The Book of John
Lesson 46
The Gospel of John brings to a climax, the full purpose if God in Christ. In the other three Gospels we have learned what Jesus said, what He die and what He felt. We have seen the high points of His life and ministry:
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His Supernatural Birth
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His Baptism
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His Temptation
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His Transfiguration
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His Crucifixion
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His Resurrection
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His Ascension
In all, the three preceding Gospels we have learned what He was and now John presents the completion of who He was. The other three Gospels are a presentation of Christ, Joh is an interpretation of Him. The first three show Jesus outwardly and John shows Jesus inwardly. Joh truly exposes the Divine, He is God-Man. The earlier three writers are concerned with our Lord’s public utterances while John majors in His private conversations and thoughts.
The Author:
John, the Apostle, is the author. He is the son of Zebedee, the brother of James (Matthew 4:21). These two were surnamed by our Lord “The sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). John wrote three epistles I, II, & II John, the book of Revelation and this Gospel. John was the beloved pastor at Ephesus, and later (95 A.D.), he was exiled to Patmos by the Emperor Domitian where he authored the Book of Revelation.
The Central Truth:
“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power (right or authority) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).
John 20:30-31
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
The Structure of the Book:
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His Prologue- 1:1-18
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His Public Ministry- 1:19-12:50
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His Private Ministry- 13:1-17:26
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His Suffering and Death- 18:1-19:42
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Victory over Death- 20:1-21:25
His Prologue- 1:1-18
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In the prologue or introduction there are so many things to capture our attention. Notice, however, four names or designations of our Lord:
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In a relationship to God, He is the:
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Word-v. 1
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Life-v.4
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In a relationship to us, He is the:
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Light-v.5
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Grace-v.14
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Truth-v.14
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Son-v.18
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His Public Ministry:
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John records seven signs or miracles which prove that Jesus is the Son of God. Nicodemus states this in John 3:2. The seven miracles are:
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Turning water unto wine- 2:1-11
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Healing of the nobleman’s son- 4:46-54
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Healing the man at Bethesda-5:1-18
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Feeding the 5000-6:1-14
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Walking on the water- 6:15-21
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Healing the blind man-9:1-41
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Raising of Lazarus-11:1-57
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John records the new birth chapter and Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus-3:3-18
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John records the incident with the Samaritan woman- 4:1-42- “the water of life”
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The Four Witness of Christ:
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John the Baptist- 5:33-35
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His works-5:36
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The Father-5:37-38
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The Scriptures-5:39-47
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The Healing of the blind man-9:1-41
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The Good Shepherd-10:1-42
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The Raising of Lazarus- 11:1-44
His Private Ministry:
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Chapter 13
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Humility- v.5
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Cleansing-v.10
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Love-v.34
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Chapter 14
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Comfort, His second coming-v.1-6.
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Promise of the Holy Spirit-v.16-18, 26
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Chapter 15
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Abiding in Christ-v.7-9
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Another promise by the Holy Spirit-v.26-27
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Chapter 16
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The work of the Holy Spirit-v.7-11
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New truth revealed by the Holy Spirit-v.12-14
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Chapter 17
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Our Lord’s Prayer-v.11,17,21,24
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His Suffering and Death:
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Garden of Gethsemane-18:1-11
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Trial before the High Priest-Annas-18:12-14; 19-23
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Trial before Roman-Pilate-18:28-38 and 18:39-19:36
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His Death to remember.
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His Identity-19:19
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His garments-19:23
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His mother-19:25-27
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His death-19:28-30
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His death verified-19:36 (Old Testament)
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His body buried-19:38-42 (Note: Nicodemus-v.39)
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John only records 19:30- “It is finished.”
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Victory over Death:
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On the third day the tomb was empty, and He came out of the grave with a spiritual body. He appeared ten separate times after His resurrection- the seventh being to Thomas (20:28).
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His last word of instruction is to Peter and to us John 21:22, Jesus saith unto him, follow thou me.
The Major Differences in John’s Gospel:
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No genealogy is recorded at all (as Matthew and Luke).
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No account of His birth- because He was “in the beginning.”
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Nothing about His boyhood.
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Nothing about His temptation.
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Nothing about His transfiguration.
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No account of the ascension.
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No great commission-21:25
The Three Keys to John’s Gospel:
John 20:31
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John 16:28
I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even
which taketh away the sin of the world.
Brazen Laver
John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Table of Shewbread
John 4:14
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 6:51
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Golden Candlestick
John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 9:5
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Altar of Incense
John 14:13-14
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
John 16:23-24
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
The Ark
Chapter 17 of John is prayers of Jesus interceding for us.
The Covenant and the Mercy Seat
Chapter 18 and 19 we see Calvary (Jesus as the Ark of the Covenant and the His Blood for the mercy seat).
Let us close with the seven I Am’s
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I am the bread of life-6:35
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I am the light of the world-8:12
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Before Abraham was, I Am-8:58
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I am the Good Shepherd-10:11
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I am the resurrection and life-11:25
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I am the way, the truth, and the life-14:6.
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I am the true vine-15:1.
This Book of John is so rich in teachings, I encourage you to study through it several times.