Introduction:

1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.

3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “ Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

6 So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.

7 Then after this He *said to the disciples, “ Let us go to Judea again.”

8 The disciples *said to Him, “ Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?”

9 Jesus answered, “ Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

11 This He said, and after that He *said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.”

12 The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”

13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.

14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,

15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”

16 Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him
(John 11:1-16 NASB)

Theme: Four indications that Jesus perfectly reflects God so you will trust Him as Savior

I. God’s glory is a higher priority than man’s well being vv. 1-4

II. God’s love is not inhibited by man’s urgency vv. 5-6

III. God’s plans are not stifled by man’s opposition vv. 7-10

IV. God’s ______ are not free of man’s __________ vv. 11-16

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Introduction:

31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him.

32 Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?”

33 The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.”

34 Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘ I said, you are gods ’?

35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),

36 do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘ I am the Son of God’?

37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;

38 but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”

39 Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.

40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there.

41 Many came to Him and were saying, “While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true.”

42 Many believed in Him there
(John 10:31-42 NASB)

Theme: Four facts about the wrong response to a true proclamation of Christ so you might know what to expect

I. The wrong response is always rejection vv. 31-32

II. The premise for the wrong response is always unbelief vs. 33

III. The presumption for the wrong response is always a faulty theology vv. 34-36

IV. The preventative for the wrong response is always the evidence vv. 37-38

Conclusion:

The right response is always belief vv. 40-42

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Introduction:

Review:

John 10:1-21

Background vv. 22-24

Jesus Asserts His Deity
22 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem;

23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.

24 The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

25 Jesus answered them, “ I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.

26 But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.

27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

30 I and the Father are one
(John 10:22-30 NASB)

The Feast of the Dedication

The Portico of Solomon

Theme: Three aspects of following Christ so you might enjoy the assurance you belong to Him

I. The role of the works Jesus performs: to testify that He is the Christ vs. 25

II. The reason unbelievers don’t believe He is the Christ: they do not belong to Him vs. 26

III. The security enjoyed by all Christ’s followers: personal and eternal vv. 27-30

A. A security of personally belonging to Christ vs. 27

B. A security of eternal life in Christ vv. 28-30

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1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.

2 But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

4 When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

5 A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

6 This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.

7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

11 “ I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

13 He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me

15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.

17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.

18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

19 A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words.

20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?”

21 Others were saying, “These are not the sayings of one demon- possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he
(John 10:1-21 NASB)

Introduction:

Review:

Theme: Three Illustrations of how Jesus saves all who believe in Him so you may be assured of eternal life.

I. The Illustration of the Shepherd vv. 1-6

A. The Manner of entering the sheep fold reveals his identity vv. 1-3a

B. The Familiarity with his sheep reveals the shepherd’s care for them vv. 3b-5

C. The Illustration misunderstood vs. 6

II. The Illustration of the door of the sheep vv. 7-10

A. The Former Impostors vs. 8

B. The Door Metaphor vs. 9

C. The Two Different Purposes vs. 10

III. The Illustration of the good shepherd of the sheep vv. 11-18

A. The hired hand does not watch over the sheep vv. 12-13

B. The good shepherd knows His sheep vv. 14-15a

C. The good shepherd dies for His sheep vs. 11b, 15b, 17

D. The good shepherd brings all His sheep together in one flock vs. 16

E. The good shepherd has authority over His own life vv. 17-18

Three Maxims:

#1 The Father loves Him for His willingness to sacrifice His life, by this authority

#2 The authority is not only to lay down, but also take up His own life

#3 The authority has been issued by the Commandment of His Father

Conclusion: The Response of the Pharisees vv. 19-21

Division of the Jews vs. 19

Two Contrary Opinions vv. 20-21

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1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.

2 But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

4 When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

5 A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

6 This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.

7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

11 “ I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

13 He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me
(John 10:1-14 NASB)

Introduction:

Review:

Theme: Three Illustrations of how Jesus saves all who believe in Him so you may be assured of eternal life.

