Jesus was prompted by the visitation of the Greeks to speak reflectively about His hour of death. His submissive prayer to the Father evoked a heavenly response from the Father. Based on this, He reiterated that His impending death was not a loss but a victory in that the prince of the world would be judged and that His being lifted up would draw all men to Himself.
(1) Judging from the response of the crowd:
a. Do you think they understood what being “lifted up” meant?
b. Did they really not know who the Son of Man was?
c. What then was their real problem?
(2) Did Jesus respond to their question directly? Why or why not?
(3) What was the essence of Jesus’ answer to them? (vv. 35-36)
(4) John sees the response of the crowd as a fulfillment of Isaiah 53:1 and 6:10:
a. Given the response of the world to the gospel today, do you share the sentiment of Isaiah 53:1?
b. What was the reason given by Isaiah for their unbelief?
c. How does Tom Rees’ statement that “the same sun that melts the wax hardens the clay” help your understanding of Isaiah’s prophecy?
(5) V. 42 begins with “Yet”: Do you take this as something positive or negative? Why?
(6) This particular incident concludes with the “crying out” of Jesus:
a. Why did Jesus have to cry out?
b. Who then is Jesus according to v. 45?
c. Two different responses yield two different results:
- What will happen to those who believe in Him and why? (12:46, 50)
- What will happen to those who do not “accept” His words? (12:48)
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
From chapters 13-17, the Apostle John invites us to attend the “Upper Room” on the night Jesus was betrayed so that we may hear these last words spoken by our Lord to His beloved disciples.
(1) V.1 may serve as the introduction to what happened that entire evening in the “Upper Room”. This certainly includes His unexpected act of feet-washing:
a. What does the washing of the disciples’ feet have to do with Jesus's showing them the “full extent” of His love? (The Greek original tends to emphasize “till the end”.)
(2) We may assume that the previous two Passover meals were observed somewhere with the host providing everything including servants, but this time they were obviously gathering in a secret place with no servants around. 13:3-4 is a “cause-and-effect” statement:
a. What is the cause?
b. What is the effect?
c. How are they related?
(3) Why did Peter refuse to have his feet washed by Jesus?
(4) Why did he change his mind?
(5) As symbols, taking a bath is definitely different from washing of feet. If taking a bath means salvation (that causes a person to have a part with Jesus), what then is the meaning of feet washing in this immediate context?
(6) What then was the significance of the disciples’ feet being washed by Jesus?
(7) In asking the disciples to follow His example “to do the same”:
a. Why did Jesus mention His authoritative position as “Lord” and His respectable position as “Teacher”?
b. What then does His example entail?
c. How should we “do the same”?
(8) What is the hardest part in following this example of Jesus?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Can you recall certain characters of betrayal from novels that you have read or in your real-life experience?
(2) How would you compare Judas to them?
(3) What made Judas’ sin so horrible and troubling to Jesus (v. 21)?
(4) Since it was Satan who entered Judas’ heart (v. 27), who was at fault for Jesus's betrayal? Could Judas say, “The devil made me do it?” Why or why not?
(5) Why was it so hard for the disciples to imagine that it was Judas who would betray Jesus even with these words of Jesus?
(6) In what ways might we resemble Judas?
(7) Consider 13:18-20 carefully:
a. When the disciples eventually witnessed Judas’ betrayal, how would they be impacted personally?
b. How would the foretelling of this betrayal serve to strengthen their faith?
c. How would this impact their future mission (as ones sent by Jesus)?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) How will the Son glorify the Father?
(2) How will the Father glorify the Son?
(3) What does “at once” refer to?
(4) What is meant by “to glorify”?
(5) Why did Jesus call the disciples “Children” at this point in time?
(6) Why did He give such a command at this point (the last command before He died)?
(7) Was it really a new command? Why then did He say that it was new?
(8) What is the basis of this command?
(9) What is meant by “as I have loved you”?
(10) What will result, if we do not obey this command?
(11) Can you tell what Peter understood about where Jesus would be going? (v. 37)
a. If it refers to the cross, can the disciples go also? Why or why not?
b. If it refers to the Father, why can’t the disciples go?
