Signs of Divinity

Lesson 2

Signs of Divinity

(John 6, 9, & 11)

Copr. 2024, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.

Introduction: How many people have you encountered who admit that Jesus was a “great man,” an “important rabbi,” or a “prophet?” They admit He is an important historical figure, but not that He is God. Do Jesus’ miracles prove He is God? Let’s dive in and study some miracle stories in John, stories that point to Jesus’ divinity!

1. The Bread Miracle
   
   1. Read John 6:1-3. Do you think Jesus and His disciples shared the same goal as the approaching crowd? (Read Mark 6:31-32. When we recently studied Mark we found that Jesus and His disciples needed a break from the crowds. They needed to rest so they went to a “desolate place by themselves.”)
   2. Read John 6:4-5. What would you say if you saw this large crowd thundering your way? (I would ask why they will not leave us alone? Why not allow us just a little rest?)
      1. What motivated the crowd to pester Jesus? (Re-read John 6:2. They saw that Jesus was healing people and they wanted healing.)
         
         1. Is that a purely selfish motive?
      2. Is Jesus’ question selfish? (Not at all. He is looking out for them, and not for Himself.)
   3. Read John 6:6. Jesus’ question in John 6:5 is a test for Philip. What kind of test is it? A math test? Baking test? Financing test?
   4. Read John 6:7. What kind of test does Philip decide this is? (A financing test.)
   5. Read John 6:8-9. What kind of test does Andrew think this is? (A practical test of finding food.)
   6. Re-read John 6:6. Jesus thinks to Himself, “I know what I will do.” What hint do we find about the nature of the test? (The test is whether Philip will look to Jesus for a miracle to solve this practical problem. Obviously, Andrew did no better in understanding the test.)
   7. Read John 6:10-13. If you were one of the crowd who came to Jesus to see healing or be healed, what would you conclude? (This seems different. It is even different than turning water into wine. Jesus is creating food - and a vast amount of it.)
      1. Is there significance to the fact that Jesus chose to create wine and bread, which are the essential elements of communion? (Re-read John 6:4. This suggests that they are related.)
      2. Let’s test you. What do you think this miracle proves? (It is a sign that Jesus is God because we know that God created food for His people when they escaped slavery in Egypt.)
   8. Read John 6:14-15. How do the people answer this test? (They conclude that Jesus is the “Prophet” who will overthrow the Romans.)
   1. Read Acts 3:22-23 and John 1:19-21. (The parallel between Moses and Jesus is clear with the creation of food. Moses predicted a “prophet” will arise who is like him. John the Baptist denied that he was the prophet spoken of by Moses. Adam Clarke’s commentary explains that the Jews misunderstood Moses on this point. They thought Moses was speaking about the return of one of the great prophets, likely Jeremiah. But Moses was predicting the Messiah, Jesus.)
   10. Let’s skip down and read John 6:25-27. Now we have Jesus’ answer to the test. What does Jesus say they should conclude from this miracle? (Jesus tells them the answer is not some earthly blessing, like being fed or being free. He is giving eternal life. This miracle is God’s “seal” that He is the “Son of Man.”)
   11. Because of space considerations, we are not going to discuss John 6:28-40. But you should read it for Jesus’ more complete answer.

2. The Sight Miracle
   
   1. Read John 9:1-2. How important is the answer to the disciples’ question? (What would it matter? It certainly would be odd to claim that a man sinned before his birth.)
   2. Read John 9:3. Was the man born blind to give glory to God? (The goal of every human is to give glory to God. I don’t think Jesus is saying the man was born blind to satisfy the goal of giving glory to God. The cause of the blindness is sin in the world. Jesus is simply saying that this tragedy will be used to give God glory.)
   3. Read John 9:6-7. Do you think it is a coincidence that Jesus is healing a blind man, as opposed to any other kind of healing? (Read John 9:4-5. Jesus says that He is the light of the world, and this is part of His “light” work. Darkness is coming.)
   4. Skip down and read John 9:15-17. Is the blind man fulfilling John 9:3?
   5. Read John 9:18-21. Are the parents being asked reasonable questions? (The question about how their son is now able to see is unreasonable.)
   6. Read John 9:22. Are the Jewish leaders looking for honest answers?
   7. Read John 9:24-27 and John 9:30-33. I ask you again, is the man fulfilling John 9:3? (Yes. This is a wonderful and forceful argument about the divinity of Jesus.)
   8. Read John 9:34. What kind of argument is this? (They are attacking the blind man, they are not addressing his logical arguments.)
   1. Read John 9:35-39. Is Jesus claiming to be the Messiah?
3. Lazarus
   
   1. Read John 11:1-3. What do you think Lazarus, Mary, and Martha expected of Jesus? (Jesus was healing others, certainly He would heal someone He loved.)
      1. Why did the sisters write that Jesus “loved” Lazarus? Did He need to be reminded? Were the sisters uncertain whether Jesus would come and this added a little prod?
   2. Read John 11:4-6. Is this an emergency? (Jesus says it will not end in death.)
      1. Why does John write that Jesus loved Lazarus? (Jesus’ actions suggest that He does not. Jesus is delaying His aid.)
   3. Read John 11:7-8. How would the disciples vote on Jesus going to help Lazarus? (They vote, “no.” Jesus’ life is at stake.)
   4. Read John 11:9-10. Has anyone suggested that they take this trip in the night? If not, what is Jesus speaking about? (We all have a certain amount of time given to us. Jesus still has a little bit left to live on earth, and therefore He will continue doing works of light. He will be safe.)
   5. Read John 11:11-16. Are the disciples now convinced it is a good idea to go to Lazarus? (It is now completely ridiculous. Now everyone will die.)
   6. Let’s skip down to John 11:20-21. What does Martha believe is the cause of Lazarus’ death? (Jesus not coming when He was called.)
      1. Why did only Martha meet Jesus? (The implication is that Mary is angry with Jesus.)
   7. Read John 11:22-27. What does Martha say is her belief about Jesus? (He is the Messiah, the Son of God. He has come down from heaven.)
      1. Is it necessary to have Martha’s belief to accept that Jesus would heal Lazarus? (We see that John records this miracle to prove Jesus is divine.)
   8. Read John 11:32-35. Mary also blames Jesus for Lazarus’ death. Why does Jesus weep when these charges have been raised against Him? (The charges are true. However, Jesus loves Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Jesus cries while knowing what He will do.)
   1. Read John 11:36-37. Is this exactly what Martha and Mary are thinking?
   10. Read John 11:38-40 and re-read John 11:4. How important to the glory of God is the fact that Lazarus’ body is decomposing?
   11. Read John 11:41-44. How does Jesus bring Lazarus to life? (By merely speaking. This is the same power that spoke the Creation into existence.)
       1. Let’s re-read John 11:24-25. What is the difference between this and the resurrection on the last day?
   50. Read John 11:45-47. How would you answer the question raised by the Jewish leaders?
   1000. Read John 11:53. Does their answer make any logical sense?
   14. Friend, the correct answer to the question is “Believe Jesus has the power over death.” The same One who created bread, gave sight to the blind, and raised Lazarus to life can give you eternal life so that you can live forever. Why not choose to believe in Him right now?
4. Next week: The Backstory: The Prologue.