Learning Jesus | Week 47
But as for you, YOU, follow Me.
Lesson 47 >> Key Word – witness >> Central Passages – Community Group Leader Choice
Best engagement = complete all five days at home. Next best = Read Days 1-3 & complete Day 5 to prep for group.
Day 1 – Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”
Background Information – Three different times the disciples were instructed to meet Jesus in Galilee: the first was on Passover night and the other two were reminders given to the women who came to the tomb (Matthew 26:32; 28:7, 9-10).
Online sources had different ideas on the distance between Jerusalem and Galilee, but to wrap up chatty sources regarding hilly terrain and donkeys and the like, it seems we are talking about close to a three-day walk. If the disciples had listened to Jesus at Passover and started walking after they fled the Garden of Gethsemane, then Jesus could have met them there (hills and donkeys no longer being an issue for Him) on Resurrection Day, and they would have proven themselves to have believed His Word.
But the disciples stayed in Jerusalem and Jesus graciously appeared to the group there instead that Sunday and again a week later, both times behind locked doors. All that to say...in this text, we finally have a group of seven disciples in Galilee (Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, John and two more), so maybe we will see here why Jesus wanted them to meet Him in there. As usual, as you read note the W’s, the who, when, where, what, and how. This story is a lot of fun because of those w’s.
Read John 21:1-14.
1. Starting with the setting questions...
o WHERE Question – The Sea of Tiberias is also called the Lake of Genassaret, and this is the same body of water where Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Why might this be soooo interesting?
o WHEN Question – One of the motifs we have seen in John is darkness and light. What might be some of the implications of night and day in this story besides the literal?
o WHAT Question – Do you see anything significant in the fish, the net, the charcoal fire, the bread and fish?
2. Those setting questions help us to answer the WHO Questions
o What do you notice about John that reveals his relationship with Jesus?
o What do you notice about Peter that reveals his relationship with Jesus?
o “After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way.” John sets up his eye-witness account with this sentence. Reflect on it a bit. What do you notice about Jesus that reveals his relationship with all His disciples?
Background Information – For now, we will put a pause on the rest of this narrative so that we can compare what we have read so far to when Jesus first called Simon Peter, James, and John. As you read, pay attention again to the W’s and note those that teach us a pattern for how Jesus both calls disciples and grows disciples.
Read Luke 5:1-11.
HOW does Jesus make disciples? Consider what patterns you see Jesus repeating as He is now releasing His disciples to continue His mission
Day 2 – “Do you love Me?... Tend My Sheep.”
Read John 21:15-17.
Background Information – Some highly respected commentators note that Jesus uses agapao, the Greek word for a love that is of the will, the first two times that He asks Simon Peter if he loves Him. But when Peter responds, he uses the word phileo, the love of friendship, to say he does love Jesus. Dr. Fruchtenbaum does see a reason for this pattern. Peter had claimed a devotion for Jesus that was superior to the other apostles when he said that others may fall away, but he would not (Matthew 26:31-35). This devotion should have been in keeping with an agape love. The third time Jesus asks Simon Peter if he loves Him, Jesus uses phileo and not agapao. In keeping with how some interpret this reading of the text, Peter is grieved not only because Jesus asked a third time if he loved Him but also because Jesus is asking Peter, “Do you at least love me with the love of friendship?”
Other highly respected commentators do not see the use of agapao v.s. phileo as having any significant stylistic difference. They point out that John has used these two different words for love interchangeably before in his gospel; for example, Dr. Tom Constable notes John describes God’s love for the Son (3:35; 10:17; 5:20) as well as Jesus’ love for Lazarus (11:5, 3, 36) and for John, the beloved disciple (13:23; 20:2) using both of these words for love.
Commentators do agree that Simon son of John had proudly declared to have a love for Christ that was greater than the other apostles. This love he later denied three times, so now Jesus gives him an opportunity to humbly affirm his love for his Lord and friend three times.
1. Why might Simon Peter reply, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you” twice and when he is grieved reply, “Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you”?
2. Why does Jesus wait until Peter answers His question before He commands him to be shepherd?
3. How is Jesus such a good shepherd of leaders?
Day 3 – “...you cannot follow me now, but you shall follow me afterward.” John 13:36b
Read John 21:18-25.
Background Information – He who was just crucified, buried, and risen used the phrase “stretch out your hands,” the ancient world’s euphemism for crucifixion (Carson citing E. Haenchen’s Commentary on the Gospel of John). Jesus then immediately said, “Follow Me” in a present imperative, a command that means to continue to follow. After Peter questions John’s future, Jesus gives this command a second time, placing the you in the Greek emphatic position “You follow Me!” In English, think of it this way: But as for you, YOU follow Me!”
The common consensus is that Peter was crucified, likely under Nero in Rome by the time John penned his gospel. Whether he was crucified upside down is disputed, but that Peter “lived and served three decades with this prediction hanging over him,” as Carson says, is a commendation for Peter we still express to this day and likely one John intended to provoke in his readers. But says the beloved whose witness is true -- greater than the follower is the One he followed for the world cannot contain the testimonies of His works done in it.
