Today
we are beginning a study here in the gospel of John – TRACT { Tool -
Today
Introduction: 3 themes:
Misconception about / Motive for writing / Method of the Writings !
Misconception
: The gospel of John is for New believers
A)Now is True that Most
Churches do recommend John – to New believers – Why is that ? Two reasons
1) Of all the gospels John’s
was written to solidify our faith.
2) So they just keep reading
right thru the NT
B) But John is anything but
easy: John was a bit of a mystic – his writing style is sometimes in the
abstract
1)He
says something and you have to look at it 2 or 3 times to catch the full impact
of what is being said.
I like what Alan Redpath
says about this Book, “he
says that the Gospel of John is shallow enough for a child to wade in, and deep
enough for an elephant to swim in.”
C)
Interesting to note that John only uses about 600 words in his vocabulary.
1)
Which is the Vocab of a seven or eight year old
D)They say that you can learn about 100 words per year those first
few years. Only 600 words
He is the simplest in regards to
Vocabulary – but he is the most sublime in regards to truth.
A)The
early Church Fathers considered John – not Paul the great theologian of their
day – because of his ability to communicate truth
B)There
is more theology in the Gospel of John then there is in any other Gospel.
D)
Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the Synoptic gospels – The word synoptic
means to see together.
1)
The Synoptic gospels cover much of the same material from somewhat
slightly different points of view depending upon their audience.
Matthew was
written To Jews –Focus: Prove Jesus is “The Messiah” – Tells us what Jesus said!
B)
Because it is written to the Jews Matthew Quotes from the OT more than any
other Gospel. 99 times
1) Key word is fulfilled 34
times– fulfilled Prophecy.
C) Genealogy begins with Abraham
– goes thru David proving that Jesus is from the right lineage to be Messiah
D) Matthew ends his gospel
with the Rez proving that the King is Victorious
Mark was
written to the Romans – Portrays Jesus as “The Servant” –
A)The Suffering servant who
came not to be served but to serve and to give Himself a ransom for many.
B) Tells us what Jesus did!
C) Key
word: Immediately 82 times –
1) Most of the time in
reference to the idea of Jesus responding to his father -
D) No Genealogy: Servants didn’t have …..
1) Ends:
The Ascension – The servant who came and laid down his life was raised up in glory at
the end!
Luke
was written to the Gentiles.
A)Luke was sensitive to detail
& chronology
Portrays Jesus as “The
Man” His Humanity.
B) Tells us what Jesus felt!
C) Key
Phrase: “And it came to pass” He is interested in the detail of the travels
of Jesus
1)
Where he went – what saw / what he did.
D) Genealogy:
Adam – Because he is concerned about all of Mankind – the whole human family.
E) Ends:
The Promise of the Holy Spirit.
John’s
gospel is different: It takes us to Higher Ground
A)In
fact 90% of the material in John’s Gospels
is found no place else.
Aa)Consider a few things subjects unique to
the gospel of John
B)
John gives us a discourse of the Second Birth,
1)
He gives us Jesus’ teaching on the Holy Spirit.
C)And
you do get the real Lord’s Prayer in
D) If you are interested in the Doctrine of the Trinity, you will hear more about the
Trinity in John’s Gospel then anyplace else.
E) Those
are just a few of the subjects that are unique to John’s gospel.
John
Writes topically not chronologically.
A)
John writes to the Church – to believers:
B) Interesting that Matthew, Mark and Luke all warn a group of people about end times events –
1) About the Tribulation
time.
C) But there are no such
warnings in John – No need since he is writing to the Church
1) John
just gives a promise about Heaven
"Let not
your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if
it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be
also.
C) That is John’s Story of
the end times for the Church.
John
portrays Jesus as “Divine”
A) He Tells us who Jesus is!
B)John Portrays Jesus as
none other than God in Human flesh !
C)Key
Phrase: Most assuredly I say to you –
1) Focus on the Declarations
that Jesus made
D) Genealogy:
In the beginning – Takes us back before Genesis – Focus on the Deity of Christ
E) Ends:
The Promise of the return of Jesus.
We
conclude from all of that: that John’s Gospel is entirely UNIQUE – Rich / Depth
to it!
A) Our approach to this
gospel needs to be one of Reverence and AWE!
Now
lets consider John’s Motive for writing this gospel. 2 Fold
John relates to
signs – not just miracles – because a sign is linked to something
A)A sign communicates
something proves something.
B)John says there are many
signs which are not written or recorded –
1)But the ones that I am
pointing to have been recorded for 2 Reasons miracles that relate to something.
Reason #1 that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God.
