|
|
|
|
The Gospel of John, Introduction - Lesson 1
Eccl: 12:12 Of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
We will be using "John" by Merril C. Tenney and " John- Expository and Homiletical, by W. H. Van Doren in our study
A) John different in structure and style B) Contains no parables C) 7 miracles, 5 not recorded elsewhere D) Jesus-nature of his person and the meaning of faith in Hom-not ethical teaching of the kingdom E) Written by John son of Zebedee F) Last surviving apostle G) While spending last years at Ephesus, perhaps 90AD H) Familiar with Jewish traditions-expectation of the Messiah, 1:19, the Jewish feeling against Samaritans, 4:9 I) Well acquainted with Jewish feasts J) Acquainted with Palestine Area of Israel, the cities of Galilee, and territories of Samaria K) He was eyewitness (1:14) we beheld his glory (19:35) he that hath seen hath borne witness L) He mentions details only known by a witness 1) The hour when Jesus sat by the well 2) No. and size pots at Cana 3) Weight and value of ointment Mary used on Jesus M) He was with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry. John includes early episodes not included in other gospels. He was at the last supper, at the trail of Jesus, at the cross, he was one of the inner circle of disciples. N) Author does not name himself but calls himself "the disciple that Jesus loved. O) John, the son of Zebedee is the Author. 1) Mother, Salome, probably the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus, so therefore a cousin of the Lord. P) Grew up in Galilee, fishing business with his brother James, (probably older brother-he's mentioned first) and Andrew and Peter. Q) May have belonged first to the disciples of John the Baptist John 1:35. R) John and James seen to have had strong temperaments. Jesus called them "The sons of thunder" indicates fiery zeal, passionate intensity S) Jesus rebuked James and John for their petition to sit at prime seats in his kingdom T) Most likely the disciple mentioned in John 18:15,16, as another disciple - his family knew the high priest. U) John's household was probably well off because Zebedee had servant, and a fishing company. V) John assumed the responsibility for Jesus mother when Jesus committed her to his care. A great trust in John by the Lord. He was at the cross. He most likely spent the sabbath with Mary providing comfort and strength. Mary lost her son that day , we perhaps forget. W) He was one of the first visitors to the empty tomb and "he saw and believed." X) Epistles show him to have risen to a position of influence in the church. Y) Became a powerful expositor of the Love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ.
AA) John revealed as a rash, bombastic thunderous young man but when in Christ he was created to be an apostle of the love of God and whose devotion stands out beyond the other disciples. Peter was a friend of the Christ. John- a bosom friend of Jesus. At the table of the Lord's supper it is to him Peter makes signs that he shall ask what probably no one of the rest would dare. John 13:24. Now there was leaning on Jesus bosom one of his disciples whom Jesus loved. AB) John is present at the day of ascension and at the day of Pentecost. AC) Paul describes John as one of the pillars of the church. AD) Seems to have resided in Jerusalem until after the death of Mary, Jesus mother. AE) Helped to settle the controversy between the Jews and Gentile Christians 15 years after Paul's 1st visit. Acts 15:6 AF) No sign of his presence at Paul's last visit. AG) Apparently he became Pastor of the church at Ephesus. AH) Some persecution drove him to Patmos where he received the Revelation of Jesus Christ. AI) Jerome-early church father says he died at the age of 100 years in Ephesus with a peaceful death. AJ) Jerome related thus: "When all capacity to work and teach were gone, the aged apostle would have himself carried into the church and holding up his trembling hands would say, "Little children, live one another." On being asked why he constantly repeated this one saying he replied, "Because it is the command of the Lord and enough is done if this is done."
Purpose of the Book-Very clear-Read John 20;30,31
Prominent words-signs, believe, life 1) Signs=miracles 7 miracles-Jesus performed publicly on other people or for the benefit of other people 2) Illustrate different areas of his power and bear witness to his deity, and witness to spiritual truth.
Annex Belief=True science shows that faith is really a preliminary and medium of all cognizance and that all knowing is conditioned by an act of believing Every act of knowledge is based upon an act of faith In every act of learning a believing must be pre-supposed He who believes nothing, knows nothing Faith as an undoubting and assured conviction of the unseen is the organ for the immaterial world and our knowledge of it. Hence it is not knowledge but unbelief which is opposed to faith. True Christianity consists in the submission as well as in the use of reason.
Bridge Example: A person comes to a great bridge. He sees others cross safely. He is cautious. He examines the structure, looks at the condition of the materials, talks to lthers who have crossed. Finds out the bridge has served others for many years. His reason tells him that it is safe to cross the bridge. He can believe that in his mind and stand on the sidelines while refusing to cross. This is where reason stops. He must believe on the bridge and exercise faith to actually step on the bridge. This is the belief that John is talking about.
It is Reasons last step to acknowledge that there is an infinity of things which transcend her powers. She remains weak till she comes to the acknowledgement of this, her own insufficiency. And Christian faith being the submission of the soul to Divine revelation, no creature need be ashamed of receiving help from its Creator.
Finite reason must submit itself to the infinite; the weak and imperfect human understanding must yield to the perfect truth which proceeds from God.
Doubt in its innermost nature is a wrong compliance, a weakness, a cowardly dread of ventures and difficulties; whereas the innermost source of faith is the courage which bravely seizes and steadfastly holds to that which is invisible.
