Author: Chienchong Lim

Beholding the King’s Glory

God’s kingdom comes with power (9:1)

1. Jesus relates His glory with how He will complete His Father’s work (9:2-13)

– The significance of the different people & events

– The response of the disciples

2. Jesus rebukes His disciples for how they have relied on themselves to do His work (9:14-29)

– The conversations with Jesus Christ

Questions for consideration & discussion

a. How have I been (or not been) listening to & talking about Jesus?

b. How can I tell if I’m relying on myself to do God’s work & serve Him?

Double Unexpectedness

1. The Woman’s Unexpected Belief (7:24-30)

   – The Gentile woman trusted the Lord

2. The Lord’s Miraculous Work (7:31-8:10)

   a. The Lord touched & opened the ears of the deaf  (7:31-37)

   b. The Lord cared for & fed the four thousand  (8:1-10)

3. The Pharisees’ Unexpected Unbelief  (8:11-13)

   – The religious Pharisees doubted the Lord

Questions for consideration:

Who are my friends & family (who are steeped in unbelief) whose salvation I can pray for? What are the areas in my own life (which I struggle with unbelief) that I can turn over to the Lord?

What do you see?

1. Jesus, his followers & the famished ‘flock’  (6:30-44)

2. Jesus, his followers & their hardened hearts  (6:45-52)

3. Jesus, the masses & His mighty miracles  (6:53-56)

Questions for consideration:

Do I see how the Lord has been really great & good in my life? How does this perspective in turn shape the way I see my limitations, current situations & motivation in following Jesus? 

A faithless Fear vs. a fearless Faith

1. The fact that Jesus is the Son of God (5:1-13)

a. The spirits exhibited great power (vv.1-5,13)

b. Jesus exercised greater authority (vv.6-13)

2. The impact that Jesus is the Son of God (5:14-20)

a. The unbelieving herdsmen told Jesus to leave (vv.14-17)

b. The believing healed man told others about Jesus (vv.18-20)

Questions for consideration:

How does knowing the goodness & power of Jesus,
a. help me confront my fears?
b. shape how I live out my faith?

A Growing Divide

1. Reception of Jesus (3:7-19)

a.  Huge crowds followed Jesus (3:7-12)

b. Twelve followed as Jesus’ disciples (3:13-19)

2. Rejection of Jesus (3:20-35)

a.  The scribes misjudged Jesus’ ministry (3:22-30)

b.  Jesus’ family misread His ministry (3:20-21, 31-35)

Question for consideration:

What is an area for me, as a follower of Jesus, to work on to draw close to Him, carry out His purpose & comply with His teachings?