Mature Class Study, teacher Leslie Crain.
Jesus words were always encouraging, unless he was talking to the Sadducees and Pharisees who were making trouble. Today we’re considering how Jesus referred to himself, how he responded to people, how he had compassion on people, and how he corrected and advised people. Can we be more like Christ in our answers to people?
John 4:6-7 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
Jesus said, I AM he in these scriptures which must have reminded and convicted the Jews of what God said.
John 4:25-26 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
John 18:3-5 Judas then, having received a band of men…from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come…went forth, and said…Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith…I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
Jesus said, YES. Bartimaeus brought a specific request to Jesus and he said, yes.
Mark 10:46-52 And…as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus…sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus…he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal…And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying…Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered…him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
The man was born blind so God could be made known. Jesus is the light of the world and we can follow the light.
John 9:1-5 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Jesus didn’t berate Martha. He just said there was one thing that was needful. Jesus dealt kindly with Martha.
Luke 10:38-42 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving…said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered…Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Jesus told the young man that there was one thing he needed to do. He only asked one thing but the man chose wrong.
Mark 10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Jesus told the disciples to take heed to not be seduced from following him. Give serious attention to advice and warnings!
Matthew 24:3-13 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And…the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered…Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars…be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Jesus said be of good cheer, take heart, take courage, be happy, and in the words of James, “count it all joy.”
John 16:29-33 His disciples said…Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh…that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Matthew 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy;Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,)Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
Jesus said be of good cheer because he was on the way to help them. Jesus will help us in the midst of our storm.
Matthew 14:24-27 But the ship was…tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea…the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake…saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Jesus said, Fear not. He paused to heal a woman as he was went to heal Jairus’ daughter. Jesus showed how we lose nothing when we wait for the Lord. We profit while we wait by learning more faith, patience, and longsuffering.
Luke 8:41-42…there came a man named Jairus…he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying…
Luke 8:49-50 While he yet spake, there cometh one…saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
Luke 8:54-55 And…took her by the hand…saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway…
We’re the little flock and Jesus will take care of us. We don’t have to fear.
Luke 12:22…Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
Luke 12:30-34 For all these things do the nations…seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all…shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom…treasure in the heavens that faileth not…where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Jesus said, I came not to judge. He gave this message to all people and didn’t hold them off because of their decisions. When we’re struggling with a decision, Jesus wants us to keep trying. He won’t be harsh with us.
John 12:46-47 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
Jesus offered hope to the woman caught in adultery, not condemnation.
John 8:10-12 When Jesus…saw none but the woman, he said…Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said…Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Then spake Jesus again…I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Jesus said not a word.
Mark 15:2-5 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it. And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.
What did the disciples say? They rebuked those who brought little children to Jesus. They said of the hungry crowd, “Send then way.” They had today’s equivalent of $145 to buy food. Jesus wanted to feed them.
Mark 10:13-14 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Mark 6:35-37…his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: Send them away, that they may go…into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. He answered…Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?
Peter didn’t know what he was saying when he wanted to build three tabernacles.
Luke 9:33-35…Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake…a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared…And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Peter asked what another man should do but Jesus didn’t want Peter worrying about what someone else was doing.
John 21:21-22 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, I f I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Thomas was full of doubt.
John 20:25-28 The other disciples therefore said…We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas…then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered…My Lord and my God.
We respond as the disciples when mothers respond to their children with harsh, unkind words; when we have an attitude that another person is not important enough for us; when we don’t care about the needs of the multitudes; when we cover our guilt by casting doubt about another; when controlled by our doubt we won’t be a part if things aren’t done like we want. We affect those we speak to and those who are listening. It affects souls and our testimony.
Be an encourager. Say, Be of good cheer, take heart, take courage, be happy, and say “Yes.”
Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Christ chose us and will take care of us through everything he chooses for us to go through.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.