We have an enemy who prowls about like a lion, looking for fresh meat.
He hides.
And we are apt to forget him, which gives him a real advantage.
So let’s bring him out of the tall grass
and see how he is at work in John’s gospel.
Every time there is a miracle, he is there.
Every time Jesus says one of the great I AM’s,
he is there.
He is in the religion of the Pharisees,
continually opposing
the gospel that can set us free.
His method?
As Jesus says:
Let me tell you a story.
I have also learned that our enemy is always looking for the wounded, for they are easy targets. It is the wounded wildebeest that lags behind the herd that he is watching, waiting for the right moment to pounce.
After Steve died, I heard two of our daughters quarreling, accusing one another of “not being there” for their dad. I was upstairs, but I could smell that snake, who had slithered into my wounded children to deceive and divide. I ran downstairs and asked them to lie on either side of me on the bed. I wanted to overcome lies with truth, and division with grace. I hugged them and told them we all had failed in various ways, but we all had been there for Steve. I recited the ways they had! Sally had come home, given up her dream of being at the San Francisco Art Institute. Annie had sat by his side while chemo dripped into him, comforting him with her silent presence. I told them we needed to give grace to one another for we needed to stick together. We must not let the enemy turn us against one another.
The enemy did not win. My girls have remained close, and are there for one another in one another’s trials.
But oh, how we need to speak truth to our souls, for our enemy prowls about breathing lies. And so often, he tells us we are not loved by God, so we better rely on ourselves. He wants us to retreat from the truth, love, and power of the gospel to the frailty of religion. He wants to divide friends, families, and churches — and then pluck them off, one by one.
Sunday:
- What stands out to you from the above and why?
Monday: The Deception
2. Read John 5:1-18
A. Describe the miracle and anything that stands out to you.
B. Were the Jews rejoicing for the transformed life of this man? What was their focus?
C. Can you see the deception of the enemy here? Explain.
Tuesday: The Truth that Jesus is Equal with the Father
How we need to be continually speaking the truth to our whirlpooling souls. As Martin Lloyd Jones says, “Don’t listen to your soul, speak to it.” Use Scripture. Sing hymns. Overcome that enemy with the truth. Jesus speaks the truth right after this miracle. The Pharisees are continually accusing him of being a rule-breaker, for their god is religion. Read carefully to see the lie of the enemy in their words and then how Jesus follows this miracle with the truth.
3. Read John 5:18 again.
A. What lie are they telling and what do they want to do to Jesus?
B. How do you see the characteristics of the enemy here?
4. Read John 5:19-23
A. How does Jesus directly confront their lie with truth?
B. What particularly stands out to you from this passage and why?
Wednesday: The Gospel Truth
The Pharisees thought their religion would save them, their rule-keeping, their legalism. They were in chains but they could not see it. Every miracle in John shows the frailty of man’s ways and the power of God’s. But following the miracles come accusations. So Jesus confronts the lies with the truth. This is so relevant to us, for the default mode of our hearts is religion. When circumstances are hard, we may assume God is angry with us. When we break the rules, again, we may assume He will withdraw His love. And because we have been deceived, and feel we are not given grace, our gracelessness spreads to others. We accuse. We fail to truly forgive. Satan wins.
Satan brings deception and division.
Jesus gives us truth to overcome deception
and grace to overcome division.
5. Read John 5:24-30
A. What causes someone to pass over from death to life?
B. In verses 25, what promise does He make? (See also verses 28-29)
6. Tim Keller says he will often take a promise and then write down ways he would live if he believed this to the bottom of his toes! I’d like you to take John 17:23, particularly “You have loved them even as You loved me.” How would you live if you believed this to the bottom of your toes? Be specific. I want to see your answers!!!
