Wednesday Bible Study - John 5

 This study reminds us that healing, faith, and understanding God’s Word require both willingness and an open heart to receive what God offers.

Bible Study Recap – Wednesday, March 11

Text: John 5
Division of the Text:

1. The Healing at Bethesda (John 5:1–15)

2. Jesus’ Authority and Unity with the Father (John 5:16–30)

3. The Four Witnesses About Jesus (John 5:31–47)

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1. The Healing at Bethesda (John 5:1–15)

We discussed why Jesus asked the man, “Do you want to be made well?” before performing the miracle. This question shows that faith and willingness are essential for healing. Not everyone receives miracles in the same way, and Jesus works uniquely in each situation.

We described the man’s whole situation—his illness, isolation, and long-term paralysis—which helped us understand the depth of Jesus’ compassion and the significance of personal response to God’s intervention.

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2. Jesus’ Authority and Unity with the Father (John 5:16–30)

In this section, Jesus claims His authority to:

• Give eternal life (John 5:21)

• Raise the dead (John 5:28–29)

• Judge humanity (John 5:22, 27)

We explored how Jesus’ authority demonstrates His unity with the Father and the divine mission He carries out. This emphasizes that believing in Jesus is not just about miracles, but about trusting His authority over life and eternity.

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3. The Four Witnesses About Jesus (John 5:31–47)

Jesus points to four witnesses that testify about Him:

1. John the Baptist – testified of Jesus’ identity (John 5:33–35)

2. Jesus’ Works – the miracles and signs reveal God’s power (John 5:36)

3. The Father – God Himself bears witness (John 5:37)

4. The Scriptures – the Hebrew Scriptures point to Jesus (John 5:39–40)

Bible references for these witnesses:

• John 5:33–35 (John the Baptist)

• John 5:36 (Jesus’ Works)

• John 5:37 (The Father)

• John 5:39–47 (The Scriptures)

We emphasized the importance of trusting these testimonies as the foundation for faith in Jesus.

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Additional Reflections

• We discussed “old wine and new wine” in the Bible. The Pharisees represented the old skin unable to receive Jesus’ new teaching (doctrine). To receive what God offers, we need a transformed mind and heart, open to faith and new understanding.

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Reflection Questions

1. Are there areas of my life where I am comfortable in my “paralysis” instead of seeking healing from Jesus?

2. Do I rely more on religious rules, or do I have a living relationship with Jesus?

3. Do I truly trust the testimony of Scripture about Jesus?

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This study reminds us that healing, faith, and understanding God’s Word require both willingness and an open heart to receive what God offers.

By Rev. Marvel Souza

Next Bible Study

Our next Bible study will be on Wednesday at 5:00 PM in the Disciple Room at Jason Lee Memorial UMC. We hope to see you there as we continue to explore God’s Word together!

Death and Dying

DEATH AND DYING

Both science and faith, each in its own way and in its proper place, should help us live, and therefore also help us face death, with greater courage and dignity. Death is a consequence of life. In other words, death is an integral part of life. Life and death form a continuous line.

Death should not be seen simply as the final point at the end of life. If we see it that way, it becomes a tragedy that seems to rob life of its meaning. On the contrary, death gives life a deeper sense of urgency and reality. Because we do not have unlimited time, and because we do not know the hour of our death, every moment of life becomes uniquely precious. Each moment is the only one we truly possess. Either we live it well, or we risk letting it slip away.

In this sense, dying is a task that is built through living. Just as in nature, where we begin the process of dying the very day we are born, because our bodies are temporary, our challenge is to live in such a way that each day could be our last, without needing another day to fix what we left undone. When we live this way, death takes on a different meaning. It stops being an unavoidable tragedy that surprises us and instead becomes a quiet companion, reminding us daily of life’s fragility and of the importance of living deeply, both personally and in our relationships with others.

In this way, the death of others can also teach us how to die well. Those we love who have already gone before us remind us that life is temporary and encourage us to live more courageously and more fully. How good it would be if, from early in life, we could see death in this way and relate to it without so much fear. Perhaps we would live with greater wisdom and courage.

Those who have died cannot simply be pushed aside into the silence of hospital rooms, morgues, or cemeteries. They remain part of our story. Not in a way that traps us in constant grief, but in a way that nourishes our memory and reshapes the meaning of our lives.

Finally, we must remember a powerful biblical example that reveals the deeper meaning of death. The cross and the death Jesus experienced upon it were not accidents. The death of Jesus of Nazareth was the consequence of the life he lived. His unwavering commitment to goodness and love led him to face the threats of the cross. Because he did not retreat even a single step from that commitment, death became inevitable. In that sense, death became part of his life.

Yet death did not have the final word. Instead of being an ending, it became the beginning of a new dimension of life: the resurrection.

The risen Christ is the same Jesus who was crucified. He still bears the wounds. Yet life has risen to a new reality where the boundaries between life and death are broken, and a new humanity, renewed and recreated can live fully.

So remember: time flies. Seize the day.

Rev. Marvel Souza

Wednesday Bible Study Recap - John 4

 

Encounter at the Well

Based on Gospel of John Chapter 4

This Wednesday, we had a great time studying the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, focusing on grace, identity, and transformation.

We started our study with a warm-up game using Wordwall, where we recalled events that are found specifically in the Gospel of John. It was a fun way to review key stories and help everyone remember how unique this Gospel is in presenting Jesus’ identity and ministry.

Right after the game, we compared John chapter 3 and John chapter 4. In chapter 3, Jesus meets Nicodemus, a religious leader who came to Jesus at night, representing religious authority, knowledge, and social status. In contrast, in chapter 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman during the day, representing social exclusion and marginalization. Nicodemus comes privately, while the Samaritan woman meets Jesus in public space at the well. These two encounters show that Jesus is for everyone — religious and non-religious, respected and excluded, powerful and vulnerable.

We then moved into the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. In this passage, Jesus travels through Samaria and stops at Jacob’s well. He is tired and thirsty, which reminds us that Jesus was fully human. At the same time, He was intentionally stepping into spaces that society would normally avoid.

In that culture, Jews and Samaritans had long-standing conflicts, and rabbis usually avoided public conversations with women. Yet Jesus intentionally crosses these social and cultural barriers to offer grace and relationship.

During our study, we discussed how the woman’s vision of Jesus changes progressively throughout the conversation. At first, she sees Him simply as:

• A Jew — recognizing the cultural and ethnic difference.

• Then as a Prophet — after Jesus reveals knowledge about her life.

• Finally, she recognizes Him as the Messiah — the Savior, the “I Am.”

This gradual revelation is powerful because it shows how faith can grow step by step as people encounter Jesus personally.

Jesus then speaks about living water, shifting the conversation from physical thirst to spiritual transformation. The woman initially thinks in practical, physical terms, but Jesus is speaking about eternal life, grace, and new identity.

One of the most symbolic moments is when the woman leaves her water jar behind. This represents leaving behind shame, old identities, and past burdens. She then goes back to her community as a witness to what Jesus had done in her life.

Key Takeaways

• Jesus meets us in ordinary places.

• God’s grace comes before transformation.

• Our understanding of Jesus often grows progressively through relationship.

• Our identity is shaped by who Jesus is.

We are reminded to love boldly, cross boundaries with compassion, and live as children of God through Christ.

Join us next Wednesday as we continue growing together in faith!

Link for the word wall game: https://wordwall.net/resource/67554410/gospel-of-john-jesus-events-matching

Rev. Marvel Souza