Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for May 7, 2023
I Find No Guilt in Him
John 18:28-40
1. Background
• after facing Annas and Caiaphas
• part of the Roman trial narrative (18:28-19:16): intention to emphasize the innocence of Jesus
2. Public Hearing 28-32
• to Pilate’s headquarters early in the morning and the irony of concern about defilement
• Pilate’s outside inquiry and the response of the enemies of Jesus
• Pilate’s emphatic referral and the fulfillment of crucifixion prophecy (12:32-33, Deut. 21:22-23)
3. Private Conversation 33-38a
• this man a king?
• Pilate on the witness stand
• Pilate’s two questions
• Jesus articulates the nature of His kingdom
• truth and pre-postmodernism
4. Proclamation of Innocence 38b-40
• nothing at all amiss (19:4, 6)
• proposal to release
• preference for Barabbas
5. So What?
• Because abandonment of the “true truth” of the innocent Jesus invites disaster, determine to live in the light of God’s evidence.
• Reject relativism and embrace “true truth.” (Schaeffer)
• “Christianity can be expressed in the three phrases: I deserved hell; Jesus took my hell; there is nothing left for me but His heaven.” (Barnhouse)
• “He was lifted up to die; ‘It is finished’ was His cry; now in heaven exalted high: Hallelujah, what a Savior!” (P. Bliss, “Man of Sorrows, What a Name”)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 30, 2023
Shall I Not Drink the Cup?
John 18:1-12
1. Background 1-3
• after High Priestly Prayer of John 17
• to the Garden of Gethsemane
• arrival of Judas with military and religious leaders
2. Confrontation with Majesty 4-7
• foreknowledge and initiative of Jesus
• humble humanity and exalted divinity
• significance of the recoil of captors
3. Depiction of Mission 8-9
• the command of Jesus
• the fulfillment of Scripture (17:12)
• functioning as the Good Shepherd
4. Determination to Drink 10-12
• futility and intervention
• confidence in the Father’s perfect control
• cup: metaphor for death (Psa. 75:8, Isa. 51:17, Isa. 53:10-12)
5. So What?
• Because Jesus drank the cup for you, rest assured.
• “It was not their power but His own pity which drew Him to the judgment hall and the cross.” (Maclaren)
• “If this is the effect Jesus has on His enemies when He came to submit to judgment, what effect will He have on His enemies when He comes to execute judgment?” (Augustine)
• “O loving wisdom of our God! When all was sin and shame a second Adam to the fight and to the rescue came.” (Newman, “Praise to the Holiest in the Height”)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 23, 2023
For Those Who Will Believe
John 17:20-26
1. Background
• High Priestly Prayer in the shadow of the cross
• glorification (1-5), sanctification (6-19), unification (20-26)
2. Jesus Prays for an Earthly Unity 20-23
• focus of intercession that flows out of a stated conviction (16:33)
• petition: “that they may all be one”
• pattern: reflective of Father and Son
• purpose: message and maturation
3. Jesus Prays for a Heavenly Reunion 24
• petition “that they may be where I am”
• purpose: to see My glory (1 John 3:1-3)
4. Jesus Confirms His Ongoing Activity 25-26
• contrast: ignorance and complete knowledge
• ongoing activity: power of the cross and promise of the Holy Spirit
5. So What?
• Knowing that Jesus prayed for you, prize the principle of unity and the prospect of reunion with Him.
• “From God’s point of view, truth is not only more important than unity but it is in fact the basis for unity.” (Stowell)
• “Divisions in the church breed atheism in the world.” (Manton)
• “If we could see one another right now filled with the glory that we will one day have when we are in heaven, we would be sorely tempted to fall down on our knees and worship one another.” (Lewis)
• “Savior, if of Zion’s city, I through grace a member am, Let the world deride or pity, I will glory in Thy name.” (Newton)
• “When with the ransomed in glory His face I at last shall see, ‘Twill be my joy through the ages to sing of His love for me.” (Gabriel)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 16, 2023
Better for You
John 16:5-15
1. Background
• warning of persecution: keep from being “scandalized”
• putting on the “spectacles of Scripture”
2. An Imminent Going and Coming 5-7
• selfishness and sorrow of disciples
• assertion: it is expedient (John 11:50)
• explanation: “The coming for which Christ’s going was needful makes that going a gain.” (Maclaren)
• a lesson in contrasts: Mark 14:50 and Acts 4:31; 5:41
3. The Spirit’s Work in the World 8-11
• His role as Prosecutor bringing about conviction (Acts 2:37)
• concerning sin…unbelief
• concerning righteousness…demonstrated by Christ’s death, resurrection and exaltation (Phil. 3:9)
