Go and Build Christ's Church. Manual 5. Church Festivals (Eng)

GO AND BUILD
CHRIST’S
CHURCH
CHURCH FESTIVALS
by
DOTA
MANUAL 5
FOR GROUP LEADERS
Fourth revised edition 2016
© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Introduction. Church festivals page 1

INTRODUCTION
What is the Church?
On the worldwide level, the Church is the Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23) and all Christians are members of that
one Body (1 Corinthians 12:12). On the local level, the church is the gathering of Christians in a house (Romans 16:5)
or in a city (1 Corinthians 1:2). Only Jesus Christ is the Head of the worldwide Church and of all local churches. Only
he is the Chief-Shepherd and Bishop of the Church (1 Peter 2:24; 5:4). The church is a spiritual house of which each
Christian is a living stone (1 Peter 2:5) or a dwelling in which God himself lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2:21-22). The
Church is the household or family of God (Ephesians 2:19). It has God himself as the loving and caring Father and all
the Christians as one another’s brothers and sisters. The Church is a flock of sheep following a shepherd who walks in
the front (1 Peter 5:2; cf. 2:25; 5:4). The Church is the holy nation of God consisting of people whom God chooses out
of all the nations in the world (1 Peter 2:9-10). The Church is the visible expression of the kingdom or kingship of God
on earth (Matthew 13:36-43; 16:18-19; 21:42-44). The Church is not yet a perfect reality (Matthew 13:24-30), but at
the second coming of Christ, it will be the perfect bride of Christ (Revelation 21:1-2,9-10; cf. 19:7). On the one hand,
the Church is the Militant Church in the world, where Christians stand firm against the onslaughts of its enemies
(Matthew 16:18-19; Ephesians 6:10-18; Revelation 12:10-12). On the other hand, the Church is the Triumphant Church
in heaven where the spirits of the departed Christians already live in the presence of God (Galatians 4:26; Hebrews
11:10,16; 12:22-24; 13:14).
How is Christ’s Church built?
Christ is the Founder, Owner and Builder of the Church. He is building his Church and the gates of hell will not
overcome it (Matthew 16:18)! He leads (exercises authority in) his Church through the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:28), the
Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and the council of elders of the local church (1 Timothy 5:17). Christ first used his apostles
to lay the foundation of the historical churches among the Jews, Samaritans and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:20). Now he uses
ordinary Christians to build his Church. He builds his Church on Christians who have the following goals: to build up
relationships through the one another responsibilities (Ephesians 4:1-2), to keep the unity of the Spirit through sound
Christian doctrine (Ephesians 4:3-6), to maintain diversity within this unity (Ephesians 4:7-11), to equip all Christians
in a great variety of practical services in and outside the Church (Ephesians 4:12) and to disciple all Christians to
maturity (Ephesians 4:13-14). Thus the Church becomes a Community based on truth, love, Christ likeness and
continual growth (Ephesians 4:15-16). The building of Christ’s Church is the task of all Christians today.
The Dota course makes the building of Christ’s Church practical by giving the group leader the following:
1. Each of the four manuals contains 12 lessons that can be completed in three months (one lesson a week)
or in six months (one lesson every 14 days). In the intensive course a manual can be completed in six days.
2. Important Bible references help the students to get to know Christ, his Church and the Bible.
3. The instructions in bold type like “read”, “discover and discuss” help the group leader how to lead the group.
4. The “notes” give a summary of the answer to each question. This serves as a guideline for the group leader.
5. The training course teaches practical methods to build a congregation and to study the gospel of John alone or
in a small group.
6. Each lesson includes a preparation to do at home, which may be handed out to the students at the end of the lesson.
7. The training course is easy to transfer to others. After completion of each course of 12 lessons, those students, who
will teach the training course to another small group of people, may receive a copy of this manual for group leaders.
Our prayer is that the Lord rapidly increase the number of congregations (house churches) in your area
and that a large number of people become obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7). Jesus says, “I build my church and the gates
of hell will not overcome it!” (Matthew 16:18)! May the Lord be glorified! “For from him and through him and to him
are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” (Romans 11:36).
DOTA (The name originated in 1993-05-10 when the course was mainly broadcasted by radio as “Discipleship training On The Air”,
a radio broadcasting and training seminars in China). 1995 (First edition). 2016 (Fourth revised edition).
COPYRIGHT
The 4 manuals for group leaders on building Christ’s Church have copyright. They may only be copied freely for
training purposes. They may not be sold. They may not be changed or translated into other languages without the
written permission from the author.
RECOMMENDATION
The materials are intended to be widely used and to be a blessing to many. But because the purpose of the 4 manuals for
group leaders on building Christ’s Church is to train or equip Christians, it is recommended that only group leaders of
this course make exact copies of the 4 manuals. A student should only receive an exact copy of a lesson or of a manual
after he has completed the lesson or the course of 12 lessons and only when he will teach it to another person or small
group of people.
© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Introduction. Church festivals page 2

CONTENTS
MANUAL 5 FOR GROUP LEADERS
CHURCH FESTIVALS
INTRODUCTION AND COPYRIGHT
TRAINING PROGRAMME I
A weekly programme for 3 months. About 2 hours per week. Keep the group small – maximum 8 people.
Each programme begins with prayer and ends with responsive prayer and a homework assignment for the next meeting.
LESSON 1 Sharing quiet time (Mark 1:1 – 4:20)
Memorisation (1. Christ likeness: 2 Corinthians 3:18)
Teaching (Church festival. Christmas – commemorating the birth of Christ)
Memorisation (2. Purity: 1 Peter 2:11)
Bible study (The Gospel of John. Introduction)
Memorisation (3. Love: Mark 12:30-31)
Teaching (Church festival: Good Friday – commemorating the death of Christ)
Memorisation (4. Faith: Romans 4:20-21)
Bible study (The Gospel of John. John 1:1-18)
LESSON 5 Sharing quiet time (Mark 15:1 –16:20; 1 Corinthians 1)
Memorisation (5. Humility: Philippians 2:3-4)
Teaching (Church festival: Easter – commemorating the resurrection of Christ)
LESSON 6 Sharing quiet time (1 Corinthians 2 – 5)
Memorisation (Review the series E. “Christian character”)
Bible study (The Gospel of John. John 1:19-51)
LESSON 7 Sharing quiet time (1 Corinthians 6 - 8)
Memorisation (1. John 1:14)
Teaching (Church festival: Ascension – commemorating the enthronement of Christ)
Bible study (The Gospel of John. John 2)
Teaching (Church festival: Pentecost – commemorating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit)
LESSON 11 Sharing quiet time (2 Corinthians 4 - 6)
Teaching (Church festival: The Lord’s Day – the day of rest, fellowship and service)
Memorisation (Review the last 5 Bible verses from John)
Supplement 1 Christ. A prophecy about Christ’s death and resurrection in the Old Testament
Supplement 2 Life after death. Theories about life after death
Supplement 3 Church festival. New Year’s festival – the day of review and commitment
Supplements Methods of quiet time, Bible study, meditation and memorisation:
See supplements in manual 1 for group leaders
© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Contents training programmes I+II page 1

TRAINING PROGRAMME II
An intensive programme that may be used once a week for a whole day or during an intensive training seminar of six
days. Divide the whole group into small groups of maximum seven students with a trained group leader.
Suggested programme
09.00 - 09.30 Worship (in large group)
09.30 - 11.00 Teaching (in large group)
Break
11.30 - 13.00 Bible study (in small groups)
Break
16.00 – 17.00 Extra time for completing the teaching or Bible study, for answering questions,
or for an extra teaching (in large group).
Break
17.30 – 17.45 Meditation (in the large group) and memorisation (two by two)
17.45 – 18.30 Bible reading (alone)
18.30 – 19.00 Personal time with God/Quiet time (two by two)
19.00 – 19.45 Sharing quiet time (in large group) and praying (in small groups)
DAY 1 (Lesson 1 + 2) DAY 4 (Lesson 7 + 8)
Prayer Prayer
Teaching (Church festival. Christmas Teaching (Church festival. Ascension
- commemorating the birth of Christ) - commemorating the enthronement of Christ)
Bible study (Introduction to the Gospel of John) Bible study (John 2)
Memorisation (2 Corinthians 3:18 + 1 Peter 2:11) Memorisation (John 1:14 + John 1:16)
Bible reading (Mark 1 – 7) Bible reading (1 Corinthians 6 – 12)
Quiet time (Two by two: Mark 7:1-23) Quiet time (Two by two: 1 Corinthians 9:1-27)
Sharing and praying Sharing and praying
DAY 2 (Lesson 3 + 4) DAY 5 (Lesson 9 + 10)

Prayer Prayer
Teaching (Church festival. Good Friday Teaching (Church festival. Pentecost
- commemorating the death of Christ) - commemorating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit)
Bible study (John 1:1-18) Bible study (John 3)
Memorisation (Mark 12:30-31 + Romans 4:20-21) Memorisation (John 2:25 + John 3:16)
Bible reading (Mark 8 – 14) Bible reading (1 Corinthians 13 – 16; 2 Corinthians 1 – 3)
Quiet time (Two by two: Mark 10:17-31) Quiet time (Two by two: 1 Corinthians 15:58 – 16:24)
Sharing and praying Sharing and praying
DAY 6 (Lesson 11 + 12)

DAY 3 (Lesson 5 + 6) Prayer
Prayer Teaching (Church festival. The Lord’s Day
Teaching (Church festival. Easter - the day of rest, fellowship and service)
- commemorating the resurrection of Christ) Bible study (John 4)
Bible study (John 1:19-51) Memorisation (John 4:24 +
Memorisation (Philippians 2:3-4 + review the last 5 Bible verses from John)
review the series E about “Christian character”) Bible reading (2 Corinthians 4 – 10)
Bible reading (Mark 15 – 16; 1 Corinthians 1 – 5) Quiet time (Two by two: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15)
Quiet time (Two by two: 1 Corinthians 4:1-21) Sharing and praying
Sharing and praying
POSSIBLE EXTRA TEACHINGS

Supplement 1 Christ. A prophecy about Christ’s death and resurrection in the Old Testament
Supplement 2 Life and death. Theories about life after death
Supplement 3 Church festival. New Year’s Day - the day of review and commitment
© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Contents training programmes I+II page 2

CHURCH. LESSON 1
PRAYER
1
Group leader. Pray for God’s guidance through his Spirit, for awareness of his presence and for listening to his voice.
Commit your group and this lesson about church building to the Lord.
SHARING (20 minutes) [QUIET TIMES]

2 MARK 1:1 – 4:20
Take turns and share (or read from your notes) in short what you have learned from one of your quiet times out of the
assigned Bible passages (Mark 1:1 – 4:20).
Listen to the person sharing, take him serious and accept him. Do not discuss what he shares. Take notes.
3 MEMORISATION (5 minutes) [CHRISTIAN CHARACTER]

(1) 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18
The fifth series (E) of memory verses is about “Christian character”. The titles of the five memory verses are:
(1) Christ likeness. 2 Corinthians 3:18.
(2) Purity. 1 Peter 2:11.
(3) Love. Mark 12:30-31.
(4) Faith. Romans 4:20-21.
(5) Humility. Philippians 2:3-4.
Meditate, memorise and review two by two.
(1) Christ likeness: 2 Corinthians 3:18. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being
transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
TEACHING (85 minutes) [CHURCH FESTIVAL]

4 CHRISTMAS: COMMEMORATING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
Introduce. Christmas is the Christian festival in which we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. We will learn what
the Bible teaches about the first coming of Jesus Christ into the world. We will learn how his first coming has been
prophesied in the Old Testament, what happened when he was born on earth, and why his coming into the world is
important for us.
A. THE EARLIEST HUMAN HISTORY DESCRIBES GOD’S FIRST PROMISE TO PEOPLE
The first promise in the Bible is in Genesis 3:15. When there was no sin on earth, the devil appeared to the first people,
Adam and Eve, in the form of a snake. It is clear from the context that a powerful talking demon was hiding behind this
snake. This demon is called “the devil”, which means the slanderer or accuser, “Satan”, which means the opponent and
even “the dragon” (Revelation 12:9). He tempted the first man and woman to disobey God’s command and they fell
from the state of innocence into the state of sin.
God punished them and said that there would be continuous enmity and conflict between the “offspring” of the devil,
that is, the demons and the evil people who take the side of the devil on the one hand, and the “offspring” (literally
“seed”) of the woman, that is, the people who take the side of God on the other hand. In the future, one of the offspring
of the woman would crush the head of the devil, even though the devil would strike his heel and hurt him much. Thus,
God turned the disastrous friendship between the first people and the devil into enmity. God spoke of a continuous
struggle between the offspring of the devil and the offspring of the woman. And God spoke of the final victory!
In the light of the New Testament revelation, we know that this struggle is ultimately a struggle between the devil
(Satan) and Jesus Christ. Jesus would suffer, first through his Old Testament people and later in his own body on the
cross. During the first coming of Jesus Christ, he broke the power of the devil (but not yet ended his power). The New
Testament reveals that God predicts with this prophecy (or promise of salvation) that the final battle will be between
two personalities, namely, between the devil and Jesus Christ, who would be born of a woman. The devil would attack
Jesus and try to kill him, because God had prophesied that he would crush the head of the devil. Although Jesus would
suffer through “the devil striking at his heel” and die on the cross, he would conquer the devil and finally crush him!
Jesus would be victorious!
© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 1. Christmas page 1

B. THE OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY RELATES THE STRUGGLE
THAT ATTEMPTS TO HINDER THE FULFILMENT OF GOD’S PROMISE
1. The conflict raging from Adam to Noah.
(1) Adam and Eve.
God gave the first promise of salvation (Genesis 3:15) to the first man and woman, Adam and Eve. Someone born from
a woman would crush the head of the devil. In the beginning Adam and Eve only had two children, Cain and Abel. Cain
became jealous and angry with Abel and murdered him (Genesis 4:1-8). It seemed as if the devil wanted to destroy the
descendants of the woman, so that God’s promise of salvation would not be fulfilled.
But God gave other children to Adam and Eve, men and women (Genesis 5:1-5). In this way the human race would
continue and God’s promise would be fulfilled! The human race continued and thus God’s promise of salvation through
a person that would be born within the human race was still possible!
(2) Seth and Noah.
The third son of Adam and Eve, Seth, was predestined to become the bearer of God’s promise of salvation (Genesis
5:6-32). After many years, there were many people on earth. The knowledge of the living God, which Adam and Eve
had passed on to their descendants, had become so vague that the human race submitted to a complete corrupt life-style.
“The sons of God” (that is, the descendants of Seth represented the people who continued to follow God) began to
marry “the daughters of Cain” (that is, the descendants of Cain represented the people who only followed other humans)
(read Genesis 6:1-4; cf. Deuteronomy 7:1-4; 2 Corinthians 6:14). The result was that the wickedness on earth became
exceedingly great. “The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become and that every inclination of
the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5). So God decided to destroy the whole human race
with a flood (Genesis 6:5-7,11-13). It seemed as if the devil would succeed to destroy the human race, which carried the
promise of God’s salvation.
But God found one man who was righteous among his contemporaries and lived a blameless life: Noah. “He walked
with God” (Genesis 6:8-9). God saved Noah and his family from destruction in the flood (Genesis 6:14 – 8:22). The
human race continued and in this way God’s promise of salvation through a person that would be born within the
human race was still a possibility!
2. The conflict raging from Noah to Judah.
(1) Abram (2157-1992 B.C.)
In the twenty-first century B.C., the promise of salvation through the coming Saviour was given to Abraham (Abram)
and Sarah (Sarai). God promised that their descendants (literally “seed”) would be as numerous “as the stars in heaven”
and “as the sand of the sea”. And God promised: “In you (literally: in your seed) all peoples (nations) on earth will be
blessed” (Genesis 12:3) (read Genesis 11:26-32; Genesis 15:5; Genesis 22:17-18). Humanly speaking, this promise
could not be fulfilled, because Abraham and Sarah were old, their bodies were as good as dead and Sarah was barren.
Again it seemed as if the devil would triumph.
But a miracle happened. When Abraham was hundred years old, God miraculously gave Abraham and Sarah a son,
called Isaac (Genesis 21:1-7)! The red line of God’s promise of salvation continued!
(2) Isaac (2067-1887 B.C.)
The promise of salvation through the coming Saviour was given to Isaac (Genesis 26:4), but also his wife, Rebecca, was
barren (Genesis 25:21). Again it seemed as if the devil would triumph.
But Isaac prayed to God and God gave them two children, Esau and Jacob.
(3) Jacob (2007-1860 B.C.)
The promise of salvation through the coming Saviour was given to Jacob (Genesis 28:13-14), but his brother Esau
wanted to kill him, because Jacob had tricked him out of his right as the first born (Genesis 27:41). Again it seemed as
if the devil would triumph.
But God himself promised Jacob that he would protect him wherever he went (Genesis 28:15). Jacob continued to live
and the red line of God’s promise of salvation continued!
(4) Judah.
The promise of salvation through the coming Saviour was then given to Judah, the son of Jacob with Leah (Genesis
49:10). The kingship would not depart from the tribe of Judah until the promised Saviour has arrived. He would be the
king and all the nations on earth would one day obey him (cf. Isaiah 45:22-23; Philippians 2:9-11).
3. The conflict raging from Judah to Moses.
(1) The descendants of Jacob and Judah: the Israelites.
Between the fifteenth and eleventh century B.C. the promise of salvation through the coming Saviour was given to
Israel. Because the devil failed to destroy the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, he turned his enmity on the
Israelites, who were the descendants of Jacob (Genesis 32:28). The Israelites were destined to bring forth the Saviour

(John 4:22). During the 430 years the Israelites lived in Egypt (Exodus 12:40), they became a large nation. Eventually
there was a king in Egypt who did not know about Joseph. He oppressed the Israelites and finally ordered the killing of
all the male babies of the Israelites (Exodus 1:7-22). Again it seemed as if the devil would succeed to destroy the
promised “seed of the woman”.
But God protected the Israelites. Would you believe, he raised Moses right inside the palace of the king and later called
him to lead the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt to the Promised land (Exodus 3:1-12).
(2) Moses (1527-1407 B.C.)
During the journey through the desert to the Promised Land, the Israelites constantly slipped back into idolatry. They
made a golden calf and worshipped it (Exodus 32:1-6). God was indignant and wanted to destroy all the Israelites, with
the exception of Moses (Exodus 32:10). Again it seemed as if the devil would triumph.
But Moses interceded with God on behalf of the sinful nation and God heard his prayer (Exodus 32:11-14) to spare the
Israelites. And God heard his prayer. Moses is here a “type” (illustration) of Jesus Christ, the Greatest Intercessor, who
not only prays for his people, but also gave his life for them (Hebrews 7:25-28)!
4. The conflict raging from Moses to David.
David (ruled: 1011-971 B.C.)
During the eleventh century B.C., the promise of salvation through the coming Saviour was given to David. David was
a descendant of the tribe of Judah. Read 1 Chronicles 17:11-14, a messianic prophecy. God promised to establish the
kingship to one of David’s sons (descendants): namely Jesus Christ. This future king would build “a house for God”:
namely, the Church (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:20-22; 1 Peter 2:4-6,9-10). God promised that “the throne of
this King would be established forever” (Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 12:28-30; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16). God
promised that he “would be his Father and he would be God’s Son” (Psalm 2:7; Matthew 3:17; Hebrews 1:5). In
Jeremiah 23:5 we read, “The days are coming when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign
wisely and do what is just and right in the land”. Because God had made these promises to David, the devil tried to
destroy David. Goliath failed and king Saul failed twice to kill him with a spear (1 Samuel 18:10-11). Then David’s
own son, Absalom, together with a large part of the nation of Israel attempted to kill David, but failed (2 Samuel
15:1 – 19:43). Every time it seemed as if the devil was going to succeed.
But the Bible teaches us that no one can thwart God in carrying out his plan. “The LORD Almighty has sworn, Surely,
as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand. For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who
can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” (Isaiah 14:24,27)! David was not killed and God’s
plan of salvation continued!
5. The conflict raging from David to Ahaz.
(1) Joash (ruled: 734-727 B.C.)
Between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C., the promise of salvation of the coming Saviour was carried forward by the
kings of the southern kingdom of Judah (the 2½ tribes). Time and again, the kings of the northern kingdom of Israel
(the 9½ tribes) made war against the southern kingdom of Judah. Athaliah, the wicked daughter of king Ahab (and
granddaughter of Omri)(2 Kings 8:18,26-27) of the northern kingdom and the mother of the deceased king Ahaziah had
all the royal princes of the family of king David assassinated, because she wanted to have all the power for herself. It
seemed as if the devil had finally succeeded to cut the continuous genealogical line of the Messiah and with it the
promise of salvation.
But once more, the sovereign God saw to it that the plan of the devil failed! Jehosheba, the daughter of king Jehoram,
saved Joash, the son of het deceased brother Ahaziah. Joash was kept hidden in the temple for 6 years until he was
crowned king and Athaliah was killed (2 Kings 11:1-21). If Athaliah had succeeded in killing all king David’s
descendants, the devil would have triumphed and the promised Saviour would not have been born.
(2) Ahaz (ruled: 734-727 B.C.)
Later, the northern kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Aram (the Syrians) made a plot to destroy the southern
kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 16:5). It seemed as if the surrounding nations would destroy the people of God (the people
who believed in the LORD) and that the devil would triumph.
But the prophet Isaiah said to king Ahaz, “The LORD himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and
will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:1-14). God promised that, whatever the difficult
circumstances in history might be, no one would be able to prevent the coming Saviour to come into the world. The
coming Saviour would be called “Immanuel”, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:20-23). The Bible teaches that
the unbelieving nations would fail to destroy God’s people. No nation and no political leader can prevent God from
carrying out his plan!

6. The conflict raging from Ahaz to Esther.
Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) (ruled: 486–465 B.C.)
During the fifth century B.C., the Jews (the descendants of the southern kingdom of Judah) lived everywhere in the
Medo-Persian Empire. The wicked Haman hated the Jews and had tricked the mighty Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes)
to sign a royal decree, which ordered the murder of all the Jews in the empire on the 13th of the 12th month, young and
old, women and little children and to plunder their goods (Esther 3:5-10,13). Messengers with letters were sent to every
province of the Empire, ordering the murder of every Jew on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month and to plunder all
their possessions (Esther 3:13-14). All Jews were threatened with annihilation. If Haman would succeed, the devil
would triumph and prevent God’s plan of salvation to become a reality.
But God used the Jewish queen Esther to thwart Haman’s plan. King Ahasuerus let Haman be hanged on gallows and
issued another royal decree that enabled the Jews in his empire to defend themselves against any armed force that might
attack them (Esther 8:7-11). The Purim festival on the 14th and 15th of the 12th month (Adar) commemorates this event.
God prevented this catastrophe and the devil again suffered a defeat!
7. The conflict raging from Esther to Bethlehem.
(1) Revelation 12:4-5: The dragon and the woman.
In this conflict between the devil and Jesus Christ throughout the ages, it was Jesus Christ who triumphed! This conflict
between the devil and Christ throughout the Old Testament period is described symbolically in Revelation 12:1-5. “The
dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was
born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron sceptre. And her child was
snatched up to God and to his throne.” “The woman” is a symbol for God’s people during the Old Testament period.
She would bring forth the promised Saviour (John 4:22). “The dragon” is a symbol for the devil (Revelation 12:9). And
“the child” is a symbol for the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Throughout the history of the Old Testament period, the devil had
attempted to hinder the birth of the promised Saviour!
But God saw to it that his plan of salvation would not fail. And it did not fail. No one and nothing can prevent the
fulfilment of the plan of the sovereign God of the Bible (Isaiah 14:24,27)!
(2) Joseph and Mary.
Finally the promise of salvation of the coming Messiah was given to Mary and Joseph (Luke 1:26-38; Matthew
1:18-25). When the time arrived for the coming Saviour of the world, the Messiah, to be born, “the dragon” made some
final attempts to prevent this from happening. The Roman king Herod (37B.C. -4 A.D.) was afraid when he heard from
the wise men from the East that the Saviour had been born. He was afraid that this Messiah King would threaten his
earthly kingdom. So he ordered the murder of all male babies under the age of two years in Bethlehem and the
surrounding area (Matthew 2:1-18). Again it seemed as if the devil would triumph through this cruel plan of Herod.
But God’s eternal purpose and plan cannot be frustrated and was not frustrated! God sent an angel in the night to tell
Joseph to flee to Egypt with Mary and the child. And they stayed in Egypt until Herod had died.
(3) Jesus Christ.
When the ministry of Jesus Christ on earth began, “the dragon” attempted to subject Jesus Christ to himself by tempting
him severely (Read Matthew 4:1-11). First, the devil tempted Jesus to trust in himself (his own abilities and become
independent from God). He could turn stones into bread. Then the devil tempted Jesus to have a false trust in God by
applying the Bible in the wrong way. He could throw himself down from the roof of the temple so that angels could
catch him. Finally, the devil tried to tempt Jesus to trust in the devil by kneeling down before him and gaining power
over all the kingdoms in the world.
But Jesus Christ overcame every temptation of the devil and unmasked the devil as a liar (John 8:44)!
(4) The promise was fulfilled: Jesus Christ bound the devil.
Jesus Christ came to the world to destroy the devil’s work (1 John 3:8). During his work of salvation on earth, Jesus
cast evil spirits (demons of the devil) out of people and established his kingdom (kingship) (Matthew 12:28-29).
Through his death on the cross Jesus disarmed his demons and triumphed over them (Colossians 2:15). Through his
resurrection from the dead, his ascension and enthronement, Jesus Christ drove the devil out of his arrogant position as
“prince of this (sinful) world” and now reigns triumphantly over all and everyone!
From then onwards, Jesus Christ is drawing people from every nation in the world to himself (John 12:31-32). He is
still doing this! By the preaching of the gospel, people are robbed out of the dominion of the devil and brought into the
kingdom of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:13). In this way, the promise, which God made in Genesis 3:15, came to be
fulfilled. Jesus Christ, “the seed of the woman” also called “the seed of Abraham” (single)(Genesis 22:18; Galatians
3:16) crushed the head of the snake: Jesus Christ conquered the devil! From the first coming of Jesus Christ onwards,
Jesus Christ rules over all the powers and authorities on earth and over every title that that can be given (Matthew
28:18; Ephesians 1:20-22; 1 Peter 3:22)! From the first coming of Jesus Christ onwards, no one can stop him from
drawing people of every nation on earth to himself!

C. THE PROPHETS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHESIED
MUCH ABOUT THE COMING SAVIOUR
The Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Saviour are the oldest prophecies in the world that have been
fulfilled! The prophets prophesied that this coming Saviour would be the Greatest Prophet, the Last High Priest and the
Highest King.
1. At the beginning of human history.
God prophesied that the coming Saviour would be born of a woman and crush the devil’s head (Genesis 3:15; Luke
3:23,37).
2. More than 2100 years B.C.
God promised to Abraham that the coming Saviour would be “the seed of Abraham”, that is a direct descendant of
Abraham and that he would bless all the families on earth (Genesis 12:3; 22:18; Galatians 3:16).
The prophet Moses prophesied that the coming Saviour would be the Greatest Prophet that ever lived. He would speak
the very words of God. And God would demand obedience from all people to him (Deuteronomy 18:15-18; Acts
3:21-25).
David prophesied that the coming Saviour would be the Greatest High Priest that ever lived (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 3:1;
4:14-15; 7:22-28). Although people would despise and crucify him and divide his clothes among themselves (Psalm
22:1-18), he would make atonement for their sins by his own death (Isaiah 53:6,10).
The prophet Micah prophesied that the coming Saviour would be born in the city of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Luke
2:11,15). And the prophet Isaiah prophesied that he would be called “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-23). He
would be crucified for the transgressions of very many people and thereby justify them (Isaiah 53:5,11; Romans 4:25).
The prophet Isaiah also prophesied that the coming Saviour would be the Greatest King that ever lived. He would be
one in nature with the Mighty God and Everlasting Father and there would never come an end to his kingdom of
righteousness (Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 1:30-33)!
The prophet Malachi prophesied that the coming Saviour would have a forerunner, a person who would prepare the way
for his coming (Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6). This was the prophet, John the Baptist (Matthew 11:11-14; 17:10-13).
D. THE EVENTS AROUND THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST
1. The incarnation: the eternal God becomes man in Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ did not begin his existence when he was born in Bethlehem. He existed from the beginning with God and is
himself God. He possessed the divine nature eternally (John 1:1-5,14-18). When the right time came, Jesus Christ took
the human nature without letting go of the divine nature and was born on earth among men. From that time onwards,
Jesus Christ not only had a divine nature, but also a human nature. He was completely God and completely man
(Galatians 4:4; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 2:9). While he was on earth, people saw him grow (Luke 2:52). They
touched him, saw his miracles and sinless life, heard his teachings and experienced his salvation (1 John 1:1-3).
2. The announcement to Zechariah.
Before the birth of Jesus Christ, an angel appeared to Zechariah and announced to him that in his old age, he would get
a son. His son would be the forerunner (herald) of the coming Saviour! Zechariah doubted God’s word and therefore
God gave him a sign - he would not be able to speak until God’s word was fulfilled (Luke 1:5-25,57-79)! After God’s
word was fulfilled, Zechariah sang a song of praise, saying that the coming Saviour would be the One through whom
God would fulfil his covenant with Abraham (Luke 1:72-73)! The covenant of God’s unmerited grace would become a
reality to all the nations in the whole world through Jesus Christ.
3. The announcement to Mary.
Before the birth of Jesus Christ, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced to her that God had highly favoured
her (Luke 1:26-56). She would become the mother of Jesus, but only according to his human nature! She would become
pregnant through the super-natural work of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Holy One to be born would be called “the
Son of God” (Luke 1:35). By his birth, Jesus did not become the Son of God (because he is the Son of God from all
eternity). Rather, by his birth, he took on the human nature without letting go of his divine nature! Jesus was always
God, and now took on the human nature as well. Although this had never happened before in the history of man, the

angel said that “nothing was impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). In contrast to Zechariah, Mary did not doubt God’s
word. Instead, she submitted herself to God’s plan with her life.
4. The announcement to Joseph.
Before the birth of Jesus Christ, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and announced that the woman to whom he was
“betrothed”, would become pregnant by a miracle of God’s Spirit working in her. At that time “betrothal” was regarded
as a legal marriage. Joseph should give him the name “Jesus”, which means “Saviour”. He would save his people all
over the world from their sins. Joseph was a very dedicated husband. He believed God’s word. He did not reject Mary
and he did not have intercourse with her until Jesus was born (Matthew 1:18-25). Joseph and Mary travelled from
Nazareth to Bethlehem in order to be registered under the Roman census. In Bethlehem, the baby Jesus was born (Luke
2:1-7).
5. The announcement to the shepherds.
After the birth of Jesus Christ, an angel appeared to shepherds and announced to them that the coming Saviour had been
born in Bethlehem and that he was the expected Messiah! Then thousands of angels appeared and sang that God was
going to bring peace to all the people on earth on whom God’s favour rested. Everyone who would accept the grace of
God would get peace with God! After the shepherds had visited Jesus, they went around telling everybody about it. On
his eighth day, Jesus was circumcised (Luke 2:8-24), because he was “born under law” (that is, still under the Old
Testament dispensation) (Galatians 4:4).
6. The announcement to Simeon.
Later, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem to the temple in order to present him to the Lord (Leviticus 12:1-8;
Exodus 13:2,12,15). The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s
Messiah. When he saw Jesus in the temple, he prophesied that this baby Jesus would be the light that reveals God to the
Gentiles and that reveals God’s glory to Israel. He prophesied that Jesus was destined to separate the unbelievers from
the believers in Israel. People would be divided - some would speak against Jesus Christ and others would speak for
Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, this Jesus would reveal the secrets of every human heart (Luke 2:25-35).
7. The warning to the wise men from the East.
Meanwhile, Joseph, Mary and Jesus lived in a house in Bethlehem. God used a star to guide some wise men from the
East to the birthplace of the Messiah-King and Saviour of the world. These wise men were probably acquainted with the
prophecies in the Old Testament, which they had heard when the Jews lived in exile in the East (in Babylon and the
Medo-Persian Empire). After they had found Jesus, they gave him gifts, which consisted of their costly treasures and
they worshipped him. They were among the first to bow their knees before Jesus. After God warned them in a dream
not to go back to the wicked king Herod, they returned by another way to the East. King Herod and all Jerusalem with
him were disturbed about the news of the coming Messiah-King. Instead of seeking to worship him, many of them
sought to destroy him (Matthew 2:1-12).
8. The flight to Egypt and the return to Israel.
When the wise men had left an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt, because Herod planned
to kill Jesus. When the wise men from the East failed to report the location of the Messiah-King to the wicked king
Herod, he ordered the killing of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under. Until the
end it seemed as if the devil would win the battle.
But an angel told Joseph to flee to Egypt. After Herod had died an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph to tell him to
return to Israel. Joseph was warned in a dream not to return to Judea. So Joseph, Mary with Jesus withdrew to Nazareth
in Galilee, because they feared the new king, the son of Herod, who lived in Jerusalem close to Bethlehem in Judea.
Thus, Jesus grew up in Nazareth in Galilee (Matthew 2:13-23).
E. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST
1. Jesus Christ was born as a visible human being in order to reveal the invisible God.
John 1:1,14,18 says that God took on the human nature in Jesus Christ and dwelt among people in order to make GOD
known to us. Jesus says, “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Colossians 1:15 says that “Jesus Christ
is the visible image of the invisible God”.
Christmas is the festival of the light of God! Jesus Christ is the radiance of God’s glory (Hebrews 1:3).
2. Jesus Christ was born among people in order to save people who repent from their sins.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life.” And 1 John 4:10 says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent
his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

Christmas is the festival of the love of God who offers eternal life! In his great love, God gave his greatest gift
(Christmas gift): Jesus Christ, to the world. John 3:16 does not teach universal atonement! “The world” in John 3:16 is
“the world in which mankind lives, alienated from the life of God, laden with sin, exposed to judgement and thus in
need of salvation”. It is the world of mankind without distinction with respect to race or nationality. It is also the world
of mankind, which is still the object of God’s care. God gave Jesus Christ to the world to save people. Whoever
believes in Jesus Christ will definitely not perish, but have eternal life!
3. Jesus Christ was born among people in order to judge people who do not repent.
Luke 2:34-35 says, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be
spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.”
Christmas is the festival of the separation of people. Jesus Christ will cause many people to rise and others to fall.
Therefore, all people must make a choice for or against Jesus Christ. According to Matthew 21:42-44 and 1 Peter 2:6-8,
Jesus will become “a cornerstone” to many people. The people, who trust in him, will never be put to shame! To others
he will become “a stumbling-stone”. The people, who disobey him, will certainly stumble and fall. No one can remain
neutral with regard to the first coming of Jesus Christ into the world! No one can remain neutral with respect to the
message about Christmas!
PRAYER (8 minutes) [REACTIONS]

5 PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD
Take turns in the group to pray short to God in response to what you have learned today.
Or divide the group into two’s or three’s and pray to God in response to what you have learned today.
PREPARATION (2 minutes) [ASSIGNMENT]

6 FOR NEXT LESSON
(Group leader. Give the group members this preparation for at home in writing or let them copy it down).
1. Commitment. Be committed to make disciples and build Christ’s Church.
2. Preach, teach or study the teaching of “Christmas - commemorating the birth of Christ” together with another person
or group of people.
3. Personal time with God. Have a quiet time from half a chapter of Mark 4:20 – 7:37 each day.
Make use of the favourite truth method. Make notes.
4. Memorisation. (2) Purity: 1 Peter 2:11. Daily review the last 5 memorised Bible verses.
5. Bible study. Read through the Gospel of John. During the next lesson the Gospel of John will be introduced.
6. Prayer. Pray for someone or something specific this week and see what God is doing (Psalm 5:3).
7. Update your notebook on building Christ’s Church. Include your notes on quiet time, your memorisation notes, your
teaching notes and this preparation.

CHURCH. LESSON 2
PRAYER
1

2 MARK 4:20 – 7:37
MEMORISATION (5 minutes) [CHRISTIAN CHARACTER]

3 (2) 1 PETER 2:11
Review two by two.

(2) Purity: 1 Peter 2:11. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires,
which war against your soul.
4 BIBLE STUDY (85 minutes) [GOSPEL OF JOHN]

INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
All Bible references are from the Gospel of John unless otherwise stated.
Read and discuss this study together.
A. THE WRITER OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
The Author of the Gospel of John is God, the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
The writer is the apostle John.
1. The writer was a Jew.
(1) He is acquainted with the topography of Israel.
For example, he knows places like Cana, Capernaum, and Bethsaida in Galilee, Aenon near Salim (3:23), the village
Ephraim (11:54) and especially Jerusalem. He also knows that “the Bethany on the other side of the Jordan” (1:28) is
different than “the Bethany that is only 15 stadia (two miles or thee kilometres) from Jerusalem” (11:18).
(2) He knows the political conditions in Israel during that time.
For example, he knows that many Jews were living among the heathen nations (11:52); that “the Jews did not associate
with Samaritans” (4:9) and that the Romans ruled over the Jews (11:48). He also knows that the Jewish Sanhedrin had
no political power to condemn someone to death and that the Roman governor had to make such a decision (18:28,31).
(3) He is thoroughly acquainted with the Old Testament.
He knows the Old Testament in both the Hebrew and Greek languages, because he uses both in his quotations.
(4) He refers to Jewish and Samaritan religious beliefs.
For example: “Salvation is from the Jews” (4:22) and “The Samaritans worship on Mount Gerezim and not in
Jerusalem” (4:20).
(5) He knows the Jewish religious festivals.
For example: “The Day of Preparation” (19:31), “the Passover Festival”, “the Feast of Tabernacles” (7:2) and “the Feast
of Dedication” (10:22).
(6) He introduces and explains the Jewish customs in a natural way.
For example, it was a Jewish marriage custom to first offer the choice wine to the guests and later the cheap wine
(2:10). It was the Jewish burial custom to wrap the dead person with strips of linen together with smelling spices in
between, to tie a cloth around his face, to lay him in a cave or tomb and to place a large stone in front of it (11:38,44;
19:40).
© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 2. Introduction of the Gospel of John page 1

2. The writer was an eyewitness.
The writer saw the works of Jesus with his own eyes. He remembers when the events occurred, and many times he even
records the exact hour. Because he writes towards the end of the first century A.D. to Gentiles, he most probably used
the Roman method to calculate time, that is, he started to count from midnight or from noon. For example, he
remembers that he met Jesus for the first time on the day after Jesus was baptised. It was about the tenth hour (1:35,39),
that is, about 10 A.M.
He remembers the exact words Jesus spoke to Simon when he gave him the name “Peter” (1:42), the exact words Jesus
spoke to the other disciples when he called them and the exact words of the many sermons Jesus preached. The Gospel
of John leaves the impression that the writer not only heard the very words of Jesus, but also might have made notes of
what Jesus said shortly after hearing them. He might even have memorised what Jesus said.
3. The writer was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.
The writer has intimate knowledge of the actions, words and feelings of the disciples of Jesus. For example, he knows
that the disciples were surprised to find Jesus talking to a woman (4:27), or that they were terrified when they saw Jesus
walking on the water (6:19).
4. The writer was the apostle John.
(1) The writer never calls himself by name.
He calls himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. He is the disciple who leaned back against Jesus at the Last Supper
(13:23,25). And he writes as a disciple of Jesus who testifies to what he has seen and heard (21:20-24; cf. 1 John 1:3).
(2) The writer was one of the earliest disciples of Jesus.
According to John 1:35-40 and Mark 1:16-20, the earliest disciples of Jesus were Andrew and his brother, Simon Peter,
and John and his brother, James. Peter, James and John formed the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples (Matthew 17:1).
According to Acts 12, James was killed by Herod and according to John 21:18-19, Peter had already died in a way that
glorified God. Therefore the only possible disciple who could have written this Gospel later as an eyewitness and “ear-
witness” of events from the beginning is the apostle John!
(3) The writer was the son of Zebedee.
According to Matthew 27:56, Mark 16:1 and John 19:25, his mother was possibly called Salome and she was probably
a sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus. If this is correct, then Jesus and John were cousins. Before he became a disciple of
Jesus, he was a follower of John the Baptist. According to John 1, he met Jesus on the day after the baptism of Jesus. He
continued to work on the fishing boat of his father until about one year later, when Jesus called him to be a regular
disciple. Then he left his job as a fisherman to become “a fisher of men” (Luke 5:1-11; Matthew 4:19).
(4) John and his brother James appear to have been men with pent-up emotions and probably flying
tempers.
They were called “sons of thunder”’ (Mark 3:17). For example, in Mark 9:38-41 John told a person ministering in
Christ’s name to stop, because he was not one of Jesus’ disciples. When a Samaritan village refused to receive Jesus
and his disciples (by giving them food and lodging), John and James cried out in a burst of emotions “Lord, do you
want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them” (Luke 9:51-56)?
(5) John was one of the most important apostles.
John was very often in the company of Peter, both in the four Gospels as well as in the book of Acts. After the
resurrection of Jesus, John was regarded as one of the three “pillars of the church” together with Peter and James, the
brother of Jesus (Galatians 2:9; Acts 15:6). When the Jews revolted against Rome in A.D. 66, John and all Christians
probably left Jerusalem. According to Church history, John went to live and work in Ephesus.
B. THE DATE AND PLACE OF WRITING THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
1. The place of writing the Gospel of John.
According to the church father Irenaeus, who lived in A.D. 170, the Gospel of John was written while John lived in
Ephesus, a city in modern Turkey.
2. The date of writing the Gospel of John.
(1) The Gospel of John was written before A.D. 110.
Two ancient fragments of the Gospel of John (John 18:31-34 and 37-38) have been dated about 130 A.D. Thus the
Gospel must have been written before 130 A.D. The church father, Irenaeus, wrote, “The church in Ephesus was
founded by Paul, and John remained among them permanently until the times of the Roman Emperor Trajan”. Trajan
reigned from A.D. 98-117. The writings of the church father Ignatius, who was martyred in A.D. 110, shows clearly
that he had read the Gospel of John. Thus the Gospel of John was probably written before the end of the first century.

(2) The Gospel of John was written after A.D. 70.
The apostle John does not repeat what the three other Gospels narrated and he takes for granted that people knew them.
His purpose was to write especially about those things that had not been recorded in the other three Gospels and
especially those things that caused people to believe that Jesus is the Messiah (the Christ, the Anointed One) (John
20:31) and that he is perfectly divine (John 1:1). Thus the Gospel of John must have been written after the other three
Gospels were written, thus, after A.D. 63. Because John does not speak of such famous people as the apostles Peter or
Paul anymore, it seems that they had already died. Also the fall of Jerusalem and its temple is no longer mentioned.
Thus the Gospel of John was probably written some years after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
(3) We conclude that the Gospel of John was written between A.D. 70 and A.D. 98.
The church father Clement of Alexandria, who lived in A.D. 190, wrote that even after his return from Patmos, the
apostle John carried on a very active ministry as chief administrator of the churches (congregation) that were located in
the Ephesus district. We do not know whether the Gospel of John was written before or after his banishment to Patmos
and we also do not know whether it was written before or after the book of Revelation.
C. THE DIVISION OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
The Gospel of John may be divided into two parts, namely, the public and the private ministry of Jesus.
These two parts may be divided into seven sections:
Part one. The public ministry of Jesus.
This consists of John chapters 1 to 12. It may be subdivided into three sections as follows:
Section 1. John chapters 1 to 6.
Before the Feast of Tabernacles (7:2).
The Word, Jesus Christ, reveals himself in ever widening circles of people, but is finally rejected by people.
(1) The inauguration of Jesus Christ. John 1:1 to 2:12.
December A.D. 26 to April A.D. 27 (4 months).
• John 1:1-14 describes the glory of the Word in the beginning before creation, at the creation, after the fall into sin
and at the incarnation, when God took on the human nature in Christ.
• John 1:15 to 2:12 describes the Word, Jesus Christ, revealing himself to John the Baptist and to his early disciples.
(2) The early ministry of Jesus Christ in Judea and Samaria. John 2:13 to 4:42.
April A.D. 27 to December A.D. 27 (8 months).
• John 2:13 to 3:36 describes the Word, Jesus Christ, revealing himself to crowds at Jerusalem including Nicodemus.
• John 4 describes the Word, Jesus Christ, revealing himself to the Samaritans.
(3) The great ministry of Jesus Christ in Galilee. John 4:43 to 6:71.
• John 4:43-54 describes the Word, Jesus Christ, revealing himself to the Galileans.
• John 5 describes the Word, Jesus Christ, rejected in Judea after the miracle at Bethesda.
• John 6 describes the Word, Jesus Christ, rejected in Galilee, after feeding the five thousand.
Section 2. John chapters 7 to 10.
From the Feast of Tabernacles to the Feast of Dedication.
The Word, Jesus Christ, makes his tender appeal to sinners.
(1) The retirement ministry of Jesus Christ. John 7:1-9.
April A.D. 29 to October A.D. 29 (6 months).
• John 7:1-9 describes the Word, Jesus Christ going around in Galilee, but finally going secretly to Judea.
(2) The later ministry of Jesus Christ in Judea. John 7:10 to 10:39.
October A.D. 29 to December A.D. 29 (2 months).
• John 7:10-53 describes the appeal of Jesus Christ to the crowds in the temple. “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to
me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him”
(7:37-38).
• John 8:1-59 describes the appeal of Jesus Christ to the woman caught in adultery. “Go now and leave your life of
sin” (8:11). It also describes his appeal to the crowds. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never
walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (8:12).
• John 9:1-41 describes the appeal of Jesus Christ to the man born blind. “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “You
have now seen him; in fact he is the one speaking to you” (9:35,37).
• John 10:1-39 describes the appeal of Jesus Christ to the Pharisees and disciples. “I am the good shepherd. The good
shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me”
(10:11,27).

Section 3. John 10:40 to 12:50.
After the Feast of Dedication (10:22).
The Word, Jesus Christ, reveals himself clearly as the Messiah by two mighty miracles: the raising of Lazarus and the
triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
The ministry of Jesus Christ in Perea and Bethany. John 10:40 to 11:57.
• John 11:1-44. Jesus makes a journey from the other side of the Jordan (Perea) to Bethany, which is close to
Jerusalem, to raise Lazarus from the dead.
• John 11:45-57 describes a meeting of the Jewish leaders in the Sanhedrin in which they plot to kill Jesus.
• John 12:1-50 describes the anointing of Jesus at Bethany and his triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
Part two. The private ministry of Jesus Christ.
The final ministry of Jesus Christ. John 13 to 21.
April A.D. 30 to May A.D. 30 (7 weeks).
This consists of John chapters 13 to 21. This takes place during the last seven weeks of Jesus on earth, from one week
before his crucifixion (John 12:1) till 6 weeks after his crucifixion (Acts 1:3). It may be subdivided into four sections as
follows:
Section 4. John chapter 13. The Last Supper.
• Jesus gives a new commandment to love one another and illustrates it by washing the feet of his disciples.
Section 5. John chapters 14-17. The discourses and prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper.
• In John chapter 14, Jesus comforts his disciples. He promises the continuous presence of the Holy Spirit and greater
works that the disciples will do.
• In John chapter 15, Jesus exhorts his disciples. He exhorts them to continually remain in him, to let his word
continually remain in them, to pray, to bear much fruit, to love one another, to obey his commandments and to bear
witness to the world.
• In John chapter 16, Jesus makes promises to his disciples. He promises not to leave them alone, but to send the Holy
Spirit and he promises that they will see him again after his resurrection.
• In John chapter 17, Jesus prays. He prays for himself (17:1-5), for his disciples (17:6-19) and for the Church in the
world (17:20-26).
Section 6. John chapter 18 to 19.
The suffering of Jesus.
• In John chapter 18, Jesus is arrested, tried before Annas, denied once by Peter, tried before Caiaphas, denied twice
more by Peter, and finally tried before Pilate.
• In John chapter 19, Jesus is persecuted by the Roman soldiers, rejected by the Jews to be crucified, crucified at the
place of the skull (Golgotha) by Romans, and after his death, buried in a new garden Tomb by Joseph of Arimathea
and Nicodemus.
Section 7. John chapter 20 to 21.
The resurrection and appearances of Jesus.
• In John chapter 20, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, to his disciples without Thomas and a week later to his
disciples including Thomas. In John 20:30-31, the writer states the purpose of the Gospel.
• In John chapter 21, Jesus appears to seven of his disciples at the Sea of Galilee and reinstates the position of Peter as
apostle. Then the writer concludes the Gospel with a united testimony of a group of people with respect to the
reliability of the things recorded in the Gospel of John.
D. THE PURPOSE AND THEME OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
The apostle John clearly states his purpose in John 20:30-31. His purpose is that his readers may continue to believe that
Jesus is “the Messiah” (the promised Anointed One expected throughout the Old Testament) and that he is “the Son of
God” (that is, perfectly divine, cf. Colossians 1:15; 2:9). His goal is moreover that they may have life through Jesus as
the Mediator between God and man.
In contrast to the other three Gospels, some examples of the very distinct accounts in the Gospel of John are the
following:
In chapter 1, Jesus is revealed as God who became man. Jesus Christ revealed the invisible God to man.
In chapter 3, to Nicodemus, he reveals that he is the one-and-only Son of God, through whom God gives eternal life to
those who believe.
In chapter 5, Jesus reveals to the Pharisees that God is his Father and he is equal to God (5:17-18).

