Introductory Notes to John

John's Gospel Theme

• John's gospel focuses on Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, emphasizing signs that prove his deity.
• The signs were witnessed by dependable individuals, including the disciples, adding to their trustworthiness.
• John desires to lead readers to believe in Jesus and receive new life through his name.

Comparing to Synoptic Gospels

• Matthew, Mark, and Luke, known as the Synoptic Gospels, offer similar perspectives on Christ's life, each with unique emphases.
• Matthew highlights Christ's role as King of the Jews.
• Mark portrays Christ as the Servant, directed towards Roman audiences.
• Luke focuses on Christ as the Son of Man, targeting Greek readers.
• John presents Christ as the Son of God, speaking to the entire world.
• John delves deeper into spiritual meanings of events, compared to the Synoptic Gospels.
• John replaces "miracle" with "sign" to indicate a miracle carrying a message.

Key Words in John

• Recurring keywords like "life," "believe," "light and darkness," "truth," "witness," "world," "glory," "receive," "Father," "come," "eternal," and "everlasting" encapsulate John's message.

Christ's I AM Statements

• John highlights Christ's sermons about himself, emphasizing his divinity through "I AM" statements:
• "I AM the Bread of Life" (6:35, 41, 48, 51)
• "I AM the Light of the world" (8:12; 9:5)
• "I AM the Door of the sheep" (10:7, 9)
• "I AM the Good Shepherd" (10:11, 14)
• "I AM the Resurrection and the Life—11:25"
• "I AM the way, the truth, and the life—14:6"
• "I AM the true Vine" (15:1, 5)

Signs in John's Gospel

• John selects seven miracles to demonstrate Christ's deity.
• An eighth miracle in chapter 21 serves as a postlude to the Gospel.
• These signs are presented in a specific order, forming a picture of salvation.

Salvation Through Signs

• The first three signs illustrate how salvation comes to the sinner:
• Water into wine (2:1-11) - Salvation is by the Word
• Healing the nobleman's son (4:46-54) - Salvation is by faith
• Healing the paralytic (5:1-9) - Salvation is by grace

Salvation's Results

• The last four signs demonstrate the outcomes of salvation in the believer:
• Feeding the 5,000 (6:1-14) - Salvation brings satisfaction
• Stilling the storm (6:16-21) - Salvation brings peace
• Healing the blind man (9:1-7) - Salvation brings light
• Raising of Lazarus (11:38-45) - Salvation brings life

The Conflict of Faith and Unbelief

• A central theme of John's Gospel is the struggle between faith and unbelief.
• John begins with Israel's rejection of Jesus (1:11) and culminates in his crucifixion.
• Despite evidence, most Jews remained resistant to believing in Christ, hardening their hearts.
• Conversely, a select group, including disciples, a nobleman, Samaritans, a paralytic, and a blind man, embraced Christ as the Son of God.

Three Crisis Events

• The Gospel highlights three significant crisis events:
• 6:66-71: The crowds abandon Christ after desiring to make him king.
• 12:12-50: The people reject Christ, despite hailing him as king.
• 19:13-22: Christ is crucified as they declare "We have no King but Caesar."

Christ's Ministry Outline: The Year of Opening

• This period marks the official start of Jesus' ministry.
• Ministry of John the Baptist (1:1-8, 3:1-12, 1:19-36, 3:1-18)
• Baptism of Jesus (1:9-11, 3:13-17, 3:21-22)
• Temptation of Jesus (1:12-13, 4:1-11, 4:1-13)
• Five disciples called (1:35-49)
• Changes water into wine, the first miracle (2:1-11)
• First Passover (2:13-17)
• Temple cleansed (2:13-17)
• Discourse on the new birth (3:1-21)

Christ's Ministry Outline: The Year of Ovation

• This period represents a time of appreciation from the audience.
• Rejected at Nazareth (4:28-30, Isaiah 53:3)
• Withdraws to Capernaum (4:13-16, 4:31-32)
• Four disciples called (4:18-22, 1:16-20, 5:8-11)
• Miraculous catch of fish (5:4-9)
• Demon-possessed man healed (1:23-28, 4:33-37)
• Peter’s mother-in-law healed (8:14-15, 1:29-31, 4:38-39)
• Later Galilean Ministry (4:23-25, 1:38-39, 4:43-44)
• Leper cleansed (8:2-4, 1:40-42, 5:12-13)
• Returns to Capernaum (2:1-2)
• Paralytic healed (9:2-8, 2:2-12, 5:18-26)
• Matthew called (9:9, 2:13-14, 5:27-28)
• Second Passover (5:1)
• Man at the pool healed (5:2-9)
• Discourse on Jesus’ divinity (5:17-47)
• Discourse on the Sabbath (5:17-47)

Christ's Ministry Outline: The Year of Opposition

• This period signifies a time of conflict and resistance.
• Rejected at Nazareth again (13:54-58, 6:1-6)
• Disciples sent out (10:5-42, 6:7-13, 9:1-6)
• Third Tour of Galilee (9:35-38, 6:6)
• John the Baptist dies (14:1-2, 6-12, 6:14-16, 21-29, 9:7-9)
• Vacation interrupted (14:13-14, 6:30-34, 9:10-11, 6:1-4)
• Five thousand fed (14:15-21, 6:35-44, 9:12-17, 6:5-14)
• Jesus walks on the sea (14:22-33, 6:45-52, 6:16-21)
• Many miracles performed (14:34-36, 6:53-56)
• Discourse on the bread of life (6:25-59)
• Falling away of some disciples (6:60-71)
• Pharisees rebuked (6:60-71)