Understanding the New Testament The Gospel of John © John Stevenson, 2009

Emphasize the Kingdom Inheritance Synoptic Gospels John Emphasize the Kingdom Inheritance Emphasizes Eternal Life Inheritance Describes the various historical events Reflection on the meaning of those events Short Sayings of Jesus Longer Discourses of Jesus Emphasis on Future Prophecy Relatively little on Future Prophecy

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

John 1:4-5 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Meeting Jesus John the Baptist Andrew and the “other disciple” Simon Peter Philip Nathanael

Seven Signs Water to wine Son healed Lame man at Pool Feeds 5,000 2:1-11 4:46-54 5:1-18 6:1-14 6:16-21 9:1-41 11:1-44 Water to wine Son healed Lame man at Pool Feeds 5,000 Walks on Water Blind man sees Lazarus raised We are meant to see these signs through the eyes of the disciples. They are said to be growing in their belief as they see the signs and we are meant to grow with them.

All four Gospel Accounts begin with a Statement of the True Identity of Jesus Matthew The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham (1:1) Mark The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (1:1). Luke …the holy Child shall be called the Son of God (1:35). John …and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (1:1).

Modern Reformed Scholars Titles for Jesus Son of Man Used most often by Jesus Daniel 7:13-14 gives the background for the title Emphasizes Only Deity Only Humanity Modern Reformed Scholars Early Church Fathers Son of Man

Titles for Jesus Son of Man Messiah or Christ Meaning of the term Rarely used by Jesus as a self designation (Mark 14:61-62 is only public pronouncement) Old Testament Background Priests Prophets Kings

Titles for Jesus Son of Man Messiah or Christ Son of God Jesus applied it to Himself fairly infrequently He uses the term “Father” to speak of God Jesus only accepted the title of “God” on one occasion (John 20:28)

Titles for Jesus Son of Man Messiah or Christ Son of God Lord Greek (kurios) can be a title of respect Used in LXX for Yahweh

Gospels Epistles 1st Person Father Theos 2nd Person Son Kurios

Titles for Jesus that are Unique to John The Word The Only Born Light of the World Resurrection and the Life I Am Good Shepherd Door

...and that believing you may have life in His name Gospel of John 1:1 12:1 Public Ministry Private Ministry Period of three years Passion week Throughout Israel Jerusalem Written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God... ...and that believing you may have life in His name

Gospel of John Synoptics Kingdom Life “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3)

John 3:5-7 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”

John 3:8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

What does John mean when he speaks of “belief”? Cognition Convincing Confidence Commitment

John 3:19-20 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. Light Darkness

John 3:21 But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God. Light Darkness

John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

John 6:27 “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”

John 6:28-29 Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

Why do People Believe?

John 6:36-37 “But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” GOD Father gives… …comes to Me

John 6:39-40 “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

John 6:43-45 Jesus answered and said to them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.

John 6:64-65 “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. 65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”

What is John's Eschatology?

John 5:28-29 Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

John 6:39-40 “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”

John 14:2-3 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

A Faith Journey “We have found the Messiah” (1:41). “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote” (1:43). His disciples believed in Him (2:11). “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” (4:29). “For we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world” (4:42).

A Faith Journey So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household (4:53). Jesus said therefore to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. And we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:67-69).

A Faith Journey Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” 38 And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him (9:35-38).

A Faith Journey “Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God” (John 16:33). So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb entered then also, and he saw and believed (John 20:8).

A Faith Journey Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:27-28).

Do you love Me?