What is another name for the Sea of Galilee?
Who followed Him? Why?
Where did Jesus then go to sit? Who surrounded Him?
What event was happening soon?
Who did Jesus see coming to find Him?
Who did Jesus ask, “Where can we find bread to feed these people?”
Why did Jesus ask him that?
What did Philip answer?
What did Andrew answer?
What did Jesus tell all the people to do?
How many men were in the crowd? (There were probably many more, including women and children.)
What did Jesus do before He distributed the food?
What did Jesus ask the disciples to do when the people were full?
How many baskets of leftovers were there?
What did the people say in response to this miracle?
What did they want to do then?
What did Jesus do to escape?

Thought Questions

Why did a huge crowd follow Jesus all these places? Was their reason spiritual, out of love and devotion to Jesus? At that point, knowing what they knew, would they have had a reason to?
How many of the people in the crowd continued to follow Him to His cross and beyond?
Do you think it is acceptable, when beginning a Christian walk, to follow Jesus because others around them are, or because of the miracles they have heard of? Is it a good reason to continue following Him, or at some point should a deeper devotion take place?
What would you have answered if Jesus had asked you how to find food for a crowd?
Why do you think Jesus chose that young boy’s loaves and fishes? What if Andrew hadn’t pointed it out? What do you think Andrew had in mind when he pointed it out?
Why didn’t Jesus want the people to make Him king? What did they have in mind?

My prayer is:
to learn to follow Christ for reasons more than outward miracles;
and that I would have faith to believe that even if I have a little, Christ can multiply it.

What would happen if Jesus testified on His own behalf?
Who was one of the other (human) witnesses of Jesus?
Does Jesus need the testimony of humans? Why does He mention them?
How does Jesus describe John? Were the people excited about him?
Who is the greater witness than John? Why?
Has anyone personally seen God?
Why don’t the people have God’s word living in them either?
Where do the people think they can find eternal life?
But what really can be found in the Scriptures?
What were the people unwilling to do?
Who does Jesus not receive honor from?
What are the people lacking?
Whose name does Jesus come in?
Do they receive Him?
Who do they receive?
If you seek the honor of another besides God, what can you not do?
Will Jesus accuse us before the Father?
Who accuses the people? Why?
Who did Moses really write about?

Thought Questions

Name the witnesses Jesus speaks of for him in this section.
How is God the Father a witness of Jesus when we haven’t seen the Father or heard His voice? (Hint: verse 38). Do you study and have faith in the Old Testament, even books like Leviticus?
What can we learn from God about His Son through the writings of books like Leviticus, which Moses wrote? Or is it all outdated and irrelevant to us today? What does verse 46 tell us? Was Jesus only talking to the Jews here, or all of us as well?
Name some things that you have read in the writings of Moses that you think are speaking of Jesus–His government, justice, and character. Can you think of some things that even describe, in metaphor, His life and death on earth?
Which do you think is more reliable: the witness of God through all of the writings of the Old Testament, or the witness of one person speaking for himself (verse 43)?

My prayer is:
that I would be open to studying the Old Testament more, and believe the words of Moses and the other prophets;
and to read the Old Testament with the understanding that it speaks of Jesus as a testimony to Him.

How much can the Son do of Himself?
Who does He follow?
How much does the Father show Him?
Why will we marvel?
What do both the Father and the Son do for the dead?
Who does the Father judge?
Who judges? Why?
If you don’t honor the Son, who is connected with that?
What are the two prerequisites for receiving eternal life?
What are the results?
What time is coming?
What to those in the graves have to hear to live?
Who has life in Himself?
Who has He given that same life power to?
What other authority has the Father given to the Son? Why?
What time is coming? (Recap of verse 25)
Again, what will wake the dead?
Who will wake to the resurrection of life?
Who will wake to the resurrection of condemnation?
Again, what can Jesus do of Himself alone?
Why is Christ’s judgment just?