Doubt we must at times, but we must learn at proper times to submit also. The scientist who continues to deny God after a lifetime of studying His crreation. Never comes to a reasonable conclusion that his studies will not reveal the ultimate source of all creation. He must give in to faith, believing that God is.
Seven signs exclusive of the resurrection and the draught of fishes of 21st chapter.
TITLE PASSAGE AREA OF POWER 1) Changing Water into wine 2:1-11 Master of Quality 2) Healing Nobleman's Son 4:46-54 Master of Space 3) Healing of Impotent Man 5:1-9 Master of Time 4) The feeding of the 5000 6:1-14 Master of Quantity 5) The walking of the water 6:16-21 Master, Natural Law 6) Healing of the blind man* 9:1-12 Master of Misfortune 7) The raising of Lazarus 11:1-46 Master of Death
By these signs or miracles he demonstrated his control over the factors of life that man is unable to effect any change of laws or conditions which affect his life. We do try though! (These powers circumscribe humanity's world) We struggle against their existence)
The second word is believe - occurs 98 times - See previous page Sometimes rendered trust or commit. It is the full meaning of the whole Christian life. The tense of the verb implies the continuing process of belief involving also progress.
John defines belief in Christ as receiving him, making him a part of ones life.
The third word is life - the sum total of all that is imparted to the believer in his salvation. "This is life eternal that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send even Jesus Christ." 17:3
The word life occurs 60 times in the books of John Life is the opposite of condemnation 3:17, 5:24 Life is the knowledge of God 17:3 Life is satisfaction 6:35, Are you the Christ or do we look for another? Life is Preservation and Enjoyment 10:10 Life is Eternal Duration 12:25 Life is qualitative as well as quantitative It is the natural consequence of a complete giving of self to Christ
Christ is the "Prince of Life" Acts 3:15 Christ is the "Source of all life" Col 1:16 Christ is the "Author of Spiritual Life" I John Christ is the "Author of Natural Life" Col 1:17 Christ is the "Fountain of Life" Psalm 36:9 Christ is the "Tree of Life" Proverbs 3:18 Christ is the "Word of Life" I John 1:1
Life according to John is not just animal vitality or the course of human existence but it is a kind of nature, a new consciousness, interaction with environment and constant development.
Christ is the ultimate example of this life God's gift to the believer So then signs reveal God Belief is the reaction produced Life is the result that belief brings
John is the gospel of belief - The gospel of John is most valuable to Believers
OUTLINE
I. Prologue-The theme-Belief 1:1-18 II. The Presentation of the Object of Belief 1:19-4:54 III. The Issues of Belief and of Unbelief 5:1-6:71 IV. The Clash of Belief and Unbelief 7:1-11:53 V. The Declaration of Belief and Unbelief 11:54-12:36 VI. The Strengthening of Belief 12:36-17:26 VII. The Victory over Unbelief 18:1-20:29 VIII. The Responsibility of Belief 21:1-25
Prologue-the preface or introduction to a discourse, John's prologue is the good wine
I. The Prologue-John 1:1-18, divided into two sections dealing with two persons-the Word, and John the Baptist
Verses 1-5, 9-14, 16-18, concern the Word Verses 6-8 and 15 concern John the Baptist
A) The Word and Deity (1) B) The Word and Creation (2,3) C) The Word and Life (4,5,9) D) The Word and the World (10) E) The Word and Men (11-13) F) The Word Incarnate (14) G) The Word Revealing (16-18)
Read John 1:1-18, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
In the beginning was the Word (In the beginning, an infinite state) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God
In the beginning can mean any beginning-There was no beginning that the Word was not at.
The Word (LOGOS) always was
LOGOS implies the intelligence behind the idea, the idea, and the transmissible expression of it.
Denotes the Controlling Reason of all, the all-pervasive mind which rules and gives meaning to all things-wisdom
John's logos is the thinker, the omniscient genius behind the created universe, it is on-going not past, not present, not future, I AM helps to explain it, logos transends time.
LOGOS belongs to a realm where time does not matter.
LOGOS belongs to eternity.
In the realm of time we are nothing but word-we are made in the image of God.
Thought and speech are one: there is an essential identity.
Thought is inward speaking and speech is audible thinking.
Christ is the inward and expressed thought of the eternal mind.
He is the brightness of his Father's glory; the express image of his person. Heb. 1:2
He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. John 15:9
My profession is word centered-written documents, verbal instructions, cannot do anything without word.
As created beings we are simply expressions of God's word, we are extensions of his Word.
We have intelligence behind an idea, we have the idea, and we can express the idea.
Unbelievers are confined to the realm of time.
Believers move into the realm of eternity as we are created in Christ Jesus. We are conformed to His image. Our nature is to be Christlike, Wordlike, Wisdomlike.
The Old Testament prepares the reader for this term, "The Word"
1) God is seen to create by the Word, "Let there be!" Gen. 1 2) The Word is spoken to our parents Adam and Eve in the Garden. Gen. 3:8. 3) The Word called Abraham. Gen. 3:1 4) In the book of Psalms the Word appears in a personal form. The Word of the Lord is tried. He is a buckler to all who trust in him. 5) The idea of the Wisdom of God is found in the Old Testament. 6) In Christ the Word of God and the Wisdom of God are united. Col. 2:9, For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him. |