Ministry of Righteousness
“Jesus went about doing good.” He is good, and He can
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1
do nothing but good. But the good that Jesus did was
2
considered so not because such good works met some
3
human standards. What Jesus did was good because they
4
were part of “the good news” of the kingdom of God that
5
He established. His name, said the prophet, is “The
6
Lord our righteousness” (Jer. 23:6), and in Jesus we
7
have righteousness in all its fullness and power.
8
9
Ministry of compassion. One way the absolute goodness
10
of Jesus is described in the Gospels is that He was
11
moved with compassion wherever He saw human need–be it
12
spiritual lostness (Matt. 9:36), hunger (Matt.14:14,
13
15:32), leprosy (Mark 1:40, 41), blindness (Matt.
14
20:34), the widowhood (Luke 7:13) or demon possession
15
(Mark 9:25). The Greek word for “compassion” is
16
splagchna, which indicates no ordinary pity but the
17
deepest emotion one is capable of, an emotion that
18
arises from the very depths of one’s being. It suggests
19
a passionate involvement with the other, like the love
20
the father showed to the prodigal (Luke 15:20) and the
21
compassion exhibited by the good Samaritan (Luke
22
10:33). Both parables use the word splagchna.
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1
2
3
Consider This: “Never are we to be cold and
4
unsympathetic, especially when dealing with the poor. .
5
. . Christ declared that the gospel is to be preached
6
to the poor. Never does God's truth put on an aspect of
7
greater loveliness than when brought to the needy and
8
destitute. Then it is that the light of the gospel
9
shines forth in its most radiant clearness, lighting up
10
the hut of the peasant and the rude cottage of the
11
laborer. Angels of God are there, and their presence
12
makes the crust of bread and the cup of water a
13
banquet.”—Ellen G. White, Counsels on Stewardship, pp.
14
162, 163.
15
16
Compassion and unreserved love marked Jesus’ ministry
17
of righteousness. He saw sheep without a Shepherd,
18
sickness without a physician, children without parents,
19
people without dignity, the oppressed without a
20
liberator, sinners without a Savior, and He did
21
something about it. He was moved with compassion to
22
render His ministry of righteousness.
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1
2
III. A Ministry of Deliverance and Peace
3
Jesus healed “all that were oppressed of the devil
4
(Acts 10:38). To this testimony of Peter, add Jesus’
5
own self-understanding that He came “to set at liberty
6
them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18), and we have a
7
remarkable definition of what and why the work of Jesus
8
is. Jesus traced the root of every problem in the
9
world—be it fear, disease, loneliness, depression,
10
disabilities, and death—to sin and its originator.
11
Hence, to Him the ultimate healing and restoration
12
rests in liberation from Satan’s crutches. The works
13
Jesus did and the miracles He performed were but small
14
illustrations of the big picture: God in Christ has
15
invaded the dominion of Satan and established His
16
kingdom of righteousness (Heb. 2:14; 1 John 5:8).
17
18
What is the oppression that you have or feel? Sinking
19
in a storm-tossed sea (Matt. 8:23–27)? Possessed by
20
demons of culture or abuse (vss. 8:28–23)? A life
21
without hope (John 5:5–9)? Inability to proceed with
22
normal life (Matt. 15:29–31)? A malady with malice
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1
(Matt. 8:1–4)? A loss of identity and acceptability
2
(Mark 5:24–34)? Or grief and death (John 11:1–45)? Help
3
is just a prayer away. Jesus liberates us from every
4
oppression of the evil one. Through His work and
5
message, “the kingdom of God has come” upon us (Matt.
6
12:28). Those who by faith enter that Kingdom have
7
freedom and peace (John 8:36, Rom. 5:1).
8
9
STEP 3—Practice!
10
11
Just for Teachers: Most of the miracles that Jesus
12
performed were to meet different human needs. In
13
performing those miracles, Jesus often said, “ ‘Your
14
faith has made you whole;’ ” “ ‘Your sins are
15
forgiven.’ ”
16
following.
Probe this a little by discussing the
17
18
Thought Questions:
19
 In what ways can sin be held accountable for human
20
misery? Is it one’s personal sin or sin as a system
21
that has affected the human race?
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1
2
 Can we consider lifestyle issues that affect our
3
health as falling within the definition of sin?
4
5
 What role does faith have in healing and restoration?
6
Does faith mean “a will to live” or a surrender to God?
7
What are some of the signs that one’s Christian life is
8
governed by such a faith?
9
10
STEP 4—Apply!
11
12
Just for Teachers: We learned this week that the
13
greatest wonder of Jesus’ work is His establishment of
14
His Kingdom. We also are aware that this kingdom has
15
two aspects: the kingdom of grace here and now, and the
16
kingdom of glory yet to come. Discuss with your class
17
members their responsibility to both aspects of the
18
kingdom.
19
20
21
Application Questions:
 If indeed “the kingdom of God has come upon” us
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1
(Matt. 12:28, NKJV), how do we ensure that the good
2
news is made known to others, as well?
3
4
 Christ is responsible for the establishment of both
5
aspects of the kingdom. How would this truth
6
affect your relationship in the church and the
7
community?
8
TE-2Q-2008-06-The Lesson in Brief . . .
9
10
Key Text: Matthew 4:4
11
12
The Student Will:
13
Know: Realize that many of the things Jesus said
14
did not fit in with the norm of the times.
15
Feel: Sense the need to apply the underlying
16
principles of Jesus’ words to our everyday living.
17
Do: Follow the sayings and teachings of Jesus—even
18
those that are untraditional.
19
20
21
Learning Outline:
I. The “Sayings” of Jesus
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1
A. Jesus said many things that were puzzling and
2
contrary to popular beliefs and traditional
3
behaviors.
4
B. One of the hard-to-understand “sayings” of
5
Jesus deals with the issue of divorce. (See
6
Matthew 19:3–12.)
7
C. We should not allow controversies or disputes
8
to arise over the sayings of Jesus that are hard
9
to understand or interpret.
10
11
II.
Unconventional Words
12
A. Jesus taught unconventional things in regard to
13
such topics as forgiving others, obtaining wealth,
14
and achieving perfection.
15
B. The Lord stressed the importance of loving God
16
more than loving one’s family.
17
C. Jesus also spoke of putting the kingdom of
18
heaven above earthly concerns.
19
20
Summary: Many of the sayings of Jesus were very
21
controversial because they did not fit in with
22
popular traditions. Even today some of the words
23
of Jesus seem hard to follow and difficult to
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1
apply to our “normal” way of life. Controversial
2
issues over these unusual sayings should be
3
avoided as we attempt to apply the principles
4
behind the words to our everyday lives.
5
TE-2Q-2008-06-Learning Cycle
6
7
STEP 1—Motivate!
8
9
Just for Teachers: Many who heard Jesus teach found His
10
sayings hard to understand and harder to accept (John
11
6:60). The position is no better today. Why is it
12
important that we pay heed to all the teachings of
13
Jesus, including the ones considered difficult?
14
15
Jesus did not present some soothing palliatives. His
16
teaching was tough and often opposed what was
17
considered normal. Consider the Beatitudes, for
18
example. How do they challenge our culture and our
19
time?
20
Discuss some possible attitudes one can take
21
toward the teachings of Jesus: (a) admire them as the
22
musings of an idealist; (b) dismiss them as setting
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Lesson 6
1
standards too high for any mortal to reach; (c)take
2
what agrees with you and ignore the others; (d) accept
3
them as the principles of His kingdom and seek His
4
empowerment to follow them.
5
6
STEP 2—Explore!
7
8
Just for Teachers: His sayings are challenging because
9
they expect a radical change in us. His was not a
10
pulpit that massaged the soul; His was a message that
11
demanded transformation and often death to the past. As
12
your class reviews some of these difficult sayings,
13
focus on what Jesus was really trying to say–not on
14
whether His teaching is realistic in today’s context.
15
16
Bible Commentary
17
Two thousand years after He spelled out His message,
18
Jesus’ sayings continue to comfort, baffle, and
19
mystify. “Except you eat my flesh and drink my blood,”
20
Christ said to His disciples. Their reaction was the
21
same as ours: This is a hard saying. “Blessed are the
22
poor,” He said, but our world looks down upon the poor
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1
and seeks its blessedness in material abundance. So,
2
how are we to relate to these difficult sayings?
3
Consider a few of them pertaining to discipleship,
4
lifestyle, and relationships.
5
6
I. The Challenge of Discipleship
7
Discipleship begins with death and denial.“You must be
8
born again,” Jesus said (John 3:7, NIV). Nicodemus
9
responded for the world, “How can this be?” (vs. 3:9,
10
NIV). The call to a new birth is a call to death of the
11
old self. Without giving up the old, we have no
12
possibility of embracing the new. Death precedes
13
discipleship, and hence the Jesus ultimatum: “ ‘Anyone
14
who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my
15
disciple’ ” (Luke 14:27, NIV). Why is this demand so
16
hard to accept? Was Jesus expecting too much? Is there
17
no alternative to carrying the cross?