Thursday: Applying Truth and Grace
7. What lies has the enemy told you about your acceptance before God, and about how God sees you?
8. How could you overcome these lies with Scripture? Be specific.
9. Read 1 Peter 3:8-12 and share anything that becomes radioactive.
10. How might you give a blessing to those who have insulted you?
11. Read 1 Peter 3:13-17
A. What stands out to you from the above and why?
B. What did the Pharisees fear? How do you see this in their remarks after the miracles?
C. How should we always speak to people according to the end of verse 15? Why?
D. How might you apply this?
I recently heard of a very wise grandmother counsel her grandson who considers himself bi-sexual and was living with another man. She said, “That is a way, Michael. But it is not the best way because it is not God’s way — and I want the best for you.”
12. How do you see truth and grace in the grandmother’s words?
Friday: Redeemer Seminar or other Option
13. If you have added an option for Lent, what have you learned?
Saturday:
14. What is your take-a-way and why?
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11. Read 1 Peter 3:13-17 A. What stands out to you from the above and why?
I especially love the encouragement of vs. 14-15 “Have no fear of them, nor be troubled but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”
B. What did the Pharisees fear? How do you see this in their remarks after the miracles?
They feared losing control and power. They were always trying to find a way to make Jesus wrong, to catch Him in sin against the Law.
C. How should we always speak to people according to the end of verse 15? Why?
With gentleness and respect, so we are honoring God, and we have a clear conscience.
D. How might you apply this?
This is good for me to ponder. To face conflict in relationships with “gentleness and respect”, a good check for my heart. I can only do this when I am fully relying on Christ as my strength and my assurance.
12. How do you see truth and grace in the grandmother’s words?
She heard him, and acknowledged his voice, his “way”, but then gently gave truth, that his way was not the best way. She didn’t want him to change for her, but she truly wanted him to be able to experience all of God’s blessing, because she loves him so much. I think, in seeing his “way”, and recognizing it was not “the way”, she never lost sight of her grandson and her heart for him. She didn’t just focus on the behavior, the outside—she cared for his heart, and wanted him to hear her concern, enveloped with love.
7. What lies has the enemy told you about your acceptance before God, and about how God sees you?
That I need to perform to a certain level to be acceptable to Him.
8. How could you overcome these lies with Scripture? Be specific.
Several verses come to mind and they interweave.
a. John 3:16- such a simple declaration of God’s love when I believe in His Son
b. Romans 5: 8- while I was yet a sinner Christ died for me
c. Jeremiah 31: 3 He loves me with an everlasting love and drew me to Himself with kindness; nothing I deserved
d. He is rich in mercy and I can come to Him again and again even if I have failed Him
e. Romans 8:37-39 And nothing can separate me from His love as I am in Christ, the Son
9. Read 1 Peter 3:8-12 and share anything that becomes radioactive.
I went back to I Peter 2 as I Peter 3:8 started with the words, “Finally, be like-minded…” and continues with a list of what we should be like. It is as if Peter was saying that all the things he was saying before v. 8 needed to be in the context of demonstrating to the world what being a Christian is all about. Not just in relating with fellow brothers and sisters but with those who do evil to us or insult us.
10. How might you give a blessing to those who have insulted you?
Pray for them until you feel love towards them to the tip of your toes (borrowed from Tim Keller). Very hard to do.
11. Read 1 Peter 3:13-17
A. What stands out to you from the above and why?
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”
“revere Christ as Lord”-this is where I can get tripped up. I need to remember that whatever I do, it should be because Christ is Lord of my life. He should be first when I share the gospel with others. My natural fears and pride should be in submission to who is Lord of my life, therefore, I can share the gospel with gentleness and respect.
B. What did the Pharisees fear? How do you see this in their remarks after the miracles?
The disapproval of man and the discontinuation of their self made traditions
C. How should we always speak to people according to the end of verse 15? Why?
With gentleness and respect; keep a clear conscience;
D. How might you apply this?
To be slow to speak and quick to listen; really hear what the other person is saying. Show that you value what they have to say.
5. Read John 5:24-30
A. What causes someone to pass over from death to life. Hearing His voice and believing Him who sent Christ.
B. In verse 25, what promise does He make? (See also verses 28-29.) Those who are dead will be given the opportunity to hear Hos voice and respond. Does this refer to when he descended into hell? Seems so.