1. Why would Jesus tell Peter that he is going to be crucified? Let’s scaffold that question.
o What type of person would get crucified for Christ? See Matthew 5:1-12 for some ideas.
o So what is Jesus telling Peter about what his love for his Lord shall be?
o What does John say about how Peter died? See verse 19a.
2. What is Jesus affirming about Himself and about His relationship with Peter and with John in verses 20-23?
3. What is one way that you can apply Jesus’ rebuke and command to Peter to yourself, “But as for you, YOU follow Me!”
Day 4 – MAKE DISCIPLES – go, baptize, teach.
Background Information – Our text today is Jesus’ second commission, commonly referred to as The Great Commission; the first we read last week in John 20:21-23. The disciples, along with perhaps the 500 disciples whom Paul referenced in 1 Corinthians 15:6, met Jesus in Galilee as He had commanded them. Matthew records that the disciples worshiped Jesus, but some “doubted.” Dr. Constable translated the word doubted as “hesitated.”
Read Matthew 28:16-20.
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Therefore go and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Background Information – Having been vindicated by His resurrection, the Son now has all authority in heaven and on earth given to Him by the Father. We read The Great Commission in English, so we can misread the main verb as “go,” but in Greek the command is expressed in one verb matheteusate, which means “make disciples.” Jesus explains how He wants His disciples to “make disciples” by adding the three subordinate participial clauses: “going, baptizing, teaching.”
Under His authority Jesus commanded His disciples to make disciples by going to all the nations, to make disciples by baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and to make disciples by teaching them to obey all that Jesus commanded His disciples
In Matthew chapter one, an angel told Joseph that the people would call the Son “Immanuel” because it means “God with us.” Matthew closes his gospel with Immanuel Himself promising, “And behold I am with you always to the end of the age.” Dr. Constable, quoting Moule, states that the word always literally means “the whole of every day,” and he adds that this means Jesus promises to be with His disciples “everyday forever.”
1. Reflect on Jesus’ new relationship with His disciples.
o What might be in the disciples’ thoughts and hearts as they worshiped Him?
o What might be in the thoughts and hearts of those who doubted?
Background Information – Satan had possessed the highest authority of a created being as an anointed cherubim; his ministry included leading worship and some sort of priestly function. Wanting to be like God, he rebelled and this defiled the heavenly sanctuaries (Ezekiel 28:11-19; Isaiah 14:14).
With this in mind, read Matthew 4:8-10. Take notes if you wish below.
2. Reflect on the authority of Jesus the Messiah.
o How did Jesus defeat the liar, accuser, and destroyer? Consider Jesus’ character and the scope of His life and work.
o Satan promised Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.” How does Jesus’ response to this crafty serpent motivate you as one who loves Jesus by making disciples who will love Him?
3. Because Jesus has all authority, He can give us the Great Commission to continue His ministry.
o When we go, we imitate Jesus who left all comfort and honor, to go to others. How can we do this both together and as individuals who will also give an account for our personal calling?
o When we baptize others, we call them to make visible outwardly what God has done inwardly. This work has been done in the singular name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. How can we do this both together and as individuals who will also give an account for our personal calling?
o When a person is born again through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, they must be taught what Jesus taught His disciples. How can we do this both together and as individuals who will also give an account for our personal calling?
Day 5 — Personal Reflection Day
Today you are going to reflect on how Jesus’ work and power is manifested in Peter the disciplemaker by reviewing *his life as a disciple in the gospels and then in Acts, where we see him really stepping into disciplemaking. Use the space below to take notes and answer one personal reflection question.
*To participate in this lesson’s personal reflection day, you will need to go to gracelaredo.org/learningjesus. Find Lesson 47 Peter’s Life. To print these pages, scroll to the end of the document and click the pdf button. If you have any issues, then check your group chat. Your leader will have also posted it there as a pdf.
1. What stands out to you about how Jesus made Peter His disciple?
2. What stands out to you about how Jesus’ work and power is manifested in Peter the disciplemaker? Note how Peter sometimes works with other disciplemakers and how sometimes he is using his gifts as a sent-out individual.
3. How have you experienced Jesus being with you “everyday forever” as you obey His command to make disciples? Consider how you do this in partnership with other believers and how you do this in your own spheres of influence (family, work, special interests, special ministry, etc.)
REFLECTION Questions for Group
1. Reflect on the title. Reflect on your Day 5 answers. What did you learn or re-learn that prompts you to obey Jesus’ call to make disciples? Your answer could include a confession and repentance step in keeping with the disciples’ “re-calling” at the sea, Peter’s restoration, and Peter’s promise of suffering.
2. Pray with your group through Matthew 28:16-20
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Therefore go and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Enjoy a time of praise, confession, and seeking God to empower us as we make disciples in our homes, city, and world.
COMMUNITY GROUP TIME
• Discuss the passages of your Community Group Leaders’ choice.
• Is anyone able to recite Matthew 28:18-20?
• Reflection Question and Prayer.
God’s joy and strength to you,
kpaulson@gracelaredo.org