18
19
Discipleship involves placing Jesus above all
20
interests, including one’s family. Jesus defines family
21
not in terms of blood but in terms of doing God’s will
22
(Luke 8:19-21). If this is a hard saying, consider the
23
following: “ ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate
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1
his father and mother, his wife and children, his
2
brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot
3
be my disciple’ ” (Luke 14:26, NIV). Does this mean
4
that Jesus wants us to actively hate our family? Far
5
from it. Did not Jesus Himself provide for His mother
6
even as He hung on the cross (John 19:25-27)? And did
7
He not command us to love everyone? What, then, is
8
meant by this passage? Christ demands our absolute,
9
unconditional loyalty to Him as the Lord of our lives.
10
Nothing—not parents, not children, not self—can take
11
the place of Christ in a disciple’s life. He is life’s
12
first priority.
13
14
II.
The Challenge of Christian Lifestyle
15
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is
16
in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). At the heart of the
17
Sermon on the Mount is this command. Did our Lord
18
expect us to be sinless, to be morally and ethically
19
perfect? Can anyone ever be perfect like God? If no one
20
can, why did Jesus say what He did? From this passage
21
some argue for a sinless life here on earth. To them,
22
sinlessness is an attainable objective. Such a call to
23
moral perfection can indeed be a hard saying. Yet the
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1
context (vs. 43 onward) makes clear what Jesus was
2
driving at: Be like the Father. Love everyone even as
3
He loves. Be merciful like Him (Luke 6:36). Life is not
4
a battle of wits; it is a relationship to be lived.
5
Viewed thus, the saying is not difficult after all; but
6
practicing it certainly is.
7
8
Forgiveness is another challenge in discipleship. Yet
9
forgiveness is what makes the Christian life possible.
10
The gospel is God’s message of forgiveness, and
11
forgiveness plays a significant part of Christ’s
12
teaching. He placed it as an essential part of prayer
13
life (Matt. 6:12). Indeed, there and in Matthew 18:35
14
Jesus linked God’s forgiveness of us to our forgiveness
15
of others. The gospel makes no room for revenge. To
16
Peter’s question as to whether seven times is a
17
reasonable limit for forgiving someone, Jesus answered,
18
“ ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven
19
times’ ” (Matt. 18:22, NIV). Both this and His earlier
20
statement of turning the other cheek (Matt. 5:39) make
21
Christian life not particularly easy. Yet, in these
22
sayings, is Jesus outlining the impossible as a guide
23
to Christian conduct? Or is He saying that if God’s
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1
love dwells in one’s heart, such love can do what is
2
humanly impossible? Are His sayings a measure of human
3
ability or divine empowerment?
4
5
III. The Challenge of Relationships: Marriage
6
Marriage and divorce. The saying of Jesus on marriage
7
and divorce (Matt. 19:3-9) is an increasingly difficult
8
one at a time that when divorce is so common within the
9
faith community. More than the legality of divorce,
10
Jesus was interested in the divine sanctity of
11
marriage. He finds in the inspired Word that (a) God
12
established marriage; (b) marriage creates one
13
indivisible unity out of two; (c) what God has glued
14
together no one has the right to separate; and (d)
15
infidelity is the only ground for divorce. What Jesus
16
said was so hard even for His disciples that they gave
17
up in despair, saying “it is better not to marry” (vs.
18
19:10, NIV). Here is one reason why we find some of
19
Jesus’ sayings difficult: they are inconvenient; they
20
uphold what the Scriptures consider as the ideal; and
21
they run counter to what we perceive as acceptable
22
conduct. Social norms, current laws, or common
23
agreements of the parties may justify divorce. Is it
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Lesson 6
1
not better for the two to separate in peace instead of
2
continuing to live in a relationship that hurts both?
3
The dilemma produces a tension between the ideal and
4
the real, and it takes the wisdom and justice of God to
5
uphold the ideal and “suffer” (vs. 19:8) the reality.
6
7
STEP 3—Practice!
8
9
Just for Teachers: Mark Twain once said that what
10
bothered him most about the Bible were not the things
11
that he could not understand but the things that he
12
could understand. What does this say about human
13
nature?
14
15
Thought Questions:
16
 Consider Jesus bidding us to take up the cross and
17
follow Him (Mark 8:34) and Paul’s saying that we must
18
die daily (1 Cor. 15:31). What should I do today to
19
fulfill this demand of discipleship?
20
21
 How did Jesus practice what He taught? Cite some
22
examples.
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Lesson 6
1
2
 While the “common people heard him gladly” (Mark
3
12:37, NKJV), the establishment leaders, the rich, and
4
the powerful found Him offensive and a disturber. Why?
5
Have you ever found Jesus offensive?
6
7
STEP 4—Apply!
8
9
Just for Teachers: We learned this week the high
10
standards that Jesus sets for discipleship. How should
11
we relate these standards to our witness?
12
13
Application Questions:
14
 “Show me a Christian and I will become one” is often
15
said by those who admire the teachings of Jesus but do
16
not choose to follow Him. What is our responsibility to
17
counter this argument?
18
19
 Choose a particular hard saying of Christ, such as turning
20
the other cheek (Matt. 5:39) or selling all and
21
giving it to the poor (Luke 18:22). Do you know of
22
any who has practiced such a principle? Will
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1
32
following such a principle lead to salvation?
Lesson 6
TE-2Q-2008-07-The Lesson In Brief. . .
4
5
Key Text: John 5:30
6
7
The Student Will:
8
Know: Discuss how Jesus’ faithfulness in doing the
9
will of the Father in heaven came before all else.
10
And He knew that God’s will for Him was to save
11
humankind.
12
Feel: Nurture a desire to demonstrate personally
13
that each believer is accepted into God’s family,
14
regardless of status.
15
Do: Reach out to everyone, regardless of their
16
status.
17
18
19
Learning Outline:
I. Son of Man—Son of God
20
A. Jesus knew that He was the Son of God and
21
understood, even in His youth, what His purpose
22
was for coming to the earth.
23
B. Although He had respect for His parents, Jesus’
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Lesson 7
1
loyalty to God was greater than His loyalty to
2
them.
3
4
II. Jesus Our Brother—Our Example
5
A. In many cases Jesus expressed human emotions
6
much as we do.
7
B. In many situations, Jesus was silent, or,
8
seemingly, gave no response at all.
9
C. We must follow Christ’s example by applying the
10
underlying principles behind His own words and
11
behaviors.
12
13
III. Friend of the Outcast
14
A. Although Jesus mingled with ordinary people, He
15
also interacted with (and welcomed) the
16
unacceptable, the outcast, and the lower class of
17
society.
18
B. Many people who did not understand the Lord’s
19
conduct in associating with “sinners” misjudged
20
Him or accused Him wrongly.
21
22
Summary: The Savior’s ministry and purpose to bring
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Lesson 7
1
salvation to humankind was far-reaching and all-
2
inclusive. He therefore reached out to “whosoever”
3
would come—from prostitute to preacher, from leper
4
to lawyer. In all that He did, He always put His
5
loyalty to the Father and His purpose for saving
6
humanity above all else.
7
98
TE-2Q-2008-07-Learning Cycle
10
11
STEP 1—Motivate!
12
13
Just for Teachers: “We are to copy no human being.
14
There is no human being wise enough to be our
15
criterion. We are to look to the man Christ Jesus, who
16
is complete in the perfection of righteousness and
17
holiness.... He is the pattern man.... His character is
18
our model.”—Ellen G. White, In Heavenly Places, p. 166.
19
20
Jesus is indeed our model. Yet, His conduct at times is
21
puzzling. For example, when a Gentile woman approached
22
Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter, His first
23
reaction was silence, compounded later by a seemingly
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Lesson 7
1
harsh derision of her race as dogs (Matt. 15:21–26).
2
Did Jesus possess such contempt for those of another
3
culture? Or was He using this incident to show that
4
racial hatred has no place in His kingdom?
5
6
Jesus is unique in His person and mission. He is
7
both God and Man, and as such His approach to His work
8
at times seems so different from the options open for
9
us. However, there are certain things in which we ought
10
to imitate Jesus without any hesitation. What are they?
11
12
STEP 2—Explore!
13
14
Just for Teachers: As we study incidents in Jesus’ life
15
that may seem puzzling, encourage the class to (a)
16
remember that He is different from us; (b) view His
17
mission as Messianic; and (c) see a purpose behind each
18
puzzling conduct a purpose.
19
20
Bible Commentary
21
Observe the puzzling conduct of Jesus in three areas—
22
His childhood, His associations, and His attitudes—and
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Lesson 7
1
discover behind each puzzle a purpose.
2
3
I. The Puzzle of His Childhood
4
The only recorded incident of Jesus’ childhood (Luke
5
2:41–51) leaves us with amazement and a query. We
6
wonder at the ability of the 12-year old Jesus to
7
debate with the learned. We are puzzled by His response
8
to the anxiety of His parents: “ ‘Why did you seek Me?
9
Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s
10
11
business?’” (vs. 2:49, 50, NKJV).
Was Jesus careless and irresponsible in so
12
responding to His parents’ anxiety? Was He arrogant
13
because of sudden eminence bestowed upon Him by His
14
audience in the temple? Should He not have felt bad
15
that He caused His parents so much pain? The incident
16
is puzzling. But behind the puzzle is the divine
17
purpose: to unfold to Jesus and His parents His
18
Messianic mission, that even as He is growing up as
19
their son, He has an eternal Father, and His work will
20
soon consume His life itself.
