Reading 1, John 19:1-30

John 19  

The Soldiers Mock Jesus 

So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. ²And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. ^3 [ba]Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands. 

⁴Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” 

Pilate’s Decision 

⁵Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” 

⁶Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” 

Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.” 

⁷The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to [^bb]our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” 

⁸Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, ⁹and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 

¹⁰Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have [^bc]power to crucify You, and power to release You?” 

¹¹Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” 

¹²From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.” 

¹³When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. ¹⁴Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 

¹⁵But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” 

Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” 

The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” 

¹⁶Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus [^bd]and led Him away. 

The King of the Jews Crucified 

¹⁷And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, ¹⁸where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. ¹⁹Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: 

JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 

²⁰Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. 

²¹Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ” 

²²Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” 

²³Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. ²⁴They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: 

“They divided My garments among them, 
And for My clothing they cast lots.” 

Therefore the soldiers did these things. 

Behold Your Mother 

²⁵Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” ²⁷Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. 

It Is Finished 

²⁸After this, Jesus, [^be]knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” ²⁹Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. ³⁰So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. 

1. Question: Consider all the things that come to mind for you regarding what was included in Jesus statement that, “It is finished,” just before he gave up His spirit. 

Reading 2, John 19:31-20:10

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced 

³¹Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. ³²Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. ³³But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. ³⁴But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. ³⁵And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. ³⁶For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” ³⁷And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” 

Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb 

³⁸After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. ³⁹And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. ⁴⁰Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. ⁴¹Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. ⁴²So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby. 

The Empty Tomb 

John 20  

Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ²Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 

³Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. ⁴So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. ⁵And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. ⁶Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷and the [^bf]handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. ⁸Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. ⁹For as yet they did not [^bg]know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. ¹⁰Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. 

2. Question: What do you think it means in verse 8, “for as of yet they did not know the scripture that He must die and rise again from the dead, when Jesus had told them this would happen (Luke 9:21-23)? 

Reading 3, John 20:11-42

Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord 

¹¹But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. ¹²And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. ¹³Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” 

She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 

¹⁴Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” 

She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 

¹⁶Jesus said to her, “Mary!” 

She turned and said to [^bh]Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). 

¹⁷Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” 

¹⁸Mary Magdalene came and told the [^bi]disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. 

The Apostles Commissioned 

¹⁹Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were [^bj]assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 

²¹So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” ²²And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 

 3. Question: What do you get out of what Jesus said to His followers in verses 21-23? 

Seeing and Believing 

²⁴Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” 

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 

²⁶And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” ²⁷Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 

²⁸And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 

²⁹Jesus said to him, [^bk]“Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 

4. Question: What do you get out of verses 25, 27-29 and how can you apply this to yourself? 

That You May Believe 

³⁰And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. 

 5. Question: What all do you associate with believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (what else does this imply)? 

Reading 4, John 21

John 21  

Breakfast by the Sea 

After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: ²Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. ³Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” 

They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and [^a]immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. ⁴But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” 

They answered Him, “No.” 

⁶And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 

⁷Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. ⁸But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. ⁹Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. ¹⁰Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” 

¹¹Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. ¹²Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 

¹⁴This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. 

Jesus Restores Peter 

¹⁵So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of[^b]Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” 

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [^c]love You.” 

He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 

¹⁶He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of [^d]Jonah, do you love Me?” 

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [^e]love You.” 

He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 

¹⁷He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of [^f]Jonah, do you [^g]love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” 

And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” 

Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. ¹⁸Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” ¹⁹This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” 

²⁰Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” ²¹Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 

²²Jesus said to him, “If I [^h]will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” 

²³Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?” 

 6. Question: What important point or principle do you find in Jesus’ response to Peter when he asks, “But Lord, what about this man (John)?” 

The Beloved Disciple and His Book 

²⁴This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. 

²⁵And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. 

Reading 1, John 16:1-24

John 16  

Jesus Warns and Comforts His Disciples 

“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.²They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. ³And these things they will do ^[ac]to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. ⁴But these things I have told you, that when ^[ad]the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. 

“And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. 

The Work of the Holy Spirit 

⁵“But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ ⁶But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. ⁷Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. ⁸And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹of sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; ¹¹of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 

¹²“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.¹³However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. ¹⁴He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He ^[ae]will take of Mine and declare it to you. 

