WINDSOR FULL GOSPEL MISSION CHURCH
GROUP BIBLE DISCUSSION ANSWERS
John 18:11-27 (B)
1. 1) How many disciples followed Jesus to Annas’ house? Two disciples followed Jesus to Annas’ house. 1.2) Who is another disciple? John is another disciple. 1.3) Why didn’t another disciple reveal his name? Another disciple did not reveal his name because of his humility. 1.4) How was another disciple known to the high priest? It could be through a business relationship. It was possible that John used to deliver fish regularly to that household. 2. 1) Why did Peter follow Jesus to Annas’ house? (Matt 26:58) 2.2) Why did Peter follow Jesus at a distance? (Matt 26:58) Peter followed Jesus at a distance because of: 1) Fear. He was afraid of being arrested as one of Jesus’ disciples. 2.3) What was its consequence? (Matt 26:73-74) 2.4) Do you follow Jesus closely? How does it show in your church life? I try to follow Jesus as closely as I can and as far as my faith allows, through listening to Him and talking to Him by daily Bible reading, daily prayer, attending Sunday worship, weekly Bible study and prayer meeting, actively participation of fellowship and evangelism. 2.5) What does it mean to follow Jesus at a distance? Following Jesus at a distance means consciously limiting time of church activity and finding reasons to justify such decision. 2.6) Can you illustrate examples of Christians who follow Jesus at a distance? A person may justify that too much involvement in church activities could be too extreme. A person may be satisfied with attending Sunday service only and ignore other weekly church activities totally. 2.7) Why do they follow at a distance? 2.8) What will be its consequence? The consequence of following Jesus at a distance is to lose faith at the end. 2.9) How can you avoid such consequence? You can avoid such consequence with spiritual awakening and repentance. Everyday I should check my spiritual status: 2.9 a) Do I have spiritual hunger for God, as deer pants for water? (Psalm 42:1) If I do not have hunger for God, I probably spoiled my spiritual appetite due to enjoying worldly things. 2.9 b) Do I love God as a child is attached to his/her mother? (Psalm 63:3) Without love for God, I lose motivation for my living. If I do not love God, I am probably in love with something else, that would be my idol. 2.9 c) Am I serving the Lord? (John 12:26) If we do any thing at home, work, and church in any place for the sake of the Lord, It means that we are serving the Lord. 3. 1) What did Jesus warn Peter on the way to
Jesus prophesied that all His disciples would run away upon His arrest, and His prophecy was backed up by the Bible scriptures. 3.2) How did Peter respond to Jesus’ warning? (Matt 26:33) Peter did not understand the gravity of the situation. He did not listen with attention to Jesus’ warning. He thought he could trust himself with his strong faith. He believed that he would not run away even if all others had. 3.3) If you were Peter, how would you have responded? I had to listen carefully, because Jesus’ warning is God’s warning. I would have to pray for God’s wisdom and strength to face the situation. 4.1) What did Jesus warn Peter at Jesus warned Peter not to sleep and pray instead so that Peter would not confuse the situation and stumble on his faith. 4.2) How did Peter respond to Jesus’ warning? He slept with self assurance that he could manage the situation with his own strength. 4.3) If you were Peter, how would you have responded? I could not afford to sleep. I had to pray that by God’s grade, I would not stumble. 4.4) How did Peter stumble when Jesus was arrested? (Matt 26:51, 73-74) He cut off the ear of a servant who had come with the soldiers to arrest Jesus. A short sighted courage without knowing the meaning of Jesus arrest. Eventually he denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. 5.1) Why did Peter weep bitterly? (Matt 26:75) Peter wept bitterly for his regret, his anger towards himself, his failure, his betrayal to Jesus, and his inability to follow Jesus until the end. 5.2) For what did Peter repent from his heart? Peter repented from his heart that he trusted himself instead of God, but his will power is weak. He repented fro his pride. He thought he was better than other disciples, but he failed Jesus just like the others. He also repented for his three-time denial towards Jesus despite of 3 years’ disciple training. 5.3) Why do you think Peter fail to follow Jesus until the end? (John 21:15-17) Love for Jesus could have enabled Peter to follow Jesus until the end. Rather than relying on that love, Peter thought he could have followed Jesus with his own strength. Life Application: 1. The meaning of being a Christian is to be the follower of Christ. In what way do you follow Jesus? Love for Jesus motivates us to follow Jesus. We can follow Jesus through reading the Bible, prayer, attending Bible study, joining fellowship, serving God, and bearing witness for Jesus. 2. How closely do you follow Jesus? I follow Jesus as closely as I could. Jesus understands our spirit is willing but our bodies are weak. 3. What is the meaning of sleeping in Christian life? Sleeping in Christian life means to be drunken with the worldly things, and not aware of the spiritual situations. 4. What consequence do you expect if you keep sleeping in your Christian life? If we keep sleeping in our Christian life, we would eventually depart from faith.
Prayer:
1) His conscience as Jesus’ senior disciple.
2) An opportunistic stance. If Jesus performed a miracle to overcome Roman army, Peter could join.
Jesus to share the victory. If Jesus was defeated, Peter would be able to run away.
They follow Jesus at a distance for:
1) Lack of faith
2) Spiritual laziness
3) Lack of hunger for God by compromising with the world
4) Fear of extremism
Dear Jesus! Thank you for saving my soul through your sacrificial death on the cross for me. Help me know you better everyday while I follow you closely with love. Help me crucify any interfering factor preventing me from following Jesus. Pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.