21
22
Consider This: Was Jesus insensitive toward His
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1
parents? See Luke 2:51.
2
3
II. The Puzzle of His Association
4
“One’s character is known by the friends one keeps” is
5
a common saying. The scribes and the Pharisees applied
6
this saying to Jesus and passed a judgment: Jesus could
7
not be good and could not qualify to be the Messiah
8
because He associated with sinners, tax collectors, and
9
the undesirable of society (Luke 5:31–32; Matt. 9:10–
10
13).
11
12
Jesus met His accusers with a profound answer: It is
13
the sick who need a doctor, the sinners that need the
14
Savior. The healing and saving mission of Jesus
15
considers not the status of whom He met but their need.
16
The deeper a person is in sin, the more longing is the
17
Savior’s love. No one is alien to His redemptive
18
search. So what is the divine purpose behind Jesus’
19
association with the undesirables of the society?
20
Simply this: to reveal to all humanity that God hates
21
sin but loves the sinner; that sin’s oppression cannot
22
place one beyond the reach of divine grace; that what
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1
is considered scandalous by human opinion is precisely
2
the object of divine mission. Hence, come Zacchaeus,
3
come Mary Magdalene, come leper, and also come
4
Nicodemus, come Peter, come Paul—there is room for all
5
in Christ’s kingdom.
6
7
Consider This: Supposing you see your pastor walking
8
around in the bad part of town where prostitutes and
9
drug dealers hang around, or find him coming out of an
10
all-night bar. What would you conclude?
11
12
III. The Puzzle of His Attitudes
13
Does Jesus care? Caring for the oppressed, saving the
14
lost, being a friend of the friendless, weeping with
15
those that weep, feeding the hungry: Don’t such
16
instances of love and tenderness show that Jesus cares?
17
And yet, is it not puzzling to note that while John the
18
Baptist was languishing in prison Jesus never paid Him
19
a visit (Matt. 14:1–12)? After all, Jesus taught that
20
visiting those in prison is a characteristic of the
21
citizens of His kingdom (Matt. 25: 31–46). How are we
22
to understand, then, Jesus’ attitude toward the
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1
imprisoned and the beheaded Baptist? Does it reflect
2
insensitiveness, neglect, and inconsistency?
3
Matthew says that John’s disciples “told Jesus” all
4
that had happened to the Baptist (Matt. 14:12). Was
5
this a hint? “Beware, don’t let this come to you.”
6
7
Consider This: “Jesus did not interpose to deliver His
8
servant. He knew that John would bear the test. Gladly
9
would the Saviour have come to John, to brighten the
10
dungeon gloom with His own presence. But He was not to
11
place Himself in the hands of enemies and imperil His
12
own mission. Gladly would He have delivered His
13
faithful servant. But for the sake of thousands who in
14
after years must pass from prison to death, John was to
15
drink the cup of martyrdom.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire
16
of Ages, p. 224.
17
18
Did Jesus respect property? When Jesus healed two men
19
possessed by demons, He allowed the demons to enter a
20
herd of 2,000 swine, causing the pigs to drown in a
21
nearby lake (Matt. 8:28–34; Mark 5:1–19). The miracle
22
had caused much discussion about Jesus’ attitude toward
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1
property rights and animal welfare. Are His critics
2
right to charge Him as uncaring and insensitive?
3
We can be sure of certain things. First, Jesus could
4
not have deliberately destroyed the pigs. Second, He
5
could not have wished any economic loss to the owners
6
of the pigs. Third, He who spoke of a little sparrow or
7
the one lost sheep with such intense feelings could not
8
have wantonly caused cruelty to animals.
9
And so why did Jesus allow the demons to enter the
10
swine? One reason is the saving of the two oppressed
11
men. Salvation is always His first priority: is it not
12
His mission, even to the point of His own death on the
13
cross? Another is to awaken the villagers to the
14
reality that they were too preoccupied with material
15
things that they did not care for the spiritual, and
16
that now in seeing the salvation of two of their own
17
neglected men, they may turn to their own salvation.
18
With Jesus there is always a balance and a priority.
19
20
STEP 3—Practice!
21
22
Thought Question:
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1
Jesus overturned the moneychangers’ tables because He
2
did not approve of their actions (Matt. 21:12, 13). Is
3
this an act of righteous anger, targeted at cleansing a
4
religious institution, as part of His messianic
5
mission? Or is it a revolutionary model for us to
6
emulate?
7
8
Application Questions:
9
 Consider an imaginary situation in your church. For
10
some time rumors have been floating that an elder has
11
been behaving inappropriately with members of the
12
opposite sex. There has also been talk of two deacons
13
misappropriating some church funds. You feel concerned
14
about it. Will you be justified in exposing this during
15
a divine service and demanding action? If not, why not?
16
17
 In situations such as the above, why is it that we
18
cannot assert the same rights as Jesus did? What sets
19
Jesus apart from us in taking certain actions such as
20
He took?
21
22
STEP 4—Apply!
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1
2
Just for Teachers: The conduct of Jesus as seen in the
3
gospels shows how compassionate, merciful, and caring
4
He is.
5
lesson), His conduct also is puzzling. Ask your class
6
to jot down illustrations of both kinds and invite them
7
to discuss in which ones they should be more involved,
8
and why.
In some cases (such as we have noted in this
9
10
Application Question:
11
Jesus was righteously indignant when He saw unbelief
12
(Matt. 17:17), and when He saw God’s temple abused (Matt.
13
21:12, 13). How would you apply such righteous anger in your
14
personal life?
15
16
17
TE-2Q-2008-08-The Lesson in Brief . . .
18
19
Key Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:17
20
21
The Student Will:
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1
Know: Identify that Jesus’ power to overcome
2
temptation came from His closeness with the
3
Father.
4
Feel: Cultivate a desire to spend much time in
5
prayer on a daily basis.
6
Do: Strive to develop a close connection with God.
7
8
9
Learning Outline:
I. A Strong Foundation
10
A. Jesus’ upbringing gave Him a strong spiritual
11
foundation.
12
B. Very early in life Jesus developed and
13
maintained a close relationship with His heavenly
14
Father.
15
C. Jesus’ close connection to the Father gave Him
16
strength and stability in His public ministry.
17
18
II.
Tempted as We Are
19
A. Every response to the tempter in the wilderness
20
gave evidence of Jesus’ unvarying communion with
21
the heavenly Father.
22
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1
B. Jesus lived His life on earth in the flesh—
2
experiencing what we experience (only worse)—but
3
still did not succumb to sin.
4
5
III. A Purpose for Life
6
A. Throughout His life on earth, Jesus often spent
7
many hours alone in prayer.
8
B. Jesus was ever cognizant of His mission to
9
reach lost souls. This was His focus and purpose
10
on a daily basis.
11
C. As we follow Christ’s example in His
12
relationship to the Father, our service for the
13
Lord and relationship with Him must be constant.
14
15
Summary: We must be totally dependent on the Lord, just as
16
Jesus was dependent on the Father in heaven. Like
17
Jesus, we also can acquire a close connection with
18
God through continual prayer and communion with
19
Him.
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1
TE-2Q-2008-08-Learning Cycle
2
3
STEP 1—Motivate!
4
5
When your spouse or someone you love and share life
6
with is absent for an extended period of time, how do
7
you stay in touch? You probably have considered such
8
avenues of communication as telephone, mail, or email.
9
Discuss other creative options to continue your
10
relationship over the long distance.
11
12
In class, invite members to share when they might
13
have experienced an extended separation. What ‘secrets
14
of survival’ did they learn that would benefit someone
15
who may be facing a similar situation?
16
17
STEP 2—Explore!
18
19
Bible Commentary
20
I.
21
Review 1 John 2:6 with your class.
22
Walking as Jesus Walked
The four Gospels give us insight into what it
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1
means to “walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6, NIV). Luke
2
tells us that “the grace of God was upon Him” (Luke
3
2:40). Luke also tells us Jesus spent extended periods
4
in intentional communication with God (Luke 6:12). John
5
tells us that Jesus’ connection with God included
6
action. He looked for opportunities to share the water
7
of life with others in places some were afraid to go
8
(John 4:1-35).
9
10
Consider This: From the Gospels, what can we learn from
11
the pattern of Jesus’ life? What stories most
12
graphically and clearly help you follow His example?
13
14
II. Discovery and Investigation
15
John 1:43–46 records the calling of Jesus’ first
16
disciples. As a group, read this passage and then
17
outline the different events that took place.
18
19
Consider This: Our culture invites us to experience
20
something before we invest our money, time, or energy
21
in it. In John 1:46 Philip invites Nathanael to come
22
and see. Discuss what is significant about this
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1
approach to witnessing. How can discovery and personal
2
investigation be a fruitful tool as we share Jesus with
3
our friends and work associates?
4
5
Compare and Contrast: How did you find out about Jesus
6
and His promises to you? What types of witnessing
7
techniques have you experienced or been involved in?
8
Which were most successful? Compare them with Ellen
9
White’s statement of how Jesus shared the gospel.
10
“Christ’s method alone will give true success in
11
reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as
12
one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for
13
them, ministered to their needs, and won their
14
confidence. Then He bade them, “ ‘Follow Me.’ ”—The
15
Ministry of Healing, p. 143.
