John 4-5

John 4-5 Study Guide – to be discussed October 7 (NOTE: No class September 30 because of Auxiliary Training Meeting)

Day 1: Read John 4:1-15, JST John 4:1-4, Bible Dictionary entry, “Samaritans”
1. List three facts from JST John 4:1-4 not included in the KJV. Why did Jesus leave Judea?




2. Read the Bible Dictionary entry, “Samaritans.” Why was the Samaritan woman surprised Jesus would even talk to her?



3. What three things did the Samaritan woman need to know and/or do to receive living water? Can you apply these three things to our lives today?




BONUS: How is the living water Jesus offers similar to physical water? How is it different? (See also Psalm 42:1-3, Isaiah 55:1-3, Isaiah 58:10-11, Jeremiah 2:13, Revelation 7:13-17.)



Day 2: Read John 4:16-30 (with footnotes 24a, 26a)
4. Why do you think Jesus asked the woman at the well to go call her husband?



5. How do true worshippers worship? Using the footnote to John 4:24a, what are true worshippers promised?




6. Why did the Samaritan woman leave her water pot?



Day 3: Read John 4:31-54
7. How did Jesus define his “meat” (sustenance, strength)?



8. On what was the faith of the Samaritans in this story based? How was it strengthened?




9. How did the nobleman from Capernaum exhibit active faith?




Day 4: Read John 5:1-9 (with footnote 1a), Bible Dictionary entry, “Bethesda”
10. How long had the infirm man at the pool of Bethesda been ill?



11. What question did Jesus ask the man in John 5:6? What was His command in verse 8?


12. Look up “Bethesda” in the Bible Dictionary. What does “Bethesda” mean?


BONUS: Find the Pool of Bethesda on the map of Jerusalem in your Bible Maps section (map 12?)

Day 5: Read John 5:10-23
13. In what way did Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath pose a threat to the Jews? Did Jesus’ answer regarding that healing comfort the Jews?



14. What did Jesus tell the healed man about sin when he met him later in the temple?



15. List three facts about himself Jesus attempted to teach in John 5:19-23.



Day 6: Read John 5:24-31, D&C 76:15-24
16. What did Christ promise any who hear his words and believe?



17. Give two ways Jesus’ prophecy in John 5:25 has been or will be fulfilled.



18. Read D&C 76:15-24. What was given to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon as they meditated on John 5:29?



Day 7: Read John 5:32-47 (with footnotes 34a, 36a)
19. How does the JST footnote for John 5:34a clarify the meaning of John 5:34?



20. List witnesses named by the Savior in John 5:33-45.




21. Why didn’t the people believe Jesus was the Son of God?

John 2-3

John 2-3 Study Guide, to be discussed September 23 (Sukkot)
Day 1: Read John 2:1-12 (with footnotes 1a, 4a)
[Note: a “firkin” equals about 10 gallons.]
1. How does the JST footnote for John 2:4a help the meaning of Jesus’ statement to his mother? How did Mary exhibit her faith?


2. Why was the governor or ruler of the feast impressed? How was something old made new?



3. According to John 2:11, who believed on Jesus because of this miracle?


BONUS: Find Cana, Capernaum, and Jerusalem on your Bible maps. How far is it from Cana to Capernaum? From Capernaum to Jerusalem?

Day 2: Read John 2:13-25 (with footnotes 17b, 24c), Psalm 69:9, Malachi 3:1-4
4. Give two reasons why Jesus drove the changers of money out of the temple. How was something old made new?



5. Why do you think the Jews asked for a sign?


6. Why didn’t Jesus commit or entrust himself to those who followed him at Jerusalem?


Day 3: Read John 3:1-7 9 (with footnote 3b), D&C 56:18, Alma 7:14, 23-24, 1 Peter 2:1-5
7. Who was Nicodemus? When did he visit Jesus? Upon what was his testimony based?



BONUS: Look up “Pharisees” in the Bible Dictionary. What did the Pharisees teach?



