Personal Conversations with Jesus
John 3
First conversation (John 3:1-21)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Jesus is describing to Nicodemus the new birth, the nature of the work of the Holy Spirit, and the
means of acquiring eternal life.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
In this conversation, Jesus reveals that He has been sent by God, not to judge the world, but to
save it, and ensure eternal life to anyone who believes in Him. Jesus also refers to Himself as the
Light that has come into the world, who exposes the truth of a person’s deeds and character.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
John does not give Nicodemus’ response at the conclusion of Jesus’ statements. Initially,
Nicodemus expressed confusion and a lack of understanding, but not rejection of what Jesus said
to him.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
A practical truth that this conversation teaches is that a person’s aversion or attraction to Jesus
reveals their hatred or love of God and the truth.
John 4
First conversation (John 4:7-26)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus meets a woman from Samaria at a well
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
The conversation begins with Jesus asking for a drink of water, but it soon progresses to the topic
of the woman’s multiple marriages. His knowledge of her sin prompts her to bring up the coming
of the Messiah and where people are supposed to worship God.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what
This conversation reveals Jesus’ humanity because He is thirsty and asks the woman for a drink.
He uses His physical thirst as an opportunity to then reveal His deity. At the beginning of the
conversation Jesus refers to Himself as the Living Water. He tells the woman that He provides
spiritual water that will perpetually satisfy a person’s thirst. When she says that when the
Messiah comes, He will explain how and where a person should worship God, to which Jesus
tells her, “I who speak to you am He.” (4:26)
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
The woman left her waterpot and went back to the city and told the men there that she had found
a man who had told her everything that she had done, and asked if this could possibly be the
Christ (4:29). Jesus ends up staying in the city for two more days, and many people, including
the woman, came to believe that “this One is indeed the Savior of the world.” (4:42)
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
One of the most valuable lessons that is taught from this conversation is how to engage someone
with the gospel. Jesus provides an excellent model for evangelism by transitioning from talking
about the natural world to the spiritual.
Second conversation (John 4:31-38)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to the disciples while the woman He met at the well left to bring the men from
the city.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
The disciples urge Jesus to eat something, but He responds that His food is to do the will of His
Father and to accomplish His work, which, at that moment, was waiting for the people from the
city to return so that He could teach them about Himself as well.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
This conversation reveals Jesus’ humanity and deity. Most likely Jesus was hungry and thirsty
after His long journey, however, He tells His disciples that His first priority is to complete the
work the Father had sent Him to do, which was more satisfying than physical food.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result.)
Jesus informs the disciples that work of harvesting, or bringing souls into the Kingdom of God,
is in the present. He tells them that they have been sent to reap what others have sown.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
This conversation between Jesus and the disciples shows that fulfilling the work of the Father
should be first priority. Whether a person is one who sows or one who reaps, we should all be
laborers in the harvest, and rejoice with those who reap what has been sown, or have sown what
is being reaped.
Third conversation (John 4:47-53)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to a royal official, presumably of King Herod.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
The officials son is sick, and he is asking Jesus to come and heal him.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
This conversation is happening in Cana of Galilee, where Jesus had performed the miracle of
turning water into wine at a wedding. In this conversation, Jesus reveals that this man’s unbelief
is indicative of that of the Galileans in general; the man’s belief in Jesus is dependent on Him
performing the miracles of healing his son. Jesus, as if out of frustration, says that unless He
performs a miracles, these people just will not believe. He then simply tells the man, “Go; your
son lives.” (4:50)
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
The official takes Jesus at His word and leaves. Evidently, his trust in Jesus was minimal,
because it is not until he learns from his slaves (who meet him mid-journey home) that his son
had become well at the exact moment that Jesus said, “Your sons lives,” that he “himself
believed and his whole household.” (4:53)
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
From this example it is clear that, though the Lord can, and does, perform miracles, Jesus is
worthy of our trust; even if He does not always intervene in our circumstances in the ways we
wish He would.
