Gospel of John10 Mar
Purpose
The author explicitly states his purpose near the end of his book (20:30–31). He wrote his Gospel to provide an account of Jesus’ life and the signs he performed so that people will believe in him and experience eternal life. Because the verb “believe” may be translated “continue to believe,” his purpose no doubt included building up Jesus’ followers as well as converting unbelievers.
Christian Worldview Elements
John deals particularly with the world-view categories of covenant and redemption, discipleship, and time and eternity. Jesus’ death as an “appointment with destiny” is especially emphasized. The importance of believing in Jesus in order to be his disciple and to receive eternal life are pronounced.
Teachings about God
John emphasized the sovereignty and the love of God in sending Jesus. Jesus perfectly reveals God (1:18). In particular Jesus’ astounding proclamations that begin with “I am” are remarkable claims about both his person and work. Jesus’ teaching on the Spirit (“the Comforter”) is more extensive than in any other Gospel (chaps. 14–16). This Gospel especially reveals the glory and the name of the Father and the Son.
Teachings about Humanity
Humans are sinners in need of a Savior. They are unable to do anything toward their salvation but are wholly dependent on God’s initiative through Jesus. Many individuals demonstrate this: Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, the man born blind.
Teachings about Salvation
This Gospel, more than the others, emphasizes strongly a personal relationship with Jesus that’s built on faith in him and his sacrificial death. Faith in Jesus is salvation and eternal life. One such text is 10:27–28: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life.” John balances between God’s sovereign election of some for eternal life (6:44) and the invitation to “whosoever” (3:16).
CHRIST IN JOHN
In John, Jesus is the Logos, the Word of God who was with God and was God. Jesus is God in flesh. Jesus’ deity is further amplified in his seven “I am” sayings (I am the bread of life; the light of the world; the door of the sheep; the good shepherd; the resurrection and the life; the way, the truth, and the life; the true vine).
John’s emphases on Jesus’ lordship and deity have already been noted. Yet this Gospel related far fewer of Jesus’ miracles than did the others. John selected a limited number because of their sign value in pointing to Jesus’ true identity. The “I am” teachings also point to Jesus’ identity, in particular because of their connection with the earlier revelation of God as “I Am” (Exod. 3:14). In this Gospel, Jesus calls his appointment with death his “hour” (contrast 2:4; 7:30 with 13:1; 17:1).
Summary taken from: Kendell H. Easley, Holman QuickSource Guide to Understanding the Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2002). 262–263.
2 Responses to “Gospel of John”
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Studying the three different accounts, (the gospel of Matt, Mark and John) of Jesus walking on the water is just mind bending! He breaks several natural laws – The law of density, the weight of His human body should have caused Him to sink, I guess He also defied the law of gravity. Mat 14:28 He allows Peter to also break these natural laws to some degree. Mark 6:51 the law of natural atmospheric disturbance, a storm. He calm’s the storm and the winds and sea become peaceful. Lastly John 6:21 (which I think is overlooked) the law of time. John states, “They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat: and straightway or (immediately) the boat was at the land whither they were going”. Can anyone add more insight to this supernatural phenomenon?
I think the last reference, Nick, is not a supernatural one, but rather a literary device to describe their movement to safety. Either that, or to describe that the rest of the boat journey was not of consequence much the way we would say, “The next thing that happened was…” meaning not the actual next thing in time, but the next event of importance to the story being told.