Bethlehem Church

Power of the Holy Spirit

Pentecost Sunday

“Power of the Holy Spirit”

God works through His people by the power

of the Holy Spirit.

Key Verse: Acts 2:32-33 (NIV)

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.  Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

Bible Passage: Acts 2:1-4, 38-47 (NIV)

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.  Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” … Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  … Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.   

Lesson Thought

Power!  It is what should characterize the Christian’s life, but most of the time we are not plugged into our power source.  Rather than relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, we attempt to do things through our own efforts and abilities.  This passage shows that from the very beginning of Christianity, God did not intend for His people to do things by their own power and might.  Instead Jesus intended to send the Holy Spirit who would help God’s people to do His will.  This is why Jesus instructed his disciples to wait until the Holy Spirit came upon them.   What a difference it made!  One moment the disciples were a bunch of scared people hiding in an Upper Room.  The next moment, they were a confident group - stepping out into the world, doing miraculous things, bolding proclaiming the Good News with great effect, and building a strong and united body of believers.  How effective are your electrical appliances when they are not plugged in?  The same is true for us when we are not plugged into God’s power.  It is ironic that the more God has gifted us, the more likely we are to try to do things our way and by our own power.  However, it is not until we humble ourselves and come to the realization that we cannot live victoriously by our own power that God can work within us and through us by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Application: What does this lesson say to us today?

1) What are the things that you are trying to do on your own that you will turn over to God?  Stop trying to move the mountains in your life on your own.  Pray to the Father and let go.  Let God do things through the Holy Spirit within you.

2) What bad habit do you need the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome?  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you overcome this habit.  List all the reasons why you should stop doing this thing and all the benefits of quitting.  Make yourself accountable to someone.  Follow up regularly with that person on your progress.

3) The gift of the Holy Spirit is to all believers.  Yet we are faced with a daily, even a moment-by-moment, decision to be guided by the Spirit in everything we do.  Being Spirit-led each day is not automatic for the Christian.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be more sensitive to, aware of, and responsive to his daily guidance.

Family Activities: putting the lesson into action

Follow the example of the early church.  Read this devotion before a meal - just like the early disciples listened to the apostles’ teaching.  Then pray after the meal, thanking God for His blessings and for each member of your family.  Have each person tell something about everyone else present what they appreciate about them.  Sing a hymn or worship song before leaving the table.

Suggestions for further study

Acts 1:4-5; 2:1-47

Izzy Colon

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

“The Promise of the Holy Spirit”

Jesus promised to give us the Holy Spirit who will help us obey Jesus.

Key Verse: John 14:15-16 (NIV)

If you love me, you will obey what I command.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.

Bible Passage: John 14:15-21 (NIV)

If you love me, you will obey what I command.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.  The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.  But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.  Because I live, you also will live.  On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.  Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.  He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.

Lesson Thought

God has created us with free will.  We have a God-given privilege to do whatever we want.  Don’t misunderstand that statement.  It does not mean that we should do whatever we want; it just means that we can.  We can choose to do whatever we want; however, we cannot choose the consequences of what we do.  We have not been pre-wired by our Creator to do His will.  He wants us to surrender to His will of our own accord.  And we willingly surrender our will to His, out a deep love for what He has done for us.  It is this act of total surrender that characterizes the true believer.  Yes, I could continue to live my life as I want, but out of a deep and abiding love for Jesus, I choose to surrender all.  At some point in our lives, we must come to the realization that life is not about us, but about God.  We are put here on earth to glorify and honor Him.  We do that by freely giving up the privilege to do it my way and choose to do it His way.  Jesus promised to give the Holy Spirit to those who love Him.  The Holy Spirit will empower, or help, us to obey Jesus and surrender to His will.

Application: What does this lesson say to us today?

1) Are you like Frank Sinatra in his famous song, doing it “My Way?”  What is in your life that you are holding onto, that you value more than Jesus and are reluctant to give up for Him?  Rebel no more, and determine to surrender and to trust and obey Jesus.

2) Ask God the Holy Spirit to help you surrender everything in your life that prevents you from being more like Jesus.

Family Activities: putting the lesson into action

Go outside and play a game of Follow the Leader.  Have Dad or Mom be the leader.  The leader should do things that are easy and enjoyable as well as things that are difficult and unpleasant.  Be sure to assist and encourage when needed.  At the end of the game, the leader should ask, “When was following the leader easy?  When was it difficult?”  Then ask, “Why did you do the difficult or unpleasant things?”  After everyone has had a chance to share their thoughts, draw the analogy that sometimes following Jesus is not easy.  However, we can follow Him in total assurance, because we know that He loves us and that we can trust Him, just as we trusted Dad and Mom in our game.

