Lesson 58: The Great Commission

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Why? and What is the Purpose? in My Life SERIES

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Lesson 58 of the Discipleship Making process.

Forty days had passed since Jesus was raised from the dead. During that time He told the disciples many things concerning the kingdom of God and opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He explained to them that it was written that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead on the third day and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations beginning at Jerusalem. And He told them that they were to be witnesses of those things.

On the fortieth day Jesus gathered the disciples together and led them out of Jerusalem to a place on the Mount of Olives near Bethany. When they arrived He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem until He had baptized them with the Holy Spirit a few days hence. Somewhat puzzled they inquired of Him if He was going to restore the kingdom to Israel at that time. He replied that it wasn’t for them to know the times or epochs established by the Father but that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them.

Then He issued His last set of commands, which today has come to be known as the “Great Commission”. After that He blessed the disciples and ascended into heaven while they watched. They were awestruck! As Jesus continued to rise, a cloud (The specific cloud that is being talked about in Hebrew is called the Sh’khinah: the cloud of glory. It is the same cloud that led the Israelites in their wilderness wanderings, became a pillar of fire at night and filled the Temple of God. It always indicates the presence of God.) received Him out of their sight. Then two angels appeared and told them that He would one day return to earth in the same manner that they had seen Him leave.

Read: Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-20, Luke 24:44-53, Acts 1:3-12

Jesus had a way of making His points memorable and they certainly weren’t subtle. When He issued His last set of commands to the disciples He coupled it with His ascension into heaven. Talk about emphasis! Most of us are readily able to recall the first and last items on a “to do” list we are given because are brains are wired that way. But Jesus made sure the disciples didn’t forget the first and last things He told them.

Think back to Jesus’ first command to the disciples. It was “Follow Me”. And Jesus issued it in conjunction with a miraculous fishing trip. The point He was making to them was, I want you to hear and obey my voice and when you do what I have told you to do; miraculous things will happen that bring blessing. With the command to “Follow Me” Jesus also promised the disciples that He would make them fishers of men. And now, three and one-half years later Jesus was commissioning them to do that very thing.

By combining the three synoptic gospel accounts we get a clear picture of exactly what the Great Commission is and what Jesus commanded the disciples to do:

And He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

And behold, I am sending forth the promise of my Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it shall not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple, praising God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.

At the heart of the Great Commission is the imperative to make disciples. It was Jesus’ full time occupation from the day He entered ministry at His baptism until He ascended into heaven. During His 3½ years of ministry, Jesus modeled the process of making disciples and then commanded all those who had followed Him to do likewise. The discipleship process involves five steps. They are:

1. Stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.
   
2. Go into all the world.
   
3. Preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins in Jesus name.
   
4. Baptize those who believe the message … in the name of Jesus.
   
5. Teach those who have been baptized to observe all that Jesus commanded.

The disciples followed Jesus’ instructions perfectly and the initial results are played out in the pages of the book of Acts.

1. Stay - Acts 1:12-14
   
2. Go - Acts 2:1-6
   
3. Preach - Acts 2:22-36
   
4. Baptize - Acts 2:37-41
   
5. Teach - Acts 2:42

The point of the lesson is:
God has given us:

• His Vision of what we are to become . . . like His son, Jesus.
  
• The Mission we are to accomplish . . . to make disciples.
  
• The Strategy we are to use . . .
  
  • Go into all the world.
  • Preach the message of forgiveness of sins in Jesus name.
  • Baptize those who have believed the message.
  • Teach them to observe everything that Jesus commanded to do.

• And the Ministry we are to perform . . . the ministry of reconciliation.

In order to do this work He has also given us:

• His Authority. . . to accomplish the mission and ministry.
  
• His Power . . . the Holy Spirit.
  
• His Tools . . . the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
  
• His Glory . . . the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
  
• His Equippers . . . apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

With that, allow me to leave you with the ultimate homework assignment, along with a couple final questions to consider:
As we close this last lesson, be reminded that you have now gone through the spiritual maturity process and the responsibility is yours to accomplish the will of your Father in heaven. The Journey With Jesus blog site and/or series of books will help give you a guideline to accomplish the task that is set before you.

What is God’s will for your life? and Will you do it?

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:21, 24

Jesus says, "If you love me, you will obey what I command . . . 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 . . . He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me . . . If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love." John 14:15-15:10

“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2

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Lesson 57: Receive the Holy Spirit

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Why? and What is the Purpose? in My Life SERIES

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Lesson 57 of the Discipleship Making process.

In the previous lesson, we saw that when Jesus went to pray in the Garden at Gethsemane, He taught the disciples how to wait for Him. It had required active participation on their part. They were to be: :

1. Restful, not busy or sleeping.
2. Watchful.
3. Prayerfully seeking God’s will.
4. Prepared to act.
5. Responding immediately to His commands.

As soon as Jesus finished praying He was arrested, tried, condemned, crucified and buried. After remaining in the grave for three days and three nights He rose from the dead. He appeared to Mary Magdalene that morning and to His uncle, Cleopas and another disciple named Simon as they walked along the road to Emmaus that afternoon. Cleopas and Simon raced back to Jerusalem to tell Peter and the other disciples that they had seen Jesus alive! While the two were telling their story to the disciples, Jesus suddenly appeared to them all.

Read: Mark 16:13-14, Luke 24:33-49, John 20:19-29

The sudden appearance of Jesus in the room startled the disciples so He immediately commanded them to be at peace. It had been just five days before, at the Last Supper that Jesus had told them, “A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me?” Yet they were surprised to see Him. Then Jesus reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they hadn’t even believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.

At first the disciples thought they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus reassured them. First by showing them His nail-pierced hands and feet. And secondly, He invited them to touch Him and told them that a spirit did not have flesh and bones as He had. With the physical evidence as proof the disciples began to rejoice as they realized that it was truly Jesus who was standing in their midst. At the Last Supper, Jesus had also foretold of the disciple’s great joy. “But I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”

Having eaten a piece of broiled fish that the disciples had given Him, Jesus told them “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit (In Hebrew, the term for the Holy Spirit is Ruwach Qodesh, literally the “breath of God”). If you forgive the sins of any, their sins haven been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”

Its here that Jesus was demonstrates how the Holy Spirit works; first you must receive a breath of air and then expel it. In other words, like a gift, you must receive it first before it can be given away (John 4:13-14, John 7:37-39).