John 5
First conversation (John 5:5-8, 14-15)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus engages a man who has been sick for thirty-eight years, and is waiting by the pool called
Bethesda.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Jesus has two conversations with the same man. First, Jesus asks him if he wishes to get well,
then tells him to rise up, take his pallet that he has been laying on, and walk. In the second
conversation, Jesus tells him to stop sinning or something worse that being an invalid for thirty-
eight years will happen to him.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
This conversation reveals the divine nature of Jesus in that He is more concerned with a person’s
eternal state than their physical state.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
First, when Jesus asks if the man wants to be made well, he answers with casting blame for his
sickness on the fact that no one has helped him into the pool. Once he is healed, it being the
Sabbath, the Jews accost him for carrying his pallet; to which he responds that it is Jesus’ fault
for making him well and telling him to carry it (a similar response he gave to Jesus – it’s
someone else’s fault). The Jews ask him who had made him well, but he does not know. After
Jesus finds him again, and warns him to stop sinning, the man goes back to the Jews and tells
them that it was Jesus who had healed him. His response to Jesus is very much like that of
Judas. Here he has witnessed and received the benefit of Jesus’ power and authority, and he
responds with betrayal and indifference. The result of this conversation is that the Jews
persecute Jesus all the more for healing this man on the Sabbath.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
This event is probably the most confounding of Jesus’ miracles for someone living in a rewards-
based culture. It makes sense that Jesus would heal someone who professes faith, or at least asks
Him to heal him. But this man made no such request, and did not profess faith in Jesus even
after he had been healed. Yet Jesus healed him nonetheless. Here He seeks, heals and warns an
ungrateful and unrepentant man. One of the lessons I have learned from this interaction is that
the Lord is more concerned with a person’s eternal state than their physical one. For a believer,
death is the best thing that can happen to them; for an unbeliever, it is the worst.
Second conversation (John 5:16-47)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to the Jewish leaders who had confronted the man Jesus healed at the pool of
Bethesda.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Jesus explains to the Jewish leaders why it is permissible for Him to heal (i.e. work) on the
Sabbath. He also explains the origins of His authority and the various witnesses that corroborate
His testimony about who He is and what He has been sent to do.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
Jesus uses this opportunity to explain to these Jewish leaders that He is indeed equal with God,
but He is not claiming to be an additional god in competition with the true God. He is the Son
who submits to, and follows the example of, the Father in absolutely everything. Jesus reveals
that He is not simply telling them that He is the Son of God based on His own opinion of
Himself. He tells them that there are several witnesses who have testified that He is indeed the
Son of God. First, is John the Baptist who they entertained, but ultimately did not take seriously.
Second are His works that bear witness. Third is the testimony of the Father. Fourth are the very
Scriptures that the Jews studied that testified about Him. Lastly, Moses himself testified about
Him, and they didn’t even believe Moses.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
Jesus confronts them with their duplicity; they reject the truth of who Jesus is, even with all of
these witnesses, but they would accept someone who came in their own name and had no
corroborating testimony. The result is that they desire to kill Jesus all the more.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
One practical truth revealed in this conversation is that I can be confident that Jesus is the Son of
God regardless what my circumstances or emotions may be telling me. I can trust Him that He
will always accomplish the will of the Father, because He is submitted to the Father and not the
other way around.
John 6
First conversation (John 6:4-14)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to Philip and Andrew.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Jesus has taken the disciples to the countryside by the Sea of Galilee, and a large crowd has
followed Him. Jesus takes note of the size of the crowd, and asks Philip where were they going
to get food for the people to eat. Philip answers that two hundred days’ worth of wages would
not be enough money to buy enough food for everyone. Andrew has found a boy with five
barley loaves and two fish, and brings them to Jesus.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
The question Jesus asks Philip is rhetorical. He had resolved a plan in His own mind already, but
was asking Philip in order to test him. After Jesus has the disciples instruct the crowd of about
5,000 men (not counting women and children) to sit down, He gives thanks for the food and it is
distributed among the crowd until everyone has had their fill. When everyone was finished
eating, Jesus had the remnants gathered up so nothing would be wasted, and the disciples filled
twelve baskets full. This sign was similar to miracles performed by Moses when God sent
manna down from heaven for the people of Israel.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
When the people saw this sign, they said amongst themselves “This is truly the Prophet who is to
come into the world.” (6:14, NASB)
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
In this conversation with the disciples, and the feeding of the crowd, Jesus is giving an object
lesson of how He is delegating the work of the kingdom to them, and with what little resources
they have in themselves to contribute to the work, fully surrendered to the Lord, He will multiply
it to “feed” many people.
Second conversation (John 6:16-21)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to the disciples in a boat on the Sea of Galilee
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
They saw Jesus walking towards them on the water, and they were afraid until He reassured
them that it was Him.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
Jesus echoes God’s disclosure of Himself in the Old Testament by telling the disciples, “It is I.”
The miracle of walking on the water itself displays His divinity in that He has authority over His
creation, just like God, the Father, does.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
John does record if the disciples had a verbal response, but they were comforted by Jesus’
assurance that it was Him, and they took Him into the boat.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
Jesus had withdrawn by Himself when He learned that the crowd intended to make Him king by
force. The lesson that can be learned from Jesus’ affirmation is that, even though He is not the
kind of Messiah that the world may want Him to be, He is the Messiah nonetheless, and He has
authority over all His creation.
Third conversation (John 6:24-58)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is speaking to the crowd that He had fed with the five loaves and two fish the day before.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
The crowd has followed Jesus to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, and He confronts them with
the fact that they are pursuing Him because He fed them. He tells them to pursue the spiritual
food that God provides only through the Son.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If
“so, what?
John records Jesus’ teaching regarding His divine nature. He tells the crowd, “I am the bread of
life” (6:48), and that He is “the living bread that comes down out of heaven” (6:51). In these two
statements Jesus is identifying with God’s self-identification of “I am” in the Old Testament, and
that eternal life can only be obtained through faith in Him. Jesus’ says that by ingesting His
flesh, and drinking His blood, a person will receive eternal life. Jesus was not encouraging
cannibalism, but was using these terms as a metaphor for accepting His teaching so that it is
absorbed into a person’s entire. This statement reminds me of King David’s love for God’s
word. He says, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
(Psalm 119:103, NASB) That He and His word are perpetually satisfying is another claim to
divinity by Jesus.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
The reaction of the crowd to Jesus’ teaching about Himself is rejection and incredulity. They
simply cannot accept the claims that Jesus is making about Himself because they assume
incorrectly that they know all about Him. They found fault with Him because they thought they
knew where He was from, and His parents; so His declaration that He has always existed, and
that by consuming His flesh one might obtain eternal life was offensive to them. Their
familiarity bred contempt.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
One lesson to be learned from this conversation is that, in order to please Him, all God requires
of a person is to adhere to, rely on, and put complete trust in His Son, Jesus. This intimate trust
in Jesus will result in good works, but good works cannot earn God’s approval or eternal life.
Fourth conversation (John 6:60-66)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to His disciples (not just the twelve).
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
These disciples are people who had agreed to follow Jesus, but after hearing His teaching about
being the Bread of Life, they found it harsh and difficult to accept – not difficult to understand.
Jesus reiterates that no one can follow Him unless that person has been enabled to do so by the
Father, and that He himself knows who has true faith and who does not.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
Jesus again makes a claim to divinity by calling Himself the Son of Man who will ascend back to
heaven, meaning that He came down from heaven and is a Messianic reference made in Daniel
7:13: “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, on the clouds of heaven One like a Son of
Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him.”
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
These followers of Jesus took offense at His teaching and turned away from following Him any
longer.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
There are faithful disciples and there are unfaithful disciples of Jesus. There are many people
who enjoy the good things Jesus provides (e.g. joy, peace, love, etc.), but when they are
confronted with the teachings of Jesus that require them to reproach their sin, or be ostracized
from the world, or even forego worldly comforts or possessions, they abandon Christ. The
lesson to be learned from this conversation is that the Lord will never force someone to follow
Him against their will. I have been called to follow Him; not to follow someone who follows
Him.
Fifth conversation (John 6:67-70)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to the twelve disciples.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Many disciples had just left Jesus, and stopped following Him. He is asking the twelve if they
are going to stop following Him as well.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
Jesus accepts Peter’s profession that He is “the Holy One of God” and that His word is life. By
accepting these expressions of faith and praise, Jesus is acknowledging that He is divine.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
Jesus affirms the calling of the twelve, and reveals that among them is one who is an ally of the
devil.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
Even if my flesh resists what Jesus is telling me to do, to obey and trust Him will be worth it
because He is the Son of God. He alone is the truth and gives life.
John 7
First conversation (John 7:3-9)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to his brothers.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
They are telling Him to go to Judea for the Feast of Tabernacles. His brothers encourage Him to
go show His miracles “to the world” (7:4) so that He can gain more notoriety. Jesus tells them
no, but to go to the feast without Him.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
Jesus’ answer to His brothers reveals His divinity in that He is submitting to the will of His
Father. He will go to the festival, but only in the manner and the timing of the Father.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
His brothers remain skeptical and unbelieving.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
Jesus tells His brothers that because they are allies with the world, the world does not hate them.
They want Jesus to impress the world with His miracles, but the world hates Jesus because He
testifies against them that their deeds are evil. The lesson from this conversation is that I cannot
please people who are loved by the world if I live in submission and obedience to God. Because
the world hates Jesus, it will hate me, too.
Second conversation (John 7:15-36)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to the Jewish leaders in the temple in Jerusalem.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
The Jews are questioning where Jesus received His knowledge because He was not formally
taught by any Rabbi. Jesus tells them that they appeal to tradition and human authority, but He
appeals to the authority of Father. He contrasts the difference between the lying, self-promoting,
self-seeking messengers that the Jews accept, and Himself, who is faithful to speak truth and
teach only what His Father instructs Him. Jesus exposes the Jews’ hypocrisy by comparing their
willingness to violate the Sabbath to keep the sacrament of circumcision and their hatred toward
Him for healing a man’s entire body on the Sabbath (5:1-5).
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
Jesus reveals His divine nature by indicating that His teaching is not His own, but comes from
His Father. He also points out that the Jewish leaders are actually ignorant of where He was
born. He was born in Bethlehem, which was a fulfillment of Messianic prophecy. Instead of
educating the Jews of His earthly origins, He again points them to His heavenly origin.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
The Jewish leaders were amazed, but remained skeptical. The conversation ends with the Jews
seeking to arrest Him, but being unsuccessful. The Jews are also confused where Jesus will go
where they cannot find Him.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
If someone desires to love and obey God, they will recognize Jesus’ teaching as being true and in
agreement with God’s nature. The lesson is to seek wisdom and use discernment when pursuing
truth, and not just to accept spiritual teachings that appeal to the selfish sin nature.
Third conversation (John 7:37-44)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to the crowd attending the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit, who will come to be a blessing to and through all believers
after Jesus has ascended.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
This conversation reveals Jesus’ deity because He is the source and supply of spiritual water, or
in other words, the Holy Spirit. Jesus references passages in Isaiah where God Himself is telling
Israel, “Therefore you will joyously draw water From the springs of salvation,” (12:3) and, “And
the Lord will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength
to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do
not fail” (58:11). Jesus applying these verses to Himself implies that He is a Person of the
Trinity.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
There are some in the crowd, not His disciples, who are saying to themselves that no one has
ever talked like Jesus before and were wondering if He might be the prophet that Moses had
promised. The chief priest and Pharisees, however, are even angrier and jealous of Jesus, and
condemn the crowd, the temple guards who refrained from arresting Jesus, and Nicodemus, who
was there with them.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
There is not, or has there ever been, someone who makes the claims that Jesus does. He truly is
either a liar, lunatic, or Lord.
John 9
First conversation (John 9:1-7)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to His disciples, and then to a man who was born blind.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
The disciples ask Jesus if the man was born blind as a punishment for a sin he committed, or his
parents committed. Jesus says that the purpose of the man’s blindness was to display God’s
power through him. He tells the disciples that His physical ministry on earth is only for a short
time, and while He is here, He will carry out the works that His Father sent Him to do.
Immediately after saying these things, Jesus puts mud made with His own spit on the man’s eyes
and tells him to go and wash in the Pool of Siloam.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
In this conversation, Jesus calls Himself the Light of the World; meaning, that His presence in
the world makes physical sight possible for a blind person, but also spiritual sight for anyone
who will believe Him. In healing the blind man, Jesus’ deity is made evident by displaying the
authority given to Him by the Father over the natural world, but it also reveals His humanity
because the mud was made with Jesus’ physical saliva.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
The man obeyed Jesus’ command to go and wash, and when he did, he was healed. He was
harassed by the Pharisees, abandoned by his parents, and finally excommunicated when he
answered the Pharisees’ questions regarding Jesus by saying, “If this Man were not from God,
He could do nothing” (9:330). He believed Jesus was a prophet without even having seen Him
yet.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
Though there are consequences for sin, not every unfortunate event that happens to us is a form
of punishment from God. Sometimes God allows certain events to befall us so that He can
accomplish His larger purpose through it. Regardless of our circumstances, whether we’re
reaping the consequences for our own, or someone else’s, sin, or if we are enduring hardship
without knowing the reason why, our response should be to trust God through it, knowing that
He can and will use it for His glory.
Second conversation (John 9:35-41)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to the man who had just been healed.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Jesus asks the man if he believes in the Son of Man, but the man does not know who He is.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
Jesus explicitly announces His deity by telling the man that He is the Son of Man. He also
receives the man’s worship when he professes faith in Him.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
The man professes belief in Jesus, and worships Him.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
Perhaps the purpose of misfortune is so that the Lord can give a greater understanding of who He
is.
Third conversation (John 9:39-41)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to the Pharisees who are with Him.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Jesus is telling the Pharisees, and the bystanders around listening to Him, that those who are self-
righteous and think they are wise are actually blind; those who recognize their need for
forgiveness and ignorance of God can actually see.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
Jesus reveals His deity by telling the Pharisees that He can heal their spiritual blindness, or in
other words, if they would believe in Him, He would forgive their sins – something only God
can do.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
The Pharisees reveal their blindness by being oblivious to their self-righteousness.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
The first step in coming to faith in Christ is having the humility to acknowledge one’s sin.
John 12
First conversation (John 12:3-8)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to Judas and the other disciples.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Mary, the sister of Lazarus, had just anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive oil and wiped His feet
with her hair. Judas objects to her doing this, saying that using the oil for cleaning Jesus’ feet is
a waste of money, and that the money would be better spent on giving to the poor. Jesus defends
Mary, and uses this occasion to speak of His fast-approaching death.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
This conversation reveals Jesus’ deity because He is foretelling His own death, and it reveals His
humanity because Jesus refers to His physical, not theoretical or spiritual, death.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
Judas was admonished by Jesus, and Mary’s actions were defended.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
A lesson that can be learned from this conversation is that ministry needs and daily
responsibilities will always be present, but time spent with Jesus is always well-spent.
Second conversation (John 12:20-33)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to Philip and Andrew after some Greeks had come to them wanting to speak to
Jesus.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Jesus is telling Philip and Andrew, and those present, that the time of His death, and the
culmination of the work He had been sent to accomplish, was near.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
This conversation reveals Jesus’ deity. He has been saying up until this point that His hour had
not yet come, but here, He says His hour has now come. He speaks of His death bringing
salvation to all people everywhere. He is also deeply troubled by the prospect of receiving His
Father’s wrath, and being separated from Him, and considers asking the Father to spare Him this;
however, He resolves that this was the very purpose for which He was sent, and so He will
complete the work He had been sent to do. At that moment, for the benefit of those gathered
around Him, God spoke from heaven affirming Jesus as His Son and His approval of Him. He
also predicted the type of death He would die and the glory which will He will receive through
His resurrection by saying, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to
Myself.” (12:32)
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
The crowds were amazed at hearing God speak from heaven.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
Jesus speaks of the ruin that awaits those who love their lives (comfort, possessions, etc.) over
doing the will of the Father.
Third conversation (John 12:34-37)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to the crowd
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
The crowd understood Jesus’ reference to Himself as the Son of Man to be a claim of
Messiahship, and the phrase “to be lifted up” to be referring to crucifixion. They could not
understand how the Messiah would be crucified.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
Jesus reveals His deity by calling Himself the Light, and by predicting the manner and time of
His death.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
In spite of all of the signs that Jesus performed, the Jews still would not believe.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
No matter how convincing an argument is, or how much a person has received from God, some
people simply will not believe.
