John part 21-Not in Vain

1 Corinthians 15:12-19 says Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

 

 But take heart because He has been raised and our faith is not in vain.  It is true and Jesus says in verse 29 that those who believe in Him are blessed. 

 

Read chapters 20-21, the remainder of the gospel of John.

·         In this passage Jesus appears after death to many people.  List each encounter and record the reactions of each to his appearing.  Which person has the reaction to Christ that you would  have? When you get to his time with Peter, review John 18:15-27 first.  Why is their conversation so significant in regards to those verses?

·         Jesus gives many instructions to his followers after His resurrection.  Which impacts you personally and could be said to you today?

·         Journal prompt: In verses 11-14 Mary is weeping because what she expected isn’t there.  Jesus asks her two questions…the same two questions He often asks us when we are upset.  Can you think of a time that your expectations guided you away from God’s plan?

·         Journal prompt: I LOVE the way this book ends (v.25 of chapter 21): Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.  Though John’s witness to us is done, we must live differently in light of what we’ve learned of Christ.  Pray through this book, reviewing your notes and insights.  How is God calling you to change based on what you’ve learned.  Can you make a commitment to Him?  Who can you tell to help you stay accountable to Jesus’s teaching in the book of John?