Suggestions for further study

John 21:15-23

1 Samuel 15:1-24

Galatians 2:20

Izzy Colon

The Way, The Truth, the Life

“The Way, The Truth, The Life”

There is only one way to God and eternal life –

through faith in Jesus Christ.

Key Verse: John 14:6 (NIV)

I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.

Bible Passage: John 14:1-14 (NIV)

Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you; I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.  From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus, answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?  Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.  How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?  The words I say to you are not my just my own.  Rather, it is the Father living in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.  I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son my bring glory to the Father.  You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.”

Lesson Thought

Contemporary society often expresses the view that we, Christians, are intolerant. The central truth of the gospel, that Jesus is the only way to God, is what most provokes this reaction.  Many will say that such a position is not only intolerant of the beliefs of others, but is terribly arrogant of Christians.  It would be easy for Christians to fall into the trap of feeling “guilty” for their supposed intolerance and arrogance.  However, John McArthur clearly gives the Biblical perspective on this issue. He states that Christianity is not like any other religion.  All other religions teach what men and women can do to make themselves right with God, whereas Christianity teaches what God did to make men and women right with Him.  It is impossible for an individual to make himself or herself right with God by his or her own efforts or work.  This is the fallacy of the world view that places Christianity on the same level with all other religions.  Unlike what the world would like to believe, there are not many truths based on different human experiences.  There is only one source of truth and that source is God.  This same God declared that there is only one way to Him and only one way for mankind to be reconciled to him and that way is through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Rest assured that your faith in Jesus Christ is The way and The truth and The life.  You need not be reluctant to share that truth with everyone, because it comes from God, not from man.  There is plenty of room for everyone in the house of God, but you must believe in His Son in order to enter.  Don’t allow talk of intolerance and arrogance keep you from reaching out to others with the truth of the Gospel as Jesus commanded us to do.

Application: What does this lesson say to us today?

1) Have I allowed the contemporary world view to make me less willing to boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel to those who don’t know this truth?  If so, how will I change my attitude and behavior?

2) Am I ready to take Jesus at his word that, through faith in him, I can do what he did and even greater things?

Family Activities: putting the lesson into action

Have the family work individually on a maze puzzle.  Once everyone is done, ask if they found many ways to get to the end.  There were many choices that could have been made along the way and many paths that could have been taken, but in the end there was only one way to the end of the maze.  The same truth applies to God.

Suggestions for further study

1 John 3:16-20

Matthew 11:25-30

Psalm 62:5-8

Izzy Colon

Shepherds and Thieves

“Shepherds and Thieves”

Knowing our Savior’s voice will keep us safe.

Key Verse: John 10:4 (NIV)

His sheep follow Him because they know His voice.”

Bible Passage: John 10:1-10 (NIV)

“I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."  Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.  Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.  I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Lesson Thought

My first memory is my mother’s voice.  I had crawled under a chair and had become firmly stuck there.  To this day, I can still hear the sound of my mother’s comforting voice over my crying as she came to gently pull me out.  Jesus reminded his disciples that sheep listen to the shepherd’s voice and know and follow only him.  Using this illustration, Jesus warned His disciples about other voices than His, voices of thieves and strangers, who would try to lead them away from Him, their Shepherd. How would they know the difference between His voice and those other voices?  By knowing the Shepherd’s voice and following only Him.  One way to know our Shepherd’s voice is to study and memorize God’s Word.  Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”  As we study and memorize, the Bible, we come to recognize the voice of our Shepherd and are able tell the difference between His voice and the voice of those who want to lead us away from God.  Even as I remember my mother’s voice, we must remember and follow the voice of our Good Shepherd

Application: What does this lesson say to us today?      

1) Do you read and study God’s Word daily, listening to His Voice with your whole heart? Can you identify the Shepherd’s voice among all the other voices calling out for your time, money, and thoughts?  Are you staying so close to the Savior, enjoying His very Presence and Voice minute by minute, that the sound of those other voices has no pull on you? Pray: “Lord Jesus, I want to know Your voice, and to put Your ways in my heart.  Help me to know and follow only your Voice.”

2) It is hard to distinguish between right and wrong, between God’s peace and the world’s peace, between the voice of the Shepherds and the voice of strangers.  What do you need to do in order to know the voice of the Shepherd?  What changes do you need to make in your daily routine so you will have time to read the Bible and pray with Jesus each day?