In chapter 7, Jesus reveals to the crowds at Jerusalem that he only can quench the spiritual thirst of every man
(7:37-39).
In chapter 8, Jesus reveals to the religious leaders of Israel that he only can set people free from sin and death. He says
that he is without sin and that whoever does not believe in him, will indeed die in their sins (8:46,24).
In chapter 12, Jesus reveals to the crowd that he is the King who would draw everyone in the world to himself
(12:13,32).
In chapter 13, Jesus reveals to John that God the Father had put all things under the reign of Jesus (3:35; 13:3) and that
whoever accepts Jesus, accepts God the Father (13:20).
PRAYER (8 minutes) [INTERCESSION]

5 PRAY FOR OTHERS
Continue to pray in groups of two’s or three’s. Pray with one another for one another and for the people in the world
(Romans 15:30; Colossians 4:12).

6 FOR NEXT LESSON
2. Preach, teach or study the Bible study – Introduction to the Gospel of John - together with another person or
group of people.
3. Personal time with God. Have a quiet time from half a chapter of Mark 8:1 – 11:19.
4. Memorisation. (3) Love: Mark 12:30-31. Daily review the last 5 memorised Bible verses.
Bible study notes and this preparation.

CHURCH. LESSON 3
PRAYER
1

2 MARK 8:1 – 11:19
Listen to the person sharing, take him serious and accept him. Do not discuss what he shares.

3 (3) MARK 12:30-31
Review two by two.

(3) Love: Mark 12:30-31. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and
with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than
these.

4 GOOD FRIDAY: COMMEMORATING THE DEATH OF CHRIST
Introduce. Good Friday is the Christian festival in which we commemorate the death of Jesus Christ. We will learn
what the Bible teaches about the death of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world. We will learn how his death has been
prophesied in the Old Testament, what happened when he died on the cross, and why his death on the cross is important
for us.
In the Jewish calendar, the Friday began at sunset on Thursday and ended at sunset on Friday. Jesus Christ was
betrayed, tried, crucified, died and buried on a Friday. Historically, we Christians call that Friday “good”, because the
death of Jesus Christ as a punishment in our place and the resulting salvation for us is the best thing that could ever have
happened to us! Although that Friday was a very sad day for the disciples, that day has become a day of joy after the
resurrection of Jesus Christ. The death of Jesus Christ was a part of the most important event in human history, namely,
the first coming of Jesus Christ, his life, his death and his resurrection!
Nothing that ever happened in history, nothing that books, magazines or newspapers record, nothing that radio,
television and any other mass media communicate, is more crucial, more influential and more decisive than the death
and the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
A. PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST
1. Numbers 21 is a type (illustration) in the Old Testament of the death of Jesus Christ.
(1) Numbers 21:4-9.
More than 1400 years B.C., we read that the Israelites got impatient and spoke against God and against Moses. They
complained about their hardships, especially about the food they had to eat in the desert. The Lord heard their
complaints and saw the attitude of their hearts and he punished them by sending poisonous snakes among the people.
After Moses had interceded for them, God commanded Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole where
everybody could see it. God said that when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he would not
die, but live. However, if anyone refused to believe God’s word and refused to look at the bronze snake, he would
surely die. God demanded that the sinful people should believe and obey his word.
(2) John 3:14-16.
In the New Testament, Jesus explained the meaning of this illustration (type). The bronze snake, which was lifted on a
pole, was an illustration pointing forward to Jesus Christ, who was lifted on the cross. The death of Jesus Christ on the
cross is the fulfilment (antitype) of that Old Testament prophecy (type). Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ will not
perish, but have eternal life!
© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 3. Good Friday page 1

2. Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 is an important prophecy in the Old Testament concerning the death of
Jesus Christ.
A prophecy about the Christ in the Old Testament. Cf. Manual 5, supplement 1.
3. Other important prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the death of Jesus Christ.
(1) Zechariah 11:12-13.
This is a prophecy in 520 B.C. about the price for the betrayal of Jesus by Judas, what Judas did with the money and
what the money was eventually used for (Matthew 26:14-16; 27:3-10).
(2) Zechariah 12:10.
This is a prophecy about a soldier piercing the side of Jesus with a spear. John saw how Jesus was “pierced” (John
19:34-37).
(3) Psalm 22 and Psalm 69:20-21.
These are prophecies in about 1000 B.C. about the many sufferings of Jesus on the cross. Evil people would crucify him
(Psalm 22:16; John 19:16-18). People would divide his garments and cast lots for his clothing (Psalm 22:18; John
19:23-24). Evil people would surround him and scorn, despise, mock and insult him (Psalm 22:6-7; Matthew 27:39-44).
He would have terrible thirst (Psalm 22:15; John 19:28). And he would have an agonising experience of being forsaken
by God (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46).
(4) Psalm 31:5.
This is a prophecy about the last words of Jesus on the cross (Luke 23:46).
(5) Psalm 40:6-8.
This is a prophecy about the once for all time sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ according to the will of God that
replaced and fulfilled all animal sacrifices, the only sacrifice that enables believers to be sanctified (Hebrews 10:5-10).
B. THE EVENTS AROUND THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST.
1. The prophecies in the New Testament concerning the death of Christ.
(1) Jesus Christ predicted his death (and resurrection) at least three times.
Read Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22-23; Matthew 20:18-19.
At least three times before his death, Jesus Christ prophesied that he would die and be resurrected on the third day. Thus
it is written in the Gospel of mark (44-46 B.C.) that has been written at least 14 years before the Gospel of Luke (60-61
B.C.). He clearly prophesied in specific details what would happen to him, who would do it to him, when this would
happen and where this would happen. He would be betrayed to the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem (the chief priests and
teachers of the law) and they would condemn him to death en deliver him to the Roman authorities. These would mock
him, torture him, spit on him and kill him; but on the third day he would be resurrected. Jesus Christ prophesied that
everything that has been written about him in the Old Testament (his death and resurrection) must be fulfilled, because
it was part of God’s eternal plan of salvation, because it was written in the Old Testament and because it was the only
way to make atonement for sins!
Everything happened exactly as the prophets recorded in the Old Testament and as Jesus Christ himself had prophesied!
No other person that calls himself “a prophet” can equal Jesus Christ! No other “prophet” in human history has ever
made such accurate predictions! Jesus was really killed by means of crucifixion and he was literally raised from the
dead. No other prophet that ever lived in history or that made a claim to be a prophet has been resurrected from the
dead! All the prophets of other religions still lie in their graves. Jesus Christ is the only human being who has ever been
resurrected from the dead. Jesus Christ is the only prophet from the past who is still alive today! These facts prove that
Jesus Christ is not only the Greatest Prophet of all times, but that he is much more than a Prophet!
2. The betrayal, arrest and trials of Jesus.
In the four Gospels we read how Judas for thirty pieces of silver betrayed Jesus. After his prayer in the garden of
Gethsemane, temple guards arrested Jesus.
(1) Three trials before the Jews.
Read John 18:12-14,19-24; Matthew 26:57-68; Luke 22:66-71.
Between midnight and the early morning of Friday, Jesus was first tried by Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Then
Caiaphas, the high priest that year, tried him. Finally the whole Jewish leadership assembled in the Sanhedrin tried him.
(2) Three trials before the Gentiles.
Read Luke 23:1-25; John 18:28-40.
Very early on Friday morning, Pilate, the Roman ruler of Judea, first tried Jesus. Then king Herod, the Roman ruler of
Galilee, tried him. Finally Pilate tried him again and handed him over to be killed.
Jesus was tried, condemned and rejected by both the Jews and the non-Jews. He was condemned and killed by both the
religious and the civil authorities in the world. And yet he was completely innocent!

3. The crucifixion of Jesus.
Read Luke 23:26-56; John 19:16-42.
About 9 a.m. on Friday morning the 15th Nisan (about April), Jesus was crucified on a hill, called “the skull”. The
soldiers hammered long iron nails through his hands and feet (Psalm 22:16; Luke 24:39-40; John 20:25) into the wood
of the cross. Then they hoisted the cross up and dropped its bottom end with a bang into a hole to keep it erect. For
hours he hanged with his full body weight on the nails. Crucifixion was of the most horrific ways of executing someone
and one of the most painful ways of suffering. With every breath he had to pull himself up on the nails in order not to
suffocate. Crucifixion kills a person through pain, exhaustion and slow suffocation. But Jesus Christ did not die due to
his wounds or because he was murdered. He died because he gave his life completely willingly (John 10:18)!
The Roman custom was to write the crime of the crucified person on a board and hammer it to the top of the cross.
Because Pilate could not find any guilt in him, he made up the words: “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews”. The soldiers
divided his clothes by casting lots. The Jews and other people passing by mocked him and challenged him to come
down from the cross and save himself. Two robbers were crucified together with him, one on each side with Jesus in the
middle (John 19:18).
From the cross, Jesus forgave the people who crucified him (Luke 23:34). From 12 noon to 3 p.m. darkness came over
the whole land. Finally he gave his human spirit into the hands of his heavenly Father (Luke 23:46). When Jesus died,
the curtain inside the temple tore from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). This symbolised that with his death, Jesus Christ
terminated the significance of worship in temples (or other religious buildings) and that all the offerings people bring
have lost their meaning! No religious building or religious ceremony can save people from their sins!
4. The various responses to the death of Jesus.
Many people were involved in the events around the death of Jesus Christ on that Friday. Many kinds of people stood
around the cross. But everyone had a different personal response to Christ.
Discover and discuss. How did the different people respond to Jesus and his death?
Notes.
(1) Judas had pretended to be a disciple of Jesus, but betrayed him. Afterwards he had no remorse, that led to
repentance (cf. 2 Corinthians 7:10-11). He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the temple and then hanged himself.
(Matthew 27:3-5; Hebrews 6:5-6)
(2) Peter had boasted that he would follow Jesus everywhere and die with Jesus, but denied him three times!
(John 13:36-38; John 18:15-18,25-27)
(3) John fled out of fear, yet later followed Jesus out of love, but at a distance to the trial (Matthew 26:56;
John 18:15)
(4) Annas, his first judge, conducted a trial without producing honest witnesses, which the Old Testament law
required (Deuteronomy 17:6). He avoided the truth. He was more interested in “the success” of Jesus than in “the
truth”. That is why he questioned Jesus with respect to his disciples and teaching, as if these were unknown. But Jesus
declined to be a witness against himself. Jesus said that he had always spoken openly and everybody had been welcome
to hear his teachings. This stood in stark contrast to the secret plotting of the Sanhedrin (John 18:12-14,19-24)!
(5) Caiaphas, his second judge, conducted a hurried preliminary trial with false witnesses in order to pretend
that he upheld the law. He pretended to be a just judge, but the outcome of the trial had already been determined
beforehand! The chief priests and Pharisees had already decided to kill Jesus! But in order to get him killed, the Jewish
Sanhedrin first had to pronounce him guilty (Matthew 12:14; Luke 22:2; John 11:49-53,57; John 18:14; Matthew 26:57-
68).
(6) The Sanhedrin, his third judge, was composed of the political and religious leaders of Israel and they
conducted a fake official trial. They were envious of the great influence Jesus had on the people. In this official
meeting, they simply ratified the decision which they had already made during their secret plotting (Matthew 12:14).
They camouflaged the real reason why they wanted to kill Jesus (jealousy, Matthew 27:18). In the Sanhedrin they
accused him of blasphemy, but before the Roman governor they would accuse him of political subversion of the nation
(Luke 22:66-71; Luke 23:1-2).
(7) Pilate, his fourth judge, also conducted an unjust trial. Although he was absolutely convinced that Jesus
was innocent, he nevertheless handed him over to be crucified. He acted out of self-interest, because he feared to lose
his leadership position (Matthew 27:11-26; John 18:28 - 19:16).
(8) King Herod, his fifth judge, only wanted to be entertained by Jesus. He was hoping to see Jesus perform
some miracle. When Jesus remained absolutely silent, he could only ridicule and mock Jesus together with his soldiers
(Luke 23:5-12).
(9) The women of Jerusalem, some of who had followed him, mourned and wailed aloud for him. They
pitied him without realising their own peril. They did not realise that Jesus’ future was secure, and that, unless they

repented, their own future and that of their children would not be secure. By and large, the population of Jerusalem
consisted of unregenerate people. God would not permit their impenitent attitude to go unpunished. Therefore, unless
the people of Jerusalem repented, they would perish (Luke 23:27-31).
(10) The soldiers, who crucified him, followed orders and thought that they were just doing their job. They
overstepped their responsibility by mercilessly mocking and maltreating Jesus (Matthew 27:27-31).
(11) The ordinary people, the Jews and other ordinary passersby hurled insults at Jesus (Matthew 27:39).
(12) One robber hurled insults at Jesus, but the other robber confessed his guilt and submitted himself to
Christ (Luke 23:39-43).
(13) The centurion, who was the military commander of the Roman soldiers, was one of the first to confess
Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew 27:54).
(14) Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who were secret followers of Christ, now openly served Jesus.
They took his body down from the cross and buried him in an empty tomb (John 19: 38-42).
(15) Today, every person in the world stands at the cross of Jesus. He died to atone for sins and to
forgive those who believe in him. God demands of everybody a response with regard to who Jesus Christ is and what he
has done.
You and I also stand at the cross of Jesus. What will your response be to Jesus and his death on the cross? Will you flee
away or will you follow Jesus? Will you pretend to be self-righteous or will you confess your sins? Do you fake
ignorance and say you don’t know or do you realise that Jesus died on the cross in your place? Will you continue to
persecute Jesus Christ and Christians or will you turn and openly serve him in love? Will you reject him in unbelief or
will you accept him by faith?
What will your response be?
C. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST FOR US.
1. 1st reason: Jesus Christ died to make atonement for sins.
Read Romans 3:23-25; Romans 8:7-10; John 6:35-44.
The first reason why Christ died for us and in our place was to make atonement for our sins. He justifies us completely
in the eyes of God and reconciles us to God. In his natural state, no human being pleases God, submits to God or comes
to God.
While all people were still in their natural state, God provided the way of salvation. He once for all publicly displayed
(openly presented, offered, designed) (Greek: protithémi) Jesus Christ in his death on the cross (literally: in his blood)
as a sacrifice of atonement 1 that had to be accepted through faith (Romans 3:25). 2 [To demonstrate his justice by
leaving unpunished (Greek: paresis) the sins committed beforehand (Greek: proginomai) in the forbearance of God.]
Jesus Christ died as a punishment for our sins, that is, his sacrifice of atonement on the cross became the means to
justify us in the eyes of God. Jesus Christ turned God’s holy and righteous indignation against our sins away and
reconciled us to God. “Reconciliation” 3 here means restoring the broken relationship with God.
2. 2nd reason: Jesus Christ died to redeem from the curse of the law.
Read Exodus 20:1-2; Galatians 2:21; Galatians 3:10-29.
The second reason why Christ died for us in our place was to redeem us from the curse of the law. He set us free from
God’s righteous requirement (law) against us and from any law and all laws (also those designed by men) as a means of
justification. In the Old Testament “the law” was never a means of justification (salvation). Only after God had saved
his people (out of their slavery in Egypt), he gave them the Ten Commandments as the Law for his saved people. He
gave the Ten Commandments not as a means whereby people could justify themselves, but as the way in which
previously justified people (the believers) should live. The moral law (the Ten Commandments) teaches people how
they must and can live as God’s saved people in the world (Exodus 20:1-2). The moral law is confirmed in the New
Testament (Matthew 22:36-40).
The ceremonial law taught God’s Old Testament people how they had to approach God in worship and in service. The
ceremonial laws (with respect to priests and Levites, the tabernacle and temple, the Sabbath and festivals the
circumcisions and the sacrifices, the purification rites and gifts) were “shadows of the realities” that later came in Jesus
Christ (Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 10:1). Christ has come and has fulfilled, cancelled and abrogated the ceremonial law.
1
Greek: hilastérion, atonement
2
Translation of verse 25-26. “God designed (publicly presented) Jesus Christ by the shedding of his blood to be a wrath-removing sacrifice, effective
through faith.
3
Greek: katallagé, reconciliation

Unfortunately, since the Babylonian Exile the Jewish religious leaders and teachers changed the purpose of the law and
made the law a means to atonement and salvation (cf. Acts 15:1). Since then, many “people of the Book” (e.g. Jews,
Muslims and legalistic Christians), have tried to save themselves (justify themselves) by keeping the law.
However, the Bible warns, “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: Cursed is everyone
who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law. Clearly no one is justified before God by the
law” (Galatians 3:10-11). Jesus Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is
written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’ (Galatians 3:13). We are saved from the curse of the law. We no
longer live “under law”, but “under grace” (Romans 6:14)!
3. 3rd reason: Jesus Christ died to destroy division between Jewish and Gentile believers.
Read Matthew 5:17; Ephesians 2:13-18; Colossians 2:14.
The third reason why Christ died for us and in our place was to destroy the separation (division) between Israel and the
Gentile believers. He formed the two groups of believers into one new people of God (the Church) and in this way
made peace between believers from every nation on earth! Long before the existence of the nation of Israel, God
promised to bless all the nations in the world through “the seed” of Abraham, that is, through the coming Messiah, Jesus
Christ (Genesis 22:18). However, up to the first coming of the Messiah, “the law stood as a barrier, a dividing wall of
hostility between the nation of Israel and the other Gentile nations”. Particularly the ceremonial law with its many
religious regulations about holy people, holy places, holy times and holy actions, distinguished Israel from the Gentile
nations.
God’s special purpose for the nation of Israel was not to turn all the Gentile nations into nations “under the yoke of the
law”, but rather to bring forth the Saviour of all the nations. When the Saviour Jesus Christ came, he (Jesus Christ)
fulfilled all the righteous demands of the law by his life and death (Matthew 5:17). Therefore he cancelled (Colossians
2:14) and abolished (Ephesians 2:14-15) the ceremonial law as a means of approaching and serving God. And he
replaced the civil law of Israel by his teachings about the kingdom of God.
The death of Jesus Christ removed “the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” and reconciled Jewish believers and
Gentile believers with God and with one another. He made the Jewish and Gentile believers:
• into one kingdom of God (Matthew 21:42-44)
• into one flock with one Shepherd (John 10:16)
• into one Body (the Church) (1 Corinthians 12:13)
• into one new man that has access to the Father by one Spirit (Ephesians 2:15-18)
• into one household of God in which God lives (Ephesians 2:19-22)
• and into God’s one chosen people (nation) (1 Peter 2:9-10)!
God made no distinction between us (the believers from the Jews) and them (the believers from the Gentiles) (Acts
15:9)! “Therefore there is no difference between Jew and non-Jew (Gentile) – the same Lord (Jesus Christ) is Lord of
all and richly blesses all who call on him” (Romans 10:12)!
4. 4th reason: Jesus Christ died to give purpose to life.
Read Romans 14:8; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Philippians 2:1-8.
The fourth reason why Christ died for us and in our place was to give to Christians a new purpose in life. Christians no
longer live for themselves, but for the God of the Bible and serve other people unselfishly.
5. 5th reason: Jesus Christ died to remove all fear.
Read Hebrews 2:14-15; Romans 8:31-39.
The fifth reason why Christ died for us and in our place was to remove all fear and give Christians assurance of eternal
salvation in spite of their difficult circumstances. God is for us and nobody and no circumstance can really be against us
(Romans 8:31)! Nothing can separate us from God’s love for us (Romans 8:38-39)! Jesus Christ died to remove the fear
of people, the fear of circumstances, the fear of the devil and the fear of death once for all time from Christians!


6 FOR NEXT LESSON

2. Preach, teach or study the teaching of “Good Friday - commemorating the death of Christ” together with another
person or group of people.
3. Personal time with God. Have a quiet time with God from half a chapter of Mark 11:20 – 14:72 each day.
4. Memorisation. (4) Faith: Romans 4:20-21. Daily review the last 5 memorised Bible verses.
5. Bible study. Prepare the next Bible study at home. John 1:1-18.
Make use of the five steps method of Bible study. Make notes.
7. Update your notebook on building Christ’s Church. Include your notes on quiet time with God, your memorisation
notes, your teaching notes and this preparation.

CHURCH. LESSON 4
PRAYER
1

2 MARK 11:20 – 14:72
Listen to the person sharing, take him serious and accept him. Do not discuss what he shares.

3 (4) ROMANS 4:20-21
Review two by two.

(4) Faith: Romans 4:20-21. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened
in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
BIBLE STUDY (85 minutes) [THE GOSPEL OF JOHN]

4 JOHN 1:1-18
The purpose of studying the Bible together as a group is to grow together in a relationship with Jesus Christ and with
one another. It is to help one another to gain knowledge and understanding of the Bible and to practise its truths.
For this reason it is important that the group members encourage one another to participate in the Bible study
discussion. The input of every group member is important. Nobody should be put off if what he says turns out not to be
completely correct (theologically). The group leader should rather encourage the group members to learn together by
discovering and discussing the truths from the Bible. Every group member should feel that the other group members
listen when he speaks, take him seriously and accept him. The group members are not competing with one another in
Bible knowledge, but love one another by encouraging one another to grow and to share confidently.
The example of the Bible study below is designed to assist the group leader when he prepares the Bible study or to help
the group when they discuss a difficult question. Your Bible study discussion may have different things that the group
members discover and different questions that the group members ask.
Make use of the five steps method of Bible study to study John 1:1-18 together.
Introduce. John chapters 1 to 12 relate the public ministry of Jesus Christ. He reveals himself in ever widening circles,
but in the end he is rejected. John 1:1-14 describes the glory of the Word in the beginning before creation, at the
creation, after the fall into sin and at the incarnation, when God took on the human nature in Christ. John 1:15 to 2:12
describes the Word, Jesus Christ, revealing himself to John the Baptist and to his early disciples.
STEP 1. READ. GOD’S WORD

Read. LET US READ John 1:1-18 together.
Let us take turns to read one verse each until we have completed the reading.
STEP 2. DISCOVER. OBSERVATIONS

Consider. WHICH TRUTH IN THIS PASSAGE IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU?
Or WHICH TRUTH IN THIS PASSAGE TOUCHES YOUR MIND OR HEART?
Record. Discover one or two truths that you understand. Think about them and write your thoughts in your notebook.
Share. (After the group members have had about two minutes to think and write, take turns to share).
Let us take turns to share with one another what each of us has discovered.
(Remember: In every small group, the group members will share different things)
© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 4. John 1:1-18 page 1

1:12-13
Discovery 1. Becoming a child of God.
John 1:12-13 says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the
children of God - children born not of (literally) blood (natural descent), nor of (literally) the will of the flesh (sexual
urge), nor of (literally) the will of a man (free will), but born of God.” These verses teach me how to become a child of
God.
Becoming a child of God is a sovereign act of God. The Bible teaches that everyone who truly believes in Jesus Christ
has been born of God (John 1:12-13). When someone believes, he becomes a child of God (that is, he is born again):
• not by his natural descent (Greek: “blood”), that is, his nationality, for example: from Abraham (cf. John 8:31-59;
Luke 3:8; Galatians 3:11,28).
• not by the physical (sexual) urge of his parents (Greek: “the will of the flesh”)(John 3:6)
• not by his own free will or decision (Greek: “the will of a man”) (Romans 8:7-8; 9:11,16).
• but only by being born of God (Greek: egennéthésan) (aorist, passive) (John 3:3-8; John 17:2; Romans 8:29-30;
Ephesians 1:4-5).
Everyone who hears the gospel can become a child of God. Although Jesus Christ created the world and even came into
the world and lived among the people, many people did not welcome him. But there are also many who welcomed him.
He fulfilled the prophecy spoken in Luke 2:34, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many”, not only
in Israel, but according to 1 Peter 2:6-8 also in the world. “He will be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the
thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.” When John says to all who received him, then he means whosoever of any
nation in the world. Jesus Christ did not only come to save Jews, but also to save people from every nation and
language in the whole world.
Only those people, who believe in Jesus Christ, become children of God. To believe in “the name” of Jesus Christ
means to believe in him as he has revealed himself in the Bible (not as other religions view him). A person, who
believes this truth in his heart, will accept Jesus Christ (the Spirit of Christ) into his heart and life. “To accept” means to
welcome Jesus Christ, to acknowledge and confess openly that he is the Saviour and to take possession of him in his
inner and outer life.
Jesus gives them the ability (right) to become children of God. While Jews liked to call themselves “the children of
Abraham”, believers in Jesus Christ receive the right and the ability from Jesus to actually be “the children of God”!
“To become” children of God does not mean that believers only become children of God in the future. It means that
they already now are children of God through the instantaneous act of God, which is called regeneration in the Bible.
They are justified, forgiven and have eternal life. Their position (state) is that they are children of God.
But it also means that they have started with a process of sanctification, a growth process in which they more and more
look like children of God (2 Corinthians 3:18). The highest realisation of becoming a child of God is called
glorification. Then believers will be in their human spirit (1 John 3:1-3) and in their human body (Philippians 3:20-21)
completely identical in form with Jesus Christ in his human nature.
1:16-17
Discovery 2. The real difference between the law and grace.
John 1:16-17 says, “From the fullness of his grace, we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was
given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”. The law in the Old Testament consisted of the moral
law, the ceremonial (ritual) law and the social (civil) law. There was nothing wrong with this law. God had given it to
Moses (“the message spoken by angels”)(Hebrews 2:2). Its purpose was to prepare the people of God to receive the
Messiah, Jesus Christ. The purpose of the law was to prepare people to receive the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
• On the one hand the law revealed to people what is sin and their lost condition
• On the other hand the law foreshadowed God’s salvation (for example, the animal sacrifices foreshadowed Christ’s
sacrifice of atonement).
But there were two things that the law could not do.
• The law did not supply grace to forgive people their sins or to help them in their lost condition.
• The law also did not supply truth in the sense of reality of the types (illustrations) to which they pointed. For
example, the law did not reveal the real nature of the Old Testament temple, priesthood, sacrifices, etc., which were
illustrations or types of the New Testament realities (cf. Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 10:1)!
Only through his death and resurrection Jesus Christ
• on the one hand earned/acquired and made available “the grace that forgives sin and saves people from their lost
condition”
• and on the other hand by fulfilling the law “revealed the realities or true nature of God’s plan of salvation” (for
example, his sacrifice on the cross fulfilled all the sacrifices in the Old Testament)

STEP 3. QUESTION. EXPLANATIONS
Consider. WHICH QUESTION ABOUT ANYTHING IN THIS PASSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK TO THIS
GROUP?
Let us try to understand all the truths in John 1:1-18 and ask questions about the things we still do not understand.
Record. Formulate your question as clearly as possible. Then write your question in your notebook.
Share. (After the group members have had about two minutes to think and write, let each person first share his
question.)
Discuss. (Then, choose a few of these questions and try to answer them by discussing them together in your group.)
(The following are examples of questions the students might ask and some notes about the discussion of the questions.)
1:1-3
Question 1. Who is “the Word” and what did he do?
Notes.
The Word is an important name for Jesus Christ.
(1) Jesus Christ is called the Word, because he expresses and reveals God visibly.
When we speak, our words give expression to our invisible thoughts. Likewise, Jesus Christ expresses the inner
thoughts and invisible being of God to man. Jesus Christ is the visible expression of the invisible God within the limits
of human words and the creation on earth (Colossians 1:15). Only Jesus Christ was present with God in heaven and
knows his thoughts, plans and words. He reveals to us what we ought to know about God and his plan. “No one knows
the Son except the Father, and no one knows the father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal
him” (Matthew 11:25-27).
(2) Jesus Christ is God.
The Gospel of John emphasises that Christ is nothing less than God (cf. Hebrews 1:3; 1 John 5:20). He existed from
eternity and had the same nature as God the Father (cf. Manual 2, supplement 8. The nature of God and the Son of
God).
(3) Jesus Christ was always with God.
He was never created. In order to stress the fact that Christ himself was never created, verses 1 and 2 use the continuous
tense of the verbs! He existed always from all eternity. He always existed in the closest possible fellowship and
intimacy with God the Father. From always existed as a distinct Person from God the Father.
Thus, the Gospel of John emphasises three truths about Jesus Christ:
• He is genuinely Divine
• he existed from all eternity
• and he existed as a distinct Person from God the Father, with whom he enjoys loving fellowship forever.
(4) Jesus Christ created the universe.
In order to stress the fact that Christ created everything without exception, verse 3 uses the aorist and perfect tense of
the verb. “Through him all things were once and for all time made (aorist tense). Without him nothing was made (aorist
tense) that now exists (perfect tense).” Jesus Christ created the universe with its uncountable stars, the sun, the moon,
the earth (cf. Genesis 1:1) and also man.
1:4-5
Question 2. What does it mean that Jesus is “the life” and “the light”?
Notes.
“In him was life and that life was the light of men” (John 1:4). Jesus Christ is called “the life” because he embodies
God’s attributes (characteristics). He is truly God. And he is called “the light” because he manifests or visibly reveals
these attributes of God. Jesus Christ reveals God visibly to people.
In order to stress the fact that “life” resided in Christ from eternity, verse 4 uses the continuous past tense of the verb:
“was”. The term “life” refers to the fullness of God’s essence, to his glorious attributes (characteristics), like for
example his truth, his almighty power, his presence everywhere, his holiness, his love, his sovereignty, etc. This “life”
is the source of all created life and all spiritual life. It is the ground of both the general revelation and the special
revelation of God to mankind.
When this life is visibly manifested, it is called the “light”! Thus, Jesus Christ is the visible revelation (expression) of
God and God’s attributes (divine characteristics) (cf. John 14:9; Colossians 1:15). Only through Jesus Christ can we
know God and experience God’s love. In the Old Testament Christ shone as Light in the prophecies, the promises, the
illustrations (shadows) that invited people. For example, the Passover Lamb pointed forward to the sacrificial atonement
of Christ that removed the righteous indignation of God against sin. The daily blood sacrifices in the temple pointed
forward to the blood of Christ that is shed on the cross and purifies the sinner from all unrighteousness. “Without the

shedding of blood there is no forgiveness’ (Hebrews 9:22). The serpent lifted up on a pole in the desert pointed forward
to Christ who was lifted up on the cross. Christ not only shone throughout the Old Testament period, but also
throughout the New Testament period. He said, “He who has seen me, has seen the Father”. Every attitude, word and
deed of Jesus Christ reveals the invisible being of God.
1:9
Question 3. In what way does Jesus Christ give light to (illumine) every man?
Notes.
When a person hears the gospel, Christ illumines him. That means that Christ gives him a degree of understanding of
spiritual matters. The person may realise that God really exists. Or he may realise that he is living in darkness (believing
in one or another “god” or living is one or another form of slavery). Or he may realise that God has provided a way of
salvation for everyone who believes.
But such knowledge, understanding or realisation does not necessarily lead to salvation. The context teaches that not
everyone is saved.
• Verse 5 says that not everyone “understood” (caught on) or “grasped” (took possession of) 1 the Light.
• Verse 10 says that not everyone “recognized” or “acknowledged” 2 the Light.
• And verse 11 says that not everyone “welcomed” or “received” 3 the Light.
There are people who hear the gospel, but who do not receive (accept) it, because they prefer to remain living in the
darkness (John 3:19-21). But by God’s sovereign grace there are other people who receive Jesus Christ as their Saviour
and are definitely saved (John 1:12-13; 1 John 5:11-13). The Gospel of John does not teach universal atonement (the
teaching that all people are saved). But is does teach assurance of salvation, namely, that every person once saved,
remains saved!
1:10
Question 4. What is meant by “the world”?
Notes.
The word “the world” (Greek: kosmos) has several different meanings in the Gospel of John”
(1) The world as the orderly-created universe.
(John 1:10a,b; 17:5,24) or the earth (John 21:25).
(2) The world as the theatre of human history.
It is the kingdom of man, the people on earth, humanity (John 1:9, 10c; 3:19; 9:39; 11:27; 12:46; 14:31; 16:21,28;
17:18; 18:36-37).
(3) The world as the general public.
(John 7:4; 14:22).
(4) The world as the realm of lost people.
This world is alienated from the life of God, loaded with sin, exposed to God’s righteous judgement and in need of
salvation (John 1:10c; 3:19). This meaning can pass over into the sixth meaning.
(5) The world as people coming from every nation.
It is the world of lost people (as in John 3:19 with the additional thought) without distinction of race, nationality or
language (John 4:42) and without implying that it refers to every single individual (John 1:29; 3:16; 3:17; 4:42; 6:33,51;
8:12; 9:5; 11:52; 12:32; 1 John 2:2; 4:14-15). John says that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world. Here the world does not and cannot mean “every individual person who has ever lived in the world”, because the
Bible does not teach that all people will be saved. Also in John 3:16 it has this meaning and says that God loves people
from every tribe, nation and language in the world, without implying that it refers to every single individual (Psalm
5:4-6; 11:5; Luke 14:26; Romans 1:18; 9:13; Hebrews 1:9; James 4:4).
(6) The world as the realm of evil.
It is the world of lost people who do evil and are hostile towards God, Christ and Christians (John 7:7; 8:23; 12:31, note
the devil is driven out of his position of power at the first coming of Christ; 14:17,30,31; 15:18; 17:9,14-16,25; 1 John
5:19, note verse 18, the devil cannot harm born again Christians).
(7) The world as all God’s chosen people.
All God’s chosen people from all the nations (John 4:42; 1 John 4:14).
It is therefore important to realise that the word “world” in the Bible has different meanings!
1
Greek: katalambanó
2
Greek: ginoskó
3
Greek: paralambanó

1:14
Question 5. What is the meaning of the word “flesh”?
Notes.
The word “flesh” also has several different meanings in the Gospel of John.
(1) Flesh as a human, a man.
John 1:13-14. John says that “a believer is born of God and not of the flesh”. Here the “flesh” means man, that is,
human nature without any negative ethical value. Regeneration is from beginning to end not the work of man, but the
work of God! Also in John 1:14, John says that “Jesus became flesh”. Also here the “flesh” means man, that is, human
nature without any negative ethical value. Thus, although Jesus was sinless, due to the curse of sin resting upon all
human nature until the ransom had been paid, Jesus was subject to the weak human nature, to weariness, pain, misery
and death.
(2) Flesh as the sinful human nature.
John 3:6. Jesus says “flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit”. Here the “flesh” means the human
nature as the seat and vehicle of sinful desires; it is an expression of man as he is by nature. The apostle Paul often uses
the word flesh in this sense.
(3) Flesh as the vicarious sacrifice of Christ.
John 6:51-56. Jesus says “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you”. Here
Jesus is speaking in a mystical sense of h is vicarious sacrifice on the cross, which a person must “eat”, that is, must
accept by faith, in order to have eternal life.
(4) Flesh as the outward appearance or human standard.
John 8:15. Jesus says that the Pharisees “judge by the flesh”. Here the “flesh” refers to the outward appearance or
human standards.
1:14,18
Question 6. How should we understand the phrase “the only begotten Son of God”?
Notes.
The term “only begotten Son” does not refer to anything akin to the created world. It does not refer to any “beginning”
somewhere in the past. It is a term that describes Christ’s metaphysical, ontological, eternal and trinitarian Sonship. 4
John 3:16 proves that Christ was the only begotten Son of the Father before he took on the human nature. 5 John 1:18 in
the best and oldest manuscripts in Greek says “the only begotten God” (instead of the only begotten Son). Because God
is eternal, the term must refer to Christ’s metaphysical, ontological, eternal and trinitarian Sonship. It means that Christ
is the Son of God from all eternity. From all eternity, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit existed in
this unique relationship to one another.
There exists but “one (unique) God” (Mark 12:29) and but “one (unique) name of God” (Matteüs 28:19). His being is
“Spirit” (John 4:24; Romans 8:9-10) and his being can therefore not be expressed in any mathematical number. 6 And
yet this one (unique) God revealed himself as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
God reveals to us that there is an inner distinction in the Divine Being that far surpasses our human understanding, but
to which we must subject ourselves in obedience. No one in whatever religion knows God except God the Son and the
people to whom God the Son reveals him (Matthew 11:25-27; John 10:15; 17:25-26). That is why it is written: “Jesus
Christ has made him (God) known”. The word “made known” (Greek: exégésató) means “explained”, “interpreted’,
“expounded”.
STEP 4. APPLY. APPLICATIONS

Consider. WHICH TRUTHS IN THIS PASSAGE ARE POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS FOR CHRISTIANS?
Share and record. Let us brainstorm with one another and record a list of possible applications from John 1:1-18.
Consider. WHICH POSSIBLE APPLICATION DOES GOD WANT YOU TO TURN INTO A PERSONAL
APPLICATION?
Record. Write this personal application down in your notebook. Feel free to share your personal application.
(Remember that people in every group will apply different truths or even make different applications of the same truth.
The following is a list of possible applications.)
1. Examples of possible applications from John 1:1-18.

1:12. Merely knowledge of Jesus Christ is not enough. Welcome and receive him into your heart and life.
1:13. A person who welcomes and receives Jesus Christ into his heart and life is born-again.
1:16. Continue to live from the fullness of Christ’s grace.
4
Cf. manual 2, supplement 8. “The nature of God and the Son of God”
5
This can therefore not refer to a birth caused by a human begetting!
6
Because he is omnipresent!

1:17. The real meaning of the Old Testament illustrations (types), like temple, blood sacrifices and Sabbath is only
revealed through Jesus Christ in the New Testament period.
1:18. Jesus Christ makes the invisible God fully known to us.
2. Examples of personal applications from John 1:1-18.
I want to help Christians to make very sure that they have accepted Jesus Christ into their heart and life. John chapter 1
warns that there are many people in this world who love the darkness more than the light. They do not welcome Jesus
Christ. They do not acknowledge Jesus Christ, but disown him. They do not accept Jesus Christ, but reject him.
However, Jesus Christ promises that whosoever accepts him, will that same moment be a child of God and will become
more and more Christ like during the rest of his life.
I want to live my life continually by grace and truth and not by the law (thora, sharia). I see people around me who tend
to think that religion or good works might save them. But John chapter 1 teaches me that the works of the law cannot
forgive me or save me or help me. People get saved and live significant lives after they have welcomed Jesus Christ and
have received him into their heart and life.
STEP 5. PRAY. RESPONSE

LET US TAKE TURNS TO PRAY ABOUT ONE TRUTH THAT GOD HAS TAUGHT US in John 1:1-18.
(Respond in your prayer to what you have learned during this Bible study. Practise to pray only in one or two sentences.
Remember that people in every group will pray about different issues.)

5 PRAY FOR OTHERS

6 FOR NEXT LESSON
2. Preach, teach or study the Bible study of John 1:1-18 together with another person or group of people.
3. Personal time with God. Have a quiet time with God from half a chapter of Mark 15:1 – 16:20 and
1 Corinthians 1 each day. Make use of the favourite truth method. Make notes.
4. Memorisation. (5) Humility: Philippians 2:3-4. Daily review the last 5 memorised Bible verses.

CHURCH. LESSON 5
PRAYER
1

2 MARK 15:1 -16:20 + 1 CORINTHIANS 1
assigned Bible passages (Mark 15:1 – 16:20 and 1 Corinthians 1).

3 (5) PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4
Review two by two.

(5) Humility: Philippians 2:3-4. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others
better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

4 EASTER: COMMEMORATING THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
Introduce. Easter is the Christian festival in which we commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We will learn
what the Bible teaches about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and its effect on Christians. We will learn how his
resurrection has been prophesied, what happened when he was resurrected from the dead, and why his resurrection is
important for you.
A. PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
1. Prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
(1) Job 19:25-27.
The book of Job is probably the oldest book in the Old Testament and dates from about 1900 years B.C. Already at such
an early time in history Job says that he knows about the future resurrection of his Redeemer (Jesus, who is God and
will stand upon the earth) and that he himself will also be resurrected. He says, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and
that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed (that is, after I have died), yet in my
flesh (that is, my body) I will see God!”
(2) Psalm 16:8-11.
About 1000 years B.C., king David said that God would not abandon the soul (or life) of Jesus Christ to the grave, nor
would he let his Holy One (that is, his body) see decay (cf. Acts 2:22-32).
(3) Psalm 118:22-24.
The stone that the builders rejected would become “the capstone”, that is, the most important and most decisive stone
(the foundation stone of a building or the capstone of an arch). The Messiah, whom the Jews would reject and crucify,
would become the resurrected Saviour. He would decide the destiny of every man on earth (cf. Matthew 21:42-44;
1 Peter 2:4-8)!
(4) Isaiah 53:11-12.
See Manual 5, supplement 1. About 700 years B.C., the prophet Isaiah prophesied that the Servant of the LORD (that is,
Jesus Christ) would be resurrected and that he would live forever.
(5) Isaiah 25:8.
Isaiah also prophesied about the resurrection of people. He looked to the second coming of Jesus Christ and prophesied,
“The Lord Almighty will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces ...” At
the second coming, Jesus Christ will resurrect both the righteous and the wicked people. He will judge them on the
basis of their faith or their unbelief. The believers will inherit eternal life, while the unbelievers will inherit eternal
punishment (Matthew 25:46; Acts 24:15).
© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 5. Easter page 1

2. Prophecies in the New Testament concerning the resurrection of Jesus.
Teach. Several times before he died and was resurrected, Jesus Christ predicted that he would die and be resurrected. In
Mark 8:31, 9:31 and 10:33-34, he clearly prophesied that he would be resurrected on the third day after his crucifixion.
Jesus is not speaking about the length of time (after three full days), but about the point of time (on the third day after his
crucifixion). Within three days Jesus would raise the temple of his body (cf. John 2:19, in three days).
B. THE EVENTS AROUND THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
1. The time of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Read Mark 16:1-6. Jesus was resurrected on the third day after his crucifixion. He was resurrected very early in the
morning on Sunday, the 17th Nisan. “Sunday” is called the first day of the week in the Bible. Because Jesus Christ was
resurrected on a Sunday, Christians all over the world celebrate Easter on a Sunday and also gather together every
Sunday during the year to worship the Living God!
While Mark uses the term “after three days” (Greek: meta treis hemeras) (Mark 8:31, 9:31 and 10:33-34), Matthew
shows what he means, namely, “on the third day” (Greek: té trité hemera) (Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22-23; Matthew
20:18-19). In Greek, the word “day” can mean any part of a 24 hour period). Jesus was in the tomb between Friday late
afternoon till Sunday very early in the morning.
2. The women who came to the tomb.
Read Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1, Luke 24:9-10; John 20:1-2.
Discover and discuss. How many women came to the tomb early on Sunday?
Notes.
There is no contradiction between the accounts in the Four Gospels concerning the women who went to the tomb.
Matthew abbreviates and mentions only two women at the tomb: Mary Magdalene and Mary (the mother of Jesus).
Mark mentions three women: Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of Jesus) and Salome. Luke says that there were
more than four women and calls three of them by name: Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of Jesus) and Joanna. John
says that there was more than one woman at the tomb: (because Mary Magdalene said: “We” do not know ...) (John
20:2). Nevertheless John limits his account to Mary Magdalene. There were therefore more than four women at the
tomb, but every evangelist made his own summary of the events.
There is also no contradiction concerning the moment the women walked to the tomb. It was still dark when they set out
to the tomb (John), but the sun had already risen when they arrived at the tomb (Mark).
3. The guard placed at the tomb.
Read Matthew 27:62 - 28:15.
Discover and discuss. How does the guard placed at the tomb enhance the historical proof that Jesus was indeed
resurrected?
Notes.
In order to prevent anybody from stealing the body of Jesus and later saying that Jesus Christ was not resurrected from
the dead, the governor ordered the chief priests and Pharisees to make the tomb secure by putting a seal on the
tombstone and by posting a guard at the entrance. The tomb was sealed with the Imperial Seal of Rome and the stamp
of the governor Pilate. A guard of about ten to thirty Roman soldiers was stationed outside the tomb so that nobody
would dare come near it.
However, during the resurrection of Jesus Christ there was a big earthquake and the soldiers became paralysed with fear
or ran away. Later the Jewish religious leaders bribed these soldiers with a large sum of money to spread the rumour
that the disciples of Jesus had stolen the body at night while the soldiers were sleeping. However, Roman soldiers
would not have dared to neglect their duty and sleep! Nevertheless, the rumour that the body of Jesus was not
resurrected is still spread by some religions today.
4. The stone that closed the entrance of the tomb.
Read Mark 15:46 - 16:4; Matthew 28:2.
Discover and discuss. Who moved the stone that closed the entrance of the tomb?
Notes.
A large round flat stone was rolled before the entrance to the tomb. In order to open the tomb, four strong men were
needed to roll it away upwards in its groove. The disciples of Jesus were not present and the soldiers would not allow
anyone to open the tomb. But in Matthew we read that there was an earthquake and that an angel of the Lord descended
from heaven. This angel rolled the stone away (Greek: apokulió) (aorist tense) (probably by actually lifting it out of its
groove and laying it flat on the ground) before he sat on it. The moving of the stone from the entrance of the tomb
without the help of man was a sign of God’s victory over death! The women did not see this happen. They only saw the

result. The angel removed the stone, not to let Jesus out of the tomb, but to let the women and other people into the
tomb!
5. The angels at the tomb.
Read Matthew 28:2-3; Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4; John 20:11-12.
Discover and discuss. How many angels were at the tomb?
Notes.
Matthew mentions one angel who sat outside on the huge tombstone. His appearance was like lightning and his clothes
were white as snow. Mark, who wrote his Gospel according to the testimony of the apostle Peter, mentions one angel
sitting inside the tomb. Luke, who had spoken to the women (Luke 1:1-4), mentions two angels who suddenly stood
beside the women inside the tomb in clothes that gleamed like lightning. John mentions that later Mary Magdalene
stood outside the tomb crying. When she bent over to look into the tomb, she saw two angels in white seated where
Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. Also here the four Gospels do not contain contradictions,
because Matthew and Mark do not state that there was only one angel. There were at least two angels at the tomb and
they moved around.
6. The linen strips lying in the tomb.
Read John 19:38 - 20:9; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12.
Discover and discuss. How do the strips of linen lying in the tomb without the body of Jesus enhance the historical
proof that Jesus was indeed resurrected?
Notes.
According to the custom of that day, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus wound long strips of linen many times
around the body of Jesus together with sweet smelling spices. Then they laid his body in a new tomb which belonged to
Joseph.
When the women arrived at the tomb, they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. An angel invited them to enter
the tomb and see the place where Jesus had lain. And when they entered, they did not find the body of Jesus. Trembling
and bewildered, they went out and fled from the tomb. First they said nothing to anyone (Mark), but afterwards they
went on their way to tell this to the disciples of Jesus Matthew and Luke).
The Gospel of John says that because Mary Magdalene saw the stone had been removed from the entrance, she assumed
that the body of Jesus had been removed to another place. So she ran to Peter and John to tell them. Matthew and Luke
say that after the other women had seen the place where Jesus had lain and the angel had told them that Jesus had risen
from the dead, they also left to report this to the disciples of Jesus. However, the disciples did not believe the women,
because “their words seemed like nonsense” (Luke 24:11).
Meanwhile Peter and John ran to the tomb. When they entered the tomb, they saw the strips of linen lying there without
the body of Jesus! They also saw the cloth that had been wrapped around the head of Jesus, folded up 1 and lying
separate by itself. It is possible that the strips of linen still formed an empty cocoon, which shows that the linen strips
could not prevent the resurrection of the body of Jesus which passed through the strips of linen! Nevertheless, the fact
that the linen strips were still lying there without the body enhances the proof that no disciple or enemy had taken his
body away! This evidence was enough for Peter and John to believe that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead!
Previously they had not understood Psalm 16:10-11, Psalm 118:22-24 and Isaiah 53:11-12. But due to what they saw in
the empty tomb their faith was awakened and strengthened and they began to understand the significance of the
resurrection! They now understood that Christ’s resurrection was a divine “must” (Luke 9:22,44-45; 18:31-34; 22:37;
24:44)! After Pentecost (the outpouring of the Holy Spirit), all this would become even clearer!
7. The meeting in Galilee.
Read Matthew 28:5-7,16-17; Luke 24:33-36; John 20:17-20.
Discover and discuss. Where did Jesus meet his disciples after his resurrection?
Notes.
The angels said to the women that Jesus was going ahead of his disciples to Galilee. However, it seems that the first
appearances of Jesus were not in Galilee, but in Jerusalem (in Judea)! This is not a contradiction, because Jesus has the
right and the ability to do more than he promised. Moreover, when he later went to Galilee, there is no evidence that he
arrived later than his disciples!
8. The eyewitnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Read Acts 1:3; Mark 16:9-14; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.
Discover and discuss. How do the appearances of Jesus after his resurrection enhance the historical proof that Jesus was
indeed resurrected?
1
Greek: entulissó (entuligmenos, perfect tense). “Wrap up” a body in a linen cloth (Luke 23:53) and “fold up” a facecloth (John 20:7).