16
17
Consider This: After Philip met Jesus, he was so
18
intrigued and excited about what he found, he went out
19
to tell his friends. Why didn’t he just dismiss this
20
Man as an interesting encounter? Why did he take the
21
next step and share with his friends about Jesus?
22
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1
Consider These Possibilities: We see lots of
2
advertisements for a wide variety of goods and
3
services. What advertising techniques work best as you
4
consider items your family might purchase? Even if you
5
are really interested in an item, what things keep you
6
from taking the steps necessary toward owning it? How
7
might these insights apply to how we witness about
8
Jesus? How do we make it difficult for people to meet
9
Him?
10
11
III. Practical Habits to Live By Spiritual Disciplines
12
Consider This: When Jesus was praying for His disciples
13
(see John 17), He gave some significant principles of
14
how to know God. Read this passage together as a group
15
and make a list of those principles. Then break into
16
smaller groups of one or two to make a list of
17
practical suggestions on how to live out those
18
principles in everyday life.
19
20
Practical Tools for Having a Real Relationship with God
21
Notice the process of being conformed to the
22
nature of Christ for the sake of others (Rom. 12:2).
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1
There are three sets of spiritual disciplines, the
2
inward disciplines, those that take place inside our
3
minds, the outward disciplines, those that take place
4
through our actions, and corporate disciplines, where
5
we work together as fellow believers.
6
Examples of inward disciplines include meditation
7
(Isa. 1:18), prayer (Ps. 5:1-3) and fasting (Esther
8
4:16, also see Isa. 58:6). Some outward disciplines are
9
simplicity (Luke 12:15, Matt. 6:33), solitude (Luke
10
6:12) and service (Matt. 25:34-36). The corporate
11
disciplines include confession (Matt. 5:23, 24) and
12
worship (one example is found in 1 Chron. 16:16, 29).
13
14
Compare and Contrast: On numerous occasions the
15
Scriptures record that Jesus went up on the
16
mountainside alone to pray, sometimes all night. At
17
other times, He took His disciples with Him. How does
18
Jesus’ life and ministry compare with that of His
19
disciples? Discuss why the disciples experienced
20
discouragement and even failure at times. How do we
21
apply the lessons learned from this discussion to our
22
own personal walk with the Savior and our experience of
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1
‘fruit bearing’ or lack of it?
2
3
IV. Avoiding Roadblocks (Barriers to Communication With
4
God)
5
6
Consider This: After Jesus spent some time in prayer
7
with His disciples nearby Mark 14:40 records, “When he
8
came back, he again found them sleeping, because their
9
eyes were heavy” (NIV). When you consider your
10
spiritual journey, what roadblocks have kept you from
11
an ever-deepening experience with Jesus? As a group,
12
make a list of those roadblocks. Then brainstorm
13
avenues to overcome or remove them. (For example, if
14
you listed “lack of time,” discuss ways to reprioritize
15
your schedule to allow more time. “Turn off the
16
television” might be one suggestion.)
17
18
P Jesus warned the disciples that some of the towns He
19
sent them to in order to share the gospel would not
20
receive their ministry. See Luke 9:1–5. Our tendency is
21
to dismiss people before we have truly formed a
22
relationship with them that would allow them to respond
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1
to the Gospel invitation. How can we learn to deal with
2
apathy in love and zeal for those who initially appear
3
uninterested?
4
5
STEP 3—Practice!
6
7
Thought Questions:
8
 As the disciples were in the boat on Galilee, tossed
9
by the ferocious storm (Matt. 8:23–27, Mark 4:35–41,
10
Luke 8:22–25), what might have kept them from
11
panicking? In the Gospels read the portion of Scripture
12
from the beginning of the Gospel to where the narrative
13
of the storm is recorded. What clues to peace and
14
certainty in difficult situations did the disciples
15
miss? How did Jesus repeat these lessons in the rest of
16
the Gospels?
17
18
 “There is a difference between imitating a good man
19
and counterfeiting him.”—Benjamin Franklin. Spiritual
20
disciplines have been described as behaviors that
21
facilitate spiritual growth. Expand on the list of
22
spiritual gifts included in the ‘Explore’ section of
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Lesson 8
1
the teacher’s helps. Choose one that you will
2
incorporate into your schedule during the next week.
3
Ask a trusted friend to hold you accountable for
4
following through on your commitment.
5
6
Application Question:
7
When children have good news to share (receiving a new
8
toy or a fun time with a friend), you can’t contain
9
their enthusiasm to tell the story. Paul talks about
10
disciples as ones that “shine like stars in the
11
universe” (Phil. 2:15, NIV) or as those whose “joy in
12
Christ Jesus will overflow” (Phil. 1:26, NIV) with the
13
good news of Jesus’ willingness to save. He even prays
14
for all disciples in all ages “May the Lord make your
15
love increase and overflow for each other and for
16
everyone else” (1 Thess. 3:12). Read these texts
17
together as a class. Discuss their context and how joy
18
and witnessing was possible during difficult times. How
19
can God help you live out that same kind of enthusiasm
20
in your ministry of outreach to others?
21
22
Witnessing
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1
“He makes known that which he himself has heard, seen,
2
and handled of the word of life, that others may have
3
fellowship with him through the knowledge of Christ.”—
4
Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 142. What have
5
you learned about Jesus and His connection with His
6
heavenly Father that your non-Christian friend at work
7
needs to know? Set up some time to spend with that
8
friend. Ask God to prepare the way for your
9
relationship to grow in a way that you can help lead
10
that person to Jesus.
11
12
STEP 4—Apply!
13
14
Before nursing students give their first injection,
15
they practice on oranges. How can we practice walking
16
as Jesus walked? Jesus spent time with His Father in
17
prayer, He spent time teaching His disciples, and He
18
went about serving people through acts of healing. As a
19
group, make a list of two ways we can practice Jesus’
20
example in each area: prayer, teaching, and serving.
21
Covenant as individual class members to follow at least
22
one suggestion in each area during the next week. Take
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Lesson 8
1
some of the classtime next week to report on what
2
happened and how this affected your life and the life
3
of the person/s you served.
4
5
Consider This: What does it mean to be a truly
6
authentic disciple of Jesus Christ? When Jesus
7
commanded “Go and make disciples” (Matt. 28:19, NIV),
8
what did He mean? If you met a disciple for the first
9
time, how would you know he or she was Jesus’ disciple?
10
What would he or she look or act like? Find a friend
11
who would spend time with you in Bible study. Read
12
through the Gospels together asking the question “What
13
made Jesus’ disciples different from the people who
14
hadn’t met Jesus yet?”
15
17
16
TE-2Q-2008-09-The Lesson in Brief . . .
18
19
Key Text: Matthew 9:36
20
21
The Student Will:
22
Know: Recognize that Jesus was very compassionate
23
in His interaction with the people around Him.
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1
Feel: Sense the Lord’s compassion in your own
2
life.
3
Do: Reflect the gentleness of the Savior in your
4
own relationships with people.
5
6
7
Learning Outline:
I. The Compassionate Lord
8
A. Jesus was moved with compassion and was always
9
concerned about the needs of others.
That was the
10
prime focus of His whole life and ministry.
11
B. Jesus showed compassion for the woman caught in
12
adultery.
13
accusers by not condemning them openly.
14
C. Jesus showed great compassion for children and
15
welcomed them into His presence.
He also showed compassion for her
16
17
II.
Friends or Foes
18
A. In His relationship with Mary, Martha, and
19
Lazarus, we see Jesus’ concern for the interests
20
and needs of His closest friends.
21
B. Jesus even had compassion for His enemies—
22
giving them opportunities for repentance and
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1
forgiveness.
2
3
III. Gentle Words
4
A. The gentle nature of the Lord is evident in how
5
He always spoke the truth about people, whether
6
good or bad, without belittling or condemning
7
them.
8
B. The Lord’s correction and tough words for the
9
Pharisees always gave the listeners the
10
opportunity to take heed and change their ways.
11
12
Summary: In the life and ministry of Christ we have the
13
perfect example of gentleness—of compassion, as
14
Jesus was seeking to save as many as would be
15
saved.
16
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1
TE-2Q-2008-09-Learning Cycle
2
3
STEP 1—Motivate!
4
5
What comforts you when you are stressed or fearful?
6
What memories of peaceful times and gracious people
7
does this question bring to mind? Invite each class
8
member to share a memory of care given when most needed
9
during a difficult time. Then discuss what qualities of
10
the person who came to your rescue most attracted you.
11
How did those qualities especially meet your need?
12
13
Take at least 10 minutes of class time to make a
14
specific list of people in the congregation and/or
15
friends outside the fellowship of the church who are
16
facing trying circumstances. Lift their names and
17
situations up in prayer. Commission members of the
18
class to contact them during the week through a phone
19
call or visit.
20
21
STEP 1—Explore!
22
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1
Bible Commentary
2
I. Jesus, A Model of Love Lived Out Through A Human Life
3
If Jesus had used strictly human discernment and
4
eyesight while looking out over the nation of Israel
5
from the crest of a hill, He would have seen a motley
6
group of misfits. Instead, Scripture records that He
7
used heavenly eyesight “When he saw the crowds, he had
8
compassion on them, because they were harassed and
9
helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt. 9:36,
10
NIV). Looking down through history, He also saw each of
11
His children who would live on the face of the earth.
