Easy Reading Edition

6
More Stories About Jesus
November 2–8

SABBATH—DATE
SABBATH—NOVEMBER 2
READ FOR THIS WEEK’S LESSON: John 3:25–36; John
1:32–36; John 6:51–71; John 5:36–38; John 7:37–53.

MEMORY VERSE: “ ‘And I am going to be lifted up from

the earth. When I am, I will bring all people to myself’ ”
(John 12:32, NIrV).

JESUS said some things about Himself that surprised

people. Jesus talked about who He was, about who sent
Him, and about where He came from. Jesus also did
miracles and signs to show who He was. John writes,
“Many of the people believed in Jesus. They said, ‘When
the Christ comes, will he do more miracles than this man
has done?’ ” (John 7:31, ICB).
Jesus’ actions were proof that He meant what He said.
As Jesus’ story continues, the people could not agree
if He was the Savior. When Jesus heals the man at the
pool of Bethesda, some of the Jewish leaders get angry.
After Jesus feeds more than 5,000 people, the Jews argue
about Him in Capernaum. When they finish arguing, large
When Jesus heals the man
at the pool of Bethesda,
crowds of Jewish people reject Jesus. Later, Jesus wakes
some of the Jewish leaders up Lazarus from the dead. Some people believe in Jesus
get angry. because of this miracle. But other people feel hatred for
Jesus. This hatred will cause them to put Jesus on trial and
punish Him with death on the cross.
This week, we will look at the stories of some of the peo-
ple who were witnesses for Jesus. In each story, we can
see parts of who Jesus really is. Together, these stories
help us to see Jesus, the Savior, more clearly.

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 SUNDAY—NOVEMBER 3 Lesson 6
JOHN THE BAPTIST COMPARES HIMSELF TO JESUS
(John 3:25–36)

Lesson 4 explained how John the Baptist’s announce-

ment about Jesus brought the first followers to Jesus.
These followers included Andrew, John, Peter, Philip, and
Nathanael. John the Baptist appears a few more times in
the Book of John.

How does John the Baptist compare himself to Jesus?

Read John 3:25–36 for the answer.

John the Baptist’s followers argued with someone about

laws for keeping clean. They may have been arguing
about baptism (compare with Mark 1:4, 5). John’s fol­
lowers asked John to help answer their question about
Jesus. “Then they came to John and said, ‘Teacher,
remember the man who was with you on the other side of
the Jordan River? He is the one you were telling everyone
about. He is also baptizing people, and many are going to
him’ ” (John 3:26, ERV). We can easily see from this verse
that John’s followers are jealous of Jesus.
John the Baptist doesn’t feel jealous. He knows the work
that God gave him to do. John tells his followers to remem-
ber that he never said he was the Savior. God sent John to
help people accept the Savior and to get their hearts ready
for Him. John is only His witness (John 1:6–8). John says that he is the
Then John uses the word picture of a wedding to explain friend of the bridegroom,
his work. John says that he is the friend of the bridegroom, and Jesus is
and Jesus is the bridegroom. God’s people are the bride the bridegroom.
(compare with Hosea 2:16–23; Isaiah 62:1–5). Then John
says something that shows he has no pride in his heart.
With these words, we understand that John is an amazing
person. He says, “ ‘He [Jesus] must become more impor­
tant. I must become less important’ ” (John 3:30, NLV).
John 3:31–36 continues to compare John with Jesus.
These verses show that the Savior is more important than
John. John’s message helps people to accept Jesus and His
everlasting life. God is “very angry” with the people who refuse
to accept Jesus (John 3:36, WE). That’s what the verse says.
God loves the earth and sends His Son to save the people
on this earth (John 3:16, 17). But if people refuse to accept
God’s gift of mercy, God will let them pay the penalty for
their own sins. The penalty is everlasting death. Jesus pays
the penalty only for the people who accept Him.

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 Lesson 6 MONDAY—NOVEMBER 4
A NEW UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE SAVIOR
(John 1:32–36)

As a people, the Jews waited for the Savior for a long

time. What does John the Baptist say about Jesus that
surprised the people and that they didn’t expect to
hear? Read John 1:32–36 for the answer.

