Passages: John 5-11
Big Idea: Jesus is God’s way to God.
Ages: 5-7
Twelve lessons exploring John chapters 5-11.
The middle section of John’s gospel is full of complex truths that at their heart want to draw our attention to who Jesus is and the right response to him in light of this knowledge.
The man who couldn’t walk in John 5 stands in stark contrast to the man who couldn’t see in John 9. The first is keen for Jesus to heal him, but does not want anything to do with Jesus after he’s healed. He wants the gift Jesus offers, just not Jesus himself. The man born blind in chapter 9, however, speaks boldly to everyone, including the authorities, about what he knows about Jesus. The crowd in chapter 6 want to make Jesus their king, but only to feed their stomachs. They quickly turn on Jesus when he begins to speak of himself as the bread of life that comes down from heaven. Many walk away from Jesus at this point but the disciples, who’d earlier welcomed Jesus into the boat, remain. Peter speaks up on their behalf, ‘Where else would we go? You have the words of eternal life.’ As soon as the disciples had welcomed Jesus into the boat, they’d arrived at their destination. Peter’s words echo this miracle. Jesus is the only one who can welcome us home into heaven, to life everlasting.
The theme of light from John chapter 1 is picked up again in chapters 8 and 9. In chapter 8 Jesus, the light, shines into our dark hearts and reveals the sin that has trapped us all. In chapter 9, like the man born blind who speaks of what he knows, we are to shine Jesus’ light in our lives so others may see Jesus and live.
Throughout this middle section of John’s gospel, Jesus speaks of his relationship with God, his Father. Jesus says that God the Father is his own Father, that he has come from God, that his Father loves him and has entrusted his work to him, and handed over all judgement to him. The Jews realise that Jesus is claiming to be God and from that moment on seek to kill him. Which would be the right response if it were not true. But John is clear. Jesus is God’s way to God. You cannot worship God, the Father unless you worship Jesus, the Son.
Recommended devotional reading for leaders: Making The Father Known, by Ray Galea.
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