Lesson 30

1. In our lesson text this week Jesus discusses the devil.  Before you read the lesson text tell what you know already about the devil:

Text John 8:37-47

“I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.  I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.”

 

Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.  But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?  He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

Consider these facts about the devil we learn from Jesus:

White Lies

Some people think it is all right to tell “white lies”. What is a “white lie”?  People have created the term “white lie” to cover lies they think are not as harmful or evil as “black lies”.  Someone may describe “white lies” as untruths that are spoken to spare a person’s feelings or maybe even to spare a person’s life.   For instance, a person might tell someone he/she looks great and yet be thinking he/she looks terrible.  The person telling such a lie may think the lie is beneficial or has a redeeming quality.  In reality, there is no such thing as a white lie.  A lie is a lie.  If a statement contains an untruth it is a lie. God does not define or condone “white lies” in the Bible. 

True or False

2.  If the devil told you that stealing a piece of candy at Wal-Mart would make you happy because the candy tastes so good, you should listen to him.

3.  Jesus told the Jewish leaders that the devil was their father.

4.  Jesus told them that the devil invented the lie.

5.  Jesus spoke only the truth.

6.  Jesus spoke only what the Father told Him to speak. 

7.  It is all right to tell white lies.

Choose the correct answer

(Watch out for trick questions!)

8.  The Jewish leaders told Jesus that (the devil; Abraham; God) was their father.

9.  Jesus told them that they could not understand His Words because:  (they were not able to listen; Jesus did not speak clearly; Jesus spoke a different language and they did not have an interpreter).

10. Jesus said:  If you were Abraham’s children you would (live in a tent; do the works of Abraham, obey the Law of Moses just like Abraham did)

11. Jesus told them that (God; Abraham; the devil) was their father.

12. We can learn a lesson from these Jewish leaders and know that (if we say we are God’s children it doesn’t matter how we live; if we are God’s children we must be righteous like He is; if we are not able to listen to God we will not understand His Word)

Family Discussion

Discuss why the Jewish leaders were not able to listen to Jesus.  Could they clearly hear the Words Jesus was saying?  If they could hear His Words, then why were they not able to listen?  Explain how we can tell that someone is listening to and understanding God’s Word today.

Unscramble the following words:

13.  Ggnnneiib      

14.  Slei

15.  Velid

16.  Rrreedum        

17.  Socreures   

18.  Rial

19.  Hutrt 

20.  Kpaess

21. Trefah

22. Dastn

Now that you have unscrambled the words, find them in the puzzle. 

Fill in the blanks with the words you have unscrambled:

23.  The ________ , who ________ from his own ________, is a _______. He is the _______ of ________.  He was a __________ from the ____________ and does not ______ in _______.   

24.  Tell in your own words what you have learned from today's lesson.