Thought Questions

What are the basic themes Jesus repeats several times in this section? How would you summarize it?
If Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, why does He repeat several times that He can do nothing of Himself?
Why is it so important to know that Jesus can do nothing by Himself? If Jesus can do nothing by Himself, what can we do by ourselves? What connection, like Jesus had, do we have to have?
Although Jesus can do nothing by Himself, there are a few important tasks that God gives Him to do. What are they? Why do you think Jesus is the one to do them? What does all this tell you about the unity between the Father and the Son?
Think about how Jesus says that the Father has life in Himself (verse 26). Do we have life in ourselves, or do we borrow it from God? Are we immortal, as we are? Can we really comprehend what “unborrowed” life is? See 1 Timothy 6:16.
Here, Jesus says that the Father has given this “unborrowed” life to Him as well. How does that help you understand the purpose of His sacrifice for our lives?
Think about the Resurrection (verses 28-29). Do you believe in resurrection? What is the scenario that you picture (based on what is written in the Bible) at the Resurrection Time? Do you believe that when you die, your soul goes straight to heaven or hell? How do you understand the Resurrection if your soul is already with God in Heaven?

My prayer is:
for understanding that I can do nothing without the Father;
that my connection with the Father would grow deeper, as was Christ’s;
that I would always be eager to hear His voice and to do good, and to anticipate the resurrection of life.

What was next on Jesus’ itinerary? Why?
Where was the pool? What was it called?
Who was hanging around the pool? Why?
What was the story of the pool?
How long had this particular man been afflicted?
What question did Jesus ask him?
What was the man’s answer? Did he directly answer Jesus’ question?
What did Jesus then ask him to do? Did he do it?
What day did this happen on?
What did the Jews forbid?
Who did the man say told him to do it?
What did the Jews ask him?
Did he know who healed him? Why not?
Where did Jesus find His patient again?
What did He tell him to do?
What did the healed man go do next?
What was the result of that?
Why did the Jews want to kill Jesus?
What do Jesus and His Father always do?
Then, what additional reason did the Jews have to want to kill Jesus?
Thought Questions

Do you think an angel actually stirred the water and healed whoever happened to get there first? What do you imagine was the reason for the legend?
Imagine the scene by the pool. Water rippled, and a “great multitude” tried to get in first. That must have been quite a stampede! Although obviously many of them could never even make a move toward it, because they were crippled. Who do you think was more likely to get in first–the worst cases or those who were relatively stronger?
Why do you think Jesus chose one particular man instead of healing everyone around the pool?
Like the nobleman and several other situations, Jesus tested this man’s faith before He healed him. How was his response similar or different from the nobleman’s? How did the crippled man show his faith in Jesus?
Do you think the healed cripple knew that it was illegal to carry a mat on the Sabbath? Did he understand the element of risk in doing what Jesus said?
The Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments. Should the Ten Commandments be followed? Are there situations when humans might twist God’s laws in their favor, or make additions to them? What might be the result of that?
Can you find in the Old Testament where it says not to carry a mat on the Sabbath?
What are your thoughts on mercy versus God’s Law? Is there a contradiction? Is it possible that humans can cause contradictions where there might not otherwise be any? What does this do for the reputation of both mercy and the Law?
When Jesus found the healed man again in the temple, He told him, “Sin no more.” Are there other occasions in the Bible when He said the same thing to others? Was this important? Can we go on sinning after Christ has healed us (physically or spiritually), and expect to get away with it?
We are called to be a witness and tell others about what Christ has done for us. However, there were certain times when Jesus specifically told people not to tell others what He had done. Why is this? Are there any applications in our ministries? Are there people whose hearts are so hard that delivering the same message to them as to others who are seeking might be a hindrance rather than a help? Did God ever teach us that there are times when we should avoid martyrdom? How about in Christ’s own life? How important is timing?

My prayer is:
to have the faith to follow God’s commands, which will facilitate my healing;
for wisdom to know the difference between the Law of God and of man;
and to “Sin no more.”

Where did Jesus go next? Why?
What kind if reception did he get in Galilee? Why?
What town in Galilee did He meet the nobleman in? What had happened there?
What did the nobleman seek Jesus out to ask for?
What was Jesus’ response?
What did the nobleman say then?
How did Jesus respond?
Did the nobleman believe then? What did he do?
Who met the nobleman along his way? What did they come to tell him?
What question did the nobleman ask them?
When did the fever leave him? What was the significance of that particular time?
What was the result of this?