Notes.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ did not happen in secret. While natural science depends on empirical testing and proof,
the science of history depends on the testimony of reliable witnesses. There were hundreds and hundreds of
eyewitnesses of the physical resurrection of Jesus! Although modern natural science has no explanation for supernatural
events, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is an undeniable historical fact!
In Acts 1:3 we read that over a period of 40 days Jesus gave his disciples many convincing proofs that he was alive.
When you look at all four Gospels, you will discover that he appeared five times to people on the Sunday he was
resurrected:
(1) Appearance to Mary Magdalene.
When Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb before dawn, she saw that the stone had been lifted up and carried away
(Greek: hairó) (perfect tense, passive) from the tomb. So she ran to Peter and John to report this. Peter and John ran
ahead and Mary followed. After they had seen that the tomb was empty except for the strips of linen, they returned
home.
When Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb the second time, she cried because the body of Jesus Christ had been
removed and she did not know where they had put him. Then Jesus appeared to her and she clasped his feet. Jesus told
her to return to the disciples and tell them that Jesus was returning to his Father in heaven. This was the very first
appearance on Sunday morning (Mark 16:9; John 20:11-18).
(2) Appearance to the other women.
When the other women arrived at the tomb very early in the morning, they found the stone rolled away (Greek:
apokulió)(perfect tense, passive) from the tomb. They entered the tomb, but did not find the body. There were two
angels who spoke to them (Luke 24:1-8). They returned and reported the empty tomb to the disciples. But the disciples
did not believe their account, except for Peter and John who had already run to investigate the tomb. Also these women
returned to the tomb a second time (Luke 24:9-11). Somewhere on the way, Jesus suddenly met them and they too
clasped his feet and worshipped him. Jesus told them to return to the disciples and tell them to go to Galilee where Jesus
would meet them. This was the second appearance on Sunday (Matthew 28:9-10).
(3) Appearance to Peter.
Then Jesus appeared to Peter (Luke 24:34).
(4) Appearance to two of his followers who walked to Emmaus.
This was on Sunday afternoon (Luke 24:13-33).
(5) Appearance to his disciples without Thomas.
On Sunday evening he appeared to all his disciples except Thomas who were meeting behind closed doors (Luke
24:36-43; John 20:19-23).
(6) Appearance to all his disciples including Thomas.
On Sunday one week later, Jesus appeared to all his disciples including Thomas (John 20:24-31).
(7) Other appearances.
Afterwards Jesus appeared to seven disciples at the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1-14), to eleven disciples on a mountain in
Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20), to more than 500 of the brothers at one time, to James (the brother of Jesus, later the leader
of the church in Jerusalem and the writer of the Letter of James), to all the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:6-7), to the
apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 1:4), to the eleven disciples on the mount of Olives at his ascension into heaven (Acts 1:6)
and finally to Paul on his way to Damascus (1 Corinthians 15:8).
The resurrection of Jesus is a well-established historical fact!
C. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FOR CHRISTIANS
Teach. No other prophet that ever lived in history or that made a claim to be “a prophet” has been resurrected from the
dead! All the prophets of other religions and sects in this world still lie in their graves. Jesus Christ is the only human
being who has ever been resurrected from the dead and still lives! This fact proves that Jesus Christ was the Greatest
Prophet of all times! His resurrection proves that God accepted his death as atonement for sins and it proves that God
vindicated all the claims of Jesus Christ! The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the visible manifestation of his exalted state.
It is the conclusive evidence of the validity of all his claims. It is the effective and powerful declaration of the truth of
all his teachings.
1. Jesus Christ was resurrected to show that God the Father had accepted Christ’s completed
work of salvation.
Read Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Corinthians 15:42-46; Romans 1:3-4.
(1) The first result of Christ’s resurrection (and exaltation to the highest place in the universe) is that
it showed that God the Father had accepted the completed work of salvation (the sacrifice of atonement) of
Jesus Christ.

Because Jesus Christ humbled himself and became obedient to death on the cross, God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow!
Romans 1:3-4 says, “Regarding his Son, who as to his human nature (literally: according to his flesh) was a descendant
of David and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from
the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.”
(2) The divine and the human nature of Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:3-4 characterises the lowest and the highest position of Jesus Christ in his human nature. A paraphrase helps
to understand what this passage means, “The gospel of God” is regarding the eternal Son of God (his divine nature) in
the two time-phases of his human nature: namely, before his resurrection and after his resurrection.
(3) The two human natures of Jesus Christ.
Before his resurrection his human nature was characterised by “flesh” (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:50), that is, by complete
human weakness, because he was a descendant of David and born from Mary, Both David and Mary shared the fallen
human nature through Adam’s fall into sin (Job 14:4; Psalm 51:5). At his incarnation Jesus Christ took on the human
nature and entered his creation and human history without laying aside his divine nature. This is called the state of
humiliation of his human nature.
After his resurrection his human nature is characterised by “the Spirit of holiness” (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:44-45), that is,
by complete Holy Spirit power, because he was “unveiled” (Greek: horizó: disclosed, appointed, instated, declared,
destined) “to be the Son of God with power” (that is, the almighty Son of God who does miraculous things). At his
resurrection the human nature of Jesus Christ was glorified, that is, he was destined/appointed to a position of Lordship
over everyone and everything (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20-23; Revelation 19:16)). This is called the state of
exaltation of his human nature.
Romans 1:3-4 does not contrast Christ’s human nature with his divine nature. Jesus Christ does not become the Son of
God – He is from all eternity the Son of God! His human nature does not become his divine nature. The Son of God
possessed the divine nature before his incarnation into the human nature, before his resurrection and also after his
resurrection from the dead.
Romans 1:3-4 contrasts the state of Christ’s human nature after his birth and before his resurrection with the state of his
human nature after his resurrection from the dead. In both the period of time before his resurrection and the period of
time after his resurrection his human nature was not separated from his divine nature.
Romans 1:3-4 distinguishes two things:
• the state of humiliation of his human nature after his birth
• the state of exaltation of his human nature after his resurrection from the dead!
Verse 3 describes what characterised his human nature due to his birth as a human and verse 4 describes what
characterised his human nature due to the resurrection of his human body from the dead.
(4) The birth of Jesus Christ.
The historical event of his birth subjected him (his human nature) to the historical conditions of being a descendant of
David: He was born from the tribe of Judah, born under the Jewish law, born from the virgin Mary. Through his birth he
assumed the complete human nature of fallen man, except sin. His human nature was “weak”, not because he himself
had any sin, but due to the sin of the world, which he took on himself, and due to the fact that he was still going to die
for these sins.
(5) The resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The historical event of his resurrection instated him (his human nature)(or: declared him) in the historical and eternal
condition of being totally conditioned by the Holy Spirit. Through his resurrection he laid aside the weakness of his
human nature and severed every connection with sin and death. Since his resurrection his human nature was
transformed and is characterised by being so gifted (endowed) with the Holy Spirit and so controlled by the Holy Spirit
that he is completely identified with the Holy Spirit! That is why in 2 Corinthians 3:17 Christ is called “the Spirit”.
“The Lord is the Spirit”. And that is why in 1 Corinthians 15:45 Christ is called “the life-giving Spirit”! Likewise in
Romans 1:4, his resurrected human nature is characterised by “the Spirit of holiness”. He was instated in a position of
sovereign omnipotence and invested with triumphant power, which surpassed everything and all (Matthew 28:18) that
could previously be ascribed to him in his incarnate state. After his resurrection, the human nature of Jesus Christ is a
lordship of complete and perfect Holy Spirit power!
Jesus Christ claimed that he is the Saviour of the world and the Lord of the universe. His resurrection from the dead is
the definite proof for the validity of all his claims! And it is the most powerful demonstration of the truth of all his
teachings.

2. Jesus Christ was resurrected to establish the New Testament Church.
Read John 2:18-22; Mark 14:57-58.
(1) The second result of Christ’s resurrection is that Jesus Christ established a new temple with a
new system of worship, namely, the Church with its worship of God the Father in spirit and in
truth.
John 2:18-22 interprets the death of Jesus in terms of the breaking down of the Old Testament temple together with
terminating the Old Testament manner of worship (by means of the ceremonial laws). And it interprets the resurrection
of Jesus in terms of the building up of the New Testament temple (the Church) together with initiating the beginning of
the New Testament manner of worship (in spirit and in truth).
(2) The illustration and its meaning.
What did Jesus mean when he said, “Break down this temple and I will raise it again in three days”? This is an
illustration in the New Testament of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. More than three years before he was
crucified and resurrected, Jesus Christ made this significant prophecy about his death and resurrection. This was
actually a riddle, because the words had two meanings. The word “temple” could have referred to the building of stones
that stood in Jerusalem or to the body of Christ. The words “break down” could have referred to the tearing down of
that building or to the killing of the body of Jesus Christ. And the words “raise up” could have referred to the
reconstruction of that building or to the resurrection of the body of Jesus Christ!
The meaning of the entire illustration is as follows: “By crucifying me, you Jews are breaking down the temple of my
body, nevertheless, in three days I will be resurrected! By murdering me, you are also breaking down your own temple
of stone in Jerusalem together with the entire system of religious practices (the law) connected with it. Nevertheless, as
a result of my resurrection, I will erect a new temple together with a new system of worship, namely, the New
Testament Church together with its worship of God the Father in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).”
(3) The illustration cannot be separated from its fulfilment.
In theological terms: the type cannot be separated from its antitype. “A type” is a person, thing or event, serving as an
illustration. It is a characteristic illustration of a future reality, which is called “the antitype”.
The illustration is Israel’s tabernacle or temple and was regarded as the place in which God dwelt (1 Chronicles 13:6).
The fulfilment is Christ’s body, which in a far superior sense is the dwelling-place of God. “In Christ all the fullness of
the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9; cf. Colossians 1:15; John 1:1,18; 14:9-10). Therefore, if anyone rejects
and destroys the second (Christ’s body), he also pulls down the first (the Jerusalem temple with its ceremonial system
of worship)!
Thus, when Jesus Christ was crucified, the temple building and its entire ceremonial system of worship ceased to have
any more meaning! That is why, when Jesus died on the cross, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to
bottom (Matthew 27:51). That is why after the resurrection of Jesus the Christians preached that the temple building has
no longer any function. “The Most High does not live in houses made by men” (Acts 7:48-49; 17:24-25). In the year 70
A.D., the terrible crime of crucifying Jesus resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem together with its temple building of
stone (Luke 19:41-44). From the resurrection of Jesus onwards, believers from both the Jews and the non-Jews
(Gentiles) have direct access to God the Father through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:18; 3:12). 2
(3) The resurrection of the body of Jesus Christ implies the establishment of the New Testament
Church.
The testimony against Jesus at his trial was false when his words were interpreted as referring to literally breaking down
the temple building and building up a new temple building in Jerusalem. However, the words of Jesus do imply the
establishment of “another temple, which would not be made by man” (Mark 14:58) and which would not consist of
stones. This “other temple” is a reference to the Church, which consists of people as “living stones” In the New
Testament, the Church or the body of believers is clearly taught to be “the temple of God” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17;
2 Corinthians 6:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; 1 Peter 2:4-10)! The Church or New Testament temple is the dwelling in
which God lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2:21-22). And the living stones with which this New Testament temple is built
are the Christians from every nation in the world (1 Peter 2:9-10).
(4) The Jews failed to see that the illustration referred to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Jews in John 2 only saw the literal Jerusalem temple of stone, which took king Herod 46 years to embellish. If they
had studied the Scriptures with a believing heart, they would have known that the temple of Jerusalem, together with its
furniture and its ceremonies, was only an illustration (type, shadow), destined to be fulfilled in something else.
The following Old Testament passages show that the Old Testament temple building, the ark and the sacrifices were
only temporary.
2
That is why dispensational teaching about the building of “a tribulation temple” and “a millennial temple” is completely wrong!

• 1 Kings 8:27 and 2 Chronicles 2:5-6 clearly teach that the living God, who made the universe, does not dwell in a
temple made by humans. That is why both Stephen and Paul teach, “The God who made the world and everything in
it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human
hands , as if he needed anything” (Acts 7:48-49; 17:24-25).
• In Jeremiah 3:16, Jeremiah prophesied that the ark will not be missed, it will not be remembered and another ark
will not be made!
• Hebrews 10:5-7 is a quotation of Psalm 40:6-7 from the Greek Old Testament. It says, “Sacrifice and offering you
did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me. Burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I
said, ‘Here am I, I have come ...desiring to do your will’.” This passage teaches that the death of Jesus Christ
fulfilled all the sacrifices of the Old Testament.
Not only the Jews, but also the disciples of Jesus failed to see that “the temple” of which Jesus was speaking in John 2,
was the temple of his body. Only after Jesus was resurrected on the third day after he was crucified, did they understand
the spiritual meaning of the words of Jesus!
3. Jesus Christ was resurrected to give Christians a new sanctified life.
Read Romans 6:1-7.
(1) The third result of Christ’s resurrection is that Jesus Christ gives to Christians
a new and sanctified life now in the present.
By faith (cf. Romans 5:1; Ephesians 1:13), believers have been spiritually united to the death and resurrection of jesus
Christ. Their unity to Christ’s resurrection in Romans 6:1-7 refers primarily to their resurrected life now on earth and
secondary to the resurrection of their body in the future. The argument of Romans 6:5 is that the intimate spiritual union
with Christ’s death and burial cannot be separated from the intimate spiritual union with his resurrection! The future
tense in the original Greek language does not express future action, but present certainty! It is certain that Christians
have been intimately united to Christ’s death and resurrection and this has resulted on the one hand in “the legal state of
justification” and on the other hand in their moral state of holiness. Likewise, it is certain that Christians have been
intimately united to Christ’s resurrection and this has resulted in “the moral state of holiness”. The legal state of
justification means that believers are delivered from the penalty of sin. They are forgiven, declared righteous and
regarded and treated as righteous. The moral state of holiness means that believers are delivered from the power of sin.
They are no longer slaves of their sinful nature and are able to grow in sanctification.
The death of Jesus Christ as an atonement for sins was necessary for justification and has certainly resulted in the
justification of the believer. Likewise, the resurrection of Jesus Christ in a glorified body was necessary for the
sanctification of the believer and will certainly result in the sanctification of the believer. Christians shall certainly
begin to be conformed to Christ in a holy life here and now on earth. The whole discussion in Romans 6 revolves
around the necessary connection between justification and sanctification.
4. Jesus Christ was resurrected to guarantee the future resurrection of the body.
Read John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15:42-54; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-16.

(1) The fourth result of Christ’s resurrection is that it is the guarantee of the future resurrection of
the body of Christians at his second coming.
The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee that the bodies of Christians will also be resurrected from the dead. At the
second coming of Jesus Christ, all Christians, who have died, will immediately be resurrected from the dead and united
with their eternal human spirit that came with Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:14; Colossians 3:4). And all Christians who are
still alive on earth at the second coming of Christ will be transformed in the blink of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:51-52) in
spirit (1 John 3:1-3) and body (Philippians 3:21). Thus all Christians will be conformed to Jesus Christ in an eternal life
of glorious immortality of spirit (soul) and body in the new heaven and new earth!


6 FOR NEXT LESSON

2. Preach, teach or study the teaching of “Easter - commemorating the resurrection of Christ” together with another
person or group of people.
3. Personal time with God. Have a quiet time from half a chapter of 1 Corinthians 2 - 5 each day.
4. Memorisation. Review series E: “Christian character”. (1) Christ likeness: 2 Corinthians 5:17, (2) Purity:
1 Peter 2:11, (3) Love: Mark 12:30-31, (4) Faith: Romans 4:20-21, (5) Humility: Philippians 2:3-4. Daily review the
last 5 memorised Bible verses.
5. Bible study. Prepare the next Bible study at home. John 1:19-51. Make use of the five steps method of Bible study.
7. Update your notebook on building Christ’s Church. Include your notes on personal time with God, your
memorisation notes, your teaching notes and this preparation.

CHURCH. LESSON 6
PRAYER
1

2 1 CORINTHIANS 2 -5
assigned Bible passages (1 Corinthians 2 - 5).

3 REVIEW SERIES E
Review two by two the 5 Bible verses of series E. “Christian character”.

(1) Christ likeness: 2 Corinthians 3:18. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being
transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
(2) Purity: 1 Peter 2:11. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires,
which war against your soul.
(3) Love: Mark 12:30-31. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and
with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than
these.
(4) Faith: Romans 4:20-21. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened
in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
(5) Humility: Philippians 2:3-4. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others
better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
4 BIBLE STUDY (85 minutes) [THE GOSPEL OF JOHN]

JOHN 1:19-51
Introduce. Make use of the five steps method of Bible study to study John 1:19-51 together. John chapters 1 to 12
relate the public ministry of Jesus Christ. John 1:15 to 2:12 describes how the Word, Jesus Christ, reveals himself to
John the Baptist and to his early disciples.


1:39,46
Discovery 1. Coming and seeing.
When the disciples John and Andrew asked Jesus where he was staying, he did not tell them, but instead invited them
by saying “come and see”. Jesus involved other people into his life and into his home. He gave them an opportunity to
get to know him from close by. He wanted them to see his life. Soon his disciples did the same. When Nathanael
questioned if Jesus could be the Messiah, because he came from an insignificant place like Nazareth, Philip said to him,
“Come and see”! The disciples also wanted other people to know Jesus and to get involved into the life of Jesus.
Therefore they invited them to come to Jesus and see for themselves what he was like.

If Christians want other people to know who Jesus is, what Christians are and how they live, then they must involve
them into their lives and homes. I want to follow the example of the disciples. I too want to involve other people into
my life and into my home so that they may be able to see how a Christian lives and get to know Jesus.
1:42
Discovery 2. How to view people.
When Andrew brought his brother, called Simon, to Jesus, Jesus looked him over and looked into his heart. Jesus knew
that Simon was a big man with a small heart. He knew that Simon could make big promises, but really was afraid to
carry them out. He knew that Simon was an impulsive man. But Jesus is the Great Prophet, who knows not only the
present condition of every person, but also the future. He knew that Simon would be transformed and would become a
stable, uncompromising and persevering person. Jesus looked at Simon, not just at what he was in the present, but also
at what he would become in the future. Jesus predicted how God’s grace would change him and what God would
accomplish in his life. Therefore, Jesus gave him a new name and called him “Peter”, which means the rock. Later, in
Matthew 16:18, Jesus predicted that he would build his Church on Peter, the rock. And in Acts we read how Jesus used
Peter to plant the first church among the Jews, the first church among the Samaritans and the first church among the
Gentiles.
I want to be like Jesus. I want to look at people, not only at what they are in the present, but also at what they can
become in the future through the grace of God. The grace of God can transform every person on earth! I want to inspire
hope in people that God’s grace can change them. Instead of criticising people and looking at all their faults, I want to
encourage people and look at the progress they are making in their Christian growth.

GROUP?
question.)
1:21
Question 1. Was John the Baptist “Elijah” or not?
Notes.
Malachi 4:5-6 says, “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He
will turn the heart of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and
strike the land with a curse.” Based on their own literal interpretation of this prophecy, the Jews expected that the
prophet Elijah himself would return to the earth before the Messiah would come.
However, in Luke 1:17, an angel of the Lord predicted that John the Baptist would be the forerunner of the Lord Jesus
Christ and that he would do his work “in the spirit and power of Elijah”. He would turn the hearts of the fathers to their
children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous in order to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
In Matthew 17:12-13 also Jesus called John the Baptist “Elijah”. Although John the Baptist was not literally Elijah, the
Angel of God (Jesus in the Old Testament) and Jesus himself (in the New Testament) said that John the Baptist had
fulfilled the prophecy in Malachi 4. Elijah was “the type”, “the shadow” and John the Baptist “the antitype”, “the
reality” that fulfilled the shadow. Jesus clearly said that Elijah (that is, John the Baptist) had already come and had
finished his preparatory work, but that the people of Israel had not recognised him and had killed him instead (Luke
9:9).
1:25
Question 2. Why did John the Baptist baptise people with water?
Notes.
(1) The purification by the priests.
John the Baptist clearly said that he was not the Messiah. Also not the literal “Elijah” that was predicted by Malachi
(Malachi 4:5-6). And also not “the Prophet” predicted by Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18-19). The Pharisees asked him
why he then baptised with water, a task which belonged only to the Messiah or his ambassador. They expected that only
the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet would baptise with water. The Pharisees certainly knew that not just anybody was
allowed to administer rites of purification, to which baptism with water belonged (John 3:23-26). In Leviticus 14:1-7,
only the priests were allowed to dip or baptise the life bird in the water mixed with the blood of the sacrificed bird.
Only the priests were allowed to sprinkle an infected person seven times with this water mixed with blood.

(2) The promised purification by the Messiah.
Moreover, in the final analysis, the rite of cleansing people was distinctly a messianic act. In Ezekiel 36:25 the
sovereign LORD said, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your
impurities and from all your idols”. In Ezekiel 37:23 he said, “I will save them from all their sinful backsliding and I
will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.”
(3) The purification by John the Baptist.
If John the Baptist was not the Messiah or the kind of forerunner they expected, why then did he baptise with water? It
is clear that the Pharisees did not understand who John the Baptist was. They did not understand him when he said that
he was the one about whom the prophet Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 40:3, “A voice of one calling: In the desert prepare
the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our GOD.” Hereby John clearly stated that he was
the forerunner of the Messiah and that the Messiah was no one less than the LORD (Hebrew: JaHWeH) (God) himself
(Mark 1:1-3)!
John said to the Jews that this Messiah was already standing right in their midst and that they did not know him! He
warned the Jews that, in their eagerness to expose false messiahs, they were ignoring the true Messiah! In John 1:31,
John the Baptist said that the reason why he baptised with water was to reveal (introduce) the true Messiah to Israel.
Mark 1:4 says that John the Baptist came preaching “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”. He preached
that the Jews should repent from their sins and prepare their hearts to receive the Messiah. He baptised them with water
as a sign of this. The water of baptism symbolised their need of spiritual purification! The baptism of John still
belonged to the Old Testament purification rites, which signified the outward and ceremonious purification of people
(to approach God). Through his preaching and baptism with water, he focused all Israel’s attention on the Lamb of God,
who would take away the sin of the world and who would baptise people with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33). John the
Baptist administered only the sign, while the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would administer the reality: that which the sign
signified, namely, the inward and spiritual purification and rebirth through the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8; John 3:5; Titus
3:4-6)!
1:29
Question 3. Why is Jesus called “the Lamb of God”?
Notes.
Jesus Christ is called “the Lamb of God”, because he fulfilled the various illustrations (types) of lambs in the Old
Testament. In the Old Testament the “lamb” was a shadow (type, illustration) of the future reality, (antitype), namely,
the Messiah.
(1) The Passover lamb.
The Passover lamb was slaughtered on the Passover and its blood was applied to the doorposts of believers in Egypt in
order to turn away God’s wrath and judgement (doom) on the unrepentant people in Egypt. 1 Corinthians 5:7 calls Jesus
Christ: “Our Passover Lamb”. 1 Peter 1:19 says that Christians “have been redeemed from the empty way of life with
the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect”.
(2) The lambs for the daily burnt offerings.
According to Numbers 28:4, the priests had to slaughter a lamb every morning and every evening. According to
Leviticus 1, the lamb had to be without defect, symbolising that Jesus was sinless. The priest had to lay his hand on the
head of the lamb, symbolising that the sin of the person was laid on Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, “the burnt
offering” was accepted on behalf of this person to make atonement for his sin. Likewise, in the New Testament, the
sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross is the only effective way of making atonement for believers (Romans 3:25).
(3) The lamb prophesied in Isaiah 53.
Isaiah 53:6-7,10 says, “We all, like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way. And the Lord has laid
on him the iniquity of us all. He ...was led like a lamb to the slaughter...It was the Lord’s will ...to cause him to suffer ...
and to make his life a guilt offering. He will see his offspring...” Leviticus 5:14-16 teaches that “the guilt offering” was
brought in order to make restitution for what a person had failed to do in regard to things that God required him to do.
The guilt offering made atonement; that is, it took away God’s holy anger against his sin.
Thus we conclude that all three lambs in the Old Testament are illustrations (types), which find their fulfilments
(antitypes) in Jesus Christ in the New Testament!
1:32
Question 4. Why was it necessary for Jesus Christ to receive the Holy Spirit visibly?
Notes.
The writer of the Gospel of John takes for granted that his readers are acquainted with the other three Gospels, which
relate the baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan. At that time, the Holy Spirit came down in the visible form of a dove
and remained on Jesus. Although the Holy Spirit has no body and therefore cannot be seen with the physical eyes, God
allowed Jesus and John the Baptist to see the Holy Spirit under the symbolism of a dove. God chose the form of a dove,

probably because a dove is the symbol of purity, gentleness and peace and these are the characteristics of the Holy Spirit
in an infinite degree. The Holy Spirit is pure and therefore according to Ephesians 4:30, all kinds of sin grieves the Holy
Spirit. The Holy Spirit is gentle, because according to John 16:8,13, he does not force people into the truth, but gently
convinces people of sin, of righteousness and of judgement. The Holy Spirit is peace, because according to Romans
14:17-20, he does not do anything that would cause people to stumble, but only does whatever builds them up. The
Holy Spirit remained visibly on Jesus for some time. The voice of God the Father from heaven clearly said that this was
the Son of God, whom the Father loved and with whom he was very pleased (Matthew 3:16-17). Here we see how “the
Triune God” (the Trinity) manifests himself to us as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
But why was it necessary for Jesus Christ to receive the Holy Spirit? The Son of God according to his divine nature is
the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17), but according to his human nature he received the Spirit. When Jesus received the Holy
Spirit at his baptism with water, he received it in his human nature. By receiving the Holy Spirit in his human nature,
Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit, that is, he was ordained (publicly appointed) by God for his specific task as
Mediator between God and man, and he was equipped with the Holy Spirit to carry out this task. In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus
himself teaches that the prophecy in Isaiah 61:1-2 had been fulfilled in him. It says, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and
recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” And in John 3:34,
John says that God has given the Spirit to Jesus without limit! This means the same as what Paul says in Colossians 2:9,
“In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”
1:47
Question 5. Why does Jesus call Nathanael “an Israelite in whom there is nothing false”?
Notes.
The reference in verse 51 to the stairway with angels descending and ascending shows that Jesus had the patriarch Jacob
in mind when he addressed Nathanael. In Genesis 27:35-36, Isaac says to Esau that his brother Jacob had come
deceitfully and had taken Esau’s blessing as the firstborn from him. Esau said that his brother was rightly named
“Jacob”, which means “deceiver”. However, this use of trickery for selfish advantage not only characterised Jacob. It
also characterised the sons of Jacob, the Jews. In Genesis 34, they deceitfully tricked the men of a city, killed them and
robbed them of all their possessions.
A real and honest Israelite, a Jew without deceitfulness, had become such an exception that when Jesus met Nathanael
he immediately exclaimed, “Here is a true Israelite in whom there is nothing false.” Deceitful trickery is probably a
characteristic of people in all nations. In John 2:24-25 we read that Jesus knew all men and he also knew what was in a
man. Jesus knows me and knows everything that is in me. He knows my thoughts, motives and attitudes. He also knows
when I tend to be deceitful. Therefore it is important that I allow the Holy Spirit to transform my mind, my motives and
my attitudes.
1:51
Question 6. What is the meaning of seeing the angels of God ascending and descending upon the
Son of man?
Notes.
In Genesis 28, Jacob saw in his dream a stairway between earth and heaven and he saw the angels of God ascending and
descending on it. The Lord himself stood at the top of the stairway, blessing Jacob. He promised Jacob saying, “Your
descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the
south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you
wherever you go... I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you” (Genesis 28:14-15).
Now here in the Gospel of John Jesus points out that this illustration (type) finds its fulfilment (antitype) in Jesus
Christ! Jesus Christ himself is the link between heaven and earth! He is the only Mediator between God and man
(1 Timothy 2:5)! By his sacrifice on the cross, he reconciles God with sinners and sinners with God.
Jesus told Nathanael that he would see much greater things. What are these “greater things”? The disciples observed
that Jesus had sovereign and penetrating knowledge of people and that he looked right into the heart of Nathanael. From
now on the disciples would learn more divine attributes of Jesus. They would particularly see his crucifixion and how,
by the cross, heaven is thrown wide-open and God draws near to man and people from all nations in the world are
drawn to God and are reconciled to God (John 8:28; 12:32). And finally they would see Jesus on the final judgement
day, invested with universal power and authority to judge and afterwards to rule on the new heaven and new earth
(Daniel 7:13-14).


APPLICATION?

1:22-23. When asked, give to people a clear understanding of your task or calling in life.
1:29. Point people away from yourself to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Introduce people to Jesus Christ.
1:33. The single “baptism with the Holy Spirit” is best explained in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, John 3:3-8 and
Titus 3:4-8. “The repeated filling with the Holy Spirit” is taught in Ephesians 5:18-21.
1:39. Involve people in the lives and meetings of Christians. Tell them, “Come and see!” (cf. verse 46)
1:42. Bring your family members to Jesus Christ.
1:42. Look at people, not only at what they are, but also at what they could become through Jesus Christ.
1:43. Jesus calls us, not only to admire him, but also to follow him, that is, to become his disciple.
1:44. Tell your friends about Jesus Christ. The prophets in the Old Testament already wrote about him.
1:47. Appreciate people when appreciation is due.
1:49. Think, “What is your confession concerning Jesus Christ?”
Because it is so important “to go and see”, I regularly participate in Christian meetings, so that I will be able to see who
Christians are and what they do. I want to know Jesus better and that is why I have joined a Christian Bible study group
(discipleship group).
Jesus looked at Peter, not only at what he was in the present, but also at what he would become in the future. This
encourages me very much, because Jesus also looks at me what I can become and by his grace will become. That is why
I expect Jesus Christ to change me to become the person he intends me to be.


5 PRAY FOR OTHERS

6 FOR NEXT LESSON
2. Preach, teach or study the Bible study of John 1:19-51 together with another person or group of people.
3. Personal time with God. Have a quiet time from half a chapter of 1 Corinthians 6 – 8 each day.
4. Memorisation. Meditate and memorise the new Bible verse, (1) John 1:14. Daily review the last 5 memorised Bible
verses.

CHURCH. LESSON 7
PRAYER
1

2 1 CORINTHIANS 6 - 8
MEMORISATION (5 minutes) [KEY VERSES IN JOHN]

3 (1) JOHN 1:14
Review two by two.

(1) John 1:14. The Word became flesh (i.e. took on the human nature) and made his dwelling among us. We have seen
his glory, the glory of the One and Only (i.e. the Only begotten) who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

4 ASCENSION: COMMEMORATING THE ENTHRONEMENT OF CHRIST
Introduce. Ascension is the Christian festival in which we commemorate the ascension of Jesus Christ from earth to
heaven and his enthronement in heaven as the King of kings. We will learn what the Bible teaches about the ascension
and enthronement of Jesus Christ and its effect on Christians. We will learn how his ascension and enthronement has
been prophesied; what happened when he ascended and was enthroned; and how his ascension and enthronement
affects everyone.
A. PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST
The Psalms were written about 1000 years B.C. The book of Isaiah was written about 700 B.C. And Jesus prophesied
about his ascension just before his death in 30 A.D., thus more than 40 days before it actually happened.
1. Psalm 24:1-10. Ascended to be the Representative of Christians with God.
This Psalm of David was composed and sung when the ark was moved to its new location in a tent in the city of David
(Zion) (2 Samuel chapter 6). The ark was regarded as the dwelling place of God on earth (1 Chronicles 13:6). At that
occasion David brought thirty thousand chosen men to fetch the previously captured ark from the Philistines. He and the
whole house of Israel celebrated with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines,
sistrums and cymbals. The people rejoiced, shouted and sounded the trumpets. They sang that the earth belongs to the
LORD, including everything in it and all who live in it. They sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf every six paces. And
David leapt and danced before the Lord with all his might.
Then the question is asked: “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord (Zion)? Who may stand in his holy place (the tent on
Zion that preceded the temple on Mount Moria)?” And the answer comes back: “He who has clean hands and a pure
heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol (that is, to any “god” that is not the God of the Bible) or swear by what is
false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication (righteousness) from God his Saviour.” The blessing in the
Bible consists of the spiritual and eternal realities as the kingdom of God (Matthew 25:34), the promised Holy Spirit
(Galatians 3:14) and every spiritual blessing like adoption as God’s sons and daughters, redemption and forgiveness
(Ephesians 1:3-7). The vindication or righteousness consists of salvation. In the context of Psalm 24 such people are
collectively called “the generation of those who seek him”, that is, the kind of people who seek the reality and presence
of the God of the Bible.
But Psalm 24 is a Messianic prophecy pointing forward to the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven! And in the light of
the New Testament revelation, no one may ascend to heaven and stand in God’s holy presence except Jesus Christ! No
one qualifies on the basis of their own merit. No one has clean hands or a pure heart (Romans 3:9-18). No one can
accumulate righteousness by keeping the law (Galatians 3:10-11) or by doing good works (Ephesians 2:8-9). All have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 7. Ascension page 1

But Jesus Christ qualifies! He is completely sinless and perfect in character (Hebrews 4:15; 7:26,28). Jesus Christ may
ascend into heaven and may stand in God’s holy presence as our Representative.
Jesus Christ ascended into heaven to act as the Representative of Christians with God in heaven.
“For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to
appear for us in God’s presence (Hebrews 9:24). Christians celebrate this on ascension.
2. Psalm 68:16-20,24-25,28-30. Ascended to bring his conquered captives to God.
Because God already reigns on the mountains of Israel, especially on Zion, Psalm 68:17 cannot refer to the first time the
ark was brought to Zion. It refers to the times that the ark was taken to accompany the army of Israel in a war and then
returned to its resting place in Zion. The same liturgy as above was used (2 Samuel 11:11; cf. 1 Samuel 4:3-9).
God is depicted as the triumphant Conqueror ascending from the battle to his dwelling on high (the tent on Zion),
followed by uncountable number of chariots, leading captives in his train and receiving gifts (tribute) from the
conquered nations. Then the procession of God is elaborated (literally): “The procession of my God and King in
holiness (the splendour of his divine characteristics) seated on the throne” (verse 24); in front are the singers; after them
the musicians and the maidens playing the tambourines (verse 25). God is invoked to crush the heads of his enemies
(verse 21), that is, to scatter the nations who delight to war against God’s people (verse 30; cf. Isaiah 27:1). These
nations are described as “the beast among the reeds”, probably a reference to the hippopotamus (Hebrew: behemoth)
(Job 40:15-24) or the crocodile (Hebrew: leviathan) (Job 41:1-11) and represented the hostile nations that oppress and
persecute God’s people.
Jesus Christ ascended into heaven as the triumphant Conqueror, carrying captives in his trail.
“This is why it says: When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men. What does ‘he
ascended’ mean except that he also descended to the lowest earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who
ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe” (Ephesians 4:8-10). What is said about God in
the Old Testament (Psalm 68), is fulfilled by Jesus Christ in the New Testament!
3. Isaiah 9:6-7. Ascended to establish, uphold and reign over his kingdom of righteousness.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called:
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it, with justice
and righteousness from that time on and for ever” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
The child that is born on earth will be called “the Mighty God” and has the same divine nature as God “the Everlasting
Father”. While the LORD is called “the Mighty God” in Isaiah 10:20-22, the Lord Jesus Christ is also called “the
Mighty God” in Isaiah 9:6. After his ascension and enthronement in heaven the government of the whole universe is on
his shoulder. Of the increase of his government in every country in the world there is no end. Jesus Christ brings peace
between God and man through his sacrifice of atonement (Romans 5:1-11). He destroyed the enmity between Jews and
non-Jews and established peace between them through the cross (Ephesians 2:14-17). If today there is no peace between
Jew and non-Jew, then it is because they do not want it. (They rebel against God and his plan)! The prophecy says that
Jesus Christ would establish his kingdom and uphold it (by reigning over it) with justice and righteousness from his first
coming unto all eternity!
Jesus Christ ascended into heaven to reign over all countries and the whole universe.
4. John 3:9-13. Ascended to reveal the earthly and heavenly things to man.
Christ’s descent from heaven revealed the heavenly things and is followed by his ascension into heaven.
(1) Jesus Christ is the only one in history that has descended from heaven
and again ascended to heaven!
Jesus Christ claims that no one in human history has ever ascended from the earth into heaven to find out what the
heavenly things are. Only Jesus Christ has dwelt in heaven and has come from heaven. Only he knows the heavenly
things and reveals the heavenly things (John 3:9-13). Jesus Christ descended to the lower earthly regions (literally: the
lowest places on earth) and then ascended higher than all the heavens (higher than the air or atmosphere, higher than the
starry universe, he ascended to the heaven where God dwells) 1 in order to fill the whole universe (Ephesians 4:9-10).
No other prophet that ever lived in history or that made a claim to be “a prophet” has ever come from heaven or
returned to heaven! Enoch and Elijah ascended into heaven, but they never descended from heaven. All the prophets of
other religions and sects in this world still lie dead in their graves. They never descended from heaven and they never
ascended into heaven.
A number of people in history have been raised from the dead, but afterwards died again! Jesus Christ is the only being
with a human nature who has ever been resurrected from the dead and still lives! Jesus Christ is the only One who
descended from heaven and ascended into heaven. This fact proves that Jesus Christ was the Greatest Prophet of all
1
Greek: κατεβη εις τα κατωτερα [µερη] της γης + αναβας υπερανω παντων των ουρανων

times and that he was much more than just the Greatest Prophet! He is not only the Highest High Priest, the Greatest
Prophet and the Most powerful King, but also GOD! He is God who took on the human nature without letting go of his
divine nature. He is God who not only revealed himself in the cloud and fire (Exodus 3:2; 13:21; 19:18), but also in the
historic Person, Jesus Christ (John 1:1,14,18). He is not a human being who pretends to be God, but is God who took on
the human nature without letting go of his divine nature!
(2) Jesus Christ descended from heaven to reveal the earthly things
and the heavenly things to mankind (John 3:12).
In John 3:11 Jesus says that John the Baptist and he himself knew and testified about “the heavenly things”. But the
Jewish religious leaders did not accept their testimony. Jesus could say this, because with his penetrating eyes he could
look right into the heart of these people and see their hesitation to believe what Jesus was teaching (cf. John 2:25).
In John 3:12, Jesus says, “I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I
speak of heavenly things?”
The earthly things.
Jesus had been speaking about things, which are heavenly in character and in origin, but take place on earth. For
example: “the earthly things” are the heavenly things in character and origin, but take place on earth, such as:
• the coming of the Messiah to his own people (Isaiah 53:3; John 1:11)
• the death and resurrection of the Messiah (Isaiah 53:5; John 2:19)
• the proclamation of the good news to the Gentiles everywhere in the world (Isaiah 49:6; John 3:16-17)
• and rebirth (the baptism with the Spirit) which is absolutely necessary (Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 36:25-28; John
1:33; John 3:3-8)
Already in the Old Testament God spoke about these earthly things, “I will cleanse you from all your impurities and
from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone
and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep
my laws” (Ezekiel 36:25-27). Regeneration takes place within the sphere of human experience on earth. Therefore
anybody, who read the Old Testament and reflected on his own natural inability to please God, would have understood
the necessity of being born again!
But although rebirth (regeneration) of people by the Holy Spirit is clearly taught in the Old Testament and by Jesus in
the New Testament, the majority of Jews rejected it. Nicodemus and people like him thought that “these earthly things”
were incredible. So how would they ever believe when Jesus spoke to them about “the heavenly things”?
The heavenly things.
The heavenly things are things outside (beyond) the knowledge of man until they are revealed by Christ. “No one
knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Matthew 11:25-27). Only the Son
of God has always been in the presence of God and knows all the decisions that were made in heaven. No man has ever
ascended into heaven to find out what the heavenly things are. Only Jesus Christ has descended (was sent) from heaven
and knows the heavenly things and reveals the heavenly things, such as:
• The nature (being) of the one and only God (Matthew 11:27)
• God’s heavenly plan is to save his people, not only believing Jews, but also believing non-Jews from every nation in
the world (John 3:13-18).
• God’s heavenly plan is to save them through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ.
“The heavenly things” lie completely beyond the reach of man, their knowledge or imagination, until they are revealed
to man. No man could have revealed who God is (John 1:18). No man could have invented God’s plan of salvation
(1 Corinthians 2:7-10). Jesus Christ not only reveals God’s heavenly plan, but also executes it (Revelation 5:1-5)!
5. John 14:1-3. Ascended to prepare a place for his disciples.
Jesus Christ ascended into heaven to prepare a place for his disciples.
When Jesus said that he was going to away to a place where his disciples could not come (his ascension into heaven),
they were filled with disturbing emotions. They were sad because Christ said he was going to leave them. They were
ashamed because they had been quarrelling about who was the greatest. They were perplexed because Jesus had
predicted that one of them would betray him, another would deny him and all would fall away from him. They were
wavering in their faith because they were probably thinking how it was possible that the Messiah could be betrayed. At
the same time they loved Jesus and hoped that things would change. Their faith was being tested. That is why Jesus
encourages them, “Keep on trusting in God and in me.”
Jesus said that he was going to prepare a place for his disciples. “The house of God” is heaven before the second
coming of Christ (Psalm 33:13-14; Isaiah 63:15) and the new earth after the second coming of Christ (Isaiah 65:16-17;
Revelation 21:1-3). The word “rooms” refers to dwelling-places. The word “place” refers to where Christians will
dwell, their position or state and final destination. By his death Jesus made it possible for his disciples to live with him
forever as their eternal destiny. By his resurrection he prepares the disciples for their place of destiny. And by his
ascension he prepares that place of destiny for his disciples.

He would come back and take them to be with him. Jesus was not thinking of the physical death of a believer in the first
place, but of his own second coming. At his second coming he would welcome the believers (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
They would as it were embrace one another and look one another in the eyes! That is why his departure in his ascension
is not a calamity, but a blessing (cf. John 16:7)!
This passage may also be applied to the physical death of a believer, because his spirit would also be welcomed in
heaven (Philippians 1:21-23). It is this living hope (expectation) that motivates a believer to continue to trust in Jesus
Christ!
6. John 16:7. Ascended to pour out the Holy Spirit on his disciples.
Jesus Christ ascended into heaven to pour out the Holy Spirit on his disciples.
Jesus said that it would be for the advantage of his disciples that he was going away (that is, that he would ascend into
heaven), because then the Holy Spirit would come “to be face to face” (Greek: pros) with them. Jesus had told them
before that it was for their benefit (advantage) that he was going away, because he was going to prepare a place for
them (John 14:2,28). He would give them the ability to do even greater works (John 14:12). He would give them deeper
insight into the essential relationship between God the Father and God the Son (John 14:20). And he would come much
closer to them than ever before, because he would not only be “with” them, but live “in” them through his Spirit (John
14:16,17,28)! Therefore his visible departure from his disciples was not a tragedy, but a great advantage and a triumph!
But before this could happen, Jesus still had to die on the cross and be resurrected in order to merit (acquire) the
salvation of his people. Without meriting their salvation, there would be nothing to save them! Therefore Jesus Christ
first had to die on the cross and had to be resurrected from the dead. After his ascension into heaven and the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit, Jesus would apply the merit of salvation to the hearts and lives of believers through the Holy Spirit!
Without departing from the disciples in his visible and limited human nature, there could be no return to them in his
invisible universal divine nature as the Holy Spirit. At his birth, he had come in his visible human nature to the earth to
reveal the invisible God to them and to make atonement for their sins. At the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, he would
return to them on earth in his invisible divine nature (the Holy Spirit) to apply his completed work of salvation to the
lives of believers all over the world and throughout history (cf. Romans chapter 8; Galatians 4:4-7)!
There is complete co-operation between God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit in this work of salvation. God
the Father sent the Spirit (John 14:26), God the Son sent the Spirit (John 15:26; 16:7) and the Spirit goes! The Spirit
will have a tremendous effect on the world (John 16:8-11) and on the Church (Ephesians 2:22).
7. John 20:17. Ascended to have uninterrupted fellowship with his disciples.
Jesus Christ ascended into heaven to have uninterrupted fellowship with his disciples on earth.
Mary Magdalene became the first witness of the resurrection and the ascension. While a little later Jesus charged the
other women to tell the disciples what had happened and that he would meet them in Galilee (Matthew 28:7), he
charged Mary Magdalene to tell the disciples about the great event in the history of salvation that was about to take
place, namely, the ascension into heaven!
Jesus prophesied that he was going to his Father in heaven and that therefore the believers could not continue to relate
to Jesus as before. Before the death of Jesus, Mary Magdalene had experienced for a long time the daily visible
association of Jesus with his disciples and the sweet fellowship with him. After the resurrection of Jesus from the dead
she assumed that this former mode of fellowship was going to be resumed. So she clamped herself to his feet as an
expression of worship, just as the other women did a little later (Matthew 28:9). Jesus did not object to her touching
him, just as he later invited Thomas to touch him (John 20:27). But Jesus said to her that she must not and cannot
continually hold on to him (cling to him) as if she could prevent him from leaving (to heaven).
The period of his day-to-day visible association with his disciples was over. He would appear visibly, now to this one,
then to that one. That is why he said to her that she must not think that by holding him back she could keep him always
with her. He was about to ascend to his Father in heaven. Then the former day-to-day relationship between Jesus and
his followers on earth would not be continued in the same way. Instead of relating to Jesus in his physical body in one
place on earth, they would relate to him through the Holy Spirit in every place on earth (cf. Romans 8:9-10;
2 Corinthians 3:16-18; John 14:16-18, 26; John 15:28; John 16:13-15)! Through the Spirit they would be able to have
uninterrupted fellowship with Jesus! This fellowship would be far richer and more blessed, because it would be the
fellowship of the risen Lord in heaven with his Church on earth!
On the other hand, Jesus emphasised the distinction between himself and his disciples. When Jesus said, “My Father
and their Father” and “My God and their God” he clearly distinguished these two relationships:
• Jesus Christ is God’s Son by nature (in his Being) (metaphysically, ontologically) (John 1:1,18; John 10:30-33)
• Believers (Christians) are God’s sons (and daughters) by adoption (spiritually)(John 1:12-13; Ephesians 1:4-5).
Nevertheless, Jesus also stressed the intimacy (closeness) of their fellowship. In a spiritual sense, the God who is the
Father of Jesus is also the God who is the Father of the disciples! It is to this God and Father that Jesus is ascending.