12
Instead of seeing broken, incompetent people, He saw,
13
through the power of infinite love, disciples able and
14
willing to suffer and serve for the cause of reaching
15
others with the good news of the gospel.
16
17
Consider This: Using a concordance, find all the times
18
the word compassion is used in conjunction with Jesus’
19
ministry. What does this tell you about the nature of
20
compassion? How might these insights impact how you
21
relate to the people in your sphere of influence?
22
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1
Compare and Contrast: Using a dictionary, look up the
2
words compassion and love. As a group, write a
3
definition of compassion as modeled by Christ. How
4
would you describe what you know of Jesus’ compassion
5
to someone who is struggling with feelings of being
6
abandoned by God? What in your personal life journey
7
could be shared as a witness of the authenticity of His
8
love?
9
10
II. Those Who Need Love (But Don’t Deserve It)
11
Do you make lists of things you like and those things
12
you most definitely don’t like? Do those lists include
13
people? Matthew 5:44-48 mandates love for those who are
14
openly hostile—our enemies. Discuss why verse 48
15
equates love for our enemies with “perfect love.”
16
Consider the people in your life who are difficult for
17
you to love. Pray for a change of heart in your
18
attitude toward them. Covenant to exhibit God’s love
19
toward at least one of those people in a tangible way
20
during the coming week.
21
22
III.
Making Love the Defining Characteristic of Your
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1
Life
2
Each congregation is called to a specific mission on
3
behalf of the kingdom of God. Many even write vision
4
and mission statements in attempt to stay focused on
5
that purpose and as a means to invite others to become
6
involved. These focus statements constitute core
7
principles that are used by the church in making
8
decisions on ministries to pursue. God invites us as
9
individuals to answer two core questions. Do I believe
10
with saving faith in the Son of God? Is my life modeled
11
after His? In class, discuss how the answers to these
12
questions might help your group focus on a mission.
13
14
IV. Loving Enough to Be Misunderstood
15
“All who received Him would . . . be conformed to His
16
character. This involved the relinquishment of their
17
cherished ambitions . . . The insincere, the selfish,
18
who had sought Him, no longer desired Him. If He would
19
not devote His power and influence to obtaining their
20
freedom from the Romans, they would have nothing to do
21
with Him.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 399.
22
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1
Compare and Contrast This: Read John 6:25–66. A crisis
of decisio
2
that Jesus was the Messiah. How can we remain
3
courageous in sharing a gentle, genuine witness, even
4
when we are misunderstood?
5
6
STEP 3—Practice!
7
8
9
Thought Questions:
 In our culture, with all its technology and
10
opportunities for entertainment, we seldom have time to
11
follow Mary’s example. Luke 10:39 (NIV) records that
12
she “sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.”
13
How could you reorder your priorities, beginning
14
tomorrow morning, so that you could have at least 10
15
minutes to hear God speak His love to you through His
16
Word?
17
18
 Entrapment in sinful choices leads many down what
19
seem like irreversible paths. Gossip and outright
20
slander seem to confirm the worthlessness of those
21
individuals who are the objects of negative rumors.
22
Jesus dealt with an apparently hopeless situation—a
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Lesson 9
1
life obviously broken beyond redemption—in John 8:2–11.
2
Read this passage and then, as a group, discuss each of
3
the characters in the narrative. How might Jesus’
4
example in this story change how we interact at work or
5
church?
6
7
Application Question:
8
Acts 6:7 describes the impossible happening. Even “a
9
large number of priests became obedient to the faith,”
10
(NIV). When we look at growth in the church, we think
11
in terms of addition instead of multiplication and the
12
obvious and possible instead of becoming involved in
13
what only God can do. When we consider Jesus’ love and
14
its impact and results, we have to wonder, “How can we
15
see this same type of growth happening through our
16
congregation?” Form your Sabbath school class into a
17
task force that seeks answers on how to become more
18
productive witnesses so that even the apparently
19
unreachable may be won for Christ. Share your findings
20
and suggestions with your church leadership.
21
22
Witnessing
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1
The little song “Jesus Loves Me” has impacted many
2
lives. But somehow its true impact is missed much of
3
the time. Jesus very personally loves YOU! Using a
4
concordance, look through the passages in the Gospels
5
that use the words love, loved, or loves. What
6
impression do they make about the depth and life
7
changing power God’s love is to have in your life? If
8
you haven’t told Jesus, “I am so thankful you love ME.”
9
Do that right now. Then, take the next step. With
10
courage and the Holy Spirit’s presence, ask God to send
11
you to someone that needs to experience this same
12
assurance right now.
13
14
STEP 4—Apply!
15
16
Consider This: Make a list that includes any work
17
associate, neighbor, or other acquaintance with whom
18
you have enough of a relationship that you know
19
something about their family or life situation. Then
20
try to picture them sitting at the feet of Jesus,
21
hearing His parables and seeing His miracles. Jesus
22
modeled the Father’s love by coming to this earth and
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1
serving broken, rebellious humanity. He stated that
2
mission in the synagogue recorded in Luke 4:18–19. He
3
then made application of that mission to us. “ ‘As the
4
Father has sent me, I am sending you!’ ” (John 20:21,
5
NIV). Which of the people in your list need you to
6
serve them? How can you change the picture on the
7
hillside to include you as the serving, compassionate
8
teacher? How will you start that journey today?
9
11
10
TE-2Q-2008-10-The Lesson in Brief . . .
12
13
Key Text: Galatians 2:8
14
15
The Student Will:
16
Know: Comprehend that the Lord’s sacrifice of
17
death for all people was by His own choice.
18
came of His own free will to save us.
19
Feel: Experience joy for His power to remove the
20
sins from his or her life.
21
Do: Live a life free from the enslaving power of
22
sin through the power of the indwelling Spirit of
23
Christ.
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He
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Lesson 10
1
2
3
Lesson Outline:
I. He Came to Die
4
A. Simeon’s prophecy to Mary, the mother of Jesus,
5
foretold the horrific suffering that Jesus would
6
one day experience (Luke 2:25–35).
7
B. Jesus’ whole purpose in coming to earth was to
8
die for humankind. No matter how good His life
9
was, the end result would inevitably be death. It
10
had to be that way for the plan of salvation to be
11
implemented.
12
13
II.
Predestined
14
A. Formulated before the creation of the world,
15
the Lord’s plan to die for the sins of the world
16
was by His own choice.
17
B. Those who were directly involved in the
18
persecution and death of Jesus will be held
19
accountable individually, not corporately.
20
21
22
III. Because He Died
A. Jesus gave Himself as one sacrifice for the
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1
sins of many (of the whole world).
2
B. The Savior’s death paved the way for the
3
salvation of humanity.
4
C. Through Jesus we have been reconciled with the
5
Father.
6
7
Summary: It was of His own free will that the Savior gave
8
His life for sinners. He came in order to save all
9
those who will come to Him in faith.
10
11
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TE-2Q-2008-Learning Cycle-10
2
3
STEP 1—Motivate!
4
5
Jesus died on the cross to save us. How can someone
6
dying save anyone? How would you explain Jesus’ death
7
and the purpose of His death to a 10 year old? How
8
would you explain it to someone who had never heard of
9
Jesus Christ before? See 1 Peter 1:3–9.
10
11
STEP 2—Explore!
12
13
Bible Commentary
14
I. A Horrendous Price Paid
15
When we hear that someone has died, or even when
16
someone uses the word death, we feel sadness and
17
despair. Jesus walked on this earth, God with man, God
18
as man, to face death. (See Matthew 27:45, 46.)
19
20
Consider This: As Jesus approached this time of
21
darkness, how did He, in His humanity, keep from
22
running away from paying the price for our salvation?
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What did He do for His disciples to prepare them? What
2
did He tell them?
3
4
Compare and Contrast: Jesus tried to prepare His
5
disciples for the culmination and purpose of His
6
ministry on earth, His death on the cross for our sins.
7
As a class, discuss Jesus’ patience and perseverance as
8
well as the methods He used to prepare them so that
9
they might remain faithful. Consider how the disciples
10
perceived what Jesus was trying to share. Why did
11
Jesus’ persecution and death come as a total surprise
12
even to those that were closest to Him?
13
14
Consider This: Describe the picture you might paint of
15
Matthew 27:45, 46. What colors would you use? How could
16
that portrait be a blessing to those who saw it?
17
18
II. Hope in Death
19
Imagine being present during the scenes in the temple
20
that Luke 2:25–35 describes. You might wish you could
21
hold the beautiful Baby that Mary cuddled in her arms.
22
How would Simeon’s words impact your response to this
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Child? Why would the warm, joyful thoughts chill as he
2
pronounced “ ‘a sword will pierce your own soul too’ ”
3
(vs. 35, NIV). What does it mean to be born to die? Why
4
do we consider Simeon’s words to be a hopeful prophecy?
5
6
Consider This: Jesus said of Himself, “ ‘I am the way
7
and the truth and the life’ ” (John 14:6, NIV). What
8
was He trying to teach the disciples about the meaning
9
of His death?
10
11
P Our favorite stories have the hero “living happily
12
ever after” because he or she has successfully
13
triumphed over adversity. The ultimate story with a
14
perfect ending is the great controversy theme of
15
Scripture. How did Simeon’s prophecy encapsulate this
16
cosmic conflict? How does the grand theme of the war
17
between our Savior God and the adversary give us a
18
relevant context for sharing the gospel with our
19
postmodern generation? What is your personal great
20
controversy experience? Who needs to hear it? During
21
class time, plan to role-play sharing your testimony.