The Jews expected the coming Savior to make them free

from Roman control. The Kingdom of Rome controlled the
Jews for a long time. The Jews believed that the coming
Savior would end Rome’s control. Then Israel can become
an important and powerful country again. But then John the
Baptist named Jesus “the Lamb of God” (John 1:36, ERV).
This name connected Jesus to His future death as an offering
for sin. Most people misunderstood John’s words about
Jesus. They didn’t really know what John the Baptist was
talking about at all.
So, John, Jesus’ follower, wrote this book about Jesus’
life. John wanted to help people have a correct understand-
ing of Jesus. Then they would know that Jesus was the
Savior. Jesus did everything the Bible said the Savior would
do. Jesus wasn’t coming as a king or an army leader. Jesus
came to offer Himself for the sins of everyone. When Jesus
The name the “Lamb of finishes His work, then God’s kingdom will come (read
God” connected Jesus
Daniel 7:18).
to His future death as an
offering for sin. “When Jesus was baptized, John the Baptist announced
that Jesus was the Lamb of God. John’s words helped peo-
ple understand the Savior’s work in a new way. The Holy
Spirit helped John the Baptist remember Isaiah’s words, ‘He
was led away like a lamb to be killed.’ Isaiah 53:7 [NIrV].”
—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, page 136, adapted.
John the Baptist said that when he first met Jesus, “ ‘I did
not know who he was’ ” (John 1:31, ERV). So, then, how
did John know that Jesus was the Savior? The answer is
that God told John: “ ‘God said to me, “The Holy Spirit will
come down and stay on Him. He is the One Who baptizes
with the Holy Spirit.” I saw this happen. I am now saying
that Jesus is the Son of God’ ” (John 1:33, 34, NLV). So, in
other words, God showed John that Jesus was the Savior.
“But Christ is God’s power and wisdom” (1 Corinthians
1:24, ERV). God helps us to know that Jesus is the Savior.
We see this idea often in the Book of John. Only God saves
us when we give our hearts to Jesus in faith and obey Him.

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 TUESDAY—NOVEMBER 5 Lesson 6
ACCEPTING OR REJECTING JESUS (John 6:51–71)

Lesson 2 talked about the time Jesus fed more than

5,000 people (John 6). But the lesson didn’t talk about the
final part of the story, which we will look at here.

What did Jesus say that people had trouble accept-

ing? Read John 6:51–71 for the answer.

After Jesus worked a miracle to feed more than 5,000

people, they were ready to make Jesus king (John 6:1–
15). Later, at the Jewish church in Capernaum, Jesus
explained the spiritual meaning of the miracle to the peo-
ple. Jesus said, “ ‘I am the bread that gives life’ ” (John
6:35, ERV). Jesus explains that this bread is a word pic-
ture for His body. Jesus will give His body as an offering
for sin so that the people of this earth can have everlast-
ing life (John 6:51).
Jesus’ saying helped the people understand that Jesus
wasn’t going to be their king. But the people refused to
accept what Jesus told them. Many of His followers left Him
at this time (John 6:66).
Their leaving must have hurt Jesus. Everyone wants to
be liked. When Jesus sees so many people leave Him, He
asks His Twelve followers if they want to leave Him, too.
At this time, Peter makes an amazing announcement
about who Jesus is and what He has to give. “Simon Peter
said to Him, ‘Lord, who else can we go to? You have words
that give life that lasts forever. We believe and know You are
the Christ [the Savior]. You are the Son of the Living God’ ”
(John 6:68, 69, NLV).
Jesus’ followers had been with Him for about two years.
They traveled with Him. They saw Him do miracles. They
heard His sermons. The followers knew from experience
Jesus explains that
that there was no one else the same as Jesus. The fol- this bread is a word picture
lowers believed that Jesus was the Savior, even if they for His body.
didn’t understand what He came to do. Only when Jesus
died and woke up from the dead did the followers start to
understand why Jesus came to earth.

What does this story in John 6:51–71 teach us about

how big groups of people are often wrong about things?
Why must we remember this important idea when we
share with other people those parts of our faith that
many people, and even some Christians, do not like?

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 Lesson 6 WEDNESDAY—NOVEMBER 6
GOD THE FATHER SAYS WHO JESUS IS (John 5:36–38)

The Book of John starts with the topic about the Word
(“logos” in the Greek language), who is Jesus. John tells us
that the Word is with God the Father (John 1:1). Then the
Word comes to live in a human body on earth. At that time,
the Holy Spirit says who Jesus is. The Spirit rests on Jesus
at His baptism (John 1:32–34). Later, God the Father also
tells us who Jesus is during Jesus’ work on earth.

