Who, When, Where, Why?

John 20:30–31 ESV

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

John 20:30-31

Who Wrote The Gospel of John?

The Gospel was written by John the Apostle, brother of James, a son of thunder. He was also “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” He was the only male representative at the cross of Jesus as he died. He was the one whom Jesus told to take care of Mary, His mother, as He died on that cross.

He was the only disciple who didn’t die as a Martyr. He was a witness of the transfiguration, a part of the inner circle of the Apostles along with Peter and his brother James.

He was also somewhat of a hothead, at least on occasion. You will remember the story of the Samaritans who wouldn’t allow Jesus to pass through their village on His way to worship in Jerusalem in Luke chapter 9. James and John asked Jesus, “Do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”

He was an ambitious fellow, he and his brother James once asked to sit at the right and left of Jesus in His glory to come

However it is also apparent that later in life he became a humble fellow... never mentioning himself once by name in the entire Gospel which bears his name.

He was one of the youngest disciples and lived a very long life with quite an active ministry. He wrote this Gospel along with 1-3 John and Revelation.

John was likely between the ages of 75 and 85 when he wrote this Gospel

Old age is dreaded by almost everyone because it usually means loneliness, physical decline, and a retreat to inactivity. Some people tend to lose their enthusiasm for life and spend too much time in fruitless reminiscing and self-pity. They feel like "Old Jimmy", an elderly gentleman George Mueller often told about. When this man was asked what he did all day since he had retired, he replied, "I just sit and think, and sit and think,...and sometimes I just sit!" That's getting old in the worst way -- ceasing to live before we die.

John was not one to go quietly into the night. He lived by faith and was used of God right up to the end of his days as a witness…So should we all be!

The Gospel of John was written by the Apostle John, brother of James, one of the Sons of Thunder, the “disciple whom Jesus loved”

When and Where Was The Gospel ofJohn Written

Jesus gave the responsibility to care for his widowed mother to the Apostle John. There is a very strong tradition within church history that John, along with Mary, made their way to the city of Ephesus after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

Many people believe, because of the evidence within the text of the book itself that it was written from Ephesus. The persecutions of Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD) and the Jewish synagogue community had solidified their opposition to Christians

The Gospel of John was written sometime between A.D. 85-95 from the city of Ephesus

By the way, he took the words of Jesus seriously

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Why Was The Gospel of John Written

John 20:30–31 ESV

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

John 20:30-31

John was one of the youngest of the disciples of Jesus and he was getting old. The eyewitnesses of the life, acts and teachings of Jesus were all getting old; many had already passed away. Eye witness accounts are incredible powerful sources of truth!

A story making the rounds concerns a Biology I examination in which the students were asked: "Suppose you could take to Mars any of the laboratory equipment used in this course. How would you determine if there was life on Mars?" One student responded: "Ask the inhabitants. Even a negative answer would be significant." The student got an A. 

Eyewitness accounts are one of the greatest evidences of anything. John knew it was time to record his own...

The seven ages of man: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills, wills. 

The seven ages of man: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills, wills. 

A will is a document which expresses one’s wishes after death

This Gospel in many ways could be considered John’s will ...“Gospel” — A record of Jesus’ life and teaching…the final testament of a life lived for Christ in the hopes that the witness contained therein might compel others others in the future to follow Jesus as well

However, this Gospel was not a complete record of the life and teachings of Christ; it was not comprehensive. John wants to be clear that there were many other signs and miracles which Jesus did in the presence of His disciples that are not recorded here.

In fact John reiterates this fact in chapter 21 when he says

John 21:25 ESV

Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Jesus lived a full and productive life. He was very active, loved people and was always about His Father’s business of sharing the Kingdom of God. He rose before the sun came up in order to spend time with the Father, preached, performed signs and wonders and loved people all day and into the night. Often we see Him praying late at night into the wee hours of the morning.

There was a lot more to His life and ministry than what has been recorded…but we have what we need…what we are meant to have

Jesus had a purposeful life and lived it to the full!

John chose certain miracles and stories with a purpose in mind…so his will might be accomplished...so that we might believe Jesus is the Christ, Son of God and have life in His name

Jesus once asked His disciples, “Who do YOU say that I am?” And this is a question every human being must answer for themselves…there are only three choices really

Jesus is one of three things…liar, lunatic or Lord. Some try to make him out as a good teacher or guru but this is not what he claimed to be.

Jesus is one of three things…liar, lunatic or Lord. Some try to make him out as a good teacher or guru but this is not what he claimed to be.

John writes that he has given everyone enough information to decide for themselves. Eyewitness accounts are right here, written in black and white before you. Decide for yourself…who do you say Jesus is?