When Jesus told the disciples to receive the Holy Spirit they would have undoubtedly recalled the things that He had spoken to them about the Holy Spirit at the Last Supper. These statements form the core of our understanding on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.

What thoughts come to your mind concerning what Jesus said.

• The Father is the giver of the Holy Spirit. (John 14:16)
  
• The Holy Spirit will remain with Jesus’ disciples forever. (John 14:16)
  
• The disciples will have an intimate knowledge of the Holy Spirit. ( John 14:17)
  
• The Holy Spirit will live with the disciples. ( John 14:17)
  
• The Holy Spirit will be inside the disciples. ( John 14:17)
  
• God the Father will send the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name. ( John 14:26)
  
• The Holy Spirit will teach the disciples all things. ( John 14:26)
  
• The Holy Spirit will bring to remembrance everything Jesus has said to His disciples. ( John 14:26)
  
• Jesus, Himself sends the Holy Spirit. ( John 15:26) John the Baptist also testified to this when he said, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
  
• The Holy Spirit is truth. ( John 15:26)
  
• The Holy Spirit will bear witness of Jesus. ( John 15:26)
  
• The Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin because they do not believe in Jesus. (John 16:8, 9)
  
• The Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning righteousness because Jesus has been raised from the dead. (John 16:8, 10)
  
• The Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning judgment because Satan, the ruler of this world (kosmos–adornment/illusion) has been judged. (John 16:8&11)
  
• The Holy Spirit will guide the disciples into all truth. (John 16:13)
  
• The Holy Spirit will not speak on His own initiative. (John 16:13)
  
• The Holy Spirit will speak only what He hears. (John 16:13)
  
• The Holy Spirit will speak. (John 16:13)
  
• The Holy Spirit will tell you about the future. (John 16:13)
  
• The Holy Spirit will glorify Jesus. (John 16:14)
  
• The Holy Spirit will give the disciples understanding of everything that Jesus possesses. (John 16:14)

Jesus also made other statements to the disciples about the Holy Spirit, what thoughts come to your mind?

• The heavenly Father gives the gift of the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. (Luke 11:13)
  
• No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of the Spirit (John 3:5)
  
• When a person is born again by the Spirit it is like the wind. You don’t know where the wind came from or where it is going because it goes where it wishes … you just hear the sound of it. (John 3:8)
  
• The Holy Spirit will clothe the disciples with power from on high. (Luke 24:49)

Eight days after Jesus’ initial encounter with the disciples He appeared to them again while they were in the Galilee. This time Thomas was with them. After greeting them, Jesus proves His identity to Thomas and then commands them to believing, not doubting. Then He proceeded to place a prophetic blessing on all those who would not see Him, as the disciples had, but believe in Him anyhow.

The point of the lesson is to be sure you receive the Holy Spirit.

With that, allow me to leave you with these questions to consider, along with a little homework assignment until the next lesson:

• What had the Father sent Jesus to do? (See Luke 4:18) Also to make disciples, use the gifts of the Spirit, obey the Father, love others, forgive people’s sins, etc.
  
• What does Jesus want His disciple’s to do? The same thing.
  
• Since Jesus had told the disciples on two different occasions at the Last Supper that He would be sending them the Holy Spirit, why do you think He had to command them to receive the Holy Spirit? Because the Holy Spirit is a gift and a gift must be received. (For example: God sent His Word, His prophets, His Son, and His salvation … all of them are gifts and must be received to be beneficial.
  
• How do you believe Jesus’ last statement above applies to you?
  
• Why do you think Jesus breathed on the disciples? Why do you think Jesus blessed those who would believe in Him even though they had never seen Him? They were people of faith and deserving of reward because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Many are called but few are chosen.
  
• According to the book of Acts the Holy Spirit can be bestowed upon individuals after they have been baptized in Jesus name through the laying of hands by an apostle. (Acts 8:18) Does that verse apply today? Why or why not? Do you think the disciples were waiting for Jesus to return as He had taught them to? Why or why not? If you had been with the disciples when Jesus appeared in their midst, what would your reaction have been?

And the homework assignment, read the following passages of Scripture:

• Acts 2:1-4 “clothing with power”
  
• Acts 2:33 “hear and see”
  
• Acts 2:38-39 “will receive”
  
• Acts 2:43 “the apostles have power”
  
• Acts 3:22-23 “Jesus is sent to you … obey or perish”
  
• Acts 4:29-31 “prayer for signs and wonders and a bold testimony”
  
• Acts 6:5-8 “Stephen receives the laying on of hands and does signs and wonders”
  
• Acts 8:5-19 “Philip goes to Samaria and the people are clothed with power”
  
• Acts 9:17-18 “Paul receives the Holy Spirit and gets baptized”
  
• Acts 10:43-48 “ Cornelius and his household receive the Holy Spirit”
  
• Acts 19:1-6 “John’s baptism versus baptism with the Holy Spirit”
  
• 1 Corinthians 12 & 14 “gifts of the Spirit”
  
• 1 Timothy 4:14 “Timothy gets a gift”

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Lesson 56: Waiting For Him

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Why? and What is the Purpose? in My Life SERIES

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Lesson 56 of the Discipleship Making process.

As the Last Supper drew to close Jesus prayed for His disciples and then blessed the fourth cup of wine. This fourth cup of wine, the Cup of Elijah, is the culmination of the Passover meal and for every Israelite points forward to the future fulfillment of all of God’s promises. It is also called the Cup of Praise or Hope and refers specifically to Exodus 6:8. For fifteen centuries the Israelites had been observing this ritual and now the Lord’s Passover was literally being fulfilled before the disciple’s eyes.

As the men drank the cup they ended by singing the Hallel (Psalm 113-118). They had no idea that what they were singing would come to pass within a matter of hours (read the last fifteen verses of Psalm 118:14-29).

