W e realize you may not be able to discuss in every area of life? Is it always easy to follow all the questions. Pick the ones you lik e. Jesus? Small Group Questions c. Where is it is most difficult for you to follow “Secret Disciples” Jesus? At home? At work? At school? John 19:31-42 d. Can someone be a “secret disciple” of Jesus? Previous message summary: The Apostle John describes the Discussion Questions crucifixion of Jesus with specific language that brings to mind details that have been etched into his memory. John tells us Read John 19:31-42 about the drink Jesus requests from the cross that prolongs his 2. What day is Jesus crucified? What day of the week is suffering and fulfills prophecy. John tells us about the hyssop the “day of preparation”? Why is this day significant? branch that was used to lift the drink to Jesus’ mouth. The hyssop branch is what the Israelites in Egypt used to sprinkle a. What is the typical Roman practice concerning the blood over the doorposts at the initial Passover in Exodus 12. bodies of those who have been crucified? Do they John tells us that Jesus cried out, “It is finished” as he leave the bodies up or take them down? Why is completed the work of salvation and gave up his spirit. No one their typical practice important to the Romans? took Jesus’ life from him. He gave it up freely to cover the sin of all people. These details have been etched into John’s memory b. Because Jesus is crucified on the “day of and he is hoping they will be etched into our memory as well. preparation,” what do the Jews ask Pilate to do? Why is this request important to the Jews? Read What we learned: Jesus’ death, and the details of how he died Deuteronomy 21:22-23. align perfectly with Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah. The crucifixion of Jesus was God’s plan from the very c. What would happen to someone who is crucified if beginning. It was not an accident. It was not a tragic mistake. It their legs were broken? What happens to those was not God’s attempt to salvage a plan that had gone bad. who are crucified with Jesus? What happens to The cross of Jesus was God’s plan to provide salvation for all Jesus? people from the very beginning. John wants us to understand that Jesus is the Messiah and that his work of salvation on the d. Why did the soldiers not break the legs of Jesus? cross has been brought to completion. It is finished! How does this fulfill Old Testament prophecy? Read Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; & Psalm Introduction 34:20. 1. Have you ever said something or done something 3. What do the soldiers do to Jesus to ensure that he is because of your allegiance to Jesus that took a dead? Read John 19:34. Was this a common practice tremendous amount of courage? What did you say or at crucifixion? do? a. How does this detail of the death of Jesus match a. Jesus told his disciples to count the cost of Old Testament prophecy? Read Zechariah 12:10 following him. Read Luke 14:28-33. What has and Isaiah 53:5. following Jesus cost you in terms of sacrifices that b. What flows from Jesus’ body when he is pierced? you have had to make? What does this flow of fluid from Jesus’ side b. What would you tell a new believer about the confirm about Jesus’ condition? Why is this courage that it takes to be fully devoted to Jesus important? c. Do you know people who would deny that Jesus b. What would you say to someone who believes really died? that Jesus was a good man who was tragically 4. What normally happens to the bodies of those who crucified? are crucified? What happens to the body of Jesus c. What would you say to someone who believes after he is crucified? that Jesus really didn’t die, but was only mistaken a. After Jesus dies, who asks for the body of Jesus? for dead and buried alive, only to come out of the What does John tell us about this man? tomb three days later? b. What other details do we learn about the man Challenge: Jesus really did live. He really did die to pay who asked for the body of Jesus? Read Matt. the price of sin. He really was buried. And Jesus really did 27:57; Mark 14:43; and Luke 23:50. raise to life again conquering death and hell. These truths c. Who is the other man involved in the burial of are central to the Gospel message and to the life of a Jesus? What do we know about this man? Read Christian. May these truths give you confidence and John 3:1-2 and 7:44-51. peace as you acknowledge Jesus as your Lord this week. d. What do these men risk losing by asking for the Action: I will not be a secret disciple of Jesus. I will body of Jesus? What have you risked losing in publically display my allegiance to Jesus this week by order to show your allegiance to Jesus? ______. e. Why do they wait until now to come out of the shadows and publically display their allegiance to Next Steps: I will take a risk for Christ! Jesus? G I am thankful that it is not too late to follow Jesus. 5. In order to prepare the body of Jesus for burial, how much spice is brought? Is this a significant amount of G I will come out of the shadows and follow Jesus spice? completely. a. What does the ability to buy this much spice tell G I will take a risk and invite friends, relatives, you about the men who were responsible for neighbors, and co-workers to Easter services. burying Jesus? G I am willing to risk ______to follow Jesus. b. What details does John give his readers about the tomb that Jesus’ body was placed in? Read John 19:41. Where was it located and what kind of tomb was it? 6. Through all of the detail surrounding the death and the burial of Jesus, what can we conclude about who Jesus is and how people should respond? a. Read John 20:31. How does the death and burial of Jesus help prove John’s point about Jesus?