B. THE EVENTS AROUND THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST
1. The book of Acts views the ascension of Jesus Christ from an earthly point of view.
Read Acts 1:3-11; Luke 24:50-53.
After his resurrection from the dead, Jesus appeared to his disciples and other believers for a period of forty days. Once
he ate with his disciples in Jerusalem. He said, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which
you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy
Spirit ...” (Luke 24:50-53). “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my
witnesses” among the Jews, the Samaritans and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:4-8).
Then Jesus was taken up before their very eyes. “A cloud hid him from their sight. Suddenly two men dressed in white
stood beside them and said: “Men of Galilee. 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.”
The notion that the body of Jesus Christ from then onwards became diffused or assumed divine properties so that it
became omnipresent has no biblical ground at all. The glorified body of Jesus Christ was not a ghost, but a physical
body (flesh and bones) that could be touched (Luke 24:37-40) and that could still eat food (Luke 24:41-43), but it was
not “(sinful) flesh and (mortal) blood” (1 Corinthians 15:50). What the Bible teaches is the following:
• Jesus Christ was “ snatched up to God and to his throne” (Revelation 12:5)
• He sat down at the right hand of God the Father (Mark 16:19; Ephesians 1:20)
• He would return in the same way as his disciples saw him ascend into heaven (Acts 1:11).
Then his disciples returned from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem and remained in the upper room with other believers
to pray (Acts 1:14). See Revelation 5:13, “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and
on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and
glory and power, for ever and ever!”
2. The book of Revelation views the ascension of Jesus Christ from a heavenly point of view.
Read Revelation 5:1-13.
The theme of Revelation chapter 5 is: “God carries out his eternal plan through the Lamb who is in the centre of the
throne”.
(1) The message of the scroll in heaven (Revelation 5:1).
There is A BOOK IN HEAVEN with God! It is a book in the form of a scroll. No religious book on earth is a copy of
this book, because it is sealed. It is also not revealed to any prophet in history. There is only One in the history of this
world who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll! He is the only One able to reveal and to execute its contents!
That Person is Jesus Christ, because only he died to make atonement for sins and only he was resurrected from the dead.
Only he lives forever! All other prophets are still dead in their graves. Only he descended from heaven, only he was
resurrected from the dead and only he ascended into heaven again.
The ascension and enthronement of Jesus Christ in heaven is depicted symbolically as the Lamb receiving the scroll out
of the hand of God the Father on the throne.
The scroll with writing on both sides contains God’s decisions with regard to the history of the world and the history of
the Church within the world. It contains the unsearchable plan or purpose of God that becomes historical events in the
salvation history in “the end of the ages” (Hebrews 9:26; John 11;24), that is, during the whole New Testament period
from the first coming of Christ to his second coming. These great and all-determining historical events that announce
the coming of the kingdom of God are apocalyptic (grand and violent) events, because they reveal and execute God’s
eternal plan of salvation (of his people) and judgement (of his enemies). God, who sits on his throne in the centre of the
universe, carries out his eternal plan for this earth and its people through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ reveals and executes
God’s eternal plan of salvation and judgement.
This scroll has a completely different character than all other books on earth! The secular or religious books on earth
record what events took place on earth in the past. They reveal the lives of certain secular or religious people, their
words and their accomplishments and the wars they fought. But by opening and reading this scroll in heaven the events
on earth are called into being and are set in motion! It does not reveal what already happened, but reveals what will
happen soon (Revelation 1:3)! The moment Jesus Christ breaks a seal, the words of the scroll under that seal are
revealed and the apocalyptic events begin to happen in history of man on the earth! “Opening” THE BOOK IN
HEAVEN is a picture of Jesus Christ actually reigning over all events and people on earth from his first coming to his
second coming.
What God did in creation, Jesus Christ does in revelation! By speaking a word at the creation God called the empirical
(visible and measurable material) things that did not exist before into existence (Genesis 1:3; Psalm 33:6; Romans 4:17;
Hebrews 11:3). And by opening the scroll Jesus Christ calls the events of the history of salvation and judgement written

in the scroll into existence! The moment Christ breaks one of the seals he causes its contents to be revealed and to be
carried out (Revelation 6)!
(2) The message of breaking the seals of the scroll (Revelation 5:2-4).
For a long time no-one in the universe could be found that was worthy to open the scroll, reveal its contents and cause
its contents to be set in motion. As long as the scroll remained closed, the created things and the historical events on
earth stagnated and there was absolutely no progress!
If the scroll had remained sealed, a change in the situation and condition of the churches would not have been possible.
The church in Ephesus would have continued being a dead orthodox church that holds on to the Christian truth, but
lacks Christian love (Revelation 2:1-7). Likewise, the church of Sardes would have carried on being a church
persecuted by other religions (Revelation 3:1-6). And the church of Laodicea would have carried on as usual being a
church locked in deadly self-deception, threatened by materialism, affluence and worldliness (Revelation
3:14-22).
As long as the scroll remains sealed, the churches cannot be wiped out by oppression and persecution, but they also can
not blossom up and bear fruit to their final glory! Then history on earth seems to have no end and the struggles of the
Church do not seem to lead anywhere! Then the created things and the historical events do not grow towards their final
destiny! The events on earth remain a circle in stead of a straight line to an ultimate destiny! This fact makes everything
on earth very tiresome. There is no definite battle and there is also no definite victory! New reformations are followed
by new deformations, worldliness and contamination! Times of revival are followed by times of grey and cold
deadness. The Church experiences history as a time of flood (high tide) and a time of ebb (low tide). And the world
regards history as an endless circle – everything is repeated over and over again. There seems to be no end to the
hopeless events on earth 2.
As long as the scroll remains sealed, also Satan has no definite victory! He can persecute some believers unto death, but
he cannot destroy them! He whips up nations to hate everything associated with Jesus Christ, but he does not succeed to
wipe out the name of Jesus Christ! Also Satan and his associates experience history as a time of flood and a time of ebb.
Neither the Church nor Satan can break the seals of the scroll. Neither is able to gain the final victory! When the Church
cannot see a definite end to this struggle on earth, she becomes discouraged and she feels utterly powerless. When there
is no one able to break the seals of the scroll, the events on earth turn into an endless nightmare!
Why does the history of this world continually lie under the doom of indecision? Why is this monotony and endless
circle of struggle never broken? We cannot answer this question, but realise that there are hidden mysteries in life
(Deuteronomy 29:29; Isaiah 55:8-9) and that the history of this world is something more than a struggle for power! One
cannot say that if God wills, he could defeat Satan and end this struggle, because also Satan has a certain legal position.
Since the fall of man into sin, the evil world (the world without Christ) in a particular way has been subjected to Satan.
“The whole world (without Christ) is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). Satan is called “the prince of this
(evil) world” (John 12:31). He leads the whole (evil) world astray (Revelation 12:9). And he is called “the god of this
age who has blinded the minds of the unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 4:4). That is why the events taking place on this earth
are so puzzling, so bewildering and so terrifying. It seems as if the world is bewitched and the historical events lie in a
ban of enchantment.
The events taking place on this earth can be brought to a definite end only by breaking the seals of this scroll! By
breaking the seals and opening the scroll, Jesus Christ wipes all appearance and illusion away and causes everything in
this world to become what they really are!
The leaders of this world always think in terms of their economic and military potential and power struggles. But God
thinks in completely different terms!
(3) The message of the Lion, the Lamb and the Root (Revelation 5:5-7).
A mighty angel in a loud voice proclaimed, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” There is One who
can open the scroll, but he does not do it right away. It is as if he waits to see whether any other being challenges him to
take on this great work. But no one in heaven or on earth or in the world of spirits (demons) could open the scroll or
even look into it. No demon, no mighty political king and no religious prophet in the history of this world stepped
forward to open the scroll!
It is irrefutably clear that Jesus Christ (the Lion of Judah, the Root of David and the Lamb of God) is the only One that
can break the seals and open the scroll (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5)! Not one of the countless angels that serve
God in heaven and not one of the four living creatures that represent God’s creation, but one of the elders representing
the Church was given the privilege to proclaim the answer. John must know and feel that he is not standing alone,
exiled on an island, faced with the many questions in history of this world. John is a part of God’s world-wide
community of believers, the Church that received the Word. From that Word John may give the answers to the
problems that daily face the Church. “The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has triumphed. He is able to
open the scroll and its seven seals.”
2
This is the view of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Jesus Christ is the Lion of God’s people which is called “Judah” in the Old Testament (Genesis 49:10; Hebrews 7:14),
“Israel” in the New Testament (Galatians 6:16) and “Church” (Greek: ekklésia) in both Testaments (Psalm 107:32;
2 Chronicles 29:28; Matthew 16:18). He is not “a lion” that conquers the world by the force of a worldly army or by
religious “holy wars”. His power lies in his radical submission. He is the Lion because he is the Lamb that gave himself
to be slaughtered on the cross as the sacrifice of atonement for the sins of those in the world that accept him. None of
the rulers of this age understood God’s hidden wisdom, for if they had, they would not have crucified Christ (cf.
1 Corinthians 2:8). Also Jesus formulated this wisdom: “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it
remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24).
Real greatness in the eyes of God is not the proud religious leader, or the fiery warrior and the invincible hero that
conquers people and nations by his political-, legal- and religious plots and by the power of his money and army. The
history of this world will not be brought to its final destiny by wars and terrorists, by oppression and persecution, or by
bribery and religious lies. The history of this world will be completely unravelled and brought to its final glorious
destiny (the new earth) by the One who, although he is God, emptied himself and took on the nature of Man. Then he
humbled himself even more and submitted himself to be the Servant of man. Finally he submitted himself to the cross
and became the Sacrificial Lamb that made atonement for sins (Philippians 2:5-8). Jesus Christ is the only Lion (the
only King), because only he became the Lamb (the sacrifice of atonement)!
Jesus Christ is “the Root” and “the Offspring” of David (Revelation 22:16). The historical king David was king of
God’s Old Testament people. But prophecy throughout the Old Testament pointed to the real King, Jesus Christ, who
would establish the real Kingdom of God and be the real King of all God’s people in history. Jesus Christ is both the
eternal Divine Origin (Root) of king David and at the same time his Human Offspring Descendent (Offspring) in time.
Jesus Christ is the only One in creation and in the history of man that can break both the mysterious enchantment of the
events in the world and the illusion that everything and everyone is not what they in reality are. God gives the scroll
only into the hands of Jesus Christ! In all other hands the scroll would become an object of idolatrous veneration and
worship 3.
(4) The message of the cross (Revelation 5:8-12).
The moment the scroll is given into the hands of Jesus Christ, the twenty four elders (who represent God’s Church in
heaven) and the four living creatures (who represent God’s creation in heaven) fell down, not to worship the scroll, but
to worship the One who is worthy to open the scroll! Christians do not venerate a Book in heaven, but worship the One
who reveals and executes the contents of this Book! The Lamb is worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because
only he was slain and with his blood he purchased his people from every nation and every language (Revelation
5:9-10).
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ at his first coming is the basis and centre of all human history (1 Corinthians
15:3-4; cf. Acts 1:22; 2:23-24; 3:13-15; 4:10; 5:30; 7:52-56; 8:32; 10:39-40; 13:28-31; 17:31; 26:23)! All powers in
heaven, on earth and in hell are gathered around this one event in human history and fight for the outcome (Revelation
12:7-9; cf. 1 Corinthians 2:8; Colossians 2:15). Since creation all history pointed forward to the cross and resurrection.
After Christ’s first coming all history points back to the cross and resurrection and forward to Christ’s second coming.
At this one event in human history God and his Christ gained the decisive victory. At the cross Satan and his powers
from hell and his followers on earth suffered their decisive defeat! At his first coming Christ bound the strong man
Satan and established his kingdom. And he said: “He who is not with me is against me and he who does not gather with
me scatters” (Matthew 12:28-30)! Every person must choose whether he is “with Jesus” or “against Jesus”. There is no
neutral ground!
The four living creatures, who represent the powers of nature, remind us of the darkness that came over the earth, the
earthquake and the opening of graves (Matthew 27:45-53). God’s creation realises that also its destiny is completely
linked to this one day (the death and resurrection of Christ) and eagerly expects to be liberated from its bondage to
decay and to be brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God (Romans 8:19-21)!
The twenty four elders, who represent God’s Old Testament and New Testaments people in heaven), remind us of the
people fearing and fleeing from the cross. God’s people (the Church) see the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets.
The Law had taught the sacrifice of animals (Hebrews 9:12-14) and the Prophets had prophesied the Servant of the Lord
who would be led as a lamb to the slaughter and who would be crushed for our sins (Isaiah 53:5,7). They all sing that
Jesus Christ with his blood had purchased people from every tribe, language, people and nation (Revelation 5:9).
The angels in heaven always longed to catch a glimpse of the message of salvation that was entrusted to the Church
(consisting of believers)(1 Peter 1:9-12). The angels announced the birth of Jesus Christ (Luke 1:26-37; 2:8-14). They
served Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:11). They had strengthened Jesus Christ when he struggled in prayer shortly before he
died (Luke 22:43). They had witnessed the terror of death, but also the joy of Easter when they lifted the stone from the
tomb to reveal to people that Jesus Christ, who was dead, is alive for ever (Revelation 1:18; Matthew 28:5-7). They sing
his praises. By the blood that was shed on the cross God reconciled to himself not only all things on earth, but also all
3
This is the view of Islam.

things in heaven (Colossians 1:19-20). The fall into sin had also affected the angels in heaven, but the world of angels is
also saved from their kind of brokenness through the death of Christ on the cross.
(5) The message of the vision is about events from the very beginning to the present and onwards to
the end of time (Revelation 5:13-14).
The vision in Revelation 4:1-11 speaks of the restful sitting of God on his throne in eternity. God is in the centre.
But the vision in Revelation 5:1-12 speaks of the action of God through Christ in time. Now Christ is in the centre. The
fullness of God dwells in Christ bodily and through Christ God reconciles everything in heaven and on earth to himself
(Colossians 1:19-20; Ephesians 1:9-10).
The final vision in Revelation 5:13-14 speaks of the glory of him who sits on the throne and of the Lamb forever and
ever. Again God is in the centre, but then it is God as He has revealed himself in Jesus Christ, his first coming, his
sacrifice on the cross and his completed work of salvation (1 Corinthians 15:27-28)!
Before his first coming of Christ the things of this world seemed enchanted: the things in the world were not what they
seemed to be. The things in the world did not seem to change. But after the death and resurrection, ascension and
enthronement of Jesus Christ this enchantment has been broken. The things in the world become more and more what
they really are. “Let him who does wrong continue to wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does
right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy” (Revelation 22:11). And the history of this world
presses on towards its final destiny. It is Jesus Christ who reigns by breaking the seals and opening the scroll. This
causes events in history to happen that would bring everything in creation to its final destination! The death and
resurrection, ascension and enthronement of Jesus Christ at his first coming brought time and eternity together. At his
second coming all things will be taken up into eternity.
“He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put
into effect when the times will have reached their fulfilment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under
one head (Greek: anakefalaiósasthai), even Christ” (Ephesians 1:9-10; Hebrews 2:8). “At the Name of Jesus every knee
should bow, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”
(Philippians 2:10-11). “That “God will reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven”
(Colossians 1:20). There is a difference in the way in which people will subject themselves to the sovereign rule of God!
The evildoers remain evil, but are forced to submit themselves! They do not welcome peace and harmony – these are
enforced on them (see Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Ephesians 1:21-22). The creation is willingly or
unwillingly brought under the sovereign rule of the Head, Christ. Not in the sense of the teaching of universal
atonement or universal salvation, because a part of humanity will remain enemies of God and his people
(1 Corinthians 15:25) and also because “the eternal punishment” remains an eternal reality (Matthew 25:46; Revelation
21:8).
Therefore the whole created universe and all redeemed people praise God and the Lamb because of their work in
creation and redemption. All things must ultimately glorify God (Romans 11:36). His will is being carried out in the
universe (Revelation 4:11). The throne rules, that is, God the Father rules through God the Son. The Lamb reigns and
therefore the Church need not fear its tribulations (trials and persecutions).
C. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST FOR US
Jesus Christ is enthroned in heaven to reign over all and everything, thus establishing his kingdom in its final phase.
1. The first result of Christ’s ascension into heaven is the proclamation of the complete triumph
of Jesus Christ to the whole creation.
Read 1 Peter 3:18-22 (See manual 6, supplement 8. The relationship to the departed ancestors).
(1)The atonement of sins and the reconciliation of the broken relationship with God
by Christ’s death and resurrection (1 Peter 3:18).
Jesus was “put to death in the flesh” means that he was put to death while he still possessed his weakened human body,
burdened with the sins of mankind (Romans 1:3). By his death, Jesus laid aside his weak human nature and severed
every connection with sin and death.
Jesus was “made alive by the Spirit” means that his human body was made alive and resurrected from the dead by the
Holy Spirit. After his resurrection, his whole body was glorified and completely controlled by the Holy Spirit (Romans
1:4; Colossians 2:9)! From that moment onwards Jesus, as to his human nature, no longer lived in his former lowly
body, but in his glorified body in the power of the Holy Spirit. From that moment onwards God’s incomparable great
power put Jesus Christ at God’s right hand above all authority, power and dominions and every title that can be given in
the universe (Matthew 28:18; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians 1:20-23; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Peter 3:22; Revelation 1:5).
(2) Christ’s going and preaching (1 Peter 3:19).
The Greek text is clear: “In the Spirit he once for all (participle, aorist time) went somewhere and preached something.”

Note:
• His going was not before his resurrection, but after his resurrection!
• His going and proclaiming was not in his human spirit, but in his glorified (resurrected) body!
• His going was not downwards to the underworld, but upwards to heaven to the right hand of God where angels,
authorities and powers are in submission to him (1 Peter 3:22)! Jesus did not go to the underworld (Hebrew: Sheol;
Greek: Hades) where spirits of departed people reside, but to the world above, heaven, where God resides!
• His proclaiming was not a preaching of the gospel, but a proclamation of his triumph! His ascension into heaven
itself was the proof of his ultimate victory and at the same time the contents of his proclamation.
(3) The spirits in prison (1 Peter 3:19).
The ascension of Jesus Christ was thus a once-only proclamation (of his triumph) directed to “to the spirits in prison”.
These spirits were spirits (souls) of people in the past who disobeyed God when Noah built the ark. They died in the
flood and their spirits (souls) are kept imprisoned in hell. Genesis 6:5 says that they were evil people and that every
inclination of the thoughts of their heart was only evil all the time. 2 Peter 2:5 says that Noah was the preacher of
righteousness. While Noah took God at his Word and obediently built the ark, these evil people mocked him and
ridiculed his preaching and disregarded his warning. They did not believe in his preaching and disregarded his building
of the ark, which for many years was a visible reminder of the coming judgement in the flood. They disobeyed God’s
warning and resisted God’s patience for probably a hundred years long (1 Peter 3:20; Genesis 5:32; 6:3; 7:6). But when
the flood came, Noah’s faith was proved right and the unbelief of the evil people was doomed (Hebrews 11:6).
According to Matthew 24:37-39, Jesus Christ teaches that “the people in the days of Noah” are a symbol of all
indifferent and disobedient people in the world!
Therefore, the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven is a proclamation of his victory, not only over all evil powers, but
also over all the godless and unrighteous people, whether they lived before or after the first coming of Jesus Christ.
From other passages in the Bible we know that Christ’s death, resurrection, ascension and enthronement is the
proclamation of triumph over all the evil spiritual powers (Ephesians 1:20-22), like the devil and his demons (John
12:31-32; Revelation 12:5-9; 20:1,3,7), the evil spirits (fallen angels)(Luke 8:31; Colossians 2:15; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6;
Revelation 9:1), all evil governments in the world (Psalm 2:8-12) and all godless and unrighteous people in the world (1
Peter 3:19)! Christ’s ascension to heaven is the proclamation of his complete triumph!
2. The second result of Christ’s ascension into heaven is the exhibition of all his captives:
on the one hand his saved people and on the other hand his enemies.
Read Ephesians 4:7-10; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Colossians 2:15.
The following Scripture passages make use of the picture of a Roman general entering Rome in a triumphal procession
after his victory. He has won a battle and now celebrates his victory with a triumphal procession in the city. In his train
he is followed by his war chariots, all his soldiers, the conquered people and all his captives. As he proceeds he gives
gifts to the crowds that have come to cheer him.
The apostle Paul applies Psalm 68:18 in his letters. “When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train; you
received gifts from men” In the Old Testament it is a symbol of God who gained a victory over one of the surrounding
nations of Israel and then returns to heaven with prisoners and the spoils of war (gifts given to him). In the New
Testament it is a symbol of Jesus Christ who after gaining the victory over Satan ascends triumphantly into heaven with
captives in his trail and giving gifts to his people.
(1) The triumphal procession in Ephesians 4:7-8
“When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” When Christ ascended to heaven, he led
all Christians as his captives in his triumphal procession. He captured or won them by his love, grace and truth as
expressed in the gospel. The triumphal procession symbolises that Christ had conquered sin and death for his people on
the cross and his triumphant ascension to heaven is a manifestation to the whole world of the Christians whom he had
subdued by the power of his mercy and grace!
The gifts he gives are his grace (Greek: charis). He gives a portion of his grace to each Christian. The nature of the gifts
may be the grace to do a special ministry, the grace to relate to a special group of people or the grace manifested in one
of the many spiritual gifts. Thus each Christian must view his spiritual gift (Greek: charisma) not as the product of his
own skill or ingenuity. He must view it as only one among many gifts and as limited in extent (a measured gift) and as
something he must use (to build up other Christians, to build up the Church and to glorify God).
(2) The triumphal procession in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16
“Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the
fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are saved and those who
are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other the fragrance of life.” All Christ’s captives here are
Christians and as they follow Christ in his triumphal procession they spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ
everywhere among people. For the people who believe in Christ the knowledge of Christ is a fragrance of life. But for
the people who do not believe in Christ the knowledge of Christ is the smell of death.

(3) The triumphal procession in Colossians 2:15
“Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Some of Christ’s captives are all the defeated forces of evil. They are paraded as prisoners of war in chains behind the
chariot of Christ, the Victor, during his triumphant entry into heaven! They do not welcome the peace and harmony of
Christ. It has to be enforced on them (Romans 16:20).
3. The third result of Christ’s ascension into heaven is that Christ is the permanent
Representative of all Christians at the right hand of God the Father and the persistent
Intercessor for Christians with God in heaven. Jesus Christ has become the Guarantee of a much
better covenant than the old covenant of the law (Hebrews 7:22).
Read Hebrews 9:24-28; Hebrews 7:23-28; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2; Revelation 8:3-5.
(1) The Old Testament ceremonial cleansing symbolised the New Testament spiritual cleansing.
Hebrews 9:24 says: “Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary (on earth) that was only a copy of the true sanctuary (in
heaven). He entered heaven itself (at his ascension), now to appear in God’s presence for us.”
In Hebrews 9:23 the writer acknowledges that the rituals (of the Old Testament ceremonial law) in the earthly temple
were real and effective for ceremonial cleansing of the earthly things, but denies that they were of any use for the
removal of inward and spiritual defilement. Ritual cleansing was adequate for the material order, but a better sacrifice
is necessary for effective purification in the spiritual order.
The Old Testament rituals were only copies or shadows of the New Testament realities. “The heavenly things” that
required spiritual cleansing were the defiled consciences of people. That cleansing belonged to the spiritual sphere and
not to the material sphere. The people of God needed inward spiritual cleansing so that they may approach God without
defilement of sin and that they may be fit to dwell with God.
(2) The New Testament spiritual cleansing is effected by the blood of Jesus Christ.
By the death of Christ and thus by the sprinkling of his blood the people of God become “the house of God” (Hebrews
3:6; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:22; 1 Peter 2:5). In order to be a spiritual house of this kind, they must have
experienced regeneration and cleansing by “the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:2,19,22f). In this way
the following things are sanctified by the sprinkling of the blood of Christ:
• the book of the new covenant (the eternal gospel written in heaven) (Hebrews 9:20)
• the Christian sanctuary (the heavenly Jerusalem)(Hebrews 12:18-24)
• the Israel of God (the Christian Church who confesses the cross of Christ and whose members have been
circumcised by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 6:16; Romans 2:28-29). They all have the stamp of Christ on them.
The Old Testament time of preparation was replaced by the New Testament time of fulfilment.
The work of salvation of Christ consists of:
• his completed sacrifice of atonement for sins on earth on the one hand
• and his high priesthood in the presence of God in heaven on the other hand
In Hebrews 9:24-26 the writer says that if sinners are to appear before God, even through the representation of a sinless
high priest, they themselves must be cleansed from sin, otherwise the very presence of God would be polluted. Having
finished his work of salvation through his death and resurrection on earth, Jesus Christ ascended into heaven right into
the presence of God to be our eternal Representative with God.
He represents all Christians in heaven with God where his perfect sacrifice made atonement for them with God (1 John
2:1-2).
• While the priests during the Old Testament period entered the earthly temple every day to bring sacrifices, Jesus
Christ entered the heavenly sanctuary once for all time.
• While the priests during the Old Testament period brought only the blood of animals, Jesus Christ once for all time
brought (shed) his own blood.
• While the priests during the Old Testament period could only guarantee ceremonial purity/holiness, Jesus Christ
once for all time guarantees permanent spiritual purity/holiness (forgiveness of the guilt of all sins and a conscience
cleansed from all shame).
(3) The term “the last days” is the time of fulfilment.
“But now Christ has appeared once for all at the end of the ages (that is, at his first coming) to do away with sin by the
sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26). He dealt conclusively with sin! It is not that Christ happened to come at the time
of fulfilment, but rather that his coming made that time “the time of fulfilment”! Christ’s first coming and his
redemptive work inaugurated “the time of fulfilment”. “The last days” (the end of the ages) is the period between the
first coming of Christ and his second coming.
The following events take place “in the last days” in the sense of the first coming of Christ:
• Jesus Christ was revealed “in these last times” (his birth)(1 Peter 1:20).
• God spoke to us “in these last days by his Son” (his life on earth)(Hebrews 1:1-2).

• Christ once for all did away with sin by the sacrifice of himself “at the end of the ages” (his crucifixion) (Hebrews
9:26).
• The Holy Spirit was poured out “in the last days” (his return in the Spirit)(Acts 2:17).
The following events take place “in the last days” in the sense of the second coming of Christ:
• The resurrection from the dead will take place “at the last day” (John 6:39,40).
• And the final judgement of people who reject the Word of Christ will take place “at the last day” (John 12:48)
Thus God’s revelation progresses from the creation up to the first coming of Jesus Christ. With the first coming of
Christ God’s revelation has been completed! There is no further revelation beyond Jesus Christ! God spoke through
Jesus Christ “in the end of these days” (“in the latter end of the days” or “in the end-time” or “ultimately”). In the Old
Testament this phrase denotes the period of time in which the words of the Old Testament prophets would be fulfilled
(Genesis 49:1; Deuteronomy 4:30; Isaiah 2:2; Jeremiah 30:24; Ezekiel 38:16; Daniel 10:14; Hosea 3:5; Micah 4:1).
(4) Jesus Christ is the only permanent High Priest.
There were two reasons why Jesus Christ fulfilled the Old Testament ceremonies.
• Jesus Christ was completely sinless (Hebrews 7:26,28). His sacrifice was not simply a picture or shadow of the
reality, but the reality itself.
• Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead and lives forever (Hebrews 7:23-24)! Therefore he is the permanent High
Priest and has a permanent priesthood.
(5) Jesus Christ is the only Saviour and the only Intercessor.
Consequently there are two things which Jesus Christ can do which no other prophet or priest can do:
• Only Jesus Christ can save people from their sins. The apostles say, “Salvation is found in no one else. For there is
no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
• Only Jesus Christ is the Mediator between people and God, who intercedes for us with God. Hebrews 7:25 says that
Jesus Christ always lives to intercede for those who are saved.
(6) Jesus Christ is the only Mediator and One who perfects the prayers of Christians.
Revelation 8:3-5 teaches that much incense in heaven is mixed with the prayers of the saints on earth before they ascend
up to God’s throne. As a result fire is thrown from heaven onto the earth.
• In Revelation 5:8 the incense symbolised “the prayers of the saints”.
• But in Revelation 8:3 the incense symbolises “the perfect prayers of Jesus Christ” at the right hand of God in
heaven.
The prayers of the saints cannot rise to God by itself, because people are sinners and wrong cleaves to the prayers of
even the most righteous among people. In order to please God, also the prayers of the saints need atonement! Their
imperfect prayers are mixed with incense, which is given to the angel. The much incense represents Christ’s completed
work of salvation (atonement) which he attained on the cross and which he applies through the Holy Spirit and his own
intercessory prayers for his people. Thus, the much incense especially represents Christ’s continual and perfect
intercession in heaven for Christians on earth, not least for his persecuted Church on earth (Romans 8:34; Hebrews
7:24-25; 9:24). The perfect prayers of Christ in heaven for us purify and sanctify our imperfect prayers on earth. The
prayers of Christ remove every sinful motive and all selfishness from our prayers. The prayers of Christ for us cause our
imperfect prayers to rise as completely perfect prayers to God!
4. The fourth result of Christ’s ascension into heaven is that Jesus Christ now reigns over all and
everything on behalf of his Church. He calls the events in history into existence and set them in
motion.
Read Romans 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians 1:20-22; Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Peter 2:22.
(1) Jesus Christ reigns over all and everything.
Romans 4:17 says, “God calls things that are not as though they were.”
1 Corinthians 15:25 says: “Jesus Christ must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.”
Ephesians 1:20-22 says: “Christ is seated at God’s right hand in heaven far above all rule and authority, power and
dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age , but also in the age to come. God placed all
things under Christ’s feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the Church.”
Philippians 2:9-11 says: “Therefore God exalted Christ to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and every
tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
1 Peter 3:22 says: “Jesus Christ has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in
submission to him.”
Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and was enthroned at the right hand of God above every thinkable power in the
universe and one the earth (Matthew 28:18). All angels in heaven, all evil spirits in the sky, all governments on earth are
willingly or unwillingly subject to his sovereign reign. He is thus the Head of the whole universe and at the same time

the Head of the whole Church. He rules the universe in the interest of his Church! He rules in such a way that every
event happening in the universe and in the history on earth serves the interests of the Church! The resurrected and
enthroned Lord Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Revelation 17:14)! Nothing happens on earth without
his sovereign decision or permission. All those who do not submit to the triumph of his grace and salvation (his mercy
and kindness), must one day submit to the triumph of his just judgement (his sternness) (cf. Romans 11:22)!
(2) Jesus Christ reveals the events in history with respect to his plan of salvation and judgment
and sets them in motion.
God on his throne in the centre of the created universe executes his plan for the earth and its people through Jesus
Christ. When Jesus Christ breaks a seal and opens that part of THE BOOK IN HEAVEN, he reveals the contents of
God’s plan of salvation and judgement and also sets it in motion. Nothing happens with you, your church or your
country that does not have the decision or permission of God!
For example, Jesus Christ rides through the earth and conquers the hearts and lives of people through the preaching of
the gospel of salvation (Revelation 6:1-2). But because of the fall into sin (Genesis 2:16-17) he allows that Christians
are being persecuted and even slaughtered by their enemies (Revelation 6:3-4). He also allows that Christians (and other
poor and weak people) are oppressed by the political, economic, military and judicial leaders (Revelation 6:5-6). And
he allows that Christians as well as non-Christians die due to war, famine, epidemics and accidents (Ezekiel 14:21;
Revelation 6:7-8).
Nevertheless, he rules over the universe and the earth in the interest of his Church (Ephesians 1:22; cf. Romans 8:28).
He promised, “The gates of hell will not overcome the Church” (Matthew 16:18)! In the fullness of time he is occupied
to bring all things on earth and in heaven under Christ (Ephesians 1:10; Colossians 1:19-20). Finally, every knee will
bow willingly or unwillingly before Jesus Christ and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord!
5. The fifth result of Christ’s ascension into heaven is that Jesus Christ is establishing the final
phase of the kingdom of God in the universe by filling the universe with the reality and reign of
God.
Read Psalm 68:18; Ephesians 1:9-10; Ephesians 4:9-10.
(1) The text in the Old Testament and in the New Testament.
The words in Psalm 68:18 in the Old Testament are not quoted but applied in Ephesians 4:8 in the New Testament.
What the Psalm says about God in the Old Testament finds it fulfilment in Jesus Christ in the New Testament! Because
the Author of the Old Testament and the New Testament is the same Spirit of Jesus Christ and because the Old
Testament is best explained by the New Testament, the apostle Paul has the right to apply what the Old Testament says
about God to Jesus Christ in the New Testament!
In the Old Testament God conquered his enemies on earth, received gifts (war booty) from the conquered people and
ascended triumphantly to heaven with many captives in his train (taking many prisoners with him). But in the New
Testament Jesus Christ conquered people by his death and resurrection on earth, gave gifts to his people on earth and
ascended triumphantly to heaven with many of his conquered captives in his train.
As in 2 Corinthians 2:14 and in Ephesians 4:8, “the captives” are the Christians that have been conquered by his love,
mercy (pity), grace (forgiveness) and truth (John 1:17). They are now following Jesus Christ in his triumphal
procession! Jesus Christ received them as the spoils and prize for his completed work of salvation.
Jesus Christ received in order to give. He received these “captives” in order to give them to his kingdom to do kingdom-
work on earth. In Ephesians 4:11 the apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers are the gifts that Christ
gave to the worldwide Christian Church (but not necessarily to every local church) to equip Christians for their works of
service and to build up the Body of Christ. These gifts are offices (appointed servants) rather than functions (services).
Important is that these offices function under the leadership of the body of elders in every congregation (Acts 14:23;
Titus 1:5; 1 Peter 5:1).
(2) The descent to the desert and his ascent to Paradise (Ephesians 4:9-10).
“The lower earthly regions” or better to “the regions lower than the earth” is contrasted with “the place higher than all
the heavens”. His descent to the earth is contrasted with his ascension into heaven. The apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:9-10
and the apostle Peter in 1 Peter 3:18-22 do NOT refer Jesus descending to a place (Hades or hell), but to a position
(state) (lower than any man ever attained)! Jesus Christ did not descend to the underworld (or hell) to preach the gospel
to the spirits of people that have already died, but descended to the earth in order to die on the cross! Although Jesus
Christ was completely equal to God, he emptied himself of this glorious position (state), took on the fallen human
nature of man, became the servant of all people, died on the cross as a criminal for the sins of people (Philippians 2:5-8)
and was finally forsaken by God in his human nature (Matthew 27:46).
Therefore God exalted him to the highest position (state) in the universe, so that all knees would one day bend before
him and all tongues would one day acknowledge that he is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Philippians 2:9-11; cf.
1 Peter 3:22). No one except Jesus Christ ever descended to the position of taking the sins of the world on himself
(1 Peter 2:24) and of suffering the agonies of hell (Matthew 27:46)! But also no one except Jesus Christ ever rose to the

position of sitting on the right hand of God the Father, and from that position revealing and executing God’s plan of
salvation in the history of this world (Revelation 5:1-14)!
(3) The kingdom of God in its final phase.
The triumph of Jesus Christ will be complete when he has fulfilled the Old Testament revelation and the New
Testament revelation and has filled (completed, perfected) the whole universe (Ephesians 4:9; Colossians 1:19-20). He
will fill the Christian Church with all his fullness (Ephesians 1:23; cf. 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 3:1-3). He will reign until he
has put all his enemies under his feet (1 Corinthians 15:25). He will bring everything in heaven and on earth under Jesus
Christ as Head (Ephesians 1:10). His kingdom will finally fill the whole universe (Daniel 2:44)! And his kingdom will
be eternal (Isaiah 9:7; 2 Peter 1:11)!
6. The sixth result of Christ’s ascension into heaven is that Christ has poured out the Holy Spirit
as his representative on earth.
See manual 5, lesson 9.


6 FOR NEXT LESSON
2. Preach, teach or study the teaching of “Ascension - commemorating the enthronement of Christ” together with
another person or group of people.
verses.
5. Bible study. Prepare the next Bible study at home. John 2. Make use of the five steps method of Bible study.

CHURCH. LESSON 8
PRAYER
1

2 1 CORINTHIANS 9 -12

3 (2) JOHN 1:16
Review two by two.

(2) John 1:16. From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
4 BIBLE STUDY (85 minutes) [THE GOSPEL OF JOHN]

JOHN 2:1-25
Introduce. Make use of the five steps method of Bible study to study John 2:1-11 together. John 2:1-11 describes Jesus
Christ revealing himself to his early disciples. John 2:12-25 describes Jesus Christ revealing himself to the crowds at
Jerusalem.


2:11
Discovery 1. Jesus reveals his glory by a miraculous sign.
The glory of the Lord Jesus Christ is all the divine attributes shining through the veil of his human nature. One example
of his glory is his grace and truth. In John 1:14-18 John says, “We have seen his glory ... full of grace and truth”. To see
his glory means to examine and to reflect on his divine attributes. Here, his glory is the grace and truth that are
manifested in his works and his words.
Another example of manifesting his glory is his miraculous signs. In John 2:11, Jesus revealed his glory by a
miraculous sign. He revealed his divine attributes by turning water into wine at a wedding feast. Here, the glory of Jesus
Christ is contained in the following. He revealed his perfect moral values by honouring the institution of marriage. He
revealed his divine generosity by supplying abundant wine and thus helping his hosts out of their embarrassment.
I would like to look more carefully at the glory of Christ displayed in both the Old Testament and New Testament.
2:24-25
Discovery 2. Jesus does not entrust himself or his cause to everyone.
When the crowds at Jerusalem saw the miraculous signs Jesus was doing, many trusted in him (2:23). However, Jesus
did not entrust himself to them, because he knew who they were. This means that Jesus did not view all these
individuals that believed in him as being true believers. Only Jesus knows all people. Only Jesus knows what is in the
© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 8. John 2 page 1

heart of all people. Only Jesus knows when a person is genuinely born again. John 2:25 says that Jesus did not need to
listen to the testimony concerning any particular person, because his own penetrating eyes were able to look into the
very depths of every person’s heart.
In John chapter 1, Jesus did not need anybody to tell him who Simon was, when he saw him for the first time. His own
penetrating eyes saw who Simon was. Jesus also did not need anybody to tell him who Nathanael was, when he saw
him for the first time. He knew that Nathanael was an Israelite in whom there was nothing false. Thus, in John chapter
2, Jesus knew that the faith of many people in Jerusalem was not genuine saving faith. With his penetrating all-seeing
eyes he read the secrets of people’s hearts. He knew their thoughts, motives and attitudes. And in John chapter 3, Jesus
did not need anybody to tell him who Nicodemus was, when he met him for the first time.
These verses are very important to me, because I realise that Jesus knows everything about me. His penetrating, all-
seeing eyes are able to look into my mind, heart and whole life (cf. 2 Chronicles 16:9; Hebrews 4:13). He knows my
weaknesses as that of Peter, he knows my sincerity as that of Nathanael, he knows my faith as that of all other people
and he knows the questions of my heart like that of Nicodemus.

GROUP?
question.)
2:11
Question 1. What is the purpose of miracles in the Bible?
Notes.
John likes to use the word “sign” instead of “miracle”.
(1) A sign is a miracle that is viewed as a proof of divine authority and majesty.
The purpose of the miracle is to lead the attention of the spectator away from the deed itself to the Divine Doer of the
miracle! Miracles in the Bible occur especially around the times in history when new revelation occurred.
• Moses. Thus when God revealed the law to Moses, God performed miracles through Moses. He sent ten plagues
against his enemies. He caused the water of the Red Sea to recede so that Israel could cross on dry ground. He made
bitter water sweet, etc. Through these miracles, God (Moses) proved that the law is given by God’s inspiration and
authority.
• Elijah and Elisha. When God revealed his reality to Judah and Israel during a time in which they turned away from
God, God performed miracles through the prophets Elijah and Elisha. He created food for a poor widow. He sent
fire from heaven to devour the sacrifice, the water and even the stones of the altar to proof that idols have no power.
He raised children from the dead. He protected his servants by surrounding them with chariots of fire, etc.
• Jesus Christ. When God took on the human nature in Jesus Christ and came to live among us, he performed the
most and the greatest miracles. He healed the sick. He set the demon-possessed free. He set prisoners free. He made
the blind see. The lame could walk again. Lepers were healed, the deaf could hear again. Dead people were raised.
He gave food to a great crowd and calmed a storm on the sea. But the greatest signs were the following:
- The virgin birth. The Holy Spirit caused his human nature to be born of the Virgin Mary.
- The resurrection from the dead. After he was crucified he was resurrected from the dead and will never die
again.
- The ascension. He ascended into heaven and has ever since not stopped saving uncountable number of people
from their sins, death and eternal damnation.
- The eternal salvation and transformation of people. He transforms the lives of his people and makes them
citizens of the kingdom of God!
• The apostles of Christ. When God established his Church everywhere through the work and writings of the apostles,
he performed many miracles especially through the apostles. They too healed the sick, set the demon-possessed free,
restored the handicapped and the blind, and raised the dead. But even more important (because the above signs were
temporary), God used them to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth, to transform the lives of many, to establish
the first congregations among the Jews, the Samaritans and the Gentiles, and to write the last books of the Bible.
(2) A sign is a work of power in the physical realm that illustrates a principle truth
that is operative in the spiritual realm.

A sign has a specific purpose. The miracle that takes place in the physical sphere of creation points away from itself to
the miracle that takes place in the spiritual sphere of redemption. For example:
• In John 6:14, the sign of the multiplication of the loaves of bread intends to fix people’s attention on Jesus Christ as
the Bread of Life (John 6:35), which gives eternal life to those who believe in him.
• In John 9:16, the sign of opening the eyes of the man who was born blind intends to show people that Jesus is the
Light of the world (John 8:12), who gives spiritual light to people who believe in him.
• In John 11:47 and 12:18, the sign of raising Lazarus from the dead intends to centre on the fact that Jesus is the
Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25), which gives believers a new spiritual life now and will transform their lowly
bodies to be like his glorious body at the resurrection (Philippians 3:21).
Only the context will show if a sign has this second deeper spiritual meaning or not. In every case, a sign always points
away from itself to the One who performed it! Here in John chapter 2:11, the sign of turning water into wine is called
the first of Jesus’ miraculous signs. The wonder signs of Jesus intend to show that Jesus Christ has come into the world
to fulfil and terminate the old order and to replace it by the new order (cf. John 2:19-21; Matthew 5:17). The first
coming of Jesus Christ terminated the Old Testament order (temple, priests, sacrifices, the theocratic nation, etc.) and
replaced it with the New Testament order (worshipping God in spirit and truth, the once-only sacrifice of atonement, the
people of God coming from every nation in the world, etc.). The new order surpasses the old order as much as wine
surpasses water!
(3) A sign is performed, not to create faith, but to strengthen faith.
The original Greek in John 20:30-31 literally says, “These signs are written so that you may continue to believe”
present continuous time) that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” It does not say “that you may begin to believe” (aorist
time), but “that you may continue to believe”! Only the Holy Spirit creates faith in people (Philippians 1:29) by people
hearing the Word of Christ (Romans 10:17). The purpose of the miracles as signs is not to create faith, but to strengthen
true, saving faith! Only the Holy Spirit creates faith and the miracles and the teachings connected to these miracles
strengthen faith. The apostle John wrote the Gospel of John in order to strengthen the faith of the believers in the face of
enemies and false teachers.
2:14-17
Question 2. Why does Jesus cleanse the temple?
Notes.
All Jews were required to celebrate the Passover Festival every year at Jerusalem (Exodus 23:14-17) and pay the temple
tax (Exodus 30:11-16). During the seven-day Passover festival many animals were offered in sacrifice to the Lord
(Numbers 28:16-25). Because many Jews came from distant countries, they had to buy their animals to sacrifice in
Jerusalem. A wicked ruler of the Sanhedrin, called Annas, wanted to make a profit out of this situation. Therefore he
gave permission to the vendors and moneychangers to use a part of the temple, called the court of the Gentiles for their
business. Of course, the dealers in cattle and sheep would be tempted to charge exorbitant prices for their animals and
exploit the worshippers.
Also the moneychangers used this court of the temple to do business. Every male worshipper had to pay the annual
temple tribute of half a shekel. Therefore, Jews who lived in other countries had to exchange their foreign money for
Jewish coins. Naturally, the moneychangers would charge an extra fee for every exchange-transaction. Here too, there
were abundant opportunities for deception and abuse.
So when Jesus came to the temple, he found in the temple court people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting
at tables exchanging money. Thus, the temple, which was intended to be a place where people could pray and worship
(cf. Isaiah 56:7), had been turned into a marketplace where people were being robbed!
(1) Jesus cleansed the temple as the Son of God.
Jesus called the temple “my Father’s house” (Luke 2:49). By cleansing the temple, he exercised his authority or right as
the Father’s only-begotten Son (cf. Hebrews 3:1-6) to keep his Father’s house holy and to restore it to its purpose as a
house of worship!
(2) Jesus cleansed the temple as the Messiah.
The Jews did not know their own Bible! A thousand years before king David prophesied, “The zeal for your house
consumes me” (Psalm 69:9). The cleansing of the temple would in some way contribute to the death of Jesus.
The prophet Malachi prophesied that the Lord (whom believers were seeking) (that is the Messiah) would suddenly
come to his temple. He is called “the Messenger (Angel) of the covenant” (Hebrew: malak ha-berit). He would be like a
refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap ... to purify the people of the tribe of Levi (Malachi 3:1-3)! Thus, the Old Testament
already proves that the Messiah has the right to cleanse the temple! When Jesus cleansed the temple, the disciples
remembered that these prophecies were written about the Messiah in the Old Testament.
Jesus Christ used force to cleanse the temple, because he had the right (authority) of the Father’s only-begotten Son and
of the Messiah to execute an act of punishment (cf. John 5:22)!

2:18-22
Question 3. What does Jesus mean when he says, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in
three days”?
Notes.
(1) The riddle of Jesus.
Jesus said, “Break down this temple and I will raise it again in three days”. This was a kind of a riddle, because the
words have two meanings. The word “temple” could refer to the temple built of stones standing in Jerusalem, or it could
refer to the temple of the body. And the word “break down” could refer to the tearing down of a building, or it could
refer to the destruction of the body of Jesus. And the words “raise up” could refer to the reconstruction of a building, or
it could refer to the resurrection of the body!
(2) The meaning of the riddle.
Jesus means to say the following. Although the Jews will break down the temple of Christ’s body, in three days he will
be resurrected. By breaking down the temple of Christ’s body, the Jews are also breaking down their own temple of
stone and the whole system of religious practices connected with it.
Nevertheless, as a result of the resurrection of the temple of his body, Jesus Christ will establish a new spiritual temple
with completely new spiritual practises, in which people will worship God in spirit and truth (2 Corinthians 6:16;
Ephesians 2:22; 1 Peter 2:4-5)! “Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. We are his house ...” (Hebrews 3:6).
(3) The illustration (type) and the fulfilment (antitype)
cannot be separated from one another in the Bible.
The illustration (type) is Israel’s tabernacle or temple building and was regarded as the place in which God dwelt
(Exodus 25:22). The fulfilment (antitype) is Christ’s body, which is in a far superior sense the dwelling-place of God.
Colossians 2:9 says, “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”
Therefore, when anyone destroys the temple of the body of Christ, he also pulls down the temple building in Jerusalem
together with its cult (the religious ceremonies)!
• When the Jews and Romans crucified Jesus Christ, the temple building and its entire religious system of ceremonies
ceased to have any meaning! The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51).
• Stephen and Paul taught very clearly that the temple building had no more meaning (Acts 7:48-49; 17:24-25).
• Also the letter to the Hebrews teaches clearly the temple together with its religious ceremonies has been replaced by
Jesus Christ and his completed work of salvation!
• Shortly after, in A.D. 70, the Romans under Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the temple building.
In exactly the same way, the resurrection of the body of Jesus Christ implies the establishment of the new temple (the
New Testament Church), “another temple that is not man-made” (Mark 14:58), where people “worship God in spirit
and in truth” (John 4:23-24). The New testament teaches that the Body of Christ or the Church is the spiritual temple of
God” (1 Corinthians 3:16 -17; 2 Corinthians 5:16; Ephesians 2:21-22; 1 Peter 2:4-5).
(4) The Jews failed to see the fulfilment (antitype).
The Jews only saw the literal temple of stone, which took 46 years to construct. If they had studied the Scriptures with a
believing heart, they would have known the following:
• The LORD had warned Solomon that “this temple” of Jerusalem would be rejected by God” (1 Kings 9:7).
• In the Greek translation of the Old Testament in Psalm 40:6-7 (Hebrews 10:5-7) is written, “Sacrifice and offering
you did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me. Burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then
I said, ‘Here am I, I have come ...desiring to do your will”. The sacrifice of atonement of Jesus Christ (his body on
the cross) replaced all other Old Testament sacrifices.
• The prophet Isaiah prophesied that the temple could not really be the house of God (Isaiah 66:1-2).
• The prophet Jeremiah prophesied that the ark would not be missed, it would not be remembered and another ark
would not be made (Jeremiah 3:16)!
• Jesus predicted, “Not one stone (of the temple buildings) would be left on another. Everyone would be thrown
down” (Matteüs 24:1-2; Lukas 19:44; Lukas 21:6).
• The writer of the letter to the Hebrews taught, “The sanctuary is only a copy and shadow (an illustration, type) of
what is in heaven” (Hebrews 8:5; Hebrews 9:24). Jesus Christ serves as High priest in the true sanctuary set up by
God (Hebrews 8:1-2).
(5) The disciples of Jesus failed to see that the temple of which he was speaking
was the temple of his body.
Only after Jesus was crucified, after the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom and after he was resurrected
on the third day, did the disciples understand the spiritual meaning of the words of Jesus!

2:19
Question 4. In which other examples from the Bible does the physical symbolise the spiritual?
Notes.
The Jews could not see that physical things could be symbols of spiritual things. Again and again they made
unwarranted, crassly literal interpretations of the words of Jesus, which were intended to have spiritual meaning. For
example, the following are some examples just from the Gospel of John.
• In John 3:3-8 “to be born again” or “to be born anew/from above” has spiritual meaning. Nicodemus gave it a literal
meaning (to enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born)
• In John 4:10-15 “the living water that Jesus gives” is a reference to the Holy Spirit. The Samaritan woman gave it a
literal meaning (water down below in the well)
• In John 6:48-58 “the eating of the flesh of Jesus,” means to receive Jesus by faith. The Jews gave this a literal
meaning (cannibalism).
• And in John 8:21-22 “going where the Jews could not come” means his ascension. The Jews took it literally to mean
that Jesus would kill himself (suicide).

APPLICATION?

2:1. Honour marriage as God’s idea and institution.
2:1. As a Christian get involved in the ordinary activities of non-Christians.
2:11. Meditate on the glory of Christ displayed in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
2:12. Spend some time with your parents and family.
2:15-16. Get angry at unrighteousness, but don’t sin in the process (Ephesians 4:26).
2:22. Believe the Old and New Testaments. Believe the words of Jesus Christ.
2:23. Do not entrust yourself to everyone. Learn to look at the heart of people.
2:25. Practise the presence of Christ. He sees and knows everything.
I want to discover the glory of Jesus Christ in the Old and New Testaments. Therefore, every time I read or study a
passage in the Bible, I will ask myself this question: “What more can I learn about Jesus Christ in this passage?”
Today, I have learned that the death of Jesus Christ made an end of the Old Testament temple and religious ceremonies.
And I learned that the resurrection of Jesus Christ established the new temple, which consists of believers, in whom
God lives through his Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:22; 1 Peter 2:4-11) and where people worship God in spirit and in truth.
I want my faith and worship to be oriented towards winning the lost. The temple in the Old Testament had a court of the
Gentiles in order to give the Gentiles a chance to know and worship the living God. However, Jewish leaders like
Annas, and Jewish merchants changed this court of the temple into a marketplace for selling cattle and sheep and into a
den of robbers where people were cheated when they exchanged money. What God had intended as a blessing for the
Gentile nations, the Jews had used for their own selfish purposes. Thus the Jews showed that they were against winning
the lost and against winning the Gentiles. They wanted to keep their faith just for themselves. Jesus Christ, the Messiah,
came and changed all this. He came for both the Jews and the Gentiles. He fulfilled the promises made to all believers
and he established the Church for believers from every nation, and tribe and language. I will continually do my best that
my congregation or I do not set ourselves against winning the lost by closing our meetings for people who have never
heard the Gospel.