When they finished singing the hymn they walked out into the night. Jesus and the disciples exited the city through the nearby Essene Gate. They descended the steep slope down into the Valley of Ben Hinnom. The short journey terminated at a grove of olive trees known as … Gethsemane, “the oil press.”

Read: Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46

It was here, at Gethsemane, that Jesus told eight of His disciples to remain until He had prayed. From His interaction with the disciples we can learn some lessons about waiting for our Lord to do something.

Sometimes it is boring having to wait on Him. We want released into ministry but it doesn’t happen. We pray for something and it seems like He doesn’t answer. We wait for His direction but it doesn’t come. Why do we have to wait? The hours roll by. What’s the hold up?”

The disciples were no different than we are, so Jesus gave them some instructions on what to do while they were waiting for Him. He began by telling the disciples to sit. “Sit here until I have prayed.” Sitting denotes a restful state. It is not working and it is not sleeping. It is the position of readiness for another action. We, as Christians would do well to remember that the Lord is going before us to make the way. The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus, our High Priest, “lives to make intercession for us,” (Hebrews 7:25). And for those of us who do wait for the Lord, God promises they “will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary,” (Isaiah 40:31).

Jesus accompanied by Peter, James and John separated themselves from the larger group by walking a short distance into the grove of trees to the south. After entering the grove He told those three disciples to remain there and keep watch. The second instruction we should adhere to is to remain watchful while waiting for Him.

There is a tendency for us to become complacent in our lives, never expecting Jesus to show up in any significant way. Yet He will! The writer of Hebrews puts it this way: “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises,” (Hebrews 6:11-12). When Jesus returned He found Peter, James and John asleep and rebuked them for it.

The third thing we are to do is to add prayer to our watching. Jesus said, “Keep watching and praying.” In the garden that night, Jesus sought His Father’s will. And that is the kind of praying we should be doing. Some call this “praying in the Spirit”. The Apostle Paul alluded to this in his epistle to the Romans (Romans 8:26-27).

Many times, we as Christians engage in prayer but aren’t really expecting God to respond, so we just go ahead and do what we were already planning to do. Jesus admonished the disciples to watch and pray so they wouldn’t fall into temptation. The reason we are to remain awake and alert is to see what the Lord’s reply will be.

Jesus also prayed three times to the Father regarding the same issue . . . could what He was preparing to go through be done another way? Jesus was a man of faith. He was use to having His prayers answered. He believed that he would receive what He asked for. Concerning prayer, Christians should remember that when we ask God for something we are to believe we have received our request (Mark 11:24).

Again Jesus returned and found the three disciples asleep so He gave them another instruction. “Rise and pray.” The fourth thing we can learn about waiting for the Lord is that when we become weary we should rise or stand to our feet while we pray. This demonstrates our preparedness to act on whatever the Lord tells us to do.

As the disciples prepared to rise Jesus issued His final instruction, “Arise, let us be going”. The last thing we learn about waiting on the Lord is that once He instructs us on what to do or what direction to take, as Christians we should immediately do what He says.

The point of the lesson is that waiting for the Lord to act involves active participation:

• It requires us to be restful, not busy and not sleeping.
  
• It requires us to be watchful.
  
• It requires us to be prayerful, seeking God’s will.
  
• It requires us to be prepared to act.
  
• It requires us to immediately respond to Him.

With that, allow me to leave you with this question to consider, along with a little homework assignment until the next lesson:

How does the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) compare with what Jesus taught His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane that night?

And the homework assignment:

Use this outline the next time you are waiting for the Lord to do something.

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Lesson 55: Disillusioned

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Lesson 55 of the Discipleship Making process.

Near the end of the Last Supper Jesus began talking to His disciples about various relationships they would be involved in. First he talked about their relationship with Him. “Abide in Me, and I in you.” Then He discussed their relationship with one another. “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” And finally He talked to them about their relationship with the world. “If the world (kosmos) hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world (kosmos), the world (kosmos) would love its own; but because you are not of the world (kosmos), but I chose you out of the world (kosmos), because of this the world (kosmos) hates you.”

When Jesus used the term “world”, He wasn’t talking about the earth with its landmasses, oceans, lakes, rivers, mountains and prairies. Instead the Scriptures use the Greek word kosmos (world). The word kosmos is translated as “adornment”. It’s the way things appear or the way things operate here on earth. It’s an illusion! And that is the same way the world (kosmos) is . . . it’s an illusion. The things of this world look attractive however they are not as they appear. The Scriptures tell us that Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44), governs all the kingdoms of this world (kosmos). Therefore, everything in it is wearing a deceptive mask . . . it’s an illusion. In fact you could substitute the word illusion for the word, world (kosmos). For example we could read a familiar verse from the book of James as, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world (illusion) is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world (illusion) makes himself an enemy of God,” (James 4:4).

According to the dictionary an illusion is a false idea or conception. It is belief or opinion not in accord with the facts . . . an unreal, deceptive, or misleading appearance or image. Many people use the word disillusioned in a negative sense, however to be disillusioned is actually quite good. The word disillusioned simply means to be free from illusion or false ideas.

Read: John 15:18–16:33

Jesus begins the lesson by telling the disciples that they will be hated by the world. This is quite understandable because the world and it systems are based on lies, while Jesus, His disciples and the Kingdom of God are all based on the truth. Therefore conflict is inevitable.

Jesus continued by saying, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." Jesus is so adamant about this truth that He reinforces it with a command, “Remember the word I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than His master’. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”

In order to combat the world’s lies, the Lord promised the disciples that He would send them the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit came He would bear witness along with them that Jesus was the way, the truth and the life and that no man could come to the Father but through Him (John 14:6). In addition the Holy Spirit would convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth (1 John 5:6).

The coming of the Holy Spirit would be the sign that the Kingdom of God (Romans 14:17) had come upon the earth. It was the kingdom prophesied by Daniel “the stone cut out of the rock without hands” (Daniel 2:34 & 44-45) that would crush all the kingdoms of this world (kosmos). Each member of this kingdom would be clothed with heavenly armor (Daniel 2:34 & 44-45) and each one would wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And each way that the sword turned it would destroy the lies and illusions of the world.

