Reflection Questions
1. Jesus promised to send the Spirit upon his Apostles to empower their teaching ministry. Who does the Spirit witness to? How would he assist the disciples? Read John 14.26, John 15.26-27.
2.When Jesus went through the waters of baptism at the start of his ministry, the Father witnessed to his identity. Read Mark 1.9-15. Put the Father’s testimony in your own words.
3.Interestingly, the innocent suffering and cries from Jesus during his passion and death speak a word of witness. The cross speaks. How did the centurion respond to the Son’s testimony through his cross? Read Mark 15.27-39 & discuss v39.
4. Read 1 John 5.6-8.
1John 5:6 ‘This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.’
The most obvious way to interpret the three who testify seems to be: 1. the Spirit- the Spirit’s testimony through the Apostles; 2 the water- the Father’s testimony at the waters of Jesus’ Baptism; and 3. the blood- the Son’s testimony in his passion and death.
How does having three persons (the whole Trinity) testify, bring assurance of Jesus’ identity as Son of God, come in the flesh, crucified for us?
5. Read 1 John 5.9.
Think about the holy character, authority, and communication skill of God. How does his greatness in these ways bring us confidence of God’s testimony about Jesus?
6. If you and I really believed that …
‘1 John 5.11 God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.’
(i)How would our conduct reflect the reality of our new hearts?
(ii) How would our attitude to physical death be impacted by the real hope of our future resurrection (when Jesus returns)?
(iii) How would our friendships be impacted? What would we long to share with our friends?