Gospel of John

John’s Gospel John’s Gospel is not part of the Synoptic Gospels… It is also the longest Gospel John’s Gospel uses symbolic imagery to identify our (the believers) relationship with Jesus Through this method, the Gospel of John is very different from the previous Gospels…

John’s Gospel John’s Gospel also focuses on identifying Jesus’ divinity (being the Son of God) and not on his humanity About why Jesus was here And what Jesus did and what Jesus brought to us, through his life John’s Gospel is the 4th Gospel written around 90 - 100 AD John’s audience is intended for all the Christians of the (known) world

John’s Gospel Differences from the Synoptics: John stresses the relationship between Jesus and God Where as the Synoptic Gospels stressed the kingdom of God and its reign… John illustrates our relationship to God through Jesus US Jesus God This is how we must reach God Jesus is the MEDIATOR between us and God!!

John’s Gospel …where as the Synoptic Gospels use parables and miracles 2. John illustrates Jesus’ “lessons” through seven miraculous signs… …where as the Synoptic Gospels use parables and miracles This, again, is because John’s focus is on Jesus’ divinity!!

John’s Gospel 3. John has numerous passages about the Holy Spirit and its purpose The Synoptic Gospels hardly mentioned the Holy Spirit’s significance

John’s Gospel John’s use of symbolism can be easily seen in Chapter 1 of the Prologue Read John 1: 1 (pg 1377) What or Who is the word? The author is referring to Jesus This prologue focuses on Jesus and his ability, purpose and meaning for us, as followers and believers

John’s Gospel How does John refer to Jesus in the prologue? John identifies him as the light of the world and the source of life itself

John’s Gospel Essentially, John depicts Jesus as the savior, the one to guide “us” to God Jesus created the world and is the world What does John mean by this line? Jesus created the physical world, but also is the world (spiritual world) which we desired to reside and dwell in. This is why everything outside of Jesus is darkness

John’s Gospel How does John identify creation in the prologue? Read line 2-4 John states that all that was made was through God… How does this compare to the previous Gospels? The Synoptic Gospels spent chapters and verses describing creation and the beginning

HW for May 10th: Due Next Class! What does Jesus mean in John Ch. 3 when he says that "no one can enter into the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit?” Answer in your Notebooks: 1. To what degree are you like Nicodemus, who only desired to meet Jesus at night (in the darkness) rather than during the day (out in the light)?  2. How hard is it to express your belief in Jesus publically, both by what you say and what you do?

John’s Gospel Who else is identified in this prologue? John the Baptist How does the Prologue depict John? As the predecessor to Jesus to set the foundation for Jesus’ life and mission on Earth To testify on behalf of Jesus… What are some examples that illustrate this point?

John’s Gospel Who is John referring to in line 11? To the land of Israel and the Jews The Jews did not accept Jesus and his message God’s “chosen” people didn’t understand… What is John’s portrayal of the Jewish community? Negative, how?

John’s Gospel Read lines 12-13… What does John mean by children of God? The people, Christians, who have welcomed Jesus as their light in the world and have accepted God into their lives What “life” is John talking about? John is referring to a persons spiritual life, its rebirth into a new life

John’s Gospel They are reborn by God, not by man and the natural ways This reinforces that John is talking about spiritual rebirth and not physical Line 14 specifically refers to Jesus What words in this line would have significance to the reader about Jesus?

John’s Gospel “Dwell” “Flesh” John tells us that Jesus is the glory and truth of the world He is the fulfillment… With this understanding, Jesus is here to live with humanity and develop a relationship with us “Flesh” Jesus became Incarnate, (blood and flesh)

John’s Gospel John uses this prologue and symbolism to stress the end of the “old” and the establishment of the “new”… New person/ rebirth Truth and grace Incarnation “Grace in place of grace” What do you think this phrase means?

John’s Gospel “Grace in place of grace” This “grace” refers to the old covenant in the old testament between God and the Jews Through this “replacement,” a new grace/ covenant is established through Jesus Nicodemus: people accepting the new covenant…from dark to light! Transition…