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READING TO KNOW JESUS
A. Introduction: We’ve begun a series aimed at helping people read the Bible more effectively. Sincere
Christians struggle with Bible reading, in part because they don’t understand its purpose or how to read
it. We are taking time to talk about these issues.
1. The Bible is a collection of 66 books and letters that together tell the story of God’s desire for a
family and the lengths to which He has gone to obtain His family through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Every book adds to or advances this story in some way.
a. The Bible reveals that God created human beings to be His sons and daughters who live in
loving relationship with Him. But all people choose independence from God through sin which
disqualified them from God’s family. Eph 1:4-5; Rom 3:23
1. God has not abandoned His lost family. He incarnated (took on a human nature) and came
into the world to die as a sacrifice for sin. By His death, Jesus opened the way for all who
believe in Him to be restored to their created purpose as His sons and daughters. Heb 2:14-15
2. The Scriptures are intended to reveal the salvation that comes to us through faith in Jesus
Christ—salvation that delivers us from the guilt and power of sin and restores us to all that
God intended us to be before sin damaged His creation. II Tim 3:15
A. The Old Testament is primarily the history of the people group through which Jesus came
into this world, the Jews (Israel). It also has many prophecies about the coming Savior.
B. The New Testament was written after Jesus came into this world and is a record of His
ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection. It also includes writings that explain what His
followers believe and how they are supposed to live.
b. The Bible is progressive revelation. God has gradually revealed His plan of salvation through
the pages of Scripture until the full revelation was given in and through Jesus.
1. The Old Testament points to Jesus. The Old Testament is light from God, but it is less light
than the New Testament. The New Testament records the full expression of God and His
plan to recover His family with the coming of Jesus and His death and resurrection.
2. Heb 1:1-2—Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to us by the prophets,
but in these last days he has spoken to us by His Son (ESV).
3. The Old Testament is much easier to understand when it is read in the light of the New
Testament and what it reveals about Jesus. Effective Bible reading begins with becoming
familiar with the New Testament, before trying to tackle the Old Testament.
2. Almighty God reveals Himself through the pages of the Bible (which He inspired), so that we can
know Him. God is relational. He wants to be known and loved by the beings He created. That is
place of greatest satisfaction for a human being. II Tim 3:16; Lam 3:24; Ps 16:8; Ps 73:25; etc.
a. Jesus is God’s fullest revelation of Himself. He is God become man without ceasing to be God.
Jesus is called the Living Word of God. He is the Living Word who is revealed in the written
Word (John 1:1; John 1:14). Jesus said: The Scriptures testify of me (John 5:39, NKJV).
b. We read and study the Bible to get to know God, to get to know the Lord Jesus Christ. The
New Testament was written by eyewitnesses of Jesus, men who walked and talked with Him,
saw Him crucified, and then raised from the dead. They wrote to tell the world what they saw.
3. These men did not set out to write a religious book. They wrote so that men and women would
believe in Jesus, come into relationship with Him, and become God’s sons and daughters.
a. John, one of Jesus’ original twelve apostles, wrote a biography of Jesus (the Gospel of John).
He said that he wrote: So that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and
that by believing in him you will have life (John 20:31, NLT).
1. Christ is not Jesus’ last name. Christ means Anointed One. The Old Testament prophet

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Daniel recorded a message given to him by the angel Gabriel about someone who would
come from God and take away sin. Gabriel called Him the Anointed One (Dan 9:24-25).
2. First century Jews understood the term Son of God to be a claim to deity. When Jesus called
God His Father, those who didn’t believe tried to stone Him for blasphemy. John 10:31-33
b. John also wrote in a letter (an epistle): I John 1:3-4—We are telling you about what we
ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with the Father and
with His Son Jesus Christ (NLT). And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy
[in seeing you included] may be full—and your joy may be complete (Amp).
1. Fellowship is the condition of friendly relationship existing among persons with similar
interests. This word is relational. Relationship comes out of knowing and being known.
2. Paul the apostle (another eyewitness) wrote: I Cor 1:9—(God) is the one who invited you
into this wonderful friendship (fellowship) with his Son, Jesus Christ (NLT).
