1. Studies in the Gospel of John
“That You May Believe”
Studies in the Gospel of John
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2. John 1:1-18
Relation to Deity: Jesus is the essence of Deity (John 1:1-2)
Relation to Creation: Jesus is the creator (agency) of the world. (John 1:3)
Relation to Morality: Jesus is light and life. (John 1:4)
Relation to Darkness: Jesus is challenger and victor. (John 1:5)
Relation to Humanity: Jesus is creator and benefactor. (John 1:9-13)
Relation to the Father: Jesus reveals or explains God. (John 1:14, 18)
Relation to Grace: Jesus is the fullness of grace. (John 1:16-17)
Homer Hailey: “The claims that Jesus made concerning Himself as set forth in the Gospel of John, if sustained, are such that prove Him to be the Son of God; if they are not sustained, they prove Him to have been the arch-impostor of history…” (That You May Believe, page 27)
John made these claims based upon the claims of Christ.
John made these claims based upon the proof Christ gave to verify His claims.
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3. John 20: Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been 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.
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4. Jesus’ Claims in Relation to the Messianic Hope
Jesus confessed to be the Messiah.
Jesus acknowledged to be King.
Jesus claimed to speak from God—Therefore a prophet.
Jesus claimed to be the “Good Shepherd”
Jesus identified Himself as the Son of God.
Jesus identified Himself as the Son of Man.
Jesus made Himself known as the Mediator between God and man.
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5. Jesus’ Claims in Relation to Human Needs
His claim to be the revelation of God.
His claim to be “the Way”.
His claim to be Savior.
His claim to be Light.
His claim to be the Provider of Spiritual Sustenance.
His claim to be Shepherd and King.
His claim to be the Resurrection.
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6. Jesus’ Claims in Relation to God
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7. Jesus Claimed He Came From God
In John 3:1-13; Jesus claimed that he came from heaven therefore He is qualified to speak of heavenly things.
In John 6; Jesus claims to be the true bread of life send down from heaven.
In John 7:16; Jesus claimed His teaching was from the One who sent Him.
In John 8; Jesus told the Jews if they were children of God, then they would love Him because He is from God.
John believed Jesus’ testimony: Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, (John 13:3)
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8. Jesus Claimed that He Alone Has Seen God
Homer Hailey: “Therefore it becomes evident that what they saw was a visible means by which God chose to make Himself manifest. The manifestation might be in a burning bush, as at Sinai where He appeared to Moses, or in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, as He led Israel out of Egypt. Or He might visit Abraham in the person of an angel who appeared as a man; or He might be represented by “angels” as at Sinai when He gave the law to Moses. (Acts 7:35; Gal. 3:19)…All manifestations of God hitherto had been through angels or man with His presence, for no man could look upon Him and live.”
The Claim: John 6:46— “aNot that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.
In the Old Testament God made appearances to men. (Numbers 12:8)
Yet, the Scripture claims that no man has ever seen God’s face. (Exodus 33:20)
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9. Jesus Claimed to Know God
Know—Ginosko: acquired knowledge, knowledge derived by observation and experience. (John 10:14-15)
Know—Oida: Absolute knowledge. (John 7:29; John 8:55)
Jesus possessed a full knowledge of God.
As a man he perceived and understood God’s love.
As apart of the Godhead Jesus had absolute knowledge of the Father.
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10. Jesus Claimed to Reveal God
John says that Jesus explained (1:18) God.
Vine: to make known, rehearse, declare…to unfold in teaching, to declare by making known.
In John 12:44-50 Jesus asserts:
To believe on Him was to believe on the Father (44)
To see Him was to see the Father. (45)
To hear His words was to hear the words of the Father. (50)
Jesus is the fullest revelation of God. (Col. 2:9) Therefore to reject Jesus is to reject the Father. (John 15:22-24)
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11. Jesus Claimed Equality With God
By calling God His Father (John 5:17-18) the Jews understood Jesus was claiming equality with God.
Jesus claimed to be one essence with the Father. (John 10:30)
Jesus accepted worship like God. (John 4:23-24; John 9:38)
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12. Jesus Claimed to Have the Power of God
In John 5:19-20; Instead of denying the claim to deity. Jesus claims to do the works of the Father and will perform greater works.
To give spiritual life was thought to be a work of God, yet the Son would grant this life. (John 5:24-25)
To resurrect the dead was thought to be the prerogative of God, but the Son would raise the dead. (John 5:28-29)
Judgment was thought to be the prerogative of God, but the Father had given judgment to the Son. (John 5:22)
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