Sunday School Lesson for 6/17/18:

Returning To God’s Way
A. The History

1. King Cyrus decrees for the Jews to return home 47 years after their final wave of captivity and fall of Jerusalem (539 A.D.). (Ezra 1:1)
2. Around 50,000 Jews returned to Judah and Jerusalem (Ezra 2:64-70)
3. They began to rebuild the Temple but opposition arose from prior residents of the area. The Samaritans were upset because they considered themselves as Jews, but they were treated as gentiles and told they could not assist in the construction of the Temple, therefore they manipulated the situation and they even wrote a letter to the king. Sounds kind of like when some church members get hurt, they take the whole ministry down with them. (Ezra 4:11-16) Opposition continued and eventually won out until 16 years later.
4. The Temple construction resumes 16 years later in 516 A.D. (Ezra 6:6-8)
5. Ezra returns along with around 5,000 more Jews (7:1-10)

 
Golden Text:
1 John 1:9 (KJV)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
 
Ezra 9:1-10:20 (KJV)
9 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.
4 Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.
5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God,
6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10 And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,
11 Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.
12 Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;
14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?
15 O Lord God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.
10 Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.
2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.
4 Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.
5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.
6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.
7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;
8 And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.
9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
11 Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.
12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.
13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.
14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.
15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.
16 And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
17 And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.
18 And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19 And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.
 
 
 
 
B. The Situation

1. Lack of leadership (4:3-5 shows corruption; Our text tells us on page 12 that, “the government of the Jews seems to have reverted back to the tribal and family chieftains. With no central authority to guide them, each tribal or family group of Jews acted independent of the others, each doing what seemed best in their own opinion.” Isn’t that a dangerous place to be, “doing what seems best in our own opinion.” No wonder they were neck deep in sin and almost over their heads yet once again after just getting back home.
2. However, Ezra was on the way! Remember those attributes he had in 7:1-10
3. Persuasion of foreign women on the men who had already returned to Zion. (Love In All The Wrong Places) “as many of them kept scribed documents indicating their land tenure status of land ownership in various places. Due to the return of many single men, and the lack of Jewish single women, a phenomenon of mixed marriages with alien women developed. This wave of Aliyah (exodus) had been on good terms with the Persian government, which allowed them religious autonomy. However, the economic situation was not well – there was a lack of infrastructures due to the consecutive ruins in the aftermath of the destruction of the First Temple, taxes and many housing needs, as well as consecutive years of harsh drought and other natural disasters that hit the land of Israel.”

Deuteronomy 7:1-4  (KJV)
“When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.
 
 
C. Ezra and Judah’s Response

1. Ezra confronts the sin right out of the gate.  (9:1-3)
2. He reacts in extreme sadness and overwhelming anger, tearing his clothes and even pulling hair out of his head and beard (9:3)
3. Ezra begins to confess and pray! Notice that as Ezra begins to confess, everyone who still respects and honors the Law of God gathers around.
4. After Ezra has finished his confession and prayer, the people also repent. (10:1-5)
5. The societal issue is handled in the most humane way possible. After all, these men had made commitments to care for these women and their children. This shows us that although we have been forgiven by God for our sins, this does not mean we are delivered from our physical responsibilities. The impact of sin may be felt for months, years, and even a lifetime. I still suffer from my sin, from the bad seeds I have sown years ago today. Many of you suffer from the sin in your life from many years ago. Some of us even suffer from the sins of others many years later. How do you think the children of these men were impacted? Does this punishment seem cruel or harsh to many today?

​The Gospel of John

John 1:1-5
 

John 1:1-5 (KJV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
 
Immediately in the first couple of verses, John makes it clear who Christ is, His eternal nature, and His divine nature. He has no beginning and no end just like the Father.
He is the incarnate Word of God, “made flesh to dwell among men”, destined to die and be resurrected for our sins. He was both God and man and now dwells at the right hand of the Father, interceding for you and me.
 
 
Verses 1-2:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.”

• Christ is called “the Word” six times in Scripture, which can mostly found in John’s writings. All but one is in the book of John while the other is found in Revelation 19:13, which states, “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.”
• The phrase “the Word” found in Greek is “logos,” which refers to both inner thought and the expression of that thought. This references both the wisdom of God and the Law. Therefore, the “Word” was an expression of God’s love for mankind, made flesh in order to be sacrificed for all of our sins.

 
Verse 3:
“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
​

• This book borrows its structure from that of Genesis, signifying its similarities of Creation due to our new creation in Christ or the ability to be “born again” (the phrase itself is also found in John 3:3).
• John seems to speak not only about the vast wholeness of the Universe, but also the infinite parts such as Heaven, and the smaller elements of Creation such as observed under a looking glass or microscope.
• Notice that verse 3 emphasizes that nothing was made without Him and everything is made through Him. This solidifies Christ’s eternal nature and deity. We can also find a similar declaration by Paul in 1 Corinthians 8:6, emphasizing Christ being in existence prior to all creation and being eternally co-equal in relation to the Father.

