We have finished with the first step of God’s redemptive plan. There is more but we are going to take a break in order to consider what the next steps will be in revealing the rest of His plan. Also, I will give you my final thoughts for now. Enjoy.

What more could be said than was said in the last lesson. The work of redemption was complete, God's promises were fulfilled, God won and Satan lost, as usual. So is this the end of the story? Not by a long shot.

Jesus had fulfilled all that His Father wanted Him to do but He was not finished yet. There was one more objective to accomplish and it was going to include another group of people. Let's see what He had in mind.

The culmination of all that we have talked about for the last year and a half is happening. Everything that God said would happen is happening. Jesus is getting ready to bring about the central event and issue in all of human history. Nothing compares with the importance of what He is accomplishing for humanity.

All of people’s history and future depend on what happened at this moment. It is essential that you understand what God is trying to convince you of here. This is the center of reality and it is crucial that you understand what God is wanting you to understand. Take the time to do so and let it sink in today.

Knowing what you know about God's nature and character, how do you think that Jesus is going to handle the situation that He is in? How is He going to Deliver people from their sin and suffering?

Knowing what you know about people's nature and character, how do you think that they will handle Jesus' solution to the problem of sin? Once they find out what it will take to free mankind from the penalty and power of sin, how will they respond? Let's start talking about that.

The whole redemptive plan of God is getting ready to take place. What God promised way back in Genesis 3:15 is about to take place and I am sure that even though the disciples are anxious for this to take place, they probably were not ready for what it would cost.

Let's see what God wanted His Son to share with them before He finished the work that His Father sent Him to do.

Right before Jesus rides into Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, He heals a man. Even though He knew what was going to happen to Him, He still had compassion on those who suffered.

Jesus is loving, merciful and very gracious while being the One whom God promised would come to save mankind from the terrible curse of sin.

There were many "signs" which Jesus did that indicated just who He was in reality. Some of the people believed Him and some did not. Many probably believed that He was almost a magician and was just fooling the people or Himself but there was one sign which He would do that no one could dispute and anyone walking away from this event would either have to believe who He was or reject Him but they could not walk away from Him and not believe what He had done.

I trust that when you walk away from this lesson, you will come to the same conclusion that I did. Let's begin.

Many times Jesus used parables, which were stories to illustrate a particular theme He wanted people to understand.

Other times, He used real-life situations to also drive a particular theme home to His audiences heart. In today's lesson, Jesus is going to use both methods to help us understand who He is and who we are.

Today's lesson contrasts the difference between pride & humility as exhibited by the Pharisees and those who were not. The Lord is giving us examples of man's inability to follow the rules which not only God had made but which the religious leaders made to explain the Law.

I also starts to also reveal who the disciples thought Jesus to be and who Jesus Himself revealed Himself to be. This will be a good lesson to remember because what Jesus claimed Himself to be is the central theme in Scripture.