WINDSOR FULL GOSPEL MISSION CHURCH
GROUP BIBLE DISCUSSION ANSWERS
John 19:23-30 (C)
1. Do you agree that the following 7 sentences were spoken by Jesus in chronological order on the cross? yes Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." John 19:26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," Matthew 27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" John 19:28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." John 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Luke 23:46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. 2.1) Whom would one think about while he or she were drowning? Himself or herself 2.2) Whom did Jesus think about while He was suffering on the cross to die? (1) His enemies (2) A criminal beside Him who had hope in Jesus (3) His mother 3.1) What does Jesus teach us by having saved a criminal to heaven before his death? A person who never had a chance to change to a good person or to do a good work, can be saved into heaven by faith (believe and trust) in Jesus 3.2) Why does God give us free salvation? (Ephesians 2:8) We cannot to obtain salvation by money, a good work or becoming to be a good person. 4.1) How would you react if someone nails you on your hands and feet without finding your faults? With anger or revenging spirit 4.2) How did Jesus respond to enemies who nailed Him on His hands and feet? With the spirit of unconditional forgiveness 4.3) What would happen to us, if Jesus reacted as we would have reacted? If Jesus were angry against His enemies, He would have sinned. Then, God the Father could not accept Jesus as an Passover lamb for our salvation. 5.1) Why did Jesus call His mother as woman, instead of calling her mother? Jesus was calling as the Savior. His mother was one of women who needed salvation. 5.2) Why did Jesus want His mother to be under the care of John, His disciple, instead of her own sons? Jesus was concerned with mother’s salvation and her future spiritual growth. Jesus’ half brothers were not saved until that moment. In other word, Jesus was more concerned with His mother’s spiritual welfare more than her material welfare. 3) Can you describe the ordeals Jesus’ mother went through because of Him? 6.1) What kinds of pain did Jesus have to endure on the cross? 6.2) What was the greatest pain that Jesus had suffered? Spiritual pain caused by spiritual separation. (Matthew 27:46) 6.3) When do you think Jesus accomplished the work of salvation? At the moment Jesus’ spirit was separated from God the Father. (Matthew 27:46) 7.1) What does it mean when Jesus said, “I am thirsty”? 7.2) If your enemy gives you water for your thirst at the time of death, would you take it? I would not take it. I did not want to have sympathy from my enemy. 7.3) Why did Jesus take wine from His enemy at the time of His death? 8.1) What does it mean when Jesus said, “It is finished’? (Hebrews 4:15) 8.2) What kind of temptation did Jesus receive on the cross? (Matthew 27:41-43) The crowd mocked Jesus at the cross. Jesus could come down from the cross with the help of angels. But Jesus was hanging on the cross to death for the completion of our salvation. Life Application: 1. How deeply do you meditate on Jesus’ suffering on the cross when you see the cross? I should be felt His sacrificial love for me from my heart, so that I am very thankful to Jesus. I should be careful to live a Christian life, so that Jesus work on the cross for me will be not in vain. 2. Imagine what could you hear Jesus from the cross? Jesus is telling me that He loves me and accepts me as I am. His love for me will be never changing. Jesus is telling me, “Take up your own cross and follow me”. 3. How do you see yourself through the soldiers who were casting lot at the foot of cross? These soldiers were interested for their own profit, while Jesus was accomplishing a greatest historical event with sacrificial death above them on the cross. We also tend to be busy with our own worldly affair, while Jesus is inviting us to participate His plan which will effect eternity.
(1) The conception of Jesus before her marriage caused people’s suspicion for her as an adulterous woman.
(2) A long journey to
(3) A rumor that Jesus was possessed by demonic spirit.
(4) His death at the young age as a criminal with crucifixion. His mother knew Jesus never committed any crime.
(1) Physical pain from crucifixion
(2) Psychological pain from the betrayal and desertion of His disciples
(3)Spiritual pain because of the His spirit separated from God the Father. (Matthew 27:46)
(1) v. 28, After the work of salvation was finished with the greatest spiritual pain, Jesus felt physical suffering. He was physically thirsty because of bleeding under the hot sun.
(2) 1 John 4:1, The Apostle John tried to prove that Jesus was 100% God and also 100% human being. At the time of John’s writing, there was a wrong belief that Jesus was 100% God. His body was shown as visual illusion. Therefore, Jesus would not have suffered on the cross, neither He would have died because He was only the spirit. (As we know, if Jesus did not suffer and died physically on the cross, we do not have salvation)
(1) V. 28 Jesus knew He had finished the work of salvation. Therefore it did not matter for Him whether He took the wine or not.
(2) Luke 23:43 Jesus had forgiven His enemies already. He did not have any hostility against them any more. Rather, He had compassion on them.
(1)A feeling of relief. Jesus accomplished the work His Father asked Him to do, just as a student has a feeling of relief after his examination.
(2) A feeling of victory, Jesus had continuous victories to overcome temptations throughout His life on earth. If He had made one mistake, He would not have qualified as sinless Lamb of God to die on the cross.
Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross to save my soul. Help me to deny myself everyday to follow Jesus by taking up my cross. Give me strength to follow Jesus with thankful and joyful heart. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen