1. We begin, today, an adventure.
We are going to explore the Gospel of John in the coming year. Why? In an age
where we are told to believe what suits you, we are confronted by a Jesus who
claims to be the one to believe in, the only one, the authoritative one, God’s
appointed Son. In his day he challenged everything about the prevailing
authority of the day and Said I am, My Father and I are the source of all power
and authority.
So we are in uncomfortable
territory. Jesus accepts no syncretism, no alternative, he offers himself as
the way the truth and the life.
If we are serious about being
followers of Jesus Christ, we need to understand his message. We are going to
have to read, memorize and meditate on what our Lord and Saviour says.
So get to it. You can read
it, listen to it on tape, watch a Video or DVD, whatever. The important
objective is to know Jesus better and that will come as we are open to the Holy
Spirit using this book to develop our character to like the person of whom John
writes.
Today you will need a pen or pencil and something to write on as I
have left out selected words from your booklets
The key to this book is found
in John 20:30-31.2. If you listen to John
being read, this word ‘believe’ keeps coming up. Even his conflict with the
authorities is seen as their refusal to believe in him. Believing is having
eternal life. That thought recurs throughout the book. It is the heart of the
gospel of John. Read
John 1:14
The Gospel of John is very
different to the other three as it concentrates on the speeches of Jesus rather
than his acts and parables.3a.
John selects 7 miracles which he calls signs to demonstrate the divine nature
of Jesus. In fact the message of John is that Jesus is the son of man, that is,
truly a man, he is the Messiah, Christ or King and that he is the Son of God.
3b.
The book seems to me to fall into three sections
I.
Revelation To the
world ch 1-12
II.
Revelation To the
disciples ch 13-17
III.
Glorification in his
death and resurrection ch18-21
4a. But that is not the only way
of looking at the book.
Here is also a motif of the
Jewish year, with each Feast of Israel shown to be fulfilled in Christ. These
are shown in Green in the notes.
4b. Another way of exploring John
is to look at the metaphors and the ‘I am’s. These graphically describe Jesus
in many ways. They will appear in red handwriting on the screen and you will
have to write them into the notes yourself. The significance of the ‘I am’ lies
in the name of God being the ‘I am’ and this is graphically illustrated when
Jesus says that before Abraham was ‘I am’ as it prompts stoning for claiming to
be God.
To fly through the book in
the next few minutes is going to be frenetic but we will take a more considered
walk through the book in the coming months, so, tighten your seat belts as we
get clearance for take-off!
5. The first 18 verss are a
summary of what is to follow. Jesus is declared as The Word, the Life and the
Light. So you need to add those words in the appropriate space.
In Genesis 1:3 we read God said
… and it was so. Word produces action, the Hebrew word for word meaning both
word and act. God acts through Jesus. Jesus is not just a prophet he is God in
action.
Jesus is introduced to the
world by John the Herald of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the
world. John 1:29 God’s word and action is for Jesus to be the Passover Lamb,
the demonstration of the love of God for you and me – he says ‘I love you’ by
being sacrificed on a cross.
The writer John then
describes Jesus meeting individuals – Andrew, Peter, Nathaniel, his mother. In
fact in the early part of the book the crowds are in the background to his
meeting Nicodemus, the woman at the well, the man at the pool, etc.
The Introduction ends with
the first sign. Jesus transforms a wedding party – the happiest human
celebration into something bigger and better. Human joys are eclipsed by the
best wine produced by the giver of life.
6. The next section is called the
revolution as Jesus takes political action in cleansing the temple
Not riding high on popularity
Teaching about New Birth
Meeting an outcast and
revealing a new source of the water of life – himself.
And ending with the sign of
healing the officials son – showing he could do what officialdom could not.
7. Section C. has three signs
healing, feeding and walking on water. This emphasises that the rejections of
Jesus was based on the clearest demonstration that Jesus was who he claimed to
be. He heals on the Sabbath and when challenged his answer is that he is equal
with God.
We meet the first ‘I am’
which is connected to Sign four Jesus is the Bread of Life and he demonstrates
this by feeding 5000. John 6:29 & 35 show
that we feed on Jesus by believing in him. John 6:68
shows that reading his word is feeding on him. It adds significance to the
communion table.
Against the growing darkness
of the hatred of the Jewish leaders, Jesus continues his ministry. In ch 7
Jesus speaks at length about his relationship with the Father.8.