Thought Questions

Why do you think a prophet is not honored in his hometown?
Have you felt like your witness of Christ has been received better or worse in certain circles? What do you do when it is not received well?
Why did the people in Galilee accept Jesus there? Was it a good reason? Why have you accepted Jesus? Was that a good reason? Do you think it matters? What matters the most?
Was the nobleman sincere in his belief in Jesus? Did he (and perhaps others like him) think much about Christ as the Messiah, the Savior of the world, or did he just want his son to be healed? Did it matter at that point?
When Jesus said, “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye shall not believe,” do you think he was only speaking of that nobleman, or generally? Consider the context.
Was there anything in the nobleman’s response that particularly affected Jesus? Would He have healed his son anyway? Was there ever anyone He refused to heal because of their attitude?
Why do you think Jesus sent the nobleman on his way, telling him that his son would be healed, rather than going there with him like he asked?
Do you think the nobleman’s question to his servants showed a lack of faith in Jesus, or just curiosity?

My prayer is:
that my faith would be based on trust that God is right, not just on miraculous signs;
that this faith and patience would continue even without immediate external evidence;
and that I would be able to act on my faith, even without immediate signs or evidence.

Why did Jesus leave Galilee?
Where did He go?
Did Jesus baptize people? Who did?
Along the way, where did Jesus need to pass through?
What town was Jacob’s well near?
What time was it when Jesus rested by the well? (The Jewish day started at 6:00 AM)
Who came to draw water? What did Jesus ask her for?
Why was the woman surprised at this request?
What was Jesus’ response? What did He want her to ask Him for?
Like Nicodemus and the Jews, did this woman understand what Jesus was trying to say?
What were all the reasons the woman gave for why this offer of “living water” didn’t make sense to her?
What did Jesus say is the result of drinking “living water?”
Despite her misunderstandings, did she end up asking Him for His water?
Then, what did Jesus ask her to do?
What was her response?
What was Jesus’ surprising reply?
How many husbands had the woman had?
What does the woman decide that Jesus is, since He knew this information about her?
Then, she seemingly changes the subject and asks what questions?
Where do the Jews worship? Where do the Samaritans worship?
According to Jesus, what is true worship? Are either of those places the only places of worship?
Verse 22: why is salvation “of the Jews?”
Is the woman starting to understand how spiritual knowledge is attained? Who does she say will come to enlighten them?
Who did Jesus tell her that He is?
What happened right after that?
What were the disciples surprised at?
Where did the woman go then? What did she leave behind?
What was her report to the people in the village?
What was the result? Did anyone listen and follow her to Jesus?
In the meantime, who was Jesus talking with?
What did they want Him to do?
What was Jesus’ “food?”
How long, as the saying went, was there between planting and harvest?
Did Jesus think the harvest was ready?
What is the payment for harvesting?
Did the disciples sow the harvest that they were to reap?
What did the Samaritan woman tell her fellow villagers that made them believe in Jesus?
How long did Jesus stick around with them there?
Then, besides the testimony of the woman, why did even more of them believe?
Who were they convinced that Jesus was?

Thought Questions

What does Jesus removing Himself from Judaea tell you about Him?
Why did Jesus go through Samaria? Most Jews went around it. Did He just want a shortcut?
Think about all the times so far that Jesus has made veiled, metaphorical references to His kingdom–to Nicodemus, to the Jewish leaders, to his disciples, to the Samaritan woman (and we’re only in the fourth chapter!) Who among them ended up understanding what Jesus was talking about, and who didn’t? Why do you think that is? Do you think it has more to do with Jesus’ clarity of explaining, or with what their minds were open to understanding?
If a stranger came up to you and revealed that he knew all your deep, dark secrets, how would you respond? Would you be frightened, shocked, and ashamed, or would you go tell all of your friends about this? What does the woman’s response tell you about her? About Jesus? Do you think the fact that He went out of His way to show unprejudiced kindness toward her made a difference?
Read verse 22 again. What role does knowledge play in salvation? How can our knowledge make us more effective in God’s work? How can we receive that knowledge?
Why do you think Jesus was so direct in telling this woman exactly who He was? Did He often do that in his life on earth?
If you were one of those disciples who caught Jesus talking to a foreign woman, what would your response be? Do you think it was eventually made clear to them? What happened that made them understand Jesus’ action here?
What did the woman say to bring her fellow villagers to Jesus? (Hint: Also remember how the first disciples called each other to Jesus.) Was she an educated theologian? Did she preach a long sermon? How can you apply her approach to your witness?
Do you have to be the sower to reap the harvest? What might it mean to only perform one small part of the process of spiritual “farming” in another person’s life?
Are you willing to work for the harvest? Is the reward (verse 36) enough for you?

