Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Teachers Notes - Christ in The Crucible Lesson 13
The Teachers Notes - Christ in The Crucible Lesson 13
Adult Bible Study Guide, 2022 3Q, "In the Crucible With
Christ"
outlookmag.org/the-teachers-notes-christ-in-the-crucible-lesson-13/
His early years of physical and social hardship as a baby and child (Sunday)
His adult life of ministry, including rejection by those He came to save (Monday)
His mental and spiritual struggle to submit to the Father’s will in the Garden of
Gethsemane (Tuesday)
the immense anguish of being separated from God as He was dying on the cross
(Wednesday)
the reward of eternal life He won for us all (Thursday)
All along, as we’ve studied what it takes to survive a crucible, we’ve seen Christ as a
source of strength, with His example of perfect humility, patience, and submission.
We need all the positive energy and hope we can muster by focusing on the Lord’s
supreme love for our planet.
1/5
By examining the events of His life on earth and the extreme crucible that belonged
only to Him, we are fortified in our struggle to recover what was lost through sin and
degradation. We are uplifted by knowing that His purity and love are strong enough to
see us through our toughest moments.
Memory Text: “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli,
Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?’ ” Matthew
27:46 NKJV
Christian Standard Bible: “About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud
voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? ‘ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned
me?’ “
The fact that Jesus’ earthly parents were poor was confirmed in their choice of
offerings at their first temple visit with the Babe–that of two turtledoves or pigeons (Luke
2:22-24). They could not afford the customary offering of a lamb. He then lived the life of
a refugee in Egypt for a few years following His birth. His hometown of Nazareth did
not have a good reputation either though, verifying that His social environment was not
good. He obviously did not have the best choice of friends, growing up (John 1:46).
And yet, Jesus’ poverty-stricken, unstable, unwholesome surroundings only fortified and
shaped His adult life in positive ways. His crucible started out hot, and only got hotter
as He reached manhood.
Discussion/Thought Questions:
Luke 2:7
John 1:46
2/5
Certainly, crowds of people followed Him and many accepted His teachings, but there
were also those who were there only for the food and healing, and were all too ready to
stone Him if their immediate needs were not met. He was misunderstood and
slandered (Matthew 12:22-24), chased out of towns (Luke 4:21-30), and almost
stoned (John 8:58, 59). This unusual hatred and rejection came from those Jesus was
still determined to save.
His love and innocence only seemed to anger Satan more and cause more venomous
attacks against the sinless Son of God. If even Someone as perfect as our Lord could
face rejection and ill treatment, we should not expect any less suffering in life than
was His. To be faithful in spite of difficult crucibles is possible, with the Father’s help.
Discussion/Thought Questions:
Matthew 23:37
Matthew 5:10-12
His tormented soul caused Him to bow to the ground and beg God to allow the cup of
indignation to pass from Him. He felt unsure that He could endure what lay ahead for
Him at the hand of such cruel oppressors. He who had interceded for others now
desired an intercessor for Himself.
No human, before or since, has been called to suffer anything like the crucible that
would soon take the life of our Savior. He willingly died for every sinner on earth–
anyone who would accept His gracious sacrificial death as their own price for sin.
Discussion/Thought Questions:
Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:33-36, Luke 22:41-44
What do you find from these accounts that point to a prayer like no other? How was
this prayer different for Him?
Why was the prayer that night crucial for Him to be able to survive His death on the
cross?
3/5
Death by crucifixion, considered the harshest punishment in the Roman Empire,
was known for the physical pain and agony it caused. It far surpassed anything even the
vilest criminal would deserve. But, here was Jesus, the most innocent human being ever
known, suffering such a cruel fate.
Jesus was more than an innocent man though; He was the Son of God. This holy
connection was confirmed by many unusual manifestations that accompanied His death.
There was a thick darkness spread over the land from 6-9 pm, the temple veil was
torn from top to bottom (impossible from a human standpoint), and an earthquake
caused many of the dead to rise from their graves and go out to preach in the city.
The punishment Jesus endured on the cross that lonely day was a most horrific crucible.
Others have experienced similar physical torment, but not the mental and emotional
anguish of feeling totally separated from God. Thankfully, followers of God will never
have to feel the kind of excruciating death Jesus felt at Calvary. As our Substitute,
He did it for us.
Discussion/Thought Questions:
Was Jesus actually forsaken by God as He was dying on the cross? If not, how do
we know?
[“In that thick darkness God’s presence was hidden. He makes darkness His pavilion, and
conceals His glory from human eyes. God and His holy angels were beside the cross.
The Father was with His Son. Yet His presence was not revealed. Had His glory flashed
forth from the cloud, every human beholder would have been destroyed. And in that
dreadful hour Christ was not to be comforted with the Father’s presence. He trod the wine
press alone, and of the people there was none with Him.”-Ellen G. White, The Desire of
Ages, pp. 753, 754.]
1. Our loving Savior suffered more than any of us. We experience trials from time
to time for individual sins, but He willingly took upon Himself all our sins. Isaiah 53:6
says “the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all”.
2. We have a future home with God as our reward for suffering. Eternal life is ours
when we endure to the end. 1 John 2:25 calls this life of eternity a promise. What a
comforting thought, as we suffer pain in this world for a short time. Our future
happiness is guaranteed.
4/5
Yes, our disappointments and loss are but a moment, a quick flash of time, compared
to the eternal reward that awaits us. Jesus, thankfully, was given this revelation. Isaiah
53:11 says He will see “the labor of his soul, and be satisfied.”
Discussion/Thought Questions:
The story of Jesus has proven to be enough to fortify us during our harshest trials. We
have only to choose His love, grace, and example for true happiness to be ours for
an eternity.
The extreme heat of any crucible can be withstood when we consider the life of the Son
of Man, our Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ..
To read the Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly or see more resources for its study,
go to
https://www.absg.adventist.org/
www.ssnet.org
5/5