A)John is one of the last books written in
the NT and it was written for one
reason and that was to answer the Question, who is Jesus of
B) That was the question on
the minds of many:
1)Was
Jesus a Prophet – The Prophet – Great teacher or was He the Messiah
C) Some were claiming that Jesus was a man that had become divine,
1)
still others were teaching that Jesus wasn’t a man at all, but a spirit
that came to teach us about God.
It was no different then it is in our world
today.
A)So
much interest in Jesus, and yet so many different ideas about who He is.
B)
Movies made, Books written, Magazine articles and TV Programs, all trying to answer
that question.
C)
Have you ever wondered why Jesus won’t just go away?
1)Think of all of the people
that have captivated our imaginations in our life – basically forgotten.
D) We don’t give them a second thought.
But then you have Jesus, a country Jew, born
in a town on the wrong side of the tracks called
B)Here
was a man that never left his country, never wrote a book, didn’t come up
some great invention,
1)He
died a criminals death, who His disciples claimed was raised from the
dead.
C)And
yet this man has had more books written about Him, and has inspired more
music, more works of Art, and to this day,
D)
He continues to impact more countries then any person that has ever lived.
See at the heart
of Christianity is not a philosophy, or a teaching, or a set of principals that
will lead you to God.
A)The heart of Christianity is a Person, Jesus
Christ.
B) At the heart of the Worlds Great Religions you
will find philosophies and teachings and spiritual principals, all designed to
help you get to God.
C) At the heart of Christianity is a marvelous, beautiful, remarkable, astonishing,
person, Jesus Christ.
Now don’t get me wrong here, the teaching of Jesus is amazing, no man ever spoke like Him.
A)His teaching are as powerful today as ever.
B)And the principals of the Kingdom that He laid
down on the Sermon on the Mount, incredible, they have stood the test of
time and become the cornerstone for the civilized world.
C)The Laws that Jesus promoted are used in courts
of Law around the world every day.
1)But behind all that stands a Person who was
able to say, “I
am the way, and the truth, and the life, no ones come to the Father, but
by Me.”
D)And John
wants, to make sure that we don’t miss
this Person,
that we see
Him for who He really is.
So John clearly answers the question Who is
Jesus.
A)Why
is that so important ? Who JESUS is makes all the difference in the World –
B)
See if He is God in Human flesh – then that means that we must deal with His claims –
1) we must consider His Resurrection and the
reality that – We are going to stand before Him one day.
C)
Central Question:What did I do with Jesus
D)
But if He is not God in Human flesh – then I can do what I want to.
1)
Part of the reason why every Cult Known today denies the Deity of Christ – He
is God !
So John’s #1 focus is to point out to us over and over
again from different angles –
A)This
man is indeed – God. God came to this earth to visit man in the man Christ
Jesus.
B)
But there is another reason. John also writes because Reason
#2 and that
believing you may have life in His name.
C)John
wants his readers to experience is Life. Real life, abundant life.
1)
Jesus said
D)
The gospel of John is not just a book about Doctrine – but the purpose of that
Doctrine is to impart life to the hearers –
E)The Greek word translated “believing” speaks of a continual action.
1)
Therefore, John is saying the more we believe, the more life we will experience.
And who better to show us this person
then John.
He
wrote in His epistle.
That which was from the beginning, which
we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and
our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life — 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen,
and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the
Father and was manifested to us — 3 that
which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have
fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His
Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
John
was part of a group of people who had walked with the Lord / followed Him /
touched Him
A)Paul writing to the
Corinthians in Ch.15 declared that there were over 500
people who saw Jesus after his Rez
B) And that many of that 500
were still alive to testify of what they saw
1) John
was a part of that Multitude – Still alive.
C)
John was part of a smaller group – 120
who had gathered together in an upper
room on Pentecost
1)When the HS fell like
cloven tongues of fire – Peter Preached that day 3,000 souls added to the
Church
2) John was there part of the 120
He
was part of an even smaller group – the 70
that were sent out by Jesus – Given authority – Exsusia
A)Royal Authority to cast
out Demons and to heal those who were sick.
B) John went out as a part
of that group.
C) John was a part of the
smaller group the 12
1)Jesus prayed all night
before choosing his 12 closest companions – John was in that group.
D) John was a part of the 4
– Peter Andrew James and John – who came to Jesus asking the question
What will be
the sign of your coming and the end of the age?
John
is a part of the 3 – Peter / James – John made up an inner circle.
A)Those three were taken
into the house of Jairus who’s daughter had died
B) They were there when
Jesus touched the girl and said – Talitha Cumi – little lamb arise.