8. Use the footnote to John 3:3b to give another reading for “born again.” Compare John 3:3 with John 3:5. Jesus repeated his counsel, but also expanded it. List the differences in His warnings.



BONUS: Read D&C 56:18. Who will see the kingdom of God coming?



9. Read Alma 7:14, 23-24 and 1 Peter 2:1-5. List ways we can follow Christ’s counsel to “be born of water and of the Spirit” (John 3:5).



Day 4: Read John 3:8-13 (with footnotes 8a, 11b), Ecclesiastes 11:4-5
10. Rewrite John 3:8 in your own words. (See also Ecclesiastes 11:4-5.)



11. In John 3:11-12, Jesus used “ye” (second person plural) instead of “thou” (second person singular). What group might He have been addressing?


12. Why do you think Nicodemus was confused?


Day 5: Read John 3:14-17, Numbers 21:5-9, 1 Nephi 17:41, 2 Nephi 25:20
13. Read 1 Nephi 17:41, 2 Nephi 25:20 and Numbers 21:5-9. Why did so many Israelites perish in the wilderness? How was Christ “lifted up” like the brass serpent on Moses’ pole?


14. How did God illustrate his love for mankind?


15. What part of Jesus’ testimony indicates He is the Savior of all men, not just Israel’s Messiah?


Day 6: Read John 3:18-22 (with footnote 18c), Moses 5:13-15
16. Why do men NOT come unto Christ? (See also Moses 5:13-15.)



17. Why DO men come unto Christ? Why did Nicodemus have a hard time SEEING?



18. According to the JST footnote for John 3:18c, what bold statement did Jesus make in his dialogue with Nicodemus?


Day 7: Read John 3:23-36 (with footnotes 26a, 33a, 34b, 36a,c)
19. Find Aenon and Salim on your Bible maps. How did John the Baptist encourage his disciples to follow Christ?


20. If Jesus is the Bridegroom and John is the Bridegroom’s friend, who is the bride?


21. What reasons did John the Baptist give for the statement “He must increase, but I must decrease? (John 3:30)? How was something old made new?



BONUS: Read Mosiah 27:23-29, Moses 6:59-60 and Alma 5:14-26. How can we be “changed” into new creatures?

Simple Outline of John's Gospel

I. General Teachings To the World, John 1-12: covers 3 ½ years

A. Christ’s Personal Ministry, John 1-4

1. Prologue, John 1:1-18

2. First Miracle, John 2:1-11 – Water to wine

3. Nicodemus comes at night; Baptism, John 3

4. Woman at the well, John 4:1-30

5. Second Miracle, John 4:46-54 – Nobleman’s son

B. Christ’s Public Ministry, John 5-12

1. Third Miracle, John 5:1-47, Invalid healed

2. Fourth Miracle, John 6:1-14, Feeding the 5000 (1. I AM the Bread of Life, John 6:48)

3. Fifth Miracle, John 6:15-21, Walking on water

4. Sixth Miracle, John 9:1-41, Man born blind (2. I AM the Light of the World,http://scriptures.lds.org/en/john/8
)

5. Christ as Shepherd (3. I AM the Door, John 10:9; 4. I AM the Good Shepherd, John 10:11)

6. Seventh Miracle, John 11:1-57, Raising Lazarus (5. I AM the Resurrection and the Life, John 11:25)

II. Specific Teachings to Disciples, John 13-21: covers 1 week

A. Christ’s Private Ministry, John 13-17

1. Last Passover Discourse, John 13-17

a. Washing of feet; instruction on the Holy Ghost, John 13-16
(6. I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life, John 14:6; 7. I AM the True Vine, John 15:1)

2. Great Intercessory Prayer, John 17

B. The Lamb of God, Christ’s Death and Resurrection, John 18-21

1. Arrest and Trials, John 18

2. Crucifixion and Burial, John 19

3. The Resurrected Christ, John 20

4. Epilogue, “Feed my sheep,” John 21

John 1

Study Guide #1: John 1

IN-CLASS QUESTIONS
1. Read the Bible Dictionary entry, “John, Gospel of,” found on page 715 in the Bible Appendix. What were John’s two objectives in writing his testimony? How is his point of view different from other gospel writers?


