St. John’s Department

Evangelism

Acts Chapter 1 – Chapter 28

The Word already existed in the beginning because the Word was with God and was God. The Word existed in the beginning with God and God created everything through the Word. The Word gave life to everything that He created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light of the Word shines in the darkness, and darkness cannot extinguish it. (John1:1-5).
God sent John the Baptist, to tell the world about the Light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John was not the Light; he was a witness to tell the world about the Light. The True Light gives light to everyone; the True Light was coming into the world. John testified about the True Light when he shouted to the crowds that Jesus is the One he was talking about when he said that Someone (Jesus) is coming after him who is far greater than him because, He (Jesus) existed long before him (John the Baptist). Jesus came into the world, which He created, but the world did not recognize Him. But to all who believe in Him and accept Him, He gives the right to become children of God. They are reborn by the Spirit of God. God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through our Savior Jesus Christ. No one has seen God, but Jesus Christ, who is Himself God has revealed God to us because He is the visible image of the invisible God. (John 1:6-18; Colossians 1:15).
John the Baptist said to the priests and Temple workers that he was not the Messiah but that he is a voice shouting in the wilderness that the road must be cleared for the LORD’s coming. John told them that he baptizes with water, but that right there in the crowd is Someone they do not recognize. John the Baptist said that he was neither worthy to be His slave nor worthy to untie the straps of His sandal. (John 1:19-27).
John was baptizing in Jordan River when He saw Jesus coming toward him. John the Baptist said that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John remarked that He (Jesus) is the one he was talking about when he referred to Jesus a Man coming after him who is far greater than he was, for He existed long before him. Then John testified that he saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon Him. John the Baptist did not know He was the Messiah, but when God sent him to baptize with water, God told him that the One on whom the Spirit descends and rests upon is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist saw this happen to Jesus, so he testified that He (Jesus) is the Chosen One of God. (John 1:29-34).
John was standing with two of his disciples when he saw Jesus walking by; John looked at Him and said that Jesus is the Lamb of God. John’s two disciples left John and followed Jesus when they heard what he said about Him. Andrew - Simon Peter’s brother, heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew found his brother, Simon, and told him that they have found the Messiah (Christ). When Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus, He called him Cephas (Peter). (John 1:35-42).
In a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee, to which Jesus’ mother, Jesus and His disciples were invited, the wine supply ran out during the festivities. Jesus’ mother told Him that there was no more wine. Jesus told His mother that the lack of wine was not their problem; His time had not yet come. But His mother told the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them. Nearby were six stone water jars of which each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water. When the jars had been filled, Jesus told the servants to dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies. The servants followed the instructions of Jesus. The master of ceremonies tasted and found out that the water was now wine - not knowing where the wine came from. The servants knew that Jesus had converted the water into the best wine ever. The master of ceremonies said to the bridegroom that a host always serves the best wine first then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine; he kept the best until late. This was because the master of ceremonies did not know that Jesus converted water into the best wine. This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee in which Jesus converted water into the best wine ever, was the first time Jesus revealed His glory. As a result of this great miracle, the disciples of Jesus believed in Him. (John 2:1-11).
Just before the time for the Jewish Passover celebration, Jesus went to Jerusalem and saw in the Temple area, merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; He also saw people at tables exchanging foreign money. Jesus confronted all of them; and using a whip He chased them all out of the Temple. He also drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the coins of the money changers all over the floor, and turned over their tables. Going over to the people who sold doves, Jesus told them to get the doves out of the Temple and that they were turning His Father’s house into a marketplace. His disciples then remembered the prophecy from the Scriptures, which states that the passion for God’s house will consume Him. (John 2:13-17).
Nicodemus was a Pharisee Jewish religious leader who came to speak to Jesus in the evening when it was dark. Nicodemus remarked that they all know that God has sent Jesus to teach us; and that His miraculous signs are evidence that God is with Him. Jesus replied to Nicodemus that unless he is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus was surprised to hear what Jesus told him by asking how an old man could go back into his mother’s womb and be born again. Jesus went further to affirm that no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Jesus expressed dissatisfaction that Nicodemus who was a respected Jewish teacher could not understand what He was saying. Jesus alerted Nicodemus that as Moses lifted the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, Jesus the Son of Man must be lifted, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life. For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son Jesus Christ, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world to save the world through Him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in Jesus. However, anyone who does not believe in Jesus as Lord and Personal Savior has already been judged. The judgment is based on the fact that God’s light came into the world, but people loved darkness more than the light, because their actions are evil. (John 3:1-21).
The disciples of John the Baptist told him that everybody is leaving him and going to Jesus instead. John replied that no one can receive anything unless God gives it to that person. John reminded his disciples what he had previously told them – that he was not the Messiah; he was only doing the work of preparing the way for Jesus the Messiah. John informed his disciples that he was filled with joy at the success of Jesus. According to John the Baptist, Jesus the Messiah must become greater and greater, and he (John) must become less and less. Jesus was sent by God, and He speaks God’s words, because God gives Him the Spirit without limit. God the Father loves His Son Jesus and has put everything into His hands, such that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ has eternal life. Anyone who does not obey Jesus will never experience eternal life but remains under the judgment of God. (John 3:25-36).
Jesus left Judea and was returning to Galilee by going through Samaria. He came to Jacob’s well which was at the Samaritan village of Sychar. Jesus was tired from the long walk; He sat wearily beside the Jacob’s well about noontime when a Samaritan woman came to draw water; Jesus requested to her for some water to drink. The Samaritan woman was surprised because, Jews and Samaritans do not interact. Jesus informed her that if she knew the gift God has for her, and whom she was speaking to, she would ask Him (Jesus), and He would give her living water. The Samaritan replied, saying that Jesus did not have a rope or a bucket, and the well was very deep. She asked about where Jesus would get the living water. Jesus replied to her by saying that anyone who drinks the water the woman was fetching from the well will become thirsty again. But those who drink the water Jesus gives will never be thirsty again. The water becomes a fresh-bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. The woman asked Jesus to give her the living water so that she would never be thirsty again and would not have to come to Jacob’s well to fetch water. The Samaritan woman recognized Jesus as a Prophet when He revealed her marriage history. She asked Jesus why Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while the Samaritans claim that Mount Gerizim is the right place of worship because, it is where their ancestors worshiped. Jesus replied that the time is coming and has already come when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. True worshipers of God worship Him in spirit and in truth because, God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. The woman said that she knew the Messiah was coming - the one who is called Christ and that when He comes, He will explain everything to them. Jesus told her that He is the Messiah. The Samaritan woman left her water jar and ran back to the village, telling everyone to come and see a Man who told her everything she ever did, and wondered if He could possibly be the Messiah. Many people from the village rushed to see Jesus. (John 4:1-30).

