Lesson 01- Signs That Point the Way

Read for This Week’s Study

John 2:1-11; John 4:46-54; John 5:1-16; Mark 3:22-23; Matthew 12:9-14; John 5:16-47.

Memory Text:

 “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31).

Sabbath Afternoon

Five Important Points:

1. John wrote his Gospel so that people would believe Jesus is the Christ and find life through faith in Him (John 20:30-31).
2. Jesus performed many miracles, which John referred to as "signs" pointing to His divine identity and mission as the Messiah.
3. The miracles or "signs" were not just demonstrations of power but had deeper spiritual significance, revealing Jesus' role as Deliverer and Savior.
4. John focused on specific miracles to illustrate Jesus' role in fulfilling Old Testament prophecies, especially pointing to Him as the one sent by God.
5. The primary purpose of John's Gospel is not just to record events but to inspire belief in Jesus as the Son of God and the source of eternal life.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why did John refer to Jesus' miracles as "signs"?
   John called them "signs" because they pointed to Jesus’ divine nature and mission as the Messiah, emphasizing deeper spiritual meanings rather than just physical miracles.
2. How does John’s Gospel help us believe in Jesus today?
   John’s Gospel recounts key miracles and teachings of Jesus, giving readers evidence of His divinity and encouraging faith in Him for eternal life.
3. What is the difference between just believing in miracles and believing in Jesus as the Messiah?
   Believing in miracles alone doesn’t lead to salvation; it is faith in Jesus as the Messiah, who offers eternal life, that truly matters.

Sunday – The Wedding at Cana

Five Important Points:

1. Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana, demonstrating His power over nature (John 2:1-11).
2. This miracle revealed Jesus' divine authority and helped His disciples strengthen their faith in Him as the Messiah.
3. The miracle of turning water into wine reflects the Old Testament connection to Moses' miracles in Egypt, but Jesus' miracle symbolized joy and salvation.
4. The water used for purification in the miracle points to Jesus' role in spiritual cleansing and transformation.
5. The quality of the wine surprised the master of the feast, symbolizing how Jesus offers the best in life when He intervenes.

Discussion Questions:

1. What was the significance of Jesus' first miracle at Cana?
   It revealed His divine authority and signaled the start of His public ministry, strengthening the faith of His disciples.
2. Why did Jesus choose a wedding for His first miracle?
   The wedding setting emphasizes joy, celebration, and the idea of new beginnings, aligning with Jesus’ mission to bring spiritual transformation.
3. How does Jesus' miracle at Cana illustrate His power to transform lives today?
   Just as Jesus transformed water into wine, He can transform our lives, offering us newness and abundant joy through faith in Him.

Monday – The Second Sign in Galilee

Five Important Points:

1. Jesus healed the nobleman’s son with just a word, showcasing His power to heal at a distance (John 4:46-54).
2. This miracle is called the second sign and demonstrated that Jesus’ words carry divine authority and power.
3. The nobleman’s faith was tested when Jesus told him his son would live, and he believed without immediate proof.
4. The connection between Jesus’ miracles at Cana and Galilee shows His consistent power to bring life and restoration.
5. Faith in Jesus' words, even without visible signs, is crucial for experiencing His transformative power.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why was the healing of the nobleman’s son called the second sign?
   It was the second miraculous event Jesus performed in Galilee that confirmed His identity as the Messiah and Savior.
2. What can we learn from the nobleman’s faith in Jesus’ word?
   Faith in Jesus means trusting His word, even when we can’t immediately see the results, just as the nobleman believed without seeing his son healed right away.
3. How does this miracle encourage us to trust Jesus even when we don’t see instant results?
   It teaches us that true faith is believing in Jesus' promises and power, even when we don't have immediate evidence of their fulfillment.

Tuesday – The Miracle at the Pool of Bethesda

Five Important Points:

1. Jesus healed a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years by the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-9).
2. The man was waiting for healing from the water, but Jesus demonstrated that true healing comes from Him, not superstitions.
3. Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be healed, suggesting that healing requires a willingness to change and leave behind past conditions.
4. The man’s faith was activated by Jesus' command to rise and walk, showing that obedience to Jesus' word leads to restoration.
5. Jesus later warned the man to "sin no more," highlighting the connection between spiritual and physical healing.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why did Jesus ask the man at the Pool of Bethesda if he wanted to be healed?
   Jesus wanted the man to express his desire for healing, as willingness to change is necessary for transformation.
2. What does this miracle teach us about where true healing comes from?
   It shows that true healing comes from Jesus and not from superstitions or rituals, emphasizing His divine power over sickness.
3. How does obedience to Jesus’ word bring healing and restoration in our lives today?
   When we trust and act on Jesus' word, just as the paralyzed man did, we experience spiritual and physical healing, leading to transformation.