I. The Illustration of the Shepherd vv. 1-6

A. The Manner of entering the sheep fold reveals his identity vv. 1-3a

B. The Familiarity with his sheep reveals the shepherd’s care for them vv. 3b-5

C. The Illustration misunderstood vs. 6

II. The Illustration of the door of the sheep vv. 7-10

A. The Former Impostors vs. 8

B. The Door Metaphor vs. 9

C. The Two Different Purposes vs. 10

III. The Illustration of the good shepherd of the sheep vv. 11-18

A. The hired hand does not watch over the sheep vv. 12-13

B. The good shepherd knows His sheep vv. 14-15a

C. The good shepherd _____________ for His sheep vs. 11b, 15b, 17

D. The good shepherd _____________________ all His sheep together in one flock vs. 16

E. The good shepherd has ___________________ over His own life vv. 17-18

Three Maxims:

#1 The Father loves Him for His willingness to _________________ His life, by this authority

#2 The authority is not only to lay down, but also ______________ His own life

#3 The authority has been issued by the _________________ of His Father

Conclusion: The Response of the Pharisees vv. 19-21

Division of the Jews vs. 19

Two Contrary Opinions vv. 20-21

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(John 9:13-34 NASB)
13 They *brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind.
14 Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.
15 Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, “He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”
16 Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was a division among them.
17 So they *said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”
18 The Jews then did not believe it of him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight,
19 and questioned them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?”
20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;
21 but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.”
22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.
23 For this reason his parents said, “ He is of age; ask him.”
24 So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “ Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.”
25 He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
26 So they said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”
27 He answered them, “ I told you already and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?”
28 They reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.
29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.”
30 The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes.
31 We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God- fearing and does His will, He hears him.
32 Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.
33 If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
34 They answered him, “ You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So they put him out
(John 9:13-34 NASB)
Introduction:

Review:

Theme: five important lessons for a Christian witness so you can better answer the skeptics

I. Tell what Jesus has done for you vv. 13-15

II. Speak what you believe about Christ vv. 16-17

III. Expect to stand alone vv. 18-23

IV. Answer with humility vv. 24-25

V. Answer with courage and confidence vv. 26-34

A. One primary mark of a disciple – loyalty vv. 27-29
Loyalty on display:
1. Represents the master before others vs. 27
2. Renders exclusive devotion to the master vs. 28
3. Recognizes the master’s teaching as from God vs. 29a
4. Rejects all other masters as authoritative vs. 29b

B. Three distinct marks of God’s sent One vv. 30-33
1. He is heard by God vs. 31
2. He is unlike anyone else before Him vs. 32
3. He does the works of God vs. 33
Conclusion:
Their answer to him vs. 34

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(John 9:13-34 NASB)
13 They *brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind.
14 Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.
15 Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, “He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”
16 Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, “This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others were saying, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And there was a division among them.
17 So they *said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”
18 The Jews then did not believe it of him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight,
19 and questioned them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?”
20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;
21 but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.”
22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.
23 For this reason his parents said, “ He is of age; ask him.”
24 So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, “ Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.”
25 He then answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
26 So they said to him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”
27 He answered them, “ I told you already and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?”
28 They reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.
29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.”
30 The man answered and said to them, “Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes.
31 We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God- fearing and does His will, He hears him.
32 Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.
33 If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
34 They answered him, “ You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?” So they put him out
(John 9:13-34 NASB)

Introduction:

Review:

Theme: Five important lessons for a Christian witness so you can better answer the skeptics

I. Tell what Jesus has done for you vv. 13-15

II. Speak what you believe about Christ vv. 16-17

III. Expect to stand alone vv. 18-23

IV. Answer with humility vv. 24-25

V. Answer with courage and confidence vv. 26-34

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(John 9:1-12 NASB)

1 As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth.

2 And His disciples asked Him, “ Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?”

3 Jesus answered, “ It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

4 We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.

5 While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”

6 When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes,

7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.

8 Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, “Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?”

9 Others were saying, “This is he,” still others were saying, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the one.”

10 So they were saying to him, “How then were your eyes opened?”

11 He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.”

12 They said to him, “Where is He?” He *said, “I do not know
(John 9:1-12 NASB)
Introduction:

Review:

Theme: Four aspects of this miracle so you will better understand God’s purpose in sickness and healing.

I. He had a genuine physical disability vv. 1-2

II. There was a God ordained purpose for afflicting him with blindness vv. 3-5

III. His healing was attributed completely to Jesus vv. 6-7, 11

IV. There was immediate controversy over his healing vv. 8-10, 12

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Introduction:

Review:

(John 8:48-59 NASB)
48 The Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”
49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
50 But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges.
51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.”
52 The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death. ’
53 Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?”
54 Jesus answered, “ If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God’;
55 and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”
59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple
(John 8:48-59 NASB)
Theme: Three wrong conclusions about Jesus held by unbelievers so you can direct them to His true identity

I. He is demon possessed vv. 48-52

II. He is merely a man vv. 53-56

III. He is a blasphemer vv. 57-59

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