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"These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His Name." John 20:31 The Purpose of John's Gospel "That you may believe." and "That you may have life." The Structure of John The Revelation of Christ The Rejection of Christ The Redemption of Christ The Resurrection of Christ Distinctive Features of John's Gospel Over half of the Book deals with the last week of Christ's life on earth. The first cleansing of the Temple (2:13-17). Only in John do we read of the conversation with Nicodemus (3:1-21). The woman at the well (4:1-26). The discourse condemning the Jews at the Feast of Booths (7:14-39 and 8:3-58). The parable of the Good Shepherd (10). The teaching with the Disciples (14-17). The meeting with the Disciples at the Sea of Galilee (21). 50% of John is direct speech/quotes from Jesus Christ. 105 allusions to the Old Testament. 20 Direct quotes from the Old Testament and 92% unique material. Major emphasis: Faith and Eternal Life; I Am; The Trinity; Salvation; Mission; Glory; Logos.
Unique to John's Gospel
The first three Gospels of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the Synoptic Gospels. They cover much of the same content. Many of the same events, many teachings and incidents, are related in different words and sometimes word for word. Most of John is unique. In the Gospel of John we have some of the most beloved and familiar Words in all the Bible: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." "Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven. Unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God." "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "God is Spirit and His worshipers must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth." "Open your eyes and look on the fields, for they are ripe for harvest." "Those who have done good will rise to live and those who have done evil, will rise to be condemned." "How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, but make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the one and only God?" "I am the Bread of Life." "All that the Father gives to Me will come to Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I will lose none of them that He has given Me, but raise them up on the Last Day." "If any man is thirsty, let Him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me as Scripture says, streams of life-giving water will flow from within him." "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." "I am the Light of the world, whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness." "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free." "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me will live even though he dies." "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except by Me." "Greater love has no one than this, than that he lay down his life for his friends." These and many other passages were first written in the Gospel according to St. John. Jewish Slander Against Jesus "Therefore some of the Pharisees said, 'This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath…" John 9:16. "The people answered and said, 'You have a demon.'" John 7:20 "And many of them said, 'He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?" John 10:20 "…but the Jews cried out, saying, 'If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.'" John 19:12 Jesus on the Jews "You judge according to the flesh…" John 8:15 "…'You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.'" John 8:19 "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.'" John 8:23-24 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My Word has no place in you." John 8:37 "They answered and said to Him, 'Abraham is our father.' Jesus said to them, 'If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.' Then they said to Him, 'We were not born of fornication; we have one Father - God.' Jesus said to them, 'If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My Word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God's Words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.'" John 8:39-47 "You dishonour Me…" John 8:49 "Yet you have not known Him…" John 8:55 "…a liar like you…" John 8:55 "…I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of satan." Revelation 2:9 "Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie - indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere…" Revelation 3:9-10 The "I AM's" of CHRIST 1. I Am The Bread of Life John 6:35 2. I Am from Above John 8:23 3. I Am The Eternal One John 8:58 4. I Am The Light of the World John 9:5 5. I Am The Door John 10:7 6. I Am The Good Shepherd John 10:11-14 7. I Am The Son of God John 10:36 8. I Am The Resurrection and the Life John 11:25 9. I Am The Lord and Master John 13:13 10. I Am The Way, the Truth and the Life John 14:16 11. I Am The True Vine John 15:1 12. I Am The Alpha and Omega Revelation 1:8 13. I Am The First and the Last Revelation 1:17 God the Father in John's Gospel The Fatherhood of God is referred to over one hundred times in John's Gospel: God is the Spiritual Father John 4:25 God is the life giving Father John 5:21 The Father is greater than all John 10:29 The works are of the Father John 14:10 God is the Indwelling Father John 14:23 God is the Eternal Father John 17:5 God is the Holy Father John 17:11 God is the Righteous Father John 17:25 The Holy Spirit in John's Gospel The Incoming Spirit John 3:5 The Indwelling Spirit John 4:14 The Overflowing Spirit John 7:38-39 The Abiding Presence John 14:16 The Teacher and Reminder John 14:26 The Testifier/Witnessing Spirit John 15:26 The Converter John 16:13 The Glorifier of Jesus John 16:14 The Discloser of Jesus John 16:15 The Source of Power Acts 1:8 Miracles in John's Gospel John records 8 miracles/signs of Christ (besides His Resurrection). 