Interesting question, Jill. I’ve always struggled a bit over that phrase in The Apostle’s Creed — and I’ve researched it and then I forget what I learned!
But here is an article from The Gospel Coalition on it — though I think this refers to Old Testament saints — but I admit I’m still confused:
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/he-descended-into-hell
I always thought the verse in John refers to all of us, because we are born spiritually dead. When we, who are dead, hear, really hear His voice, then we have that opportunity to choose Him in response and live. That is when we ‘cross over from death to life’.
6. John 17:23, …”You have loved them even as You loved me.” How would you live if you believed this to the bottom of your toes? Be specific. I know He loves me but I’m not certain He likes me… if I knew to the bottom of my toes that He liked me and delighted in me I would smile more. I would find more Promise in His Word rather than guilt. I would be ok with “me” knowing He was teaching/growing me rather than constantly striving to be better “for Him.” I would talk about Him more. I would hear Him more.
11. Read 1 Peter 3:13-17
A. What stands out to you from the above and why?
This stands out:
“Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!”
1 Peter 3:17 NLT
https://www.bible.com/116/1pe.3.17.nlt
My husband and I did not ask for the situation we live in today; raising our toddler grandchildren. We are doing what we feel is right. Sometimes it feels like suffering (we get tired), but we know God would want us to do this.
B. What did the Pharisees fear? How do you see this in their remarks after the miracles?
They feared loss of control. Each time they were blessed to see a miracle, they reverted back to ritualistic/legalistic ideas.
C. How should we always speak to people according to the end of verse 15? Why?
We should always speak to others with the thought of Christ in our minds so we are ready to explain hope in our lives.
D. How might you apply this?
I would need to think a bit more here. I’m not quite sure. A friend is in a hard situation with her brother and I have tried to encourage with the CS Lewis doodle videos of Mere Christianity. Not sure if she will watch them, but I’m always trying with her (gently).
I recently heard of a very wise grandmother counsel her grandson who considers himself bi-sexual and was living with another man. She said, “That is a way, Michael. But it is not the best way because it is not God’s way — and I want the best for you.”
12. How do you see truth and grace in the grandmother’s words?
Love, love, love this! What a wise woman!! She gives him an “out;” a way to consider that is better than his choice. She doesn’t condemn him as he is.
I loved those grandmother’s words so much too, Laura — and can use them in other scenarios!
13. If you have added an option for Lent, what have you learned? This week in my ongoing reading in The Valley of Vision the prayer Heart Corruptions spoke to me. It speaks of my fallen nature and the false god of self…that is how Satan often slips in deception…by encouraging my heart to worship self. See excerpts below…
All my powers of body and soul are defiled; a fountain of pollution is deep within my nature…I live bare and barren as a winter tree, unprofitable, fit to be hen down and burnt…Thos hast struck a heavy blow at my pride, at the false god of self…But Thou hast given me another Master and Lord, thy Son, Jesus, and now my heart is turned toward holiness, my life speeds as an arrow from a bow towards complete obedience to Thee.
14.What is your take away? I have felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to pray on my armor that has been provided so that I may more effectively do battle with the enemy of my soul…I cannot allow complacency to creep in.
Dee and all, this is a link to the biggest thing I learned at my retreat last weekend. It very much gives a framework for speaking truth to yourself.
https://youtu.be/sfXF1zoKFGI
13. If you have added an option for Lent, what have you learned?
I have been reading Tim Keller’s “Every Good Endeavor” and have really been blessed by it. The book reminded me that the good work that I am doing at school is a continuation of the good work God has started in Eden. With a very hard year at school, I have been beset with disappointments and discouragement about my job and all these amidst a lingering respiratory illness. But God is faithful to daily remind me of His love for me and that during this hard season, He has me where I am supposed to be. The gospel applies to my whole life and that includes my job.
Saturday:
14. What is your take-a-way and why?
I love the wise words of the grandmother to her grandson. Many of our prodigals have chosen “a way” but not God’s way which is the best. May we continue to pray that the eyes and hearts of our beloved ones be opened to the Truth. May the hard bars of deception be destroyed and the yoke of slavery be undone.