Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
I love v.12 He knows how much we can bear.
I love v.12 He knows how much we can bear.
V.33 In this world you will have trouble …
You have to wonder where some people get the idea that God is here to solve all our problems.
… however in Jesus we have peace.
V.33 In this world you will have trouble …
You have to wonder where some people get the idea that God is here to solve all our problems.
… however in Jesus we have peace.
Jesus seems to spend most of the chapter going into long explanations about going away but telling them they would see him again. Yet when it happened the disciples seemed to have completely forgotten what he said. Makes we wonder how often we forget what Jesus tells us.
Jesus seems to spend most of the chapter going into long explanations about going away but telling them they would see him again. Yet when it happened the disciples seemed to have completely forgotten what he said. Makes we wonder how often we forget what Jesus tells us.
Yes, Susan, I stand in awe of the wonderful peace available to us through Jesus!
Trials help us to keep closer to Him, I find.
Yes, Susan, I stand in awe of the wonderful peace available to us through Jesus!
Trials help us to keep closer to Him, I find.
i think the answer is “very often.”
2 things jumped out at me in this chapter.
1. v2-3 it is fascinating to me to try to get into this story. to understand what it must have been like for them, and liken it to things in my contemporary world. the synagogue was like church for them. and the worship that went on there was based on the most high god. what would that have been like to hear? that in following the most high god towards his new work, you would actually be put out from the place dedicated to him. and those who consider themselves to also be dedicated to him will kill you in order to do him a service. even thought they’re not. they’re completely confused, and as a matter of fact, contrary to their claims to the opposite, they don’t actually know the most high god at all.
what if this happened today? what if god led you outside of the church, only to experience this kind of rejection by the people inside, and find out that they don’t actually know god at all and everything you learned growing up was a lie? would you still follow Him?
2. – v.7 the other thing i marvel at is trying to wrap my head around this holy spirit/jesus relationship. i wonder why the spirit could not come if jesus remained here?
i think the answer is “very often.”
2 things jumped out at me in this chapter.
1. v2-3 it is fascinating to me to try to get into this story. to understand what it must have been like for them, and liken it to things in my contemporary world. the synagogue was like church for them. and the worship that went on there was based on the most high god. what would that have been like to hear? that in following the most high god towards his new work, you would actually be put out from the place dedicated to him. and those who consider themselves to also be dedicated to him will kill you in order to do him a service. even thought they’re not. they’re completely confused, and as a matter of fact, contrary to their claims to the opposite, they don’t actually know the most high god at all.
what if this happened today? what if god led you outside of the church, only to experience this kind of rejection by the people inside, and find out that they don’t actually know god at all and everything you learned growing up was a lie? would you still follow Him?
2. – v.7 the other thing i marvel at is trying to wrap my head around this holy spirit/jesus relationship. i wonder why the spirit could not come if jesus remained here?
“everything you learned growing up was a lie”
Happens in other life situations too; people who told stories as children that are complete fabrications, people who grow up being told their parents loved and cared for them but the real history would suggest something quite different. With the maturity of an adult we can re-evaluate what we have been told. I think it is important we don’t “throw the baby out with the bath water” – surely not everything was a lie? I do have a little sympathy for these misguided people, they have their own burdens and reasons why they find it more comfortable to believe lies than search for the truth.
I was always told that the Spirit could not come if Jesus remained because the Spirit is the resurrected presence of Jesus. So Jesus had to become resurrected before the Spirit could come. I have had no reason to doubt it.
“everything you learned growing up was a lie”
Happens in other life situations too; people who told stories as children that are complete fabrications, people who grow up being told their parents loved and cared for them but the real history would suggest something quite different. With the maturity of an adult we can re-evaluate what we have been told. I think it is important we don’t “throw the baby out with the bath water” – surely not everything was a lie? I do have a little sympathy for these misguided people, they have their own burdens and reasons why they find it more comfortable to believe lies than search for the truth.
I was always told that the Spirit could not come if Jesus remained because the Spirit is the resurrected presence of Jesus. So Jesus had to become resurrected before the Spirit could come. I have had no reason to doubt it.
v.2 They will put you out of the synagogue;
There are times when people will want us to leave.
v.2 They will put you out of the synagogue;
There are times when people will want us to leave.
v.20 You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
Seems that between the cross and the resurrection the disciples forgot that Jesus said this, even though they said they understood (v.30).
v.20 You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
Seems that between the cross and the resurrection the disciples forgot that Jesus said this, even though they said they understood (v.30).
v.33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
Circumstances don’t bring peace. Only in him can we have peace and he has told us what we need to know to have peace.
v.33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
Circumstances don’t bring peace. Only in him can we have peace and he has told us what we need to know to have peace.
v.10 …because I am going to the Father
v.28…now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father
Hebrews 9:11-12 tells that Christ went into the heavenly sanctuary to present his blood to obtain our salvation:
“But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11-12).
“For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands 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).
v.10 …because I am going to the Father
v.28…now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father
Hebrews 9:11-12 tells that Christ went into the heavenly sanctuary to present his blood to obtain our salvation:
“But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11-12).
“For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands 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).
v.25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.”
(From Constable Commentary) “Jesus used parables to teach the multitudes because they were not ready to receive clear teaching (Mark 4:33-34). He interpreted some of His parables for the disciples because they could receive some clear teaching. However, He also used enigmatic language with the disciples because even they were not ready to understand some things yet.”
v.25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.”
(From Constable Commentary) “Jesus used parables to teach the multitudes because they were not ready to receive clear teaching (Mark 4:33-34). He interpreted some of His parables for the disciples because they could receive some clear teaching. However, He also used enigmatic language with the disciples because even they were not ready to understand some things yet.”