Sunday Lesson Notes
July 12, 2026
Read John 3
- Nicodemus was a Pharisee a member of the Jewish ruling council who went to Jesus to ask him personally questions he was having a difficult time answering
- Nicodemus had the heart of a student and wanted to learn from the Source, the Son of God. He did not go to the Pharisees or his peers to ask for clarification, he went to Jesus instead.
Read John 7: 14-19
- Jesus went to the temple courts to teach the people
- Jesus personally reminded them that he was only teaching them what God had told him and he was not teaching them to bring honor to himself but to God
- The Pharisees in contrast were teaching to bring honor to themselves and to exert control over the people and in doing so denied who Jesus was
Read John 7: 28-32
- The people that really knew Jesus believed he was from God
- There were some trying to believe him and others trying to kill him
- Some of the Jews at this time were looking for a worldly king that would liberate them from the oppression of the Romans. Other Jews were looking for the real Messiah that would liberate them from the oppression of their sins and reconcile them back to God.
Read John 7: 33-44
- Jesus warned them that he was going away soon and would no longer be in their presence
- Jesus was letting them know he would redeem them first by dying for them and then be resurrected
- Jesus gave them an open invitation to join him and follow him
- He offered them the gift of the Holy Spirit and eternal life with living water
- Some believed, some thought he was the Prophet, some questioned his royal line
- Some were really confused and remembering their scriptures incorrectly, forgetting Jesus was born in Bethlehem and was not born in Galilee.
Read John 7: 45-52
- The Pharisees were upset that Jesus was not arrested.
- However, even the temple guards knew Jesus was different and did not need to be killed, they were amazed by his words and the way he spoke to the crowd.
- Nicodemus, who was a diligent student and already personally went to Jesus to answer his questions, stood up and reminded the Pharisees that they were not obeying their own laws
- The Pharisees were so upset they even disregarded Nicodemus and looked down on him
- It’s clear that the Pharisees were making assumptions and passing judgements without asking Jesus questions or keeping the unity.
- We need to remember to ask questions of Jesus personally to find out who he really is instead of making assumptions and passing judgements without knowing all the facts
- We should treat all of our relationships in the same way, getting to know people before making assumptions and passing judgements