Family Activities: putting the lesson into action

1) Memorizing Scripture “by heart” is one way to help us know the voice of the Shepherd.  Using hand motions can make memorizing a little easier.  Use the following hand motions to memorize the Scripture verse for this week

“John 10:4 – mouth “John”; make numbers 10 and 4 with your fingers

            “His” - point upward

            “sheep” - pat the air about knee high

            “follow Him” - move both hands in the same direction

            “because they know” - hands over your heart

            “His” - point upward

            “Voice”. - hands around mouth

            “John 10:4” - mouth “John”; make numbers 10 and 4 with your fingers

2) Practice “saying” John 10:4 without words, using only the hand motions.  Go over the verse before a meal each day before saying Grace.  Be sure to always say the Scripture passage at the beginning and at the end of the memory verse.

Suggestions for further study

Romans 10

Psalm 63

Bonnie Russell

global day of Prayer

 

The global day of prayer is May 27, check out the promo video

On the Road to Emmaus

“On the Road to Emmaus”

Other Christians help us in our walk with Jesus.

Key Verse:  Luke 24:15 (NIV)

As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with then…

Bible Passage: Luke 24:13-35 

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.  He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"  "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied …. And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.  As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.  But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.  When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.  They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"  They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen….”

Lesson Thought

One of the most satisfying activities in the Christian life is learning about God together in small group Bible studies.  The members of these small groups study the Bible together, get to know Jesus better, and encourage one another in their daily walk with Jesus.  Some people deeply value the accountability to others which exists in these settings.  Others tell friends about these Bible studies and invite them to join the group.  In today’s Scripture, two friends walked and talked together, discussing the events surrounding Jesus crucifixion that had crushed their hopes of rescue from the Romans.  They also talked about the events of the first Easter Sunday which left them wondering about the rumors of an empty tomb.  Joined by another Traveler they did not recognize, the conversation expanded to answer His questions.  The Questioner became their Teacher as He explained from Scripture what they already knew.  After recognizing Him as the risen Christ, these happy men returned to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples what they had seen and now knew to be true.  Jesus is alive!

Application: What does this lesson say to us today?

1) Do you meet with other Christians in a small group Bible study?  If not, consider joining a small group of Christians for Bible study and fellowship.  Pray: “Lord, help me want to meet with others regularly to learn about You.”

2)  Are your children involved in small groups designed especially for them, such as Sunday School, Pioneer Girls, Boys’ Brigade, and Youth groups?  If so, ask them what they are learning in these groups.  If not, consider enrolling them in one.  Children can benefit from small group Bible studies too!

3)  Did you know that your family can be a small group Bible study?  Is your family reading and studying the Bible together on a regular basis?  Are you encouraging one another in your Christian walk?  Use this devotional to start a family tradition of small group Bible study and Christian fellowship

Family Activities: putting the lesson into action

Take a common article in your living room – a picture on the wall, a set of books, a chair, a throw pillow - and cover it with a blanket.  Tell the family what it is.  Ask:  “How well do you know what this thing really looks like?”  Have them describe it in as many ways as they can - color, ornamentation, measurements, which way the trees are facing, etc.  Have someone write down all the descriptions given.  Take the blanket off to see how well they “know” the article.  Then ask “How well do we know Jesus? How can we get to know Him better?”  Relate this discussion to getting together with other Christians in order to get to know Jesus better.

Suggestions for further study

Acts 4:1-20

Bonnie Russell

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

“Jesus Appears to His Disciples”

The peace of God is ours when we know Jesus as Savior. 

Key Verse: John 20:19-28 (NIV)

Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’” 

   

Bible Passage: John 20:19-31 (NIV)

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"  After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! …

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." 

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"  Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." 

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

    

Lesson Thought            

Can you feel the fear of the disciples as they cringed behind closed doors at the end of this confusing first Easter Sunday?  Rumors of an empty tomb and sightings of a risen Jesus had them huddling together, hiding from the authorities. Suddenly, Jesus was among them with words of comfort: “Peace be with you.”  Hearing these words and seeing the wounds on his hands and side convinced them that Jesus had indeed risen.  His presence brought peace, a release from fear.  The disciple Thomas, who was not at this first Easter meeting with the risen Lord, remained unconvinced that Jesus was alive.  Eight days later, Jesus again stood in their midst. Again, Jesus first words to His disciples were, “Peace be with you.”  Thomas saw the pierced hands and side of the risen Christ and with gladness of heart exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”   Just a few days earlier Jesus had spoken to His disciples about His peace.  His words are recorded in John 14:27:  ”Peace I leave with you” - His peace is there for us to take.  “My peace I give to you” - His peace is freely given.  “Not as the world gives do I give unto you” - His peace is different from all others.  Let us accept the special peace Jesus freely gives us and proclaim with Thomas – “My Lord and my God!”

