Unit 2 LESSON 12

May 18, 2025

Study Text: Matthew 24:29-35; Mark 8:34-38; 9:42-50; Luke 12:1-5; John 3:14-18:5:24-30; 14:1-6; 17:20-26

             Central Truth: Believers in Jesus will inherit His everlasting kingdom.

KEY VERSE: John 14:3 If I [Jesus] go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also (KJV).

"When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am" (NLT).

LET'S GET STARTED

Home shopping is big business. Some people make a living from helping people find their dream homes. Some people help home buyers get mortgages. Some people even create television programs showing people shopping for homes. Any home we build on this earth will be temporary. But Jesus is preparing an eternal home for us (John 14:3). He warns His disciples about the dangers of getting lost along the way and explains what path they should follow to make it home. He even describes the day of the "big reveal" when believers will move into their perfect, everlasting home.

PART 1- Warnings about Being Lost

The Value of the Soul        Mark 8:36-37; Luke 12:4-5

In Mark 8:36-37, Jesus explained the value of a soul. He used economic terms, for even the poorest people listening understood the ideas of profit and loss. Jesus had just taught His followers that they must practice self-denial to be part of His kingdom (verse 34). If they would wind up losing everything (verse 35). Then He explained that achieving earthly success is irrelevant from an eternal perspective. Jesus called for absolute surrender to Him, but the return on that investment would be eternal life. In verse 5, Jesus explained that if a believer is going to be afraid, they should fear God, the One who holds their eternal destiny in His hand, The word translated "hell" in verse 5 is gehenna. The Greek word hades was used more generically for the place of the dead, whereas gehenna was used to describe a place within hades where the wicked would be punished. After telling His disciples to fear God, Jesus immediately reminded them of God's love and care for them (verse 6-7). Our Father does not want us to get lost on our way home, which is why Jesus warns so strongly that nothing on this earth compares to the value of eternal souls.

Discuss? What things might cause people to leave the path that leads to eternal life?

Remain Pure                       Mark 9:42-50

In Mark 9:43-48. Jesus again warned His followers about the reality of hell. Jesus spoke about eternal punishment with His followers, but He spoke more about eternal reward with the larger crowds. Jesus taught that sin has consequences that affect one's eternal destiny. He taught about removing eyes, hands, and feet are not to be taken literally, but the need to remove anything from our lives that could lead us into sin. Believers can also be strengthened through fiery trials (Mark 9:49). In the Old Testamen, offerings to God were seasoned with salt. (Leviticus 2:13). Jesus explained that a believer's entire life is a sacrifice to God--passed through fire, seasoned with salt, and presented as a pure offering to the Lord (Mark 9:49-50). When a person repents, receives forgiveness from God, chooses to live according to His Word, and makes whatever sacrifices are necessary to remove sin, the result will be a pure heart that is prepared to stand before God.

Discuss? What influences might drag us into sin? How can we remove those influences?

Part 2-- Jesus Offers Everlasting Life

Look Upon the Son                        John 3:14-18

In John 3:14, Jesus used the symbol of the bronze snake (Numbers 21:4-9) to described what He would do for humanity. Sin is a poison, and its results are deadly (Romans 3:23). But when we turn from sin and look to Jesus, we receive eternal life. This is the reason God sent Jesus into the world--not to bring condemnation, but to offer redemption (John 3:16--18). There is only one cure for the poison of sin--looking to Jesus. When we fix our eyes on Him, we are released from the grip of sin and death, and we receive eternal life. Staying on the path to our eternal home with God is as simple is keeping our eyes on Jesus, God's only Son, who was lifted up on a cross for our sins.

DISCUSS? What are some ways we can point dying people to the cross of Jesus?

                 The Dead Come to Life           John 5:24-29

In John 5:24, Jesus explained that those who believe in Him "have already passed from death into life." He  told the religious leaders that the time had come for spiritually dead people to hear His voice, listen, and live (verse 25). Jesus ' life, death, and resurrection provided the way for people to believe in Him and receive eternal life (Ephesians 2:1-10). In John 5:26, Jesus described how He possesses God's own life-giving power, The Son can give life to others. He also has authority from the Father to pass judgment (verse 27). By doing so, He assumes a given exclusively to the LORD (Yahweh) in the Old Testament, showing His equal standing with God the Father. Jesus also looks forward to the day when the dead will hear His voice and come out of their braves (verses 28-29). All of the dead will respond to Jesus' voice and come out of their graves for the judgment?

DISCUSS? Should believers be afraid of Judgment Day? Why or why not?

      Part 3- Jesus Will Gather His Own

"I Am the Way"      John 14:1-6; 17:24

At the end of John 13, Jesus told His disciples that He was going away (verse 33). The disciples were troubled. So, Jesus comforted them, reminding them to trust Him and trust His Father (14:1). Jesus assured the disciples that He was going ahead of them to prepare their permanent home (verse 2). While this world is temporary and full of trouble, the Father's house is somewhere that His Children will remain forever in His presence. The grandeur of our eternal home is not what makes it paradise; it is God's eternal presence (verse 3). Jesus told the disciples they knew the way to where He was going, but Thomas objected that they couldn't know the way since they didn't even know where Jesus was going (verses 4-5).  This led to Jesus' powerful statement: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." Only by following Him can we ever reach the Father's presence. Jesus made it clear that He wants His followers to be with Him (17:24). When we are in that place He is preparing for us in His Father's house, we will finally experience the full glory of Jesus.

Discuss?  Why did God design only one way to reach Him? Why can all religions not lead a person to God?

Gathering the Saints                  Matthew 24:29-31

In Mathew 24, Jesus described the great suffering and anguish in the last days. It's important to note that the world "then" in verse 30 does not necessarily indicate a sequence of events. Jesus is not giving a checklist for how end-time events will proceed; He is teaching His disciples what will happen when the end does arrive. Unlike God's people, the "peoples of the earth" will respond with mourning (verse 30). Their window to accept Jesus will be closed when He returns to settle accounts. Realizing the permanence of their separation from God, people will mourn. When Jesus arrives, He will dispatch His angels to gather His people (verse 31). Evil will be judged, and God's people will enter their true home to dwell with the Lord forever. This is the blessed hope of believers (Titus 2:13).

Discuss? Why is it so important to share the gospel with people who don't Jesus?

WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO US?

Jesus is preparing a place  for us. There is plenty of room for everyone who makes Him their Lord. Unlike anything in this life, our home with Him will be permanent. e will always remain in His   presence. But to enter that eternal home, we must respond to Jesus' offer of salvation by repenting of our sin and allowing Him to change us from the inside out. Jesus is the  only way to salvation. If we follow Him faithfully during our earthly lives, we have Jesus' promise that He will gather us along with the rest of His people and take us to be with Him for all eternity. 

LIVING IT OUT

Look for ways to share the good news with unbelievers in your life this week.

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               DAILY BIBLE READING

                             Monday: David Laments Saul and Jonathan. 2 Samuel 1:17-27

                 Tuesday: Death and Burial of Elisha. 2 kings 13:14-21

             Wednesday: Redeemed from Death. Hosea 13:9-14

                           Thursday: A Widow's Son Raised from Death. Luke 7:11-17  

 Friday. Dorcas Raised from Death. Acts 9:36-43

               Saturday: Eutychus Raised from Death. Acts 20:6-12

Gospel Publishing House. 1445 N. Boonville Ave. Springfield, Missouri 65802 Volume 106 Number 3. Mar. Apr. May 2025