My prayer is:
that, like Jesus, I would seek those who are considered “lesser” in society to offer assistance and hope in Christ’s Kingdom,
that my mind would be open to not only the knowledge of Christ’s Kingdom, but to His correction of my faults,
and that my first response to His correction would not be to recoil but to tell everyone, “Come and see.”

Where did Jesus and His disciples go from Jerusalem then?
What were they doing there?
Where were John and his disciples?
Why were they there?
Who were John’s disciples arguing with? What were they discussing?
Given the context, who are “they” that came to John? What concern did they raise with John?
What was John’s response?
What illustration did John use to compare his relationship to Jesus?
He must –, but I must —
Which verse or verses in the same chapter above does John reflect in his statement in verse 31-32?
How can we affirm (“set to [our] seal”) that God is true?
Who speaks the words of God?
Is there a limit to how much of His Spirit was given to Jesus?
Who has eternal life?

Thought Questions

What themes in the second half of this chapter reflect the first half of the chapter?
Do you think the Jew (or Jews) were seeking a sincere, open discussion with John’s disciples or do you think they were trying to pick at a specific point?
Considering the context, do you think there was a connection between the jealousy of John’s disciples and their recent debate with the Jew?
How do you respond when your religious “enemies” try to debate you on a possibly insignificant point? Do you respond defensively and love to argue to win, or are you seeking to draw them closer to Christ?
What are we in danger of happening if we allow ourselves to get pulled into a debate with people, not for the reason of sharing Christ’s loving character but just for the sake of arguing?
Although they were related and met a few times, John hadn’t really spent that much time with Jesus and didn’t really know Him all that well. How do you think John was able to answer with such similarity to how Jesus had just answered Nicodemus? Was it a coincidence?
Is there anyone in your life that you are willing to say about, “He must increase, but I must decrease?” How about Christ? If so, how are you showing that in your choices?

My prayer is:

that my words and actions will not serve to draw attention to myself, but to Christ;

that I will engage in discussions with others for the sake of pointing them to Christ’s love, not to try to prove myself “right” on a certain point;

that He must increase and I must decrease.

Describe what Nicodemus was.
When did this meeting take place?
What did Nicodemus think Jesus was? What made him think that?
Did Nicodemus actually ask Jesus a question? What response did Jesus give to Nicodemus’ statement?
Apparently, did Nicodemus understand what Jesus was trying to say?
What were the two things Jesus said one should be born of?
Without that birth, what would be the result?
Verse 8: what is the illustration Jesus uses to compare the result of this new birth to?
Did Nicodemus understand yet?
How did Jesus respond to his failure to understand?
According to verse 12, what is the prerequisite for believing the heavenly things Jesus tells us about?
How many people have ascended up to heaven? Except who?
What illustration does Jesus then use to compare him being “lifted up?”
Read Numbers 21:6-9 about the serpent on the pole.
What did God do because he loved the world?
What happens to people who believe in Him?
By logic, what happens to people who don’t believe in Him?
Why did God send his Son into the world?
What did people love more than the light? Why?
What do evildoers fear will happen when they come near the light?
What will be shown when those who do the truth come to the light?

Thought Questions

Why did Nicodemus come to Jesus by night? If you were in his situation, would you have done the same?
Do you think Nicodemus honestly wanted to know more of the truth?
Why did Jesus often use veiled speech? Why did He use so many illustrations?
What is the prerequisite to understanding the teachings of Jesus, even if they are mysterious? Are there any other places in the Bible that support your idea?
How can one be born of “water and the Spirit?”
Jesus uses four different illustrations in this short passage. Think about each one and how to apply them to your understanding of and relationship with God.
Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11) ascended to Heaven. What did Jesus mean when He said “no man has ascended up to heaven?” Look at the context, Jesus telling that only He can reveal things from heaven, since He has been there and came down to earth from there for the purpose of revealing “heavenly things.” What does this tell us about how much any other human can tell us about heavenly things? From this passage, does it sound like people ascend to Heaven after they die and return as spirits to guide people who are still living here?
Analyze John 3:16, the verse everyone knows. Why is this such a famous verse? What are the elements that encapsulate Christianity in it?
Jesus contrasts two elements: “everlasting life” and “perish.” Think about the word “perish.” What does that mean? What happens to those who are not saved in the truth?
What does it mean to “believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God?” From the context, we understand that this is a very important issue.
What is “the light?” (This was covered in chapter 1). What does “coming to the light” mean? Think deeply: do you love the light or darkness? How would you feel if you truly came to the light? Would you have things in your life that you wouldn’t want exposed?
If so, how can you become comfortable in the light? If you have been in a dark room and turn on the light, it is uncomfortable for your eyes. You can become comfortable again by either turning off the light, or adjusting to it.
How much do you desire others (whether man or God) to know that your deeds are what God desires?