The disciples of Jesus who went into the Samaritan village of Sychar to buy some food returned to the area of Jacob’s well, they urged Jesus to eat some food. But Jesus replied that He has a kind of food they knew nothing about. Surprised, they asked each other if someone brought Jesus some food while they were gone to the village. Jesus remarked that His nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent Him, and from finishing His work. Jesus said that His disciples should wake up and look around and notice that the fields are already ripe for harvest; the harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. Great joy awaits both the planter and the harvester. The saying is that one plants and another harvests. Jesus sent His disciples to harvest where you did not plant; others had already done the work, and now they must gather the harvest. (John 4:31-38).

Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman said that Jesus told her everything she ever did. The Samaritans begged Jesus to stay in their village. Jesus stayed for two days in the Samaritan village. The duration of stay was long enough for many more people to hear His message and believe in Him. The villagers said to the woman that they now believe, not just because of what she told them, but because they have heard Jesus themselves. They now know that Jesus is indeed the Savior of the world. (John 4:39-42).

Jesus was in Jerusalem for a Jewish holy day. The pool of Bethesda was near the Sheep Gate of the Temple. The pool had five covered porches where crowds of sick people – the blind, the lame, or the paralyzed lay on the porches. One of the sick men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him, He asked him if he would like to be healed. The man replied that he could not get into the pool when it bubbles up; he did not have anyone to put him into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else usually gets into the pool ahead of him. Jesus told him to stand up, pick up his mat, and walk. Instantly, the sick man was healed, and he rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking. Jewish leaders were not happy that Jesus healed the sick man on a Sabbath day. They inquired of the man about the person who healed him. He did not have any information about Jesus. He told the Jewish leaders that the Man who healed him told him to pick up his mat and walk. Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. Afterward Jesus found the man in the Temple and told him that he is healed, and that he must stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to him. Then the man Jesus healed at the pool of Bethesda went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him. The Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules; but Jesus replied that His Father is always working, and so is He. (John 5:1-17).