Application: What does this lesson say to us today?

1) In the confusion of our world, fear is often our first reaction to a new or unexpected situation.  Instead of immediately going to the Savior for peace of heart, we resort to worst case scenarios and fearful behaviors.  Pray:  “Lord, I give You my fears.  Help me to turn first to You and Your Word in times of trouble.  Amen”

2) Jesus promises peace to His followers when they come to Him with their needy fears and claim His peace.  Keep your Bible in a prominent place in your home, and read it daily.  Memorize the verse for this week.  Say it to yourself several times each day.

            

Family Activities: putting the lesson into action

1) Ask your children when they are most afraid - before a test at school, in the dark at night, listening to others talk about war?  When are you most afraid?  Pray with your children about theirs and your fears.  Encourage your children (and yourself!) to take their fears to Jesus and leave them with Him.

2) Make bookmarks with the family.  Cut bookmark size pieces of construction paper or colored cardboard.  Have each person write “PEACE BE WITH YOU!” on several of the bookmarks, and decorate them with pictures, stickers, drawings, stampings, etc.  Put these reminders wherever your family needs them - at the bedside, in a backpack, in a math book, in a library book, on the refrigerator, etc. 

3) Put notes of reassurance and love in everyone’s lunches (adults included!) this week.  In each note, include the words “PEACE BE WITH YOU!”

Suggestions for further study

Ephesians 2:14-18

Philippians 4:4-9

John 14:27

Bonnie Russell

The Resurrection of Our Lord

Easter Sunday

“The Resurrection of Our Lord”

True joy is mine with Jesus as my Savior.

Key Verse: Psalm 118:24 (NIV)

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

                                                                                                             

Bible Passage: John 20:1, 11–18 (NIV)

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. … Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

            They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

            “Woman,” he said, “Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

            Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

            She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

            Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Lesson Thought

On Easter Sunday, when I was six years old, my Sunday School teacher in a little town in West Virginia told us the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. She told us about the joy of knowing that our sins could be forgiven.  This was not the first time I had heard the Gospel, but I had disobeyed my mother the night before, and that sin weighed heavy on my little heart.  That Easter morning, I asked Jesus to forgive my sin and to come into my life to stay.  And He did!  My parents rejoiced when I told them that I had asked Jesus to be my Savior.  No matter the date, Easter Sunday is my spiritual birthday.  I celebrate Easter every year with special joy and praise in my heart to Jesus.  Do you know the risen Jesus as your Savior?

 

Application: What does this lesson say to us today?

1) The Bible tells us that everyone is a sinner in need of a Savior.  Jesus died for my sins and for your sins.  He rose from that grave, Conqueror of sin and death, the Giver of true joy.  Confess your sins to Him today. Ask Him to forgive you and to come into your life.  His joy can be yours!

2) As a believer in Jesus as my Savior, I am still learning through His Word how I can rejoice because of my salvation, even in the challenging times of life.  If you know Jesus as Savior, does His joy show in your life?  Pray: “LORD, help me to be joyful in the knowledge that You are my Savior this day.  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Amen.”

Family Activities: putting the lesson into action

1)  A spiritual birthday is the time when a person turns away from their sin and chooses to follow Jesus.  Sometimes a person can pinpoint a particular time when they did this; for others, it is difficult to specify just when they did it.  As close as possible, for those members of your family who have chosen to follow Jesus, mark their spiritual birthday on a calendar.  Share with each other how each one came to know Jesus as their Savior.  Celebrate these spiritual birthdays each year. 

2) If someone in your family does not know Jesus as their Savior, gently encourage that individual in their journey towards Christ.  Pray that he or she will make a decision to follow Jesus.

Suggestions for further study

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Hebrews 12:2

Bonnie Russell

Is there any hope?

Friday of Holy Week

”Is there any hope?”

Even in our darkest hour we can trust God.

Key Verse: 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NASB)

We do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

Bible Passage: Matthew 27:57-66 (NASB)

And when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had become a disciple of Jesus. This man came to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given over to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave. Now the next day, which is the one after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered to together with Pilate, and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’ Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, lest the disciples come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.

Lesson Thought

A group of miners were trapped by an explosion deep down in a coal mine. Rescuers worked around the clock, trying to reach them. After several days the rescuers heard a tapping on the air pipe drilled down for the men. They heard a Morse code message being tapped out. This was the message from below: “Is there any hope?”  Jesus was crucified, nailed to a cross on Good Friday at 9:00 AM. After a period of darkness from 12 noon until 3:00 PM, Jesus died.  The Bible says He gave up His Spirit.  He laid down His life for our sins.  According to Jewish law, a dead person had to be buried before the Sabbath began, which would have been sundown on Friday night.  A disciple of Jesus, from the town of Arimathea, named Joseph, went to Pilate, the Roman Governor, and asked if he could bury the body of Jesus. When Pilate determined that Jesus was indeed dead, he granted Joseph’s request.  Joseph, with the help of another disciple named Nicodemus, took Jesus’ body down from the cross and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth.  They placed His body in Joseph’s own tomb and rolled a large stone over the opening to the tomb, a cave cut out of a large rock cliff.  It was a sad day for Joseph and Nicodemus and Mary and all the other disciples. They had believed Jesus was the promised Messiah.  But now he was DEAD.  Buried in a borrowed tomb. They were all fearful and sad and disheartened.  They had lost all HOPE!!!!

Application: what does this lesson say to us today?

1) Had the disciples forgotten that Jesus had promised that he would rise from the dead?  Why do you think they forgot His promises?

2) Had the disciples forgotten that Jesus had claimed to be the Son of God?  Why do you think they forgot who Jesus was?

Family Activities: putting the lesson into action

Have each family member share one thing or experience that made them sad.  Talk about why it made them sad.  Talk about how sad the disciples must have felt on the first Good Friday.   

Suggestions for further study

John 19:30, 39, 40

John 2:19

Mark 8:31; 9:31, 10:34

John 10:36; 5:17, 18

Luke 22:69, 70

1 Corinthians 15:20-58.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1 Corinthians 5:1-9

Jim Bates

Clean Feet

April 13, 2006

Thursday of Holy Week

”Clean Feet?”

Daily confession of sin.

Key Verse: John 13:10 (NASB)

Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”

Bible Passage: John 13:1-17 (NASB)

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God, rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, girded Himself about. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with a towel with which he was girded. And so He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now; but you shall understand hereafter.” Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.” Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Lesson Thought

It is now Thursday evening of Holy Week. Jesus and His twelve disciples are in the upper room, a guest room on the second floor, where they are celebrating the Jewish Passover. During this meal, Jesus removes His outer garment.  With a basin and towel, he begins to wash each of the disciples’ feet. When He comes to Simon Peter, we can imagine Peter pulling his feet away as he asked Jesus, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet? No way!! You’ll never wash my feet!!”   Jesus responded - “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.  He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet and he is completely clean.”  In Jesus’ day, people didn’t have a bath tub or shower in their house. They had to go to a public bath place to take a bath. On the way home, their feet got dirty, because they wore sandals and the roads were dusty. When they arrived home, a servant would meet them at the door with a basin and towel to wash their feet. They did not need to have a whole bath again - only their feet were dirty.  In today’s story, Jesus taught that when we ask Him to be our Savior, it is like taking a “once for all time” bath.  When we ask Jesus to be our Savior, he makes us clean from all our sin, but as we walk through each day, we fail and sin. After our “once for all” bath, we just need to get our feet washed when we sin.  We do this by asking God’s forgiveness for our failures and disobediences.  We do not need another bath.  Once we are God’s child, we are forever God’s child, but we do need to confess to Him each day our sins. God has promised to forgive us - to wash our feet.

Application:  what does this lesson say to us today? 

1) Do you think Peter was surprised by what Jesus was doing?  Do you think Peter’s response was pretty normal? Why do you think Peter didn’t want Jesus to wash his feet? 

2) How does Jesus “wash our feet” today? What happens when we deny that our feet our dirty - that we have not sinned?

Family Activities: putting the lesson into action

Have one family member volunteer to pretend to be “Jesus” and have that person actually wash the feet of all the other family members to see how humbling it is have someone else wash your feet.   If more than one person wants to volunteer, take turns being Jesus.  Talk about how it felt to be “Jesus.”  Talk about how it felt to have your feet washed.

Suggestions for further study

John 5:24, 10:28-30; 20:31

1 John 1:6-10; 5:10-13

Titus 3:5, 6

1 John 1:9

Jim Bates