Read John 5:36–38. What does Jesus say in these

verses about God the Father?

Jesus connects God the Father to the works and mira-

cles He did on this earth. Jesus says that the Father sent
Him. The Father also is a witness about who Jesus is and
what He came to do.

What does God the Father say about Jesus? Read

Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5; Mark 1:11; and Luke 3:22
(also read 2 Peter 1:17, 18).

During Jesus’ baptism, God the Father and the Holy

Spirit join Jesus at this important time. Jesus’ work on earth
is about to start. The Father says that Jesus is His beloved
Son. God is very pleased with Him. Later, God makes
another announcement at an important time during Jesus’
work on earth. We can read about this time in John 12.
In chapter 12, John tells us that at this time Jesus is
almost done with His work on earth. The Jewish leaders
couldn’t stop Jesus in His work (read John 12:19). So,
now more than ever, the Jewish leaders want to kill Jesus.
The crowds love Jesus. More and more people heard the
stories of the witnesses who saw Jesus wake up Lazarus
The Spirit rests on Jesus from the dead (John 12:17, 18). So, more people started to
at His baptism follow Jesus. The Greeks who came to Jerusalem for the
(John 1:32–34). feast also wanted to meet Jesus.
The Father again speaks to Jesus from heaven. God the
Father answers Jesus’ words in John 12:28. Jesus says,
“ ‘Father, honor Your name!’ Then a voice from heaven came,
saying, ‘I have already honored My name. I will honor it
again!’ ” (NLV).
As we saw already, Jesus will be honored on the cross.
So, the Father’s announcement in John 12:28 is talking
about Jesus’ offering as the Lamb of God for our sins.

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 THURSDAY—NOVEMBER 7 Lesson 6
THE CROWD ANNOUNCES WHO JESUS IS
(John 7:37–53)

“The last day of the feast came. It was the most important
day. On that day Jesus stood up and said in a loud voice, ‘If
anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. If a person
believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from his
heart. This is what the Scripture [the Bible] says’ ” (John
7:37, 38, ICB).
Many times John writes the announcements that Jesus
makes about Himself. Jesus says who He was and what
He came to do. The verses from John 7:37, 38 are another
example of an announcement Jesus makes about Himself.
Jesus promises to do wonderful things for people who
believe in Him. This promise is amazing.

When Jesus talked to the Jews at the feast, how did

many people in the crowd answer Him? Read John
7:37–53 for the answer.

Some people in the crowd said that Jesus was the

“ ‘If a person believes in
Special Messenger that Moses said would come (read me, rivers of living water
Deuteronomy 18:15–19). Other people thought that Jesus will flow out from his
was the Savior. But this belief caused some Jews to argue heart.’ ”
about where the Savior would come from. They said that
the Savior wouldn’t come from Galilee. They also said that
the Savior must be born from David’s line. So, the Savior
had to be born in Bethlehem. All these things were true
about Jesus (compare with Matthew 1–2). But many people
didn’t know these things!
The soldiers who came to arrest Jesus were also sur-
prised at the things He said. The Jewish religious leaders
answered the soldiers with another question. “ ‘You don’t see
any of the leaders or any of us Pharisees believing in him, do
you?’ ” (John 7:48, ERV). Then the Book of John tells us that
Nicodemus tries to protect Jesus from the evil plans of the
Jewish leaders. Nicodemus says, “ ‘Our law does not judge
a man without hearing him. We cannot judge him until we
know what he has done’ ” (John 7:51, ICB). Did Nicodemus
accept Jesus as the Savior? The verse we just read isn’t
proof that Nicodemus did. But between this story and what
Nicodemus did after Jesus died (read John 19:39, 40), the
Bible gives us proof that Nicodemus did come to believe in
Him. So, the answer to the Pharisees’ question was, “Yes,”
one of the spiritual leaders did believe Jesus!

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 Lesson 6 FRIDAY—NOVEMBER 8
ADDITIONAL THOUGHT: Read Ellen G. White, “The Crisis
in Galilee,” pages 383–394; “In the Outer Court,” pages
621–626, in The Desire of Ages.