22
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III. Life to the Full
2
The disciples didn’t comprehend that Jesus was trying
3
to prepare them for His death. Their preconceived
4
ideas, the national prejudice and expectations that
5
they grew up with, colored their understanding of
6
everything Jesus said.
7
8
Consider This: Jesus tried to keep the disciples from
9
being devastated by His death by telling them the
10
purpose of His presence on earth. If they would have
11
grasped what He had said to them, how much easier the
12
trauma would have been.
13
opportunities they had for sharing that glad fact with
14
others. What barriers do we raise to our own insight
15
into God’s truth, and that of those with whom we should
16
be sharing the gospel, because of our own
17
misconceptions of God’s plans? What would it take for
18
us to be more open to truth?
We only can imagine the missed
19
20
Compare and Contrast: When Jesus was arrested, the
21
disciples fled. When He was crucified, they could not
22
see beyond His death to the resurrection. They met in
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secret—in fear and abject disappointment. How does
2
their response fit with what Jesus had told them, “I
3
have come that they may have life, and have it to the
4
full” (John 10:10, NIV)? Discuss how John’s record of
5
the disciples’ activity after Jesus’ death might have
6
been different if they had understood what His death
7
would accomplish.
8
9
IV. Knowing the Outcome
10
When a couple is planning for the birth of their first
11
child, knowing the outcome helps them take the steps
12
necessary in order for that birth to take place. They
13
find a competent physician, choose a hospital or
14
birthing center, and may even take “prepared
15
childbirth” classes.
16
17
Compare and Contrast: Read 1 Corinthians 15:3. What is
18
different? What does it mean to you personally that
19
Jesus planned that you have a “message of
20
reconciliation” (vs. 19, NIV) to share?
the import
21
22
STEP 3—Practice!
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1
2
Thought Questions:
3
We are told that to truly empathize with others, we
4
must “walk in their shoes.” Jesus came to earth, God in
5
human flesh, even though He possessed an infinite
6
understanding of His creation (Isa. 40:28). How does
7
Hebrews 2:17 describe Jesus’ journey on earth? What
8
does it mean that “He had to be like His brothers in
9
every way” (NIV)? What does this tell you about how
10
Jesus relates to your needs?
11
12
13
Application Questions:
Paul records his personal testimony in this way, “I
have been cruci
14
gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20, NIV). What experiences
15
in his life allowed him to have such a depth of
16
understanding of Jesus’ death? How can we comprehend
17
the fullness of Jesus’ love for us? Covenant with a
18
friend to meet weekly, either in person or by
19
telephone. Ask your friend to hold you accountable to a
20
daily study of God’s Word in search of the fullness of
21
the salvation that Jesus offers you through His death.
22
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Witnessing
2
In Galatians 6:14 Paul shares a reason to boast. Why
3
did He say that was appropriate for the Christian? How
4
can we boast when death is such a devastating reality?
5
What is different about Christ’s death? How is it
6
possible, given the world in which we live? Take some
7
time in class to draw a graphic that could be used to
8
explain to a neighbor how Jesus’ death gave Christians
9
a different, hopeful worldview.
10
11
12
STEP 4—Apply!
13
14
Consider This: We dislike having things planned out for us.
15
We like being in control and making our own
16
choices (consider a child’s rebellion when his or
17
her mother picks out clothes for the first day of
18
school). Why is it of “first importance” (1 Cor.
19
15:3, NIV) for us to understand the truth about
20
the plan of salvation? Discuss how the whirl of
21
activity and challenges in our lives keeps us from
22
making a deeper understanding of Christ’s death a
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priority. Make a personal “action plan” to
2
overcome your lack of time to spend in quiet
3
consideration of this truth of Scripture. Consider
4
items that can be removed from your daily
5
agenda/schedule to make room for finding security
6
and hope in Jesus’ death on the cross for you.
87
TE-2Q-2008-11-The Lesson in Brief . . .
9
10
Key Text: John 11:25
11
12
The Student Will:
13
Know: Recall there truly was a literal, visible
14
resurrection of Jesus, and many people were
15
witnesses of that event.
16
Feel: Rekindle his or her gratitude to Jesus for
17
giving His promise of eternal life.
18
Do: Comfort one another with the hope of the
19
resurrection to come.
20
21
22
Learning Outline:
I. How Authentic Was the Resurrection?
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A. All of the events surrounding the resurrection
2
of Jesus give indisputable evidence of its
3
occurrence.
4
B. The Christian faith is dependent on the
5
validity of the resurrection.
6
7
II.
He Is Risen
8
A. The miracles and eyewitness testimonies of the
9
apostles gave evidence of a risen Savior.
10
B. Many people besides the disciples were
11
witnesses of the resurrection of Christ.
12
C. Through the power of the Holy Spirit the
13
disciples spread the good news of the resurrected
14
Lord.
15
16
III. The Resurrection and Life
17
A. Many people were brought back to life when
18
Jesus was resurrected. These individuals were seen
19
by friends and loved ones, who also gave testimony
20
of the risen Savior.
21
B. Because of the resurrection of Jesus, we, too,
22
have the hope of a resurrection. Otherwise death
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1
is the final end of us all.
2
C. Without the resurrection, the plan of salvation
3
would be in vain.
4
5
Summary: The resurrection of Christ was an actual event
6
witnessed by many people, including the disciples.
7
Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too,
8
have the hope of a resurrection.
9
10
11
12
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1
TE-2Q-2008-11-Learning Cycle
2
3
STEP 1—Motivate!
4
5
Of all the doctrines and teachings ofChristianity, the
6
idea of the resurrection of the dead has to be one of
7
the most intense and faith-demanding teachings. The
8
dead, rising? Some after having been gone for thousands
9
of years?
How could that be? How can anyone really
10
believe this?
11
The answer, however, is simple—we believe it because
12
the Word of God promises it. We believe it because
13
Jesus promised it. We believe it because without it we
14
would have no hope whatsoever. Indeed, without it, our
15
faith would be meaningless. Without it, Christ’s first
16
coming was be a waste of time, and who among us
17
believes that?
18
19
STEP 2—Explore!
20
21
22
Bible Commentary
Read Luke 24:13–35.
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1
2
I. The “Buts” and “Besides” of Disappointment
3
The scene is the road to Emmaus. Two disappointed
4
disciples are returning home from Jerusalem after
5
witnessing the crucifixion of Jesus. A stranger joins
6
them, and they continue discussing their
7
disappointment. In verse 21 their narrative
8
recollection of what happened over the weekend is
9
punctuated with disappointment: “But we were hoping
10
that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed,
11
besides all this, today is the third day since these
12
things happened,” (NKJV).
13
When Jesus did not overthrow the Roman Empire as they
14
had hoped, they continued to wish for some kind of
15
uprising as a result of His death—something that would
16
result in the Jewish people
17
But Jesus’ death did no such thing. Even His closest
18
disciples seemed to have disappeared. What could have
19
been an opportune time of action was long since gone
20
(it was three days since His death).
21
22
gaining political control.
What this account should teach us is that it’s
important that we not superimpose our own desires, our
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1
own wishes, our own expectations, on our understanding
2
of doctrine. We need to be surrendered to what the Word
3
of God teaches, even if it teaches things that aren’t
4
exactly as we like. We need to be surrendered to the
5
Word; the history of Christianity is littered with the
6
sad accounts of what happens when the Word of God is
7
subjugated to human desires.
8
What are some of those examples of the Bible
9
being subjugated and twisted by those who want to
use it for their own selfish purposes?
10
11
12
II. The Burning of Spiritual Pyrosis
13
When the disciples realized that the stranger
14
traveling with them was Jesus resurrected, suddenly it
15
all came together—how the “stranger” rationally
16
connected the dots of history from Moses to the cross
17
and drew the bigger picture of spiritual redemption;
18
how they felt the overwhelming urge to be in His
19
company and how they felt a burning spirit of
20
conviction in their hearts as they listened to Him.
21
Consider This: Pyrosis is the medical term for
22
acid
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1
reflux or heartburn. From their symptoms (vs. 32),
2
it’s possible that the men disregarded the uneasiness
3
they felt while Jesus spoke to them (perhaps they
4
chalked it up to heartburn?). They were so focused on
5
their disappointment that they failed to see the
6
enlightenment and clarity that was right in front of
7
them. In what similar ways do we disregard the Holy
8
Spirit? In what ways have things been presented so
9
clearly to us and yet, at the time, from our own
10
hardness of heart, we completely missed them?
How can
11
we learn to avoid making similar mistakes again?
12
13
III. The Context of Spiritual Redemption
14
There’s no question about the utter importance of
15
Christ’s resurrection to our faith. Without it, nothing
16
else that Jesus did while here really matters. What did
17
His death on the cross accomplish for us if He weren’t
18
raised from the dead? What good were all His teachings
19
to us if He were not raised from the dead? What good is
20
our faith to us without Christ’s resurrection?
21
22
Consider This:
As Jesus spoke to these disciples, He
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1
helped them to understand not only the historicity of
2
the plan of redemption but also the purpose of the plan
3
of redemption for each person on earth. Jesus helped
4
them see their individual place and role in God’s plan
5
of salvation.