Read 7:16-18
On the last day of the feast
he takes the symbolism of the Jewish celebration and applies it to himself. READ 7:37
Echoing that wonderful poem
in Isaiah 55:1 and the conversation with the
woman at the well.
This is followed by the story
of the woman taken in adultery which is in or out of the Bible, depending on
which translation you read! It underlines the failure of the Law – there is no
righteous judge on earth – until Jesus the righteous Judge appears.
9. In 8:12 he is the Light of the
World a theme that continues with Sign six light is contrasted with blindness.
The problem is that light has come but men love darkness rather than light
because their deeds are evil so they shut their eyes to the light.
But Jesus is no blind leader,
he is the good shepherd he can lead properly because he will lay down his life
for the sheep. He knows each of us individually. He is the door by which we can
enter into fellowship with Him.
The ultimate security for the
sheep – us- is that I and the Father are one. He is God himself – a claim which
the Jews tried to kill him for and eventually did but not yet.
10. We are now coming to the end
of Jesus’ revelation to the world. Jesus reveals another aspect of his divinity
He is the resurrection and the life. Here is the triumph of a Christian funeral
demonstrated by a physical resurrection. Our shepherd not only saves us, cares
for us but also takes away the sting of death. No longer is there an end to
life – it is the opening of the door to a great and richer one.
The shadow of the cross falls
across the page. The authorities plot his death and Mary anoints him for
burial.
The king enters Jerusalem on
a donkey. It is the high point of His popularity. But his talk is all about the
impending death and resurrection. The voice that spoke at the beginning of his
ministry speaks again. The message of the light is set against the growing
storm clouds. The final public words are about believing in him brining eternal
life and that he speaks as the Father told him.
John now takes us into the
upper room where Jesus is with his disciples.
The foot washing is done by
Jesus to show a new way of leadership by serving.
He then issues a New Command
– Love one another even as I have loved you.
12. As the disciples feel the
cold darkness seeping into the room he encourages them with these wonderful
words
READ JOHN 14:6
The implications are clear
there is no other way; obedience to Jesus is the only life worth living. Here
is the truth, not a set of propositions, a theology or a moral framework; It is
Jesus who gives meaning to life, integrity to our actions. Others may be
happier, richer and more fulfilled but following Jesus is more than just your
destiny, it is the best place for you to be and there is more to come. The only
way leads to the eternal presence with the Father.
“I am with you always” he
says, is that not the richest, most thrilling and satisfying company to keep?
And there is more, He is not leaving us alone, he sends his Holy Spirit to
guide, encourage, teach and remind us of Him.
He is the Comforter. Here is a precious gift we can enjoy through all
the trials of life.
Then Jesus turns to our
dependence on him. “I am the True Vine” syas Jesus and you are the branches and
he goes on to reveal the purpose of those trials and privations there are in
the Christians life – that we may produce more fruit – Here the fruit is Love READ 15:12 But
Gall 5:22 ha a more extensive list.
Chapters 15 and 16 are all
about the Christian life its joys and sorrows and is full of promises
READ 16:7-11
16:13-15
16:20
16:23
16:33
The revelation to Jesus’
disciples ends with the great prayer of Jesus for the church, demonstrating his
intimate love and concern for his people.
17:11
17:14-17
We are caught up into heaven
itself sharing in that wonderful fellowship of the Father and the Son. And as
we do we see Jesus leading his little band across the Kidron Valley to be
betrayed, tried and crucified and rising again so that we can enter into the
experience of the presence of God.
13. The glorification of Jesus is
a further demonstration of the Kingship of Jesus
READ18:36-37
19:11
19:19
14. We need to read these pages,
time and again, whispering to ourselves, “ He did it for me”, “ He loves me
this much” Write the words boldly “It is finished” – the work of salvation is
complete.
15. Always read on too the end.
Jesus is alive – he is the resurrection and the life and now he appears to his
disciples with the message “ Peace be with you”
Notice once again how
individuals are picked out. Mary
Magdelene, Thomas, Peter, John himself – each finds his/her needs answered and
their life changes by the risen Christ. Each has to believe for themselves. You
are never one of a crowd, Jesus speaks to you individually. He can do it to you
and me
16. Jesus is is worshipped by your love. He asks Peter
three times “ Do you love me? It is the
response of the believer, repentant, humble and ready to serve the Lord and
Saviour whatever the cost. So what is our response? What is our answer?
READ 21:24-25
17. 20:31