Jesus told the disciples to ask in His name and that they would receive, that their joy might be full. Each of us who names Jesus Christ as Lord should be asking Him to make us effective in using the sword of the Spirit against the rulers, powers, world forces of this darkness and the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Yet at the same time we are not to fight against flesh and blood even though our enemies may control people through lies and illusions. It is these people who persecute us not knowing the truth. And like Jesus they may ridicule, torture or kill us. But we are to be of good cheer knowing full well that our hope is not in this world. As Jesus brought the lesson to a close He said, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world (kosmos) you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world (kosmos)” (John 16:33).

The point of the lesson is to welcome disillusionments by welcoming truth. Rejoice when you are persecuted for truth because it affirms your transformation into the image of Christ.

With that, allow me to leave you with these questions to consider, along with a little homework assignment until my next posting:

1. Name some illusions that people live under?
   
2. How do people become disillusioned? By learning the truth. “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free,” (John 8:31-32).
   
3. Many Christians believe that everything in their life will be wonderful. What is the truth about this? They forget the Scripture that says in this world you will have tribulation.
   
4. Many Christians believe that everyone in church is nice, understanding and forgiving. What is the truth about this? Not everyone in a church is a Christian, in fact they may be sent by your enemy to destroy the work. Also Christians are a being conformed to the image of Christ and may not have arrived at maturity.
   
5. Many Christians believe that when they get married, their lives will be totally fulfilling. What is the truth about this? It takes hard work, dying to one’s self and submission to their mate.
   
6. Many Christians believe that you should trust one another. What is the truth about this? Where is it written that we should trust in any man? According to the Scriptures we should trust only in God (Ps 20:7, Ps 56:4, Pr 3:5 and Jn 14:1).
   
7. Many Christians believe that spiritual growth just happens. What is the truth about this? Spiritual growth is a process in which the believer is conformed to the image of Christ by hearing the Word of God and obeying it. At various points in his life he will undergo testing.
   
8. Many Christians believe that the government can solve their problems. What is the truth about this?

And the homework assignment:

Write down one event that occurred in the past in which you were persecuted for telling the truth and tell your group about it.

Until next time . . . Godspeed!

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Lesson 54: Abiding in Christ

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Lesson 54 of the Discipleship Making process.

As the Last Supper began to draw to a close Jesus commanded His disciples to believe Him when He said, “I am in the Father and the Father is in Me” (John 14:10-11). For the disciples this was a profound statement.

Before we get into the lesson let’s reflect on some other Scriptures:
Hebrews 6:18, Deuteronomy 32:4, John 14:6-10, John 17:17, 1 John 5:6, John 8:15-16, John 12:47-50, Matthew 4:47

Read: John 15:1-11

As the disciples leave the site of the Last Supper with Jesus, He expands on the idea of oneness with God. Only this time He speaks of the disciple’s oneness with Him. He begins the conversation by declaring, “I am the true vine.” Through the analogy of a grapevine Jesus connects this oneness with Himself to the disciples being able to bear fruit. Take this time now to reflect on the following questions:

1. Since Jesus calls Himself the “true vine”, is there an untrue vine? Yes. (Ezekiel 17:1-10).
   
2. What fruit is Jesus talking about? The fruit of the Spirit as enumerated in Galatians 5:22-23.
   
3. What is the purpose of our bearing fruit? It glorifies God and blesses others.
   
4. What does God do when we don’t bear fruit? Lifts us up (John 15:2). The goodness of God leads a man to repentance (Romans 2:4).
   
5. How are we able to bear fruit? By being in Christ (John 15:4). Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17).
   
6. How can we bear more fruit? God prunes us (John 15:2). Through discipline (Hebrews 12:5-6) Loss of focus produces leaves not fruit.
   
7. What is the purpose of pruning a grape vine and how is it done? It will produce better quality grapes. Grapes only grow on one year old vines and only the uppermost spurs are left.
   
8. How do we bear much fruit? (John 15:5) By recognizing that we can do nothing apart from the Lord therefore we remain in constant fellowship with Him.
   
9. How do we know that we are abiding in Christ? We continue to partake of the bread and wine. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him” (John 6:53–56). According to Jesus: 1) A believer abides (dwells) in Jesus when he eats Jesus’ flesh and 2) Jesus abides (dwells) in a believer when the believer drinks Jesus’ blood.
   
10. What happens if we don’t remain in fellowship with Christ? (John 15:6) We wither and dry up. Then we are gathered up and cast into the fire to be burned.
    
11. What happens if we forsake the bread and wine? We in effect are saying we have no fellowship with Christ and are not obeying what He commanded us to do.

Continuing the lesson, Jesus remarks that if His disciples remain in Him and His words remain in them then they can ask whatever they wish and it would be done for them. At that point the disciples were probably thinking … which words? Jesus was quick to reply! He issued them another commandment and then told them how to keep it. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments you will abide in my love. This was the same way that the Father had treated Him.

The point of the lesson is that since we have been born again by the Spirit of God and God dwells in us then our words and actions should line up with the Word of God.

With that, allow me to leave you with these questions to consider, along with a little homework assignment until my next posting:

1. Since Jesus is the Word of God how important are His instructions to us?
   
2. Are Christians not having their prayers answered because they are not obeying what Jesus told them to do?
   
3. What does the following verse mean to you?
   By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 John 2:3-6)

And the homework assignment:

Read the songs of two different vineyards. Isaiah 5:1-7, 27:2-6

Until next time . . . Godspeed!

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Lesson 53: Peaceful Hearts - Part 2 of 2

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The continuation of lesson 53 of the Discipleship Making process.

In summary of part one of this lesson, we learned of the prophecies Jesus used to encourage, strengthen and console His disciples, shortly after Judas departed the Last Supper, during the part of the meal known as the Maggid (the telling of the Passover story), of His impending death, for He knew full well that He would redeem His people by stretching out His arms upon the cross.

Read: John 13:36 - 14:31

It is here that we pick-up where we left off, Jesus did more than just console the disciples He told them truth (forth-telling). The central issue of these passages of Scriptures we are studying today is what Jesus said concerning Himself. I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. To many this is a difficult statement! They like to say there are many ways to the Father.

