By Ruth Dusingize
Title: The Backstory: The Prologue
Memory Text: John 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
SABBATH: This week’s lesson study looks at the introduction to the book of John. The Bible truths that John begins with helping us to understand things about Jesus that the people in the story didn’t understand at that time.
SUNDAY: Focusing on John 1:1-5, John affirms Jesus’ eternal existence since the Word was already there before the beginning of the universe. In addition, Jesus and the Father are intimately close. Jesus Christ is part of the Godhead, and all things that came into existence came through Him. Jesus Christ is the divine revelation of God’s love (Genesis 1:1, Psalms 90:2, Micah 5:1-2).
MONDAY: In as much as various philosophies define logos as a science of thinking and all its important rules, or an idea between the perfect heaven and imperfect earth, John defines Jesus Christ as the logos. Jesus is a real person and not merely an idea. Furthermore, the logos is the Word of God. Jesus, who is God the Son, lived in a human body and hid His glory in human flesh so that He could dwell with His people as God has designed. READ: Exodus 25:8, John 1:1-3, 14, 18
TUESDAY: Jesus is the true light as John 1:9 states it. In as much as light comes to everyone, not everyone receives it. Jesus was rejected by His own Jews. Similar to what Paul hints at in Romans 9-11, John affirms by saying that all people who accept Jesus as their Saviour will become the children of God. READ: (John 1:9-13).
WEDNESDAY: John points out two groups of people. One group is one of the believers who come with openness towards Jesus and His rebukes to them through His Word, and the other group is one of the believers who fight Jesus. God has given all His creatures the freedom of choice so that they may love Him freely. This freedom of choice was granted to humanity prior to the Cross and hacks back to the Garden of Eden. READ:(John 3:16-21, John 9:35-41, John 12:36-46)
THURSDAY: According to John 17:1-5, Jesus takes His time on the cross as His Hour of Glory. Having to be crucified on the Cross during that time was shameful. However, Christ delights in the incredible contrast of an illustration of the plan of salvation and mercy where the Son of God gives Himself to the Father. God’s best glory is shown in His greatest shame-bearing the sins of the world in Himself. Christ humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the Cross. READ: (John 17:1-5, Philippians 2:6-8, Hebrews 12:2).
FRIDAY: The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father. He was the surpassing glory of heaven. This was no robbery of God. Jesus has said, “I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” Christ must be revealed to the sinner as the Savior dying for the sins of the world, and as we behold the Lamb of God upon the cross of Calvary, the mystery of redemption begins to unfold to our minds and the goodness of God leads us to repentance. Whenever people make an effort to reform, from a sincere desire to do right, it is the power of Christ that is drawing them.
‘God with us’ in Desire of Ages pp 19-26, Proverbs 8:22-27.
Captions:
SUNDAY; In the Beginning – The Divine Logos
MONDAY; The Word Made Flesh
TUESDAY; Hearing or Not Hearing the Word
WEDNESDAY; Reappearing Themes – Belief/Unbelief
THURSDAY; Reappearing Themes – Glory
for October 12-18
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- Why would John start talking about Jesus in His role as Creator? What does this tell us about the importance of creation in all theology? Why, then, is it important that we have a correct understanding of Creation, as revealed in Scripture?
- What happens to the Cross if instead of the eternal God dying on it, a created being did? What do we lose if Jesus were anything but the eternal God?
Wishing you a happy sabbath brethren.