2. Read the Bible Dictionary entry, “John” (p. 715). List three special events in the Savior’s ministry, at which John was present.


3. Read the Bible Dictionary entry, “Gospels” (p. 682). What does the word “gospel” mean? To whom did John write, specifically? What percentage of John’s gospel is exclusive to his writing?


4. Read John 1:1-3 and JST John 1:1-3 (p. 807 in the Bible Appendix). List three truths, testified to by John about Jesus Christ in these opening verses. (X-Reference: Colossians 1:16-17 and Hebrews 1:1-4.)


5. Read D&C 93:6-10. What definition is given here for “the Word”? List the three prepositions used in D&C 93:10 to describe how all things were made.


6. Read Moses 1:31-32. What more do we learn about “the Word” from this verse?


QUESTIONS TO BE DISCUSSED SEPTEMBER 16
Day 1: Read John 1:4-5; JST John 1:4-5; D&C 45:26-29; D&C 88:49-50
1. What words are added to John 1:4-5 for clarification in the JST?


2. Read D&C 88:49-50. What does it mean to be “quickened” in and by God? (See also BD entry, “Quick,” p.756)



3. How many times is the word "light" used in John 1:4-9? Read D&C 45:26-29. Where can we find light today? Why do men and women reject the light?



Day 2: Read John 1:6-14, JST John 1:6-14; 1 Nephi 11:26-27
4. Read 1 Nephi 11:27. Which John is referred to in John 1:6-9? What phrases from JST John 1:6-10 add understanding to these verses?


5. In what way(s) does the world not recognize Jesus today?

6. According to John 1:12, what two things must we do to become sons and daughters of God?



BONUS: How was “the Word” made flesh?


Day 3: Read John 1:15-18, JST John 1:15-19, D&C 67:11
7. According to JST John 1:16, what is the fullness of the Son?


8. What word is used in place of “grace” in the JST of John 1:17?


9. Read JST John 1:19 and D&C 67:11. How do these scriptures clarify John 1:18?


Day 4: Read John 1:19-23, JST John 1:20-22; Malachi 3:1, D&C 65:1-6
10. What group did the Jews send from Jerusalem to question John the Baptist? What was the question they were sent to ask?


11. What was John’s answer? From D&C 65:1-6, list ways in which we can “make straight the way of the Lord” today.


12. Find the reference to the scripture in Isaiah John quoted in John 1:23.

Day 5: Read John 1:24-28, JST John 1:23-28, Luke 3:15-18, Bible Dictionary entry, “Elias” (paragraph 2, p.663)
13. How did John avoid taking any glory or honor for himself?


14. What important information is included in JST John 1:28 which is not in the KJV of either John or Luke?


15. Read the Bible Dictionary entry, “Elias,” part 2. What are the two kinds of Elias and what do they reflect?


Day 6: Read John 1:29-34, JST John 1:29-34, Matthew 3:13-17, Bible Dictionary entries “Dove, Sign of” (p.658) and “Lamb of God” (p.722)
16. Read Matthew 3:13-17. Why did Jesus request baptism of John?


17. How did John recognize Jesus as the Christ?


18. Read Bible Dictionary entry, “Lamb of God.” What did John the Baptist know about Jesus’ mission from the beginning?


Day 7: Read John 1:35-42 (with footnote 42a)
19. List two verbs describing what John the Baptist’s disciples did when they received his testimony of Christ. Who were these disciples?


20. With whom did Andrew share the good news first?


21. Read footnote 42a. What does this footnote add to your understanding of (a) the name “Cephas” and (b) the sacrifice which was required of Christ’s disciples?