Jesus statement, “I am the way, and the truth and the life” was the sixth of seven “I am” statements He used in the gospel of John. The others were: 1) I am the bread of life (6:35), 2) I am the light of the world (8:12), 3) I am the door (10:7 & 9), 4) I am the good shepherd (10:11 & 14), 5) I am the resurrection and the life (11:25) and 6) I am the true vine (15:1 & 5). Each time Jesus used the “I am” (In Hebrew “I am” is pronounced “Yah”) He was invoking God’s memorial name (Exodus 3:13-15).

Moses was chosen to deliver and lead God’s people. He worked miracles and declared God’s law (teachings or instructions). Like Jesus, Moses before he died, prophesied to God’s people about the one (Moses prophesied concerning Jesus and Jesus prophesied concerning the Holy Spirit) who would come. He would be like Moses, delivering and leading God’s people, working miracles and declaring God’s law (teachings and instruction) (Deuteronomy 8:15-18; Matthew 17:5; John 8:58).

In order to help His people identify who the coming one would be, God had Moses appoint Joshua as the prophet who would follow him (Deuteronomy 31:14 & 23).

The name Joshua (Yah-shua) means “I Am Salvation". And that is precisely Jesus’ name in Hebrew, Yah-shua. It was not Moses’ responsibility to lead God’s people into the Promised Land because he had sinned (Moses disobeyed God (sinned) when he struck the Rock a second time to bring forth water. God originally told Moses to strike the Rock of Horeb with his staff when the children of Israel became thirsty and it would bring forth water (Exodus 17:6). When the children of Israel became thirsty a second time God commanded Moses to speak to the Rock instead of hitting it and it would bring forth water. But Moses became angry with his rebellious people and struck the Rock a second time. (Numbers 20:3-13) The reason God would not let Moses lead his people into the Promised Land was because, as a prophet, Moses had given Israel a false sign. From 1 Corinthians 10:4 we discover that the Rock from which the water came forth was Christ. Jesus said, “If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” Since Jesus is the Christ, God was in effect saying that He would permit His Son to be stuck by the rods of men only once for salvation and after that they merely needed to speak to Him. “Whoever will call upon the Name of the Lord will be saved”. (Joel 2:32, Romans 10:13). It was and still is Joshua’s (Yah-shua’s) responsibility to lead God’s people into the Promised Land.

In chapter 7 of the book of Acts, Stephen a man full of the Holy Spirit, brought a railing testimony against the Sanhedrim, the ruling council of the Jews, concerning their treatment of Jesus (Acts 7:37) and all God’s prophets before Him. For that, He was stoned to death, making him the church’s first martyr. The Israelites had refused to hear God speaking even when He spoke through men just as they had requested. Jesus had already spoken to the chief priests and Pharisees about their failure to hear and obey God’s voice (John 5:45-47) and even used the parable of the landowner (Matthew 21:33-46) to make the same point.

Since Jesus was the one of whom Moses prophesied, He commands His disciples to, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” Then He offered then two proofs as to His identity. The first proof was the words that He spoke (Hebrews 1:1-2) to them: His forth-telling words could be verified in the Law and the Prophets and His foretelling words would come to pass. The second proof Jesus offered them was the miracles He performed (John 14:11).

The point of the lesson is, since Jesus is the way, and the truth and the life, how important is it to believe Him and observe everything He commands us to do?

With that, allow me to leave you with these questions to consider until my next posting:

1. What do you think the statement “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” means?
   
2. Do you believe that the statement, “No one comes to the Father, but through Me” is true?
   
3. What kind of statement do you make to others who contend with you that there is more than one way to come to the Father?

Until next time . . . Godspeed!

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Lesson 53: Peaceful Hearts - Part 1 of 2

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Lesson 53 of the Discipleship Making process.

Shortly after Judas departed the Last Supper, Jesus and the disciples came to the part of the meal known as the Maggid, the telling of the Passover story. At the beginning of the Maggid they would have partaken of the second cup of wine, the cup of judgment or instruction. Its intent was to remind those who participated in the meal how God had delivered His people (Exodus 6:6).

The telling of the Passover story is still done in the same manner. Children attending the meal ask four questions of the elders that invoke them to tell the story of the Passover by answering the questions. At the Last Supper, the disciples asked Jesus four questions, they were:

• Simon Peter - "Lord, where are You going?”
  
• Thomas - "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”
  
• Philip - "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
  
• Judas (not Iscariot) - “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

Read: John 13:36 - 14:31

Jesus started the Maggid with a series of remarks. “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’” This He spoke concerning His impending death for He knew full well that He would redeem His people by stretching out His arms upon the cross. In order to comfort the disciples Jesus began to prophesy.

God has always used prophecy to comfort His people. It reminds them that He has a special relationship with them through His word. And that He willingly provides direction while assuring them that He is in control (Isaiah 55:11). The Apostle Paul would later remark that prophecy should be the most sought after spiritual gift and that the “one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.” (1 Corinthians 14:3)

Jesus spoke in the manner of a prophet that night by using both aspects of prophecy: foretelling (concerning the future) and forth-telling (declaring truth from God). He gave both short-term (ST) and long-term (LT) foretelling prophecies. Short-term prophecy was used to check the truthfulness of the prophet. If the prophet’s short-term prophecy did not come to pass then God’s people were to ignore the prophet, his long-term prophecies and any forth telling he did.

Since Peter had asked the question about where Jesus was going, Jesus responded to him first with a long-term prophecy. “Where I go(to the cross), you cannot follow Me now; but you shall follow Me later.” According to tradition, Peter was crucified upside down in Rome around 65 AD. Jesus followed that with a short-term prophecy. “Truly, truly, I say to you, a cock shall not crow, until you deny Me three times.” This happened within eight hours of Jesus speaking it.

