Viewing John (2)

Viewing John Via John 1:15-18 Dr. John H. Niemelä Water of Life Bible Class November 17, 2022

Introduction 30,000 Foot-Level View of John (1:1-21:25)

1A. Prologue: The Word 1:1-14

2A. Body: Sign-Proven Messiah 1:15-21:14

3A. Epilogue: “Tend to My Business” 21:15-25

DC3-Level View of the Body of John (1:15-21:14)

2A. Body: Signs Proving Jesus Is the Messiah 1:15-21:14

1B Seven Preliminary Signs Proving Jesus is the Messiah 1:15-12:50

2B The Supreme (Eighth) Sign Proving Jesus is the Messiah 13:1-21:14

Excursus: Why do I include John 1:15-51 in the first sign?

Reason 1: The importance of “in the presence of His disciples Reason 2: The sequence of days encircles 1:15-2:12

Drone-Level View of the Seven Preliminary Signs of the Messiah (1:15-12:50)

1B Seven Preliminary Signs Proving Jesus is the Messiah 1:15-12:50 1C The First Sign: Transforming Water into Wine 1:15-4:42 2C The Second and Third Signs: Healing with His Word 4:43-5:47 3C The Fourth and Fifth Signs: Controlling the Natural World 6:1-71 4C The Sixth Sign: Opening Blind Eyes 7:1-10:30 5C The Seventh Sign: Raising the Dead 10:31-12:50

Hilltop View of the First Preliminary Sign of the Messiah (1:15-4:42) 1C The First Messianic Sign: Transforming Water into Wine 1:15-4:42

1D. Preparing Witnesses for the first Messianic Sign 1:15-51 2D Performing the first Messianic Sign 2:1-12 3D Clarifying the first Messianic Sign 2:13-4:42

Street-Level of Preparing Witnesses for the First Messianic Sign (1:15-51) 1D. Preparing Witnesses for the first Messianic Sign (1:15-51)

1E Days 1-2: The Baptist Testifies to Crowds, a Delegation, and Disciples (1:15-34) 2E Days 3-5: John’s Disciples (Andrew, Philip, Nathanael) testify about Jesus 1:35-51 3E Day 7: The First Sign Testifies about Jesus; His disciples were believers 2:1-12

Across-the-Jordan-River View of the Baptist Preparing Witnesses for the First Sign (1:15-34)

1F Day 1A: The Baptist testifies to the crowds of Jesus’ preeminence John 1:15-18 2F Day 1B: The Baptist testifies to the delegation of Jesus’ preeminence John 1:19-28 3F Day 1C: The Baptist testifies to his disciples of Jesus’ preeminence John 1:29-34

John 1:40–42 (NKJV)

One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.

John 1:45 “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.””

John 1:48–49 “Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!””

Luke 2:15–30 “So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

INTERPRETIVE PROBLEMS IN 1:15-18: Close-up view of the Baptist Preparing Crowds by testifying of Jesus’ preeminence (1:15-18) Problem: How could the Baptist know the truths of 1:15-18? Aren’t these the apostle’s words? Answer (Part 1): This is close to two months after John baptized Jesus John 1-2 has a series of days (1:29, 35, 43; 2:1), but Mark 1:12 says immediately Answer (Part 2): The Baptist is a prophet—even more than a prophet Answer (Part 3): John must be knowledgeable, so he can magnify Jesus and minimize himself Answer (Part 4): This resolves a major bump in most people’s interpretation of John 1 EXPOSITION OF 1:15-18 CONCLUSION