My prayer is:
To earnestly seek the truth and have the boldness to approach God with my questions;
To desire to be in the light, risking that my sins will be exposed and require forgiveness, rather than staying in the dark.

After the wedding, where did Jesus go for a few days? Who was with him?
Do we know what happened there?
After that, where did they go?
Why? What holiday was it?
What did Jesus find in the temple?
What were the three things that he did to the moneychangers?
Who did Jesus say the Temple belonged to, or was for?
What did that action inspire the disciples to remember?
How did the Jews respond to this action?
What was Jesus’ answer?
How long had the temple taken to be built?
What was Jesus really talking about?
What was one of the long-term results of this statement?
During this Passover feast, what was the reason why many people came to believe him?
Why didn’t Jesus trust (or commit Himself to) them?
Why didn’t He need to have anyone tell Him about them?

Thought Questions

Do you think Jesus was out of place in his actions in the Temple? Why or why not?
What really was the Temple supposed to be? Who did it really belong to?
Of course churches don’t sell animals now; most churches don’t even have gift shops. Are there any other possible applications to what happens in churches today?
How do you think Jesus would feel, and what would He do or say, if He were to go to your church? Why?
Did the disciples understand the prophecies of the Old Testament? What was the result of their learning? Do you understand the prophecies? Considering this situation, do you think it might be an advantage to understand the connection between Biblical prophecies and being able to recognize their fulfillment?
Why do you think Jesus answered the Jews so cryptically? Was the purpose of His response for that situation then, or was He looking ahead to a future time?
Some of Jesus’ statements, as well as a great many others in the Bible, are difficult to understand. Looking at the difference in reaction between the Jews and Jesus’ disciples in this situation, what do you think a prerequisite for understanding some of those difficult statements might be? Can we always understand them right away, or might they be reserved for special times?
Does simply seeing miracles always cause people to believe? How about short-term versus long-term? Did Jesus trust all the people’s initial beliefs?
How does it make you feel to know that Jesus knows what is in you? Is there anything you would rather He not know so much about? Since you can’t change the fact that He knows it, what other choices can you make? What do you want Jesus to see in you?

My prayer is:
that I would know how best to honor God in His house;
that I would be able to know and understand the expanse of prophecies throughout the Bible;
that they would give me faith in Christ and the fulfillment of His word;
that my faith would not be based on signs and miracles but a deeper understanding of God’s character;
that, knowing and remembering that God sees all that is in my life, I would make choices that please Him.

When was the wedding?

Who was there?

What did they run out of? Who informed Jesus that they were out of it?

Why was Jesus hesitant to help in this situation?

Did his mother seem to believe that he would help anyway?

What did she tell the servants to do?

How many water pots were there? What were they made of? What were they for?

How much water could they hold total? (Hint: use a modern translation or see if there are footnotes to find the modern measurement equivalent)

Who did Jesus ask the servants to draw it out for?

Who knew and who did not know where the wine had come from?

Who did the ruler of the feast go to talk to?  What did he say?

How many miracles had Jesus performed before this?

What was the result of this miracle?

Thought Questions

Why do you think Mary asked Jesus to help in the situation with the wine? Do you think she expected a miracle? Keep in mind that this was His first miracle.

Why do you think Jesus responded to her the way she did? Did he change his mind when he decided to work a miracle to answer her problem? Does God ever change His mind?

Why did Jesus perform this miracle for each of the following: Mary? The disciples? The wedding guests? The newlywed couple? Keeping in mind the context of the previous chapter and when the wedding occurred, which of those do you think was the miracle primarily designed for?

Why was Jesus’ very first miracle something so simple and not an “emergency” such as a healing? It was a simple gesture of hospitality, nobody was raised from the dead or healed of a life-threatening disease. What does this tell you about God’s care for you?

My prayer is:

that I would see the goodness of Christ and my faith would be strengthened, as the disciples;

that I would be inspired to follow His example in hospitality and kindness to others in daily life

that I would know that God cares for even the simple details of happiness for His children.