John 18 Lesson

LIFE IS NOT EASY

There is nothing in the Bible that says that life is going to be easy.

Jesus’ life was not easy. 

The apostles’ lives were not easy.

So why do we think that ours will be? 

EVERYONE WILL EXPERIENCE SUFFERING

The Bible tells us repeatedly that we are all going to suffer. 

Anyone who preaches a “Gospel of Prosperity” where nothing ever goes wrong is preaching something other than what is taught in the Bible.

The reality is that all of us are going to suffer. And that is ok.

Suffering is part of God’s plan for us.

God allows suffering for three reasons:

1. To teach us,
2. To discipline us,
3. To shape us into the people that He created us to be.

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT SUFFERING

The Bible is full of verses that talk about suffering. For today’s lesson, we have highlighted the following three scriptures:

1. "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17,  
2. “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.” –  Psalm 119:71, 
3. “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” – Romans 5:3-5.

Virtual Bible Study™ has additional lessons about suffering prepared on the following topics:

• Suffering(From 1 Peter 4),
• Suffering, Endurance, And Perseverance(From Luke 21),
• Suffering And Comfort, (From 2 Corinthians 1).

GOD ALLOWS BAD THINGS TO HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE 

Something to keep in mind when we are suffering is that on Earth God allows bad things to happen to good people, and good things to happen to bad people.  

Jesus told us about this in His Sermon on the Mount:

• “For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”– Mathew 5:45.

Think about the sun and the rain from the above scripture.  

Both are necessary for life, and both can also destroy life. 

When we are in a drought, we pray for rain.  

When we are in a flood, we pray for sunlight.  

If we have skin cancer, we must avoid the sun.

Suffering is inevitable. How we react to suffering says a lot about our faith and our relationship with God.

KEEPING OUR SUFFERING IN PERSPECTIVE

No matter how difficult our situation is, it is nothing compared to what Jesus went through, or the joy that awaits us in Heaven!

Pain is temporary.  

Heaven is forever!

HOW JESUS HANDLED SUFFERING

Think about all the ways that Jesus is suffering in John Chapter 18:

1. He is aware of the painful death that He is about to experience,
2. He is being arrested and beaten by hundreds of soldiers,
3. The people that He loved are turning against Him,
4. The same people that Jesus preached love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are now asking for Him to be crucified!

Throughout all of this, Jesus remained faithful to His Father.  

He understood why He came to Earth, and what God wanted Him to do, and He did it!  That is the example that we are to follow.

Jesus’s example sums up what it means to obey the Gospel.  Our role as disciples of Jesus is to understand what God wants us to do, and then do it!  If we do that, God’s grace and His mercy will take care of everything else.

Remember what Jesus said to Peter after Peter cut off the ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave?

• “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” – John 18:11.

In other words, stop trying to interfere with God’s plan!  

Jesus knew what He was supposed to do, and He did it.   So should we.

CONCLUSION

Suffering is inevitable and part of God’s plan for our spiritual development.

How we react to suffering says a lot about our faith and our relationship with God the Father.

God allows suffering for three reasons:

1. To teach us,
2. Todisciplineus,
3. To shape us into the people that He created us to be.

When we understand that we are going to suffer, instead of complaining about it, we can look for ways to persevere and endure.

As children of God, we need to remind one another that suffering in the lifetime is temporary, while the joy of Heaven is forever!

We will conclude today’s lesson with the following scripture taken from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans. It is a wonderful scripture that is full of hope and perspective. Focusing on these words will allow us to persevere through whatever difficulties come our way.

• “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” - Romans 8:18.