Gospel of JohnGospel of John

John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel

John’s Gospel is not part of the John’s Gospel is not part of the Synoptic Gospels…Synoptic Gospels…

It is also the It is also the longestlongest Gospel Gospel John’s Gospel uses John’s Gospel uses symbolic symbolic

imageryimagery to identify our (the to identify our (the believers) relationship with Jesusbelievers) relationship with Jesus– Through this method, the Gospel of Through this method, the Gospel of

John is very different from the John is very different from the previous Gospels…previous Gospels…

John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel

John’s Gospel also focuses on John’s Gospel also focuses on identifying identifying Jesus’ divinity (being the Jesus’ divinity (being the Son of God) and not on his Son of God) and not on his humanityhumanity– About why Jesus was hereAbout why Jesus was here– And what Jesus did and what Jesus brought And what Jesus did and what Jesus brought

to us, through his lifeto us, through his life John’s Gospel is the 4John’s Gospel is the 4thth Gospel written Gospel written

around 90 - 100 ADaround 90 - 100 AD– John’s audience is intended for all the John’s audience is intended for all the

Christians of the (known) worldChristians of the (known) world

John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel

DifferencesDifferences from the Synoptics: from the Synoptics:1.1. John stresses the relationship John stresses the relationship

between Jesus and Godbetween Jesus and God– Where as the Synoptic Gospels stressed Where as the Synoptic Gospels stressed

the kingdom of God and its reign…the kingdom of God and its reign…– John illustrates our relationship to John illustrates our relationship to

God through JesusGod through Jesus– USUS Jesus Jesus God God – This is how we must reach GodThis is how we must reach God

Jesus is the Jesus is the MEDIATORMEDIATOR between between us and God!!us and God!!

John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel

2. 2. John illustrates Jesus’ “John illustrates Jesus’ “lessonslessons” ” through through seven miraculous seven miraculous signssigns……

……where as the Synoptic where as the Synoptic Gospels use parables and Gospels use parables and miraclesmiracles

– This, again, is because John’s This, again, is because John’s focus is on focus is on Jesus’ divinity!!Jesus’ divinity!!

John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel

3. John has 3. John has numerous numerous passages about the passages about the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit and its and its purposepurpose– The Synoptic The Synoptic

Gospels hardly Gospels hardly mentioned the Holy mentioned the Holy Spirit’s significance Spirit’s significance

John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel

John’s use of symbolism can be John’s use of symbolism can be easily seen in Chapter 1 of the easily seen in Chapter 1 of the ProloguePrologue– Read John 1: 1 (pg 1377)Read John 1: 1 (pg 1377)

What or Who is the word?What or Who is the word?– The author is referring to JesusThe author is referring to Jesus

This prologue focuses on Jesus and This prologue focuses on Jesus and his ability, purpose and meaning for his ability, purpose and meaning for us, as followers and believersus, as followers and believers

John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel

How does John refer to How does John refer to JesusJesus in the prologue? in the prologue?– John identifies him as the John identifies him as the light of the world light of the world and and

the source of life itselfthe source of life itself

John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel

Essentially, John depicts Jesus as Essentially, John depicts Jesus as the savior, the one to guide “us” the savior, the one to guide “us” to Godto God– Jesus created the world and is the Jesus created the world and is the

worldworld What does John mean by this line?What does John mean by this line?

– Jesus created the physical world, but also is Jesus created the physical world, but also is the world (spiritual world) which we desired the world (spiritual world) which we desired to reside and dwell in.to reside and dwell in.

This is why everything outside of Jesus This is why everything outside of Jesus is darknessis darkness

John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel

How does John identify creation in How does John identify creation in the prologue?the prologue?– Read line 2-4Read line 2-4– John states that John states that allall that was made that was made

was through God…was through God… How does this How does this comparecompare to the to the

previous Gospels?previous Gospels?– The Synoptic Gospels spent chapters The Synoptic Gospels spent chapters

and verses describing creation and and verses describing creation and the beginningthe beginning

HW for May 10HW for May 10thth: Due Next : Due Next Class!Class!