4. In this series we are emphasizing reading the Bible relationally, or reading to get to know Jesus,
reading with the idea that God Almighty wants to reveal Himself to you so that you can know Him.
a. There are some challenges to reading and understanding the New Testament. It was written two
millennia ago in a culture and land unfamiliar to us. There are language differences that the
average reader doesn’t understand and a historical context that most of us know little about.
b. This one reason why it is so important to get good Bible teaching from someone who is
competent in the Scriptures. But there are some guidelines that can help you as you read.
1. Everything in the Bible was written by someone to someone about something. Real people
wrote to other real people to communicate information. Keep this in mind as you read.
2. These factors help us see the context of individual statements. The Bible was not originally
written in chapters and verses. Those were added centuries after the Bible was completed to
help people find specific passages. Verses can be misinterpreted if not read in context.
3. Don’t let strange terms and customs distract you from Bible’s purpose—to help you know
God and His plan of salvation. Ask the Lord to help you see Him in the Scriptures.
5. For the rest of the lesson, we’re going to examine an event recorded in the Bible and consider how to
read it relationally, read it in a way that will help you fellowship with the Lord..
a. The night before Jesus was crucified, He celebrated His last Passover meal with His twelve
apostles (the Last Supper). Jesus knew that He was soon going to leave this world, and at that
meal, Jesus told His men a number of things meant to prepare them for what was ahead.
b. John the apostle included a detailed account of what Jesus said that night in his gospel (John 13-
17). Keep in mind that Jesus was interacting with men He loved to communicate information
that will help them deal with and understand what was about to happen and give them more
information about God’s unfolding plan of salvation.
c. As we read through selected parts of Jesus’ words that night, we’ll consider: What does this
reveal about God? How does this fit into the big picture (God’s plan for a family)? What
would you have heard if you were sitting at the table?
B. In the weeks leading up to the Last Supper, Jesus began to tell His twelve apostles that He and they were
going up to Jerusalem for Passover (an annual Jewish feast), and that He would be condemned to death
and crucified. Matt 16:21; Matt 20:17-19
1. John wrote: Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world
and return to his Father (John 13:1, NLT). John recorded that at the last meal Jesus said: I must go
away and leave you…You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later (John 13:36, NLT).
a. Jesus knew that He would be arrested before the night was over (His apostles didn’t know). At
this meal Jesus told them many things to help them through what was ahead. But He knew that

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they would not fully understand much of what He said until He was raised from the dead.
b. We have an advantage when we read John’s account because we know how these events turned
out. We know that things will get a lot worse, but then wonderfully better. From Jesus’ words
we see how He comforts people who face hardships that they don’t yet understand.
2. Jesus told them: Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my
Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place
for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that
where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going (John 14:1-4, ESV).
a. Jesus acknowledged that He knew they were troubled because He said He was going to leave
them, and He urges them to believe or trust in God. Trust is the remedy for a troubled heart.
1. Trust comes out of knowing someone. In other words, Jesus said: You know me. You’ve
heard my words and seen my works. Now, trust me even though you don’t understand.
2. A little later in the evening, Jesus said to them: I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind
and heart…so don’t be troubled or afraid…remember what I told you: I am going away, but
I will come back to you again (John 14:27-28, NLT).
A. In few hours these men will face a huge test when Jesus is crucified. He’s urging them
to remember that everything they see is temporary. Trust me. I am working out a plan.
B. Jesus concluded His instructions to them that night with these words: I have told you all
this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and
sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world (John 16:33, NLT).
b. With His words Jesus revealed more of God’s plan: I’m going to my Father’s house to prepare
a place for you—and there’s plenty of room. The salvation I bring is for all who believe in me.
And one day I will come again and get you so that you will always be with me where I am.
1. This is the big picture. God wants to live with His sons and daughters. Jesus is about to
offer Himself up as the sacrifice that will open the way to the Father’s house. I Pet 3:18
2. At the Cross Jesus will activate God’s plan of salvation by dying as a sacrifice so that sinful
men and women can be restored to the family.
