The Undercover Adventist

  Themes in the Gospel of John Sabbath School Lesson 3 The Back Story: The Prologue You may use this for presenting and studying the current Sabbath School Lesson. ------------------------------ >   Download the notes for Lesson 3 video here. ----------------------  >  Download  Themes in the Gospel of John (4th  qtr) Sabbath School Lessons Here ------------------------------

  The raising of Lazarus in John 11:38–44 powerfully illustrates Jesus’ declaration that He is “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25) because it demonstrates His authority over death and His ability to grant life. Here's how this miracle reveals Jesus in that role. Lazarus had been dead for four days, which, in the cultural and biological understanding of the time, meant his body had already started to decompose. Despite this, Jesus commands Lazarus to rise from the dead. Only someone with power over life and death could perform such a miracle. Jesus shows that He can restore life even when death seems final. The miracle of Lazarus points forward to Jesus’ own resurrection. Just as Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, He would rise from the dead after His own crucifixion. This miracle serves as a tangible demonstration of the resurrection power Jesus claims to have, validating His future promise of eternal life for believers. By proclaiming, “I am the resurrection and the life...

  It should come as now surprise that none other than Doug Batchelor is hypocrite. Most of these big-name ministry people are. They love quoting The Bible to make their Pharisaical points, pointing out how others should behave, dress, live, and eat. One of his favorite topics is the wearing of jewelry. He talks piously as he points out scriptures like: 1 Timothy 2:9 (NIV) "I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes," Pastor Batchelor then goes on a diatribe of drivel as to how the wearing of gold is sinful and adornment comes from within,  extolling the virtues of plain clothes, no makeup, no jewelry. Like all these wannabe-Pharisees, who think it's their business to make up rules for others to follow, they themselves ignore Biblical teaching in their own lives. Let's quote Jesus on this one: Matthew 23:1-3 (NIV) "Then Jesus said to the crowds and t...

  In John 9:17-34, the Pharisees, the Jewish religious leaders, interrogate the man who had been born blind after Jesus healed him. Here’s a summary of the key questions they asked and how the formerly blind man responded.  "What do you say about him (Jesus), since he opened your eyes?" (v. 17)  The man replied, "He is a prophet."      This was a bold statement, acknowledging Jesus as someone sent by God, which contrasted with the leaders' skepticism.  "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" (v. 19) The parents confirmed, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes."      Fearing the Jewish leaders, the parents avoided answering directly about Jesus, pointing the leaders back to their son. "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" (v. 26) The man grew frustrated with their persistent questioning and r...

  In John 9:1–16, the story of Jesus healing a man born blind offers both a miraculous healing and an opportunity for Jesus to correct misunderstandings about suffering and sin.  The Disciples' Belief When Jesus and His disciples encounter a man who was born blind, the disciples ask: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2) Their question reflects a common belief in that time: that physical ailments or suffering were direct punishments for specific sins. They assumed that the man's blindness was caused by either his own sin (even though he was born blind) or the sin of his parents.  Jesus' Response Jesus rejects this notion. He responds: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3) Jesus corrects their belief by explaining that the man's blindness is not a result of sin but rather an opportunity for God’s glory to be revealed. He shifts the focus from ...

  Someone sometime ago came up with some line that we are not to judge others, but we can be fruit inspectors. Whoever said it first, was 100% wrong. What gives us the right to judge the "fruit" of others? First of all, we have no diea what they may or not may not be doing for the Lord. Since we do not spend every waking hour with them, how are we able to judge what they do? We are not called to tell people what their ministry is. We are not called to tell people that we can do their ministry better. All of us, in our own ways, can have a ministry. We all are important. Everyone should read the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 12. 1 Corinthians 12:21-22 NIV The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”   On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, Our weakest members are part of the body. Their ministry is just as important as others. The Pharisees would be quick to criticize ...

  In John 6:14-15, 26-36, the people witness Jesus perform the miracle of feeding the five thousand, and their response is telling. Let’s break it down.  1. The People's Response to the Miracle (John 6:14-15) After Jesus miraculously fed the multitude with just five loaves of bread and two fish, the crowd immediately recognized the significance of what He had done. They said:  Verse 14: "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  They saw Jesus as the promised prophet foretold in Deuteronomy 18:15, likely with the expectation of a political or military leader who would free them from Roman rule.  Verse 15: "Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself."  Their enthusiasm was focused on earthly concerns—they wanted to make Jesus a king, expecting Him to lead them in rebellion against the Romans, rather than understanding the spiritual significance of His mission.  2. Jesus’...

  In John 6:1–14, the account of Jesus feeding the 5,000 has several parallels to Moses and the deliverance of the Israelites, specifically the miracle of manna in the wilderness. Here are the key parallels Feeding the People Miraculously  Moses: In the wilderness, Moses led the Israelites after their escape from Egypt. The people were in need of food, and God provided manna (bread from heaven) to sustain them (Exodus 16).  Jesus: Similarly, in John 6, Jesus feeds a large crowd (5,000 men, plus women and children) in a remote place. He miraculously multiplies five loaves of bread and two fish, providing abundant food for all present.    Parallel: Both Moses and Jesus acted as intermediaries through whom God provided food miraculously in the wilderness. Jesus' act of providing bread should have reminded the people of God's provision through Moses.  Sign of Divine Provision  Moses: The manna was a divine provision for the people’s physical needs in the ...