Jesus issued a series of twenty foretelling prophecies to the disciples, which He introduced with the commandment, “Do not let your heart be troubled.” Then as if He were putting a parenthesis around them Jesus finished with a similar command, “Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” And for good measure He punctuated it with the statement, “Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe." Let’s look at the prophecies Jesus used to encourage, strengthen and console the disciples:

1. I go to prepare a place for you. (LT)
   
2. I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. (LT)
   
3. He who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also. (ST-55 days)
   
4. And greater works than these he will do. (ST– 55 days)
   
5. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do. (ST-55 days)
   
6. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. (ST-55 days)
   
7. He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever. (ST-55 days)
   
8. He abides with you and will be in you. (ST-55 days)
   
9. I will not leave you as orphans. (ST-55days)
   
10. I will come to you. (ST-4days)
    
11. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, (ST-12 hours)
    
12. But you will see Me; (ST-4 days)
    
13. Because I live, you will live also. (LT)
    
14. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father. (ST-55 days)
    
15. He who loves Me I will love him. (ST-55 days)
    
16. He who loves Me I will disclose Myself to him. (ST-55 days)
    
17. We will come to him and make Our abode with him. (ST-55 days)
    
18. He will teach you all things. (ST-55 days)
    
19. He will bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. (ST-55days)
    
20. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. (ST-immediately)

In part 2 of this lesson, we will see the conclusion of Jesus’ instruction on “Peaceful Hearts”.

Until next time . . . Godspeed!

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Lesson 52: Love One Another

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Lesson 52 of the Discipleship Making process.

As Jesus communed with His disciples at the Last Supper He stressed the importance of loving one another. The reference to one another refers only to other disciples of Jesus since He was only speaking to His disciples.

Read: John 13:12-17 and 34-35 and 15:12-17

Near the beginning of the supper Jesus arose, set aside His outer garments and began washing the disciple’s feet. That would have been a dirty job in those days as people wore sandals and spent their days working in the fields, standing on dirt floors or walking on dusty roads. Customarily the act of foot washing would have been performed by one of the host’s servants. However, Jesus was the host and He had no servants … so He became the servant Himself.

Having washed the disciple’s feet Jesus continued with the Passover supper until he dipped the second time and gave the morsel to Judas. At that moment Satan entered Judas, he arose from the table and went out into the night putting in to action his plan to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. After Judas had gone, Jesus resumed speaking on the subject of love.

Earlier in his ministry, during the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had commanded the disciples to “love your neighbor as yourself” but now He issued them a new commandment. He said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” This was not a change to the way they were to love their neighbors but an additional commandment to the special way in which they were to love other disciples of Christ.

After the meal Jesus again returned to speaking on the issue of love, this time provoking the disciples to think even more deeply about it. He told them that the deepest expression of love is for one to lay down his life for his friends.

The point of the lesson is, in view of the fact that Jesus taught the lesson at the Last Supper when He was communing with his disciples it behooves us to reflect on whether we are truly friends of His.

With that, allow me to leave you with this question to consider, along with a little homework assignment until my next posting:

How would you comfort people when they are anxious or worried about the future?

. . . and the homework assignment . . .

Are we doing what He asked us to do? Let’s consider the following questions, in addition to reading through this list of 58 “one another’s” in their context as your homework assignment:

1. In what ways had Jesus demonstrated His love to the disciples? List them.
   
   • Showed them how to make disciples.
     
   • Rebuked them when they were wrong.
     
   • Forgave them.
     
   • Prayed for them.
     
   • Washed their feet.
     
   • Obeyed the father.
     
   • Gave up His time.
     
   • Served them.
     
   • Taught them.
     
   • Made their lives significant.
     
   • Gave them power and authority.
     
   • Gave them a message.
     
   • Gave them spiritual gifts.
     
   • Gave them directions.
     
   • Calmed their fears.
2. Why did Jesus want them to love one other as He had loved them? So that all men would know that they were His disciples. Why? To demonstrate for people what God was like. Why? In order to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:7-8)

Read: John 15:14 & 16

1. Who are Jesus’ friends? Those that do what He commands them to do.
   
2. Who initiates a friendship with Jesus? He does.
   
3. Why does He initiate the friendship? So that his friends can bear fruit.
   
4. What fruit is he talking about? The fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26) or God’s nature and character (See the vine and branches).
   
5. Who eats the fruit? Everyone but you.
   
6. How long should this fruit last? Forever.
   
7. What does it mean to ask in the name of someone? It is what the individual would have asked for himself.
   
8. What is Jesus’ name? I am salvation.
   
9. Deliverance or salvation from what? Everything.
   
10. Who are the one another’s being talked about? Jesus’ friends (other disciples).

The “One Another’s”

1. Be at peace with one another (Mark 9:50)
   
2. Wash one another’s feet (John 13:14)
   
3. Love one another (John 13:34)
   
4. Love one another (John 13:34)
   
5. Love one another (John 13:35)
   
6. Love one another (John 15:12)
   
7. Love one another (John 15:17)
   
8. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love (Romans 12:10)
   
9. Give preference to one another in honor (Romans 12:10)
   
10. Be of the same mind toward one another (Romans 12:16)
    
11. Love one another (Romans 13:8)
    
12. Let us not judge one another (Romans 14:13)
    
13. Accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us (Romans 15:7)
    
14. Admonish one another (Romans 15:14)
    
15. Greet one another with a holy kiss (Romans 16:16)
    
16. When you come together to eat, wait for one another (1 Corinthians 11:33)
    
17. Have the same care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)
    
18. Greet one another with a holy kiss (1 Corinthians 16:20)
    
19. Greet one another with a holy kiss (1 Corinthians 16:20)
    
20. Through love serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
    
21. But if you bite and devour one another, take care lest you are consumed by one another (Galatians 5:15)
    
22. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another (Galatians 5:26)
    
23. Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)
    
24. Showing forbearance to one another in love (Ephesians 4:2)
    
25. Be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32)
    
26. Forgiving each other (Ephesians 4:32)
    
27. Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19)
    
28. Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ (Ephesians 5:21)
    
