Suggestions for leading a study:

• Familiarize yourself with the passage in context, including the book itself.  Who wrote it to whom, and why?
• Read through the study guide a couple times to get the “big idea” as well as the flow of the argument
• Have the group read through the passage in it’s entirety before beginning the study.  One of the goals is to try to get your members to learn how to study Scripture methodically, and this is an important step.
• Be prayed up
• Have fun!
  

God at Work

16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. 17 Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." 18 For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

 19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

Discussion Questions

The Pharisees didn’t like that Jesus was healing on the Sabbath, which to them looked like work (something their law forbids).  In verse 17, what was Jesus reply to that? 

What kind of work do you think Jesus was referring to in regards to what his father was doing?

Re-read verses 20,21.  There is a greater work that the Father and Son are partnering to accomplish than just physical healing.  What is it? What do you think Jesus is referring to?

Recap:  The religious leaders (Pharisees) were most concerned with the “work” of rule-keeping.  The “work” the Father and the Son are most concerned with is: _________________________________

Verse 22 tells of another task given to Jesus:  judgment.  Given what we just said about Jesus’ most important task and what we know that he did for us, do you think he would have a different approach to this job than the Pharisees might?

Verse 23 clarifies something about the basis Jesus will use for judgment.  Is it rule keeping?  If not, what is it?

Verse 24 is a classic synopsis of the gospel message.  According to this verse,

           What we do is:___________________________________

           What we are not is: _______________________________

           What happens to us is: ____________________________

Some people would say that once you have “crossed over” from death to life (NIV), you can slip back into death again, or lose your salvation.  Given what we said about who it is that is working to accomplish this and what happens when we believe, how likely do you think that is?

Leaders' Guide

The point of this study is that God the Father and Jesus Christ are working to help us be saved by our faith, versus the “work” that a legalistic approach would take.  It also addresses the issue of being secure in our salvation.

The Pharisees didn’t like that Jesus was healing on the Sabbath, which to them looked like work (something their law forbids).  In verse 17, what was Jesus reply to that? 

           Jesus says, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.”  (NIV)  This is a straight-forward answer—the discussion about it comes with the next question.

What kind of work do you think Jesus was referring to in regards to what his father was doing?

            The text does not really clarify this, so this can go a number of ways.  This is meant as a discussion starter to get the group talking about the “work” of the Father and the Son.  Generally, most commentators would say that God does not suspend his works of compassion because of the Sabbath.  This study draws us to a broader understanding of what God is up to, however, as the following questions will demonstrate.

Re-read verses 20,21.  There is a greater work that the Father and Son are partnering to accomplish than just physical healing.  What is it? What do you think Jesus is referring to?

           These verses refer to the “work” of giving life which the Father and Son partner together to accomplish.  Obviously, this is referring to spiritual, or eternal life.  In the context of this passage, Jesus had just healed a crippled man, but that man was still destined to die physically.  John wants us to know that the issue is much bigger than that, just as the work God and Jesus have to do is much bigger than trying to keep Sabbath rules and regulations.     

Recap:  The religious leaders (Pharisees) were most concerned with the “work” of rule-keeping.  The “work” the Father and the Son are most concerned with is:

           Whatever answer has to do with eternal life, salvation, saving us, etc. will work here. The point is to make sure we get the contrast the text is making between the “work” that the Pharisees are so uptight about, that is keeping the law, and the “work” that God is really concerned about, which is our eternal salvation.

Verse 22 tells of another task given to Jesus:  judgment.  Given what we just said about Jesus’ most important task and what we know that he did for us, do you think he would have a different approach to this job than the Pharisees might?

           Hopefully, this will help the group once again solidify the difference between Jesus and the Pharisees and what it is they really are about.  John is drawing such a glaring distinction between the two that he is no doubt meaning for his readers to understand that Jesus is not going to be about judging and condemning people by nit-picking their behavior like the Pharisees were.

Verse 23 clarifies something about the basis Jesus will use for judgment.  Is it rule keeping?  If not, what is it?

           The key word in this passage is “honor.”  (NIV)  Honoring the Son and the Father, not keeping the law, is the basis for our status under the new covenant instituted by Christ.

Verse 24 is a classic synopsis of the gospel message.  According to this verse,

           What we do is:

                      We hear the word and believe.  This as opposed to law-keeping, as has been underscored.

           What we are not is:

                      We will not be condemned.  As opposed to what inevitably happens if we are judged by the law.

           What happens to us is:

                      We have “crossed over” from death to life.  (NIV)  The “work” that the Father and Son came to do will be accomplished through these simple and grace-filled methods, rather than the legalistic, judgmental approach of the Pharisees.

Some people would say that once you have “crossed over” from death to life (NIV), you can slip back into death again, or lose your salvation.  Given what we said about who it is that is working to accomplish this and what happens when we believe, how likely do you think that is?

            This is one of the passages to bear in mind if members of your group struggle with this issue.  Later in John, chapter 10:27,28 the author also affirms in a powerful way that the Father and the Son are partnering to keep us safe in their grasp.  The notion of “crossing over” is a powerful one.  Since it is the work that the Father and the Son are doing for us, and not something we are managing ourselves, than they certainly would also have the capacity to keep us there as well.  Since nothing we can do will “save” us, it seems unlikely at best that there is anything we can do to “un-save” ourselves.  It is all through the power (the “work”) of the Father and the Son, and results in being placed in a new and secure position through the hearing of the Word and our decision to believe it.