"OVERVIEW OF JOHN"
Notes
Transcript
Matthew – Jesus as King
Mark – Jesus as Servant
Luke – Jesus as Son of Man
“Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the synoptic gospels because, despite their individual emphases, they describe many of the same events in the life of Jesus of Nazareth”
“John draws mainly upon events and discourses not found in the other gospels to prove to his readers that Jesus is God in the flesh, the eternal Word come to earth, born to die as God’s sacrifice for human sin.”
“This book presents the most powerful case in all the Bible for the deity of the incarnate Son of God”
Author – John
Date – the most likely date of writing is the period between A.D. 70 (the date of the destruction of the temple) and A.D. 100 (the end of John’s lifetime), but there is not enough evidence to be much more precise.”
Audience – Jews and Gentiles
Theme – Jesus as Son of God – John 20:30-31
30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
John 9:11 (NASB95) - (points to the fact that Jesus was man (the humanity of Jesus Christ)
11 He answered, “The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went away and washed, and I received sight.”
John 6:69 (NASB95) - (points to the divinity of Jesus)
69 “We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”
By the grace of God we will come to better understand the importance of the gospel of John. We will see how the theme is taught throughout the gospel.
Interrogative question – Is the deity of Christ important?
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Another way that it would read is like this “in the beginning was Christ and Christ was with God, and Christ was God”
John starts by addressing the deity of Jesus Christ, which is the very theme of his gospel.
Now, let’s see how the theme is evident all throughout this gospel -
1. Christ’s Deity is Evident through the phrase “Son of God”
1. Christ’s Deity is Evident through the phrase “Son of God”
The question is what does the phrase “Son of God” mean?
Wayne Grudem – “These passages combine to indicate that the title “Son of God” when applied to Christ strongly affirms His deity as the eternal Son in the Trinity, one equal to God the Father in all His attributes.”
John 1:34 (NASB95)
34 “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
John 1:49 (NASB95)
49 Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”
John 3:18 (NASB95)
18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 10:36 (NASB95)
36 do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
John 11:27 (NASB95)
27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”
John 19:7 (NASB95)
7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.”
John 20:31 (NASB95)
31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
John 5:25 (NASB95)
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
John 11:4 (NASB95)
4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”
So far we have seen one way that Christ’s deity is evident throughout this gospel. Let’s look at another way that it is evident -
2. Christ’s Deity Evident through OT References
2. Christ’s Deity Evident through OT References
25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.”
Jesus comes to the Samaritan women asking for water. The woman says to Jesus I know that you are Messiah; this is a reference to the OT. Jesus then tell her “I who speak to you and He” In other words I am the Messiah. Jesus is essentially telling her that He is in fact GOD.
24 “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
Jesus is talking to the Jews, and He tells them that He is going away. They started trying to figure out where He was going, Jesus tells them that they are from below and I am from above.
He then says you cannot come unless you believe that I am He, (GOD/Messiah) and then He says I have been telling you this from the beginning. (Again referencing the OT)
John 8:58 (NASB95)
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”
When do we learn about Abraham? (The OT) In order for Him to be before Abraham He is God.
You see how Christ’s deity is evident through the OT references?
Now, let’s look at the third way that Christ’s deity is evident –
3. Christ’s Deity Evident in the seven “I AM’S”
3. Christ’s Deity Evident in the seven “I AM’S”
I am the Bread of Life – John 6:35
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
I am the Light of the World – John 8:12
12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
I am the Gate for the Sheep – John 10:7
7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
I am the Good Shepherd – John 10:11,14
11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,
I am the Resurrection and the Life – John 11:25
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life – John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
I am the True Vine – John 15:1,5
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
All of the I AM’S speak of Christ’s Deity. Christ is God.
Vs. that prove the Deity of Christ –
30 “I and the Father are one.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
SO WHAT?
BELIEVERS -
BE ENCOURAGED FOR WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR YOU
BE THANKFUL
BE JOYFUL
UNBELIEVER -
TURN FROM YOUR SIN AND COME TO CHRIST
DISCUSSION -
What are some of the differences between believer and an unbelievers lifestyle?
How should the gospel impact your life?
How has the gospel affected your daily life?