• concerning judgment…overthrow of Satan
4. The Spirit’s Work in Believers 12-15
• limited perception of disciples
• guidance in the whole sphere of truth
• what is needed as it is needed
• Christ-centered: from accomplishment to application
5. So What?
• Because the Holy Spirit applies the accomplishment of Christ in your life, depend on Him and delight in His work.
• “He is nearer to us when He leaves us, and works with us and in us more mightily from the throne than He did upon the earth.” (Maclaren)
• “We praise Thee, O God for Thy Spirit of Light, Who hath shown us our Savior and scattered our night. Hallelujah! Thine the glory. Hallelujah! Amen. Hallelujah! Thine the Glory. Revive us again.” (Mackay)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 9, 2023
Whom Are You Seeking?
John 20:1-18
1. A Report from Mary 1-2
• early on Sunday morning
• her assumption and its indication
2. A Race between Peter and John 3-10
• John outruns Peter
• their empty tomb observations: linen cloths/face cloth
• resurrection inevitability: must rise (Acts 17:30-31)
• bodily and not just spiritually (Rom. 6:9, John 20:26)
3. A Revelation to Mary 11-18
• wailing at the tomb
• dialogue with angels
• encounter with Jesus
• announcement about Jesus
4. So What?
• Because Scripture certifies the resurrection, rejoice in the reality of resurrection life now and forever.
• “The incarnation means He became like us. The resurrection means we will become like Him.” (DeWitt) (Phil. 3:21, 1 Cor. 15:23)
• “You are not suffering from anything that a good resurrection can’t fix.” (Carson)
• “Jesus, I hang upon Thy word; I steadfastly believe Thou wilt return and claim me, Lord, and to Thyself receive. When God is mine and I am His, of paradise possessed, I taste unutterable bliss and everlasting rest.” (“I Know that My Redeemer Lives” by Charles Wesley)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for April 2, 2023
I Am the True Vine
John 15:1-6
1. Background
• impending departure of Jesus
• preparation for things to come (John 14:25-31)
2. Jesus Presents a Picture of Himself and of His Father 1
• Jesus: true vine (Psa. 80:8-16, Isa. 5:1-7)
• Father: vinedresser, activity of cultivation
3. Jesus Describes His Father’s Activity as Vinedresser 2
• fruit-bearing/productivity principle
• fruitless branches cut off
• fruitful branches cleansed
• distinction between profession and possession
4. Jesus Declares the Current Status of His Disciples 3
• already you are clean
• connection to the word Jesus had spoken to them
• never cut off
5. Jesus Issues a Command and Applies It 4-5
• abide in Me
• necessary prerequisite for fruitfulness
• apart from Me not one thing
6. Jesus Concludes with a Sobering Warning 6
• tragedy of the absence of a vital connection
• immediacy and certainty
7. So What?
• Because fruit-bearing glorifies the Father, stay in a steady state of reliance on Jesus, the True Vine.
• Connect fruitfulness to the fruit of the Spirit. (Gal. 5:22-23)
• “For maximum fruitfulness extreme pruning is essential.” (Morris)
• Aim relentlessly to remain constantly in Jesus.
• “If I Come to Jesus” (Crosby)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 26, 2023
Blessed Reassurance
John 14:1-7
1. Commands for a Troubled Heart 1
• context: continuation from John 13
• stop being troubled in heart
• keep on trusting the Father and the Son
2. Confirmation of Future Permanence 2-4
• my Father’s house: reference to heaven
• many dwelling places: plenty of room and permanent address
• not the slightest doubt: go to prepare…come again…
• in the presence of Jesus
• assertion regarding the knowledge of the disciples
3. Conversation with Thomas 5-7
• question from a perplexed heart
• a massive triple- expression: the way, the truth, the life…
• Jesus as Revealer and Redeemer
• explicit and exclusive statement
• from a lesser to a greater knowledge
4. So What?
• Because Jesus alone can bring you to God and prepare a place in heaven for you, trust Him in the midst of your trouble.
• Relish the utter reliability of Jesus. He gets all of His sheep safely home.