5 PRAY FOR OTHERS

6 FOR NEXT LESSON
2. Preach, teach or study the Bible study of John 2 together with another person or group of people.
verses.

CHURCH. LESSON 9
PRAYER
1


3 (3) JOHN 2:25
Review two by two.

(3) John 2:25. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

4 PENTECOST: COMMEMORATING THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Introduce. Pentecost is the Christian festival in which we commemorate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We will
learn what the Bible teaches about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and its effect on Christians. We will learn how the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit has been prophesied in the Old Testament, what happened when the Holy Spirit was
poured out, and why the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is important for you.
A. PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. The festival of gathering the harvest in the Old Testament is an illustration of the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit.
In the Old Testament, Pentecost was a harvest festival, marking the official end of the harvest (Exodus 23:16). It took
place seven weeks after the Sunday that followed the celebration of the Passover Sabbath (the 15th day of the 1st month
Nisan or March-April) when the first sheaf of grain was presented to the priest and he wove it before LORD (Leviticus
23:10-11). Thus fifty (Greek: pentékosté) days after Passover. This announced the beginning of the new harvest and
symbolised the later resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Pentecost is also called “the festival of weeks”, which was an illustration of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Leviticus
23; Deuteronomy 16). The Israelites had to bring a part of their harvest to the temple, in proportion to how God had
blessed them. There they celebrated a joyful feast together with their families, servants, the Levites, the aliens and the
poor of their town. Thus, Pentecost was a thanksgiving festival to God for the harvest.
In the New Testament the Holy Spirit was poured out during this harvest festival (Acts 2). The apostles preached the
gospel, three thousand people turned to Jesus Christ and the first local congregation was founded in Jerusalem! Thus,
the Old Testament agricultural harvest festival became the New Testament spiritual harvest festival. The New
Testament harvest festival resulted in new Christians and new local churches everywhere in the world!
2. Prophecies concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament.
Discover and discuss. What do the following prophecies prophesy about the coming outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
(1) Isaiah 32:15; Isaiah 44:3.
God said that he would pour out his Spirit on his people. Like the rain, poured out from heaven (above the earth) on the
thirsty land and dry ground, turns the desert into a fertile field and forest, so the Spirit poured out from heaven (where
God dwells) would result in many blessings!
(2) Ezekiel 36:25-28.
God said that he would sprinkle clean water on his people and cleanse them from all their impurities and idols. He
would remove their heart of stone and put his Spirit in them and in this way they would follow and obey God’s Word.
© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 9. Pentecost page 1

(3) Joel 2:28-32.
God said that he would pour out his Spirit on all his people. They would prophesy, dream dreams and see visions.
Everyone, who called on the name of the Lord, would be saved.
(4) Zechariah 4:6.
God said he would accomplish his work not by human violence or power (terrorism, war, etc.), but by his Spirit.
Thus, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit would result:
• in the salvation of people who call on the LORD
• in hearts that are cleansed and transformed
• in obedience to God’s Word
• and in dreams and visions that would be turned into purposeful and fruitful lives!
3. Prophecies concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament.
Discover and discuss. What did Jesus Christ prophesy about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
(1) John 7:37-39.
Jesus prophesied many times about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on his people (the believers). Believers (in the
period before his death and resurrection) had to wait for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit until after his glorification
(that is, till after his resurrection, ascension and enthronement). Only then would the Holy Spirit flow “as streams of
living water” from them.
(2) Acts 1:5.
Jesus said that his disciples would be baptised with the Holy Spirit a few days after his ascension. This happened on
Pentecost and is described in Acts 2. Acts 11:14-18 and Acts 15:6-11 teach that “the baptism with the Holy Spirit” (the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit) is the same as “being born again by the Holy Spirit”.
B. THE EVENTS AROUND THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.
Read Acts 2:1-47.
Discover and discuss. How was the Holy Spirit poured out on the Day of Pentecost?
(1) The Holy Spirit coming upon people during the Old Testament period.
Although the Holy Spirit already came upon people during the Old Testament period, the outpouring and permanent
indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a specific New Testament promise and event (Numbers 11:17,25,29; 1 Samuel 10:6;
16:13-14; 19:20-21; 2 Samuel 23:2; cf. John 20:21-23)
(2) The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
Ten days after Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, he poured out the Holy Spirit on all his people, that is, on all believers
in Jesus Christ at that time. That day was the festival of gathering in the harvest. So Jews from many countries in the
Roman Empire and beyond (the Diaspora) came to Jerusalem to celebrate. Pentecost was one of the three compulsory
pilgrimages to Jerusalem for all Jews (Deuteronomy 16:16).
(3) The unique signs on the Day of Pentecost.
• “The sound like the blowing of a violent wind” symbolised the mighty unseen power of the Holy Spirit, which
regenerates people in a sovereign way (John 3:3-8) and works wherever he pleases (Acts 16:6-10).
• “What seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them” symbolised his gift of
proclaiming the gospel in the different languages of the world with burning zeal, love, courage and conviction (Acts
2:3).
• The listeners heard the Christians “speak in different intelligible languages of the surrounding nations” about the
wonders of God (Acts 2:11).
• The Christians “formed the first local church” at Jerusalem and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to
the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).
(4) The outpouring of the Spirit on the first Jews, who were already believers (Christians).
On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was first poured out on the about 120 first disciples of Jesus Christ. Although
they were already believers, they could not have received the promised Holy Spirit earlier, because Jesus had not yet
been glorified (John 7:39). Now that Jesus had been glorified (that is, resurrected, ascended and crowned as King of
kings), they were the first to receive the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17)!
(5) The outpouring of the Spirit on the first Jews, who only became believers on the Day of Pentecost.
The apostle Peter together with the other apostles proclaimed the gospel on the Day of Pentecost to Jews and proselytes
to Judaism (Acts 2:10). About three thousand Jews (and proselytes) from different countries and languages converted,
believed the gospel and received the Holy Spirit as a gift from heaven above (Acts 2:38,41). In this way the apostles of
Jesus Christ unlocked the door to the kingdom of God (Matthew 16:18-19) for the first Jews.

Pentecost became a great spiritual harvest of born-again people! Pentecost is the festival commemorating the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the first believers in the New Testament period. Everyone who believed in Jesus Christ
received the Holy Spirit (was baptised with the Spirit)(Acts 11;15-18) and local churches sprang up everywhere (Acts
2:38,41; Acts 9:31). In all the books of the New Testament the normal proof (evidence) of the baptism with the Holy
Spirit was the coming into existence of a functioning local church (or: house church) (cf. Matthew 18:20)!
2. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit after the Day of Pentecost.
Discover and discuss. How was the Holy Spirit poured out after the Day of Pentecost?
(1) The authority to unlock the kingdom of God for people.
Read Matthew 16:18-19; Matthew 18:18.
Jesus Christ bears the keys that close and open doors (Revelation 3:7-8)! Jesus Christ had given the keys that unlock the
kingdom of God only to his own disciples. They were later called “the twelve apostles” of Jesus Christ. It was their task
to be Christ’s witnesses to the Jews in Jerusalem and Judea, to the Samaritans in Samaria and to the Gentiles in the ends
of the earth (Acts 1:8). It was their task and authority to unlock the door to the kingdom of God to the first Jews (Acts
2), to the first Samaritans (half-Jews)(Acts 8) and to the first Gentiles (non-Jews)(Acts 10).
(2) The outpouring of the Spirit on the first half-Jews (Samaritans) who became believers.
Read Acts 8:4-17.
The Jews and Samaritans were previously enemies and despised one another. The Samaritans did not receive the Holy
Spirit immediately when they became believers through the preaching of the evangelist Philip, because they had to wait
for the apostles of Jesus Christ to unlock the door of God’s kingdom for them. The apostles Peter and John came from
Jerusalem, prayed for them and laid their hands on them as a sign that they had received the Holy Spirit from above. In
this way the apostles Peter and John unlocked the door to the kingdom of God for the first half-Jews.
(3) The outpouring of the Spirit on the first non-Jews (Gentiles) who became believers.
Read Acts 11:14-18; 15:7-11.
Also the Jews and the Gentiles were previously enemies, because the Gentiles worshipped idols and often attacked
God’s Old Testament people. God first had to bring about a change in the attitude of the non-Jew, Cornelius, and in the
Jew, Peter. God had to use the unusual means of visions to bring about a change in the attitude of both the Gentile
Cornelius and the Jew, Peter (Acts 10:1-23). When this first group of Gentiles heard the gospel and began to believe it
in their hearts, they were baptised with the Spirit (that is, they were born-again). That is why they were baptised with
water (Acts 10:47-48). In this way the apostle Peter preached the gospel and unlocked the door of the kingdom of God
to the first non-Jews.
(4) The New Testament Church is built on the foundation of the apostles of Jesus Christ.
Read Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 21:14.
Because Jesus Christ used his apostles to open the door of the kingdom of God for all nations (subdivided into the three
main groups in the New Testament: the Jews, the half-Jews and the non-Jews), the apostles of Jesus Christ are called
“the foundation of the Church”.
After this historic beginning of the Christian Church among the first Jews, the first Samaritans and the first Gentiles
(which is a part of salvation history), people in every nation are baptised with the Spirit (receive the Holy Spirit)
whenever they hear the gospel and believe in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:13; Titus 3:3-8; cf. Acts 2:39; 4:4; 5:32; 6:7).
C. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR CHRISTIANS
1. The Person of the Holy Spirit.
(1) Person.
The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal power, but a person, God himself (Acts 5:3-4). He is the third way of existence or
revelation of the Divine Being which cannot be separated, but can be distinguished within the unity of the Godhead
(Matthew 28:19) 1.
God’s divine nature transcends the characteristics of this created universe:
• he is a unity with regard to his Divine Being (nature)
• and he is a plurality with regard to his inner distinctions (persons)
The Holy Spirit also exists beyond (above) the created space and time.
(2) Attributes.
He has the same inherent attributes of God, like being eternal (Hebrew 9:14). He has the same attributes of God in
relationship to the universe, like being present everywhere (Psalm 139:7-10), being omnipotent (Jeremiah 32:17,27) and
being omniscient (Psalm 139:1-4).
(3) Names.
The names of the Holy Spirit refer to his deity (Romans 8:9-10), his character as “truth, love and grace” (John 14:17;
Romans 15:30; Hebrews 10:29) or his work in people as “wisdom” (Isaiah 11:2).
1
See Manual 2, supplement 8. “The nature of God and the Son of God.”

(4) Symbols.
The symbols of the Holy Spirit refer to his work in believers (Christians).
• As “a dove” he descends upon Jesus Christ, a symbol of purity, meekness and gracious style (Matthew 3:16; John
1:32).
• As “the unpredictable and irresistible wind” he causes people to be regenerated and renewed (John 3:3-8).
• As “the living water” he causes people to be completely saved and satisfied and makes them a channel of blessing to
others (John 7:37-39).
• As “the tongues of fire” he spurs believers on to proclaim the gospel with zeal in all the different languages of the
world without fear and with great conviction (Acts 2:1-4).
• As “oil” he anoints believers for their priestly, prophetical and royal tasks.
• As a “seal” he sets his seal of ownership on believers (Romans 8:16).
• And as a “deposit” (the first down payment) he guarantees believers that the absolute fullness is on its way
(2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
2. The functions of the Holy Spirit with regard to Jesus Christ.
(1) The Holy Spirit is the permanent Representative of Christ for all Christians on the earth.
He causes Jesus Christ and God the Father to be a reality for people on earth and is the
Guarantee (seal and security/pledge) for the fulfilment of all promises in the Bible (2 Corinthians
1:22).
Read John 16:7; John 14:16-18.

Being and functions of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal power (as Unitarians believe), but a
Divine Being with personal attributes (John 14:26; John 15:26; Acts 15:28; Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 12:11; 1
Timothy 4:1; Revelation 22:17). He is a Person even as God the Father and God the Son (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians
12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; 1 Peter 1:1-2). He has the same Divine Nature and is in essence one with God the Father
and God the Son.
The functions of the Triune God are based on the ontological (metaphysical, eternal and trinitarian) Being of God. The
outpouring of the Holy Spirit (the baptism with the Spirit) is the work of God the Father (Acts 2:17; Acts 11:16-17) and
at the same time the work of God the Son (Matthew 3:11; Acts 2:33). Just as God the Father and God the Son, God the
Holy Spirit teaches (John 14:26), leads Christians into all the truth (John 16:13) and convinces people of sin,
righteousness and judgement (John 16:8).
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, the ascension of Christ into heaven and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
from above onto people on earth are unique historical events (salvation history). Similar historical events are not found
in any other religion in the world!
Jesus Christ requests God the Father to give the Holy Spirit to his disciples. Jesus said, “I will ask the Father
and he will give you another Counsellor, to be with you forever” (John 14:16). The Greek language has two words for
“praying”: asking and requesting.
- The verb “asking” (Greek: aiteó) is always used when a lower/lesser person asks something from a higher/greater
person. The word is always used when people ask things in prayer from God and means “pleading” (John 4:9-10; 14:13;
15:7,16; 16:23-24,26).
- The verb “requesting” (Greek: erotaó) is always used when a person requests something from an equal. The word is
always used when Jesus makes a request on the basis of equality to his heavenly father (John 14:16; 17:9,15,20)!
We must never picture Jesus Christ as Someone who begs a favour from God. Jesus Christ fully earned all the answers
to prayers on the basis of his completed work of salvation!
The Holy Spirit is the Representative of Jesus Christ with Christians on earth. Jesus said, “I will ask the Father
and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth . The world cannot accept him,
because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-
17).
The word “Counsellor” (Greek: paraklétos) literaly means: “someone called to be on your side and help you”. It does
not have the passive meaning of the Latin translation: “advocate” or “counsellor” and also not the passive meaning of
the Greek translation (in Job 16:2): “comforter”. It has the active meaning of “Helper”, “Mediator” and
“Representative”, as in other Greek literature.
• The Representative (Greek: paraklétos) in heaven is Christ. In the first letter of John Jesus is called the heavenly
Representative of believers (Christians) on earth. He speaks on behalf of Christians to God the Father (1 John 2:1).
He actively intercedes for Christians with God in heaven. Jesus Christ is thus the heavenly Helper or Representative
of Christians on earth.
• The representative (Greek: paraklétos) on earth is the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel of John the Holy Spirit is the
earthly Representative of Jesus Christ with Christians on earth. He speaks on behalf of Jesus Christ in heaven to
Christians on earth (John 14:16-17; John 16:13-15). The Holy Spirit is the Mediator between Jesus Christ and

Christians. He clearly explains the words of Jesus Christ (John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:14). He applies the
completed work of salvation of Christ (rebirth, justification and sanctification) to the lives of people on earth. He
glorifies Jesus Christ on earth (John 16:13-15). He is the Helper or Representative of Jesus Christ with people on
earth.
The Holy Spirit is the “other” Representative, but not in the sense that he is independent from Jesus Christ.
Even as Jesus Christ is the Representative of Christians with God in heaven, likewise the Holy Spirit is the
Representative of Christ with Christians on earth. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ with and in Christians (John
14:16-17). He is “Christ in you” (Romans 8:9-10; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18)! When Jesus Christ was still in his human
body on earth, he could only be in one place at a time. But now that Jesus Christ is on the earth in the Holy Spirit, he is
at the same time present everywhere. The Holy Spirit is everything for Christians on earth what Christ would be for
them if he was still in his human nature on earth! That is why Jesus said, “It is for your good that I (Jesus Christ in his
human nature) am going away”, because then the Holy Spirit (Jesus Christ in his Divine Nature) could come (John
16:7). Jesus Christ promised, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). And, “Surely I am
with you always to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20)!
The Holy Spirit makes children who are under-age and slaves under the law into mature sons and daughters
and heirs of God. After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Jesus Christ will be “with” and “in” Christians,
that is, stand on their side to help them and live in their hearts and lives. God (Christ) comes through the Holy Spirit to
live in the midst of the Christian Church (Ephesians 2:22) and make the members of the Church to be kings, priests and
prophets in every nation of the world (1 Peter 2:9-10).
• Before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, God’s children (during the Old Testament period) were “children under-
age and slaves under supervision of the law”.
• But after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, God’s children (during the New Testament period) are “mature sons and
heirs under grace” (Galatians 4:1-7; 5:4; Romans 6:14).
God’s New Testament people is “God’s spiritual temple” (1 Corinthians 6:16). God’s Old Testament people (the
believers in Israel) have laid down their exclusive national (Jewish) character and has now become God’s international
people (John 10:16; Revelation 5:9-10). Jewish and non-Jewish Christians have given up their boasting to be “free” (no
slave) and to be “men” (not women) and are now “Abraham’s offspring and heirs” (Galatians 3:28-29).
(2) The Holy Spirit applies the completed salvation work of Christ in the lives of Christians.
Jesus said, “The Representative is the Spirit of Truth. The (non-Christian and sinful) world cannot accept him, because
it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:17). In the
Gospel of John Jesus Christ is called “the Truth” (John 14:6), because he fulfilled (Matthew 5:17), cancelled
(Colossians 2:14) and abrogated (Ephesians 2:14-15) the Old Testament “shadows” and has introduced the New
Testament “realities” (John 1:17; Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 8:5; Hebrews 10:1). The Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of
Truth”” (John 14:17), because throughout history he applies the completed salvation work of Jesus Christ in the lives of
new Christians.
“The world” that cannot accept the Holy Spirit is the world of people who love the darkness more than the light,
because their works are evil (John 3:19). This world is openly hostile to God, Christ, the Christian Church and
Christians (John 15:18). This world follows the lies of Satan (John 8:44; cf. John 14:30), cannot discern or possess
spiritual matters (1 Corinthians 2:12-14) and does not acknowledge the Holy Spirit (John 12:22-37; Acts 2:12-17). After
the outpouring of the Holy Spirit this world cannot accept the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Jesus Christ), because they never
see (observe) him, acknowledge him or experience him. Both verbs “see” and “know” are in the present continuous
tense. But sincere Christians see him and his work all the time with their spiritual eyes, acknowledge him and
experience him in their lives.
(3) The Holy Spirit makes the presence of Jesus Christ a reality for Christians.
Jesus said, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). Although the Lord Jesus Christ according
to his divine and human nature left his disciples on earth in order to return to heaven, he himself returned in the Holy
Spirit to them (at Pentecost)!
The Holy Spirit reminds Christians about everything Jesus Christ had taught them on earth and everything they are
supposed to know (John 14:26), testifies to Christ (John 15:26), glorifies Christ (John 16:13-15), that is, makes his
divine attributes a visible reality to Christians and places Jesus Christ in the very centre of Christians in the world. He
applies the merits of the completed work of salvation of Christ to the lives of Christians in the whole world.
Thus, by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, Jesus Christ returned to his followers on earth. John 14:18 i not
a reference to the future second coming of Christ, but is a reference to the coming of Christ in the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit! That is why the knowledge and experience of a close relationship with Christ in his death and in his
resurrection a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9-11,15-17; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13). God the Father and God the Son
come to live with and in the Christian through the Holy Spirit (John 14:23).

3. The functions of the Holy Spirit in people.
(1) The Holy Spirit convicts people in the world.
He convicts the world of sin (their idols), righteousness (of Christ) and judgement (if they reject this righteousness)
(John 16:8-10).
(2) The Holy Spirit represents Jesus Christ on earth (John 15:26; 16:13-15).
He was poured out to be to Christians on earth all that Jesus Christ would be if he were personally present!
(3) The Holy Spirit transforms people.
He regenerates people (John 3:3-8; Titus 3:3-7), makes people hear the Word of God (John 14:26; Ephesians 6:17) and
causes people to obey the Word of God (1 Peter 1:2). He causes Christians to become more and more sanctified
(Galatians 5:13-26) and he sustains Christians amidst their sufferings (Romans 8:26-27).
4. The functions of the Holy Spirit in the Church.
(1) The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus Christ.
He always glorifies Jesus Christ in the experience and lives of Christians (John 16:14).
(2) The Holy Spirit administrates the Church.
By rebirth (the baptism with the Holy Spirit) he makes the believer a genuine member of the Christian Church
(1 Corinthians 12:12-13). He turns individual Christians into one spiritual dwelling for God (Ephesians 2:22;
1 Peter 2:4-5). He causes the elders to be genuine overseers of the Christian Church (Acts 20:28). He is responsible for
the sound doctrine and practices of the Christian Church (Acts 15:28). He guides the Christian meetings and services
(Ephesians 5:18-19). And in a sovereign way he gives spiritual gifts to Christians so that they may serve others and help
build up the Christian Church (Romans 12:4-8).
(3) The Holy Spirit executes Christian missions in the world.
He selects and calls individual Christians to do the ministry of proclaiming the gospel, making disciples and planting
new congregations (Acts 13:1-4). He gives each Christian worker his own task (1 Corinthians 3:5-9; 12:4-6,11). And he
encourages Christian workers during periods of persecution (Acts 13:49-52).
D. THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. The expression ‘baptism with the Holy Spirit’.
(1) The expression ‘baptism with the Holy Spirit”.
This expression “baptism with the Spirit” (Greek: baptizó en pneumati) occurs only seven times in the whole New
Testament (Matthew 3:10-12; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; Acts 11:14-18 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-13).
All seven times it is an expression for the beginning of the Christian life (rebirth through the Holy Spirit)! “The baptism
with the Holy Spirit” is clearly associated with the gathering of believers into God’s kingdom, while “the baptism with
fire” is here associated with the final judgement of unbelievers (Matthew 3:10-12). “The baptism with the Spirit” is
clearly associated with the reception of the Holy Spirit when people come to faith (Acts 10:43-44; Acts 11:14-17; Acts
15:7-9; cf. John 1:12-13; 7:37-39; Acts 19:2; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Ephesians 1:13; Titus 3:4-8), or when people are
converted, saved and added to the Church (Acts 2:38-41; Acts 11:18).
(2) Prediction and fulfilment.
Prediction.
The baptism with the Holy Spirit was already predicted in the Old Testament (Ezekiel 36:25-27; Joel 2:28-32).
The fulfilment in salvation history.
The fulfilment of the baptism with the Holy Spirit took place as follows:
• for the first disciples of Christ this is described in Acts 2:1-4
• for the first Jewish believers this is described in Acts 2:37-41 (cf. Acts 1:8a, Jerusalem and Judea)
• for the first Samaritan believers this is described in Acts 8:12-17 (cf. Acts 1:8b, Samaria)
• and for the first Gentile believers this is described in Acts 10:34-48 (cf. Acts 1:8c; 11:14-18; 15:7-11, the ends of the
earth).
Normal fulfilment.
Thereafter, anyone who hears the gospel and believes in Jesus Christ, “receives the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38-39), is
“sealed with the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13-14) or is “baptised with the Holy Spirit” and in this way becomes a
member of the Body of Christ (the worldwide Church) (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)!
2. The meaning of the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
(1) Different terms are used in the Bible to signify the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
• To be born of God (John 1:12-13), born of the Spirit (John 3:5), born anew/from above (John 3:3,7)
• To be baptised with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5; 11:16; 1 Corinthians 12:13).
• To undergo the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:17,33; Titus 3:6).

• To receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15; 10:47)
• To undergo the falling on of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:16; 10:44; 11:15)
• To receive the gift consisting of the Holy Spirit himself (Acts 2:38; 11:17; 15:8).
• To be sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
• To be saved through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5; Acts 11:14,18; John 3:3-8).
All these expressions signify the reception of the Holy Spirit at the moment a person believes in Jesus Christ.
(2) The baptism with the Spirit means the reception of the Holy Spirit,
by which a person is born again and saved.
When the first Gentiles heard the gospel and believed in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as he fell on the
first disciples from among the Jews at the beginning. God gave to them the gift consisting of the Holy Spirit himself and
calls this event the baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:15-17). This was the Pentecost of the first Gentiles! The result
was that the Gentiles, who believed in Jesus Christ, were saved just as the Jews, who believed in Jesus Christ (Acts
2:18,21; 11:14; 15:11; cf. Ephesians 1:13). God granted them repentance unto life (Acts 11:18). God purified their
hearts (Acts 15:9).
by which a person begins to belong to Christ and his Church (Body).
John the Baptist said that Jesus Christ would baptise people with the Holy Spirit and in this way gather them as wheat
into his barn (Matthew 3:11-12). Paul wrote 26 years after Pentecost to believers from the Jews and the Gentiles living
in Corinth that not just a select group were baptised by the Holy Spirit, but that “we all were baptised by (or with) one
Spirit into one body”, namely the Body of Christ. This included all the apostles and all the believers in the world
(1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Thus, when people begin to believe in Jesus Christ, they are baptised by (or with) one Spirit
into the one Body of Christ (cf. Ephesians 1:22-23).
by which the Holy Spirit comes to live and work in the believer.
At the baptism with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:9-10) comes to dwell in
the body of the believer (John 7:37-39; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Then the Holy Spirit begins to apply Christ’s completed
work of salvation in the lives of believers. As time goes by it becomes evident that the Holy Spirit has given to
Christians different spiritual gifts.
E. THE FILLING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. The meaning of the filling with the Holy Spirit.
(1) The Holy Spirit is a powerful Person and not just an impersonal power.
What is the meaning of “the filling with the Spirit”? If the Holy Spirit were only an impersonal power, which you could
possess in a certain measure or quantity (e.g. 30%), then your dominant attitude would be, “How can I possess more of
the Holy Spirit (e.g. 60% or 100%)?”
However, if the Holy Spirit is a powerful Person, namely God himself, who has come to dwell in the Christian, then
your dominant question would have to be, “How can the Holy Spirit possess more of me?” Christians never possess the
Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit possesses them! The question about the filling with the Holy Spirit (or fullness of the
Holy Spirit), which is accomplished by the Holy Spirit, is thus a question of the lordship of Jesus Christ through his
Spirit in my heart and life. “How can Jesus Christ as Lord and King influence and determine my life more?”
To be filled with the Holy Spirit means that I have submitted myself completely to God and that God controls all of me.
It means that I have emptied myself of my ego and no longer seek my own glory, but only the glory of the Triune God
(Romans 11:36). It means that God leads my life through the Bible, causes me to become more and more Christ like and
makes my ministry more and more fruitful.
(2) The promise about the filling with the Holy Spirit.
What does Jesus promise with regard to the Holy Spirit? Jesus promised to Christians that streams of living water would
flow from within them (John 7:37-39). He specifically promised to his disciples that they would receive power to be his
witnesses in the whole world (Acts 1:8).
(3) The description of the filling with the Holy Spirit.
How does salvation history in the Bible describe the filling with the Spirit?
There are different possible results: But note that these are historical descriptions and not commands or teachings what
must or should happen in the Christian Church today.
• 1 Samuel 10:6-12. Saul prophecies amidst a group of prophets.
• Luke 1:41-43. Elizabeth received special knowledge that the baby of Mary was the Messiah.
• Luke 1:67-79. Zechariah prophesied about the coming Messiah and the future of John the Baptist.
• Luke 4:1-2. Jesus overcame the temptations of the devil.
• Acts 2:4. All the disciples of Jesus (about 120) received the ability to speak about the wonderful deeds of God in
different existing languages that were previously new to them.

• Acts 4:8. Peter received immediate inspiration to speak to the most important gathering of leaders in the country
(cf. Marc 13:11).
• Acts 4:31. The disciples received courage and boldness to speak God’s Word.
• Acts 6:3,8-10. The first deacons, especially Stephen, spoke with irresistible wisdom and did miracles.
• Acts 7:55. Stephen received the ability to see a vision of God’s glory and the risen Christ.
• Acts 9:17-22. Paul grew more powerful and received the ability to baffle his opponents.
• Acts 11:24. Barnabas was able to bring a great number of people to Christ.
• Acts 13:9-11. Paul received authority to pronounce God’s judgement against a false prophet.
• Acts 13:52. New converts were enabled to be full of joy amidst persecution.
What was incidental before the outpouring of the Spirit, happens regularly after the outpouring of the Spirit. Believers
who are filled with the Spirit show different works of the Spirit in their lives.
2. The teaching about the filling with the Holy Spirit.
Read Ephesians 5:15-21.
Discover and discuss. What is the clear Bible teaching about the filling with the Holy Spirit?
Notes.
(1) Christians need to be continually filled with the Spirit.
The main verb in Ephesians 5:18-21 is “be filled with the Spirit” (5:18). This word is a command (imperative mood),
which is continually or again and again applicable (present tense) and is executed in a sovereign way by God (passive
voice). Thus, the Bible clearly commands that Christians should be continually filled with the Spirit or should again and
again be filled with the Spirit. The Spirit filled life is regarded as the normal Christian life.
(2) Spirit filled Christians are characterised by
their speaking, singing, making music, thanking and being submissive.
The five verbs following the main verb are ‘speak, sing, make music, thank and submit (Ephesians 5:19-21) and they
are dependent on the main verb. They indicate simultaneous action with the main verb and also have the force of
commandments that are continuously or again and again applicable (present participles). Thus, the Bible teaches that
Spirit filled Christians are characterised by the following:
• A Spirit filled Christian does not get involved in wild parties that are associated with drunkenness, rioting and moral
perversion (Ephesians 5:3-13; 1 Peter 4:3-4). Instead, he will meet together with others to speak, sing and make
music in order to build one another up and to glorify God. This is one example of the fruit of the Spirit called self-
control (Galatians 5:23; 1 Corinthians 7:9; 9:24-27).
• A Spirit filled Christian is not negative, critical or judgmental with respect to people and circumstances. He will not
be characterised by complaining and arguing (Philippians 2:14) and not by being dissatisfied and ungrateful.
Instead, he will be content (Philippians 4:11; 1 Timothy 6:6) and thank God in all his circumstances
(1 Thessalonians 5:18). This is an example of the fruit of the Spirit called joy (Galatians 5:22).
• A Spirit filled Christian is not proud and not individualistic independent. He will not be uncooperative, divisive and
selfish. Instead, he will be submissive. For example, he will be willing to be the least. He will be willing to serve
where nobody else can or wants to serve (John 13:1-17). He will honour others above himself (Romans 12:10). He
will seek the interests of others (Philippians 2:4). He will be friendly, courteous, gentle, humble and considerate.
This is an example of the fruit of the Spirit called gentleness (Galatians 5:23).
(3) Spirit filled Christians are characterised by
their behaviour, wisdom, priorities, knowledge and obedience.
There is a conjunction “and” between Ephesians 5:17 and Ephesians 5:18 in the original Greek text of the New
Testament. Thus, the Spirit-filled Christian is also characterised by what is written in Ephesians 5:15-17.
• A Spirit filled Christian is careful how he lives or behaves. He is not someone who only does what is right in his
own eyes and not in God’s eyes (Judges 21:25). In every aspect of his life, he will show that he has rejected the old
independent worldly life-style and that he has embraced the new holy and righteous life-style.
• A Spirit filled Christian is full of practical wisdom. He uses the best means to attain the highest goals. He applies his
knowledge of the Bible to his daily life in a way that brings glory to God.
• A Spirit filled Christian makes the best use of the time and opportunities that God gives to him.
• A Spirit filled Christian continually and actively pursues to know and obey the will of God, as it is revealed in the
Bible.
F. THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Read Romans 8:9-16; Galatians 5:13-25.
Discover and discuss. How does the presence of the sinful nature or the presence of the Holy Spirit express themselves
in the life of a Christian?
Notes.

1. The manifestation of the sinful nature.
The indwelling sinful nature expresses itself in physical sins like sexual immorality and excess, in spiritual sins like
idolatry and occultism and in social sins like selfish ambition and quarrelling.
2. The manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
The indwelling Holy Spirit expresses itself in the fruit of the Spirit. He expresses himself in spiritual virtues, like love,
joy and peace; in social virtues like patience, kindness and goodness; and in relational virtues as faithfulness to God,
gentleness towards other people and self-control within himself.
When you are a Christian, you belong to Jesus Christ and the Spirit of Jesus Christ dwells in your body. Then you have
the obligation no longer to live under the control of the indwelling sinful nature, but to live under the control of the
indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is opposed to the manifestations of the sinful nature and will help you put them
to death. The Holy Spirit will begin to produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
and self-control in you. The Holy Spirit will lead you on the way God wants you to go (cf. Psalm 32:8; Psalm 143:10).
Thus, the Holy Spirit becomes the dominant power and influence in your life and you will more and more submit
yourself to him and cooperate with him.
G. THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. The nature of spiritual gifts.
(1) Spiritual gifts are literally gifts of God’s sovereign grace,
which may consist of abilities or functions.
“There are different kinds of gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:4). These may be very ordinary or special abilities or functions.
For example, some Christians receive the ordinary or special ability (ministry, service) of prophesying (preaching),
teaching or encouraging (Romans 12:6-8) and other Christians receive the ordinary or special function (office) of
prophet (preacher), teacher, pastor (Ephesians 4:11; cf. Romans 12:4). These functions (offices) do not automatically
imply positions of leadership, but they do imply tasks of serving (1 Peter 4:10).
(2) Spiritual gifts are different manifestations of the Spirit.
The different kinds of spiritual gifts are different manifestations of the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the
believer (1 Corinthians 12:7).
(3) Spiritual gifts are expressed in different ministries (services).
“There are different kinds of service” (1 Corinthians 12:5). For example, spiritual gifts may be expressed in the service
of proclaiming God’s Word to people, in the service of evangelising the lost and in the service of teaching and
shepherding the saved (Ephesians 4:11-12).
(4) Spiritual gifts have different effects (workings, results).
“There are different kinds of working” (1 Corinthians 12:6). For example, spiritual gifts of healing (plural) refer to gifts
that may heal people physically, emotionally or spiritually. Moreover, these spiritual gifts of healing may refer to
healing by ordinary means (as through doctors to and therapists) and healing by miraculous means (prayer and faith)
(1 Corinthians 12:9).
2. The limitations of spiritual gifts.
(1) Spiritual gifts are limited in each of the lists.
Many spiritual gifts are listed in Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 7:1,7; 12:7-10,28-30; 14:6,26; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter
4:10-11. None of these lists of spiritual gifts claim to be complete. There are probably many other spiritual gifts that
were not included in these lists. For example, skills in making clothes (Exodus 28:3; 35:25,35), skills in all kinds of
artistic craftsmanship (Exodus 31:1-6); skills in building (Exodus 35:10; 36:1), skills in making music (Psalm 33:2-3),
skills in writing poetry or music (Psalm 45:10) and skills in leadership (Psalm 78:72).
(2) Spiritual gifts are limited by the Giver.
God gives the different spiritual gifts by grace and by his sovereign decision. He decides who gets which spiritual gift
(1 Corinthians 12:11).
No one receives all the spiritual gifts and not all Christians receive the same spiritual gift. For example, not all
Christians are leaders and not all Christians speak in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:29-30).
Christians differ with one another about the question whether each Christian has received a spiritual gift.
• The word “each” can have general meaning in the sense of “every human being that has ever lived” (Romans 2:6) or
every Christian that has ever lived (Acts 2:38; Romans 12:3; 14:12). Therefore, some Christians believe that the
word “each” in 1 Corinthians 7:7, 12:7, 14:26 and 1 Peter 4:10 means that every individual Christian has received a
spiritual gift. This is possible.
• However, the word “each” can have limited meaning in the sense of every person belonging to a group or category.
For example, each hypocrite (Luke 13:15), each person in the large crowd (John 6:7) or each Christian in Judea that
was in need (Acts 4:35). Therefore, other Christians believe that the word “each” in 1 Corinthians 7:7, 12:7, 14:26

and 1 Peter 4:10 has the limited meaning in the sense of each Christian in the Body of Christ to whom the Holy
Spirit has given a spiritual gift in a sovereign way (1 Corinthians 12:11,28-30). It is therefore not absolute
compulsory to maintain that the Holy Spirit has given each individual Christian in the world a spiritual gift.
Ephesians 4:7 says, “But to each one of us grace (Greek: charis) has been given as Christ apportioned it”. It does not
say that each Christian has received “a spiritual gift”, but that each Christian has received “grace”. God’s grace is more
than his spiritual gifts. Each individual Christian has received a specific measure of the extraordinary effects of God’s
grace. For example, some Christians have received the God-given expertise of laying a spiritual foundation
(1 Corinthians 3:10), while other Christians have received the God-given strength to work harder than other Christians
(1 Corinthians 15:10). Some Christians have received the God-given power to persevere in spite of difficult
circumstances (2 Corinthians 12:9), while other Christians have received the God-given skills to do mission work
among foreign nations (Galatians 2:9). Likewise, some Christians have received the specific God-given abilities or
functions, called spiritual gifts (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:10-11).
(3) Spiritual gifts are limited in size (scope).
Not only God’s grace, but also the God-given spiritual gifts are limited in scope – they are always “measured”
(portioned, Ephesians 4:7). This means that those who have received spiritual gifts have received it in a limited extent,
in accordance with the measure that Christ apportioned to them. For example, some Christians receive the spiritual gift
of teaching children and other Christians receive the spiritual gift of teaching adults. Some Christians receive the
spiritual gift of teaching by means of telling stories and other Christians receive the spiritual gift of teaching by
explaining the Bible. No one teaches everyone in the world and no one is a perfect teacher that employs every possible
means (except Jesus himself).
3. The purpose of spiritual gifts.
There are four distinguishable purposes for receiving spiritual gifts.
• The spiritual gifts should be used to serve other Christians and not to enhance oneself (1 Peter 4:10-11).
• The spiritual gifts should be used to build up the world-wide Church and not just a particular denomination or
congregation (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:12).
• The spiritual gifts should be used to equip Christians to do some kind of service in the (worldwide) Church
(Ephesians 4:12).
• The spiritual gifts should be used to glorify God in everything (1 Peter 4:11).
H. OTHER LESSONS ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. The person and functions of the Holy Spirit. See manual 2, lesson 21.
2. The baptism, filling and fruit of the Holy Spirit. See manual 4, lesson 45.
3. The spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit. See manual 7, lesson 36.
4. More spiritual gifts See manual 7, supplement 12.


6 FOR NEXT LESSON
2. Preach, teach or study the teaching of “Pentecost - commemorating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit” together with
verses.
teaching notes and this preparation.

CHURCH. LESSON 10
PRAYER
1


3 (4) JOHN 3:16
Review two by two.

(4) John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life.

4 JOHN 3:1-36
Christ revealing himself to Nicodemus. John 3:22-36 describes how John the Baptist begins to withdraw.


3:16
Discovery 1. Salvation through faith.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life.”
(1) God loved from eternity.
The verb in the aorist tense points to a once-only act of God that goes back to eternity and stretches out to eternity.
God’s love is the one, great, central fact and one great reality in the Bible en goes back eternity (before “time” was
created at the creation of the universe). The love, with which he chose us before the creation of the world, finds its
highest possible expression in the incarnation and death of Jesus Christ, and is now shown in our salvation when we
believe.
(2) God so greatly loved the world.
The word “the world” has several different meanings in the Bible and in the Gospel of John (cf. John 1:10). Here in
John 3:16, the word “world” refers to “the world of lost people”, without distinction with respect to race or nationality.
It refers to people alienated from the life of God, laden with sin, exposed to judgement and in need of salvation, from
every tribe, nation and language on earth. The emphasis is on people as a group without implying that it refers to every
single individual on earth. The world is here not viewed as the realm of evil, which is openly hostile to God, to Christ
and to Christians, as in John 15:18. God does not love evil and therefore God does not love the world of evil people that

hate God, Christ and Christians (cf. Psalm 5:4-6; Romans 1:18). God loves the “world” of lost people, without
distinction with respect to race or nationality.
(3) God’s love gave his most precious gift.
God gave his only-begotten Son. This is not an expression referring to physical sonship, spiritual sonship or symbolic
sonship, but of his metaphysical, ontological, eternal and trinitarian Sonship (see manual 2, supplement 8, the nature of
God and the Son of God). It expresses the fact that Christ is God from eternity (John 1:14,18), that is, before the
creation the universe (matter with its force of gravity, energy with its light, space that can be measured and time that
moves only in one direction). The fact that God gave his Son means that God gave the most precious he had as a
sacrifice of atonement for sins.
(4) Only believers obtain eternal life.
Jesus is speaking here of all people who receive him with abiding trust and confidence. The verb “to believe” is in the
present continuous tense and thus shows that it does not refer to those, who once made a gesture of faith, but later
stopped to believe and slid back. The faith of such people was only intellectual or emotional faith, a temporary, historic
an faith, but not saving faith! Genuine faith persists in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ every day and will
persevere to the end. Although the Gospel is preached to people of every tribe, nation and language in the world, not
everyone who hears the gospel believes in Jesus Christ. But whoever believes in Jesus Christ, whether he is a Jew or a
Gentile, receives eternal life the moment he believes.
(5) The nature of eternal life.
“Eternal life” consists of knowing Jesus Christ personally and fellowshipping with him (John 17:3) from the moment
you believe. It is a new life that includes the following: assurance of salvation (John 10:28), love for God, and peace,
joy and love in your heart, and a purpose and fulfilment in life! It is a life that is different in quality from the life that
characterises this present age and is never-ending! It is the assurance that you will definitely share in the wonderful life
of Jesus Christ on the new heaven and new earth in the future age of glory after the second coming of Christ.
3:17-18
Discovery 2. God’s judgement for unbelief.
(1) The Jews believed that only they were exclusively God’s chosen nation.
They believed that the Messiah would condemn the physical Gentile nations, because these nations were oppressing
Israel. They believed that God would not judge Israel. However, the prophet Amos warned the Jews that the final
judgement day would also be for the Jews (Amos 3:2)!
(2) Jesus teaches that God’s salvation plan includes all the nations of the world.
He said that God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Jesus Christ
(John 3:17). Like John 3:16, “the world” here means the world of lost people in every race, nation and language. God’s
plan was not only to save people from the punishment of sin, but also the power, guilt and shame of sin and from sin
itself and to give them everlasting life.
(3) Jesus teaches that the issue of salvation or condemnation is determined in this life.
While the main purpose of the first coming of Jesus Christ was to bring salvation, it does not mean that the main
purpose of his second coming will be to bring condemnation. John 3:18 says, “Whoever believes in him is not
condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of God’s
one and only Son”. Nobody will have to wait for the final judgement day to receive his judgement. The decision
whether you will be saved or condemned (doomed) is made now in this life! On the final judgement day all people who
believe in Jesus Christ will not be condemned (John 5:24). Because they have already been forgiven, no sentence of
condemnation will be read against them!
However, on the final judgement day all the people who have done evil will rise to be condemned (John 5:28-29). This
does not mean that they will only be judged and condemned on the last day, but rather that their condemnation will be
publicly announced! All people, who have rejected Christ by not believing in him, do not need to wait for the final
judgement, as if the verdict will be postponed until then. All unbelievers stand condemned already! John 3:36 says, that
God’s displeasure and settled indignation rests on all people, who disobey Christ by refusing to accept him by a true and
abiding faith. After your death, there will be no second chance to believe in Jesus Christ! The issue of salvation and
condemnation is determined in this life!

GROUP?
question.)

3:3,5,7
Question 1. What does it mean, “to be born again”?
Notes.
The real thing Nicodemus wanted to know was: “What good thing must I do in order to enter the kingdom of God?” His
unspoken question was: “How do I get eternal life?” Jesus answered him with a riddle. A riddle is a saying with a
hidden meaning. Jesus said, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again”.
(1) To be born again means to be born “anew” and “from above”, that is, from the Holy Spirit.
The word born again literally means to be born from above, that is, from God who lives in heaven (John 3:31). It also
means to be born anew, that is, to be born all over again spiritually after you have been born physically (cf. Galatians
4:9, all over again). In John 3:6, Jesus says, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit”. To be born of
the flesh means to be born physically with a sinful human nature. To be born of the Spirit means to be born spiritually
with a new spiritual nature.
(2) To be baptised with water is only a sign and seal of being baptised with the Holy Spirit.
In John 3:5, Jesus says, “No man can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit”. In Matthew
3:11 we also read about water and the Spirit. John the Baptist says, “I baptise you with water ... but Jesus Christ will
baptise you with the Holy Spirit”. The meaning is that people are only born again by the work of the Holy Spirit in their
hearts and lives. People are born again when the Holy Spirit uses the preaching or teaching of the Word of God to
regenerate people (1 Peter 1:23). People are never born again by merely the baptism with water. The baptism with water
is the visible sign (or pictorial presentation) and visible seal (confirmation) of the reality, namely, the invisible baptism
with the Spirit. Only when the thing signified accompanies the sign, the sign has value. Only when the baptism with
water signifies that you have been born again by the baptism with the Holy Spirit, does the baptism with water have
significance. Because we no longer read in John 3:6,8 about “born of water”, but only about “born of Spirit”, it proves
that “the baptism with the Spirit” is the essential thing!
(3) To be born again by the Holy Spirit is an absolute necessity and a sovereign work of God.
In John 3:7-8, Jesus says, “You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again’. The wind blows
wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with
everyone born of the Spirit.” Like all the Jews, Nicodemus believed that people could be justified (saved) by keeping
the law. Now Jesus surprised him by teaching him that salvation is a gracious gift from God and not a work earned by
man! Jesus taught that a person is born again only through the Holy Spirit and not through keeping the law.
In the beginning salvation is a sovereign act of God and man is completely passive. Nobody on earth can direct the
wind. It acts with complete independence from man. Likewise, nobody on earth can direct or control his own salvation
(rebirth). The Holy Spirit acts with complete independence from man. Regeneration is a sovereign work of God in
which man has no more control than he has over the wind. Nicodemus should have known from the Old Testament that
he is corrupt (cf. Genesis 6:5; Job 14:4; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9) and absolutely unable to save himself (cf. Isaiah
43:10-11). He should not have been so surprised at the teaching of Jesus.
3:3,5
Question 2. What is “the kingdom of God”?
Notes.
(1) The kingdom of God.
The kingdom of God is the realm (heart and life) in which God’s grace prevails and where the rule (lordship) of God
through Christ is recognised, confessed and obeyed (Luke 17:20-21). The kingdom (kingship) of God is expressed in
the following:
• the salvation of believers (Mark 10:24-27) from beginning (the salvation of their souls) to end (the salvation of their
bodies).
• the constitution and growth of believers as a Church on earth (Matthew 16:18-19)
• the good works (influence) of believers in every aspect of human society (Matthew 25:34-40; Romans 14:17)
(intellectual, physical, emotional, social and spiritual).
• the new heaven and the new earth (Hebrews 12:22-24; 2 Peter 3:10-13).
(2) Entering the kingdom through rebirth and faith.
“Entering the kingdom of God” is the same as “receiving eternal life” or “being saved”. Thus, a comparison between
John 3:3-8 and John 3:16-17 teaches that “the sovereign act of God” (rebirth through the Spirit) precedes “the act of
man” (faith ion Jesus Christ) (John 6:44,37; John 17:6)

But because man cannot perceive this, the rebirth through God in his perception is simultaneous with the faith of man.
In his perception being born of God takes place simultaneous with his accepting of Christ or his believing in Christ.
John 1:12-13 says, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become the
children of God – children born not of natural descent (physical descent, e.g. from Abraham), nor of the will of the flesh
(biological carnal desire, the sexual impulse of the man or woman) or the will of man (volitional, the free will or
decision of man)(Romans 8:7-8), but born of God (supernatural, divine, from above).”
3:9-13
Question 3. What does Jesus mean when he speaks about knowing and testifying
about the heavenly things?
Notes.
In John 3:11 Jesus says that John the Baptist and he himself knew and testified about the heavenly things. But the
Pharisees and Nicodemus did not accept their testimony. Jesus could say this, because with his penetrating eyes he
could look right into their heart and see their hesitation to believe what Jesus was teaching (cf. John 2:25).
(1) The earthly things.
In John 3:12, Jesus says, “I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe”. He had been speaking about
things, which are heavenly in character and in origin, but take place on earth, like the baptism with the Spirit and the
baptism with water. Although the baptism with the Spirit or regeneration through the Holy Spirit is clearly taught in the
Old Testament in Ezekiel 36:25-27, the majority of Jews rejected it. God said, “I will cleanse you from all your
impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your
heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be
careful to keep my laws.” Regeneration takes place in the sphere of human perception and experience on earth.
Therefore anybody, who knew the Old Testament and reflected on his own natural inability to please God, would have
understood the necessity of being born again!
Other “earthly things” are the first coming of the Messiah (Christ) to his own people (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1-2), the
death and resurrection of the Servant of the LORD and the proclamation of the good news (gospel) to the Gentiles
everywhere in the world (Isaiah 49:6). But now that Nicodemus and people like him think that these earthly things are
incredible, how would they ever believe when Jesus speaks to them about “the heavenly things”?
(2) The heavenly things.
In John 3:13 Jesus says, “No one has ever gone into heaven except the One who came from heaven – the Son of Man”.
“The heavenly things” are the being of God himself (John 1:18) and God’s eternal plan of salvation, which Jesus
explains in John 3:13-18. Only the Son of God has always been in the presence of God and knows all the decisions that
were made in heaven. Therefore, God’s plan to save people from every nation in the world through the crucifixion of
Jesus Christ lies completely outside the range of human knowledge until it is revealed to man. Only Jesus Christ
descended from heaven to earth and only Jesus Christ ascended into heaven (Ephesians 4:9-10) 1. Only Jesus Christ
knows God’s eternal plan of salvation. Only Jesus Christ reveals God’s plan of salvation to people. And only Jesus
Christ carries that plan out on earth (Matthew 11:25-27). Only Jesus Christ opens the book in heaven and executes its
contents (Revelation 5:1-5)!
3:14-15
Question 4. What does Jesus mean when he says, “he must be lifted up”?
Notes.
(1) The illustration in the Old Testament and fulfilment in the New Testament.
The heart of God’s plan of salvation:
• was partially disclosed in the illustrations (types) of the Old Testament
• but only fully disclosed in the fulfilment (antitypes) through Jesus Christ in the New Testament!
In the Old Testament in Numbers chapter 21, the illustration (or type) of God’s plan of salvation was the lifting up of
the bronze snake on a pole in the desert. The fulfilment (antitype) of God’s plan of salvation would be the lifting up of
the Son of God on the cross!
There is resemblance between the illustration in the Old Testament and the fulfilment in the New Testament. In both
cases, death threatens as a punishment for sin. In both cases, God himself with sovereign grace provides a remedy. In
both cases, something or Somebody must be lifted up in public view of everybody. In both cases, only those, who look
up at the snake or at Jesus Christ with a believing heart, are saved from death.
1
“Apparently death” experiences in which people claim to have been in heaven or hell and then describe heaven or hell, are lies! Jesus Christ can
appear to people in a vision or a dream. But only Jesus Christ knows what heaven looks like (Matthew 11:27)!