29. Let each of you regard one another as more important than himself (Philippians 2:3)
    
30. Do not lie to one another (Colossians 3:9)
    
31. Bearing with one another (Colossians 3:13)
    
32. Forgiving each other (Colossians 3:13)
    
33. Teach one another with psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16)
    
34. Admonish one another with psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16)
    
35. Increase and abound in love for one another (1 Thessalonians 3:12)
    
36. Taught by God to love one another (1 Thessalonians 4:9)
    
37. Comfort one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
    
38. Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
    
39. Build up one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
    
40. But encourage one another day after day (Hebrews 3:13)
    
41. Consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24)
    
42. Encouraging one another (Hebrews 10:25)
    
43. Do not speak against one another (James 4:11)
    
44. Do not complain against one another (James 5:9)
    
45. Confess your sins to one another (James 5:16)
    
46. Pray for one another (James 5:16)
    
47. Fervently love one another from the heart (1 Peter 1:22)
    
48. Keep fervent in your love for one another (1 Peter 4:8)
    
49. Be hospitable to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
    
50. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another (1 Peter 4:10)
    
51. Clothe yourself with humility toward one another (1 Peter 5:5)
    
52. Greet one another with a kiss of love (1 Peter 5:14)
    
53. Love one another (1 John 3:11)
    
54. Love one another (1 John 3:23)
    
55. Let us love one another (1 John 4:7)
    
56. We also ought to love one another (1 John 4:11)
    
57. If we love one another, God abides in us (1 John 4:12)
    
58. Love one another (2 John 5)

Until next time . . . Godspeed!

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Lesson 51: Breaking of Bread: Making Strong Men - Part 3 of 3

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The continuation of lesson 51 of the Discipleship Making process.

In summary of part two of this lesson, we learned, according to Jesus: 1) A believer abides (dwells) in Jesus when he eats Jesus’ flesh and 2) Jesus abides (dwells) in a believer when the believer drinks Jesus’ blood.

It is here that we pick-up where we left off, many of Jesus’ disciples were offended and repulsed at His suggestion that they needed to eat His body and drink His blood in order to partake of eternal life. The pagans, not Jews, practiced cannibalism. The fact that there was a prohibition against eating blood in the Law of Moses hindered their understanding of the spiritual implications He was giving them.

A working definition of cannibalism is “the practice or process of making strong men.” The ancients would eat the flesh and drink the blood of a dead man to share in his strength, holiness, wisdom and character. The most likely ones to be eaten after their death were warriors, holy men, virgins and parents. The meal consisted of just a small amount of flesh and blood, not the consumption of the entire body. It was also practiced to commune in a holy way with the deceased.

So prevalent were these concepts that many people believed that Christians were cannibalistic because they ate the flesh and blood of their Lord Jesus Christ. And in a spiritual sense they were right. The early church believed by faith that partaking of the Body (bread) and Blood (wine) of Christ did make them spiritually strong. They also believed that they were participating in the strength, holiness, wisdom and character of their Lord. In fact their interconnectedness to Him was through Holy Communion; that by eating His flesh and drinking His blood they were abiding in Him and He in them.

Both their faith and prayer life was strengthened just as Jesus had said, "Abide in Me, and I in you . . .” (John 15:4-8)

Jesus knew what he was telling His disciples to do and why they were offended. The Law of Moses plainly stated that a person would be cut off from the fellowship of Israel and God would be against him if they ate any blood. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood . . . its blood is identified with its life . . . You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood . . .” Leviticus 17:11-14.

Jesus was well aware of what God said: that life was in the blood and that life could be transferred through the eating of the blood. That’s why God made a prohibition against the eating of blood, since men would take on the characteristics imparted by it. However, Jesus is not a bird or beast but the Son of the Living God. He is the Christ; holy and pleasing to His Father in all things, obedient even to death. This is the life He wants to impart to us. Jesus made eating His flesh and drinking His blood an ordinance, knowing that He was imparting spirit and life through the elements. The participants would be taking on the characteristics of His life. Following is an earlier illustrated teaching of Jesus’ on this principle:

The Exchanged Life
Jesus dealt with the spiritual issues of communion at the beginning of His ministry when He turned water to wine at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11). It was the first of His signs and He used it to convey the basic concept of an exchanged life (“I have been crucified with Christ [symbolized by baptism - water]; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me [symbolized by communion - wine]; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20) by changing water to wine (blood).

1. Jesus used six (Six is the number of man) large water pots that were set aside for purification purposes.
   
2. A pot represents a container for something.
   
3. Throughout Scripture, men are referred to as containers. (Vessels, pots, houses, temples, wine skins, white washed sepulchers, etc)
   
4. The container is important but in no way compares to the contents for which the container was designed for and made.
   
5. When a purification pot was filled with water (immersed in or baptized) it became useful for purification of others.
   
6. Jesus however changed the water to wine.
   
7. Wine is a symbol for blood, life, the Holy Spirit and joy (see Wilson’s Dictionary of Bible Types for a full explanation).
   
8. Jesus was indicating that true purification would come by blood, an exchanged life, the infilling of the Holy Spirit and that the outcome would produce great joy.
   
9. The change in the contents of the purification pot indicates a change in the nature of the individual. No longer would water be poured out, but the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39).
   
10. Wine produces a change in a person’s behavior. Alcoholic beverages are sometimes referred to as “spirits” because of the change it produces in one’s behavior.
    
11. When the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit they were accused of being drunk.
    
12. The purification pots (men) that had been filled (immersed in or baptized) with purification water would be changed inwardly (spirit-filled) and then be poured out to effect change in others.

The point of the lesson is true purification comes by blood, an exchanged life, the infilling of the Holy Spirit and that the outcome would produce great joy, sharing in Christ’s strength, holiness, wisdom, and character.

With that, allow me to leave you with this question to consider, along with a little reading assignment until my next posting:

Why do you think that Jesus wants us to wash one another’s feet?

. . . and the reading assignment . . .

The Lesson - The Three Major Views of Holy Communion

1. Transubstantiation - The bread and the wine is transformed into the physical substance of the body and blood of Christ although the actual appearance of bread and wine remain. This is the historic viewpoint of the Church and remained so for the first 1500 years until the Protestant Reformation. It was because of this view that the Romans accused the early Christians of cannibalism.
   
2. Consubstantiation – The bread remains bread, and the wine remains wine, but the body and blood of Jesus is in, with, and under the bread and wine. In other words the bread, wine, body, and blood are co-mingled together. (Introduced by Martin Luther in 1519 AD).
   
