A SENSE OF GOD'S HISTORY

Luke 7:18-35

Key Verse: 7:22b

* JESUS' ANSWER TO JOHN (18-23)

1. Where was John the Baptist at that time? (3:20; Mt.11:2) What did John's disciples tell him about Jesus? What question was in their minds? Why? What did john tell them to do? (19)

2. When the messages from John arrived, what was Jesus doing? What answer did he send back to John? (Compare 4:17,18 and Isa.35:5,6; 61:1,2) Why did Jesus send this message to John?

3. What does Jesus' ministry and his words to John's disciples teach about God and the world and history? Why is it important to know that history is not controlled by men but by God? (23)

* JESUS' WITNESS ABOUT JOHN (24-28)

4. After John's massagers left, what did Jesus ask the crowd three times about John? What did Jesus remind them about John's life?

5. What did he teach them about John's real mission? (27; Mal.3:1)

6. What did Jesus say about John? (28) What does this mean?

*. JOHN AND JESUS WERE REJECTED (29-35)

7. How did the ordinary people respond to Jesus' words about John? Why? What does it mean to be baptized by John? What does it mean that "God's way is right"?

8. How did the Pharisees respond? Why? What are the consequences of refusing to repent before the word of God?

9. To what did Jesus compare the people of his generation? Why? How were the lifestyles of John and Jesus different? What did unrepentant people find to criticize about each one? What does this show?'

10. Why was Jesus happy in spite of their criticism? (35) What does verse 35 mean? How can we have spiritual insight?(Eph.1:17,18),