What does Jesus mean in John Ch. 3 when he What does Jesus mean in John Ch. 3 when he says that "no one can enter into the kingdom of says that "no one can enter into the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit?”God without being born of water and Spirit?”

Answer in your Answer in your NotebooksNotebooks: : 1. To what degree are you like Nicodemus, who 1. To what degree are you like Nicodemus, who

only desired to meet Jesus at night (in the only desired to meet Jesus at night (in the darkness) rather than during the day (out in the darkness) rather than during the day (out in the light)?  light)? 

2. How hard is it to express your belief in Jesus 2. How hard is it to express your belief in Jesus publicallypublically, both by what you say and what you , both by what you say and what you do? do?

John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel

Who else is identified in this prologue?Who else is identified in this prologue?– John the BaptistJohn the Baptist

How does the Prologue depict John?How does the Prologue depict John?– As the As the predecessorpredecessor to Jesus to set the to Jesus to set the

foundation for Jesus’ life and mission on foundation for Jesus’ life and mission on EarthEarth To To testifytestify on behalf of Jesus… on behalf of Jesus… What are some examples that illustrate this What are some examples that illustrate this

point?point?

John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel

Who is John referring to in line 11?Who is John referring to in line 11?– To the land of Israel and the JewsTo the land of Israel and the Jews– The Jews did not accept Jesus and his The Jews did not accept Jesus and his

messagemessage God’s “chosen” people didn’t understand…God’s “chosen” people didn’t understand…

What is John’s portrayal of the Jewish What is John’s portrayal of the Jewish community?community?– Negative, how?Negative, how?

John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel

Read lines 12-13…Read lines 12-13…– What does John mean by What does John mean by children children

of God?of God? The people, Christians, who have The people, Christians, who have

welcomed Jesus as their light in the welcomed Jesus as their light in the world and have accepted God into their world and have accepted God into their liveslives

– What “life” is John talking about?What “life” is John talking about? John is referring to a persons spiritual John is referring to a persons spiritual

life, its rebirth into a new lifelife, its rebirth into a new life

John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel

They are reborn by They are reborn by God, not by man and God, not by man and the natural waysthe natural ways– This reinforces that John This reinforces that John

is talking about is talking about spiritual spiritual rebirthrebirth and not physical and not physical

Line 14 specifically Line 14 specifically refers to Jesusrefers to Jesus– What words in this line What words in this line

would have significance would have significance to the reader about to the reader about Jesus?Jesus?

John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel ““Dwell”Dwell”

– John tells us that Jesus is the glory John tells us that Jesus is the glory and truth of the worldand truth of the world

– He is the fulfillment…He is the fulfillment…– With this understanding, Jesus is With this understanding, Jesus is

here to live with humanity and here to live with humanity and develop a relationship with usdevelop a relationship with us

““Flesh”Flesh”– Jesus became Jesus became IncarnateIncarnate, (blood and , (blood and

flesh)flesh)

John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel

John uses this prologue and symbolism to John uses this prologue and symbolism to stress the stress the end of the “old” and the end of the “old” and the establishment of the “new”…establishment of the “new”…– New person/ rebirthNew person/ rebirth– Truth and graceTruth and grace– IncarnationIncarnation– ““Grace in place of grace”Grace in place of grace”

What do you think this phrase means?What do you think this phrase means?

John’s GospelJohn’s Gospel ““Grace in place of grace”Grace in place of grace”

– This “grace” refers to the This “grace” refers to the old covenant in the old old covenant in the old testament between God testament between God and the Jewsand the Jews

– Through this Through this “replacement,” “replacement,” a new a new grace/ covenant is grace/ covenant is established through established through Jesus Jesus

NicodemusNicodemus: people : people accepting the new covenant…accepting the new covenant…from dark to light! from dark to light! Transition…Transition…