(12) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Jesus continues to talk about where He is going:
(1) Why were the hearts of the disciples troubled upon hearing Jesus talk about where He was going?
(2) Jesus asked the disciples: “Trust in God; trust also in me” (v.1):
a. Do you differentiate trusting in God from trusting in Jesus? Why?
b. Why then did Jesus have to say this to the disciples?
(3) We all know that heaven is a wonderful place. What picture did Jesus use to convey heaven to the disciples? Why?
(4) What was the process (or the way) Jesus would use to prepare the place where He would take all His disciples to?
(5) With the explicit reference to the “Father’s House”, why did Thomas still insist that they did not know where Jesus was going and the way to get there? What was their problem?
(6) Did Jesus only address the “way” to the Father’s House?
(7) Why did He mention “truth” and “life”?
(8) What exactly does this amazing statement mean in v.6?
(9) Why did Philip say that if Jesus would show them the Father, it would be enough for them? Why then, in their opinion, was seeing Jesus not enough?
(10) 14:7-10 contains some of the clearest statements about Jesus’ relationship with the Father. Write down the meaning or implication of each of the following statements:
a. “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.”(14:7)
b. “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." (14:9)
c. “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” (14:10a)
d. “The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing His work.” (14:10b)
(11) How do the above statements validate the biblical concept of Trinity?
(12) What are the greater things that those who believe in Jesus would do? How so?
(13) Why did Jesus emphasize that we should ask in His name?
(14) What does asking in His name mean and what are the promised results? (vv. 13-14)
(15) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
At first sight, v.15 appears to be odd and out of place, but its idea is repeated in v. 21 which serves as an inclusio and is further expounded because of the question raised by Judas:
14:16-17—Jesus introduces to us the Holy Spirit
(1) Since the Holy Spirit is “another advocate”, who is the first one?
(2) What is the function of an advocate normally?
(3) How then is the Holy Spirit our advocate?
(4) According to vv. 16-17, how does the Holy Spirit function differently now than the time of the Old Testament?
(5) Why is He called the Spirit of truth?
(6) Why can’t the world accept the Holy Spirit?
14:18-21—Jesus’ return to the Father is good for us
(7) What are orphans?
(8) With His imminent departure, how will we not be orphans when we are without Him?
a. When will He come again?
b. Before His coming again, who do we have living in us?
c. What does He mean by “Because I live, you also will live”?
d. "On that day" should refer to the day when Christ rose from the dead:
- What is meant by the promise in v. 21a?
- Have you realized such a reality?
e. What is the added promise He gives to those who love Him? (v. 21b)
f. What is meant by “showing myself to them”?
g. What is the mark of those who love Him? (vv. 15 and 21)
(9) What then is the main message of this inclusio (from vv. 15-21)?
(10) What was the implication of Judas’ question in v. 22? (Will the world really believe if God shows Himself to them?)
(11) What in essence is Jesus’ answer to Judas? (What does Jesus really mean by God showing Himself to us?)
(12) According to this short passage, who indeed dwell within believers and make them their home?
(13) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
14:25-26—Jesus is comparing the work of the Holy Spirit with His earthly ministry:
(1) How important are the words that Jesus has spoken to them all these years? (See Jn. 5:24; 8:51; 12:47-48)
(2) How much did the disciples and the people understand His words? (See Jn. 8:27; 10:26; 12:16)
(3) What is the important function of the Holy Spirit in this respect?
(4) What then should be our attitude in seeking to study and understand God’s words?
14:27-31—Jesus leaves us His peace
(5) How important was this promise of peace to the disciples at this point in time? (14:1, 27)
(6) Why does Jesus call the peace He leaves with us “my peace”?
(7) Jesus says, “I do not give to you as the world gives”: What then is the difference between how He gives and how the world gives?
(8) Why should the disciples be glad that Jesus was leaving them? What has it to do with loving Jesus?
(9) What does it mean by “the Father is greater than I”? (See today’s Meditative Reflection.)
(10) How does the coming of the prince of this world usher us into learning that Jesus loved the Father and did exactly what His Father had commanded Him? (See 1 Jn. 5:19 about the coming of the prince of this world.)
(11) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?