Jesus said that those who listen to His message and believe in God who sent Him have eternal life; they will never be condemned for their sins but will pass from death into life. Jesus assures us that the time is coming, and it is now, when the dead will hear His voice and those who listen will live. He also said that the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear His voice, and they will rise from the dead; and those who have done good deeds will rise to experience eternal life, while those who have continued to do evil deeds will rise to experience judgment. (John 5:24-29).

The disciples of Jesus went to the shore to wait for Him. But when darkness fell and Jesus still had not come back, they got into the boat and were traveling toward Capernaum. A strong storm swept upon them, and the sea became very rough. After about three to four-miles travel, they saw Jesus walking on the water toward their boat. They were terrified, but Jesus called out to them not to be afraid - that He is with them. They let Jesus into the boat, and they immediately arrived at their destination. (John 6:16-21).

Jesus is the True Bread of God, and He gives life to the world. Jesus said that He is the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to Him will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in Jesus will never be thirsty. All those the Father has given to Jesus will come to Him, and He will never reject them. Jesus came down from heaven to do the will of God who sent Him. The will of God is that Jesus should not lose even one of all those God has given Him, but that He should raise them up at the last day. It is the will of God that all who see Jesus and believe in Him should have eternal life, and Jesus will raise them up at the last day. (John 6:32-40).

Jesus said again that unless you eat His flesh and drink His blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats His flesh and drinks His blood has eternal life, and He will raise that person at the last day. For His flesh is true food, and His blood is true drink. Anyone who eats His flesh and drinks His blood remains in Him, and He in that person. Anyone who feeds on Him will live because of Him. Jesus is the True Bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this Bread will not die but will live forever. (John 6:53-58).

A blind man who was healed by Jesus on a Sabbath day was confronted by the Pharisees for carrying his mat on a sabbath day; they asked him about the person who healed him. The healed man responded by saying that it is very strange that they did not know Jesus. According to the man, Jesus healed his eyes, and yet they did not know where Jesus comes from; we know that God does not listen to sinners, but He is ready to hear those who worship Him and do His will. Ever since the world began, the healed man said, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind; if this Man were not from God, He could not have healed his eyes. (John 9:30-33).

Jesus informs us that He is the Gate for the sheep. All who came before Him were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Jesus is the Gate. Those who come in through Him will be saved; they will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The purpose of the thief is to steal, kill, and destroy, while the Lord’s purpose is to give people a rich and satisfying life. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who sacrifices His life for the sheep. A hired person will run when he sees a wolf coming; he will abandon the sheep because they do not belong to him, and he is not their shepherd. When the wolf attacks the sheep, the hired hand runs away because he is working only for the money and does not really care about the sheep. Jesus is the Good Shepherd; He knows His sheep, and they know Him. He sacrifices His life for His sheep. His sheep listen to His voice, and there is one flock with one shepherd. (John 10:7-16).

Jesus said that He is the Son of God and the Father set Him apart and sent Him into the world. Jesus told certain leaders that they should not believe Him unless He carries out His Father’s work. But if He does the Father’s work, they should believe in Him because of the evidence of the miraculous works He has done. Such miracle-evidence will help them to know and understand that the Father is in Him, and He is in the Father. (John 10:36-38).

When Jesus came to the tomb where Lazarus was buried, He told the people to roll the stone aside. Martha who was the dead man’s sister, protested, and said to the Lord Jesus that Lazarus had been dead for four days and that the odor would be terrible. Jesus responded and asked her if He not tell her that she will see God’s glory if she believes. They rolled the stone aside as Jesus requested. Jesus looked up to heaven and thanked the Father for hearing Him and remarked that the Father always hears Him. Jesus informed that He said it out loud for the sake of all the people standing there, so that they will believe that God sent Him. Jesus shouted a command on Lazarus to come out of the grave. The dead man came out at His command - with his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them to unwrap him and let him go. (John 11:39-44).