1. Question: In verses 5-15, what does Jesus tell His disciples that the Holy Spirit will do when He comes. 

Sorrow Will Turn to Joy 

¹⁶“A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.” 

¹⁷Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” ¹⁸They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not ^[af]know what He is saying.” 

¹⁹Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? ²⁰Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. ²¹A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ²²Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. 

²³“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. ²⁴Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 

2. Question: What did Jesus mean by saying that in a little while they would not see Him, and again in a little while they will see him? 

3. Question: Why do you think Jesus was talking about when He said that in that day they will ask Him nothing but they will ask the Father in Jesus’ name and He will give it? 

Reading 2, John 16:25-17:5

Jesus Christ Has Overcome the World 

²⁵“These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. ²⁶In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; ²⁷for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. ²⁸I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.” 

²⁹His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! ³⁰Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.” 

³¹Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? ³²Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his ^[ag]own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. ³³These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you ^[ah]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 

Jesus Prays for Himself 

John 17  

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, ²as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He ^[ai]should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. ³And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. ⁴I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. ⁵And now, O Father, glorify Me together ^[aj]with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. 

       4. Question: What did Jesus tie eternal life to in verse three? 

Reading 3, John 17:6-26

Jesus Prays for His Disciples 

⁶“I have ^[ak]manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.⁷Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.⁸For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. 

⁹“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. ¹⁰And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. ¹¹Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep^[al] through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. ¹²While I was with them ^[am]in the world, I kept them in ^[an]Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is ^[ao]lost except the son of ^[ap]perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. ¹⁴I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷Sanctify^[aq] them by Your truth. Your word is truth. ¹⁸As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. ¹⁹And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. 

5. Question: What do you think Jesus meant by, “sanctify (set apart) them by Your truth, Your word is truth.”? 

Jesus Prays for All Believers 

²⁰“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who ^[ar]will believe in Me through their word; ²¹that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²²And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 

²⁴“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. ²⁶And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” 

6. Question: What two important things stand out to you in what Jesus prayed between verses 20 – 26? Do you see the “church” doing what Jesus prayed in this passage?   

Why or why not?  

How can we be obedient in what Jesus prayed? 

Reading 4, John 18:1-18

Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane 

John 18  

When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. ²And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. ³Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. ⁴Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” 

⁵They answered Him, “Jesus ^[as]of Nazareth.” 

Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. ⁶Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 

⁷Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” 

And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 

⁸Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” ⁹that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.” 

¹⁰Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 

¹¹So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” 

Before the High Priest 

¹²Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. ¹³And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. ¹⁴Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was ^[at]expedient that one man should die for the people. 

Peter Denies Jesus 

¹⁵And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another^[au] disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. ¹⁶But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” 

He said, “I am not.” 

¹⁸Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself. 

Reading 5, John 18:19-40

Jesus Questioned by the High Priest 

¹⁹The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. 

²⁰Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where ^[av]the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. ²¹Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.” 

²²And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck^[aw]Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” 

²³Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” 

²⁴Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. 

Peter Denies Twice More 

²⁵Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” 

He denied it and said, “I am not!” 

²⁶One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” ²⁷Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed. 

In Pilate’s Court 

²⁸Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the ^[ax]Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. ²⁹Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” 

³⁰They answered and said to him, “If He were not ^[ay]an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.” 

³¹Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” 

Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” ³²that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die. 

³³Then Pilate entered the ^[az]Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” 

³⁴Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?” 

³⁵Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?” 

³⁶Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” 

³⁷Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” 

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” 

³⁸Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all. 

7. Question: What do you think looks like the religious spirit at work in verses 28 – 32 in the actions of the religious leaders? 

8. Question: What do we learn from Jesus’ words in verse 36 about the kingdom of God in this present age until Christ’s future return? 

From what Jesus said about the kingdom of God over time, what are some of the places He said it would be?

Barabbas Released Instead of Jesus 

³⁹“But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 

⁴⁰Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber. 

Reading 1, John 13:1-17

John 13

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 

²And ^[m]supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, ³Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, ⁴rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. ⁵After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. ⁶Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” 

⁷Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” 

⁸Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” 

Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 

⁹Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” 

¹⁰Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” ¹¹For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.” 

