Bible Study – That We All May Be One
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
“I have seen the Lord!” exclaimed Mary Magdalene. At first she does not recognize who is standing beside her. When she realizes it is the risen Jesus she wants to grasp him. He holds her off and tells her to go and share what has happened: He has walked through death and has created a path for us to follow, now and on through our own death.
In these 50 days of Easter, celebrating what Jesus has done for us, we are invited to recognize Jesus standing beside us, as he did with Mary. What is he calling us to do? Perhaps we can train our eyes to look in the direction that this Jesus, standing beside us is looking. What might he be looking at? Do we dare follow where he is leading? Can we notice and honor the various ways Jesus “appears” to people?
This is the last Sunday in Easter and our attention will be turned toward Pentecost and the long season after Pentecost.
Opening Prayer: Thank you, God, that we are all one with you. Amen
This is Jesus’ Farewell Address. He is going back to be with God. It has two parts to it: Jesus telling God that he has fulfilled the commission God gave him, and Jesus’ prayer for his disciples.
Please open your Bibles to John 14:15-21 and read or read the scriptures below.
John 17:1-11
Jesus Prays to Be Glorified
17 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the
work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 “I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
Questions: (Answers at the bottom of the page)
- What do we think Jesus means by “the hour has come — glorify your Son?”
- What is the eternal life Jesus mentions?
- What is Jesus asking God to do in verse 5?
- Who is Jesus referring to in verse 6?
- How is Jesus describing his disciples in verses 7 and 8?
- Why do you think Jesus is not talking about everyone in the world, just those he had taught?
- What might Jesus be saying in verse 10?
- What is the protection Jesus asks God for those who will go on with the work?
Why do we think the disciples were not sad to see Jesus go, were not afraid to be without their leader, and went back to Jerusalem which was still a dangerous place for them? Have you had a really good coach for sports or music, or even someone who helped you figure out a hard subject in school? Can you describe what it felt like to realize that you could do this on your own? Can you remember what it was like to try to ride a bicycle by yourself? What other things will you need a coach to help you with that you will later be able to do by yourself? (Drive a car. Learn a new language. Figure out for whom to vote in an election. Etc.) As we come to church and Sunday School, what are we being trained to do? (Be disciples to carry on the work these disciples began.) The disciples were commissioned by Jesus. How do we get commissioned? (Our baptism.)
Click here for the young learner’s lesson
Videos (Click on url)
Sunday School John 17:1-11 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lClOBM2kjl4
John 17:1-11 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aP-BHhqacY
Gospel of John Summary: Part 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUfh_wOsauk
Activities:
Journal: Write in your journal about what you have learned about how we are One with God.
Make The Earth: Draw a picture of the earth – round or flat on cardstock if available and write “ONE” anywhere on the picture. If you don’t have cardstock, you can glue the paper on a piece of thin cardboard ……. or just leave it on regular print paper. Cut into puzzle pieces and try to put your puzzle together or give it to a friend.
Kite Flying: Make your own kite with colored markers and stickers on the outer kite, click on the url “Easy Paper Kite for Kids”: https://www.instructables.com/Easy-Paper-Kite-for-Kids/ Write today’s words that you learned for the Bible lesson such as God’s Protection, God’s Guidance, Trust, Jesus, GOD’s Word, ONE, etc. on your kite.
Through Lifes Maze – Maze: https://sermons4kids.com/through_lifes_maze_puzzle.htm
We Are One - Crossword Puzzle: https://sermons4kids.com/we_are_one_crossword.htm
We Are One – Fill in the Blank: https://sermons4kids.com/we_are_one_cloze.htm
We Are One – Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/we_are_one_wordsearch.htm
Songs:
He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T1CLlMjiTw
Prayer: Thank you, God, for this time we have had together and for you being with us as we carry out our commissions. Amen.
Answers to the Questions:
- What do we think Jesus means by “the hour has come — glorify your Son?” (The time has come for Jesus to leave the world where he was known mostly as a man and go back to be with God — in partnership with God.)
- What is the eternal life Jesus mentions? (To know God and to know Jesus brings us eternal life.)
- What is Jesus asking God to do in verse 5? (Bring Jesus back to be at one with God.)
- Who is Jesus referring to in verse 6? (Those that Jesus taught, primarily his disciples.)
- How is Jesus describing his disciples in verses 7 and 8? (They are ready for commencement. They have learned what Jesus was teaching them.)
- Why do you think Jesus is not talking about everyone in the world, just those he had taught? (Perhaps because it will now be the job of these disciples and all who come after them to continue the work.)
- What might Jesus be saying in verse 10? (Jesus has not created a cult where people flock after the person, but has carried out his part of the partnership he has with God.)
- What is the protection Jesus asks God for those who will go on with the work? (That they will know that they are one with God; they will not have to do the work alone.)
