Sabbath: Signs of Divinity
Daily Lesson for Sabbath Afternoon 5th of October 2024
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study
John 6:1-15, Isaiah 53:4-6, 1 Corinthians 5:7, John 6:26-36, John 9:1-41, 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, John 11:1-57.
Memory Text:
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ ” (John 11:25-26, NKJV).
The Bible is clear that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son, one with the Father, underived and uncreated. Jesus is the One who created all that was made (John 1:1-3). Thus, Jesus has always existed; there never was a time when He didn’t exist. Though Jesus came to this world and took upon Himself our humanity, He always kept His divinity. And at specific times, Jesus said and did things that revealed this divinity.
This truth was important for John, which is why, when recounting some of Jesus’ miracles, John used them to point to Christ’s divinity. Jesus not only said things that revealed His divinity but backed up His words with works that manifested His divinity.
This week’s lesson looks at three of the greatest signs of Jesus’ divinity. What is striking is that, in every case, some people did not believe the miracle or perceive its significance. For some, it was a time of turning away from Jesus; for others, a time for deepening blindness; and for others, a time to plot Jesus’ death. And for others—a time to believe that Jesus was the Messiah.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 12.
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Here is a series of questions we should keep in the back of our minds as we study this weeks lesson. Is our notion of salvation limited to living forever without worry, disease and death? Or is there something more to salvation? How many of us think of salvation in terms of a mansion in heaven with an orchard out the back and a paddock in front full of lions and lambs frolicking together? Could we be accused of being "cargo-cultists", looking forward to material gain? Think about that as we read about the crowds with full bellies of bread and fish.
Is it possible that we are forgetting something about the true meaning of salvation?
Thanks Maurice
I would also add if our notion of salvation is avoiding hell
Food for thought
When physical limitations slow us down I am reminded to wait and rest. He will send someone my way.
Does not matter
My small apartment
My work cubicle
My prison cell
My hospital bed
I can rest and wait. God will send someone my way.
Look around
Your field of service
Report for duty
Salvation is there indeed! We are promised that He is coming soon.
Its interesting that you pose those questions Maurice as my notion of salvation is to ultimately spend time with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The mansions and the eternal life are really just fringe benefits!!!!
Sounds like John 14:1-3, my wife's favorite verses!
Not only mansions or a place prepared for us, but where Jesus is, we will be also!
What a promise for the opportunity or privilege to spend eternity in such splendor, but to realize how undeserving we are to be there.
While we were dead in our trespasses and sins. Eph.:2,1
Christ died for us.
But God demonstrated His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 which is my favorite verse!
Oh, I like that.
John 17:3
And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ,whom thou hast sent.
It was critically important for John to reveal the divinity of Jesus as the eternal Son of God. By the time the Book of John was written, likely in the end of the first century, many false teachings had started penetrating into the early Christian Church. For instance, Gnostics denied the true humanity and divinity of Christ (1 John 4:2-3, 2 John 1:7). Therefore, John through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit sought to affirm Jesus’s divinity clearly and powerfully to counter such heresies (John 1:1-3; John 1:14). John was critically intentional in magnifying Jesus as the eternal Son of God, equal with the Father in power and nature. The understanding of this foundational truth sets Jesus as the only means through which the salvation of mankind solely rests.
The importance of the divinity of Jesus to us believers, cannot be emphasized enough. The divinity of Jesus is the heartbeat of the Christian salvation. Jesus as One who was fully God and fully man is the perfect mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). His divinity means He has the power to forgive sins (Mark 2:5-7) and grant eternal life (John 10:28). Therefore, the sacrifice of Jesus who was both God and man could bridge the gap caused by sin (Romans 5:8-10). This knowledge of Jesus as the divine Son of God, provides the highest assurance that our salvation is not only complete but secure as well.
Acknowledging Jesus as the divine Son of God is the only basis that we have for worshiping Jesus (John 20:28). Recognizing and appreciating the Lordship of Jesus in our lives, transforms our faith into a dynamic relationship with a living God. As we acknowledge Jesus as the divine Son of God, our worship becomes deeper and of much substance. Jesus is not only a great miracle doer, but God Himself who deserve all our adoration and reverence. Equally important, knowing that we are praying to the eternal Son of God assures us that our prayers are heard by the One who has all power and authority in heaven and on the earth (John 14:13-14).
John through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, made spirited effort to convince us that we have all to gain in believing in Jesus as the divine Son of God, and we have all to lose if we fail to believe (John 3:18, John 3:36). It is my sincerest prayer that we who have come to this knowledge, to have a living and dynamic relationship with Jesus the only hope of our salvation.
I always believed that Jesus did not use His Divinity on earth. Like telling his disciple to go to the sea and he will see a coin in the mouth of a fish.
Do we believe?
John 6:26-36 –
v. 27-29 - ”Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you because God the Father has set His SEAL on Him.” Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
v.32-33”Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He wo comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
v.35-36”And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.
John 9:26-41 –
v.35-41 - ”Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” and he worshiped Him.
And Jesus said, “For judgement I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.”
Greetings:
The acts described in this lesson, can I as a believer filled with the Spirit of Christ, do the same acts?
Yes you can. Greater works we'll do, just as Christ promised us. Our relationship with Him to make this happens is what we'll work on.