6
As soon as they understood, accepted, and appreciated
7
the events of the weekend, these disciples(who had just
8
walked seven miles) turned around and returned to
9
Jerusalem (vss. 33–35).
10
Why did they do this? What was the urgency to make the
11
journey without resting? What does this tell us about
12
our responsibility as those who understand and accept
13
the message of the cross?
14
15
STEP 3—Practice!
16
17
Thought Questions:
18
 “Life must be understood backwards; but... it must
19
be lived forward.”——Soren Kierkegaard.
20
(http://www.brainyquote.com) Apply this to spiritual
21
growth. How does your past experiences and walk with
22
the Lord strengthen your faith and your beliefs today?
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1
How do your past help you be a better witness for
2
Christ’s grace and an advocate for the plan of
3
salvation?
4
5
 Why is the resurrection of Christ crucial to your
6
faith? What if Christ had died for your sins but not
7
risen to life?
8
9
Application Questions:
10
 In what ways do you show gratefulness for and
11
acceptance of Christ dying for you? How should His
12
death affect the way you respond to the Holy Spirit?
13
14
 In an age of war, terror, and natural disasters, what
15
does the empty tomb say to you—that God is powerful and
16
in control or that God is distant and aloof? Explain.
17
18
Witnessing
19
Jesus’ resurrection had a profound effect on everyone,
20
especially on those in His “inner circle”—His disciples
21
and His immediate family members (Acts 1:14, Gal.
22
1:19). How should the resurrection affect our social
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1
and community interactions?
2
3
Consider This: How can your church “cash in” on the
4
commercialism of the Easter season to market the gift
5
of salvation?
6
7
STEP 4—Apply!
8
9
In the days when books were not readily available and
10
libraries were nonexistent, reading was a serious and
11
arduous undertaking. To read was to ingest every word
12
and internalize the material before the book was
13
circulated. Reading was more than rote memorization; it
14
was a concentrated, emotional task experienced in
15
solitude—with the aim to know the material and the
16
writer inside out and to make its content imprinted
17
forever in the reader’s mind and heart.
18
19
Application Questions:
20
 Challenge yourself to read the Bible every day with
21
the assumption that you won’t have one available
22
tomorrow.
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1
2
 Why is it important to understand the Old Testament
3
and the historicity of humanity prior to the death
4
and resurrection of Christ? How can this knowledge
5
enable you to be more comfortable when talking about
6
the gift of salvation found through the cross?
7
8
 How do the Scriptures and the cross specifically help
9
you in the following areas: spiritually, mentally,
10
physically, emotionally, and socially?
11
12
13
Memorize a portion of Scripture each week.
TE-2Q-2008-12-The Lesson in Brief . . .
14
15
Key Text: Heb. 8:1
16
17
The Student Will:
18
Know: Realize that the earthly sanctuary
19
represented God’s plan of salvation and pointed to
20
the heaven sanctuary and the ministry of Jesus in
21
heaven.
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1
Feel: Experience a sense of peace from believing
2
that Jesus is interceding in the heavenly
3
sanctuary for him or her.
4
Do: Determine to come with boldness to God’s
5
throne of grace to obtain forgiveness.
6
7
8
Learning Outline:
I. Plan of Salvation
A. The earthly sanctuary was established to
9
10
represent God’s plan of salvation.
11
B. Each aspect of the earthly sanctuary had a
12
special meaning and pointed to the ministry of
13
Jesus.
14
C. The death of Jesus ended the necessity of the
15
earthly-sanctuary ceremonies and rituals. This was
16
signified by the rending of the inner veil, which
17
divided the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.
18
19
II.
Heavenly High Priest
20
A. After His resurrection, Jesus became our
21
heavenly High Priest.
22
B. Jesus and His ministry in the heavenly
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1
sanctuary replaced the earthly tabernacle, the
2
earthly priesthood, the animal sacrifices, and the
3
daily and yearly ceremonies.
4
C. Because of the one sacrifice of Christ—one
5
time, for all people—we now can come “boldly” to
6
the throne (of grace) where the Most Holy is
7
seated.
8
9
Summary: Christ’s High Priestly ministry has no time
10
barrier. It was relevant in the days of the early
11
New Testament church and still applies to our time
12
today. Through His ministry, all who come to Jesus
13
can have access to God the Father.
14
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1
TE-2Q-2008-12-Learning Cycle
2
3
STEP 1—Motivate!
4
5
There’s a story about a preacher who told his
6
congregation in Africa that he could walk on water,
7
just as Jesus did, if only he had enough faith. To
8
prove his point, he took them all to a lake. He was on
9
a boat and stepped out into the water. He sank and,
10
much to everyone’s horror, drowned.—Daily Record Co.
11
UK, Aug. 30, 2006.
12
Ask the class: What is it about human nature that urges
13
us to attempt to be God? What is the difference between
14
being God and being Christlike? Why is it important to
15
know the distinction between the two? Why is it so much
16
easier for us to try to be God, as opposed to being
17
like Christ?
18
of letting God be God in our lives?
How does this human trait get in the way
19
20
STEP 2—Explore!
21
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1
Bible Commentary
2
Read Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:13; Psalm 110.
3
4
I. Helpless and Hopeless
5
Every time David tried to control his life without the
6
help of God, he failed. And every time he failed, he
7
fell to his knees in recognition of his unworthiness
8
and God’s power and grace.
9
Beloved of God, King David represents each of us.
10
Because we can’t escape our sinful nature, we have a
11
need for a priestly mediator.
12
13
Consider This: Randomly read passages from the Psalms.
14
Meditate on the bipolar behavior of the sinful heart,
15
the vacillation of emotions and needs. How do you
16
experience this same thing in your own life; that is,
17
the desire of your heart for sinful things, carnal
18
things, at one moment and then at another the desire
19
for holiness, purity, faithfulness and piety?
20
21
22
II. Revelation and Reconciliation
Christians—born in sin, living in the constant
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1
awareness of this sinful world—have two basic,
2
spiritual needs: to know God and to be with God.
3
Constrained by this sinful world, we learn quickly that
4
life is more manageable when we know who God is and
5
what His purpose is for us. Unaware of our
6
inadequacies, we yearn for ways to be with God.
7
So God, in His love and mercy, gave us His
8
Son—someone who understands both parties 100 percent,
9
Someone who can mediate and straighten out the problems
10
and misunderstandings that exist between God and us.
11
12
Consider This: Before Christ became our Mediator in
13
heaven, He lived here among us, as a human, subject to
14
temptations, subject to many of the things that we
15
struggle with. Why was this such an important part of
16
the plan of salvation? Explain.
17
18
II. Jesus, Customized Savior
19
The role Jesus plays on our earthly journey is so
20
multifaceted. Writers of the Scripture, inspired by
21
divinity, have used metaphors to describe the function
22
of Jesus to enable us to appreciate and apply Jesus’
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1
presence in our daily living. Jesus is described as the
2
Shepherd, the Door, the Light, the Vine, the
3
Cornerstone, etc.
4
The Bible uses more than one hundred names/titles to
5
describe Jesus. The meaning His life holds for us is
6
beyond our fathoming; His role as Priest and Mediator
7
will be appreciated in its fullness only when we see
8
and understand God’s divine government in heaven.
9
10
Consider This: Have the class think of other metaphors
11
that symbolize the intimate, concerning, priestly role
12
that Jesus plays in our lives. (The metaphors don’t
13
necessarily have to be biblical; they may have modern
14
implications.) Ask how the many titles and functions of
15
Christ help them keep the faith.
16
17
P How can certain metaphors be more helpful to some
18
people than others?
19
better to certain images than to others?
20
that tell us about how the Lord can meet the needs of
21
all of us, regardless of our personalities or
22
histories?
That is, why do some folks relate
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1
2
STEP 3—Practice!
3
4
Thought Questions:
5
 To be someone’s advocate is relatively risk free;
6
but to be someone’s savior is a commitment beyond
7
death! How does Jesus’ death as Savior make Him the
8
most competent priest and Mediator you could have? How
9
does Jesus’ title Priest affect your relationship with
10
Him?
11
12
 Dwell on the question of the whole purpose of a
13
mediator. Why do we need Jesus as a mediator? What’s
14
the reason for it?
15
16
 What biblical examples can you find of people
17
working the role of a mediator in behalf of others? For
18
example, look at the role of Moses (see Deut. 9: 8–19).
19
20
Application Questions:
21
How can volunteering in a social service activity (such
22
as tutoring a child) help convey the attitude of Christ
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1
as a mediator to someone? What other kinds of
2
interactions could help us be mediators like Jesus?
3
4
Witnessing
5
Help your class connect their community projects with
6
Christlike attitudes and behaviors. Help them see how
7
they can be “mediators” for the church.
8
9
Consider This: Jesus came to show us how we can access
10
divine power for meaningful life on earth. Our
11
interactions with people give us opportunities to be a
12
Christlike mediator. Encourage your class to match
13
their spiritual gifts with opportunities of mediation
14
(e.g. the spiritual gift of listening enables one to be
15
a problem solver.)
16
17
STEP 4—Apply!