Fourth conversation (John 12:44-50)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is still speaking to the crowd.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Before He went away and hid Himself, Jesus is giving a final address to the crowd as His public
ministry ends.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
This conversation reveals Jesus’ deity. He tells the crowd that He was sent by God, and that His
words are the very words of God. He promises salvation to anyone who trusts in Him. He
assures the crowd that He is the Light of the world, and whoever puts their hope in Him will not
walk in darkness.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
There were those in the crowd, especially prominent men, who persisted in their unbelief, but
there were many of the leading men who believed Jesus, but were afraid to confess it.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
Jesus says that to believe in Him is to believe in God, and He only speaks the things the Father
has told Him to speak. Because He has been sent from God, and is in fact equal with God, His
word is true and can be trusted. Those who do not trust Him, by rejecting Him they are actually
judging themselves.
John 13
First conversation (John 13:5-11)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to the Peter.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Jesus has just washed the other disciples’ feet, and Peter is refusing to let Jesus wash his feet.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
This conversation reveals His humanity because He is physically washing the feet of the
disciples. It also reveals His divine humility, that He performed a menial task of a servant as an
example to the disciples how they should serve each other. His deity is revealed in His
discernment of Judas’ duplicity and future betrayal.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
Peter submits and allows Jesus to wash His feet.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
Those who claim to follow Jesus should also follow His example and humbly serve others; even
those who are unkind toward them, and even those who have sinned against them.
Second conversation (John 13:12-20)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to the disciples.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Jesus is giving instruction to the disciples of how they should follow His example in all things,
including how they serve and love each other.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
This conversation reveals Jesus’ deity. He reveals His foreknowledge of Judas’ betrayal, and
states that his betrayal is a fulfillment of Scripture. Jesus says that He is telling the disciples
what will happen ahead of time so that they will know that “I am He”, meaning that He is the
Messiah. This “I am” statement also reveals His deity. His deity is also revealed in that He
knows who truly trusts Him and who does not.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
John does record the reaction of the disciples, but Jesus is offering clarity for the disciples
regarding the events that are about to happen.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
If I trust Jesus, and accept that He is who He says He is, then I will do what He says.
Third conversation (John 13:21-30)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus addresses all of the disciples, then John, and finally Judas.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Jesus says again that He is about to be betrayed and the disciples were unsure which one of them
He meant. John asks Jesus who it will be, and Jesus says it is the one who will eat the bread
given to him. He gives the bread to Judas and tells him to do what he intends to do quickly.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
This conversation reveals Jesus’ humanity and His deity. Jesus is troubled and upset in His spirit
as He announces He is about to be betrayed. His deity is revealed by His knowledge of what
Judas was about to do, and by His self-control in that He did not prevent Judas from betraying
Him.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
Judas submitted to the influence of Satan, and went away to betray Jesus.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
If Jesus instructed Judas to do his work quickly, He surely could have stopped him; but He
didn’t. He could have been more direct with the disciples, and told them exactly who was going
to betray Him. They surely would have tried to stop him. Sometimes Jesus allows evil people to
do what they want, but He is still the Messiah, and still sovereign. He will get glory through the
evil things people do, not in spite of them.
Fourth conversation (John 13:31-35)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to the remaining eleven disciples.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Jesus is preparing the disciples for His coming death.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
Jesus reveals His deity in that He views His coming humiliating death by crucifixion as the
revelation of the glory of God. He also reveals that because of His death, He will be glorified by
the Father.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
The disciples are bewildered at where Jesus is going, and why they can’t go with Him.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
Jesus ends the conversation with a command: that the disciples love one another as He has loved
them. This is not a light command. Jesus has just washed their feet, and will soon be crucified
for them, as well as everyone else who will believe in Him. The love I should have for others,
especially other followers of Christ, is selfless, sacrificial and humble.