(2) But as always, the fulfilment (the reality) far transcends the illustration (the shadow).
In the Old Testament, only the Israelites are threatened with death, but in the New Testament all people in the world are
threatened with spiritual, physical and eternal death due to their sins! In the Old Testament, the bronze snake was only a
symbol that could not heal people. But in the New Testament Jesus Christ is the reality, namely God who has the power
to heal and save believers or allow unbelievers to perish!
(3) The lifting up of Jesus Christ on the cross is presented as a divine “must”.
Jesus says that he “must” be lifted up. His lifting up on the cross is not one of many remedies in the world – the cross is
the only possible remedy for sin and eternal death in the world (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:22-24)! God’s requirement for
salvation of people is a 100% righteous and holy life on the one hand and a 100% punishment of sin on the other hand!
No human being besides Jesus Christ could accomplish that! Only through the perfect life of Jesus Christ in the place of
people who believe in him on the one hand and through the death of Jesus Christ for the sins of people who believe in
him on the other hand could God’s just requirement for salvation be fulfilled. Only on the cross was God’s holiness and
righteousness reconciled with his love and mercy! Only on the cross God’s righteous indignation against sin of people
came together with God’s indescribable love for lost people!
His “being lifting up” refers first to his being lifting up on the cross, but is never separated from his being lifted up in
his resurrection from the dead, from his being lifted up in his ascension and his being lifted up in his enthronement
(Acts 2:33). Although Christ is lifted up in the sight of all people, not all people are saved, because not all people
believe.
3:19-21
Question 5. Why are certain people condemned (doomed)?
Notes.
Certain people are doomed because they have hardened their heart and refused to receive God’s revelation in Jesus
Christ. Jesus Christ revealed God: he made God’s attributes visible to man (John 1:3-4). Jesus Christ earned salvation
by his complete holy and righteous life and by paying the penalty for man’s unholy and unrighteous life. Jesus Christ
proclaimed the kingship of God and exhorted people to repent and believe (Mark 1:14-15). Jesus Christ did everything
necessary to save man.
All people who reject Jesus Christ, who continue to live in the darkness, already stand doomed (John 3:18; 1 John 3:6-
9). But the Light (Jesus Christ and his truth) drives away all darkness. Whoever refuses to come to the Light will remain
in darkness. Whoever stays away from the Christian meetings, neglects to read his Bible or refuses to reconcile himself
to his brother, hates the Light. He hides in the darkness, because he does not want the Light to expose the darkness in
him. But all people who come to the Light prove that God in Christ is working in them (1 John 1:5-7)! They will prove
the reality of their faith by the new life they live.
Thus, all people in this world stand or fall depending on their relationship to Jesus Christ (John 3:18,36; Luke 2:34).
3:22-26
Question 6. What was the connection between the baptism with water (of John the Baptist and
Christ’s disciples) and the Jewish purification rites (baptismal rituals)?
Notes.
During the first year of Christ’s public ministry Jesus Christ and John the Baptist had parallel ministries of preaching
and baptising people with water (John 4:1-2). John baptised people at Aenon near Salim (in the province of Decapolis
across the Jordan from Samaria)(John 3:23). Jesus and his disciples probably baptised people at the shallow places in
the Jordan River close to Jericho in the province of Judea. Jesus himself did not baptise people with water, but his
disciples did (John 4:2). This shows that Jesus Christ was much greater than John the Baptist, because he baptised
people with the Spirit and let them be baptised with water by his disciples (cf. Matthew 28:19)! This happened from
about May to December 27 A.D. when John the Baptist was arrested (Matthew 4:12). The Jews were glad that John had
been imprisoned, because he always preached that they needed to repent. But their joy did not last, for they heard that
Jesus and his disciples were making even more followers than John! The expression “everyone is going to him” (John
3:26) is a figure of speech: a hyperbole (an exaggeration).
The Jewish priests and Levites from Jerusalem regarded the baptism of John the Baptist as a purification ritual (John
1:25; Hebrews 6:2). Also John the Baptist and his disciples regarded the baptism with water as a purification ritual: “a
baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4). Thus there arose a dispute between the disciples of John
the Baptist and a Jew about the Jewish purification rites (John 3:25). This ritual was called “the proselyte baptism”.
When a non-Jew desired to join Judaism, he took a bath (by pouring water on or over himself), was physically
circumcised and promised to keep the Old Testament Law (cf. Hebrews 6:2). The argument of the disciples of John the
Baptist was probably that they accorded the baptism of their teacher, John the Baptist, greater purification significance
than the proselyte baptism of the Jews and the baptism which the disciples of Jesus performed. That is why they could
not understand why more people went to Jesus to be baptised with water. Thus, the baptising with water (Greek:

baptizó) (John 3:23,26) of John the Baptist and of Jesus is here connected to the Jewish purification ritual (Greek:
katharismos) (John 3:25).
The baptism with water of John the Baptist revealed the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to Israel (John 1:31) and thus prepared
them to receive Jesus Christ and his work of salvation.
But the Christian baptism with water is connected to the first coming of Christ and his completed work of salvation
through his death and resurrection. The Christian baptism with water is the visible sign and seal that the believer in
Jesus Christ:
• has a share in Jesus Christ and his salvation (from the guilt of sin in the past, from the power and pollution of sin in
the present and from the punishment and presence of sin in the future).
• has been born again and renewed by the invisible baptism of the Spirit (Acts 10:44-48; Titus 3:4-7)
• all his sins have been washed away (off) (Acts 22:16), that is, he is completely forgiven and justified in God’s eyes
• has become a member of God’s covenant people or Church (Galatians 3:27-29; 1 Corinthians 12:13).
3:34
Question 7. What does it mean that God has given the Spirit to Jesus without limit”?
Notes.
This means the same as what Paul says in Colossians 2:9, “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”
The Gospel of John often says that God sent Jesus Christ (John 3:17,34; 5:36,38; 6:29,57: 7:29; 8:42; 9:7; 10:36; 11:42;
17:3,8,18,21,23,25; 20:21) and that the testimony of Jesus Christ is the very words of God (Hebrews 1;1-2). John the
Baptist was an ordinary prophet (cf. Matthew 11:13) who received the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit in a limited
measure. But Jesus Christ is not an ordinary prophet like the other prophets (Acts 3:22-26), because Jesus Christ
received the Holy Spirit “without limit”, that is in all his fullness (John 1:32; cf. Colossians 2:9). This means that Jesus
Christ is the visible image of the invisible Triune God. Jesus Christ is the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18) and the
Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:8-10; 1 Peter 1:9-12).
3:35-36
Question 8. Why does everyone stand or fall with respect to his relationship to Jesus Christ?
Notes.
Jesus holds the whole wide world in his hands. God the Father loves God the Son and has placed everything in his
hands (John 3:35; cf. John 13:3). God has revealed himself completely in Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Matthew 11:27;
Colossians 1:15,19; Colossians 2:9). God has spoken his last and final word in and through Jesus Christ (John 12:49;
Hebrews 1:1; Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:18-19). No man who came after Jesus Christ and calls himself “a
prophet” is a prophet of the God of the Bible!
• God has given authority over everyone and everything on earth to Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20-23).
• God saves people only through Jesus Christ (John 3:16,18,36; 6:37; 14:6; 17:2; Acts 4:12; 1 John 5:11-12).
• God will resurrect the dead through Jesus Christ (John 5:28-29)
• And God will judge the world through Jesus Christ (John 5:22).
Therefore everyone stands or falls with respect to Jesus (John 3:36). The final testimony of John the Baptist is,
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever is disobedient to the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath
remains on him.” To believe means to believe continuously and with perseverance. To be disobedient also means to
persist in disobedience. God’s holy and just wrath against the unholiness and unrighteousness of unbelievers will
continue to rest on unbelievers. All three verbs are in the present continuous tense. This ends the testimony of John the
Baptist about Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION?

3:1. Come to Jesus at night when you are afraid to come to Jesus by day.
3:3,8. Consider, “Have I been born again?” Examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5).
3:16. Memorise John 3:16. It is the gospel message in a nutshell.

3:18. Be convinced that your family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and countrymen, who have heard the gospel but
do not believe, stand condemned already.
3:19-21. Never join a secret organisation. Never do things in the dark, but always live your life in the light.
Be transparent.
3:30. Continually step down from your pedestal and let Jesus Christ become greater.
3:36. Be convinced that people, who reject Jesus Christ, will not see eternal life.
I want to continue to reflect on the love God has for me. I have memorised John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that
he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life”. I never want to
forget that God loved me before I loved him. God loved me first. I never want to forget that God’s love cost him the life
of his one and only Son. It was self-sacrificial love. I never want to forget that God loves me right now as he has always
done before!
I want to grow in humility. I want to conduct my life and ministry in such a way that Jesus Christ becomes greater and I
become less. What is important is not so much what I do for Christ, than what Christ did for me! That is why I want to
glorify him and occupy myself with things that please him.


5 PRAY FOR OTHERS

6 FOR NEXT LESSON
3. Personal time with God. Have a quiet time from half a chapter of 2 Corinthians 4 – 6 each day.
4. Memorisation. Meditate and memorise the new Bible verse (5) John 4:24. Daily review the last 5 memorised Bible
verses.
6. Update your notebook on building Christ’s Church. Include your notes on quiet times, your
memorisation notes, your Bible study notes and this preparation.

CHURCH. LESSON 11
PRAYER
1

assigned Bible passages (2 Corinthians 4 – 6).

3 (5) JOHN 4:24
Review two by two.

(5) John 4:24. God is Spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.

4 THE LORD’S DAY: THE DAY OF REST, FELLOWSHIP AND SERVICE
Introduce. “The Lord’s Day” is the day on which Christians rest and meet to fellowship, worship and serve. We will
learn what the Bible teaches about “the Sabbath”, which was kept on the seventh day of the week. And we will learn
about “the Lord’s Day”, which in the Bible was always on the first day of the week. Why do Christians all over the
world meet on the Lord’s Day to worship? What should Christians do on the Lord’s Day?
The days of the week are divided differently in different cultures. In the days of the Old Testament, the day of rest or
Sabbath was kept on the last day of their week, namely, the seventh day or Saturday. The Christians in the days of the
New Testament celebrated the Lord’s Day on the first day of their week, namely, on Sunday. Many Christians in the
world follow their example and celebrate the Lord’s Day on the first day of their week, namely, on Sunday.
But Christians living in difficult countries celebrate the Lord’s Day on their national day of rest, which may be a
Thursday, a Friday or a Saturday, dependent on the culture of their country. What is important is “the purpose of the
Lord’s Day” and not “on which day of the week it is celebrated”.
A. THE LAW IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW TESTAMENT
1. The Law in the Old Testament.
The Old Testament Law may be distinguished in:
(1) The moral law.
The moral law (Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21) is the way in which God wants his saved people to live.
(2) The ceremonial law.
The ceremonial or ritual law (see below) was the way in which God during the Old Testament period wanted his people
(the believers) to approach, worship and serve him.
(3) The civil law.
The civil law for the nation-state of Israel was the way in which God during the Old Testament period wanted Old
Testament people, Israel, to function as a (theocratic) state. It consisted of laws about property, lending and borrowing,
marriage, lawsuits, slavery, war, murder, etc. (Exodus 21:1 to 23:9; Deuteronomy 16:18 to 26:19).
2. The Old Testament Ceremonial Law.
The Old Testament Ceremonial Law stipulated rules and regulations with respect to four areas of worship: holy persons,
holy places, holy times and holy actions.
(1) Holy persons.
These laws were for the priests and the Levites (Exodus chapters 28-29,39; Leviticus chapters 8-10,21-22; Numbers
chapter 8).
© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 11. The Lord’s Day page 1

(2) Holy places.
These laws were for the Tent of Meeting and later the Temple at Jerusalem (Exodus 20:24-26; Exodus chapters
25-27,30,35-38; Leviticus 24:1-9; Deuteronomy 12).
(3) Holy times.
These laws were the appointed day of fasting (Leviticus chapter 16, 23:27; Numbers chapters 28-29; Isaiah 58:1-12;
contrast this with Zechariah 8:19 and Luke 18:12) and the other appointed feasts (Exodus 23:14-19; Leviticus 23:1-44;
Deuteronomy 16:1-17), especially the Sabbath, the Sabbath year and the Year of Jubilee (Exodus 23:10-13; 31:12-17;
Leviticus 25:1-28).
(4) Holy actions.
These laws were for the circumcision (Genesis chapter 17), the purification rites (Leviticus chapters 12-15; Numbers
chapter 19), eating clean foods (Leviticus chapters 11,15; Deuteronomy 14:3-21), offering sacrifices (Leviticus chapters
1-7,22; Numbers 28:1-15), setting aside the firstborn of man and animals and the first fruits of the harvest (Exodus
13:1-16; Numbers 18:14-20; Deuteronomy 15:19-23; cf. Judges 13:7; 1 Samuel 1:28) and bringing three different kinds
of tithes (Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:20-32; Deuteronomy 12:17-19; 14:22-29; cf. 16:16-17).
3. The Law in the New Testament.
(1) The moral law is maintained in the New Testament period.
The moral law is expounded properly in Matthew chapter 5; reiterated in Matthew 22:36-40, Mark 12:30-31 and
Romans 13:8-10; and is the standard for the Christian life in John 13:34-35. The Moral Law remains the way in which
God wants his saved people to live.
(2) The ceremonial law was fulfilled, cancelled and abrogated.
The ceremonial law was fulfilled (Matthew 5:17) at the first coming of Christ and therefore cancelled (Colossians 2:14)
and abrogated (abolished) (Ephesians 2:14-15).
(3) The civil law of the nation-state of Israel was replaced by the principles of the kingdom of God.
It has been replaced by the teachings of Jesus Christ on the Kingdom (Matthew chapters 5,6,7, 13 and 18 and in all the
other parables about the Kingdom). God desires that his people in all the nations of the world function as citizens of the
kingdom of God.
4. What the New Testament teaches about the various parts of the Old Testament Ceremonial
Law.
(1) The Old Testament ceremonial Law was a shadow of the New Testament realities.
Read Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 8:5,13; 10:1. The regulations of the Ceremonial Law were only a shadow of the real
things that were coming. The New Testament books of Romans, Galatians and Hebrews clearly teach how Jesus Christ
fulfilled the Old Testament Ceremonial Law and introduced the realities themselves.
(2) The Old Testament priests were shadows of the New Testament Christ and Christians.
Read Hebrews 7:23-28. For Christians, their only priest is Jesus Christ, because he is perfectly sinless and lives forever.
Only Jesus Christ is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession (Hebrews 3:1), the Shepherd (Pastor) and Overseer
(literally: Bishop) of our souls (1 Peter 2:25), the Chief-Shepherd of the flock of God (1 Peter 5:4). And the New
Testament teaches the priesthood of believers (1 Peter 2:9-10).
(3) The Old Testament temple was a shadow of the New Testament Church.
Read Ephesians 2:21-22 and 1 Peter 2:4-11. For Christians, their only temple is the worldwide body of believers called
the Church.
(4) The Old Testament Sabbath was a shadow of the New Testament day of the Lord.
Read Hebrews 4:1-11.
• The seventh day of the week celebrated the completion of God’s work of creation and the beginning of life on earth.
• But the first day of the week celebrates the completion of God’s work of salvation in Christ and the beginning of the
new (eternal) life.
• For Christians the ultimate Sabbath rest comes when they die and forever live in the visible presence of God
(Christ), initially in heaven and later on the new earth.
The functions of the Old Testament Sabbath were the following:
• one day a week was set apart from daily labour in order to get refreshed (Exodus 23:12)
• to meet together in a sacred assembly (Leviticus 23:3)
• and to do good and save lives (Mark 3:4).
These functions were carried over to the Sunday, the day on which God’s work of salvation through Christ was
completed and on which the new life on earth began.

(5) The Old Testament fasting was a shadow of the New Testament joy.
Read Mark 2: 18-22; John 16:19-22. For Christians the fasting with mourning has been exchanged for celebration and
never-ending joy (Zachariah 8:19), because Jesus Christ had fulfilled everything needed for salvation and is continually
present (Matthew 28:20).
(6) The Old Testament Passover was a shadow of the New Testament Good Friday
and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.
Read 1 Corinthians 5:6-13; 1 Corinthians 11:18-32. For Christians, the Passover lamb is the substitution sacrifice of
atonement of Jesus Christ and they celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast of malice and wickedness, but with
bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). They celebrate the Lord’s Supper regularly in
remembrance of the body and blood of Christ on the cross (1 Corinthians 11:24-26).
(7) The Old Testament circumcision was a shadow of the New Testament rebirth.
Read Romans 2:28-29 and Colossians 2:11. For Christians, their only circumcision is the circumcision of their sinful
hearts through rebirth by the Holy Spirit.
(8) The Old Testament purification rites were a shadow of the New Testament baptism with water.
Read Mark 1:8; John 3:22-25; Acts 10:47-48; Acts 22:16. For Christians the only purification rite is the baptism with
water, which symbolises the baptism with the Spirit (and thus the participation with Christ’s completed work of
salvation, like for example the washing away of sins or the complete forgiveness of sins).
(9) The Old Testament eating of only (ceremonial) clean foods was a shadow
of the New Testament holy life.
Read Mark 7:19; 1 Timothy 4:3-5. For Christians all kinds of food are clean and thus suitable for consumption. In
contrast to Jews and Muslims, the issue for Christians is not “clean or unclean” food, not “what enters the mouth”, but
“the things that come out of the mouth and out of the heart”! “The things that come out of the mouth come from the
heart and these make a man unclean. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immortality,
theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man unclean; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him
unclean” (Matthew 15:18-20)!
(10) The Old Testament sacrifices were a shadow
of the New Testament sacrifice of atonement of Christ.
Read Romans 3:25, Hebrews 2:17; 9:28; 1 John 4:10. For Christians, their only substitution sacrifice is the death of
Jesus Christ on the cross.
(11) The Old Testament firstborn was a shadow
of the complete commitment to Christ in the New Testament.
Read Matthew 6:33; Luke 9:23. For Christians, not only the firstborn (the first-born of animals and the first fruits of the
harvest), but all and everything sanctified by God and dedicated (committed) to him.
(12) The Old Testament tithes were a shadow of the New Testament giving.
Read Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. The three different tithes of the Old Testament revelation were given to support
the temple worship with priests and ceremonies in Jerusalem on the one hand and the social tax for the poor on the other
hand. For Christians the tithes have been replaced by willing and cheerful giving in order to advance the kingdom of
God (and the worldwide Church).
Conclusion. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Christ did not set aside the Law, but fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17) and
changed it (Hebrews 7:12).
• Jesus Christ restored and upheld the Moral Law (the ten Commandments)(Matthew 22:36-40)
• but cancelled the Ceremonial Law with its requirements (Colossians 2:14) and abrogated it (Ephesians 2:14-15).
The ceremonial laws may never again be re-introduced into the Christian Church and thus again cause divisions
between people who keep the ceremonial law and people who do not keep the ceremonial law (Ephesians 2:14-15)!
Note the serious warning: “You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen
away from grace” (Galatians 5:4)!
B. THE SABBATH IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT
1. Keeping the Sabbath was a part of the Old Testament Ceremonial Law.
Discover and discuss. What was God’s purpose with respect to the Sabbath day?
(1) The Old Testament Sabbath – a day separated.
Read Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-14. The Lord gave his people whom he saved from slavery in Egypt Ten
Commandments to keep, not as rules by which they could be saved, but as rules by which they could live as God’s
saved people! The fourth commandment of these Ten Commandments is with respect to “keeping the Sabbath day (the
last day of the week) holy”. The word “holy” means to keep this day separate from the other days of the week and to
dedicate it to the purpose that God has given to that day.

(2) The Old Testament Sabbath – a day of rest.
Read Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 23:12. God’s first purpose with respect to the Sabbath day was to set apart one day from
the other six working days of a week for man to rest and to be refreshed (gain new energy).
(3) The Old Testament Sabbath – a day of assembly.
Read Leviticus 23:3. God’s second purpose with respect to the Sabbath day was to set apart one day from the other six
working days of a week for man to meet God and one another in a sacred assembly.
Thus, the fourth commandment teaches the wisdom of setting aside one day out of every seven days in the week for rest
and refreshment and for worship and service.
2. The Jewish religious leaders and teachers changed the spirit of the Old Testament Law.
Discover and discuss. How did the Jewish religious leaders and teachers change the Old Testament Law?
(1) The Jewish religious leaders changed the fourth commandment.
Read Isaiah 29:13; Mark 2:23 - 3:6. Already during the time of the prophet Isaiah (740-680 B.C.) the religious leaders
of Israel began to produce all kinds of rules for the religious worship. Especially during the 400 year period between the
last book in the Old Testament and the first book of the New Testament, the Jewish religious leaders produced many
new laws, which they said were their interpretation of the laws in the Old Testament.
The Sabbath began with sundown on Friday and ended with sundown of Saturday. The Jewish religious leaders
produced a list of 39 forbidden works on the Sabbath. For example, it was forbidden to do any kind of work on the
Sabbath; that it was forbidden to make a journey on the Sabbath; that is was forbidden to cook food on the Sabbath; that
is was forbidden to carry anything on the Sabbath, etc. They accused the disciples of Jesus, who were also Jews, of
breaking the fourth commandment, because they picked some heads of grain on the Sabbath to eat. “Reaping” was
forbidden on the Sabbath. They taught that man was made to keep the Sabbath. By adding such laws to God’s law the
Jewish religious leaders had changed the law into a heavy load which people could not carry. That is why Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
(2) The Jewish religious leaders changed the whole meaning of the Old Testament Law.
Read Galatians 3:25-27; Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 10:1; Acts 15:1,5; Romans 9:30-33; Matthew 23:3-4. Instead of
viewing the Old Testament Law as a shadow pointing to the reality, the coming Saviour, Jesus Christ, the Jewish
religious leaders and teachers changed the Law into a means of justification (salvation)! They taught that only by
observing the Law could a man be saved (justified in God’s eyes). They meant not only the Old Testament Law, but
also especially the hundreds of law they produced and had added to the law! They especially made circumcision and
keeping the Sabbath indispensable for salvation (Acts 15:1)!
But the Jewish religious leaders were hypocrites, because they themselves did not keep these laws, but expected their
followers to keep them. “They do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s
shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them” (Matthew 23:3-4). They had changed the
Old Testament law into an unbearable burden!
But the Bible warns: “You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away
from grace” (Galatians 5:4).
(3) The Jewish religious leaders exchanged the commands of God for their own traditions.
Read Mark 7:1-13. Jesus said that the Jewish religious leaders and teachers set aside the commands of God in order to
observe their own foolish man-made traditions! They buried the Old Testament law under 365 man-made prohibitions
and 248 man-made commandments (in total 613 traditional laws). Their interpretations of the Old Testament Law was
opposed to what God had intended the Old Testament Law to be.
God had intended the Old Testament Law to be a preparation for the coming Saviour and an illustration pointing to his
coming work of salvation! For example, the sacrificial lamb pointed to the sacrifice of atonement of sin by the Lamb of
God (2 Corinthians 5:7). But the Jewish religious leaders and teachers had changed the Old Testament Law into a
means of salvation. They taught that their obedience of the Law could and would justify them before God! Therefore,
there would not be any need of a Saviour from sins! They taught that the coming Messiah would not be a Saviour from
sins, but a Saviour from the political oppression of Jews by the Gentile nations and that the Messiah would turn the
whole world into a Jewish kingdom. Later other religions in the world followed their example in making the law a
means of salvation. They were all mistaken!
3. The Sabbath as interpreted by Jesus in the New Testament.
Discover and discuss. How does Jesus view the Sabbath?
(1) The Old Testament Sabbath was made to serve man.
Read Mark 2:18-27; Matthew 5:4; Romans 12:15; 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. The ceremonial law was only a shadow of the
future reality that is found in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 10:1). The ceremonial law is represented by the

old wine (the old contents) kept in old wine skins (old forms). The completed work of salvation of Christ is represented
by the new wine (the new contents) that will be (and must be) poured into new wineskins (new forms).
For example: Jesus emphasises that those who are living in his very presence should be feasting with joy instead of
fasting with mourning. They should rejoice instead of mourn. This celebration is a spiritual celebration and inward joy
due to Christ’s fulfilled work of salvation and due to his continual presence. This is not in conflict with mourning
together with other Christians when they suffer!
By his first coming, Jesus Christ ushered in a new order (Hebrews 9:8-11). He brought new contents, namely, the
realities instead of the shadows and these new realities require new forms!
The outward forms of fasting days and Sabbath days belong to the old order. Jesus says, “The Sabbath was made for
man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). The Sabbath was instituted after the creation of man not to be a burden, but
to be a blessing for man. It was not instituted to observe at least 39 man-made laws, but instituted so that man may rest
from his work in the past week and get refreshed and have opportunity to meet other believers in a sacred assembly that
worship God. These were the first two objectives of the Sabbath.
(2) The Old Testament Sabbath was made to serve God.
Read Mark 2:28 - 3:6. Jesus says, “The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” The religious leaders of the Jews
have no authority to lay down the principles that govern the Sabbath day! Only Jesus Christ has that authority! For
example: Whenever there was a genuine need to save lives like in the case of David (1 Samuel 21:1-6; 1 Samuel
22:14-20), or to heal people like in Mark 3:4, then the divinely ordained ceremonial provision of the fourth
commandment (resting on the seventh day) must be ignored. Jesus says, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or
to do evil, to save life or to kill” (Mark 3:4)?
Therefore, the third objective of the Sabbath was to serve God especially by doing good and by saving lives, for
example by feeding and clothing them and by proclaiming the good news to them (Matthew 11:5). The teaching of
Jesus shows that Jesus replaced the ceremonial aspect of the fourth commandment (namely: the seventh day) with wise,
spiritual and constructive principles (to do good and save lives).
The first Christians applied these principles especially to the first day of the week. They called it “the Lord’s Day”,
because the Lord Jesus Christ had fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17) and had completed his work of salvation (the
resurrection and the outpouring of his Spirit) on the first day of the week!
C. THE LORD’S DAY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
• The Old Testament “Sabbath Day” (the seventh day of the week) celebrated the completion of God’s work of
creation and the beginning of life on earth (Genesis 2:1-3).
• The New Testament “Lord’s Day” (the first day of the week) celebrated the completion of God’s work of recreation
(salvation in Jesus Christ) and the beginning of the new and eternal life for Christians on earth (Luke 24:1-8;
Romans 6:4-7)!
The Lord’s Day is very important for Christians, because all the great history of salvation events took place on the first
day of the week! During the New Testament period of time, the first day of the week was “a Sunday”.
Discover and discuss. Why is the Lord’s Day so important in the New Testament?
1. Jesus Christ was resurrected on the first day of the week.
(1) The New Testament “Lord’s Day” is the day that Christ was resurrected.
Read Matthew 28:1. The Gospels state very clearly that “after the Sabbath” (the seventh day, Saturday), “very early in
the morning of the first day of the week (Sunday)”, the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead.
(2) The New Testament “Lord’s Day” is the day that certified Christ’s completed work of salvation.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Hebrews 2:14; Philippians 2:8-11. The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ proved that sin
and death and the devil had been conquered! The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is God’s certification to the world
that he has accepted the atoning sacrifice of Jesus for sinners and has given Christ the highest place in the universe.
(3) The New Testament Lord’s Day is the day that ushered in the New Testament period of realities.
Read Hebrews 8:6,13; 10:1.
• The death of Jesus Christ terminated the Old Testament revelation.
• The resurrection of Jesus Christ ushered in New Testament revelation.
In the New Testament period the Old Testament shadows (illustrations or types) and prophecies have been fulfilled in
Jesus Christ and the Old Testament salvation history has been brought to an end! Also the Old Testament seventh day
(as part of the Old Testament ceremonial law) has been fulfilled and thus cancelled and abrogated (abolished). In the
New Testament period the New Testament realities are being revealed.
For example:
• The death of Jesus Christ fulfilled and replaced the Old Testament animal sacrifices (Hebrews 10:8-10).

• The Lord’s Supper replaced the Old Testament Passover that commemorated that God graciously passed over sins
when he saw the blood of the sacrifice of atonement (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
• The baptism with water replaced circumcision as the visible sign of the invisible baptism with the Spirit and entering
God’s covenant of grace (Romans 2:28-29; Colossians 2:11-12; Galatians 3:26-29; cf. Genesis 17:7,10-11).
• The heavenly high priesthood of Jesus Christ in the order of Melchizedek fulfilled and replaced the earthly
priesthood in the order of Aaron (Hebrews 7:11-28).
• The crucifixion of Jesus Christ fulfilled and replaced the function of the curtain of the temple (Matthew 27:51) and
thereby abolished the temple and temple service completely (John 2:19-22; Colossians 2:14; Ephesians 2:14-15) and
replaced it with the Church and its service in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).
• And the principles of the kingdom of God replaced the civil laws of the theocratic nation-state of Israel (Matthew
5-7; 8:10-12; 13:40-43; 21:42-44).
• But note: God’s Old Testament people, Israel, was not terminated or replaced by the New Testament Church, but
was continued on a higher level (in which the Law and the Prophets were no longer shadows, but were fulfilled and
have become the realities) and was extended (enlarged) to include the believers in Jesus Christ in all the nations on
earth (Romans 1:16; 10:12-13; Ephesians 2:11-22; 3:2-6; 1 Peter 2:4-10).
• Likewise, the Lord’s Day (the first day of the week) replaced the Sabbath (the seventh day of the week) as the day to
keep separate (holy) from the other days!
In the Old Testament, the last day of the week (the seventh day of the week) took on special importance as the day
commemorating God’s completion of his work of creation (cf. Genesis 2:2-3). Believers rested from their weekly work
and met together in a sacred assembly.
In the New Testament, the first day of the week took on special importance as the day commemorating God’s
completion of his work of recreation (salvation) (cf. John 19:30; 20:1)! The believers met together to worship God, to
celebrate the Lord’s Supper, to preach the Word, to pray , to fellowship with one another and do good works outside the
Church and save lives.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ was God’s convincing proof that God had accepted Christ’s completed (finished) work
of salvation. It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that has made the first day of the week (Sunday) so important.
The fourth commandment concerning keeping the Sabbath holy was partly ceremonial and therefore there had to be a
change in the Old Testament symbol of the Sabbath day (cf. “ necessary change of the law” in Hebrews 7:12). The Old
Testament symbol (the seventh day) was replaced by the New Testament symbol (the first day of the week).
• The seventh day celebrated the completion of bringing about God’s creation and the beginning of life on earth.
• The first day of the week celebrated the completion of bringing about Christ’s recreation (salvation) and the
beginning of eternal life.
Therefore the first day of the week received greater significance than the seventh day. It symbolised the triumph of
Jesus Christ through his resurrection from the dead! The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ fulfilled the shadows,
illustrations (types), prophecies and history of the Old Testament revelation, and thus triumphed over the whole Old
Testament Law and Prophets, including the ceremonial aspects of the Sabbath commandment.
2. The resurrected Lord Jesus Christ appeared to people on the first day of the week.
Read Mark 16:9-14; John 20:26. Other facts show that the first day of the week (Sunday) is very important in the New
Testament. On the first day of the week (Sunday) that he was resurrected,
• Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene “early on the first day of the week” (Mark 16:9; John 20:11-18)
• and to the other women (Matthew 28:9)
• He appeared to Peter during the afternoon (Luke 24:35; 1 Corinthians 15:5)
• He appeared to two other disciples of Christ on their way to Emmaus when it was “nearly evening” (Luke 24:29).
• He appeared to ten of his disciples and their friends “on the evening of the first day of the week” (Luke 24:33,36;
John 20:19). Because the Gospel of John was written much later than the Synoptic Gospels, John did not reckon
with the Jewish calendar in which the new day began at sundown. This was the first appearance of Jesus Christ
to a Christian church.
• He appeared to eleven of his disciples (this time with Thomas) one week later also on the first day of the week
(John 20:26).
3. The Holy Spirit was poured out on the first day of the week.
Read Acts 2:1; Leviticus 23:15-16. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost was also on the first day
of the week (Sunday).
4. The New Testament Church was founded on the first day of the week.
Read Acts 2:42. The first Christian church was founded on Pentecost in Jerusalem. God made the first day of the week
(Sunday) a very special day, because Jesus Christ was resurrected on Sunday, he appeared to his followers on Sunday,
he poured out his Spirit on Sunday and founded the first church on Sunday!

5. Christians continued to meet together on the first day of the week.
(1) The Jewish Christians met together on the first day of the week (Sunday).
Read Acts 2:42; 21:20-21; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. Before Pentecost the Christian community from among the Jews
celebrated the Sabbath Day (Saturday) together with other Jews, because they felt themselves to be Jews. They gathered
together to read the Old Testament, to listen to preaching and to pray. However there is no reference in the New
Testament that the Jewish Christians celebrated the Lord’s Supper on the seventh day.
But after Pentecost the Christian community from among the Jews also began to celebrate “the Lord’s Day” (Sunday)
apart from the other Jews. They gathered together to read the Scriptures that consisted of the Law, the Prophets and the
Writings and the Gospels and the Letters of the apostles (2 Peter 3:1-2,15-16), to fellowship, to the breaking of bread
and to prayer (Acts 2:42).
(2) The Gentile Christians met together on the first day of the week (Sunday).
Read Acts 20:5-12; 1 Corinthians 16:2. They met together for worship, for the Lord’s Supper, for preaching and
teaching the Word, for conversation about the things of God and for bringing their gifts of money!
(3) Christians throughout history continued to meet on the first day of the week (Sunday).
Read Revelation 1:10. The phrase the Lord’s Day in Revelation 1:10, always refers to the first day of the week in the
writings of the early church fathers and even in Modern Greek. Thus, the Christian community continued to meet
together on the first day of the week (Sundays) and they called this day “the Lord’s Day”.
Summarise. Thus, from the time of the New Testament, the first day of the week (Sunday) is recognised by Christians
as the day to meet for worship, for celebrating the Lord’s Supper, for preaching and for conversations about the things
of God.
Only a few hundred years later, Constantine, the Caesar of the Roman Empire, made the first day of the week (Sunday)
the official day of rest for the whole Roman Empire. But his decision has no biblical authority. Because Jesus Christ
had fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17) Christians in other cultures may celebrate the Lord’s Day on their national day of
rest or worship, which may be any day of the week. What is important is the purpose of the Lord’s Day and not on
which day of the week it is celebrated!
D. THE PURPOSE OF THE LORD’S DAY
Introduce. In the Bible, the seventh day of the week (Saturday) was called “the Sabbath Day” and the first day of the
week (Sunday) was called “the Lord’s Day”. There is no explicit command in the New Testament to keep the first day
of the week (the Lord’s Day) like the Old Testament seventh day of the week (the Sabbath). There is also no explicit
prohibition in the New Testament to keep the first day of the week (the Lord’s Day) like the Old Testament seventh day
(the Sabbath). Christians throughout the ages and in all countries have kept the spirit of the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11).
• Christians have retained the wise principles in the contents of the fourth commandment (to rest, to get refreshed, to
meet together, to do good and to save lives)
• but have abolished the form of the fourth commandment(the seventh day of the week) and replaced it with the first
day of the week!
Because there is no explicit command to keep the first day of the week (the Lord’s Day) like the Old Testament seventh
day of the week (the Sabbath), the following are just guidelines for Christians what they should do or leave on the day
of the Lord. However, these activities may not become “new laws” or “a burden” for Christians.
1. The purpose of the Lord’s Day is to celebrate with joy the completion of the salvation work of
Christ (his resurrection, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and his continual presence).
2. The purpose of the Lord’s Day is to rest from work, to grow spiritually, fellowship with other
Christians and to worship and serve God.
(1) Christians may use “the day of the Lord” for themselves
to meet God and grow spiritually in righteousness and holiness.
Read Isaiah 56:6-7; Isaiah 58:13-14. The purpose of the Lord’s Day is not that you go your own way and do what you
please, but to do the will of the Lord and please him. Christians should find their joy, not in themselves, but in the Lord.
The purpose of the Lord’s Day is to love God, to worship and to serve him with righteousness and holiness!
(2) Christians may meet God together with other Christians on “the Lord’s Day”.
Read Leviticus 23:3; Acts 2:42; 20:5-12; Hebrews 10:24-25. The purpose of the Lord’s Day is to have a sacred
assembly, to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, to preach and teach God’s Word, to have conversations with one another
about the Bible, to pray and to have fellowship with one another, to pray and to fellowship together.
(3) Christians may be actively involved “on the Lord’s day” in doing good and saving lives.
Read Mark 3:4; Isaiah 58:6-12; Luke 4:16-21. The purpose of the Lord’s Day is not to be idle (to not work), but to do
good and to save lives. For example, help people by feeding and clothing them, preaching the Gospel to them or to
deliver them (from occult powers and false teachings).

(4) Christians may rest on the Lord’s Day from their work.
Read Exodus 23:12; Mark 2:18-27. The purpose of the Lord’s Day is that Christians rest from their normal six days of
work and be refreshed. It is a good time for Christians to reflect on their own lives, to relax, and to meet with family and
friends. The purpose of the Lord’s Day is to help man instead of being a burden to man.
3. The purpose of “the day of the Lord” is to live every day with a view to eternity.
Read Hebrews 4:9-11; Revelation 14:13. “There remains then a Sabbath-rest for the people of God”. It does not say: “a
Sabbath day”, but “a Sabbath-rest”! This passage does not teach the observance of the seventh day of the week
(Saturday) as a day of rest an Old Testament Sabbath). It teaches that the eternal rest, still lies ahead of Christians on
earth. “The Sabbath-rest” is a term for heaven or the new heaven and the new earth. When Christians have finished their
life and work on earth, they will enter God’s rest and rest from their work on earth (Revelation 14:13), just like God
rested from his creation work on earth. Because Christians know that this eternal rest lies ahead of them in the future,
they make every effort to trust and obey God here on earth!
They must not fail to enter God’s Sabbath-rest by unbelief and disobedience as the Israelites did. Not just on “the
Lord’s Day”, but on every day of their lives Christians look forward with joyful anticipation to the eternal rest that
remains for the people of God! This explains why the above-mentioned purposes of the Lord’s Day are not to be
restricted to this one day in the week. The goals are:
• to love, worship and serve God
• to meet together as Christians to spur one another on to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25)
• to study, discuss, preach and teach God’s Word
• to do good works (Galatians 6:9-10)
• to save lives (Mark 3:4)
• to make disciples (Matthew 28:19)
These activities are also for every day of the week!


6 FOR NEXT LESSON
2. Preach, teach or study the teaching of “The Lord’s Day - the day of rest, fellowship and service” together with
4. Memorisation. Review key verses in John. (1) John 1:14; (2) John 1:15; (3) John 2:25; (4) John 3:16; (5) John
4:24. Daily review the last 5 memorised Bible verses.

CHURCH. LESSON 12
PRAYER
1


3 REVIEW KEY VERSES IN JOHN
Review two by two the last 5 memorised Bible verses from John.
1. John 1:14. The Word became flesh (that is, took on the human nature) and made his dwelling among us. We have
seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only (that is, the Only begotten) who came from the Father, full of grace and
truth.
2. John 1:16. From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
3. John 2:25. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.
4. John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life.
5. John 4:24. God is Spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.

4 JOHN 4:1-54
Christ, revealing himself to the Samaritans. John 4:43-54 describes Jesus Christ, revealing himself to the Galileans.
There are some remarkable differences between John chapter 3 and John chapter 4. In John chapter 3, Jesus speaks to a
man (Nicodemus), who was a Jew and who occupied a high moral position. But in John chapter 4, Jesus speaks to a
woman, who was a Samaritan and who lived a low moral life.


4:10
Discovery 1. The difference between ordinary water and the living water that Jesus gives.
In John 4:10, Jesus says, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him
and he would have given you living water”. When Jesus spoke of the living water, the Samaritan woman thought that
Jesus was speaking of ordinary water, which she could draw out of the well. She thought that Jesus was referring to the
spring-water that bubbles up at the very bottom of the well, below the standing water in the well. Therefore she
remarked that Jesus had no bucket with a rope to bring up this water.
Apparently the patriarch Jacob dug this well and the woman questioned whether Jesus was greater than Jacob was.
However, Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give

him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Jesus
was speaking of the living water, namely salvation, which the Holy Spirit would work in her. He contrasted the ordinary
physical water with the living spiritual water. When you drink of ordinary water, you will always become thirsty again,
but when you drink the living water (salvation) that Jesus gives, you will have lasting satisfaction. The ordinary water
remains outside your soul and can therefore never fulfil the needs of your soul. But the living water (salvation and all its
blessings) will enter your soul and fulfil its deepest needs. The ordinary water will always disappear after you drink it.
But like a never-ending fountain or spring, the living water of Jesus will never fail to refresh and satisfy you.
Discovery 2. How Jesus wins the woman to believe in him.

In Proverbs 11:30 is written, “He who wins souls is wise”. Jesus gives us an example of how he won the soul of the
Samaritan woman. On his way from Judea to Galilee, Jesus had to pass through Samaria. There, one afternoon he sat,
tired and thirsty at a well, while his disciples had gone to buy food in a nearby town. Here he talked to an immoral
Samaritan woman in order to win her soul into his kingdom.
(1) Jesus appealed to her sympathy by asking her for a drink of water from her jar. A very effective way of
gaining entrance into the heart of another person is by giving that person an opportunity to do you a favour or by doing
a favour to him. Jesus combined both ways. He asked her for ordinary water and offered to give her living water.
(2) Jesus aroused her curiosity by saying to her, “If you only knew the gift of God and the One who asks
you for a drink”. The woman assumed that Jesus was a (self-satisfied) Jew and in need of help and that she (in his eyes
a despised) Samaritan woman was self-sufficient and able to help him. However, Jesus turned the tables and said that
she is really the needy person, who needs the living water and that he is the Fountain that can supply it. This aroused her
curiosity. The way to arouse people’s curiosity is to tell them who God is and what he wants to give.
(3) Jesus stimulated her desire for satisfaction by saying to her, “Whoever drinks the water I give him
will never thirst. The water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life”. Jesus contrasted
the ordinary water with the living water. When you drink of ordinary water, you will always become thirsty again. The
water remains outside your soul and can therefore never fulfil the needs of your soul. It always disappears after you
drink it. However, when you drink the living water, which Jesus gives, then you will have lasting satisfaction. It will
enter your soul and fulfil its deepest needs. It will be like a never-ending spring, which never fails to refresh and satisfy
you. A way to stimulate a person’s desire for eternal life is to contrast it with ordinary life.
(4) Jesus awakened her conscience by asking her to bring her husband. Jesus knew that a thirst for the
living water would not be truly awakened in her unless she had a personal awareness of sin. When Jesus mentioned her
husband, she felt guilty, because she did not have a husband. She was living an immoral life. The way to awaken a true
desire for salvation is to help people realise their sins.
(5) Jesus revealed little by little who he was. Just as his self-disclosure advances gradually, so the
woman’s confession (concerning her failures, idols and slavery) advances gradually. She first sees him as a Jew, then as
a prophet and finally as the Messiah!

GROUP?
question.)
4:20-24
Question 1. What is true spiritual worship?
Notes.
(1) The place where Christians worship God.
The Samaritans and the Jews thought that it was very important where you worshipped God. They believed that they
needed a building and it had to stand in their own country. The Jews believed that God had to be worshipped in the
temple in Jerusalem. The Samaritans believed that God had to be worshipped in the temple on Mount Gerezim. Think
of all the temples in India, the mosque in Turkey and the church buildings in Europe. But Jesus answered, “The time is
coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. A time is coming and has now
come, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the
Father seeks”. Jesus teaches that it is not the place, where we worship, but the attitude, with which we worship, and the
truth, according to which we worship, that is important! Therefore, true worship is not hampered by physical

considerations, but rather by the wrong attitude in the heart and the lies in the head through which they worship.
Christians may worship God the Father everywhere, in their houses, in church buildings, in prisons, and in the open air.
(2) The truth according to which Christians worship.
The attitude with which our mind worships is determined by the truth concerning the Object of our worship. We
worship God. But what is the truth about God? The truth about God is not anything that people (even religious people)
say or believe about God, but it is everything that God reveals about himself in the creation and in the Bible (Psalm 19).
God has revealed to us who he is and what he is like. God has revealed to us his characteristics, his words and his deeds
(Hebrews 1:1-2).
One of the truths that God has revealed to us is that God is Spirit. God is in his essence completely spiritual. He is not a
stone-, tree-, mountain- or a temple deity, so that he needs to be worshipped in idols cut out of stone, or under a certain
tree, or on a certain mountain, or at a certain temple.
God is not a deity to be understood (defined) in terms of a mathematical number or physical laws of matter, energy,
space and time of this universe, because God is perfectly Spirit and transcends the mathematical and physical realities
which he created. God is not the Deity of a specific religion or the Deity according to the view of one prophet or
founder or leader. The only God that exists has revealed himself within his own creation and within human history
through all the Old Testament prophets and finally by taking on the human nature and revealing himself in Jesus Christ.
God has revealed himself visibly to:
• Abraham in a vision (Genesis 15:1)
• Hagar and Ishmael in the Angel of the LORD (Genesis 16:7-13)
• Moses in a burning bush (Exodus 3:2-6)
• Abraham in three men (Genesis 18:1-14)
• The man Jesus Christ (John 1:1,14; John 14:9-10).
Without letting go of his divine nature, God took on also the human nature and entered his own creation and human
history in the Lord Jesus Christ.
God needs to be worshipped according to how he has revealed himself in the Bible. God is completely spiritual in his
nature. This means, that he has no physical body and normally cannot be seen by people. He is unique. He alone is God
(Deuteronomy 6:4). Another “god” or “saviour” does not exist (Isaiah 43:10-11)! He is independent and does not have
to be served by people (Acts 17:24-25). He is a personal Being and people need to relate to God in a personal way.
People cannot dissolve in or become one with God in a pantheistic way. God must be worshipped sincerely as he has
revealed himself in the creation, in the Bible and in Jesus Christ.
In John 4:24 Jesus says, “God is Spirit and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth”. Therefore, true worship
is directed to the true God as he has revealed himself in his creation, in the Bible and as he has displayed himself in the
work of salvation.
(3) The spirit with which Christians worship.
The attitude with which our spirits worship is determined by our obedience to God’s truth regarding the method of
worship. Many religious people believe that the method of worship consists of prescribed prayer positions, fixed
prayers or mantras, prescribed places of worship, special religious festivals, and religious laws about clothing, eating,
drinking and fasting, pilgrimages to holy places and giving money. For example, the Jews prayed standing with uplifted
hands or kneeled while facing Jerusalem, made three pilgrimages to Jerusalem every year, ate no unclean food, fasted
twice every week, and had to give three different kinds of tithes of their income!
However, not every kind of worship is pleasing to God! Not any and every method of worship may be employed in the
Church. For example, in Isaiah 1:13-15, God says, “Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to
me,... I cannot bear your evil assemblies, ... your festivals my soul hates, ... even if you offer many prayers, I will not
listen.” Therefore, Christians should not make an outward display of their worship, but their worship should be inward.
Christians should worship God with a forgiving spirit, by confessing their sins, by surrendering their lives, by
dedicating themselves and by praising and thanking God for who he is and what he has done. Therefore, true worship
involves the whole inward man as well as his daily life-style.
(4) The humility with which Christians worship.
John 4:23 says that the worshippers in spirit and truth are the kind of worshippers God the Father seeks. It does not
mean that the Father searches for individuals who make themselves such worshippers. Rather, it means that the Father
yearns to make the people that he saved into such worshippers! God the Father has taken the initiative in seeking and
saving people (Luke 19:10). He is also taking the initiative to complete that salvation (Philippians 1:6) by making the
saved people into people that worship in truth and in spirit.
4:27
Question 2. Why were the disciples surprised to find Jesus talking to a woman?
Notes.