18
19
“For there is one God, and one mediator also between
20
God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as
21
a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper
22
time” (1 Tim. 2: 5, 6, NASB). During the second century
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1
Irenaeus of Lyons taught that Jesus was offered as a
2
ransom to the devil to free people’s souls. The devil,
3
however, was defeated because he did not know that
4
Jesus was God Himself!
5
For hundreds of years this theory was adopted by
6
the Christian world, until Anselm of Canterbury pointed
7
out that Irenaeus’ theory assumed that the devil had
8
far too much power. Instead, Anselm said that Jesus’
9
life was paid to God and not to the devil!
10
What a more poignant picture that makes—Jesus’life
11
given as a ransom to God in exchange for my eternal
12
life!
13
14
Application Questions:
15
 A ransom is required to free the hostages. Sometimes
16
a hostage exchange is demanded to guarantee the
17
transaction. How is Jesus’ death more than a “hostage
18
exchange”?
19
20
 What are the benefits of having a Savior who is
21
superior to anything or anyone else? How can His
22
superiority motivate you in your life? What is your
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potential if you maximize the use of His superiority?
2
3
 Compile verses about the power of Jesus as Savior and
4
Priest as a gift to a neighbor or friend. Or email your
5
friends a verse a week about the power of Jesus.
6
7
 How can you actively bring Christ as a Mediator into
8
the workplace and thereby be a witness of your
9
Christian lifestyle? What role can prayer play in this
10
endeavor?
11
12
13
14
15
TE-2Q-2008-13-The Lesson in Brief . . .
16
17
Key Text: Mark 13:26, 27
18
19
The Student Will:
20
Know: Realize that the promise of the second
21
coming of Christ will be fulfilled.
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Feel: Sense personally the reality of His return.
2
Do: Tell others of His soon coming and do all that
3
he or she can to be ready.
4
5
6
Learning Outline:
I. The Day of the Lord
7
A. Many stories (books and movies) have painted a
8
very fearful picture of Christ’s return.
9
B. The New Testament presents a joyful expectation
10
of the return of Jesus for those who know Him.
11
C. Those who are in Christ should not be afraid of
12
the coming of the Lord. Instead, they wait with
13
anticipation and joy.
14
15
II.
Signs of His Coming
16
A. Jesus gave the disciples many signs of His
17
second coming.
18
B. The signs of the Lord’s coming were not
19
designed to bring about fear in the hearts of the
20
disciples but to show them what to expect and how
21
to know when His coming was near.
22
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III. Prophecy Fulfilled
2
The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies assure
3
us that the prophecies of Christ’s second coming
4
also will be fulfilled.
5
6
Summary: The promise of Christ’s return is sure. The Lord
7
has given many signs of His return. As we see—and
8
have already seen—the fulfillment of these things,
9
we know that His coming is near.
10
11
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TE-2Q-2008-13-Learning Cycle
2
3
STEP 1—Motivate!
4
5
George Sweeting once estimated that “more than a fourth
6
of the Bible is predictive prophecy. . . . Both the Old
7
and New Testaments are full of promises about the
8
return of Jesus Christ. Over 1,800 references appear in
9
the Old Testament, and seventeen Old Testament books
10
give prominence to this theme. Of the 260 chapters in
11
the New Testament, there are more than 300 references
12
to the Lord’s return—one out of every 30 verses.
13
Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to
14
this great event. . . . For every prophecy on the first
15
coming of Christ, there are 8 on Christ's second
16
coming.”—Today in the Word, the Moody Bible Institute,
17
December, 1989, p. 40.
18
19
Consider This: Why are you looking forward to the
20
Second Coming? Why is that so crucial to our faith?
21
STEP 2—Explore!
22
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Bible Commentary
2
Read John 14:2, 3; 2 Peter 3:11, 12.
3
4
I. State of Anxiousness
5
Since the ascension of Jesus to heaven, there have been
6
numerous speculations of His Second Coming. And
7
Seventh-day Adventist Christians have contributed a
8
fair amount of drama to the speculations! However, in
9
spite of the bad publicity and disappointment of 1844,
10
the church has stood firm in upholding its belief that
11
Jesus is coming again.
12
After all, even our name entails the hope and
13
promise of His return.
14
15
Consider This: Evaluate your church’s approach to the
16
Second Coming. Is the Second Coming consistently
17
emphasized? Do you regularly hear sermons about Jesus’
18
return? Are the children in your congregation excited
19
about seeing Jesus soon? Or is the Second Coming
20
shelved for a time in the future as something that we
21
know is coming but are not necessarily excited about
22
enough to talk about that often? In other words, is
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your church truly and actively an “Adventist” church?
2
3
II. State of Preparedness
4
Being prepared for the Second Coming is nourished by
5
our relationship with Jesus. “We should make Jesus the
6
object of our thought, our meditation, and communicate
7
with Him moment after moment. Those who have
8
experienced that fellowship can bear witness to the
9
fact that in times of trouble the greatest and sweetest
10
consolation is found in keeping in touch with our Lord.
11
We should always keep our eyes on Him and entertain the
12
vision of walking side by side with Jesus on the golden
13
streets of the New Jerusalem.
14
Any Christian who constantly dwells on such
15
thoughts will surely experience genuine Christian joy
16
(1 Thess. 5:16). We ought to cherish that wonderful
17
hope. It gives sense to our existence. Someone has said
18
that without this hope we shall be like a ship without
19
a sail on the high sea.”—Lucile Sabas, “United in
20
Witnessing to the Second Coming,” The Adventist Review,
21
Nov. 25, 2005.
22
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Consider This: Why is it so easy to get hardened and
2
apathetic even about the Second Coming? Did Jesus ever
3
warn us about this danger?
4
5
III. Immigration Papers
6
Every year thousands of people wait for their number to
7
be called by the U.S. Immigration Office—so that they
8
may legally enter into and live in the United States.
9
Oftentimes they wait 15 years or more before the
10
paperwork is processed. Yet, for many people the idea
11
of living in the country is worth the wait.
12
In a sense our paperwork for entry into heaven has
13
already been processed. We have more than a green card;
14
we have citizenship (Phil. 3:20). We just have to claim
15
it for ourselves.
16
17
Consider This: The cross removes all questions about
18
our eligibility to enter into heaven if we claim Jesus
19
for ourselves. Why then do we often succumb to the
20
negative perspective of not being good enough? What
21
practical, specific things can we do individually and
22
corporately as a church to focus on what Christ has
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done for us and His promises to us, instead of on our
2
own unworthiness?
3
4
STEP 3—Practice!
5
6
Thought Questions:
7
 Can the human tendency to procrastinate affect one’s
8
preparedness for the Second Coming? Explain (see Matt.
9
24:42, Luke 21:34–36).
10
11
 You are saved by the cross—by the death of your
12
Savior for your sins. In other words, salvation can be
13
yours today. With that in mind, would you still be a
14
Christian if there were no Second Coming? What is the
15
importance of the Second Coming in relation to the
16
story of salvation? Does not the story of salvation end
17
at the cross? Explain.
18
19
Application Questions:
20
 The Seventh-day Adventist Church calls the Second
21
Coming the “grand climax” of the gospel. Why is that
22
so?http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.h
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1
tml
2
3
 Identify political, environmental, and cultural
4
elements in today’s world that make the average logical
5
person skeptical of the Second Coming. What can you as
6
a Seventh-day Adventist Christian do to address this
7
skepticism?
8
9
Witnessing
10
“During his 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy
11
often closed his speeches with the story of Colonel
12
Davenport, the speaker of the Connecticut House of
13
Representatives: On May 19, 1780 the sky of Hartford
14
darkened ominously, and some of the representatives,
15
glancing out the windows, feared the end was at hand.
16
Quelling a clamor for immediate adjournment, Davenport
17
rose and said, ‘The day of judgment is either
18
approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no
19
cause for adjournment. If it is, I choose to be found
20
doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles be
21
brought.’ Rather than fearing what is to come, we are
22
to be faithful till Christ returns. Instead of fearing
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the dark, we’re to be lights as we watch and wait.”—
2
Harry Heintz (http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-
3
z/s/second_coming.htm). How can you make the Second
4
Coming truly REAL in your church community?
5
6
STEP 4—Apply!
7
8
Is your church excited enough about the Second Coming
9
to make it in the local news? The Elgin, Illinois,
10
Seventh-day Adventist Church was! In an interview to
11
the Courier News, Pastor Gabriel Bardan said: “We are
12
not as much a church as we are a movement. . . . We
13
base our message in Revelation 14:6-12. .
14
of His judgment has come, and the second coming is
15
imminent. We need to fear God. This fear is not a
16
trembling fear, but one of fearing sin and giving
17
respect to God in His presence. . . . We have a
18
message, that people have to follow the Lord and know
19
Him, trust Him, and obey Him. . . . The whole church is
20
a family. . . . a place to grow, to heal the wounds, to
21
know the Lord, and to understand the times we live
22
in.”—Mike Murschel, “Elgin Seventh-day Adventist
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Church,” Elgin Courier News, Nov. 2, 2006.
2
3
Consider This: When was the last time you talked about
4
the Second Coming? What are ways that you can make the
5
hope of the Second Advent more a part of your life?
6
7
P How do you answer the common retort of “You
8
Christians have been talking about the Second Coming
9
for centuries.
10
Yet where is He? Why is it taking so
long?”
11
12
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