New Testamant: Book of John
Books of the Bible Overview • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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The Book of John
Key verse: John20.30-31
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John presents the book in a way the leads the reader to decision: Jesus is the Messiah or not…
One of the last things said at the end is Thomas’ statement: “My Lord and my God”.
The last chapters focus on the fact that Jesus is alive!
Just like both Matthew and Mark’s books were specifically designed…
Matthew paralleling the 5 books of the law.
Mark in three acts like a play following the movements of Jesus.
John was designed specifically too.
First half opens with a poem
Chapters 2-10 are full of signs and controversy
Chapters 11-12 is his greatest sign - raising of Lazarus (greatest controversy)
Second half chapters 13-20 focusing on Jesus’ final night, arrest, trial and resurrection.
Chapter 21 is an epilogue
Tonight we are going to talk about the first half of the book.
John 1.1-18 is a poem the begins, “In the beginning was the Word…” Spiritual creation
This is a parallel to Gen 1.1 “In the beginning…”
A person’s words are distinct from that person but are the embodiment of their mind and will.
John said God’s word was with God (distinct) AND was God (indistinct) (Devine)
Vs 14 would tell us that the Word would become flesh and lived among us.
John would then parallel Exodus in the first chapter.
God would tabernacle himself…
The glory of God seen in Exodus as a pillar of fire and a cloud would because human - Jesus.
So the God of the Old Testament has become a man that would save his people.
Then chapter 1:19-51 we begin to hear about John the Baptist who introduces Jesus as Messiah and people begin to recognize something spectacular about this man!
He is called by seven titles here.
The Lamb of God
The Son of God
Rabbi
The Son of Man
Messiah
The King of Israel
Jesus of Nazareth
John 1:45 (KJV 1900)
45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Here’s John’s claim: This man Jesus from Nazareth is the Messianic King and teacher of Israel and the Son of God who will die for the sins of the World!
That is a huge claim and the next eight chapters are the supporting evidence of this claim.
Here’s the pattern we will see throughout the book of John.
Jesus will perform a miracle/sign or make a claim about himself…
Followed by controversy…
Demand a choice that has to be made concerning who you think Jesus is.
Chapters 2-4 Jesus encounters four classic Jewish institutions and Jesus makes the point that HE is the reality that the institution was pointing to.
John 2:1-11 Wedding in Cana of Galilee
Jesus turns water into the best wine ever.
Master of the feast: “you saved the best for last!”.
John calls this the first sign (miracle) or the first proof of who Jesus is.
John 2:12-25 Cleansing of the Temple
See this for what it is.
Temple replaced the tabernacle.
The tabernacle was also called the “tent of meeting”.
Who was meeting?
God’s people met God in the tent.
The Old testament tabernacle and temple were a type and shadow of Jesus himself.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
What was supposed to happen was when Jesus walked into the temple, the light come on the they realize that where they once stood in the temple, the temple now stood among them!
No wonder he became so frustrated!
So he puts it in order
When they threaten him he says something odd…
Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again.
John 3:1-11 Nicodemus
All night conversation with a Rabbi who sees Jesus as his peer.
As they discuss the problems of Israel, Jesus tells him Israel needs more than just good teaching but a new life!
Humanity is stuck in sin and has to be Born Again and start a fresh.
John 4 Woman at Jacob’s Well
Jesus meets a Samaritan woman and has a conversation about water with quickly becomes a metaphor for himself.
He has Living water that if you drink you will live forever!
John constantly uses these parallels in his book…
Chapters 5-10 Jesus uses four Jewish feasts to make claims about who he is.
Sabath
Heals a paralytic on the Sabath.
Great controversy about working on the day of rest…
Jesus answers, My fathers is working so must I!
They sought to kill him because he made himself equal with God.
Passover
This is where they retell the story of deliverance from Egypt.
Passover Lamb
During this time of Passover that he feeds the “great multitude” with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.
Then he tells them, “I am the Bread of Life, if you eat me you will have eternal life!” John 6:35, 51
All this confusion…
How can he give us his flesh to eat?
Why would we eat it if he did…?
This is a hard saying…
John 6:66 (KJV 1900)
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
TO THIS POINT JESUS HAD BEEN BEING PRETTY EASY ON THEM…
Group of stories told at different Feasts
The Feasts of Tabernacles
Feast of Tabernacles retold the story of how God guided them as they wondered through the wilderness by a pillar of fire and a cloud, providing them manna, quail, water…
Jesus would make two statements:
John 7:37 If anyone is thirsty let them come and drink of me!
John 8:12 I am the Light of the world!
In a time with they were celebrating the time when water flowed out of a rock and quenched their thirst, he says “if anyone is thirsty let them come and drink of me!”
In a time when they are celebrating the time with fire let them like a great torch through the wilderness, he shouts I am the Light of the world!
Some believed and followed, most did not…
The religious tried to kill him!
Hanukkah (Festival of Lights)
Celebrates the rededication of the second temple when Judah Maccabee cleared the temple of idols and rededicated it after Antiochos IV Epiphanes (greek king) has sacrificed pigs and other unclean animals in it and set up pagan gods.
Hanukkah means rededication.
In this celebration, he goes to the temple and says…
I am the Holy one that God has set apart
I am the true temple where God’s presents dwells
I am the Father are one!
Jewish leaders know they have to kill him now!
Jesus retreats from the city.
All this comes to a head in chapters 11-12.
Lazarus is sick and about to die.
Problem is he lives near Jerusalem, he just fled from there.
If he goes back he will die!
When the word come that Lazarus is dead Jesus goes back and brings him to life again at the cost of his own life.
The parallel between the physical and spritual here is amazing.
This sign travels, Jewish leaders hear and plans come form.
The Book of John is coming to a close with this parallel.
Jesus laying down his life for his friend, pointing to calvary!