“ ‘Lord, who else can we go to?’ [John 6:68, NLV]. The

Jewish teachers were the same as slaves to wrong ideas
about God. The Pharisees and Sadducees were two
groups of spiritual leaders. They were always fighting with
each other. If people did not want to follow Jesus, the only
other teachers were the Pharisees or Saducees. These
men wanted the honor that belonged only to God. These
men loved empty worship. When Jesus’ followers accepted
Him, they found more peace and joy than they knew before
in their old lives. How could they go back to the teachers
who scolded and attacked the Friend of sinners? Jesus’ fol-
lowers waited for the Savior to come for a long time. They
couldn’t turn away from Him to the teachers who wanted to
kill Him. These same spiritual leaders attacked the followers
for accepting Jesus.
“ ‘Lord, who else can we go to?’ The followers couldn’t
reject Jesus’ precious teachings or His lessons about love
and mercy for lies and a life of sin. Many people rejected
Jesus. These same people saw the wonderful works and
miracles that Jesus did. But Peter announced the faith of
Jesus’ followers: ‘You are the Savior.’ The followers were
filled with fear and pain at the thought of losing Jesus. Jesus
was the same as a ship’s anchor. If the followers rejected
Jesus, they felt they would be the same as a ship with no
anchor that was drifting on a dark and stormy sea.”—Ellen
G. White, The Desire of Ages, page 393, adapted.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
“If the followers rejected
Jesus, they felt they would1 Some people accepted Jesus as the Savior, while other
be the same as a ship people rejected Him. Both groups saw the same proof for
with no anchor Jesus as Savior. Why did some people accept the proof while
that was drifting on other people rejected it?
a dark and stormy sea.”
2 Jesus died for our sins. How do we know this important
Bible truth? Did science teach us? Why must the Bible have
the final say in everything we believe?

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 Story
“WE DIDN’T SEND ANYONE” INSIDE
F or four years, Donaldo Velasquez visited a Colombian
prison every Friday morning to preach about Jesus. by Andrew McChesney
But one Friday, Donaldo couldn’t go. Donaldo worked as a
carpenter. One of his customers needed his help. Donaldo
also badly needed the money.
Only four Seventh-day Adventists had permission to visit the
prison in Acacias. They were Donaldo, Ranses, Pedro, and the
pastor. Donaldo called them on the phone for help. Ranses
said, “No, I’m too busy.” Pedro also said he couldn’t go. The
pastor apologized, saying he was out of town.
Donaldo cried and prayed. When his wife, Jesusita, asked
Donaldo what was wrong, he said that he didn’t want to miss
the meeting with the prisoners. But he needed to work. Jesusita
said, “Go, do your job. God will provide for the prisoners.”
The next time Donaldo visited the prison, 38 inmates came to
hear him preach. Pedro went to the prison with Donaldo.
One prisoner asked, “Where is the man who came to preach
to us the last time?”
Donaldo answered, “We didn’t send anyone.”
Another prisoner said, “Yes, you did. A man preached to us.”
Donaldo said, “No, we didn’t send anyone.” He thought that
maybe the man who preached was from a different church.
The prisoners said, “No, no. We know everyone who is
allowed to visit us. This man never visited us before. He wasn’t
from a different church.”
Donaldo asked about the man’s sermon. The prisoners said Donaldo believes that God
sent His angel that day.
the man talked about the seventh-day Sabbath.
The prisoners told Donaldo that the man was tall and wore
nice clothes, including a white shirt. The prisoners said the man
knew the Bible so well that they thought he must be a teacher.
Pedro touched Donaldo’s arm. Pedro said, “An angel must
have come and preached to them.”
Donaldo wasn’t convinced. He went to the prison guard. The
guard was a friend of Donaldo’s. The guard checked the com-
puter records of visitors to the prison. Then the guard shook his
head. He said, “No one visited the prison that day.”
Donaldo was amazed. He said, “Now I know the Lord sent an
angel to teach the Bible that day.”
Donaldo went back to the prisoners. He told them they saw
an angel for sure. Six years later, almost all 38 prisoners gave
their hearts to Jesus and were baptized. Donaldo said he will
always remember that day. He says, “Yes, the story is amazing.
But I believe God sent His angel that day.” Thank you for your
13th Sabbath Offering that helped God’s work in Colombia last Donaldo Velasquez
quarter.
Provided by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission, which uses Sabbath School 51
mission offerings to spread the gospel worldwide. Read new stories daily at [Link].