John

John's Gospel was the last one to be written. Its author used material from the other gospels. But he chose particular things. He chose things that would fit with his purpose. (Read 20:30 and 22:25.)

Clement of Alexandria lived in the first century. He was one of the leaders in the Early (First) Church. And he wrote about this. The other three Gospels told about the physical facts. John wrote a spiritual Gospel.

We will divide this great account into four main sections:

Signs: What Christ Did (Chapters 1-11)

The introduction to the Gospel is 1:1-14. The passage reminds us about Genesis 1. There are some great truths about Jesus Christ: ‘He was there with God in the beginning. Through him, God made all things’ (1:2, 3). He was God's agent in the work of all creation. (Read Colossians 1:16 and Hebrews 1:2.) And Christ is still at work. He is creating again. He is changing men and women who believe in him (1:12-13; 3:3).

Then there are details about John the Baptist's service. (Read 1:15-37; 3:22-36; 5:33-36.) He announced that Christ was coming. And he was eager to tell people about him. John was God's servant, so he obeyed God. John was not selfish. He wanted people to notice Christ only, not himself.

However, the main subject is not John's service. These first chapters are about the miracles of Christ. Jesus Christ:

• changed water into wine. This showed Christ's power to change ordinary things into special things (2:1-11). There is a reward for those who obey him.
• healed the official's son. Christ showed the power of the word of authority (4:46-54). And there was the response of faith (4:50).
• healed the man who could not move (5:1-9). Christ is the answer to human despair (5:7. The man said, ‘There is nobody to help me’).
• fed the crowd (6:1-14). Christ is the ‘bread of life’. He offers complete satisfaction to ‘the world’. These were favourite words of John. (Read 1:29; 4:42; 6:33; 8:12.)
• walked on the sea. Christ is the answer to human fear (6:16-21).
• gave sight to the blind man. Christ is the light of the world. And people are blind in a spiritual way (9:1-7, 37-39). They do not understand spiritual things (9:40-41).
• brought Lazarus back to life. Christ gives life (11:17-44).

John described the miracles as ‘signs’ (20:30). They were ways of showing Christ's glory. So they created faith in him (2:11; 20:31).

Teaching: What Christ Expected (Chapters 12-16)

This section has a special account of Christ's teaching. He taught very important things. The chapters emphasise what Christ expected. It was an important time. It was near to the time of his death. It was also at the time of the Passover (12:1; 13:1). And, because they were Christ's last words, their value was greater. He was speaking to his disciples. There are five great truths about the Christian life. And they are of first importance.

They are:

• A life that gives. We see this in Mary's gift. It was a real sacrifice (12:1-8). There was also the example of Christ himself. He spoke about his own death as a sacrifice. (One example is 12:23-26.)
• A life that serves. Christ washed his disciples’ feet. And this clearly shows a vital principle. John used this way to tell a truth. It is like the truth in Mark 10:44-45. Disciples are servants (13:14-16). They know what their Master wants and they do it (13:17). This service should come from love (13:34-35). Love is the true test of a disciple.
• A life that obeys. Chapter 14 has much about this subject. (Examples are 14:15, 21, 23, 24.) Christ emphasised its importance. He obeyed his Father completely (14:31). So he did it himself first. Then he asked them, and us, to obey too.
• A life of special friendship. Chapter 15 is picture language. It reminds us about the Old Testament. (Read Isaiah 5; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15.) The Old Testament refers to the Jewish nation. In the New Testament, the picture refers to Christians. And this special friendship is like living and remaining in Christ. Christ and the Christian are part of each other. They are like a tree and a branch. This brings inner blessing. We will be clean inside (15:3). Our lives will show ‘fruit’. We will have love (15:9-10). We will have joy too (15:11). And we will understand the things of God. But it also means that some people will oppose us (15:18-25).
• A life of witness. John wrote much about this subject. (Read 1:7-8; 3:11, 26, 28; 5:31-37; 8:18; 9:24-34; 15:27; 18:37.)

[Note: “Witness” means to tell other people about Jesus. We witness by the way that we live too. The word can be a noun or a verb.]

Lazarus was a good witness (12:9-11). Some of the chief leaders also believed in Christ. But they were cowards (12:42-43). Joseph from Arimathea was a coward too. But he was different after Christ's death (19:38).

Christ expected people who followed him to be brave in their witness (15:26-27). This was possible even when society was not friendly (16:1-6). The Holy Spirit would make this possible. He would use their witness. (Read 16:7-11 and 16:13-15.) Christ knew that there would be difficult days in the future (16:20). But his disciples would also have:

• joy (16:21-22)
• love (16:27)
• peace (16:33).

Sacrifice: What Christ Achieved (Chapters 17-19)

Chapter 17 is Christ's prayer. He prayed for the people who followed him. His teaching is of great importance. But we need something more. We need to have his prayer for us today. And this is what he promises (Hebrews 7:25). He has finished his work on the cross (17:4). But Christ loves to pray for his people. He prays because:

• he can show his glory in us (17:10)
• he knows how much the world hates us (17:14)
• he wants everybody to unite in him (17:21-22)
• he loves us (17:23-26). And this is the most important reason.

In the story of the cross, John often speaks about Christ as King. (One example is 18:33.) This is how the Gospel began (1:49. Read 6:15 too). John's Gospel often declares that Christ is God. (Read 1:1, 14, 18; 17:1; 20:28-31.)

Notice something else. John insists that Christ really did die (19:31-37). And there is a reason for this. There was a group in the first century. They were called Docetists. (The word comes from a Greek word ‘dokein’. This means ‘to seem’.) They suggested that Christ did not really die. It only seemed that he was dead. So they denied the reality of his death. And they denied that he was really human. John's Gospel also often declares that Christ is God. (Read 1:1, 14, 18; 17:1; 20:28-31.)

Service: What Christ Demanded (Chapters 20-21)

Christ came alive again. Then he sent his men out into the world. There were many opportunities. First, they should bring people to God (20:21-23). Then, they should care for them (21:15-17).

However, something mattered most of all. It was personal love for Christ. And this sort of life would be hard (21:18-19).