Which Way Wisdom?

Deut 34: 9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the Spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.

Not having Moses handy, we may have to seek another way to be wise.  Although wisdom is mentioned through the bible, the book that really meditates on it is Proverbs, written by Solomon and perhaps some later authors.  Trivia of the day: the Hebrew word for wisdom seems to have grown out of a word for know-how that was used by fisherman.  So maybe we should just go fishing?

Read Proverbs 1:1-7
1.    What is wisdom for?  How can you tell when someone has it?  What is the difference between wisdom and intelligence?



After the warning against fools enticing you away from wisdom, the tone suddenly switches.  Read Prov 1:20-33.
2.    Suddenly wisdom is Wisdom and is personified.  There are three theories about this.
a.    Solomon is being poetic.  Why would it be reasonable to think this?


b.    Solomon is describing the Holy Spirit. Why would it be reasonable to think this?


c.    Solomon is describing Jesus., Why would it be reasonable to think this?


In Proverbs 8, wisdom again speaks.  “Does not wisdom call out?  Does not understanding raise her voice?”  Read Prov 8:22-36.
3.    Considering this and Chapter 1, what do you think about Wisdom personified?



In Proverbs 9:10, Wisdom advises, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”  Read Prov 2:1-10.  (Where wisdom is back to being an attribute.)
4.    How does one become wise?



Components of Wisdom
5.    Some of the themes from the sayings of Solomon.  Try to find connections with your own experiences or in what you’ve seen.

Prov 11: 2-3 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.  The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” 

Righteousness:  Why is righteousness wise?

Prov 16:23-24  “A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction.  Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

What you say:  the words of the wise are true, gentle, calming, testifying.  Why is this wise?

Prov 16: 3 “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” 

What you do: the work of the wise is timely, fruitful, prioritized, and planned.  Why is this wise?

Proverbs 18:15  “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.”

How you grow: the wise are open to instruction, discipline, counsel and correction.  Why is this wise?


6.  Page through Proverbs 10-21.  What else do you notice?  What themes are there?








The 4 wise creatures:  Prov 30:24-28

“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;  are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; a lizard* can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings' palaces.”

7.    What are they trying to teach us by these examples?
ant –

coney –

locust –

lizard –


8.    If you were writing down your sayings for the next generation, what’s one proverb you would want in the book?






Prov 24: 13-14 “Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.  Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”

Homework?  Other places to find wisdom mentioned in scripture:  Job 28, Ps 111, James 1

Note:  the youth group study is off for the summer, so I'll mostly just be posting monthly for the men's study.

50 Days Later

Pentecost (A study using the year C readings.)


Some people consider Christmas to be the Birthday of the Christian church.  Some might say Easter.  But it’s really Pentecost.  Pentecost is from the Greek for “Fiftieth Day” as in the Acts of the Apostles it came 10 days after Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, which was 40 days after Easter.  It has strong connections with the Jewish Pentecost, called the Festival of Shavout, which was when God gave Moses the 10 Commandments 50 days after the Exodus.


1)    Jot down what you know about the Holy Spirit and what you think you know.



John 14:15-27

[Jesus said,] “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!  I will not leave you orphaned. I’m coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you’re going to see me because I am alive and you’re about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I’m in my Father, and you’re in me, and I’m in you.  The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that’s who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him.”

Judas (not Iscariot) said, “Master, why is it that you are about to make yourself plain to us but not to the world?”

“Because a loveless world,” said Jesus, “is a sightless world. If anyone loves me, he will carefully keep my word and my Father will love him—we’ll move right into the neighborhood! Not loving me means not keeping my words. The message you are hearing isn’t mine. It’s the message of the Father who sent me.  I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft.  So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.”

1)    What are the different names for the Holy Spirit being used here.  Underline them.


2)    What does or will the Holy Spirit do?

Acts 2:1-21;38-42

When the Feast of Pentecost [Shavout – the receiving of the 10 Commandments] came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

3)    What do you think really happened there?  Is this imagery or observation?  Why do you think?

There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?”

4)    How could that happen?  Why doesn’t that happen today?

Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia; Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene; Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes; Even Cretans and Arabs!  “They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!”  Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?”  Others joked, “They’re drunk on cheap wine.”

That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk—it’s only nine o’clock in the morning.  This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:

“In the Last Days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people:
Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters;
Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams.
When the time comes, I’ll pour out my Spirit on those who serve me, men and women both, and they’ll prophesy.
I’ll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below,
Blood and fire and billowing smoke, the sun turning black and the moon blood-red,
Before the Day of the Lord arrives, the Day tremendous and marvelous;
And whoever calls out for help to me, God, will be saved.”

5)    That’s from Joel 2:28-32 in the Bible.  How is what’s happening in Acts Chapter 2 like what was prophesied 800 years before?

…  Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.”  He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, “Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!”  That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.

6)    What would a Pentecost moment look like now?  Can you imagine it in our church?



7)    What do you know about the Holy Spirit now?



Bonus Scripture: Romans 8:9-17

But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won't know what we're talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells—even though you still experience all the limitations of sin—you yourself experience life on God's terms. It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's!
So don't you see that we don't owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There's nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him!

8)  How have you experienced this paradox Paul shares?  "Even though you still experience all the limitations of sin—you yourself experience life on God's terms."







Resources:  while preparing this study, I cam across a couple neat sites.
Insight - an English youth group leader's blog with activities and lessons.  Not currently active, but had posted a lot before that.
Rethinking Youth Ministry - a blog with some good resources, lessons and ideas for youth ministry.  Current and topical.

Hi, Dad. I'm in jail.

In the lectionary this week is the story of Paul and SIlas in jail.  As we ave been studying Acts for the apostles' stories, I thought it would be nice to do a thematic study.  This will also serve as a good introduction to Paul, whom I think we'll do next week as a good way to end the year.  Or we'll be studying Pentecost.  Tough choice!

The scriptures under consideration:
Acts 5:17-39

Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.  But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.”

At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.  When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”  On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of this.

Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.”  At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.  Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”  Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!  The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.  But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.  Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.  Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

Acts 12:5-17:

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.  The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.  Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him.  Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.  They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.  Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”

Acts 16:16-39:

The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten.  After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.  Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.  Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.  But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”  The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”  Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.  At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.  The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.

When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.”  The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”  But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”  The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.  They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.

Acts 24:22-27:

Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.”  He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.

Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus.  As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”  At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.  When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

2 Timothy 1:6-12.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.  And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.  That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

The study from these scriptures I want to bring out both what the apostles were willing to suffer, as that is a great testament to the truth of their message, but the power of knowing the Lord is with you.  I plan on sharing the story of my friend Liz Walters, an IHM nun who was sent to federal prison repeatedly for nonviolent protests against nuclear arms.  She was shunted around, kept from friends and family and put in with the most violent offenders.  Often converting them and never coming to harm.  She really practiced the Jesus Way.

Scientists estimation of what

Paul of Tarsus might have looked like.

Doesn't capture his passion!

 Hi, Dad.  I’m in Jail

Early on the authorities tried a traditional way to stop the apostles – put ‘em in jail!  But from the first time it didn’t work.  In Acts 4, the Sadducees jailed Peter and John.  And then threatened them when that had no effect.  Then were just amazed when the threats had no effect.  Sometimes the authorities just couldn’t hold them.  The apostles, of course, were preaching life after death, and the Sadducees didn’t even believe in that.  Let alone Jesus.  Read Acts 5:17-39

1)    Why are Peter and the others willing to go to jail?  Why aren’t they afraid?


Peter also got sent to jail on his own.  Shortly after Herod had James, the brother of John, put to death, we can read about Peter's next imprisonment in Acts 12:5-17.

2)    Why would God set Peter free?  If you were Peter what would you do next?


Paul was in jail a lot, and it didn’t seem to bother him a bit.  After they freed a slave girl from an evil spirit, the owners had them beaten and locked up.   Read Acts 16:16-39.

3)    How are Paul and Silas able to praise God while jailed?  For what do they have to be thankful?


4)   How hard would it be to do something nice for your jailer?  Why would this event bring the jailer to believe?