Excellent question Roslyn Martin.
I can only answer in the words of Jesus. John 14:11-13
Jesus is the Son of God, and Jesus is God. Back in Jesus' days, it was probably difficult for people to believe in a man Who was also God.
Today, people continue to have all kinds of excuses not to believe because they don't want to have a personal experience with Him.
The real miracle relies on the fact that anyone can have this intimate journey with the Person Who created humanity and prove the power He can represent in someone's life.
Some question the divinity of Christ; I know He was Divine. Now was He human also. Absolutely! Why can I be so sure, simply the Bible supports my belief.
It would be good to take a look at John 17:15-23. In human skin Christ said to His Father, our Father too, "they (disciples) are not of the world, even as I am not of this world." Wow, no wonder the pharisees earlier said, "you think you are God, we know God and you are not God." I firmly believe that this prayer of Christ should be our prayer. It is a special prayer presenting most wonderful possibilities of the unity that God requires should exist among believers in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Comparing apples with oranges, other Christians often have this unity. I am not judging; I am just stating facts. I know judge not that ye may not be judged yourself.
Anyway, the signs of Christ divinity were numerous.
1. Jesus is the Lord of the Old Testament who created our world.
2. 1 is proof of 2 that Jesus always existed. After all He is one of the Trinity. God the Father existed from reverse eternity. God the Son did also, and God the Holy Spirit did too.
3. Even though Jesus came to this world to save humanity he always kept His divinity, He did not use it for His own gain.
4. He said frequently things that prove his divinity.
5. He substantiated his words with works that revealed His divinity.
6. Some people unfortunately did not believe the signs or perceive their significance.
Retrospectively: A gentleman last week when I prayed for him and showed him Psalms 34:7 on my smart phone, said my angel is standing right here. I was standing right in front of him there was not enough room for an Angel of God to fit in between us, you see I had to be in his face, because he left his hearing aids at home. Sharon Loomis, believe it or not, I am not just the gardener.
At funerals John 11:11-26 is often read in as to give some hope to persons in attendance.
At the blessing of a new born baby we often read Matthew 19:14.to give hope to the parents.
We Are natured by our environment, as we grow, we are often told get a good education so you can get a good job, get a good man or woman and marry, build or buy a house have some kids and live life the best we can as a family.
Then death calls and the family circle is broken! change has come to the family!
All of the above mention take hard work and maintenance. We worked hard for all of the above from the time we know ourselves. The question is do we give ourselves to righteousness the same way?
Built in to our Salvation is an Eternal "reward"of life that is in Christ for us!!
There are so many facets built in to the reward that Christ has for us, like Paul I just don't know.
Once we get into Christ and stay in him HE has promised at HIS trumpet sounding the dead IN CHRIST shall rise. we do not know all of what heaven has in store for us, so let us by faith take a fresh look at our Saviors love for us and it will bring our sin burdened Hearts in to his eternal plan for us which was established in the Eternal council of the God head.
I think this lesson has come at the right time because there are Seventh-day Adventists who have doubted Jesus's divinity,This lesson is going to reclaim them from error .
Jesus is divine..We have no reason not to believe this.Thanks to the lesson writers for convincing us a little more by giving us these signs of His divinity.
Yes, amen, Elsie! And many supporting texts give us 100% assurance of Jesus' divinity...
For in Christ the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily Col. 2:9 ESV
Jesus has never been empty of divinity. Or only partially full of divinity. He is FULL of divinity. Jesus did not empty Himself of deity at His incarnation into a human body.
So, what does it mean that He laid His glory aside...or some versions say "emptied Himself" (Phil. 2:7 ESV)? I think it means that He laid aside the full power and privileges of deity. He was fully God, and also fully human and had to grow up like any other human (Luke 2:52). But, Jesus did not lay aside his deity when he came into this world. Jesus, being deity, was clothed with humanity and took the form or position of a servant... though he was, and always has been, Lord of all (Phil.2:5-8).
In John 17:5 Jesus prayed, "Father restore me to the glory I had with you before the foundation of the world.” There were aspects of His glory (not His divinity) which He had laid aside. The fullness of glory being visible would have ignited sinners and burnt out their retinas, and so His brilliance and pure, holy radiance is what He muted ... muted, only, because there was always still glory there too (John 1:14).
What a promise that someday we will see Him face-to-face, in ALL His glory and kingly majesty! (1 Cor. 13:12; Rev. 22:4).
Thank you for sharing, and helping one another to understand what the lesson is all about. I appreciate you for breaking the lessons down to the level by the spirit of God for those that are struggling hard to understand and share.🙏.
Happy Sabbath friends. I just need help I stopped receiving daily lessons even when am subscribed. I can only find the lessons after search for them
The email does not work anymore, so the best way to get the lesson is to go to the front page:
https://ssnet.org/
And click on the picture of the cover of the lesson pamphlet on the left-hand side. That should take you to the current lesson.
What Maurice wrote takes you to the full weekly lessons.
To see the daily lessons, you just need to go to https://ssnet.org and scroll down to the day's lesson.
If you want to avoid seeing the feature posts, videos and teacher helps, you can go directly to https://ssnet.org/daily-lessons/
Bookmarking the URL you prefer will make it easy to fond.