Wednesday: Hard Hearts

Important Points:

1. Rejection of Miracles: The religious leaders rejected the miracle Jesus performed on the Sabbath, demonstrating their hardened hearts and lack of recognition of divine power.
2. Sabbath Regulations: Jesus’ actions, such as healing on the Sabbath and instructing the man to carry his bed, challenged the leaders' strict interpretations of the law, pushing them to consider deeper biblical truths.
3. Spiritual Blindness: The leaders’ spiritual blindness was a result of their corrupt hearts and misaligned expectations of the Messiah, causing them to overlook the truth in front of them.
4. Jesus’ Warning: Jesus warned the leaders about the dangers of their hardened hearts and the possibility of being blind to the truths they needed to recognize and apply.
5. Call for Reflection: The lesson encourages self-examination regarding what might blind us from recognizing truths about God and His work in our lives.

Discussion Questions and Answers:

1. What lessons can we learn from the hardness of the religious leaders' hearts?
   • Answer: We learn that a rigid adherence to tradition can blind us to God's work and lead to spiritual blindness. It reminds us to be open to God’s leading, even if it challenges our preconceived notions.
2. How can we identify signs of a hard heart in ourselves?
   • Answer: Signs may include a lack of joy in our faith, an unwillingness to accept new truths, or a critical attitude towards others’ experiences with God. Reflection and prayer can help us recognize these signs.
3. How do other biblical accounts illustrate spiritual hardness?
   • Answer: Accounts such as the blind man's healing (John 9:1-16) and the conflict over healing on the Sabbath (Mark 3:22-23) show that spiritual hardness often results from pride, power struggles, and unwillingness to accept God's truth.

Thursday: Jesus’ Claims

Important Points:

1. Persecution of Jesus: The religious leaders persecuted Jesus for healing on the Sabbath and making claims of equality with God, reflecting their misunderstanding of His divine nature.
2. Sabbath and Divine Work: Jesus clarified that His work on the Sabbath was in harmony with God’s ongoing creative and sustaining work, affirming His divinity.
3. Jesus’ Defense: Jesus used His relationship with the Father and various witnesses (John the Baptist, His miracles, the Father, and Scripture) to validate His claims and identity.
4. Condemnation of Leaders: Jesus pointed out that the leaders’ rejection of Him would ultimately lead to their condemnation, as they had placed their hopes in Moses rather than recognizing the fulfillment of the law in Him.
5. Surrendering to Christ: The lesson warns against the danger of believing in God without fully surrendering to Christ, emphasizing that correct beliefs alone do not equate to true faith.

Discussion Questions and Answers:

1. What was the significance of Jesus' claim to equality with God?
   • Answer: It established His divine authority and purpose, affirming that His actions were legitimate expressions of God's will. It also highlighted the conflict between Him and the established religious authorities.
2. How can we ensure we don’t fall into the trap of believing in God without full surrender?
   • Answer: Regular self-reflection, prayer, and engaging with Scripture can help us assess our faith. It’s crucial to allow God’s word to transform our hearts and guide our actions.
3. Why is it important to recognize that having correct doctrines is not enough for salvation?
   • Answer: Salvation is rooted in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Doctrinal knowledge without a heart transformation and commitment to Christ can lead to spiritual stagnation or blindness.

Friday: Further Thought

“Jesus had given him [the disabled man] no assurance of divine help. The man might have stopped to doubt, and lost his one chance of healing. But he believed Christ’s word, and in acting upon it he received strength.

“Through the same faith we may receive spiritual healing. By sin we have been severed from the life of God. Our souls are palsied. Of ourselves we are no more capable of living a holy life than was the impotent man capable of walking. . . . Let these desponding, struggling ones look up. The Saviour is bending over the purchase of His blood, saying with inexpressible tenderness and pity, ‘Wilt thou be made whole?’ He bids you arise in health and peace. Do not wait to feel that you are made whole. Believe His word, and it will be fulfilled. Put your will on the side of Christ. Will to serve Him, and in acting upon His word you will receive strength. Whatever may be the evil practice, the master passion which through long indulgence binds both soul and body, Christ is able and longs to deliver. He will impart life to the soul that is ‘dead in trespasses.’ Ephesians 2:1. He will set free the captive that is held by weakness and misfortune and the chains of sin.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 203.

