Themes from the Gospel of John
Quarter 4, Lesson 2
“Signs of Divinity”
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MEMORY VERSE: “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
LESSON STUDY INTRO
This week’s lesson highlights three stories that serve as some of the
greatest signs of Jesus’ divinity.
1. The Word became flesh (Sun, Mon)
• The miracles of Christ were intended to give evidence for faith,
and not to create a stir or gratify curiosity.
o God “set His seal” upon the ministry of Christ by virtue of the
works of Christ (see Jn. 6:27; 10:25, 37-8; 14:11).
• When the multitudes requested further evidence, Jesus plainly
declared His divinity and rebuked their unbelief (Jn. 6:30-36).
• Jesus taught that, just as bread sustains physical life, so His
words sustain spiritual life (see Jn. 6:48-50, 63).
The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in the word of God.
This word imparts power; it begets life. Every command is a promise; accepted
by the will, received into the soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite One. It
transforms the nature and re-creates the soul in the image of God. Ed 126.4
2. In Jesus is life (Thu)
• Jesus is the source of life (see Jn. 1:1-4).
o God has given us eternal life in His Son, Jesus (1 Jn. 5:11-12).
• Eternal life is a quality of life – true life – and not a quantity
of life.
• The raising of Lazarus from the dead was the crowning miracle
of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
o He intentionally waited until Lazarus had been dead four days so
that the miracle might be more pronounced (see Jn. 11:5, 6).
• This gave the strongest evidence that Jesus had power over
death itself (see Rev. 1:18).
In Christ is life, original, unborrowed, underived…. The divinity of Christ is the
believer's assurance of eternal life…. The miracle which Christ was about to
perform, in raising Lazarus from the dead, would represent the resurrection of
all the righteous dead. By His word and His works He declared Himself the
Author of
• the resurrection. He who Himself was soon to die upon the cross
stood with the keys of death, a conqueror of the grave, and asserted His right
and power to give eternal life. DA 530.3
o It is this belief that Jesus is “the resurrection and the life” that
forms the foundation of the Christian hope (see Ac. 23:6;
24:15; 26:6-8; 1 Pet. 1:3; 1 Cor. 15:13-20; Heb. 2:15).
• Subsequently, it was this realization that overcame the fear
of the early church (2 Cor. 4:16; Heb. 2:15).
3. Walk while you have the light (Tue, Wed)
• The healing of the man born blind not only reveals the divinity
of Christ (once again), but the potential blinding power of truth.
o As the lesson points out, the miracle itself is but a small part of
the passage (7 verses); “the significance of the miracle becomes
the much wider point of discussion” (Qtly, Tue, par 3).
o Despite overwhelming evidence, those who wanted an excuse
not to believe found one (Jn. 9:16).
The Pharisees could not but be astonished at the cure. Yet they were more
than ever filled with hatred; for the miracle had been performed on the
Sabbath day. DA 471.5
• Unfortunately, we see the same pattern of “blindness” in the
other accounts from this week’s lesson –
o When Jesus pressed for surrender instead of compliance, the
people disbelieved (see Jn. 6:26-9, 36, 60).
o After Lazarus was raised, rather than believe, the religious
leaders plotted to put him to death, also (Jn. 12:10).
• Jesus warned that the same light that gives sight, if resisted, will
ultimately lead to blindness (Jn. 12:35).
CONCLUSION
[Commenting on Luke 4:24-7] God did not send Elijah to those who were in
Samaria. Why? Because they had great light, blessings, and privileges, and did
not live up to them. And because they had had this great light and had not lived
up to it, they were the most hardhearted people in the world, the hardest to
impress with the truth. They were not susceptible to the influences of the Spirit
of God…. He who had lived up to the light that he had was in a more favorable
position before God than those on whom He had bestowed great light, power,
and spiritual advantages, and yet their lives did not correspond to their
advantages and privileges. 1888 123.3