6 of these miracles are only found in this Gospel: 1. Turning water into wine (2:1-11). 2. Healing the nobleman's son (4:46-54). 3. Healing the crippled man at the pool (5:1-9). 4. Feeding the 5,000 (6:1-14). 5. Walking on water (6:15-21). 6. Restoring sight to the man born blind (9:1-7). 7. The raising of Lazarus from the dead (11). 8. The second great catch of fish (21:1-6). Witnesses in John's Gospel John the Baptist: "This is the Son of God." John 1:34 Nathan: "You are the Son of God." John 1:49 Apostate Peter: "You are the Holy One of God." John 6:69 Martha: "You are the Christ, the Son of God." John 11:27 Thomas: "My Lord and my God!" John 20:28 John: "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God." John 20:31 The Holy Spirit The Father Christ's Mighty Works The Scriptures (1:19-50). Jesus Himself Salvation is: "Not of natural descent." "Not of human decision." "Nor of the will of man." "But of God." John 1:13 Who was John? It is a fascinating fact that, in John's Gospel, he never mentions himself by name. John names the other disciples, without writing his own name, but refers to "the other disciple", or "the disciple whom Jesus loved". Most of the followers of Jesus were not wealthy people, but John was a man who worked in a family business owned by his father, Zebedee, in northern Galilee. They also had a second home in Jerusalem. John had access to the house of Caiaphas, the High Priest. One day, John was captivated by a Man who spoke like no other man had even spoken before. John was drawn to Jesus. He sensed the Person and the power of God in this Man. When Jesus said, "Follow Me and I will make you a fisher of men", John trusted Jesus enough to forsake prosperity, comfort and safety. At the Mount of Crucifixion, at Golgotha, other than the women disciples, John was the only man who stood at the foot of the Cross. All the men had fled. They had abandoned the Lord in fear that their fate would be the same as that of Jesus. He stood there at the risk of his own life. There was every probability that he could be arrested and crucified as Jesus had been. In Chapter 19 of John's Gospel, we read the last gasping breaths of our Lord, whose excruciatingly painful crucifixion allowed very little breath for speaking. Jesus, in agony on the Cross, said seven phrases from the Cross: "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." "It is finished!" "Into Thy hands I commend my Spirit." From the Cross, Jesus gasped out to Mary, "This is your son." Then to John he said, "This is your mother." Jesus entrusted John to fulfil the duties to care for His mother, Mary. True Discipleship "Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His Name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men." John 2:23-24. In Jerusalem, many people believed in Jesus. But He did not believe in them. They trusted in Jesus, but He did not trust in them. Jesus knew their hearts. He knows all men. - He knows our heart motivations. They believed when they saw the miraculous signs He was doing. Following Jesus Many followed Jesus when miracles were performed, people healed, food multiplied and when Jesus rode in triumph into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. John, however, trusted Jesus when He was condemned, humbled, stripped, whipped, bleeding and dying a disgraceful criminal’s death on the Cross. How Far Will You Go? For the multiplying of the loaves and fishes, over 5,000 people turned out. At the Sermon on the Mount, there were several hundred. When our Lord commanded them to pray day and night, until the power from above came down upon them, there were 120 who gathered in the Upper Room for the Pentecost prayer meeting. When it came to the first outreach, there were 70 who went out, two by two, to Evangelise, in the highways and the byways. When it came to daily discipleship, when the Lord wanted men and women to be with Him day and night to follow Him and to be where He was, there were 12 men, and about 4 women. Of those 12 men, one betrayed Him, one denied Him, one doubted Him, and they all forsook Him. Only John went all the way to the Cross and stood, with the women disciples, underneath the Cross identifying with the sufferings of Christ. As the cost of discipleship increases, the numbers decrease. "Do you love Me? ...feed My lambs… do you love Me? ...tend My sheep …do you love Me? ...feed My sheep." John 21:15-17. Dr. Peter Hammond Livingstone Fellowship P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725 Cape Town South Africa Tel: 021-689-4480 Fax: 086-494-8070 Email: [email protected] Website: www.livingstonefellowship.co.za www.hmsschoolofchristianjournalism.org
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