Fifth conversation (John 13:36-38)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to Peter.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Peter wants to follow Jesus, and is told he cannot.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
Jesus reveals His deity in that He knows Peter better than he knows himself. He knows that
Peter will deny Him. However, He says that Peter cannot follow Him now, but he will be able to
follow Him later, meaning that even though Peter will deny Him, he will still be in heaven with
Him one day.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
Peter professes that he would die for Christ.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves, and loves us anyway. Even if I fail Him, I am
still His child and will be with Him one day.
John 16
First conversation (John 16:1-18)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to the disciples.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Jesus is preparing them for His death, for future persecution, and the coming Holy Spirit.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
Jesus is revealing His deity in this conversation. He tells the disciples that when He goes to the
Father, He will send the Holy Spirit to them, and, just as He spoke exactly what the Father told
Him, the Holy Spirit will only speak the words of Christ. Jesus is saying is an equal part of the
Trinity.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
The disciples are filled with sorrow that Jesus is leaving them, and they will not be with Him
anymore. They are also confused where He is going that they cannot come with Him.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
I should not be discouraged when I am treated badly for being a follower of Christ. He was
rejected, and I will be, too.
Second conversation (John 16:19-33)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to the disciples.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Jesus is giving them final instructions before His death.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
Jesus is revealing His deity, but also His humanity. He is telling them that He is from the Father,
and is going back to Him. He is telling them that He will physically die, but also physically rise
again. He also tells them to pray in His name and God will answer their prayers.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
The disciples finally believe that He came from God.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
Because Jesus has conquered the world, sin, and death, I can have peace, regardless of my
feelings or my circumstances. If Jesus was not left by the Father in the time of His greatest need,
then neither will I.
John 18
First conversation (John 18:4-11)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to Judas, the Pharisees, the temple guards, and Peter.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
The group led by Judas are looking for Jesus, and He goes out to meet them. He does not resist,
but tells the guards to let the disciples go on their way. Peter attempts to prevent Jesus’ arrest
and cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant with a sword.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
This conversation reveals Jesus’ deity and His humanity. His deity is revealed when the guard
say they are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, and fall back on the ground when Jesus tells them,
“I am He.” The power of His of His word knocked them to the ground. His deity is also
revealed by His authority over the guards, who did as they were told when Jesus said for them to
leave the disciples alone. His humanity is revealed in that they physically apprehended Him and
led Him away.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
Judas succeeds in turning Jesus over to the Pharisees, and so persists in his unbelief. Jesus is
arrested.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
Jesus submitted to the will of the Father, even though it was difficult, lonely, and painful. Like
Peter, it may be tempting to lash out at others when I feel attacked for obeying the Lord. I need
to entrust myself to the Lord the way Jesus did to the Father, and patiently wait for Him to
accomplish His will.
Second conversation (John 18:19-24)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to Annas, the father-in-law to Caiaphas.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Jesus is being questioned about His disciples and His teaching. Jesus appeals to those who
witnessed His teaching and believed Him.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
This conversation reveals Jesus’ humanity when He is struck in His face by a guard while bound.
His deity is revealed through His incredible self-control.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
No witnesses are called, and He is sent bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, I can also have control over myself, my emotions, when I
am treated wrongly and unfairly. Jesus appealed to reason, but He did not treat His accusers the
way they treated Him.
Third conversation (John 18:33-38)
Q#1: Who is Jesus talking to?
Jesus is talking to Pontius Pilate.
Q#2: What is the subject of the conversation?
Pilate is questioning Jesus about whether He is the King of the Jews.
Q #3: Does this conversation reveal something about the person (humanity/deity) of Jesus? If so,
what?
In this conversation, Jesus reveals His deity. He tells Pilate that He is indeed, just not in the way
that he thinks. Jesus says because He is a King of another world, He came to this world to reveal
the truth of, and the way to, His kingdom.
Q #4: What is the result of the conversation? (belief, rejection/unbelief, uncertainty, clarity, other
result)
Pilate responds cynically with unbelief. He walks away from Jesus, and says, “What is truth?”
Though he doesn’t believe Jesus, he recognizes that He is an innocent man and wants to release
Him.
Q #5: What is one practical truth that you can learn from this conversation?
The most valuable thing in the world is truth, and Jesus alone possesses it. If I look to anyone or
anything else as a source of truth, I will only find confusion and myself in opposition to Christ.