3. Memorial Only - The bread and wine are merely symbols; based on the phrase, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Ulrich Zwingli originated this view about 1520 AD in response to some of his contemporaries who found the idea of eating flesh and drinking blood offensive.

Requirements

1. There are three requirements for participation in receiving communion.
   
   • Baptism.
     
   • Faith.
     
   • A life conformed to the will of Jesus Christ. This is usually accomplished through self-reflection and confession of one’s sins (1 Corinthians 11:26-34).
   
   
2. Originally communion was served daily (Acts 2:46Acts 2:46). The Catholic Church still offers it morning and evening seven days a week.

Until next time . . . Godspeed!

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Lesson 51: Breaking of Bread: Body & Blood - Part 2 of 3

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The continuation of lesson 51 of the Discipleship Making process.

In summary of part one of this lesson, we learned that, Jesus, being the high priest is able to impart righteousness and peace through the elements of bread and wine.

It is here that we pick-up where He left off, Jesus teaching His disciples about the spiritual implications of communing with God. His instructions were so controversial that many of His disciples abandoned the faith. Those remaining were confused and failed to understand its meaning until after His crucifixion.

Read: John 6:48-71

Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh.” The Jews therefore began to argue with one another, saying, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” John 6:48-52.

Having heard their argument Jesus hammers home His point. "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him,” John 6:53 –56.

After hearing Jesus’ teaching many of His disciples abandoned the faith. "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate, and died, he who eats this bread shall live forever.” These things He said in the synagogue, as He taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of His disciples, when they heard this said, "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, "Does this cause you to stumble? What then if you should behold the Son of Man ascending where He was before?

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the word that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father.” As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore John 6:57-66. The “words” Jesus refers to as being spirit and life are: “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”

The point of the lesson, according to Jesus: 1) A believer abides (dwells) in Jesus when he eats Jesus’ flesh and 2) Jesus abides (dwells) in a believer when the believer drinks Jesus’ blood.

In part 3 of this lesson, we will learn the key to Making Strong Men.

Until next time . . . Godspeed!

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Lesson 51: Breaking of Bread: Biblical Roots - Part 1 of 3

Brief 4-to-5 Minute Teaching Lesson
Why? and What is the Purpose? in My Life SERIES

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Lesson 51 of the Discipleship Making process.

In this lesson we will be looking at the significance of the bread and wine in the Passover.

Read: Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-20

The use of the bread and wine can be traced back to Abraham (Genesis 14:17-20).

According to Scripture, Melchizedek was both the “King of Righteousness” and “King of Peace” (Hebrews 7:2). This is derived from his name and his title. His name was Melchizedek (Melchi meaning king and zedek meaning righteousness). His title was king of Salem (Shalom), meaning “peace”. Since he was the “King of Righteousness and Peace,” it meant that he had authority over those two things. Therefore, he had the power to grant righteousness and peace to anyone as he wished.

Melchizedek imparted his righteousness and peace to Abraham through the gifts of bread (righteousness, teaching) and wine (peace, joy). Then, he spoke a blessing to Abraham. Abraham was so honored by Melchizedek’s gifts and blessing that he gave Melchizedek a tithe (tenth) of all God had given him (the plunder of the conquered worldly kings).

According to Psalm 110:4 and Hebrews chapters 5 and 6, Jesus is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. And in the book of Hebrews, Jesus is referred to as the high priest of that order fifteen times. This has profound implications in regards to the bread and wine.

The order of Melchizedek is a “royal priesthood” since the head of the order was a king (Melchizedek was king of righteousness and king of peace). Jesus, being the high priest of that order is able to impart righteousness and peace through the elements of bread and wine in the same manner as Melchizedek did. At the Last Supper Jesus Christ indicated that the bread (righteousness, teaching) represented His body and the wine (peace, joy), His blood. Christians as partakers of these elements are able to share in Christ’s righteousness and peace.

Four hundred years after Abraham’s encounter with Melchizedek we see the bread and wine surface again. This time, Moses under God’s direction, makes it a communion offering to God by the Levitical priesthood.

The entire sacrificial offering system in Israel was for the purpose of being in communion (relationship or fellowship) with God. Offerings fell into two categories: 1) those that restored communion with God and 2) those that were taken in communion with God. Because sin separated people from having a relationship with God the offerings that restored communion (relationship or fellowship) with God were offered first.

According to 1 Peter 2:9, Christians are members of the Melchizedek priesthood of whom, Jesus is the high priest. As priests, what should we be doing to fulfill the requirements of our office?

Serve as mediators between God and men bringing forth righteousness and peace.
Bring the daily offerings: Sin – 1 John 1:9 Trespass – James 5:16 & Matthew 5:23-24 Burnt – Romans 12:1 Peace – Psalm 100:4 Meat and Drink (Bread and Wine) – 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Incense – Revelation 8:3-4.

The point of the lesson is, Jesus, being the high priest is able to impart righteousness and peace through the elements of bread and wine.

In part 2 of this lesson, we will learn what the Body & Blood means.

. . . and the reading assignment . . .

The Sacrificial Offering System

Two offerings restored communion with God.

• Sin – for offenses against God through ignorance (There is no offering for sins committed intentionally (willful wrongdoing). This type of sin requires repentance and a change of the attitudes that made it possible for the transgressor to flout God’s will - Hebrews 10:26. Jesus our high priest made the only permanent sin offering for mankind.
  
• Trespass – for offenses against others. Restitution has to be made.

Five offerings were taken in communion with God.

• Burnt – This is the sacrifice of devotion or service and was performed twice each day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
  
• Peace – This is the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise and the offering could be brought anytime.
  
• Meat – Although this offering is called the meat offering it is actually a grain offering and consists of partaking of bread, usually unleavened. It was brought in conjunction with burnt and peace offerings.
  
• Drink – It concerns the pouring out of wine as an offering. It was brought in conjunction with burnt and peace offerings.
  
• Incense – This is the sacrifice of prayer and was performed twice each day, once in the morning and once in the evening.

Until next time . . . Godspeed!

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