But the apostles did not have a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card.  Many disciples were jailed long term or executed.  In Acts 24:22-27 it describes Paul spending two years in jail.  When he has a chance to be freed by convincing a king of his innocence, he insists on being sent to Rome for a trial.  Finally the new governor Festus sends him to Rome to be judged by the Romans.  On the way there’s a shipwreck and a viper… but that’s another story.

5)    How can it make a difference during tough times – even in jail – to know that God is with you?


6)    Why does sometimes God seem to help those in trouble and sometimes not?


These are not just old stories.  People today are jailed for proclaiming Jesus publically in places like China, where the government wants to control religion, India, where Hindus are offended by the idea of one God, and countries where Islam is a state religion and it is illegal to try to get anyone to change religions.  More often, Christians can be the victim of violence for being public or telling others about their faith.  Not everyone is called to suffer for their faith, or to be open to persecution.  That kind of testifying should only be the answer to prayer, when you know that God is calling you to do it.  It should also not be decided on alone, but prayed and discussed with other serious believers.  God’s direction will be clear.

But we are going to have hard times, and times when you could feel abandoned by God.  Like Joseph in the old testament when he was down the well or in jail in Egypt.  But the truth is that God is with us, as much as he was with Peter walking out of jail or Paul in prison for two years.

Paul wrote several of his epistles from prison or house arrest.  Here he writes to Timothy, his protégé, in 2 Timothy 1:6-12.  I’m sure Paul worried for Timothy’s faith since his teacher was in jail.  Take a minute to read the passage.

7)    If you could share with Paul your worst problem, what do you think he might tell you?

Whom Would You Tell?

On Philip and Batholomew.  (Or is it Nathanael?)

In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the 12 apostles include someone named Batholomew, of whom we know nothing else.  In John, the 12 includes Nathanael, we think.  (John never writes a list like the other gospels.)  But it does have this story.  The day after calling Simon (Peter) and Andrew… John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee.  Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”  Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida.  Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.  “Come and see,” said Philip.

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.”  “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.  Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”  Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”  Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.”  He then added, “I tell [all of] you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

1)    What do you think that phrase “finding Philip” might mean?


2)    If Jesus found you, whom would you run to tell?  Why them?


3)    Why did Nathanael believe?  What did Jesus say to him and why was it amazing?


The two best stories about Philip are both in Acts Chapter 8.  History and legend seem to recall Philip as a great evangelist, who travels anywhere and everywhere to share the news of Jesus.  This takes place just after the killing of the first martyr, Stephen.

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.  Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.  When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.  With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.  So there was great joy in that city.

Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.”  They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.  But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.  Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

4)    Why would Philip welcome this fraud into his group, his church?  He had been misleading people for years; was he worthy of the truth?  Even if you forgive him, do you have to accept him?

But even though Simon the Magician was following Philip, he didn’t really get it yet.
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.  When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.  Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.  When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!  You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.  Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.  For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”  Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”  When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.

5)    Does Simon get it now?  What do you think?  How can you tell?


6)    What is that part about the Holy Spirit here?  What was going on with that?

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”  So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”  Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.  “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?”  So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

7)    This person is as different from Philip as possible: different race, different country, rich.  Knowing Philip, he’ll go talk to him.  What would the person most different from you be like?

The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.  Who can speak of his descendants?  For his life was taken from the earth.”

The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”  Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.  As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?”  And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.  When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.  Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

8)    Eunuchs were barred from the temple.  (Because of a rule in Deuteronomy 23)  Even though the eunuch went to Jerusalem to worship, he was probably not allowed in.  Why would Philip baptize him?


9)    What’s the one thing you would want people to know about Jesus?


There's an interesting post by the Sarcastic Lutheran (Nadia Bolz-Weber, ultra cool pastor of the House for All Sinners and Saints) with her sermon on this passage with the Ethiopian Eunuch, relating it to inclusion in the church.

Eagle Eye

This week we continue our tour of the apostles with John the Evangelist.  Our faith lives would be so different without his writings.  I love his emphasis on relationship and his simple yet powerful focus on what it means to love Jesus.

First I gathered together some scripture from which to choose.

Mark 1:14-20  After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.  “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”  At once they left their nets and followed him.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.  Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Luke (5:1-11) further describes James and John as Simon’s partners.

