(Delete the portions in red when handing out questions to students.)
When Jesus was in a boat, he fell asleep. If Jesus is God, why would he ever get tired?
Luke 8:22-25 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
While on earth, Jesus was fully God and fully man. Therefore, in the Bible, you will find verses that talk about His deity and verses that talk about His manhood.
Jesus got hungry and thirsty. (Matt 4:2; John 19:28).
He got weary from traveling. (John 4:6).
He needed sleep and refreshment. (Matt 8:24).
He wept at the tomb of a dear friend. (John 11:35).
Why was Jesus able to remain calm and asleep even when the boat He was in was about to sink?
(Luke 8:22-25 NIV) One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Jesus could remain calm because He had faith that His Father would protect Him from drowning.
(Isaiah 43:1-3 NIV) “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…
Why does Jesus have control over even the winds and water?
Only the Creator would have control over the creation.
(John 1:1-3 NIV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Why did the demons obey Jesus? What does this incident teach us about spiritual warfare?
(Luke 8:27-32 NIV) When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
The demon in this story recognized that Jesus is the Son of God and had authority over him. The devil is not the opposite of God. God is infinite good but the devil is finite evil. When we encounter spiritual warfare, we can have confidence that through God we can have the upper hand.
(Luke 10:19 NIV) I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
When we see that the devil is trying to destroy our lives, our work, relationships, etc., we can take authority over the situation and command the devil to back off and ask God to take control.
When we look at the examples of Jesus casting out demons, we can see that he does so with the authority that is in him. Compare this to his disciples who could only cast out demons in the name of Jesus (Luke 10:17, Acts 16:16).
Why did Jesus not permit the man whom He rescued from demon possession to follow Him?
Rather than being surrounded by believers who are already saved, there is much more impact in the man’s life if he were to be in the midst of those who do not yet know Jesus. When you become a believer, do you just surround yourself with Christian friends or do you go out and mingle with family members and friends who do not yet know Jesus?
Did Jesus send the hungry people away? What does this incident teach you about God?
(Luke 9:12 NIV) Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”
Jesus asked His disciples to give them something to eat. This shows that God is not just interested in meeting our spiritual needs, He is also interested in meeting our physical needs. For example, Jesus went around healing people. It is not only their spiritual health that matters to Him but also their physical health. That means that we can approach God for all our needs, not only our spiritual needs.
What happened when the five loaves and two fishes of bread were offered to Jesus? What can we learn from this incident?
(Luke 9:13-14 NIV) They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” (About five thousand men were there.)
Jesus gave thanks for the food. He then multiplied it so that it becomes sufficient to meet the need.
(Luke 9:16-17) Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
We must not feel inadequate with what we have. God is looking for our availability, not our ability. He can give us the ability but we must tell him we are available for His service as He will not force His will down on us.
After Peter openly acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, what did Jesus tell His disciples that His mission on earth was?
(Luke 9:18-20 NIV) Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”
Jesus said that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
(Luke 9:22 NIV) And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
The Quran also teaches the same thing – that God will cause Jesus to die and then raise him up to Himself.
And when Allah said: O Isa, I am going to terminate the period of your stay (on earth) (in Arabic, mutawafeeka) and cause you to ascend unto Me and purify you of those who disbelieve and make those who follow you above those who disbelieve to the day of resurrection; then to Me shall be your return, so l will decide between you concerning that in which you differed. Qur’an 3:55, Shakir translation
Why is it necessary for Jesus to die? Why can’t God just “close one eye” to sin and overlook our sins?
The Bible teaches that we have all sinned and sin carries the penalty of death. But because God is a merciful God, He sent His Son to die for us to pay the penalty of our sins.
There was a story about a young woman who was caught for speeding. She was brought to court where the judge pronounced a fine of $100. After that, the judge did a surprising thing. He got down from his chair and walked down to pay the fine. You see, the judge was the girl’s father. But being a judge, he has to be just and pronounce the sentence. But because he loves his daughter, he is willing to take the punishment himself.
The possibility of God’s forgiving a sinner without any punishment involved is contrary to our innate feeling of justice. If a human judge were to do so, it would be said that he was unjust, for justice must be satisfied. Therefore, there is only one solution left for a merciful and just God. Being a just God, He has to satisfy the penalty of sin. Being a merciful God, He is not willing that any would perish and instead sent His Son to suffer on our behalf.
(Jude 1:21 NIV) Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
The Qur’an depicts Jesus also as rahma (mercy) from God for all people.
Surah 19: 20-21 She (Mariam) said: “How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?” He (the angel) said: “So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, ‘that is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him (Jesus) as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us’: It is a matter (so) decreed.” Jesus said that he will be killed and on the third day rise again. Why is this so special? Other people have also been raised from the dead.
Did Jesus send the hungry people away? What does this incident teach you about God?
(Luke 9:12 NIV) Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”
Jesus asked His disciples to give them something to eat. This shows that God is not just interested in meeting our spiritual needs, He is also interested in meeting our physical needs. For example, Jesus went around healing people. It is not only their spiritual health that matters to Him but also their physical health. That means that we can approach God for all our needs, not only our spiritual needs.