 
Verse 4-5:
“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

• One of the most common ways in this gospel that Jesus refers to himself is by the phrase “light.” The verb “shines” in verse 5 is “phainei”, which tells us that Christ isn’t referring to any specific time or place, but rather it has continued to shine from the beginning to now, continuing on throughout eternity with no end. Christ continues to “enlighten” men with His “light” as we see in verse 9 saying, “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
• John seems to enjoy comparing and contrasting the “light” of Jesus to the “darkness of the world.” Darkness represents the masses who hate what is good (3:19-20) and the opposite is Jesus, the Light of the World (8:12; 12:35, 46).

 

​Introduction To The Gospel of John

“The disciple whom Jesus loved”
 
The book of John could be explained or described as having two main purposes. These purposes can also be found in John 20:31, which are to highlight Christ by His teachings and miracles and to show who Christ was. Secondly, it was to encourage mankind to accept eternal life because of their “faith in Him.” John was also a family business man and fisherman by trade.
There is a consistent pattern of numbers and key phrases found throughout the book. The numbers eight and seven appear either directly or are represented in number. There appear to be eight key words, eight signs of Jesus’ power, and eight “I AM” statements made by Jesus in this gospel. John never seems to mention himself by name, however due to the wording, timing of the writings, phrases he uses, and events he remembers about Jesus in great detail; it is obvious who the author of John is. He chooses to refer to himself in terms such as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Greater than any man’s name could ever be, is the love that the one true Christ could have for such a person as John.
 
8 Key Words of John

• Believe
• Life
• Sign
• I Am
• Truth
• Knowing
• Witness
• Father

​“Believe”or a similar form is found around 38 times and “life” is found around 36 times.
John seems to prefer “belief” over “faith” due to its consistent activity. Continuing to believe is to continue having life. To John, “believing” is the same as any essential element to life and expresses this in his gospel. It is the same as eating (6:35,51), drinking (4:41), or even walking (8:12).
The word “love is also used 80 times in John and the Epistles. Signs, which is used 17 times to emphasize the eight miracles of Jesus in this gospel, are heavily emphasized. This is to bring attention not only to Christ’s deity and authority, but also his compassion and grace. The Septuigint uses this word to express the idea of a heavenly symbol (Gen. 1:14), a pledge (Gen. 17:11), a protective mark (Gen 4:15). It is even used to express a miracle, memorial, sample of divine power (7:11) and a signal.
 
8 Signs of Jesus’ Power

• Turning Water Into Wine (2:1-11) ---------> Power Over Creation
• Healing of a Noble Man’s Son (4:46-54) -----> Power Over Space
• Healing of a Lame Man (5:1-9) -------------------> Power Over Time
• Feeding of the 5,000 (6:1-14) ---------------------> Power Over Food
• Jesus Walking On Water (6:15-21) ---> Power Over Natural Laws
• Healing of a Blind Man (9:1-12) ------> Power Over Physical Laws
• Raising Lazarus From The Dead (11:1-44) ----> Power Over Death
• Miraculous Catch of Fish (21:1-11) -> Power Over All Of The Above

 
Another significant word John uses in this gospel is “witness” John intends this book to be viewed as actually historical fact. In order for this to happen, according to Jewish law and tradition, he must have evidence from at least 2-3 witnesses for matters to be confirmed as seen in Deuteronomy 19:15.
 
8 Signs of Jesus’ Power

• Witness of The Father (5:32,34,37; 8:18)
• Witness of The Son (3:11; 8:14, 18; 18:37)
• Witness of The Holy Spirit (15:26; 16:13-14)
• Witness of The Scriptures (1:45; 5:39, 40, 46)
• Witness of The Works of Jesus (5:17, 36; 10:25; 14:11; 15:24)
• Witness of The Baptist (1:7-8; 5:33-35)
• Witness of The Disciples (Including John) (15:27; 19:35; 21:24)
• Witness of Changed Lives (4:39; 9:25, 38; 12:17)

 
John was very observant of Jesus. He recorded many events, actions, and emotions in great detail. Out of 879, something like 237 of the verses covers the last day (24 hour period) with Jesus.
 
“Father, the Father, or My Father” is used 80 times. It is significant as it signifies the relationship and coexistence with God the Father.
 
John was also very selective in his wirings, emphasizing Christ’s deity. He excluded the birth, baptism, and temptations of Jesus, most likely due to their coverage in other writings at the time being that many believe John wrote his gospel 60 years after the events of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection. It  may also be due to the emphasis he wished to place on Christ. The gospel of John is the only gospel that includes Jesus involved in active ministry prior to John the Baptist’s imprisonment. Five of the seven key miracles are unique to this gospel. Even though there were some events omitted by John, this gospel includes a lot of narrative detail such as when Jesus was with Nicodemus.
 
Even though the book may have been written 60 years later, John remembered events in great detail such as the times and numbers of certain events. Th8ings such as in 1:39 where he says he met Jesus at 4 p.m. and the Samaritan woman leaving her water pot at the well. He also remembered there were 6 water pots at the wedding in Cana (2:6).
 
Above all these small characteristics regarding the gospel of John, we must remember that John wrote selectively under the influence of inspiration from God. God is the author of the book of John, while John himself is a mere penman.