Honor Through Love – John 13:31-35

• Q. What does the word “now” mean? 
  • Discuss. 
  • It depends on who you are talking to. Your children may hear that as meaning, “When you get time.”
  • When Jesus said “now” he was referring to the entire period of His atoning sacrifice, resurrection, ascension, return, and reign. Jesus knew that His hour had come (John 13:1). 
  • Now that Judas had left to betray Jesus, the events leading to His crucifixion have begun. 
• Q. How does Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection show the glory of God? 
  • Give time to answer
  • The supreme characteristic of God is His love which is revealed in Jesus’ self-sacrificial love. 
  • The cross shows people the heart of God and of Christ.
• Q. If you knew major changes were coming in your life, job, etc. what would you do? What’s the best way to prepare for things to change?
  • Discuss. 
  • Tell someone
  • Give instructions on how to be successful
  • Jesus is doing that here. His care and love for the disciples prompts Him to prepare them for His departure. 
• Q. How does the secular world define “love?” How does that differ from the love Jesus wants His people to experience and share? 
  • Discuss
  • The world often thinks of “love” as a feeling or having a deep affection for someone.
  • Jesus’ example of love is self-denying and sacrificial.
• Q. How is the command to love one another a “new” command? (cf Leviticus 19:18). 
  • The command is new because it bases the standard on the way Jesus loved (“Just as I have loved you” John 13:34). 
  • This applies to Jesus washing the disciples feet, but even more so to His death on the cross. 

Honor Through Loyalty – John 13:36-38

• Q. When’s the last time you interrupted someone? How did it go? 
  • Discuss
  • It likely depends on who you interrupted. 
• Q. When’s the last time you stuck your foot in your mouth and made a fool of yourself? 
  • Likely the last time you tried to interrupt someone. 
  • It almost seems like Jesus was trying to stop Peter from making a fool of himself by saying, “you cannot follow me now.”
  • But it didn’t matter, Peter boldly proclaimed he would follow Jesus even to the point of death. 
• Q. While we know the rest of the story, the disciples did not. What do you imagine they were thinking as Jesus and Peter talked, specifically Jesus’ response in John 13:38? 
  • Give time to answer
  • “I’m glad I didn’t say something.”
  • “Why would Peter deny Jesus?”
  • “Would I do the same thing?”
  • etc.

Honor Through Believing – John 14:1-6

• Q. What causes us to experience trouble, confusion, or panic? 
  • Discuss
  • Many different things. 
  • Uncertainty, disaster, sadness, etc.
  • The solution to the disciples’ troubled heart is the solution when we are troubled; namely, trust. Trust in God and trust in Jesus Himself.
• Q. How does John 13:2-3 bring encouragement to the disciples? Why would the disciples be encouraged by what Jesus said? 
  • Give time to answer. 
  • These verses were a promise for a future, for an inheritance, to be with Jesus in the presence of the Father. 
• Q. When you hear the name Thomas in connection with the Bible, what comes to mind? 
  • Give time to respond. 
  • Most people will think about “doubting Thomas” (John 20:24-29). 
  • Here we see Thomas asking what seems to be a logical question. “If we don’t know where you are going, how can we know the way?”
  • However, after several years with Jesus, the disciples should have understood the spiritual implications of what He was sharing. Furthermore, Jesus had just said that He was going to the Father’s house to prepare a place for them.
• Q. John 14:6b states, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” What is the inverse of this statement? How can we say this positively? 
  • “All people must go to the Father by me,” or “I alone am the One by whom people go to the Father.”
  • The Bible makes it extremely clear that the only way to heaven is through Jesus.