Mark 5: 35-43  While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?”  Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.  When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly.  He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.”  But they laughed at him.
      After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was.  He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” ).  Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.  He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Mark 10: 35-45  Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”  “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.  They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”  “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.  Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 14: 32-34 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

Luke 9: 46-56  An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.  Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him.  Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.”

“Master,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”  “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.  And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.  When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”  But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.

When Jesus was on the cross:

John 19:25-27 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

John 21:19-24 Then Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me!”  Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”  Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”  Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

James, John’s brother was killed by the sword at King Herod’s request.  (Acts 12)  In Acts 13 it describes him travelling for a while with Paul and Barnabas.  But otherwise there are not many records of his travelling.

John has 3 short letters (two are really short) that revolve around the themes: Jesus is the savior, he loves us, we show our love for him by loving and serving others.  He warns repeatedly against false teachers telling you anything that conflicts with that.  A good example of this:

1 John 5:1-5  Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.  This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.  This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Revelations is the record of John’s vision of the end of the world.  Some people freak out about it, and others dismiss it.  Some talk about it being a coded message to people suffering under the Roman emperor Nero.  A sample from the beginning:

Revelations 1: 9-16  I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.  On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,”dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.  His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.  His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.  In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

It is from the book of Revelation that we learn the most about Jesus returning, even if it is hard to understand.  Peter and Paul wrote about it, and angels mentioned it at Jesus’ ascension to heaven after his resurrection.

Acts 1: 10-11 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Revelation 22: 12-17  “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.  … I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”  The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”

Then I went through, narrowed down and added the questions.  Because last week's lesson went a bit longer than the attention span of most of the middle schoolers, I'm trying to be more disciplined this time around.

Eagle Eye

John was the only one of the apostles not to be martyred.  Tradition has it that he was the youngest.  And the only apostle to write a gospel, earning him the name John the Evangelist.  His gospel stands out as the most different of the four gospels.  He is often represented with an eagle (because of a passage in Revelation 4:7).  In addition to the gospel, he wrote three short letters that became epistles, and the mysterious Book of Revelation, which ends the bible.  His older brother James was also an apostle, and together they had the nickname the Sons of Thunder.








John was called at the very beginning of Jesus ministry.  He may have been a disciple of John the Baptist's ministry beforehand.
Mark 1:14-20
1)    Luke (5:1-11) Also describes James and John as Simon’s partners.  What would it take for you to give up your hometown and business to follow a teacher?



Mark 5: 35-43
2)    There are a few occasions when Jesus doesn’t take all of the apostles, but a smaller group that usually includes Peter, James and John.  Why would Jesus not take everyone?  What does it tell you about PJ&J that Jesus chose them?



Not every story about John is a positive one. 
Mark 10: 35-45
3)    What does Jesus mean by “drink the cup I drink”?  What do you think John might have learned from this exchange?



John was the only apostle to follow Jesus all the way to the cross.  While Jesus was on the cross, he asked John for a favor.  In John’s gospel, he refers to himself as the “disciple Jesus loved” rather than by name.
John 19:25-27
4)    What does Jesus think of John?  What would it be like to adopt a friend’s mother?



James, John’s brother was killed by the sword at King Herod’s request.  (Acts 12)  In Acts 13 it describes him traveling for a while with Paul and Barnabas.  But otherwise there are not many records of his traveling.  John has 3 short letters (two are really short) that revolve around the themes: Jesus is the savior, he loves us, we show our love for him by loving and serving others.  He warns repeatedly against false teachers telling you anything that conflicts with that.  A good example of this:
1 John 5:1-5
5)    How would you put this in your own words?



Revelation is the record of John’s vision of the end of the world.  Some people freak out about it, and others dismiss it.  Some talk about it being a coded message to people suffering under the Roman emperor Nero.  It is from the book of Revelation that we learn the most about Jesus returning, even if it is hard to understand. 
Revelation 22: 12-17
6)    What do you think about the idea of Jesus coming back?

Bonus:  the best musical cover of the Book of Revelations has got to be Johnny Cash's "The Man Comes Around."  It sounds like he's seen it. 

