July 20-July 26: Jesus' Method of Witnessing

SUNDAY/MONDAY

Who Was Jesus?

1. Who is Jesus according to John 1:1?

• John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

ANSWER: Jesus is the Word

2. What does it mean “in the beginning was the Word”? When was that “beginning”?

• John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
• Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
• Prov. 8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
• Heb. 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
• 1John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life
• 2Th. 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
• Eph. 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love

WORD LINK OBSERVATION: “In the beginning” is connected to the creation of the world. The expression of “in the beginning” is similar to “from the beginning.” The expression “from the beginning” is similar to “before the foundation of the world.”

ANSWER: “In the beginning was the Word” means that the Word existed in the time of creation and before the creation of the world. So basically it means the Word is from the everlasting past. The creation of the world is the beginning of time for us. For us, so to speak, time was not calculated before the creation of the world. Therefore anything before the creation is considered a part of “in the beginning”.

3. What does it mean, “the Word was with God”?

ANSWER: Not only the Word existed “in the beginning” but also the Word was with the Father from the everlasting past.

4. What does it mean, “the Word was God”?

ANSWER: Since the Word was with the Father from the everlasting past, the Word is eternal therefore the Word is God.

5. Why is Jesus called the Word? What is the meaning of word?

DEFINITION OBSERVATION:

• In Greek-logos, log´-os; from 3004; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ): — account, cause, communication, x concerning, doctrine, fame, x have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, x speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.
• WORD is an expression of thoughts and feelings

ANSWER: Jesus is the expression of God’s thoughts and feelings.

6. Observe the following verses to see how Jesus’ role is to express the Father.

• John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
• John 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it
• Col. 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God
• Heb. 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person (Note: glory means character (see: Ex. 33:18, 19) and character means moral quality of thoughts and feelings combined)

7. How was the Word become visibly expressed to men? John 1:14

ANSWER: John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh. Jesus took upon Him a human nature. Therefore the thoughts and feelings of God have been expressed through human nature of Jesus.

8. What was the mission of Jesus when He took human flesh? John 1:14

ANSWER: To dwelt among us

9. Why Jesus wanted to dwell among us? John 1:14

ANSWER: That we may behold His glory

10. Observe how the Word of God can reveal our own thoughts and feelings Heb. 4:12

• Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

CONCLUSION: The eternal Word of God, which is the thoughts and feelings of God, became flesh to dwell with us. So that God thoughts and feelings can reveal our thoughts and feelings. So in this way, we can see who we are and we want to reflect His thoughts and feelings by allowing the Word to dwell in our hearts.

DISCUSSION QUESTION: What do you look for when you read the word of God?

TUESDAY

Jesus Among Sinners and Publicans

1. Read the following verses regarding who gathered around Jesus.

• Matt. 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
• Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

2. How does Jesus treat sinners?

ANSWER:

• Matt. 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
• Is. 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: Is. 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth

EGW Comments:

• To the heart of Christ the very presence of trouble was a call for help. The poor, the sick, the desolate, the outcasts, the discouraged, the desponding, found in Him a compassionate Saviour, a Mighty Healer. "A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory." Christ identifies His interests with those of suffering humanity, and He tells us that whatever we do to relieve a sufferer, we do for Him. . . . {MM 121.1}

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

• Do we know how to discern “bruised reed” and “smoking flax” in others?
• How to identify our interests with those of suffering humanity?
• How do we usually treat those who are considered having a lowlife?

WEDNESDAY

“Woe Unto You”

1. Observe all the “woe unto you” in Matt. 23

• Matt. 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
• Matt. 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
• Matt. 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
• Matt. 23:16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
• Matt. 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
• Matt. 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
• Matt. 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Matt. 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
• Matt. 23:29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, Matt. 23:30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

2. How would you categorize them?

• Matt. 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
  -Shut up the kingdom of heaven
  
  
• Matt. 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
  -Pretence, self-righteous
  
  
• Matt. 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
  -False education based upon the traditions of men more than the word of God
  
  
• Matt. 23:16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
  -Greedy for wealth under the spiritual pretence
  
  
• Matt. 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
  -Extreme exactness without the core spiritual value
  
  
• Matt. 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
  -Full of extortion and excess under the pretence spiritual purity
  
  
• Matt. 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Matt. 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
  -Full of iniquity under the pretence spiritual beauty
  
  
• Matt. 23:29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, Matt. 23:30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
  -Self-righteous

3. What would be the summary of the sins of scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites?

• Matt. 23:3 … for they say, and do not.
• Matt. 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men

ANSWER: In order to maintain their religious authority and power, the leaders had pretence of religious piety but they did not have the inward personal transformation of thoughts and feelings by the grace of God. Therefore the idol of the religious leaders was human authority and power.

4. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Why would people want to stay as hypocrites and not change their ways?
• If you are a hypocrite, what fears do you have that causes you to hide behind your pretencious religious image?
• Is it appropriate for us to point out people’s hypocrisy?
• If yes then when and how? If no then why not?

5. DEEPER STUDY QUESTION: How did the Pharisees “shut up the kingdom of heaven against men” so they cannot enter? Observe the following verses.

• Matt. 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
• Matt. 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
• Matt. 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
• Matt. 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

ANSWER:

• Pharisees taught that it is good enough to obey the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the law. Matt. 5:20
  
• Pharisees taught many religious traditions but fail to teach the will of God. Matt. 7:21
  
• Pharisees did not teach about the importance of having child like spirit. Matt. 18:3
  
• Pharisees put more emphasis on temporal blessings then the spiritual blessings. Matt. 19:23

THURSDAY

“As a Hen Gathered Her Chickens”

1. How did Jesus gather Israelites “as a hen gathered her chickens”? Matt. 23:37

• Matt. 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

ANSWER: Read carefully the same text. When God send prophets and those that are “sent” unto them. “Sent” in Greek means, apostle. Therefore God used prophets and apostles to gather His people under His wings. Read Luke 11:46-49 “…Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute.”

INTERESTING OBSERVATION: When the text says “prophets”, this may be talking about the writings of the Old Testament. When the text says, “sent”/ apostles, this may be talking about the writings and the messages of the New Testament. Therefore God uses Old and New Testament to gather His people today.

2. Why did the religious leaders reject the messages from the prophets and the apostles?

• Eph. 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; Eph. 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel

ANSWER: Perhaps, the Jewish leaders did not accept the idea of Gentiles should be fellow-heirs of the same body and many other cutting truths.

3. What does it mean the religious leaders of Jerusalem refused to be gathered under His wings? Read the following verses.

• Ruth 2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
  
• Psa. 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings
  
• Psa. 36:7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
  
• Psa. 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

ANSWER: The religious leaders refused to trust in God when they rejected the messages of the prophets and the apostles. As a hen shows her love by gathering her chickens under her wings therefore God also shows His love by gathering us under His wings through His messengers. But we often reject the message because we do not enjoy rebuking love of God.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

• Do we show that we do not trust in God when we reject the messages of God’s prophet, such as EGW? If so, then how?
• Is it possible for us to be a hypocrite because we may look religious but continues to refuse God’s messengers? If so, then how?
• Do we feel the love of God when we listen to the rebuking messages from God?
• Do you think true love does not rebuke?
• Do we know how to rebuke with love?

4. Summary Question: How should we preach the Word?

• 2Tim. 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

ANSWER:

• In Season, out of season
• Reprove
• Rebuke
• Exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine

APPLICATION: If you are not hearing messages of reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine then maybe you are not hearing the word of God. And maybe you are just enjoying listening to the “fables” 2 Tim. 4:3,4. Let’s us listen to the Word and preach the Word. Amen.