1)Little girl who was dead
brought back to life{He there
C)
He was there with the three when Jesus took them to MT Herman – Transfigured – aspect
of Glory
1)John was there – to see
that and to hear the voice of the Father –This is my beloved son – listen to
Him.
D) He was there with the
three in the
He
was a part of the three – but now He is a
part of a very exclusive group – THE
ONE.
A)Peter has been martyred –
all the other apostles have been martyred
B) Paul the apostle has been
beheaded.
C) John alone is left –
Probably about 90 yrs old when he writes this.
1) The Last Disciple – the
Last living apostle.
The
Roman Emperor Domitian ordered John to be boiled in a caldron of oil
A)But John didn’t boil –
probably because He WAS A FRIAR –
B) Because He didn’t boil –
this freaked out the Romans – so they banished him to
1) There
He was inspired to write the Revelation
C) After that he was taken
back to
It
is interesting to note that Jesus called Peter he was casting his nets – Peter
would become a great fisher of men – Evangelist
A)But when Jesus called John
– John was mending his nets – John would be a great Mender
B) Writings – Exhorting the
Church to love one another
C) In fact after
1) Crowds gave him – standing
ovation- last living apostle – Close to Jesus – head on his Chest
D) John the first to
follow - last to die – the only disciple
present at the foot of the Cross
1) People would applaud – in
admiration for this man – Simple message:
little Children Love ……
But
now the HS is impressing upon John’s heart to pen this gospel { Church now in
the 3rd Generation
A)Part of it was to combat
the false teachings about Jesus that were creeping into the church
B) Part of it to prompt the
Believers – Don’t forget to Live – Jesus was given so you could have Life
C)John knew of that Life – He
was living it.
1) He wanted to make sure
that for no reason did we miss out on it.
John
Came from a wealthy family: His dad owned a fishing Business that John was to
inherit
A)But one day when John was
mending his nets – Jesus came along and said Follow me
B) All John had to do was to
let go- His heart is filled with wondrous things –
1) He experiences life / He
experiences
Joy
unspeakable and full of Glory
C) There
is a fullness that marks his life – John writes to say – I want you to
experience that as well
D) He never became rich in
material things – but He was plenty wealthy in Spiritual things
E) John
serves as an example to us – of how to live for that higher calling. –
1) Living not for this world
– but for the next.
So that is John’s Motive –
Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that believing – experience Life.
Lastly
/ quickly His method. John’s METHOD is one of Selection: Selective
A)John tells us here in v.30
that he is not telling of the whole story of Jesus –
B)In fact he says we
couldn’t if we tried
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if
they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not
contain the books that would be written.
John
focuses on 3 groups of Seven:
A)Seven Signs: Seven
Miracles: Five that are only recorded in John’s gospel.
B) These
miracles are signs – and John builds a teaching around each one of them.
1) Seven
signs are part of the evidence that Jesus is who He claimed to be!
There
are Seven Witnesses:
A) Seven people that John calls on to bear
witness as to who Jesus is.
B) Seven people who make
profound statements concerning the Deity of Christ
Then
there are the Seven I AM Statements
A)When God was sending
Moses- Who should I tell them has sent me -
B)“What is Your name?” Moses
asked God (Exodus 3:13).
1)
“I AM THAT I AM,” answered the Lord.
C) Moses must have scratched
his head and thought, You are… what?
Jesus
came on the scene, echoing that same declaration of deity, I Am !
A)Here in John’s gospel –
Jesus makes 7 powerful declarations of Deity – The I AM –
B) Moses I AM whatever you
need. What Ever Man needs – Found in me.
C) Jesus gives some examples
– How He meets the greatest needs in the heart of man as the I AM !
I AM the Bread
of Life. { Substanance
I am the Light of the World. { Direction out of darkness
I AM the Door.{ Entry way into the
Kingdom
I AM the Good Shepherd. { Care/ guidance/ Protection
I AM the Resurrection and the Life. { Hope of Glory
I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life.{ Absolute
I AM the Vine.{ The way to live – bear
fruit – staying connected to me !
Now
If those statements are not true then Jesus is at the very least a confused
lunatic
A)or
he is a deceiving conniving liar who should be hated and discarded by humanity
and history.
B) But if they are true than
we must all come to grips personally with the reality of who Jesus is and where
we stand with Him today.
Closing:
One last reason why it is good for us to study the gospel of John
A)In
B)In other words, Paul
contends we become like Jesus when we spend time looking at Jesus.
C) Similarly, the words of
the apostle John from his first epistle, “when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is”
D) Those words have
application not only eternally but presently—for when we truly see the Lord, we
cannot help but become like Him.