The only way I can find to share it is a video.  Caution: it does have photo of Cash flipping the bird.

I got a rock

Studying Peter this week.  What an embarrasment of riches in terms of scripture to consider.  Unfortunately too much for a 40ish minute study.  And with the youth, it seems unsafe to assume that they are already familiar with the stories, although one of my students knows scripture and verse better than I do.

Here's the scripture after the first cut:  (from the NIV and the Message - you can probably tell which is which.)  After the scriptures, I'll share which I included - still too many! - and the questions.

Getting called:
Matthew 4:18-20

“Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed.”

John 1: 35-42 

The next day John [the Baptist] was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"  When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?"  They said, "Teacher, where are you staying?"

"Come," he replied, "and you will see."   So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about mid-afternoon.  Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.  The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ).  And he brought him to Jesus.  Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Rock).

Matthew 14:22-33 

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.  After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance[a] from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.  During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.  But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."  "Come," he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"  And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.  Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Matthew 16: 13-20

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"  They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."  "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"  Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."  Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

Matthew 26: 69-75 [While Jesus is being tried by the chief priests]

All this time, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. One servant girl came up to him and said, "You were with Jesus the Galilean."  In front of everybody there, he denied it. "I don't know what you're talking about."  As he moved over toward the gate, someone else said to the people there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene."  Again he denied it, salting his denial with an oath: "I swear, I never laid eyes on the man."  Shortly after that, some bystanders approached Peter. "You've got to be one of them. Your accent gives you away."  Then he got really nervous and swore. "I don't know the man!"

Just then a rooster crowed. Peter remembered what Jesus had said: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." He went out and cried and cried and cried.

John 21:15-19 (The Message)

After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"  "Yes, Master, you know I love you."  Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."  He then asked a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"  "Yes, Master, you know I love you."   Jesus said, "Shepherd my sheep." Then he said it a third time: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"   Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, "Do you love me?" so he answered, "Master, you know everything there is to know. You've got to know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I'm telling you the very truth now: When you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wished, but when you get old you'll have to stretch out your hands while someone else dresses you and takes you where you don't want to go." He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And then he commanded, "Follow me."

Acts 4:3-20 

[The Sadducees] seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people!  If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.  He is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ [Psalm 118]  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.  But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.  So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.  "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it.  But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

Acts 15: 5-11

Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."

The apostles and elders met to consider this question.  After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.  Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?  No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

1 Peter 3: 8-18

Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing.

Whoever wants to embrace life
and see the day fill up with good,
Here's what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you're worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
listening and responding well to what he's asked;
But he turns his back
on those who do evil things.

If with heart and soul you're doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you're still better off. Don't give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath. It's better to suffer for doing good, if that's what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That's what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others' sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.

1 Peter 5: 8-11 

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

2 Peter 3: 14-18 

So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master's patient restraint for what it is: salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don't know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it.

But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!

I got a rock.

We’ve read a lot about Peter.  He had an amazing life, from fisherman to leader of the Church.  To really study him would take more than a single day, but let’s get a start.  Nobody tried to make Jesus the center of their life with as much enthusiasm as Peter did.

Getting called:
Matthew 4:18-20

1)    What do you learn about Peter here?  About Jesus? 



Matthew 14:22-33 
2)    There was a book recently with the title “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat.”  What do we learn about Peter here?



Matthew 16: 13-20
3)    Why give Simon a nickname?  (Cephas is the Greek for rock, while Peter is the Latin.)  What does Jesus mean here about Peter?




In Matthew 26: 69-75 is the story of how Peter denied Jesus three times while he was being tried by the Temple officials.  At the Last Supper Peter told Jesus he would die for him.  Hours later he’s denying he even knows him. 
4)    Have you ever felt rejected by a friend or family member?  Have you ever rejected a friend and then regretted it?


The turning point:  After the resurrection, and the appearances to the apostles in the upper room (the story with Thomas), Jesus appeared to the disciples again at the Sea of Galilee.  The apostles went fishing (Peter’s idea), didn’t catch anything, and didn’t recognize Jesus when he showed up at the shore.  Jesus told them to put the net on the other side, and they caught a boat full of fish.  John realized who he was, and Peter dived in and swam to him.  Jesus had made them breakfast.  And then…

John 21:15-19

5)    Why does Jesus repeat the question?  What does he mean by “feed my sheep”? 



