Jesus leaves His best friend John at the River Aenon and heads back down into Judea where He had left His first followers to continue testifying about Him and baptizing the people (John 4:1-3). Do you remember what baptism meant? Jesus’ early followers were helping the people to identify with the person and work of Jesus. This was why they were baptizing them. Jesus collects His followers and begins to head back up to Galilee, but first He must pass through Samaria. Look again at the map and get your bearings. Let’s go north into Samaria to the town of Sychar.
Knowing Him Study: pages 59-61
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Take a moment and find the River Aenon on the map. Note that the river Aenon is on the border of Samaria. This is a very important place, and we need to ask the question — why was John the Baptist near Samaria? What was he doing there? Up until this time, he had spent his time preparing the way for the Messiah among the Jewish people, like a voice crying in the desert, making straight the path (Isa. 40:3). John had been focused on the Jews, so why is he here near Samaria? And by the way — why did John not leave his ministry of preparing the way and just follow after Jesus like he tells his disciples too? Well, let’s see what we can uncover.
Knowing Him Study: pages 56-58
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Jesus’ display of passion in the temple during the Passover must have raised many eyebrows, but Jesus was then launched onto the stage of popularity in His day. The Bible says, “When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there” (John 4:45). But before that, Jesus had a meeting with a man named Nicodemus, who was very religious. He was probably one of the people who had most likely seen what Jesus did at the wedding. He comes to meet Jesus under the cover of dark, because he was deeply concerned with his own reputation and did not want to be seen with Jesus. Take a look.
Knowing Him Study: pages 53-55
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Jesus leaves the wedding ceremony and heads up to Jerusalem with His disciples and family for the feast of the Passover. This seven-day Jewish feast has its roots in God’s deliverance of His people from Egypt under the leadership of Moses. Jesus enters the feast and becomes very, very impassioned. What gets Jesus’ blood pressure soaring? As you read this story, ask yourself if you are passionate about the same things that Jesus is passionate about.
Knowing Him Study: pages 50-52
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After you have challenged your family and friends to come and check out Jesus, you must begin to explain to them what the Bible says about Him. You must tell them who He is. There is a lot that the Bible says about who Jesus is, so where do you begin? We learned yesterday that Jesus began where the people were, where they would best understand, and He used the Bible — the Word of God. Let’s see where He goes from there with this first group of “Christ-followers.”
Knowing Him Study: pages 47-49
After more than forty days in the wilderness, Jesus comes through the time of temptation and embarks on a mission to start making disciples. He begins by calling people to “Come and see,” to come and investigate the facts of who He is. He then opens their eyes to the truth that He is the promised Messiah they have been waiting for. As they believe, He changes His message to “Follow Me.” Two calls — one to those who have not yet believed and one to those who believe. Notice on the map where Jesus is. He returns to Bethany, on the other side of the Jordan, where John had been baptizing people (John 1:28). There were several towns called Bethany in Jesus’ day. One was a few miles outside of Jerusalem, home to Mary and Martha, who we will meet later and another was on the other side of the Jordan River. It is at the latter Bethany that Jesus makes these first two calls, “Come and see” and “Follow Me.” Dive into the story and be on the lookout for words that reveal Jesus’ humanity and deity.
Knowing Him Study: pages 44-46
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God the Father opens the heavens and speaks to Jesus, telling Him that He loves Him, identifying Him as His Son and telling Him that He is well pleased with Him. What a moment in Jesus’ life! Immediately following this event, the Bible says that the Spirit of God led Jesus into the wilderness. Why? What for? What would be waiting for Jesus in the wilderness? Take a look.
Knowing Him Study: pages 41-43
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Jesus begins His earthly ministry when He is about thirty years old (Luke 3:23). This first phase of Jesus’ earthly ministry will last about a year and a half. Let’s look at the circumstances surrounding this momentous occasion. Jesus’ ministry starts when the heavens are rolled back and His Father speaks. Wow! What would it have been like to hear God the Father speak? Put yourself in Jesus’ sandals today and listen to the Father speak to you.
Knowing Him Study: pages 38-40
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The Father spent the first thirty years of Jesus’ life preparing Him to be the model leader and the shepherd of His people. Thirty years living as a human being — tempted, suffering, experiencing life growing up in a dry land that was under occupation by a strong Roman force. Jesus was prepared by the Father to emerge as the leader of leaders. There had never been and never will be a leader that is more wise, compassionate and loving as Jesus. He is our model of how to lead and shepherd the flock of God, because He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) and the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4). If you need a model for leadership, there is none better than Jesus. Read carefully and learn from the Master if you want to learn leadership Jesus-style.
Knowing Him Study: pages 35-37
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If you had any doubt that Jesus suffered for you after yesterday's study, today's might hit you hard. In Psalms, we get a glimpse into Jesus' relationship with His brothers and His community. The picture is a sad one. It shows what life was like for Jesus on a daily basis. Take a moment to pray before you read God's word.
Knowing Him Study: pages 32:34
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