Step 1: Opening and Introduction to the lesson –When you are troubled, what symptoms show on your face? In your spirit? What trait do you share with other family members?
Step 2: Hear – Read: Jesus Predicts His Betrayal and Peter’s Denial: John 13:18-38.
Step 3: Explore – Discover the Passage
- If you were a movie director, how would you capture the drama of verses 18-22? If you had been sitting at this table, what would you be feeling? What would you be saying?
- In foretelling his betrayal with his disciples, what according to Jesus is the purpose? What do you sense in Jesus: Resolution? Resignation? Restlessness? What do you sense in his disciples? Jesus’ action in v. 26 is a sign of friendship. What do you sense in Judas?
- What scripture will be fulfilled (ref Psalm 40:9)? Do the disciples realize who will betray Jesus? Is Judas to be excused or held responsible when Satan entered into him (v. 27; also 6:70; 12:4-6; 13:2?
- Why did Jesus wait until Judas had gone to share the message in vv. 31-35? What does he call the disciples to do (v. 34)? What type of person is Peter (vv. 6-9, 36-37)? How do you think he felt after verse 38?
Step 4: Connect – Apply the Passage:
- If you knew ahead of time that someone would stab you in the back, how would you treat that person? How does Jesus show you what love is all about?
- Given three years of very intimate fellowship with Jesus, how could Judas turn around and betray him? Have you ever betrayed Jesus? If so how?
- How do your good intentions compare to Peter’s? What is the identification of a disciple? What is the standard of Love to one another? How can you fulfill this commandment? ow can you fulfill this commandment
- On a scale from 1 to 10, how does our church rank against the standard of Love? How could we increase our score?
Step 5: Reflect: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