In John 4:27, the disciples were amazed that Jesus was talking to a woman. They were amazed, because the Jewish
rabbis taught, “Let no one talk with a woman in the street, not even with his own wife”.
Many religious teachers today lay very heavy burdens on their women. They teach that women exist only to please
men; that women must dress in a particular prescribed way; that women should always stay at home; that men may not
talk to other women; that a man may marry several women; that a man may divorce his wives for any reason; that a man
may beat his wife and even kill his wife!
Jesus Christ changed the culture in the world with respect to women! He illustrated to his disciples what true
emancipation of women meant. True emancipation of women does not mean that Christians ignore the differences God
has created between men and women. It also does not mean that Christians disobey the different responsibilities God
has given to men and women in marriage and in the Church. In the eyes of God, the soul of a woman is equally as
precious as the soul of a man (Galatians 3:28). And her contributions in the home and in the Church are equally as
valuable. And her dignity in society is equally as important. The motives of Jesus with respect to women were always
pure and noble. Although the disciples were surprised to find Jesus talking to a woman, nobody asked, “What do you
desire of her?” The answer would have been, “To receive from her a drink of ordinary water”. And nobody asked,
“Why are you talking with her?” The answer would have been, “To give to her the living water!” Jesus always treated
women with respect and kindness.
4:35-38
Question 3. What does Jesus teach about the relationship between sowers and reapers?
Notes.
(1) The ones who sow in this Bible passage are Jesus and the Samaritan woman.
Jesus had won the soul of the Samaritan woman. She in turn went to win the souls of the people living in her town.
When the Samaritan woman arrived in the town, about ten minutes walking from the well, she did not say that Jesus is
the Messiah, but challenged the people to investigate for themselves. She said, “Come and see ...”, just as Jesus did to
his first two disciples. She said, “This man told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” Just like the
Jews, the Samaritans expected the Messiah to be the Prophet of Deuteronomy 18:18-19. And so a crowd of people
rushed out immediately and made their way to Jesus.
(2) The spiritual harvest does not have a specific season.
In the mean time, Jesus spoke to his disciples and said, “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest?’ ”
The ordinary harvest in this region took place in April. Therefore, the time Jesus met the Samaritan woman was
December. This must have been December A.D. 27. In December the physical harvest of grain was not yet ripe for
harvest.
But the spiritual harvest of people does not have a specific season for the harvest! It is always ripe for the harvest! In
this case, there was hardly any time between the sowing of the seed of the gospel and the reaping of the crop for eternal
life! Jesus saw the procession of Samaritans coming from the town and across the fields towards the well and said, “I
tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” Jesus clearly implied that he was sending his
disciples to harvest these people into his kingdom. Right here the prophecy in Amos 9:13 was being fulfilled. The
prophet Amos had prophesied, “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when the reaper will be overtaken by the
ploughman and the planter by the one treading grapes!” There will be no time left between sowing and reaping!
(3) The reapers in this Bible passage are the disciples.
In John 4:38, Jesus says, “I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you
have reaped the benefits of their labour”. Both Jesus and the Samaritan woman had been working among the Samaritans
- Jesus indirectly, via the Samaritan woman, and she, in turn, directly, among her townspeople. Now the Lord Jesus
Christ sent his disciples to reap the crop of people for eternal life.
(4) In the spiritual realm the usual pattern is that one person reaps where another person has sown.
In John 4:37, Jesus says, “The saying, ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.” Each worker in the kingdom of God is at
the same time a reaper and a sower. He reaps that which has been sown by others. And he sows the seed, which brings
forth a harvest that will be gathered by others. Therefore, in God’s sovereign plan, there will always be a harvest to
reap! Either you yourself may have the joy of reaping a harvest, or you may have the joy of knowing that another
worker will harvest where you have sown! In this way, the sower and the reaper will be glad together. Christian workers
may always rejoice in their work of sowing or reaping. The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my
dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know
that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.” This is a fulfilment of Isaiah 55:10-11, “As the rain and the snow come
down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields
seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my Word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Be convinced of the truth: “There will
always be a harvest!”

4:44-45
Question 4. Why does Jesus go to Galilee, his home country, when he knows that a prophet has
no honour in his home country?
Notes. In Matthew 13:53-58 Jesus came to his hometown Nazareth in Galilee. The people rejected him and Jesus also
said, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honour”. Galilee was the home country of Jesus.
When he was in Jerusalem, many people believed in him, because of the miracles they saw. After he had cleansed the
temple, he had his first clash with the Pharisees. Jesus went to Galilee on purpose, because in Galilee he need not fear
that people would honour him in a way that would bring him into immediate collision with the Pharisees and thus create
a premature crisis. The Galileans welcomed him, because he was a miracle worker (verse 45). But they did not thereby
honour him (verse 48). And unless they saw miracles, they would also not believe. When Jesus taught them that unless
they receive him into their hearts and lives by abiding faith, they would not receive eternal life, many of the Galileans
also left him (John 6:66).

Consider: WHICH POSSIBLE APPLICATION DOES GOD WANT YOU TO TURN INTO A PERSONAL
APPLICATION?

4:1. Go and make disciples, like Jesus himself did (Matthew 28:19).
4:7. Take the initiative to make contact with people by asking them a favour or by doing them a favour.
4:10. Arouse the curiosity of people by telling them about God and what God can give.
4:13-14. Stimulate the desire of people for spiritual realities by contrasting it with the physical realities.
4:16-18. Awaken a true desire for salvation by helping people to realise their sins.
4:19. Reveal little by little to people who Jesus Christ is, so that you do not overwhelm them with too much truth.
4:21-24. Worship God with the right attitude of mind. Worship the God, who has revealed himself in the Bible.
4:21-24. Worship God with the right attitude of spirit. Worship God, not in outward ceremonies, but in sincerity.
4:27. Treat women as you treat men, with respect and without oppressive discrimination.
4:32,34. Eat ordinary food, but never neglect to eat spiritual food: to do God’s will and to finish the work, which God
has assigned.
4:37-38. Sow the gospel wherever you can and reap people into God’s kingdom whenever you can.
4:42. Make sure that your faith in Jesus Christ is not only built on what other people say, but on your personal faith
and experience with Jesus Christ.
4:44. When you are not honoured as a preacher in your own town, go to another town (Matthew 10:11-15).
4:48-53. Accept that you are more blessed when you have not seen Jesus or his miracles and nevertheless believe
(John 20:29).
2. Example of personal applications from John 4:1-54.
I want to be a finisher just like Jesus. I have started to believe in Jesus Christ and I want to continue to trust him, no
matter the difficulties I face. Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work”. I too
want to dedicate myself to the will of God and to finish the work God has given me to do.
I want to rejoice even if I only sow in some people’s lives, but not reap. I also want to rejoice even if I only reap what
other people have sown. I want to be content with the task God has given me. Sometimes I sow and other times I reap. I
know that in God’s sovereign plan, there will always be a harvest to reap! Either I myself will have the joy of reaping a
harvest, or I may have the joy of knowing that another worker will harvest where I have sown! In this way, the sower
and the reaper will be glad together.


5 PRAY FOR OTHERS

6 FOR NEXT LESSON
4. Memorisation. Meditate and memorise the new Bible verse (series F). (1) Both believers: 2 Corinthians 6:14. Daily
review the last 5 memorised Bible verses.

CHURCH. SUPPLEMENT 1
[CHRIST]
A PROPHECY ABOUT THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT (ISAIAH 52:13 – 53:12)
The prophet Isaiah recorded this prophecy more than 700 years B.C. Such a prophecy is not found in any other religion
or in human history! The prophecy is divided into 5 stanzas of 3 verses each. It descends from exaltation to the depths
of suffering and rises again to the height of exaltation. The verses are translated directly from the Hebrew.
Emphasis.
Jesus was crucified as a punishment for out sins (Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12).
The New Testament revelation clearly teaches that this prophecy about the Servant of the LORD has been fulfilled in
the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ “committed no sin and no deceit was found in his mouth” (compare Isaiah 53:5 with
1 Peter 2:22). Christ was the sheep led to the slaughter (compare Isaiah 53:7-8 with Acts 8:32-33). Christ gave his life
as a ransom for many (compare Isaiah 53:10 with Mark 10:45). Christ was made to be sin for us so that in him we might
become the righteousness of God (compare Isaiah 53:10-11 with 2 Corinthians 5:21). Christ was delivered over to death
for our sins and was raised to life for our justification (compare Isaiah 53:11-12 with Romans 4:25). Christ suffered,
died and was raised from the dead (compare Isaiah 53:5 with Mark 10:32-34). Christ had to suffer these things and then
enter his glory (Luke 24:26).
A. STANZA 1. ISAIAH 52:13-15.
JESUS CHRIST WOULD BE EXALTED (ELEVATED) ONLY THROUGH SUFFERING.
Prophecy. 1
The first stanza introduces the theme of the prophecy. “The coming Messiah will be exalted only through suffering.”
In this stanza, the LORD himself is speaking.
1. Verse 13 describes his exaltation.
52:13. Translation: “See, My servant will be prosperous (Hebrew: shkl, Q), He will be raised (Hebrew; rum, Q) and
lifted up (Hebrew: ns’, Pi), and exalted (Hebrew: gbh, Q) highly (Hebrews: me’od).”
Verse 13 describes his exaltation, that is, his resurrection, ascension and enthronement to the right hand of God (Acts
3:13; Philippians 2:9-11). His struggle will be crowned with victory, his labour will see results.
2. Verse 14 describes his humiliation.
52:14. Translation: “Just as there were many who were appalled at him (Hebrew: shmm, Q), so disfigured (Hebrew:
mishchat) beyond that of any man his appearance (Hebrew: mare’hu), and his form (Hebrew: to’ar) beyond other
humans.”
Verse 14 describes his humiliation, that is, the maltreatment by people who made him almost unrecognisable (Mark
14:65; Mark 15:15,17,19; John 19:1-5).
3. Verse 15 describes his glorification.
52:15. Translation: “so will he sprinkle/spray (cause them to jump up) (Hebrew: nzh, Hi) many nations, because of him
kings will shut (Hebrew: qpts, Q) their mouths, what they were not told (Hebrew: spr, Pu), they will see, and what they
have not heard, they will give attention to (investigate)(Hebrew: bin, Hitpol).
Verse 15 describes his glorification. It compares his humiliation in verse 14 with his future glorious exaltation above
everyone. The word “sprinkle” may also be translated “jump up”. Nations and kings will jump up in utter bewilderment
and silently marvel at beholding his impressive appearance (cf. Isaiah 49:7; cf. Job 29:9-10; Psalm 22:29). They will
see, hear and understand things, which were never told to them before – namely, the gospel and the New Testament
teachings. Many people will marvel at God’s revelation, when they will see the astonishing change in the lot of Jesus
Christ (his death to his resurrection) at his first coming.
Fulfilment.
The New Testament revelation records the maltreatment of Jesus (John 19:1-3), but does not record how Jesus looked
like after they had ill-treated him.
The New Testament revelation clearly teaches that he was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven and sat at the
right hand of God as King of the universe. “The many” who were appalled at his suffering are surpassed by “the many”
1
“Revelation 19:10 says, “The testimony of Jesus Christ (the testimony give by Jesus Christ) (1 Peter 1:9-12) (and Jesus Christ as the contents of this
testimony) (Revelation 12:17) is the spirit (essence) of prophecy.” Prophecy is NOT making arbitrary predictions (Jeremiah 23:16-40).
© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Supplement 1. Prophecy Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 page 1

who came to know him after his glorification – They are an uncountable number of people from every nation including
their high ranking kings.
B. STANZA 2. ISAIAH 53:1-3.
JESUS CHRIST WOULD BE DESPISED AND REJECTED BY MEN.
Prophecy.
The second stanza describes the humiliation of Jesus Christ. He will be treated with unbelief, contempt and mockery
(abuse). Here, the prophet Isaiah is speaking as representative of the true people of God.
1. Verse 1 says that in the religious area he would be treated with unbelief.
53:1. Translation: “Who has believed what we have heard? The arm (power) of the LORD to whom has this been
revealed (Hebrew: glh, Hitp)?”
Verse 1 says that in the religious area he would be snubbed with unbelief. Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12 is a direct revelation
from the LORD. No man would ever have been able to devise such a plan of salvation. It was God’s purpose that this
revelation would be received by faith, but both the prophet Isaiah and the Messiah would encounter much unbelief –
this was confirmed in the New Testament (John 12:37-38); Romans 10:16).
2. Verse 2 says that in the social area he would be despised.
53:2. Translation: “He grew up (Hebrew: >lh) as a tender shoot (Hebrew: joneq) before his (the LORD’s) countenance,
as a root (Hebrew: shoresh) out of ground (Hebrew: >erets) dry (Hebrew: tsijah); no form (Hebrew: to<ar) he had and
no decoration/beauty (Hebrew: hadar); as we looked at him (Hebrew: r<h, Ni), there was no figure/shape (Hebrew:
mar<eh) that we should desire him (Hebrew: chmd, Ni).
Verse 2 says that in the social area he would be despised. It describes the low descent of the Messiah. He would be born
from a generation that previously was a tree (the royal house of David), but later that would only be a stump covered
with dirt (the insignificant house of Joseph and Mary) (Isaiah 11:1). His own family and nation did not give him any
power or greatness. He had no particular physical beauty and his outward appearance did not cause people to feel
naturally attracted to him. Nevertheless, from his conception (Isaiah 49:1) he would grow up before the LORD’s eyes.
The LORD would watch over him and see to it that he would reach his destiny (cf. Luke 2:52)!
Physically he would have no outward beauty or attraction (see David, 1 Samuel 16:18).
3. Verse 3 says that in the physical area he would be abused.
53:3. Translation: “He was despised (Hebrew: bzh, Ni), rejected (Hebrew: chdl, K) by people, a Man of sorrows
/suffering/pain (Hebrew: mak<ob), familiar with (Hebrew: jd>, Pu) sickness (Hebrew: choli); and as One from whom
men hide (Hebrew: str, Ni) the face. He was despised (Hebrew: bzh, Ni) and we did not count (Hebrew: chshb, Ni) him.
Verse 3 says that in the physical area he would be maltreated. Although he would identify himself with the oppressed
and sick in the nation, he would be maltreated by people to the extent that people would hardly recognise him (Isaiah
52:14). The prophet Isaiah, as representative of his people, prophesies that Israel would not acknowledge or regard him.
Fulfilment.
The ancestors of Jesus according to his human nature were no great saints: Judah committed adultery with Tamar,
Salmon married the prostitute Rahab, Boaz married the Moabite Ruth and king David committed adultery with
Bathsheba (Matthew 1:3,5,6).
Jesus was raised in Nazareth in the despised province of Galilee (where Gentiles lived) (Mark 1:9; cf. John 1:46). God
revealed himself through Jesus Christ and yet he was treated with much unbelief in Galilee (Luke 4:29), in Transjordan
(Luke 8:37a) and in Judea (John 2:18; 5:16; 6:66; 7:12,20, etc.). His own hometown took offence at him (Mark 6:3).
His own brothers did not believe in him (John 7:5). He lived in a time that Israel as God’s people was dry and dead
(Matthew 21:43) and the house of David had not ruled for a very long time.
No one felt naturally attracted to him (Isaiah 53:1-3). The Jewish leaders of the Sanhedrin spat in his face and struck
him with fists (Matthew 26:67). The Roman soldiers took his clothes off, spat on him, pressed a crown of thorns on his
head and struck him on his head again and again with a staff (Matthew 27:27-30). He was so marred that people could
not look on his disfigured face!
C. STANZA 3. ISAIAH 53:4-6.
JESUS CHRIST WOULD BE CRUCIFIED FOR OUR SINS.
Prophecy.
The third stanza describes the gospel of salvation. The Messiah would suffer and die in the place of his people, that is,
he would become a substitute sacrifice of atonement. It compares “our sins” with “his suffering” and “his suffering”
with “our healing”. The “we” can only refer to God’s true people. They are the people who believed and to whom the
arm of the LORD has been revealed (verse 1).

1. Verse 4 says he will carry our sicknesses and sorrows.
53:4. Translation: “Nevertheless (Hebrew: <aken) our sicknesses he took on himself/took or carried away (Hebrew:
ns<a), and our sorrows (Hebrew: mak<ob) he carried as a burden (Hebrew: sbal); and we, we considered /regarded him
(Hebrew: chshb) as one plagued (Hebrew: nagu>a), stricken (Hebrew: mkh, Pu) by God and humiliated (Hebrew:
m>n).
Verse 4 says that the Messiah would carry our sicknesses and sorrows. The words “sicknesses” and “sorrows”
summarise all human suffering, which was the consequence of the fall into sin. It summarises all kinds of physical and
psychological sicknesses and deficiencies, all human suffering. He would willingly take these on himself and carry
them, thus in the sense of a substitution. He would carry some of these sicknesses and sorrows before his second
coming, but certainly remove all sickness and sorrow at his second coming, when he will resurrect the dead and make
everything new.
But Israel’s attitude of contempt contrasts sharply with this. People would regard his suffering as a plague from God for
his own sins! One plagued is someone violently struck by God’s hand, so that suffering and calamity hits him (1 Samuel
6:9; Job 1:11; 19:21).
2. Verse 5 says he will be crucified for our sins.
53:5. Translation: “But he (emphasized against “we”) was pierced (Hebrew: chll) for our transgressions (Hebrew:
pesha), crushed (Hebrew: dk<a, Pu) for our iniquities (Hebrew: >on), the punishment (Hebrew: musar) of peace (that is,
that brought us peace) (Hebrew: shlm) was upon him, and his lashes (Hebrew: cheburah) became our healing (Hebrew:
rp<a, Ni).
Verse 5 says that the Messiah would be crucified for our sins. He would be crushed by oppression and violence and
finally pierced (killed) with nails. This prophecy is remarkable, because crucifixion as a punishment for criminals was
introduced by the Romans 600 years after the time of Isaiah.
The prophecy is also remarkable, because it explained a very long time before why the Messiah had to die. The main
thought is that bitter suffering became his lot due to our “transgressions” and “iniquities”. It is a clear prediction of the
cause and result of the death of the Messiah. He would be crucified for the transgressions and iniquities of his people,
including of Isaiah and the Old Testament believers! He would be punished in their place (cf. Romans 3:25). The
punishment is a retaliation (Jeremiah 2:19). The punishment that brings peace (complete wholeness) and the lashes that
bring healing are the secret of suffering as a substitution! What no man expected, became God’s pleasant surprise!
3. Verse 6 says he will be punished for our wilful independence.
53:6. Translation: “We all like sheep (Hebrew: ts<on) have gone astray (Hebrew: t>ah), each of us has turned to his
own way (Hebrew: pnh), but the LORD has dropped on/struck (Hebrew: pg>a) him the iniquity of us all.”
Verse 6 says that the Messiah would be punished for our deliberate turning away from him. The sin of man is
deliberate, stubborn and obstinate independence from God. That is why the sin of man is guilty and punishable. All
people chose the direction of their own life apart from God and refused to follow after the Shepherd on the way of God.
“It has become necessary “to return to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls” (1 Peter 2:25)!
Fulfilment.
Jesus Christ delivered many people possessed by evil spirits and healed many sick people as the fulfilment of this
prophecy (Matthew 8:16-17). Although Jesus Christ took the suffering of people on himself, people thought that he was
plagued by God due to his own sins! They thought he deserved this punishment from God (Matthew 26:65-66). The
Israelites regarded “suffering” as a punishment for sin, and the Pharisees regarded the suffering of Jesus as a
punishment of his own sin and not as a punishment for their sins! To think this is blasphemy!
At his crucifixion the soldiers hammered long iron nails through his hands and feet into the cross, heaved the cross
upright and let it drop into a hole with a thump. Then they let him hang in the burning sun as a cursed man (cf.
Galatians 3:13)! This is an extreme way of making criminals to suffer. This violent way of suffering finally crushed his
human life and he died.
The Old Testament revelation prophesied that Jesus Christ had to suffer for the transgressions and iniquities of his
people. “Transgression” is rebellion in the heart that is expressed in deliberate disobedience to God’s teaching and
commands. “Iniquity” is the twisting of God’s truths into half truths or lies. Jesus Christ died, not to improve people,
but rather to pay for their sins. He not only died for us, but in our place! “He bore our sins in his body on the tree”
(1 Peter 2:24). He was “made sin”, so that whoever believed in him, would be “made the righteousness of God”
(2 Corinthians 5:21). He thus exchanged places with us! Whoever believes in Jesus Christ, will never be condemned
(John 5:24), but is by God’s grace declared righteous in God’s and thereafter regarded and treated as perfectly righteous
(Romans 3:24,28). Whoever believes that Jesus Christ died on the cross in his place, is reconciled to God (1 Peter 3:18).
God makes peace with the believer (Romans 5:9-10) and therefore the believer can make peace with God (Romans 5:1)
and with other people (Ephesians 2:14-15). “God’s peace” brings God’s complete and perfect salvation, blessings and
joy along. “God’s healing” brings God’s salvation from all kinds of distress, misery, trouble and suffering.

The root and essence of sin is “independence from God” or “self-sufficiency”, in which a person deliberately turns
away from the Shepherd by living his life outside God’s goal for his life, by open rebellion and transgression of God’s
Word and by malicious twisting of God’s Word in order to justify himself.
The fruit of sin is “to do what God forbids” or “not do what God commands”. The LORD has laid all “our” sins on
Jesus Christ! He took our guilt, our punishment, our misery on himself so that we might receive his perfect
righteousness and holiness by grace!
D. STANZA 4. ISAIAH 53:7-9.
JESUS CHRIST WOULD SUBMIT TO HIS SUFFERING.
Prophecy.
The fourth stanza describes the complete submission of the Messiah (Jesus Christ) to God’s plan: “”salvation through
“substitution suffering”. In verse 7 to 10 the prophet no longer speaks as the representative of believers in the nation
(that is, as a priest), but rather as one who proclaims God’s plan of salvation (that is, as a prophet)!
1. Verse 7 describes his suffering as a lamb.
53:7. Translation: “He was maltreated (oppressed, tyrannised) (Hebrew; ngs), but he allowed himself to be humiliated
(Hebrew: >anah Pu) and did not open (Hebrew: ptch, Pi) his mouth (Hebrew: peh); like a lamb (Hebrew: seh) to
slaughter (Hebrew: tebach) is led (Hebrew: jbl, Hi), and as a sheep/ewe (Hebrew: rahel) before its shearers (Hebrew:
gazaz) is dumb (Hebrew: <alam, Ni), so he did not open (Hebrew: ptch) his mouth.”
Verse 7 describes how the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would suffer. He was maltreated, just like the slaves under their
Egyptian slave drivers (Exodus 3:7; Isaiah 9:3). He allowed himself to be humiliated without resistance, without
requiting the injustice (1 Peter 2:23). He would be led to be slaughtered just as a sheep without opening his mouth. He
would submit himself to the false accusations, public ridicule and naked crucifixion without defending himself.
Precisely through his suffering he would bring God’s plan of salvation to fulfilment.
2. Verse 8 describes his death as a criminal.
53:8. Translation: “By oppression/anxiety/force (Hebrew: >otser) and judgement/execution (Hebrew: mishpat) he was
taken away (Hebrew: lqch), and his dwelling place (Hebrew: dor) who would search/find/ (discover) 2? For he was cut
off (Hebrew: gzz, Ni) from the land of the living. For the transgression of my people, the plague (Hebrew: neg>a) was
on him.
Verse 8 describes how the Messiah would die. He would not die in a peaceful way (in old age), but as a convicted
criminal, sentenced by an unrighteous religion and a worldly court (the Jewish Sanhedrin together with Annas and
Caiaphas and the Roman procurator, Pilate. He would be taken from the anxiety in Gethsemane, the trials and
maltreatment by people in order to be crucified. The deeper background is the trial of God in which Jesus Christ appears
as Guarantee for sinners. Israel disowned him and now he has been taken away. Israel has been robbed of his saving
presence.
His “dwelling place” or place after his death and burial (Isaiah 38:12)(verse 9) is unknown. The prophet Isaiah
complains that the people of Israel have rejected their Messiah, had condemned and killed him and that the Messiah had
been removed to a place no one knew (Luke 23:43,46). In the Old Testament period until the time the disciples of Jesus
mourned the death of Jesus, there was but little knowledge about life after death. During the Old Testament period
people were raised from the dead (in order to later die again), but never was someone resurrected from the dead (in
order never to die again)! The emphasis is on the fact that after his death he was removed from Israel’s sight. He
became like a felled tree (2 Kings 6:4) “cut off” from the land of the living.
3. Verse 9 describes his burial as a rich man.
53:9. Translation: “And people assigned (Hebrew: ntn, Ni) with the criminals/godless (Hebrew: rasa) his grave
(Hebrew: qeber), [this is the turning point of the prophecy: the description changes at this point to his justification and
exaltation] but with the rich (Hebrew: >asir) he was in his death (Hebrew: maut), because no wrong /injustice (Hebrew:
chamas) he had done, nor deceit (Hebrew: mirmah) in his mouth (there was)(cf. 1 Peter 2:22-23).
Verse 9 describes how the Messiah would be buried. The unjust rulers had planned to give the Messiah a dishonourable
burial, as was done with convicted criminals. A dishonourable burial was in Israel something terrible (Isaiah 14:18-20;
Jeremiah 8:1-2; Jeremiah 36:30). But God set their evil plan aside and gave him an honourable burial in a tomb of a rich
man, hewn out of rock (cf. Isaiah 22:16). God accorded him honour instead of the dishonour his enemies had planned.
Fulfilment.
During his life Jesus Christ was called names as being a deceiver, a demon-possessed and mad (John 7:12,20; John
8:48; John 10:19-20). Yet he did not return abuse. During his trial he was falsely accused and maltreated. But he never
2
Isaiah 53:8 (jeshocheach)? RSV “Who in his generation considered?” LB “But who of the people in that day realised? ESV “As for his generation,
who considered?”

threatened those who persecuted him with revenge (1 Peter 2:22-23)! In meekness he submitted himself to the
maltreatment that disfigured him. He submitted to the humiliation to be crucified naked in public, ridiculed and
rejected. Not once did he try to defend himself! The Passover lamb (Exodus 12:3) and the lamb in Isaiah 53 formed the
foundation in the New Testament to call Christ “the Lamb of God” (John 1:19; 1 Peter 1:19).
After his anxious suffering in Gethsemane, the maltreatment by people and his condemnation by unjust judges, Jesus
Christ was crucified together with two criminals, so that everyone would think that Jesus too was a criminal. He really
died, because he was cut off out of the land of the living.
Jesus was buried in the tomb of a rich man, Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57-60). That was a great honour! His
honourable burial was the first sign the LORD regarded his Servant, Jesus Christ, to be blameless! He had done no
wrong, he had committed no violence and he had spoken no lie. He was completely innocent and blameless in word and
deed!
Although Jesus Christ was in himself blameless and innocent, he willingly submitted himself to his suffering in our
place (substitution suffering) (cf. John 10:17-18)!
E. STANZA 5. ISAIAH 53:10-12.
JESUS CHRIST WILL RECEIVE A GLORIOUS INHERITANCE.
Prophecy.
The fifth stanza describes God’s reward for the Messiah and his ultimate glory. In verse 10 the prophet speaks, not as
the representative of the believers in the nation (as a priest), but as one who proclaims God’s plan of salvation (as a
prophet). In verse 11 and 12 the LORD himself speaks.
1. Verse 10 describes his suffering as a substitution and his resurrection as part of God’s plan.
53:10. Translation: “Yet it pleased (Hebrew: chpts, Q) the LORD to crush him (Hebrew: dk<, Ni); He made him sick
(Hebrew: chlh, Hi); when he (the Messiah) has made (Hebrew: sim, Q) his soul (Hebrew: nefesh) (to be) a guilt offering
(Hebrew: <asham), he will see (Hebrew: r<ah, Q) seed/offspring (Hebrew: zer>a); he will lengthen (Hebrew: <arak, Hi)
days; and the delight/pleasure/desire /wish (Hebrew: chefets) of the LORD will prosper in his hand (Hebrew: tslch, Q).”
Verse 10 describes the completed salvation work of the Messiah. His death and resurrection were a part of God’s
eternal plan.
The question why the Messiah had to suffer.
The question is why did the Messiah have to suffer when he was innocent? The answer is that God’s extraordinary plan
of salvation would be fulfilled in this way! The suffering of the Messiah was a integral part of God’s salvation plan
(1 Peter 1:19-20). Jesus Christ had to die (Luke 24:26; Matthew 26:54), because this was the only way in which
atonement for sins could be made and because the revelation in the Scriptures about this had to be fulfilled! “It pleased
the LORD to crush him”. Behind human injustice (in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ) lies God’s hidden plan of salvation
(see also verse 5-6)! The guilt offering is the substitution punishment for sin (Leviticus 4:2,4,15,24,29). “The Messiah
must first make his soul (his person, himself, his life) a guilt offering”. The guilt offering brings satisfaction to God’s
violated justice (Leviticus 5:15-17; Leviticus 6:2-3). The Old Testament substitution offerings were compulsory, but the
personal guilt offering of the Messiah was completely voluntary. This was unthinkable among people!
• On the level of human history Jesus Christ died due to the unjust condemnation of worldly judges.
• But on the level of Gods history of salvation he died due to the perfectly just condemnation of the sin of the world
by the Judge, God himself!
His sacrifice of atonement had three results:
• First, he (the Messiah) would see seed/offspring, that is, “spiritual offspring”, “the many people he would justify”
(verse 11) and bless (see Genesis 12:3).
• Second, “He would lengthen his days”, that is, he would live forever after his resurrection from the dead (see
Revelation 1:18)! This is remarkable, because very little is written in the Old Testament about the resurrection of the
dead (cf. Isaiah 26:19).
• Third, the Messiah would have a great task after his death and resurrection. “The LORD’s pleasure/wish would
prosper in his hand.” “The pleasure/wish of the LORD is the deepest reason for his suffering (verse 10a), but at the
same time the deepest reason for his marvellous future (verse 10b)! This future is described in verse 11. In his hand,
that is, through his means (sovereign power, wisdom and love) God’s plan of salvation would progress continually!
Through his death and resurrection Jesus Christ would multiply his spiritual offspring/descendants destined for
eternal life (see John 12:32).
2. Verse 11 describes his work as God’s High Priest justifying the many after his resurrection.
53:11. Translation: “Due to the exertion/suffering (Hebrew: >amal) of his soul he will see (Qumran adds: the light of
life) and be satisfied (Hebrew: sabe>a, Q); by the knowledge of him (Hebrew: da>at) he (that is) my Righteous Servant
(Hebrew: tsadiq abdo) will justify (Hebrew: tsdq, Pi) the many (Hebrew: rabim); and their iniquities he will bear
(Hebrew: sbl, Q).

Verse 11 describes the continuing work of salvation of the Messiah. The LORD is the One speaking in verse 11-12. The
suffering of the Messiah would not only affect his body, but also his soul (entire being) (He would be crushed and made
sick). The Messiah would see the fruit of his suffering and work of salvation and that would satisfy and refresh him.
The text does not speak about “the knowledge about the Messiah”, but rather about “the knowledge of the Messiah” By
means of his spiritual “knowledge” of God and God’s revelation (plan of salvation) (cf. Hosea 4:6; Malachi 2:7; Isaiah
11:2; Isaiah 50:4, his prophetic office) the Messiah would justify many people.
The Messiah would be the Servant of the LORD (“My Servant”) and through his life, words and deeds he would carry
out the will of God. Although the unrighteous judges in the world would judge him to be “unrighteous”, the LORD calls
him explicitly “the Righteous One”. He would sentence “the godless” in the land of Israel and on the whole earth with
perfect righteousness, but “do what is right” to “the poor in spirit” (Isaiah 11:4-5)!
The righteousness of the Messiah would be the ground why he would justify “the many”, that is, “the great mass or
number of people, God’s people (cf. Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:33; Daniel 12:3; Romans 5:19)! “The many” is to be
understood as a comparison: in contrast to the One (the Messiah) there is the many, (a great crowd which no one can
count) (Revelation 7:9). “Just as through the disobedience of the one man (Adam), the many (all people) were made
sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man (Jesus Christ) the many (all believers in Christ) will be made
righteous” (Romans 5:19).
Because “he will bear their iniquities”. Only the Messiah would bear the iniquities of “the many”! The deepest ground
for the justification of the many is the substitution suffering of the Messiah (the Servant of the LORD). Outside Jesus
Christ there is no salvation and also no Way back to God (Luke 10:16; John 14:6; Acts 4:12)!
• Verse 11 speaks about his prophetic office (the knowledge of the Messiah that God reveals)
• and his priestly office (the sacrifice of the Messiah that carries away iniquities).
• Verse 12 speaks about his royal office (the spoils consists of an uncountable crowd of believers in Christ).
3. Verse 12 describes his reward from God for his substitution suffering, namely: “the many”
people he would justify.
53:12. Translation: “Therefore (Hebrew: laken) I will give him a portion (Hebrew: chlq) of the many/the great/the
powerful (Hebrew: >atsum); and the numerous/ the mighty ones (Hebrew: <atsum) as spoils (booty, loot) (Hebrew:
shalal) he will receive as his share (Hebrew: chlq), because (Hebrew: tachat <asher) he poured out (Hebrew: >rah, Ni)
his soul/life in death and with transgressors (criminals) he was numbered (Hebrew: mnh, Ni), and the sins (Hebrew:
chet<a) of many he bore (Hebrew: ns<a, Pi) and for the transgressors he prayed (Hebrew: pg>, Hi).”
Verse 12 describes the inheritance of the Messiah that consists of the many saved people.
The texts does not say that he would divide/share the spoils with the many (the powerful/ mighty ones), because he
cannot be put on a par with “the mighty ones” (in the world). The object is “the many” and the verb in the Qal form
means “to receive as his share” (as in Job 27:17). The text does not intend to say that the Messiah would only receive a
part of the many as his inheritance, but on the contrary that he would receive “the many” as a whole as his inheritance
(see Romans 5:19)! Because the Messiah would bear the iniquities of “the many” and in this way justify “the many”
(verse 11), the LORD would give him “the many” as spoils (bounty, loot) as his possession (inheritance, reward)!
His substitution suffering would be the reason of his exaltation! He would pour out his ‘soul” (life and life blood)
(Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:11), he would be numbered among the transgressors (criminals) (Luke 22:37) and he would
even pray for these “transgressors”, the people who would kill him (Luke 23:34).
Fulfilment.
Through his death and resurrection Jesus Christ began to multiply his spiritual offspring (John 12:24,32).
• Although Jesus Christ according to his divine nature lives forever and never dies: “I am the living One forever”
(Revelation 1:18),
• according to his human nature he died and was resurrected. After his resurrection from the dead, his human nature
now also lives forever.
Through Jesus Christ God fulfils his eternal plan in creation and in the recreation or renewal of all things (Ephesians
1:9-10).
• Because only Jesus Christ is “the Righteous One” who has fulfilled the whole law (the righteous requirement) of
God (cf. Matthew 5:17; Romans 10:4),
• only he can justify “the many” who “have received God’s abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness”
(Romans 5:17-19)!
The Messiah, Jesus Christ was numbered among the transgressors (criminals) (Luke 22:37) en voluntarily poured out
his life (John 10:11,18). He has become the Great Patriarch who really inherits all God’s promises (cf. 2 Corinthians
1:20)! He is “the root” (“the seed” of the patriarchs) (Genesis 22:17-18; Galatians 3:16) of “the olive tree” (the people
of God who consists of believers from all nations) (Romans 11:17-18). He has become the strong King, who justified
“the many” who are now the citizens of his kingdom (cf. Revelation 1:5-6; 5:9-10). All people, whom he justifies,

belong to him. He has become the Great Mediator and High Priest who not only prays for the ones who killed him
(Luke 22:34), but also prays for us (his children, his citizens) (John 17:20; Hebrews 7:25).
Isaiah 53 is most clearly quoted in the New Testament in Acts 8:28-35 and 1 Peter 2:22-25. But also compare Matthew
20:28 with Isaiah 53:10 and John 1:29 with Isaiah 53:4,7. The Messiah, Jesus Christ, had to enter into his glory through
suffering (Luke 18:31-33; Luke 24:25-27). Although in Isaiah 49:3 “the servant of the LORD” is pictured as “the true
Israel” (as if the prophet is speaking about the suffering of the nation of Israel), it cannot literally refer to the nation of
Israel, the Servant of the LORD is constantly contrasted with the nation of Israel. The nation of Israel is godless. It
despised and rejected the Messiah, even though he is perfectly innocent! The figure of the Servant of the LORD
surpasses everything that was ever witnessed within Israel! He is the One who would save Israel from sin and guilt, the
Mediator of God’s plan of salvation!

[LIFE AFTER DEATH]
THEORIES ABOUT LIFE AFTER DEATH
(1) The heavenly things.

