Four Faces of the Gospel

Gospel of John

Revelation 4:7 NKJV

The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.

Rev

The Incomparable Christ Chapter 4: The Gospel and Letters of John: Christ the Word Made Flesh

This personal and eternal Word was also the agent of creation, who had never left the world he had made, and who is the light and life of all human beings.

john 1:14

John 1:14 NKJV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Incomparable Christ Chapter 4: The Gospel and Letters of John: Christ the Word Made Flesh

It was not a visitation, but an incarnation. He became a human being in Jesus of Nazareth. The paradox is amazing. The Creator assumed the human frailty of his creatures.

The Incomparable Christ Chapter 4: The Gospel and Letters of John: Christ the Word Made Flesh

It was not a visitation, but an incarnation. He became a human being in Jesus of Nazareth. The paradox is amazing. The Creator assumed the human frailty of his creatures. The eternal one entered time. The all-powerful made himself vulnerable. The all-holy exposed himself to temptation. And in the end the immortal died.

Reason for the Gospel of John

John 20:30–31 NKJV

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

John 20:30

3 clear stages

(1) John selected and recorded certain ‘signs’,

The Incomparable Christ Chapter 4: The Gospel and Letters of John: Christ the Word Made Flesh

(2) in order that his readers might believe in Jesus

The Incomparable Christ Chapter 4: The Gospel and Letters of John: Christ the Word Made Flesh

(3) in order that by believing they might receive life through him. Thus testimony would lead to faith, and faith to life.

John seems to see his Gospel in terms of testimony to Christ. It is almost as if it is a kind of court scene, in which Jesus is on trial and a succession of witnesses is called beginning with John the baptist.

John 1:6–7 NKJV

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.

john 1:6

John 1:29 NKJV

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

john1:

John 1:33 NKJV

I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

The father’s testimony

John 5:31 NKJV

“If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true.

John 5:31–40 NKJV

“If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

John

John 5:31-

john

John 8:14 NKJV

Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.

the Testimony of the Holy Spirit

John 15:

John 15:26–27 NKJV

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

7 witnesses in the form of miracles:

The Incomparable Christ Chapter 4: The Gospel and Letters of John: Christ the Word Made Flesh

Miracle 1: Jesus turned water into wine, as a sign of his claim to have inaugurated a new order

The Incomparable Christ Chapter 4: The Gospel and Letters of John: Christ the Word Made Flesh

But Jesus turned the water into wine as a sign that in and with his arrival the kingdom of God had come

Miracles 2 and 3: Jesus performed two healing miracles, as signs of his claim to give new life. First he healed the son of a royal official in Capernaum (4:43, 54). This was his second sign. Then, at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, he healed a man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years (5:1ff.).

The Incomparable Christ Chapter 4: The Gospel and Letters of John: Christ the Word Made Flesh

Both judging and life-giving are divine prerogatives

4

The Incomparable Christ Chapter 4: The Gospel and Letters of John: Christ the Word Made Flesh

Miracle 4: Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 people with five barley loaves and two fish, as a sign that he claimed to be the bread of life.

5

The Incomparable Christ Chapter 4: The Gospel and Letters of John: Christ the Word Made Flesh

Miracle 5: Jesus walked on water as a sign of his claim that the powers of nature were subject to his kingdom authority.

The Incomparable Christ Chapter 4: The Gospel and Letters of John: Christ the Word Made Flesh

Miracle 6: Jesus gave sight to a man born blind, as a sign of his claim to be the light of the world. ‘I am the light of the world’, he said. ‘Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’ (8:12).

The Incomparable Christ Chapter 4: The Gospel and Letters of John: Christ the Word Made Flesh

Miracle 7: Jesus raised Lazarus who had been dead for four days, as a sign of his claim to be the resurrection and the life.

The Incomparable Christ Chapter 4: The Gospel and Letters of John: Christ the Word Made Flesh

He has inaugurated the new order. He is both life-giver and judge. He controls the powers of nature. He is the bread of life, the light of the world, and the resurrection and the life.

The Incomparable Christ Chapter 4: The Gospel and Letters of John: Christ the Word Made Flesh

First, whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ come in the flesh is a liar (1 John 2:22). This is the doctrinal test. Secondly, whoever claims to enjoy fellowship with God while walking in darkness lies (1 John 1:6). This is the moral test. Thirdly, whoever says he loves God but hates his brother is a liar (1 John 4:20). This is the social test.

Stott, J. (2001). The Incomparable Christ (p. 38). Nottingham: Inter-Varsity Press.