River Valley Church New Testament Soap Sprint Sample

A conflict of perspectives thickens surrounding Jesus' true identity, as the Jewish priests maintain that genuine faith in God the Father requires rejection of Jesus' claims to be the Son of God. We see the Jewish religious authorities often test Jesus with questions about how to interpret the law of Moses, attempting to trap Him in order to bring a charge of heresy against Him. As He recognizes and evades their motivations of self-righteousness and power-gripping, the Pharisees' desire for Him to be silenced grows. After Jesus performs the stunning resurrection of Lazarus, the Pharisees and chief priests start forming to a plot to arrange Jesus' death. Even as His fame spreads and more people are convinced of His divinely-given authority based on the miracles He has performed, Jesus’ focus shifts to a more secluded time with His disciples, avoiding the public eye.