In John 3:13 Jesus says, “No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man.”
The heavenly things are especially God’s eternal plan of salvation which Jesus explains in John 3:13-18. Only the Son
of God has ever been in the presence of God and knows all the decisions that have been made in heaven. Therefore,
God’s plan to save people from every nation in the world and to do that through the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ lies completely beyond the reach of human knowledge until it has been revealed to people. Only Jesus Christ has
descended from heaven and only Jesus Christ has ascended into heaven (Ephesians 4:9-10) 1. Only Jesus Christ knows
God’s plan of salvation. Only Jesus Christ reveals God’s plan of salvation to people and carries it out (cf. Matthew
11:25-27; Revelation 5: 1-5)!
(2) The Bible clearly teaches the following truths about life after death.
• The Bible teaches that man is “a living soul” (Hebrew: nefesh chajah) (Genesis 2:7) that consists of a visible body
and an invisible spirit.
• The human spirit is immortal and outlives the human body. God has set eternity in the hearts of men” (Ecclesiastes
3:11).
• After death, the spirit of a Christian immediately goes to heaven (Philippians 1:23); is completely aware of others
and recognises others (Christ) in heaven and is en has become like the human spirit of Jesus Christ (1 John 3:2). But
the spirit of a person that has died cannot make contact with living people on earth (Ecclesiastes 9:5,6,10).
• At the second coming of Christ the body of the Christian will be resurrected from the dead and be like the glorious
body of Christ (Philippians 3:21).
(See manual 6, lesson 23 and 5 – The relationship to departed ancestors).
A REFUTATION OF VARIOUS UNBIBLICAL THEORIES
CONCERNING WHAT HAPPENS TO MAN AFTER DEATH.
A. THE UNDERWORLD THEORY
1. The underworld theory is not biblical.
The underworld theory teaches that the underworld, called “Sheol” in the Old Testament Hebrew or “Hades” in the
New Testament Greek, is the abode of all the dead, whether they are unbelievers or believers. The underworld theory
exists in the following two forms:
(1) The first underworld theory (a neutral place).
When both the righteous and the wicked people die, both their bodies and spirits (or souls) descend into a literal place
under the earth, called Sheol or Hades. This place is somewhere under the earth and has a neutral character. It is a
dreary place of shades, a land of forgetfulness, where all the dead are doomed to an existence, which is only a dreamy
reflection of life on earth. They view the underworld as a place where there is no moral consciousness, no activity and
no joy. They believe that the underworld is neither a place of rewards nor a place of punishment.
This is also the belief of other religions. They believe that people live in the underworld like they live on earth. They
believe that the departed dead need money, houses, food, clothes and other earthly luxuries to exist in the underworld,
and that these things should be supplied to them by their earthly relatives!
(2) The second underworld theory (a divided place).
The underworld is not a neutral place, but divided into two parts, called Paradise for the good people and Gehenna for
the bad people. Until the final judgement day, the good people enjoy a slight measure of reward in Paradise, while the
bad people suffer a slight degree of punishment in Gehenna.
One group believes that Paradise is only for the Jews. Another group believes that Paradise is only for those Jews who
observe the Law and that all other Jews and Gentiles will go to Gehenna. These Jews believe that the coming Messiah
will deliver all Jews from the underworld, but all the Gentiles (non-Jews) will forever remain in the underworld, the
place of darkness.
One group of Christians believes that before the ascension of Christ, all believers went into Paradise, but after his
ascension they go into heaven.
Both underworld theories are not biblical!
1
“Near death” experiences in which people claim that they have been in heaven or in hell and then proceed to describe heaven or hell, are therefore
lies! Jesus Christ appears in a vision or dream to people. But only Jesus Christ knows what heaven looks like (Matthew 11:27; John 3:13)!
© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Supplement 2. Theories about life after death page 1
2. The biblical teaching concerning the underworld (Sheol or Hades).
The word “Sheol” or “Hades” does not always have the same meaning in every passage of the Bible. The word
describes three different aspects of death.
• Figuratively it describes the state of death
• Literally it describes the place of death, which could be the grave to which the bodies of all the departed people go
• Literally it describes hell, the place to which the spirits (or souls) of only the wicked departed people go.
The context of each passage in the Bible must decide which meaning is intended. In the context of Luke 16:19-31, the
word can only refer to the place called hell.
(1) The word Sheol or Hades sometimes means the state of death.
Sheol or Hades is the state of disembodied existence or the state of the separation of body and spirit (or soul).
The state of death as a stronghold with gates. In the Bible the state of death is frequently conceived as a place
constituting the realm of death. It is presented as a stronghold with gates, which only Christ can unlock with his keys
(Matthew 16:18; Revelation 1:18). This local representation is in all probability based on a generalisation of the idea of
the grave (a return to the dust), into which all people descend when they enter the state of death (Ecclesiastes 3:19-21).
Since both Christians and non-Christians at death descend into the state of death and their bodies descend into the
grave, it can very well be said figuratively that they are without distinction in Sheol or Hades (Ecclesiastes 9:2-3). “The
Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to Sheol (into the state of death) and raises up (into the state of
life)(1 Samuel 2:6).” This descend into Sheol or Hades as the state of death is found in the following passages in the
Bible: Job 14:13-14; 17:13-14; Psalm 89:48; Hosea 13:14; Acts 2:27,31; and personified in Revelation 6:8; 20:28.
A few passages in the Bible, like Psalm 16:10, 30:3, 49:15 and 89:48 speak of souls as going down into Sheol or as
being in Sheol. But it is well known that in Hebrew, the personal pronoun “my” together with the word “soul” (Hebrew:
nephesh) is a figurative expression equivalent to the personal pronoun “me”. For example, Psalm 89:48 says, “What
man can live and not see death, or save his soul from the power of Sheol?” It means “What man can save himself from
the state or power of death?” Proverbs 23:13-14 says that if you punish a child with the rod, then you will save his soul
from Sheol. It means that an appropriate punishment of a child would save him from an early death (state of being dead)
or from destruction in hell.
The state of death is experienced as a gloomy and hopeless place. God’s revelation concerning the state of man
between his death and the resurrection was still incomplete in the Old Testament. Some people viewed the state of
death, especially the state of the body decaying in the grave, as a gloomy place. In Job 7:9-10, 10:19-22, 16:22 and
17:7-16, Job expresses his view of death. Sheol as the state of death is described as “a place of no return (to this present
earth)”, “the land of gloom and deep shadow”, and “the land of deep shadow and disorder”. It is described as “the place
where the dead person lies in darkness”, as “a close relationship with the worms and decay” and as “a place where the
dead are locked up behind gates, to which the dead person together with his plans, desires and hopes descends”.
In Job 14:7-11, Job regards Sheol (the state of death) as something “hopeless”: Plants and trees die, but every year they
bud again and produce new shoots! But man dies and never again comes to life on this present earth. Man’s life is
demarcated (delimited) and in contrast to plants and trees he has but one chance of living on this present earth!
But in the Old Testament there is hope in life beyond the state of death. Then, in Job 14:12-17 Job expresses a
wish-thought. Could it be possible that man has a life-chance beyond death? Would God set a limited time for death and
hide him during the state of death until the present heavens have passed away? Would God call him, rouse him from the
sleep and make him rise from Sheol (the state of death)? Then he would wait for God’s renewal and have hope! This is
a prophetic thought which, however, he immediately drops in Job 14:18-19. In Job 16:19-21 and 19:25-27 this
prophetic thought is taken up again. Although Job is mortal, he knows that his Redeemer, God, lives. At the end of
world-history, God will stand on the dust (the elements) of this present earth and get involved in what is happening on
earth. After Job’s skin has been beaten off, he will see God apart from his flesh, that is, he will see God in his spirit.
This prophetic thought of Job is stated more clearly in other Old Testament books. There we find joyful expectation in
the face of death, just as in the New Testament. For example, Enoch walked with God and was taken up into God’s
presence (Genesis 5:22-24). Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11) Enoch and Elijah did not descend
into an underworld (Hebrews 11:5)! Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”
The righteous die to be spared from evil, to enter peace and to find rest as they lie in death (Isaiah 57:1-2). At death, the
body of man returns to the ground it came from, but the spirit of man returns to God who gave it to man (Ecclesiastes
12:7). The dead body of the righteous will rest secure, that is, God keeps the elements of his dead body until the day of
resurrection. His (immortal) spirit will experience fullness of joy in God’s presence (Psalm 16:9,11; 17:15; 49:15;
73:24-26; Proverbs 14:32; Isaiah 25:8; Daniel 12:2).
Also in the New Testament there is hope in life beyond the state of death. God is not the God of the dead, but of
the living Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Matthew 22:32)! The Old Testament believers longed for a better country - a
heavenly country (Hebrews 11:13-16)! The New Testament reveals much more clearly the joyous outlook of Christians
and teaches their conscious happiness in the disembodied state. For example, when their earthly body is destroyed, their
spirit has “a building from God, an eternal house in heaven”. When Christians are separated from their bodies (away
from the body), they are at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:1,8; cf. Luke 16:22-25; 23:43; Acts 7:59; Ephesians
3:14-15; Philippians 1:21,23; 1 Thessalonians 5:10; Revelation 6:9,11; 14:13).
(2) The word Sheol or Hades sometimes means hell.
Sheol or Hades is the place of eternal punishment.
Sheol or Hades as the hell. In some passages, the parallel between death and Sheol is depicted as a threat and a
warning more than just a state (Proverbs 5:5; 7:27; 9:17-18; 15:24; 23:14). The meaning is thus much closer to hell. For
example, Proverbs 15:24 says that the path of life leads upwards for the wise in order to keep him from going
downwards to Sheol, that is, to hell. The wicked people are threatened with the punishment of descending into Sheol or
Hades. In Deuteronomy 32:19-22, God says that his righteous anger against the idolatry of Israel has kindled a fire that
burns to the realm of Sheol, that is, hell below. Thus, God’s anger burns in Sheol in the sense of hell. Psalm 9:17-18
warns that the wicked and all nations, who forget God, will return to Sheol. They will go to hell, where they, in contrast
to the righteous people, will be forgotten and be without hope. Psalm 49:13-15 warns that people, who trust in
themselves, will not be redeemed from Sheol. They will go to hell and, in contrast to the righteous people, will not be
taken into God’s presence. The wicked will stay in hell, without redemption, without hope, without God’s loving
presence (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
Some interpreters try to escape this difficulty by abandoning the idea of a neutral underworld and by assuming an
underworld with two divisions: called Paradise, the abode of the righteous, and Gehenna, the abode of the wicked.
However, nowhere in the Old Testament is there a trace of such a division. Instead the Old Testament does speak of
Sheol as the place of punishment for the wicked. Moreover, the New Testament clearly identifies Paradise with heaven
(Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 12:2,4) and not as a place in the underworld! And the New Testament clearly identifies
Hades with hell (Matthew 11:23-24; Luke 16:23). In Luke 16:23-24, the selfish rich man died, was buried and found
himself in Hades, that is, in hell, where he was in torment. In all these cases, only the wicked people go to Sheol or
Hades, that is, hell, because the righteous people go to heaven. Therefore, Sheol can never be viewed as an underworld
with two divisions as the second underworld theory above suggests!
Sheol or Hades as the dwelling place of Satan and demons. Moreover, the term Sheol is synonymous with the
term Abaddon, which means destruction (Job 26:6; Proverbs 15:11; 27:20). It is a strong term, applied to the angel of
the abyss, which is the place where the devil and evil spirits dwell (Revelation 19:11; cf. Revelation 9:1-5; 11:7; 17:8;
20:1-3). Therefore, “Sheol” can never have a neutral character as the first underworld theory above suggests!
(3) The word Sheol or Hades sometimes means the grave.
Sheol or Hades is the grave, into which all the dead bodies descend.
The original meaning of the word Sheol was in all probability the place of destruction and then first in the sense of hell,
the place of eternal destruction for the wicked. Only in secondary sense it also referred to the place of destruction of the
body, that is, the grave. In the still incomplete Old Testament revelation, the word Sheol is more often used for the
grave than for hell, while in the complete New Testament revelation, the corresponding word Hades is more often used
for hell than for the grave.
It is not easy to determine whether the word Sheol refers to the state of death or the grave, as the above mentioned
passages from Job show (Job 14:13; 17:13; 21:13). In the following passages, the meaning of grave is more probable. In
Genesis 42:38, Jacob says that sorrow for the loss of his son would bring his grey head down to Sheol, that is, to the
grave (Also Genesis 37:35; 44:29; 1 Kings 2:6,9). Psalm 88:3 says that his life draws near Sheol (the grave), that is, he
is dying. Psalm 6:5 says that no one remembers the Lord when he is dead and no one praises the Lord from Sheol, that
is, from the grave. Psalm 49:6-15 says that the fate of people, who trust in themselves and their wealth, as well as their
followers, who approve of what they say, is Sheol (the grave), where in spite of all their wealth their bodies will decay.
But the fate of the righteous, of those who trust is God, is that God will save them, that is, resurrect their bodies from
the grave and take them into God’s presence. However, before the resurrection of the dead, at death “the dust returns to
the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7), this means, that while the body
is laid in a tomb, the spirit is with God (Luke 23:46,53).
Ecclesiastes 9:6,10 refers to the state of death, especially of the body, which lies in the grave. It says that in Sheol, that
is, in the state of death in the grave, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. Never again
would people in the state of death in the grave have a part in anything that happens under the sun. People in the state of
death in the grave have no influence on this present earth whatsoever! As certain as a dead body lying in the grave is cut
off from life in this world, so certain is a person in the state of death cut off from all activities in this present world. Acts
2:27,31 teaches that Hades refers to the state of death, especially of the body, which decays in the grave.
Conclusion: Dependent on the context, Sheol or Hades may mean:
• the state of the dead in which body and spirit are separated before the resurrection of the bodies.
• the state of the body lying separated from its spirit in the grave
• the state of human spirit separated from its body in hell
No passage in the Bible teaches that the spirits (or souls) of all people actually go to the same place at death! All people,
both the righteous and the wicked, descend to the grave as to their bodies only, but as to their spirits (or souls), they
definitely go to different places! The spirits (or souls) of Christians (the righteous) go to heaven (Ecclesiastes 12:7;
2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23; Hebrews 12:23), while the spirits (or souls) of non-Christians (the unrighteous) go
to hell (Matthew 11:23-24; Luke 16:23).
B. THE PURGATORY THEORY
1. The purgatory theory is not biblical.
The purgatory theory teaches that at death only the spirits (or souls) of Christians who are perfectly pure go to heaven.
They are “the saints” mentioned in Matthew 25:46 and Philippians 1:23. The spirits (or souls) of all other Christians
first go to “purgatory”, a place of fire, anguish and suffering pain, before they can enter heaven. In purgatory, they have
to undergo a process of cleansing from all their pardonable sins, which they have committed on earth. According to the
Roman Catholic Church, purgatory is not a place of punishment, but a place of purification and preparation for entering
heaven.
The duration in purgatory and the intensity of the purification depends on how many sins still need to be purified. The
time in purgatory can be shortened and the intensity of suffering in purgatory can be alleviated:
• by the prayers and the good deeds of the still living Catholics
• especially by the sacrifice of mass in the Roman Catholic Church
• The pope has jurisdiction to grant indulgences, which can lighten or even terminate the temporal sufferings in
purgatory.
• The pope may “canonize” someone, that is, declare someone who has done a lot of good to be “a saint”.
The Roman Catholics base this theory not on the Bible, but on an apocryphal book, 2 Maccabees 12:42-45, which says:
40. Under the clothes of each dead soldier they found idolatrous statuettes ... 42. They pleaded in prayer that this sin
may be erased. ... 43. Judas the Maccabee held a collection and sent a huge sum of money to Jerusalem as a sin offering.
44. He did this with a view to the resurrection of the dead. He brought this sin offering on behalf of the dead, so that
they may be acquitted from their sin.
However, this passage in the book of Maccabees also teaches things, which even Roman Catholics cannot accept,
namely, the possible deliverance from purgatory of soldiers, who had died in the mortal sin of idolatry (verse 40)!
2. The biblical arguments against purgatory.
(1) At death all Christians immediately go to heaven.
All (born-again) Christians are “saints” (1 Corinthians 1:2). The Bible describes the departure of Christians after death
in various terms. The wonderful place of “heaven”, to which Christians go after death, is described as “paradise” (Luke
23:43), as “the Father’s house with many rooms” (John 14:2), as “the place of glory” (Psalm 73:24-25), as “a being with
Christ” (Philippians 1:23) and as “being at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). According to 2 Corinthians 5:8,
“being away from the body” is “being at home with the Lord” and according to Philippians 1:23, “to depart from living
in the body” is “to be with Christ”.
(2) No one can add anything to the completed salvation work of Christ.
At death, Christians immediately go to heaven, because Christ has already paid for all their sins!
The purgatory theory tries to add something to the completed or finished work of salvation of Christ on the cross (John
19:30). However, Revelation 22:18-19 warns people not to add or take away anything from the teaching of the Bible!
Christ is the complete justification and sanctification of believers (1 Corinthians 1:30)!
The purgatory theory also makes the good works and prayers of other Christians a means to contribute to salvation. It
even makes an excess of good works, like the sacrifice of mass and the good works of special saints, a means to save
other people. However, Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches that no one will be saved by good works! While the Roman Catholic
Church claims that the Roman Catholic Church carries the keys of death and Hades, Revelation 1:18 clearly teaches that
only Jesus Christ carries those keys!
C. THE SOUL-SLEEP THEORY
1. The soul-sleep theory is not biblical.
The soul-sleep theory says that after death the spirit (or soul) descends into a state of complete unconsciousness (that is
called “sleep”). Only at the resurrection the spirit (or soul) becomes conscious (awake) again.
The soul-sleep theory is often combined with “the annihilation theory” and “the second chance theory”. After death,
both the body and the spirit (or soul) descend into the grave into a state of complete non-existence. Only at the
resurrection the spirit (or soul) becomes conscious again and gets a second chance:
• to choose to repent, be saved and receive a complete newly created body
• or to remain unrepentant and be completely annihilated.
These false teachers base their theory on Bible passages like John 11:11, “Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep; but I
am going there to wake him up” and 1 Thessalonians 4:13, “do not be ignorant about those who fall asleep”. Both
passages speak about “death” as “sleeping”. They base their theory on passages like Psalm 6:5 and Ecclesiastes 9:10,
which speak of the dead as being unconscious (ignorant); “there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor
wisdom”. They also base their theory on passages like 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Revelation 20:11-15, which according to
them say that the destinies of people will be determined only on the final judgement day and not before that.
2. Biblical arguments against the soul-sleep theory.
(1) The Bible never teaches that the spirit (or soul) or the body falls asleep!
The Bible only teaches that the dying person falls asleep. The term is derived from the similarity between a dead body
and a sleeping person and is used as a euphemistic expression of physical death.
(2) The Bible teaches that the spirits (or souls) of dead people are very conscious.
The Bible passages that seem to teach that the dead people are unconscious are clearly intended to stress the fact that in
the state of death, people can no more take part in the activities of this present world! For example, Ecclesiastes 9:5-12
says, “The dead know nothing. ... Never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun (on earth). ...
In the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” Thus, after death,
the worker can no longer work, the singer can no longer sing and the king can no longer rule on earth. Thus, the Bible
teaches that while the body lies in the grave, the spirit (or soul) is unconscious of what happens on earth (cf. Isaiah
63:16)!
However, the Bible also teaches that while the body lies in the grave, the spirit (or soul) is very conscious of what
happens in heaven or in hell! For example, Luke 16:22-28 says that when the selfish rich man died and was buried, he
opened his eyes in hell and experienced the torment and anguish of hell! And Hebrews 12:22-24 and Revelation 6:9-10
say that when Christians die, they enjoy a conscious life in fellowship with the Triune God and with all other Christians
who have died before them.
(3) On the final judgement day, the eternal destinies of people are not decided, but announced.
The eternal destinies of people are dependent on their relationship to Jesus Christ while they are still here on earth!
Jesus says in John 3:18,36, “Whoever does not believe, stands condemned already, because he has not believed in the
name of God’s one and only Son”. “Whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him”.
According to Matthew 25 and 2 Thessalonians 1, the eternal destinies of all people are determined while they still live
on earth before their death. According to the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30, the reward or punishment of
each person is determined before he dies and before the second coming of Jesus.
Therefore there will also not be a second chance to be saved after death! According to Matthew 25:34,41 and
2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, the final judgement is for the solemn announcement of God’s sentence and for the revelation of
God’s justice and glory in the presence of all angels and all people who ever lived! The surprise, which people express
at the final judgement, pertains to the ground on which the judgement rests, rather than to the judgement itself. The
ground of the final judgement is God’s grace that leads to showing mercy to “the brothers of Christ” (other
Christians)(Matthew 12:50; Hebrews 2:11-12) (Matthew 25:34-40). The basis for their condemnation is that they have
not shown mercy to Christians (Matteüs 25:41-45).
D. THE ANNIHILATION THEORY
1. The annihilation theory is not biblical.
(1) The annihilation theory. 2
The annihilation theory teaches that after death, both the body and the spirit (or soul) are annihilated. The body and
spirit (or soul) descend into the grave into a state of complete non-existence. At the resurrection, there is not a becoming
conscious again, but a complete new creation of a new body and a new spirit (soul)!
The annihilation theory teaches that there is no existence of the wicked after death and therefore there is also no hell, no
place of torment. The wicked are forever annihilated!
The annihilation theory also teaches that there is no existence of the righteous after death and therefore there is between
death and resurrection also no in-between state! At the resurrection a complete new body and new spirit (or soul) is
created only for the righteous!
They teach that God created all people mortal, but man could gain immortality by faith, obedience and sanctification.
The unrepentant sinner will be destroyed (annihilated).
2
Annihilationism (also known as extinctionism or destructionism) is a belief of Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah’s Witnesses. At the Last
Judgment those not receiving salvation are destined for total destruction, not everlasting torment. They oppose a belief in hell. Those who reject
salvation through their free will are eternally destroyed. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that there can be no punishment after death because the dead
cease to exist.
However, the Bible teaches that God created all people immortal and that they lost their immortality when they became
disobedient. At the fall into sin, God removed immortality from men. People who turn to God, receive eternal life, but
people who do not repent receive eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46), which is something different than annihilation.
(2) The destruction theory.
They interpret the word destruction as “annihilation”, a total destruction of consciousness or the whole existence.
According to some adherents, the wicked are destroyed after a limited time of conscious suffering for their sins.
According to other adherents, the wicked are destroyed immediately after death. They base their theory on:
• the fact that only God is immortal
• that eternal life is given to believers
• and that unbelievers will be destroyed, which they interpret as reduced to non-existence.
2. Biblical arguments against the annihilation theory.
(1) God is eternally immortal, but Christians receive immortality.
God possesses immortality. According to 1 Timothy 6:16, God “alone is immortal”, that is, possesses from eternity
immortality or deathlessness. God cannot die!
God created man immortal. The first people, Adam and Eve, were created immortal. They were created in the image
of God (Genesis 1:27), and this perfect condition seems to exclude decomposition and mortality. At creation, God had
“set eternity in the hearts of man” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Both their bodies and their spirits (or souls) were created
immortal. It was God’s purpose that people live forever in his presence! But Adam and Eve did not possess immortality
in the sense that they could not die. If they disobeyed God, they would loose their immortality and die (Genesis
2:15-17). Genesis 3 relates how they actually fell victim to death.
At the resurrection, Christians will receive immortality. At the resurrection, the perishable body will be raised
imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:42,50). This means that at the resurrection, man will receive immortality. Then
Christians cannot die and will not die anymore! Only Christians are called “immortal”, because only they have eternal
life and are destined to glorify God forever in spirit (or soul) and body. Christians inherit a never-ending and absolute
perfect life, eternally blessed in the presence of God.
(2) The spirit (or soul) certainly survives death.
In Exodus 3:6 God said to Moses, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of
Jacob.” According to Jesus, “God is not the God of the dead but of the living (Matthew 22:32).” When Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob died, they did not go out of existence. Although their bodies are still in the grave and destined to be
resurrected, their spirits (or souls) souls definitely exist and are alive! God is the God, not of non-existent spirits (or
souls), but of existing and living spirits (or souls)! Thus, at death, the spirit (or soul) of man does not go out of
existence, but survives death and continues to exist.
(3) The body will certainly share in the future existence.
According to Genesis 3:19, at death, the body decays to dust (Acts 2:29-31). But “dust” is not the same as “non-
existence”! John 5:28-29, Acts 24:15 and Revelation 20:12-15 teach clearly that at the second coming of Christ, the
bodies (that have turned to dust) of people will not be recreated, but will be resurrected from the dust! The bodies of
both the righteous and the wicked will be resurrected from the dead.
There is nothing in the Bible that suggests that righteous people and the wicked people will not be resurrected at the
same time! The Bible teaches only one general resurrection of all the dead at the second coming of Christ!
1 Corinthians 15:35-42 and Philippians 3:21 teach that whatever belonged to the former physical bodies of Christians
would be transformed so that their resurrected bodies would be like Christ’s glorious body! The resurrection is therefore
not a creation of a completely new body for people, but a glorious transformation of their original mortal bodies! In
this way people remain recognisable just as the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ (John 20:24-29).
Matthew 25:46 teaches clearly that after the final judgement day, both the righteous and the wicked people will
continue to exist forever! Thus, at death, the spirit (or soul) or the body of man does not go out of existence. Also after
the resurrection and the final judgement day, the spirit (or soul) or the body of man does not go out of existence!
(4) Immortality or continued existence is not the same as eternal life.
Eternal life is indeed a gift from God, which is given only to the righteous, that is, to those people who believe in Jesus
Christ. But when the wicked do not receive eternal life, it does not mean that they will not continue to exist.
According to John 5:28-29 and Acts 24:15, the bodies of both the Christians and the non-Christians will be resurrected
simultaneously. And according to Matthew 25:46, only the Christians will receive eternal life, but the non-Christians
will receive eternal punishment. The Bible clearly teaches that nobody goes out of existence! Both the righteous and the
wicked will exist eternally. The righteous will enjoy eternal life. The wicked will suffer eternal punishment (Matthew
25:46; 2 Thessalonians 1:9).
(5) The word “destruction” is not the same as annihilation or going out of existence.
The words death, destruction and perish in connection with man in the Bible do not mean going out of existence.
According to 1 Corinthians 5:5, the word destruction of the flesh cannot mean annihilation. It means “punishment” by
“destruction of his body”. It says, “Hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit
saved on the day of the Lord.” The Church delivers a sinner to Satan for the destruction of his sinful nature by for
example terrible sicknesses or suffering, in the hope that his spirit (or soul) might be preserved on the day of judgement.
Satan can only inflict severe damage or punishment due to man’s sinful nature. But only Christ can annihilate man’s
sinful nature by his work of salvation!
According to 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, destruction at the final judgement is exactly the opposite of going out of existence.
There the wicked are punished with an everlasting destruction or everlasting punishment, which is an everlasting
existence away from the presence of the Lord and from the majestic glory of his power. The vengeance or punishment,
which God will inflict (vs. 8), is that these people are banished from experiencing God’s love, mercy and care They are
expelled from beholding and marvelling the glorious majesty of Jesus Christ. According to Revelation 20:10 and 21:8,
the second death means being thrown into the place where the wicked are being tormented with burning sulphur day
and night for ever and ever.
E. THE SECOND CHANCE THEORY
1. The second chance theory is not biblical.
(1) The second chance theory teaches that salvation through Christ is still possible
after the physical death of man.
Adherents of this theory believe that certain people still have a second chance to come to faith, namely:
• People who never had a chance to hear the gospel
• People who never properly understood or considered the claims of Christ
• People who died as an infant
They say that no one will be condemned to hell without a proper chance to hear the gospel and believe. Therefore, they
conclude that the eternal state of man is not irrevocably fixed between his physical death and the final judgement day.
(2) They base their theory on a humanistic understanding of God’s love and justice.
They refer to verses like:
• John 3:18,36, which according to them teach that only a deliberate unbelief is the ground of condemnation.
• They refer to 1 Peter 3:19 and 4:6, which according to them, say that Christ in the period between his death and
resurrection preached to the spirits in prison, which they view as Hades or the underworld.
• They also base their theory on passages like 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Revelation 20:11-15, which according to them
say that the destinies of people will be determined only at the final judgement.
2. Biblical arguments against the second chance theory.
(1) The eternal destinies of people are determined
by their faith and life of faith while they are still on earth!
The faith and works of a person done in his body while he still on earth determines the eternal destiny of people. Things
that occur in the intermediate stage between death and resurrection have no influence on this.
John 3:18-21,36 teach that the eternal destinies of people depend on their personal relationship to Jesus Christ while
they are still here on earth! The teaching in John 3 is in the context of Jesus coming into the world and what people do
with him here in the present world. Jesus teaches that whoever does not believe in him, stands condemned already! He
teaches that whoever rejects him will not see life, because God’s wrath remains on him!
The eternal destinies of people depend on how they have lived here on earth. In Matthew 7:22-23, 10:32-33 and
25:31-46, Jesus teaches clearly that doing God’s will on earth, acknowledging Jesus before people on earth and doing
deeds of kindness to Christ’s brothers on earth determine the eternal destiny of people! Of course, people are saved, not
by their good deeds, but by doing the will of God. The will of God is that they believe in Jesus Christ as their only
Saviour and Lord (John 6:29). And their deeds will prove if their faith is genuine or not (James 2:14-22). At the second
coming of Jesus Christ his commendation and reward or condemnation and punishment will depend on what people
have done with the abilities and opportunities that he has entrusted to each one of them here on earth (Matthew
25:21,30; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15). At the final judgement, people will not get a second chance to
believe in Jesus Christ, but their eternal destinies will be publicly announced! The eternal destinies of people are
determined by their faith and the life of faith they lived while they were still on earth!
(2) The eternal state (position) of unbelievers after death is already a fixed state.
Jesus teaches that God punishes the unrighteous immediately after death (Luke 16:19-23). The apostle Peter teaches that
God holds the unrighteous for the day of judgement, while continuing their punishment. The unrighteous are held fast
or preserved for a definite purpose and for a definite time. After their physical death, their punishment continues and
they suffer until the final judgement day (2 Peter 2:9). After the final judgement day their suffering only becomes
worse. Then they will suffer the added shame of God pronouncing their punishment in the presence of all the people
who ever lived. They will suffer the agonies of hell not only in their spirit (or soul), but also in their body (Matthew
10:28; 25:41,46)! They will suffer the agonies of the withdrawal of God’s ever-present love and care (2 Thessalonians
1:8-10). The blackest darkness “is continually being reserved forever” for the unrighteous people (Jude 7-13).
(3) The second chance theory is often an excuse not to proclaim the gospel.
It robs evangelism of its urgency! The gospel must be proclaimed now so that people may believe or not believe (Mark
16:15-16). The gospel will be proclaimed in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations before the second coming
(Matthew 24:14)!
(4) The gospel will definitely not be preached to people after they have died physically!
The two passages, 1 Peter 3:18-22 and 1 Peter 4:1-6, do not deal with the same subject and may therefore not be used
together to construct a second chance theory. Neither of these two passage deal with the subject of preaching the gospel
to people after they have died. Because these passages are often misused, we will explain them in detail.
3. The second change theory based on a particular interpretation of 1 Peter 3:18-22
and 1 Peter 4:1-6.
(1) Preaching to people in Hades.
According to the second chance theory, 1 Peter 3:18-22 says that between his death and resurrection, the spirit (or soul)
of Jesus Christ descended into prison, which is viewed as Hades. Hades is interpreted as being the underworld, the
abode of the spirits of people who lived before the first coming of Jesus.
(2) Preaching the gospel.
According to the second chance theory, 1 Peter 4:6 says that Jesus preached the gospel to the spirits of people in Hades
after they have died in order to give them a second chance to be saved.
(3) The correct interpretation.
1 Peter 3:18-22 does NOT speak of Christ’s descent into the underworld, but speaks of Christ’s triumphant ascension to
heaven. It does not speak about the preaching of the gospel, but o the proclamation of his final victory to all disobedient
people.
1 Peter 4:1-6 does NOT speak of preaching the gospel to dead people, but speaks of having preached the gospel to
people when they were still alive.
Therefore, the second change theory is unbiblical!
4. The correct interpretation of 1 Peter 3:18-22.
The great event described in 1 Peter 3:18-22 is Christ’s triumphant ascension to heaven. It is his ascension itself which
is the proclamation of his triumph over all and everything in the universe!
(1) Verse 18 speaks of Christ’s work of atonement and reconciliation
through his death and resurrection.
When Jesus died, only his human nature died. He was “put to death in the flesh” means that he was put to death while
he still possessed his weakened human body, burdened with the sins of mankind (Romans 1:3). By his death, Jesus laid
aside his weak human nature and severed every connection with sin and death. At his death, Jesus committed his spirit
into the hands of his heavenly Father (Luke 23:46). Thus, when Jesus died, his body was laid in the grave and his spirit
was in the presence of God the Father. Nowhere in the Bible do we read that the spirit of Jesus went down to Hades,
interpreted either as the underworld or as hell!
When Jesus was resurrected, only his human nature was resurrected. He was “made alive by the Spirit” means that his
human body was made alive or resurrected by the Holy Spirit (that is, by his divine nature)(cf. John 3:17-18).
After his resurrection, his whole body was a glorious and completely Holy Spirit controlled body (Romans 1:4;
Colossians 2:9)! From that moment onwards Jesus, as to his human nature, would no longer live in the weakness of the
human flesh, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. From that moment onwards God’s incomparable great power puts
Jesus Christ at God’s right hand above all the powers in the universe (Matthew 28:18; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians
1:20-23; Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 1:5).
(2) Verse 19-20 speaks of Christ’s “going” and his “preaching”.
Christ’s “going” was not a going before his resurrection, but a going after his resurrection. Jesus Christ was
resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit and in this resurrected state by the Holy Spirit he went somewhere and
preached something!
According to verse 18-19, this “going” of Jesus was not a going between his death and resurrection. It was not a going
in the human spirit of Jesus before his resurrection, but a going in his glorified body after the resurrection!
Christ’s “going” was not a going downwards, but a going upwards. Verse 22 says that Jesus did not go down to
the underworld of spirits of dead people, but upwards to heaven to the right hand of God!
In John 12:32 the resurrection, ascension and enthronement of Jesus is regarded as one “lifting up” to God. In
Revelation 12:5 the resurrection, ascension and enthronement is regarded as “a snatching up” to God. Likewise, in
1 Peter 3:19-22, the event of his resurrection, ascension and enthronement is regarded as one “going up” to God in
heaven!
“The proclamation” of Christ was not a preaching of the gospel, but a proclamation of his triumph. Verse 19
simply speaks of “preaching” (a proclamation). But what were the contents of this proclamation? In the original
language, “the going” and “the preaching” of Christ belong together. “By going (Greek participle) he proclaimed (main
verb) to the spirits of people who died before and are imprisoned somewhere. His triumphant going to heaven (after his
death and resurrection) was itself “the proclamation” of his final triumph! Verse 19 does not speak of the proclamation
of the gospel, but speaks of the proclamation of Christ’s triumphant ascension into heaven as his final triumph!
Christ’s “going” was a proclamation directed to all careless and disobedient beings.
Verses 19-20 say that this proclamation of his triumph is especially directed “to the spirits in prison, who disobeyed
God in the time of Noah while the ark was being built”. Who are these spirits in prison who disobeyed God? They are
the disembodied spirits (or souls) of the people who perished during the flood and who are kept imprisoned in hell.
Genesis 6:5 says that they were an evil generation and 2 Peter 2:5 says that Noah was a preacher of righteousness.
While Noah took God on his Word and built the ark, these ungodly people must have ridiculed his preaching and
warning concerning the coming judgement of the flood. They not only disbelieved his preaching, but also ignored his
building of the ark, which was a visible reminder of their coming destruction. They disobeyed God’s warning and
defied his patience, probably for a hundred years long (1 Peter 3:20; Genesis 5:32; 6:3; 7:6). But when the flood came,
Noah’s faith was vindicated and the unbelief (and disobedience) of the wicked generation was condemned (Hebrews
11:6).
According to Matthew 24:37-39, Jesus himself teaches that “the people during the days of Noah” symbolise all the
careless and disobedient people in the world! Therefore, the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven is a proclamation of
victory over all the careless, disobedient and unrighteous people, whether they lived before or after the first coming of
Jesus Christ.
At the same time it is a warning to all people to repent! From other passages in the Bible we know that Christ’s death,
resurrection, ascension and enthronement is the proclamation of victory over all the evil spiritual powers (Ephesians
1:20-22), like the devil and his demons (John 12:31-32; Revelation 12:5-9; 20:1,3,7), the evil spirits (fallen
angels)(Luke 8:31; Colossians 2:15; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 9:1) and all evil governments in the world (Psalm
2:8-12)! The ascension of Jesus Christ is the proclamation of his total triumph!
(3) Verses 21-22 speak of the resurrection, ascension and enthronement of Jesus Christ.
The victory parade of a Roman general returning to Rome after a victory, in which his captives are following in his train
chained to his chariot, is a symbol for the triumph of Jesus Christ during his ascension into heaven, in which his
captives follow in his train.
According to 2 Corinthians 2:14 and Ephesians 4:8 Jesus Christ brings all Christians in history along in his victory
parade. He conquered them by his love and grace that are proclaimed in the gospel. Jesus Christ first descended from
heaven to the lowest place on earth (i.e. he took on the weak and mortal human nature) in order to reveal God and make
atonement for sins. After that he ascended to the highest place in heaven (i.e. he now possessed the glorified human
nature) in order to bring everything to fullness (Philippians 2:6-11; Ephesians 1:10). “This is why it says: ‘When he
ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men’. (What does ‘he ascended’ mean except that he also
descended to the lowest earthly regions. He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in
order to fill the whole universe.)” (Ephesians 4:8-10). The triumphant ascension symbolises that Jesus Christ conquered
sin and death by his death and resurrection. In his triumphant ascension he displays to all the kingdoms on earth all the
Christians he has conquered through the power of his mercy and grace!
According to Colossians 2:15 all the conquered evil powers in history follow Jesus Christ in his train. The victory
parade symbolises that Jesus Christ conquered all the powers of darkness by his death and resurrection and displays
them to all the kingdoms of the world!
According to 1 Peter 3:21-22 all good angels and all evil spirits in the universe and all governments on earth willingly
subject to Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ is the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20-23;
Revelation 17:14).
According to 1 Corinthians 15:25 and Philippians 2:10-11, all those who do not submit to Christ’s triumph in mercy,
must one day submit to his triumph in judgement (John 5:22)!
5. The correct interpretation of 1 Peter 4:1-6.
The event referred to in 1 Peter 4:1-6 is the preaching of the gospel to people when they were still alive, but had already
died by the time Peter wrote his letter. It speaks of preaching the gospel to people while they are still alive in their
bodies on earth, so that they might be saved and then live a sanctified life while still alive in their bodies! It speaks of
the need to live a spiritual life in the present body in spite of the physical death of the present body in the future. 1 Peter
4:6 says, “For this is the reason the gospel was preached to those who are now dead (literally “the dead”, people who
were alive in the past, but have did in the mean time), so that they might be judged (by dying) according to men in
regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit”. Their human spirit was already born again (they
lived according to God in regard to the spirit), but their human body still had to die (they still had to be judged
according to men in regard to the body).
(1) Verse 6 teaches about the purpose of preaching the gospel.
The real reason for preaching the gospel to people is either to save them or to judge them! Verses 3 to 5 say that people,
who continue to live in sin and an immoral life-style, will be judged! And verses 1, 2 and 6 say that Christians, who live
the rest of their lives on earth for God, will be saved! All people, including Christians, will in the future “be judged
according to men in the body”. This means that their lowly bodies are already condemned to die physically one day, as
happens to all people on earth (Hebrews 9:27). Christians have to die physically, because their present flesh and blood
cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50).
However, all people who respond to the gospel will “live for God according to the spirit”. This means that with their
regenerated or new spirit, Christians will live for God, serve and worship God, in spite of the fact that many of them
will die in the persecutions. With their inner beings they will delight in God’s Word and in God’s ways (John 4:23-24;
Romans 7:22,25). In short, all genuine Christians will live sanctified lives!
The gospel was preached to “the dead”. The meaning of this sentence is that the people, who had heard and believed the
gospel during their lifetimes, had in the mean time died either in the persecutions or through natural death, and were
already dead by the time Peter wrote his first letter. The fact that they believed in Christ when they were still alive did
not preserve their physical bodies during the persecutions. But it saved them from the punishment for sin and from
eternal death, and it enabled them to live sanctified lives in the midst of persecution!
(2) Verse 6 does not and cannot teach the second chance theory.
Verse 6 cannot mean that the gospel was preached to the spirits of dead people either in the underworld or in hell,
because these spirits did not have physical bodies anymore! Therefore, the only possible interpretation of verse 6 is that
the gospel was preached to these people before they were judged according to men in regard to their bodies, that is,
before they died physically! This verse cannot be interpreted to mean that the gospel was preached to people after they
had died physically, that is, to the spirits of people who had already died, because these spirits would no longer have
bodies that could be condemned to die after the gospel was preached to them!
Conclusion. Verse 6 does not teach that the gospel is preached to the spirits of dead people in the underworld or in hell.
Summary: There is no evidence in the Bible that people will get a second chance to hear the gospel and be saved after
their death! The gospel is preached to people only while they are still alive on earth. Their faith or unbelief while they
are still alive on the earth will determine their eternal destiny. Therefore,
“Now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2)!
“The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news (Mark 1:15)!
[CHURCH FESTIVAL]
THE NEW YEAR’S FESTIVAL: THE DAY OF REVIEW AND COMMITMENT
Introduce. The New Year’s Festival is important to many people. We will learn how Christians may celebrate the
beginning of a new year. We will learn the importance of examining ourselves with respect to the past year. And we
will learn the importance of making the right decisions and choices with respect to the new year. We will also learn the
importance of involving God in every beginning we make.
Psalm 90:10-12 says, “The length of our days is seventy years - or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but
trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a
heart of wisdom.” Every New Year’s Festival reminds people everywhere on earth that their time on earth is limited,
that also this new year will end and soon they will arrive at the end of their lives. Every New Year’s Festival is an
opportunity for people to evaluate the past year and to make some important decisions for the coming year. A Christian
family or group of friends could spend some time during the evening of the last day of the old year to personally
consider some important questions.
The Bible is a book which tells you about ‘the beginning’ of all the important things. It reveals that God existed in the
beginning. It relates the beginning of the created universe, the beginning of mankind, the beginning of God’s purpose
and the beginning of man’s task on earth.
But the Bible also reveals the end of all things. It relates the end of this world with all its countries and governments at
the second coming of Jesus Christ. Then Jesus Christ will judge every person who ever lived according to their
relationship to Jesus Christ and how they lived. Christians are therefore reminded that God is the Beginning and the End
of all things. They are reminded that they can only make a good beginning for the next year with the living God and that
they can only end their whole lives well with the living God. Therefore, the New Year’s Festival is an opportunity for
Christians to evaluate the past year and set the wrong things in their life right. The New Year’s Festival is also an
opportunity to make new decisions, and new choices and especially to make a new commitment to put their whole lives
into the hands of the living God.
A. THE NEW YEAR’S FESTIVAL AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF-EXAMINATION
Introduce. The New Year’s Festival is a very good time to ask yourself a few very important questions in order to help
you evaluate your past year.
1. The first New Year’s question: “Am I a believer?”
Read John 3:16-18,36; John 5:24; 1 John 3:9-10; 2 Corinthians 13:5.
Discover and discuss. What is the most important question anyone could ask himself?
The most important question you could ask yourself before you make a new beginning this New Year is about your
salvation, “Am I a Christian or not?” 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith;
test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you - unless, of course, you fail the test?”
Many people will begin this New Year without Jesus Christ, and thus without the living God. Everyone who does not
believe in Jesus Christ is lost. His sins are not yet forgiven, the wrath of God still remains on him and he will inherit
eternal punishment. Everyone who continues to sin, who does not do what is right or does not love his brother, is a child
of the devil. But if anyone turns to God and believes in Jesus Christ, he will certainly not be condemned and perish, but
have eternal life! He will not continue to sin, because he is born of God. He will do what is right and love his brother.
And he knows that he is a child of God. Therefore, everyone should examine and test himself.
Consider. If you have never received the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life as Saviour, then do it now. Pray the
following prayer: “Dear Father in heaven, I confess that I am a sinner and lost. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the
cross as a punishment for my sins. I believe that he was resurrected and now reigns as the King of kings. I now ask
Jesus Christ to come into my heart and into my life, to forgive me my sins and to give me new life. I want to learn from
Jesus Christ as my Teacher and obey him as my Lord. Thank you for hearing my prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
2. The second New Year’s question: “How have I lived during the past year?”
Read Psalm 139:1-7,23-24; John 8:32.
Discover and discuss. What is a second important question everyone ought to ask himself?
A second important question everyone ought to ask himself is, “How have I lived during this past year?” Psalm 139 is a
prayer of examination. David realises that he is not perfect and not sinless. He realises that he does not always know
what things in his life displease God. Therefore he asks God to show his sins to him. He prays, “O Lord, you have
searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern
© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Supplement 3. New Year Festival page 1

my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it
completely, O Lord. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? Search me, O God, and
know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting” (Psalm 139:1-3,23-24).
Consider. Doctors can only help to heal their patients when the patients acknowledge that they are sick. As long as a
patient refuses to face the reality of his sickness, he will not acknowledge that he needs a doctor. But when he faces the
reality of his life and acknowledges that he is sick and needs help, doctors can help him to be healed. Likewise, Jesus
says, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance” (Luke 5:31-32). Whoever faces his unrighteousness and acknowledges this to Jesus, will receive the help
and healing of the best doctor in the world! Whoever believes this, will not be afraid to examine himself very deeply in
order to confront those hidden fears and events of the past, because he knows that this is the best and quickest way to be
healed!
Therefore, an important question you should ask yourself before you make a new beginning this New Year concerns the
possibility of sin in your life. “Is there any particular sin in my life, which I have not confessed to Jesus Christ?” “Is
there some hidden motive that cannot please God?” “Is there some secret sin of which I have become a slave?” “Is there
a bad relationship with someone?” Think about the past year and evaluate your behaviour and words, your motives and
attitudes, and the decisions and choices you have made during the past year. When you know or feel that your life has
not been right, but you don’t know exactly what is wrong, pray Psalm 139 as a prayer of examination. Use this prayer in
the Psalms to ask God to search your hidden motives and to test your deepest feelings. Ask God to uncover your fears,
your hurt feelings and your offensive behaviour. God already knows what is hidden in your mind, heart and life, but he
wants you to ask him to show it to you. God wants you to recognise and acknowledge these things, because he wants to
deliver you from these things! In John 8:32 Jesus promises, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free”.
The truth about even the darkest side of your nature can set you free!
3. The third New Year’s question: “What progress have I made during the past year?”
Read Colossians 2:6-7; 1 Timothy 4:15-16.
Discover and discuss. What is a third important question everyone ought to ask himself?
A third important question everyone ought to ask himself is, “What progress have I made during the past year?” People
are living beings, and living beings either make progress forwards or regress backwards. People may think that they
stand still for a while in order to deal with a specific problem. But even dealing with a problem is making progress!
Only lifeless things stand still and remain as they are for a long time. The apostle Paul stimulates Timothy to make
progress. He says, “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your
hearers”.
Consider. An important question you should ask yourself before you make a new beginning this New Year is about the
progress in your life during the past year. “To what extent did I live exclusively for the glory of God (Romans 11:36)?”
“How did I remain in Christ (John 15:5)? “To what extent did I make progress in my growth as a Christian or not
(1 Timothy 4:15)?” “How well did I love my wife and children (Ephesians 5:25)?” “Did I work six days a week for my
living? “In what way did I contribute to God’s work and the extension of God’s kingdom (Matthew 6:33)?” “What does
God want me to change or to improve during the coming New Year?” Take time to consider what you think needs
changing. Consider these questions together with God by reading the Bible and by praying.
B. THE NEW YEAR’S FESTIVAL AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEDICATION
Introduce. Every New Year’s festival is a very good opportunity to make important decisions or choices in your life.
Some of the most important decisions or choices you should make are the following: “What will be the direction of my
life during the next year?” “In whom am I going to put my trust?” “What am I going to do with my time, talents,
opportunities, money, etc.?” “What are my goals and priorities in life?” Let us look at the decisions and choices some
people in the Bible have made. Then, make the right decisions and choices!
1. The first New Year’s decision: “I will take the right direction in my life”.
Read Jeremiah 6:16. “Stand at the cross-roads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk
in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Consider and discuss. Which road are you going to take? What will be the direction of your life during the coming new
year?
An important decision or choice you ought to make before you make a new beginning this New Year concerns the
direction of your life. Every New Year’s festival is like standing at a crossroad and you must make a decision whether
you are going to turn left or right, whether you should go straight on or turn backwards. You should decide whether you
are going to turn to God and follow God’s way, which is the good and right way, or whether you are going to turn away
from God and follow the wrong way. “The good and right way” corresponds to “the ancient paths”. “The ancient paths”

refers to the way that God has revealed in the Bible from ancient times, that is, from the time of the creation forwards.
Pray and ask God to show you the good and right way.
Of course, you may come to such crossroads at other times in your life as well!
2. The second New Year’s decision: “I will trust in the right person in my life”.
Consider and discuss. Whom are you going to trust during this year?
Read Jeremiah 17:5-10. “This is what the LORD says: Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for
his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see
prosperity when it comes; he will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed
is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends
out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of
drought and never fails to bear fruit.” The choice is between trusting human beings and the things that belong to human
beings, or trusting God and his Word. Whoever puts his trust in a human being, a politician, an economist, a military
leader or a spiritual leader, will become like a dry bush in the desert. But whoever puts his trust in the Lord, will be like
a tree planted by the water. God warns against having any kind of an unhealthy dependent or co-dependent relationship
with another person.
Read Proverbs 23:4-5; Matthew 6:25-34. People, who trust in material things like money and possessions, will discover
that their efforts to acquire wealth will wear them out and that riches are quickly lost. People, who trust in the Lord, will
not give all their time and effort to gain material things, but will first seek the kingdom of God and the things which are
right in God’s eyes.
Read Psalm 20:4-8. People, who trust in military power like horses and war chariots or modern guns, will discover that
they will one day “be brought to their knees and fall”. But whoever trusts in the Lord will be saved; the Lord will
answer his prayers; and he will “rise up and stand firm”.
Read Hosea 4:6; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25. People, who only trust in human knowledge like quasi-scientific or
philosophical knowledge for their lives, will discover that they have become fools in the eyes of God. But whoever
trusts in the Lord and his Word will be wise! He will not be rejected or destroyed, but saved.
Read Psalm 23:1-6. People, who trust in the Lord as their Shepherd, will experience that God leads them along the right
way, is present with them when they walk through the valley where death threatens and vindicates them against their
enemies.
3. The third New Year’s decision: “ I will make progress in my life”.
Consider and discuss. In which areas does God want you to make progress during this year?
An important decision or choice you ought to make before you make a new beginning this New Year concerns the area
of making real progress in your life. Many people make progress only during their years in school. After that for the rest
of their lives, they often go backwards more than forwards. The Lord Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul taught Christians
to make progress throughout their whole lives.
Read Matthew 25:14-30. God has given every person one or more talents. A talent is literally a unit of a great amount
of money. An ordinary worker in Jesus’ day had to work for twenty years to earn one talent! The point of this parable is
that each person must be faithful in using the opportunities, which God has entrusted to him. He should use them in
such a way that God is glorified, that God’s kingdom is extended and that the little ones (Matthew 25:40) are benefited.
God will punish negligence, but reward diligence. Although everybody has received a different amount of opportunities
in life, they nevertheless should make progress and use whatever God has given them in order to gain more.
Read Ephesians 5:15-17. Wise people are those people who walk with God and have an understanding of God’s will.
They aim to reach the highest goal and use the best means to attain it. They make the best use of their abilities and
opportunities. In order to make progress, a person must be wise.
Read Philippians 3:7-16. Paul describes his own goal in order to stimulate the Philippians to follow his example. His
purpose is to know Christ, to gain Christ and to become like Christ. He is aiming at ethical and religious perfection.
Paul believes in election before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4) and in assurance of salvation (2 Timothy
2:19). But he does not believe in divine election apart from human responsibility, or in divine salvation apart from
human responsibility, or in divine salvation without human effort, or in divine assurance of salvation without constant
human use of God’s promises! Although Christians cannot actually attain complete sanctification while they live in this
world, they nevertheless should make progress towards it.
Read 1 Timothy 4:11-16. Paul exhorts Timothy to be diligent in setting an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith
and in purity. He exhorts him to devote himself to the public reading of the Bible, to preaching and teaching. And he
urges him to watch his own life and doctrine closely. When he perseveres in these things, then everyone may be able to
see his progress.

C. THE NEW YEAR’S FESTIVAL AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLAIM GOD’S PROMISES
Introduce. In his sovereign will, God has given us a limited freedom to make choices and decisions, for which he will
also hold us responsible. For example, he will hold us responsible and accountable for believing or rejecting his
teachings. Likewise he will hold us responsible and accountable for obeying or disobeying his commands.
But in other areas of our lives, he has not given us freedom. For example, we cannot choose the time and place of our
birth, and most of the time, we cannot choose our circumstances! But God has given us the freedom to choose our
attitude and reaction towards our circumstances!
Every New Year’s festival is a very good opportunity to make some new commitments to God, especially to surrender
to God’s will. God wants us to willingly and wholeheartedly surrender to his revealed will in the Bible, that is, to
choose to believe his teachings and to do his commandments. And God wants us to trustfully submit to the
circumstances that he has permitted in a sovereign way in our life. Therefore, let us involve God in all the beginnings
that we are going to make this year.
1. The first New Year’s promise: “I will depend on God’s presence in my life”.
Discover and discuss. What does the Bible promise about God’s presence?
An important commitment every Christian ought to make before he makes a new beginning this New Year is to depend
on God’s presence in his life, especially when he faces difficulties.
Read Deuteronomy 1:29-33. God himself goes before his people and he fights for his people. Wherever we as
Christians will have to go during the next year, God himself will be there before we arrive there, he will be by our side
and he will fight for us. As a matter of fact, God does not take difficulties away from us, but carries us through our
difficulties! Just as a father carries his son all the way through the desert difficulties, so God carries us through our
difficulties until we reach our final destiny!
Read 2 Kings 6:15-17. Enemies who wanted to hurt and kill them surrounded Elisha and his whole city. Elisha’s
servant was very afraid. Then God opened his spiritual eyes and he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all
around the city, protecting them! Sometimes God will allow us to come into very difficult circumstances. While we can
only see the physical dangers and enemies, God and his angels are nevertheless very real and very present! Psalm 34:7
says, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them”. In Isaiah 41:10 God promises,
“Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will
uphold you with my righteous right hand.” And in Isaiah 43:1-7 he promises, “When you pass through the waters, I will
be with you and when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.”
2. The second New Year’s promise: “I will depend on God’s grace in my life”.
Discover and discuss. What does the Bible promise about God’s grace?
on God’s grace in his life.
Read Revelation 3:7-8. It is only by God’s grace that God opens doors of opportunities for each Christian. He may give
us an opportunity to study or to get a job or to find a marriage partner, etc. He opens a door of opportunity to tell other
people about Jesus Christ or to serve in his kingdom. Even when other people try to close doors, Jesus says, “What I
open, no one can shut, and what I shut, no one can open.” The political leaders, military leaders or religious leaders of
the world may shut doors in our lives, but they can only do that by God’s sovereign permission! It is not they who carry
the keys, but Jesus Christ! It is not they who shut doors, but Jesus Christ who permits them to shut a door. It is also not
they who open doors, but Jesus Christ who in a sovereign way opens a new door for us, which no one can shut!
Christians believe in the sovereignty of God and Jesus Christ. Therefore, Christians should depend on God’s grace to
open doors of opportunities for them during this new year!
Read Proverbs 27:1; James 4:13-17. The Bible warns that you should not boast and brag about what you will do
tomorrow. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow! Nobody knows if he will still be alive tomorrow! Therefore, a
Christian depends on God’s grace when he makes his plans for tomorrow and for every day of the new year. Christians
say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
Read 2 Corinthians 12:9. Of course, every Christian will face difficulties (trials). But God has a purpose with the
difficulties (trials) you face tomorrow or during the coming year. Paul teaches that when you face difficulties, sickness
or persecution, you should depend on God’s grace. God did not take Paul’s difficulties away, but instead said to him,
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, you should depend on the grace
of God whenever you face difficulties, sickness and persecution during the new year. God will use your difficulties,
sickness or persecution to make you more Christ like and more effective.
3. The third New Year’s promise: “I will depend on God’s victory in my life”.
Discover and discuss. What does the Bible promise about God’s victory?

on God’s victory in his life. When people read newspapers or listen to the news over the radio, they often just hear bad
news. Nations go to war against one another; people tell lies, steal, rape and murder. Some businessmen and politicians
are corrupt. Some policemen and judges do not defend the poor and helpless, but show partiality for people who can
give them bribes. However, people that read the Bible always hear good news!
Read Romans 8:28-39. God teaches that the final victory belongs to God’s people and not to the wicked and corrupt
people! It says, “If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or
hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors!” No matter what happens to the Christian during the new year, he already knows that he will share in the
final victory of God!
Read Matthew 13:41; Acts 3:21; Revelation 21:27. Whatever happens in this world is not the end. The final end of this
present broken world is the second coming of Jesus, the resurrection from the dead, the final judgement and
condemnation of the wicked and the renewal of heaven and earth in which only righteousness will dwell! Therefore,
when you make a beginning this new year, depend on the final victory you will have at the end of all your years on
earth! That end comes when you die or when Jesus Christ returns.

Go and Build Christ's Church. Manual 5. Church Festivals (Eng)

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Go and Build Christ's Church. Manual 5. Church Festivals (Eng)

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GO AND BUILD

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Introduction. Church festivals page 1

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Introduction. Church festivals page 2

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Contents training programmes I+II page 1

DAY 2 (Lesson 3 + 4) DAY 5 (Lesson 9 + 10)

DAY 6 (Lesson 11 + 12)

POSSIBLE EXTRA TEACHINGS

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Contents training programmes I+II page 2

SHARING (20 minutes) [QUIET TIMES]

3 MEMORISATION (5 minutes) [CHRISTIAN CHARACTER]

TEACHING (85 minutes) [CHURCH FESTIVAL]

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 1. Christmas page 1

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 1. Christmas page 2

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 1. Christmas page 3

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 1. Christmas page 4

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 1. Christmas page 5

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 1. Christmas page 6

PRAYER (8 minutes) [REACTIONS]

PREPARATION (2 minutes) [ASSIGNMENT]

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 1. Christmas page 7

SHARING (20 minutes) [QUIET TIMES]

MEMORISATION (5 minutes) [CHRISTIAN CHARACTER]

Review two by two.

4 BIBLE STUDY (85 minutes) [GOSPEL OF JOHN]

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 2. Introduction of the Gospel of John page 1

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 2. Introduction of the Gospel of John page 2

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 2. Introduction of the Gospel of John page 3

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 2. Introduction of the Gospel of John page 4

PRAYER (8 minutes) [INTERCESSION]

PREPARATION (2 minutes) [ASSIGNMENT]

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 2. Introduction of the Gospel of John page 5

SHARING (20 minutes) [QUIET TIMES]

MEMORISATION (5 minutes) [CHRISTIAN CHARACTER]

Review two by two.

TEACHING (85 minutes) [CHURCH FESTIVAL]

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 3. Good Friday page 1

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 3. Good Friday page 2

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 3. Good Friday page 3

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 3. Good Friday page 4

PRAYER (8 minutes) [REACTIONS]

PREPARATION (2 minutes) [ASSIGNMENT]

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 3. Good Friday page 5

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 3. Good Friday page 6

SHARING (20 minutes) [QUIET TIMES]

MEMORISATION (5 minutes) [CHRISTIAN CHARACTER]

Review two by two.

BIBLE STUDY (85 minutes) [THE GOSPEL OF JOHN]

STEP 1. READ. GOD’S WORD

STEP 2. DISCOVER. OBSERVATIONS

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 4. John 1:1-18 page 1

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 4. John 1:1-18 page 2

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 4. John 1:1-18 page 3

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 4. John 1:1-18 page 4

STEP 4. APPLY. APPLICATIONS

1. Examples of possible applications from John 1:1-18.

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 4. John 1:1-18 page 5

STEP 5. PRAY. RESPONSE

PRAYER (8 minutes) [INTERCESSION]

PREPARATION (2 minutes) [ASSIGNMENT]

© 2016 DOTA Manual 5 Lesson 4. John 1:1-18 page 6

SHARING (20 minutes) [QUIET TIMES]

MEMORISATION (5 minutes) [CHRISTIAN CHARACTER]

Review two by two.