“Jesus repelled the charge of blasphemy. My authority, He said, for doing the work of which you accuse Me, is that I am the Son of God, one with Him in nature, in will, and in purpose.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 208.

Important Points:

1. Faith and Healing: The story emphasizes that faith is essential for healing, both physically and spiritually. The disabled man acted on Jesus' words, showing the power of faith in action.
2. Spiritual Paralysis: Sin can sever our connection with God, making us spiritually incapable of living a holy life without divine intervention and grace.
3. Christ’s Compassion: Jesus’ desire to heal is motivated by His compassion and love. He invites us to trust in His ability to restore us, urging us to act on His words.
4. Authority of Jesus: Jesus asserted His authority as the Son of God, rejecting accusations of blasphemy by affirming His unity with the Father in nature and purpose.
5. Invitation to Healing: Ellen G. White’s quotes highlight the importance of accepting Christ’s invitation for healing and transformation, stressing that belief leads to fulfillment of His promises.

Discussion Questions and Answers:

1. Why must we not confuse questions with doubt?
        Answer: Questions can lead to deeper understanding and growth, while doubt often stems from skepticism or disbelief. It’s vital to explore questions without letting them lead to a lack of faith.

2. As Seventh-day Adventists, how can we ensure our beliefs lead to salvation?
        Answer: We must prioritize a personal relationship with Christ over mere knowledge of doctrines. Genuine faith is demonstrated through surrender and obedience to His word.

3. Reflect upon this week’s lesson. Faith was the key that made these healings possible. The leaders, in contrast, revealed the dangers of doubt and unbelief. Why must we not confuse having questions (which we all do) with having doubt? Why are they not the same thing, and why is it important to know the difference between them?

Answer: Having questions is a natural part of our faith journey and can lead to deeper understanding and growth. Questions often stem from a desire to learn and seek truth, prompting us to explore our beliefs more thoroughly. On the other hand, doubt typically arises from skepticism and can lead to disbelief or a lack of trust in God’s promises. It's important to distinguish between the two because questions can foster a constructive dialogue with God, while doubt can create barriers to faith. Recognizing this difference allows us to approach our uncertainties with openness, seeking answers that can strengthen our faith rather than undermine it. Ultimately, faith is built not just on unquestioned beliefs, but also on the willingness to engage with and explore those questions.

4.      Look at Thursday’s final question. Why, as Seventh-day Adventists, must we be especially careful about this danger? However important, for instance, knowing and even keeping the right Sabbath day, or knowing about the state of the dead—why do these truths not save us? What does save us, and how?

Answer: As Seventh-day Adventists, we hold specific beliefs and practices that are integral to our faith, such as observing the Sabbath and understanding the state of the dead. However, it’s crucial to recognize that these truths, while important, do not equate to salvation. Salvation comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). It is our faith in Him, not merely our adherence to doctrines or practices, that brings salvation. This understanding emphasizes the need for a heart transformation that aligns our actions with our faith. We must ensure that our knowledge does not become a substitute for a living faith; instead, our beliefs should lead us to a deeper reliance on Christ and His grace, fostering genuine love and service to others.

 
5.      Look carefully at John 5:47. How are those today who, for instance, deny the universality of the Flood, or the literal six-day Creation, doing exactly what Jesus warned against here?

Answer: In John 5:47, Jesus warns against the rejection of foundational truths as a means of rejecting Him. Similarly, those who deny the universality of the Flood or the literal six-day Creation are disregarding significant biblical accounts that affirm God's power and authority as the Creator and Judge. This denial reflects a broader trend of skepticism toward Scripture, leading to a weakened understanding of God's nature and His relationship with humanity. By rejecting these core narratives, individuals may inadvertently reject the God who reveals Himself through them, just as the religious leaders rejected Jesus despite the evidence of His divine authority. Such actions can result in spiritual blindness and a failure to recognize the importance of faith in God’s Word. Understanding these foundational truths is essential for a robust faith that acknowledges God’s sovereignty and the truth of His creation, which ultimately points us to His plan for salvation.