A. Jesus will come back to these men at His resurrection, spend forty more days with them,
and give further instructions and explanations before returning to Heaven. Acts 1:1-3
B. On the day that Jesus finally left them, His followers watched Him ascend to Heaven.
Two angels suddenly appeared and said: Jesus has been taken away from you into
heaven. And someday, just as you saw him go, he will return (Acts 1:11, NLT).
c. This is the big picture. God’s plan will be fully realized at the second coming of Jesus when He
returns to bring Heaven and earth together. He’ll cleanse the earth of all sin, corruption, and
death, and live with His family forever in the world He created—renewed, restored, transformed.
1. Over sixty years later, long after Jesus returned to Heaven, when John (the same man who sat
at the Last Supper) was an old man, the Lord Jesus appeared to him and gave him a vision of
the completion of the plan. John recorded what he saw and heard in the Book of Revelation.
2. Jesus showed John the finished product—the new earth: Rev 21:1-4—Then I saw a new
heaven and a new earth…and I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down from
God out of heaven…I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, “Look, the home of God is
now among his people. He will live with them and they will be his people. God himself
will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or
sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever (NLT).
3. Back to the Last Supper. When Jesus said to His men that you know the way to where I’m going,
one of them (Thomas) spoke up. He said: We don’t know where you are going so how can we
know the way (John 14:5). Jesus answered: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one

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comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6, ESV).
a. Jesus is the way to God because it is only on the basis of His sacrifice at the Cross that we can be
restored to God. Jesus is the truth because He is the perfect revelation of God. Jesus is the life
because in Him is life.
1. Human beings were created to be dependent on God our Creator and Father for everything.
We are meant to be indwelled by God’s Spirit and life. Sin has cut us off from God and the
life in Him.
2. God’s ultimate plan is to unite Himself to men and women by His Spirit and uncreated life
(the life in Him), which will undo the corruption and damage done to us by sin and fully
restore us to our created purpose as His sons and daughters.
3. Later in the evening Jesus will refer to Himself as the Vine and all who believe in Him as
branches (John 15:1-5). Through His death Jesus will open the way for men and women to
be indwelled by God the Holy Spirit and be born of Him (John 1:12-13).
b. At the Last Supper Jesus promised that He was not going to abandon them, and that He and the
Father were going to send the Holy Spirit to them. John 14:16-17; John 16:7
1. Jesus said: You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you
orphans I will come to you (John 14:17-18, NKJV). Even though Jesus was going to leave
them, they will continue to have direct contact with Him through the Holy Spirit.
2. Jesus also told them: Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me…and I
will reveal myself to each one of them…All those who love me will do what I say. My
Father will love them and, we will come and live with them (John 14:21-23, NLT).
A. These men understood commandments to mean the written Word of God (the
Scriptures). Jesus promised to make Himself known to them through the Scriptures.
B. We connect with God by His Spirit through His written Word because He reveals
Himself to us through His Word, which the Holy Spirit inspired. II Tim 3:16; II Pet 1:21
C. Conclusion: We have more to say next week, but consider these thoughts as we close. I realize that
when you read the passages we read tonight you may not get out of them all that I’ve said tonight. This
is why good teaching is so important. But you can still read the passages we’ve covered relationally.
1. What if you were at the table with Jesus that night? What would you have heard and thought?
You would have been aware that you were listening to Someone that you believe is the promised
Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God.
a. You’ve seen Him do miracles and healings and heard Him teach profound, life changing
sermons. You’ve watched Him love and care for people—including you. Although you don’t
understand everything that He’s saying, you know that He loves you and is trying to help you.
b. You and I can read this scene with information those men did not yet have. Jesus will be
crucified, but He will rise from the dead in a dramatic demonstration of God’s power and
goodness. He will pay the price for sin so that we can be restored to our create purpose.
2. When you read relationally, your goal isn’t to get to the end of the chapter, your goal is to think
about what you are reading and the One who inspired the words in the chapter.
a. As you read, take time to think about (meditate on, ponder) Jesus’ words. Remember what
meditate and ponder mean—to carefully consider and converse with yourself: Jesus wants to
give me peace. He is assuring me that I will be with Him forever. He knew about me when He
sat at that Passover table and when He died on the Cross and opened Heaven and real life to me.
b. Remember that you are interacting with a Person—Almighty God. Turn what you read into
prayer and praise: Jesus, you are the truth and the way to life and peace. Thank you for loving
and wanting me. Thank you for giving me a future and a hope (more next week!).