The Gospel of John is a powerful presentation and a persuasive argument for the deity of Christ. The first three gospels present Jesus' life in pretty much the same format. John shows us who Jesus is by highlighting seven signs (miracles) of Jesus.
The Gospel of John is a powerful presentation and a persuasive argument for the deity of Christ. The first three gospels present Jesus' life in pretty much the same format. John shows us who Jesus is by highlighting seven signs (miracles) of Jesus.
The Gospel of John is a powerful presentation and a persuasive argument for the deity of Christ. The first three gospels present Jesus' life in pretty much the same format. John shows us who Jesus is by highlighting seven signs (miracles) of Jesus.
• John’s intention is stated with perfect clarity: “but these (signs) 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.” (20:31) • Belief in the Son who came from the Father. • Written around 85 A.D. – 90 A.D. last of the four gospels to be written • The Gospel of John is a powerful presentation and a persuasive argument for the deity of Christ. • Believing that Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, is the beginning of eternal life. (3:14-17) • This is why John is a must read for the people we are trying to reach, and the new believer! • The first three gospels center on Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. John centers his gospel on what Jesus said and did in Jerusalem. • Each of the gospels emphasizes a different origin if Jesus: – Matthew shows Jesus came from Abraham through David, and demonstrates that He is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament (Matthew 1:1-17). – Mark shows Jesus came from Nazareth, demonstrating that Jesus is a Servant (Mark 1:9). – Luke shows Jesus came from Adam, demonstrating that Jesus is the Perfect Man (Luke 3:23-38). – John shows Jesus came from heaven, demonstrating that Jesus is God. • Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the synoptic gospels. Synoptic means “see- together” and the first three gospels present Jesus’ life in pretty much the same format. The first three gospels focus more on what Jesus taught and did; John focuses more on who Jesus is. • John shows us who Jesus is by highlighting seven signs (miracles) of Jesus. Six of these miracles are not mentioned in the first three gospels. – Water into wine (2:1-12) – Heals the officials son in Capernaum (4:43-54) – Heals a paralytic man (5:1-47) – Feeds five thousand (6:1-15) – Walks on water (6:16-21) – Heals a man born blind (9:1-41) – Brings Lazarus back to life (11:1-57) • John shows us who Jesus is by allowing Jesus to speak for Himself in seven dramatic I AM statements. – The Bread of life (6:35,41,48,51) – The Light of the world (8:12; 9:5) – The door for the sheep (10:7,9) – The good Shepherd (10:11,14) – The resurrection and the life (11:25) – The way, the truth, and the life (14:6) – The true vine (15:1,5) • Parallel these statements with Exodus 3:14. 14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Jesus did not say He gave bread, He said He is the bread that gives life. Jesus did not say He would teach the way, the truth and the life; He said He is the Way, the Truth and the Life! These were Jesus’ clear claims to deity: He was not a mere man! • John 1:1-5 (New King James Version) 1 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 were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. • Word – logos – “the Personal Word”, a title of the Son of God; declaring His distinct and superfinite Personality and His relation in the Godhead (not mere company, but the most intimate communion) vv. 1,2 • His creative power v.3 • His incarnation (“became flesh”, expressing His voluntary act), the reality and totality of His human nature, and His glory, shekinah (the visible manifestation of the presence of God) glory, in open manifestation v.14 • Consummates the identification: “the only-begotten Son” v.18 • This fulfills the significance of the title “Logos”, the “Word” the personal manifestation, not of a part of the divine nature, but of the whole deity • The Greek philosophers saw the logos as the power which puts sense into the world, making the world orderly instead of chaotic. The logos was the power that set the world in perfect order and kept it going in perfect order. They saw the logos as the “Ultimate Reason” that controlled all things. • John says to both Jews and Greeks: “For centuries you’ve been talking, thinking, and writing about the Word (the logos). Now I will tell you who HE is.” • Vv. 1-5 – Jesus is eternal – Jesus is a person distinct from God the Father, and yet one with Him – Jesus is very God – Jesus is the Creator of ALL things – Jesus is the source of all spiritual life and light
Creation of light was the beginning of the original
creation (Genesis 1:3) so when believers receive the light, they become part of the new creation (2 Cor. 4:3-6) • V.3a “without Him nothing was made that was made.” • The Word created all things. Therefore He Himself is an uncreated being. Colossians 1:16 16 For by Him all things were created that are in
heaven and that are on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. • V.4 “In Him was life” the Word is the source of all life. The ancient Greek word translated life is zoe, which means “the principle life,” not bios, which means biological life. This life is “the light of men”, speaking of spiritual life as well as natural life. The Word doesn’t contain life and light; HE is life and light. • Without Jesus, we are dead and in darkness. We are lost. Hence man’s fear of death and darkness. • V.5 “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” • Comprehend can also be translated did not overcome. The light can not lose against the darkness; the darkness will never overcome it!
• This is the message we need to take to a lost and
dying world. The message of a personal God, who has revealed Himself to sinful man, in order that man may be reconciled to God by His dear Son, Jesus Christ.