Many people believed in Jesus when they saw Him raise Lazarus from death. But some people went to the Pharisees and told them that Jesus raised Lazarus from death. The priests and Pharisees called the high council together asking about what they are going to do because, according to them Jesus certainly performs many unprecedented miraculous signs. If they allow Him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in Him. The consequence would be that the Roman army will come and destroy both their Temple and their nation. Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said that they did not know what they were talking about. Caiaphas said that they must realize that it is better for them that One Man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed. He did not say this on his own but as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. And not only for that entire nation, but also to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world. (John 11:45-52).

Jesus arrived in Bethany at the home of Lazarus whom He had raised from the dead. Dinner was prepared in honor of Jesus. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with Jesus. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume, and she anointed the feet of Jesus with it, wiping His feet with her hair and the house was filled with the perfume’s fragrance. Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray Jesus, said that the perfume was worth a year’s wages and should have been sold and the money given to the poor. It was not that Judas Iscariot cared for the poor; he was a thief. Judas Iscariot was the treasurer and oversaw the disciples’ money; he often stole some money for himself. Jesus replied that they should leave Mary alone and that she did the anointing in preparation for His burial. Jesus also said that they will always have the poor among them, but they will not always have Him. When the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see Him and to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, because it was because of him that many people had deserted them and believed in Jesus. The next day, news that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches, went down the road to meet Jesus - and they began shouting praise to God; and blessing on the One who comes in the name of the LORD; Hail to Jesus - the King of Israel. (John 12:1-13).

Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration visited Philip who was from Bethsaida in Galilee; they told Philip that they want to meet Jesus. Philip informed Andrew about it, and they went together to see Jesus. Jesus alerted them that the time has come for the Son of Man to enter His glory. Jesus said that unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. The death of the kernel of wheat will produce many new kernels - a plentiful harvest of new lives. Jesus also said that those who love their life in this world will lose it, and those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve Him (Jesus) must follow Him, because His servants must be where He is. And the Father, will honor anyone who serves Him (Jesus). (John 12:20-26).

Jesus said that when He is lifted up from the earth, He will draw everyone to Himself. It was an indication of how He was going to die. The crowd responded that they understood from the Scripture that the Messiah would live forever - Jesus could not have said that the Son of Man will die. They asked about who this Son of Man is. Jesus replied that His light will shine just a little longer. People should walk in the light while they can, so that darkness will not overtake them. The fact is that those who walk in darkness cannot see where they are going. We are advised to put our trust in the light while there is still time - then we will become children of the light. (John 12:32-36).

Jesus shouted to the crowds saying that if they trust Him, they are trusting not only Him, but also God who sent Him. For when they see Him, they are seeing the One who sent Him. He came as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in Him will no longer remain in darkness. He will not judge those who hear Him but do not obey Him, for He came to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject Him (Jesus) and His message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth He has spoken. He does not speak on His own authority. The Father who sent Him has commanded Him what to say and how to say it. And He knows that His Father’s commands leads to eternal life; so He says whatever the Father tells Him to say. (John 12:44-50).

Jesus said to His disciples that He has given them an example to follow. They should do as He has done to them. Slaves are not greater than their master and a messenger is not more important than the one who sends the message; now that they know these things, God will bless them for doing them. Jesus was telling them this beforehand, so that when it happens, they will believe that He is the Messiah. Anyone who welcomes His messenger is welcoming Him, and anyone who welcomes Him is welcoming the Father who sent Him. Jesus was deeply troubled, and He said that one of His disciples will betray Him. The disciples looked at each other, as they were wondering who would betray Jesus. (John 13:15-22).

The disciple whom Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus. Simon Peter motioned to that disciple to ask Jesus who was going to betray Him. That disciple asked Jesus about the person He was referring to that would betray Him. Jesus said that he is the one to whom He gives the bread He dips in the bowl. And when Jesus had dipped the bread in the bowl, He gave it to Judas Iscariot. When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus told him to hurry and do what he was going to do. The other disciples at the table did not know what Jesus meant. Since Judas was the treasurer of the group, some of them thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. Immediately, Judas Iscariot left the group and went out into the night. As soon as Judas Iscariot left the room, Jesus said that the time has come for the Son of Man to enter His glory, and God will be glorified because of Him. Jesus remarked that since God receives glory because of the Son, He will immediately give His own glory to the Son. Jesus addressed His disciples as dear children and said that He would be with them only a little longer. The Jewish leaders would search for Him, but they would not find Him and cannot go where He was going. Jesus said to His disciples that He is giving them a new commandment to love each other; just as He loved them, they should love each other. Their love for one another will prove to the world that they are His disciples. (John 13:23-35).

Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through Him. If you really know Him, you will know who His Father is. From now on, we do know God and have seen Him. Philip requested that the Lord Jesus should shows them the Father, and they will be satisfied. Jesus replied that He had been with them all that time and yet they still do not know who He is. He affirmed that anyone who has seen Him has seen the Father; so why was Philip asking Him to show the Father to the disciples. You should believe that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. The words He speaks are not His own, but His Father who lives in Him does His work through Him. Just believe that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen Him do. (John 14:6-11).

Jesus said that if you love Him, you must obey His commandments and He will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. The Advocate is the Holy Spirit, who leads into truth. The world cannot receive him because it is not looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But His disciples know him because he lives with them and later will live in them. Jesus will not abandon us as orphans - He will come to us. Soon the world will no longer see Him, but we will see Him. Since He lives, we also will live. When He is raised to life again, we will know that He is in His Father, and we are in Him, and He is in us. Those who accept the commandments of Jesus and obey them are the ones who love Him. And because they love Him, His Father will love them. And He will love them and reveal Himself to each of them. (John 14:15-21).

Jesus said that all those who love Him will do what He says. His Father will love them, and They will come and make Their home with each of them. Anyone who does not love Him (Jesus) will not obey Him. His words are not His own. What He is telling us is from the Father who sent Him. He was telling His disciples these things while He was still with them. But when the Father sends the Advocate (Holy Spirit) as His representative, he will teach us everything and will remind us of everything He has said. (John 14:23-26).

He (Jesus) is leaving for us a gift of peace of mind and heart. And the peace He gives is a gift the world cannot give. So do not be troubled or afraid. Remember, - He told us that He is going away, but He will come back to us again. If you really loved Jesus, you would be happy that He is going to the Father, who is greater than He is. He has told us these things before they happen - so that when they do happen, we will believe. (John 14:27-29).

Jesus said that He is the True Grapevine, and His Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of His that does not produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so that they will produce even more. We have already been pruned and purified by the message He has given us. We should remain in Him, and He will remain in us. A branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and we cannot be fruitful unless we remain in Him. (John 15:1-4).

He (Jesus) is the Vine; we are the branches. Those who remain in Him, and He in them, will produce much fruit. Strictly speaking, apart from Jesus we can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in Him is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such useless branches are gathered into a pile and burned. But if we remain in Him and His words remain in us, we may ask for anything we want, and it will be granted. When we produce much fruit, we are His true disciples. This brings great glory to His Father. (John 15:5-8; Luke 12:31).

He has loved us even as the Father has loved Him. Remain in His love. When we obey His commandments, we remain in His love, just as He obeys His Father’s commandments and remain in His love. He (Jesus) has told us these things so that we will be filled with His joy. Our joy will overflow. His commandment is that we should love each other in the same way He has loved us. There is no love that is greater than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. We are His friends if we do what He commands. He no longer calls us slaves because a master does not confide in his slaves. Now we are His friends because He has told us everything the Father told Him. We did not choose Him. He chose us. He appointed us to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give us whatever we ask for, using His name. His command is that we should love each other. (John 15:9-17).

Jesus informs us that if the world hates us, we should remember that it hated Him first. The world would love us as one of its own if we belonged to it, but we are no longer part of the world. He chose us to come out of the world, that is why the world hates us. We should remember He told us that a slave is not greater than the master and since they persecuted Him, they will persecute us. And if they had listened to Him, they would listen to us. They will do all this to us because of Him, for they have rejected the One who sent Him. They would not be guilty if He had not come and spoken to them; therefore, they have no excuse for their sin. Anyone who hates Him also hates His Father. If He had not done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. They have seen everything He did, yet they still hate Him and His Father. This fulfills what is written in the Scriptures, that they hated Him without cause. He will send us the Advocate - the Spirit of truth who will come to us from the Father and will testify about Him. And we must also testify about Him because we have been with Him from the beginning of His ministry. (John 15:18-27).

Jesus told His disciples that there is so much more He wanted to tell them, but they cannot bear it now, but when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide them into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell them what he has heard. He will tell them about the future. He will bring Him glory by telling them whatever he receives from Him. All that belongs to the Father is His and that is why He said that the Spirit will tell them whatever he receives from Him. (John 16:12-15).