• “Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home.” (C. S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain)
• “But we never can prove the delights of His love, until all on the altar we lay; for the favor He shows, and the joy He bestows, are for them who will trust and obey.” (J. Sammis, “Trust and Obey”)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 19, 2023
“Who’s Your One” Church Outreach
The Great Exchange
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
Set in the context of his apostolic defense and articulation of ministry, Paul emphasizes both the compelling love of Christ and the reconciling initiative of God the Father behind it. At the heart of our experience of Christ’s love and reconciliation with God is the “great exchange” vividly described in 5:21. In the reconciling plan of God, Jesus took our place so that we might have His peace.
I. Recognize the source of reconciliation (18-19)
• “All this” in 5:18 points back to 5:14-17: compelling love and new creation
• the agent of reconciliation: through Christ
• having reconciled…having given…
• expansion: not counting trespasses and depositing the word
II. Respond to the summons for reconciliation (20)
• ambassadors through whom appeal is made
• imploring people to be reconciled
• reminder: God reconciles. Man is reconciled.
III. Savor the substance of reconciliation (21)
• the One not having known sin
• for us/for our sake He (God) made Him (Christ) to be sin
• that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Isa. 53:10, Rom. 5:6-11, Gal. 3:13)
IV. So What?
• “If our Lord’s bearing our sin for us is not the gospel, I have no gospel to preach.” (Spurgeon)
• “Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place condemned He stood, sealed my pardon with his blood: Hallelujah, what a Savior!” (P. Bliss)
• Because the Lord invites and reconciles, share His message of reconciliation.
• One Life Initiative: Who’s Your One? pray for/engage with/invite 1 person (Palm Sunday/Easter)
• “In Psalm 103, David’s enumeration of the Lord’s benefits begins with forgiveness of sins. He understood what is of greatest importance. If we have everything but God’s forgiveness, we have nothing of worth.” (Carson)
• Keep on preaching the gospel to yourself.
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 12, 2023
Sir, We Would See Jesus
John 12:20-36a
1. Background
• last of three significant events recorded
• last recorded words of public ministry
• connecting 12-19 and 20-26
2. Arrival of Seeking Greeks 20-22
• kept on asking
• representative of the world
3. Answer of Soon-Dying Savior 23-26
• the hour has come
• unless a grain falls
• application of analogy
4. Interlude of Prayer and Affirmation 27-30
• prayer of a troubled soul
• “the horror of death and ardour of obedience” (Bengel)
• implications of superintending sovereignty
• audible affirmation from heaven
5. Amplification of the Meaning of the Cross 31-36a
• judgment of the world
• a gospel lifting-up (John 3:14-15)
• acting on the light you have
6. So What?
• Because the cross of Christ is the “magnet” of Christianity, see it as the only death that liberates and the only design to imitate.
• “He is the best Christian who has the clearest knowledge of God in His attributes.” (Baxter)
• “Preach any Christ but a crucified Christ, and you will not draw men for long.” (Torrey)
• “Lift High the Cross” (Kitchin)
Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for March 5, 2023
For the Day of My Burial
John 12:1-11
1. Dinner Is Served 1-2
• after raising of Lazarus and conspiracy to kill Jesus
• six days before Passover at Bethany and emphasis on raising of Lazarus
• Martha serves and Lazarus reclines
2. Mary’s Costly Display of Love 3
• emphasis on costly oil/perfume
• anointing the feet and wiping them with her hair
• fragrance fills the room
3. Judas’ Indignation about “Waste” 4-6
• Iscariot, disciple, one who betrayed
• his question: 300 denarii to the poor people?
• exposure of his motivation: uncaring, thief, pilferer
4. Jesus Commends Mary 7-8
• command to leave her alone
• connection to burial of Jesus
• contrast between presence of the poor and presence of Jesus
5. Intensified Opposition 9-11
• plot to kill Lazarus
• Jesus: not a tragic victim but a voluntary sacrifice
6. So What?
• Because Jesus poured Himself out for you, pour yourself out in love for Him.
• “It’s beautiful when the worth of Jesus and the love of His followers match…when the value of His perfections and the intensity of our affections correspond.” (Piper)
• “Social activism, even that which meets real needs, sometimes masks a spirit that knows nothing about worship and adoration.” (Carson)
• “Broken and Spilled Out” (George/Gaither)
