Question
COME TO JESUS AND DRINK
John 7:25-39 Lesson #19
Key Verse: 7:38
1. Where was Jesus? What was he doing? Why were the people surprised when Jesus began to teach?
2. What reasons did some give for saying that Jesus was the Christ? What reasons did others give for saying that he was not the Christ?
3. How many times is the word "know" repeated in verses 25-31? What did the people think they knew? What did Jesus know that the people did not know?
4. What did Jesus say about himself? Where had he come from and where was he going? What did the Jews think he meant?
5. Who sent guards to arrest him? Why?
6. What did Jesus tell about his future plans? Where was he going? Why? Why couldn't they understand him?
7.. What great invitation did Jesus give on the last day of the feast? Who is he that he could make such an offer? To whom was his invitation given?
8. What does it mean to be thirsty?
9. Upon what did he base his promise? What did Jesus mean by this promise? How does Jesus satisfy the spiritual thirst of those who come to him?
10. Why had the Spirit not yet been given? When and how would this promise be fulfilled? Why?
11 What was the divided opinion about Jesus? Why did some believe and some reject?
12. Why did the guards not arrest Jesus? How and why did the Pharisees rebuke them? Who was Nicodemus? What was his position? In what respect was his suggestion good? How and why was it rejected? What can we learn here?
Manuscript
Message
COME TO JESUS AND DRINK
John 7:25-52 Lesson 19
Key Verse: 37,38
John wrote this Gospel to tell us that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, so that we might believe and have life in his name. (20:31) In Chapter 7 Jesus boldly proclaims that he is the Christ, even though to do so is very dangerous. God sent Jesus. He sent him as a missionary His mission was to give life to the world. So he invites all thirsty people to come to him and drink. He promises that whoever believes in him will have streams of living water flowing within him. He promises the life of God that really makes one alive. People are thirsty because they do not have the living water. Our basic thirst is not physical or material. It is not a thirst for power or fame. We are thirsty for God our Creator. People lose direction and get entangled in sin because they are thirsty and don't know why. Only Jesus cam say,"Come to me and drink."
1. Jesus came from God (25-31)
Jesus knew God because he came from God. He is God who became man. He can give the water of eternal life because he himself is the source of life. (1:4). The unbelieving people argued about where Jesus came from They thought they knew about his human background. (27, 41-43) They did not really know. (Jesus was indeed born in Bethlehem, a descendant of David.) But more importantly, they didn't know his spiritual background. He is the eternal God. So he alone can say, "Come to me and drink."
2. He sent me (16,28,29,33)
This is a major teaching of Jesus' teaching about himself. It means that he is the Christ, the Messiah. He is the one whom God sent. Because he is sent into the world he has a mission His mission was given him by God who sent him. His mission was to give life to the world. He was sent to be the Lamb of God, to die for the sins of the world. Jesus later sent his disciples (including us) into the world to proclaim the gospel to all people. He sent us to obey the gospel and teach the gospel. So we also have a mission from God. Only one who is sent can have a mission. One who has no mission from God has no real meaning. Jesus was sent to be the Christ. All who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, have life in his name.
3. I go to him (33-36)
In verses 33-36 Jesus talks about going away. The Jews thought he was going overseas on a trip. But Jesus was talking about his death and resurrection and his return to the Father. Jesus' mission was accomplished by dying on the cross and being raised from death. By his death and resurrection he solved our sin problem once and for all. He opened the door of heaven. He went back to God who sent him and opened the way to heaven for us.
4. Come to me and drink (39-39)
Jesus' promise is a promise that he will send to us the Holy Spirit. After his glorification--his ascension to heaven--he poured out the Holy Spirit on all believers. Jesus was glorified by dying on the cross for our sins and being raised from the dead. By his blood we are forgiven. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father in glory. It is the glorified Jesus who sends the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can come into the lives and hearts cleansed by the blood of Jesus. He is the source of eternal life and joy and peace. This is God's gift to all who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. So the Holy Spirit of Jesus himself comes to dwell within the believer. He and he alone can quench our thirst. Jesus opens the door of heaven so that the Holy Spirit can come down into our lives. and so that we can inter into heaven, led by him throughout our pilgrim journey.
5. No man ever spoke like this man (40-52)
How can we come to him? Our attitude toward the word of God is most important. We must listen to his word. We must receive his word with simple hearts, as the officers who were sent to arrest Jesus. When we study the Bible and believe it in our hearts as Jesus' personal word to us, he gives us life. Nicodemus' theory was right (51), but he, himself, made no commitment. Jesus cannot bless the uncommitted life. One can't meet Jesus and keep on standing in the middle. Have you come to him to drink?