Jesus said that His prayer is not for the world, but for those the Father has given Him, because they belong to the Father. According to Jesus, all who are His belong to the Father, and the Father has given them to Him, so they bring Him glory. He is departing from the world and going to the Father, while His disciples are staying in this world. Jesus prayed that His Holy Father has given Him His Name; now protect them by the power of your Name so that they will be united just as They are. (John 17:9-11).

Jesus prayed that we will all be one, just as He and the Father are one; and as the Father is in Him, and He is in the Father; and may we be in them so that the world will believe the Father sent Him. Jesus said that He has given us the glory the Father gave Him, so that we may be one as they are one. Jesus said that He is in us, and the Father is in Him; may we experience such perfect unity that the world will know that the Father sent Him and that the Father loves us as much as the Father loves Him. Jesus requested that He wants those whom the Father has given Him to be with Him where He is. Then we can see all the glory the Father gave Him, because the Father loved Him even before the world began. (John 17:21-24).

Pilate went outside again and said to the people that He was going to bring Jesus out to them but that they must understand clearly that he finds Him (Jesus) not guilty. Jesus came out wearing the purple robe and the crown of thorns. Pilate brought Jesus out and presented Him to them. When they saw Jesus, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting repeatedly that they should crucify Him. Pilate said that they should take Him themselves and crucify Him, because he did not find Him guilty. (John 19:4-6).

Mary Magdalene was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in; she saw two angels dressed in white, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. The angels asked Mary Magdalene why she was crying. She replied that she was crying because they have taken away her Lord, and she does not know where they have put Him. She turned to leave and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize Him. Jesus asked her why she was crying and who she was looking for. Mary Magdalene thought He was the gardener; and she said to Him that if He had taken Him away, He should tell her where He have put Him, and she would go and get Him. Jesus called her Mary with a familiar voice; she turned to Him and called Him Rabboni, which is the Hebrew word for Teacher. Jesus told her not to cling to Him because, He had not yet ascended to the Father. He sent Mary Magdalene to go and find His disciples and tell them, that He is ascending to His Father and their Father, to His God and their God. Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them that she has seen the Lord. (John 20:11-18).

That Sunday evening the disciples of Jesus were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, the risen Jesus was standing there among them and proclaimed peace for them. As Jesus spoke, He showed them the wounds in His hands and on His side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord Jesus. He again proclaimed peace for them. Jesus said to His disciples that as the Father has sent Him, so He is sending them. Jesus then breathed on them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit. If they forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if they do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. (John 20:19-23).

Simon Peter said that he was going fishing. The other disciples said that they would also go with him. They went out in the boat, but unfortunately, they caught nothing all night. At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but His disciples could not see who He was. He called out to them and asked if they had caught any fish, but they replied that they have not caught any fish. Jesus then told them to throw out their net on the right-hand side of the boat, and they will get some fish. They did as Jesus told them, and they could not haul in the net because, there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter that it is the Lord. When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord Jesus, he put on his dress because, he had stripped for work. Peter jumped into the water, and headed to shore, while the other disciples stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. When they got to the shore, they found breakfast waiting for them – some bread, and fish cooking over a charcoal fire. Jesus requested that they bring some of the fish they caught. Simon Peter went and dragged the net to the shore; even though there were 153 large fish, the net did not tear. Jesus told them to come and have some breakfast. None of them asked Him, who He was because they knew that it was the Lord Jesus. Jesus served them the bread and the fish; and this was the third time Jesus had appeared to His disciples since He rose from the dead. (John 21:1-14).

Review Questions

Using appropriate references from the Gospel of John, illuminate your understanding that Jesus Christ is the only true God.
What is the significance of the advice of the mother of Jesus to the servants at the wedding ceremony in the village of Cana that they should do whatever Jesus tells them? (John 2:5)
Discuss the importance of John 3:3, and John 3:16.
What is the outreach significance of the experiences of Jesus and His disciples at Jacob’s well in the Samaritan village of Sychar?
Explain your understanding of John 14:1-14, and John 15:16.
What is the significance of John 18:38 and John 19:4?
Why did the disciples of Jesus fish all night without catching any fish? (John 21:1-3, Acts 1:4).