¹²So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you ^[n]know what I have done to you? ¹³You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. ¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. ¹⁷If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 

Study Note: The job of washing off the dirty feet of the guests was that of the house servant.  At that time and place they did not have shoes, and commonly wore sandals.  People walked the same path or roads as the animals and would have nasty, dirty feet.  When Peter said to Jesus to not only wash his feet but all of me, Jesus said He already had a bath and therefore only needed his (dirty) feet washed.

1. Question: Putting aside everything you have been may have heard about the purpose of why Jesus washed the disciple’s feet, what did Jesus actually teach them about why He washed their feet in verses 14-17? (see also Matthew 20:28, Luke 22:24-27, Philippians 2:5-11). 

Reading 2, John 13:18-38

Jesus Identifies His Betrayer 

¹⁸“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats ^[o]bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ ¹⁹Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. 

 ²⁰Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” 

²¹When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” ²²Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. 

²³Now there was ^[p]leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. ²⁴Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. 

²⁵Then, leaning ^[q]back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 

²⁶Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. ²⁷Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” ²⁸But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. ²⁹For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 

³⁰Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night. 

The New Commandment

³¹So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. ³²If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. ³³Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. ³⁴A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

• Question:  What is so important about this new commandment to love one another has Christ loved us? 

Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial

³⁶Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” 

Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” 

³⁷Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” 

³⁸Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times. 

Reading 3, John 14:1-18

John 14

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ²In My Father’s house are many ^[r]mansions; if it were not so, ^[s]I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.⁴And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 

⁵Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 

⁶Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 

3. Question: What is so important about Jesus answer to Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”? 

The Father Revealed

⁷“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” 

⁸Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” 

⁹Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. ¹¹Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. 

¹²“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.¹³And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴If you ^[t]ask anything in My name, I will do it. 

4. Question: Why should we take what Jesus taught and demonstrated, as the foundation for everything pertaining to what is on the inside of us and what is one the outside. (verse 10-14, see also Hebrews 1:1-3, 1 Corinthians 3:9-11)? 

How are verses 12-14 related to what Jesus said in verse 7-11? 

¹⁵“If you love Me, ^[u]keep My commandments.  

¹⁶And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another ^[v]Helper, that He may abide with you forever— ¹⁷the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 

 ¹⁸I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. 

5. Question: How do you think loving Jesus and keeping His commands are related to the promise of the Holy Spirit in verse 16-17? 

Reading 4, John 14:19-31

Indwelling of the Father and the Son

¹⁹“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. ²⁰At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. ²¹He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and ^[w]manifest Myself to him.” 

²²Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” 

²³Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.²⁴He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. 

6. Question: What is the connection between our love for Christ, or lack thereof, and following His words? 

What does this have to say about the idea that becoming a Christian is Just getting your ticket punched and then getting on with your life to live any way you want because you are under grace? 

The Gift of His Peace

²⁵“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. ²⁶But the^[x]Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. ²⁷Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. ²⁸You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because ^[y]I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I. 

²⁹“And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. ³⁰I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. ³¹But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here. 

• Question: How is it that Satan has nothing in Christ and how can we keep Satan from having anything in us?  (see also Ephesians 4:27) 

Reading 5, John 15:1-25

John 15

The True Vine

 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ²Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He ^[z]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. ⁴Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 

⁵“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ⁶If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you^[aa] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 

Love and Joy Perfected

⁹“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ¹⁰If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 

¹¹“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. ¹²This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. ¹⁴You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. ¹⁵No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. ¹⁷These things I command you, that you love one another. 

•  Question: 
  A) How do we abide in Christ? (Matthew 22:37-38, John 14:5, John15:12, 1 John 1:7-8) 
  B) How do His words abide in us?  (Luke 6:46-48, Matthew 13:23) 
  C) What is the promise for those that abide in Christ and His words abide in them and why? (John 15:16-17) 

The World’s Hatred

¹⁸“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.²⁰Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. ²¹But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. ²²If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³He who hates Me hates My Father also. ²⁴If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. ²⁵But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’ 

9. Question: In your world, if you see that “Christians” are hated, is it for testifying of Christ and Him, or is it for another reason?  If another reason, what? 

²⁶“But when the ^[ab]Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. ²⁷And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning. 

10. Question: Who does the Holy Spirit abides within us testify of to the world?