6)    What was Peter feeling during this conversation?



Acts 4:3-20 
7)    How has Peter changed?  How would you describe him now?

Acts 15: 5-11
8)    All through history, and maybe all through your life, people have tried or may try to put extra requirements on being a Christian.  People will say “if you believe that then…” and have ideas of their own.  What would Peter say makes you a Jesus follower?



1 Peter 3: 8-18 
9)    What connections do you see between what Peter writes in this letter and the rest of his story?



10)    What’s one thing you can take away from this study?

Incredible

Your best friend dies.  The man you gave up everything to follow.  He was put to death by a tag team of the Empire, your government and your religion in the most awful way possible.  Now someone tells you that he is risen.  Seen first by a woman (!) and then your other friends find an empty tomb.  All that means is someone took the body.  And Mary was literally crazy with grief… it’s not hard to imagine her imagining Jesus.  Then they claim he came to them, but here they are still cowering. 
No.  It is inconceivable.  Wishful thinking.  It is unbelievable.  It is incredible.

Today we study Thomas, nicknamed for a famous moment of disbelief.  Thomas as a name comes from the Aramaic name Tau'ma close to the Aramaic word for twin: T'oma (תאומא).  So John calling call him Didymus (twin in Greek) Thomas in his Gospel (3 times) could be interpreted as omitting the actual name.  Quite ancient stories describe Thomas going to India and being martyred there by being pierced with a spear.  He is also reported to be the only apostle present (spiritually transported to and fro) for the assumption of Mary’s body directly to heaven.  (A non-scriptural story, obviously, but also quite ancient.)

At right is a picture of a St. Thomas cross.  The design is attributed to Thomas, and dates bate to at least 6th century Persia, where he was known to preach.  The design shows the Trinity.  It's not generally thought that 1st century Christians used the cross as a symbol.

Matthew 10:1-4  (Quite similar in Mark 3:18 & Luke 6:15)

He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.  These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

1)    Why 12 apostles?  Why separate out individuals from all the people following him?  Why call Judas Iscariot?  Why do we hear the calling of some apostles but not others?



John 11:7-16

Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”  “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?”
Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light.  It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.” 

After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”  His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.  So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

2)    Most people consider that Thomas was referring to how the Jews will kill Jesus.  What does this help you learn about Thomas?  What do you make of Thomas being called Twin?

John 14:1-7

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” 

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

3)    What does this help you learn about Thomas?

John 20:19-31  (the Message)

Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.  The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”  Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone's sins, they're gone for good. If you don't forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”

But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”  But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won't believe it.”

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”  Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving. Believe.”  Thomas said, “My Lord and my God!”*

Jesus said, “So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”  Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.

*the words this is translated from means “the God” and is previously only used by
John (the evangelist) to refer to Yahweh, the Father.  This is the first occurrence
in scripture of someone identifying Jesus with the Father.

4)    I notice that Thomas was at least brave enough to be out of the room on the first visit.  And that 8 days after seeing Jesus, the other apostles don’t seem to have moved.  What do you make of that?


5)    What else do you notice?  What does it mean?


6)    How has Jesus given you what you need?


1 Peter 1: 3-9

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be*, you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

* "If need be" is omitted from NIV for some reason.

7)    What connections do you notice between what Peter writes and the story of Thomas?

8)    If your life of faith was to be boiled down to three mentions, what would they be?

Bonus: 10 reasons to believe

1. A Public Execution Assured His Death
2. A High Official Secured The Gravesite
3. In Spite Of Guards, The Grave Was Found Empty
4. Many People Claimed To Have Seen Him Alive (1 Corinthians 15:5-8).
5. His Apostles Were Dramatically Changed
6. Witnesses Were Willing To Die For Their Claims
7. Jewish Believers Changed Their Day Of Worship
8. Although It Was Unexpected, It Was Clearly Predicted
9. It Was A Fitting Climax To A Miraculous Life
10. It Fits The Experience Of Those Who Trust Him