John says here that he has given everyone enough information so that you might decide for yourself. Eyewitness accounts are written in black and white before us. Decide for yourself…who do you say Jesus is? Liar? Lunatic? Or will you believe He is the Christ, Savior of the world and make Him your Lord?

Is he a Liar? Lunatic? Or will you believe He is the Christ, Savior of the world and make Him your Lord?

Jesus is the Christ — He is the “Christ” “Anointed of God, our “Savior.” John wrote so we might see and know that Jesus was the anointed Savior of God. Again and again we will see Jesus presented as Savior from sin and death.

John has written this book so we might accept the fundamental idea that we are sinners, lost, destined for destruction and in need of a savior…and that this Savior is the Jesus presented in His Gospel. This is the evangelistic purpose of the book.

However, the original Greek language makes clear another intended purpose in these words. The verb tense reads, “So that you might decisively believe.” This is for believers too! This Gospel is meant to bolster, encourage and spur us on to a firmer, stronger and fiercer belief in Jesus our Savior

About halfway through a PBS program on the Library of Congress, Dr. Daniel Boorstin, the Librarian of Congress, brought out a little blue box from a small closet that once held the library's rarities. The label on the box read: "Contents of the president's pockets on the night of April 14, 1865. Since that was the fateful night Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, every viewer's attention was seized. Boorstin then proceeded to remove the items in the small container and display them on camera. There were five things in the box:

A handkerchief, embroidered "A. Lincoln" A country boy's pen knife A spectacles case repaired with string A purse containing a $5 bill--Confederate money(!) Some old and worn newspaper clippings

"The clippings," said Boorstin, "were concerned with the great deeds of Abraham Lincoln. And one of them actually reports a speech by John Bright which says that Abraham Lincoln is "one of the greatest men of all times." Today that's common knowledge. The world now knows that British statesman John Bright was right in his assessment of Lincoln, but in 1865 millions shared quite a contrary opinion. The President's critics were fierce and many. His was a lonely agony that reflected the suffering and turmoil of his country ripped to shreds by hatred and a cruel, costly war. There is something touchingly pathetic in the mental picture of this great leader seeking solace and self-assurance from a few old newspaper clippings as he reads them under the flickering flame of a candle all alone in the Oval Office.

Thank God we have something more to hang our hat on than old newspaper clippings! Isn’t it good to be reminded again and again that Jesus is our Savior from sin…Savior from death…that He gives us abundant and eternal life in Himself…thank God for this Gospel which builds in us a decisive belief in the truth it presents to us.

John wrote 1 John so that we might know we have eternal life (. He wrote the Gospel of John so we might decisively believe the truth of who Jesus is and know again that we are His!

Son of God — John writes so we might see and know that Jesus was not a mere man but the Son of God. He existed before creation and He is God Himself. John wanted us to understand that our Savior was and is God who was born a man but retained His deity in doing so.

Believe — It is not enough to have knowledge of the facts…you have to believe and trust them to be true for yourself. And John never intends for us to do this apart from evidence. He is presenting an eye witness account so that we might think, understand and have faith in who Jesus is.

The evidence is His miraculous signs and teaching. John intends to recall for us the evidence which clearly convinced he and the other disciples that Jesus is Savior and Lord.

And when we do believe…we receive life…Not just a better life in the here and now but real life...

Life — Abundant life. Not a perfect life but one of highest quality and of infinite duration. A life of purpose but also one of joy. A life in which we understand what is right and in Him have the power to do so…a life in which we see Him at work and have opportunity to join with Him in what He is doing…A life in which we participate in the life, power and purpose of God Himself.

So John wrote that we might believe Jesus, the Son of God, fully human and fully God, is our Savior from sin and death

Evidence Which Demands a Verdict

Buckle your seatbelt and get ready for one of two things as we journey through this book together. You will be confronted with eyewitness evidence of a man who is God who walked on the earth to reveal His character, power and salvation to the world. As you encounter this evidence it will demand something from you...

If you aren’t yet a believer it will demand that you decide whether or not to become one.

If you are a believer it will demand that you go deeper in your faith…a deeper faith which will further sanctify and change you from the person you are to a person more like Christ. A person compelled to share your own story of how Jesus Christ gave you abundant life.

Christians without goals are a little like Alice in the fairy tale Alice in Wonderland. In a conversation between her and the Cheshire Cat, Alice asked, "Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?" "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the cat. "I don't much care where," said Alice. "Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the cat.

Christians without goals are a little like Alice in the fairy tale Alice in Wonderland. In a conversation between her and the Cheshire Cat, Alice asked, "Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?" "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the cat. "I don't much care where," said Alice. "Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the cat.

Christians without goals are a little like Alice in the fairy tale Alice in Wonderland. In a conversation between her and the Cheshire Cat, Alice asked, "Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?" "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the cat. "I don't much care where," said Alice. "Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the cat.

Do you have spiritual goals?

Jesus once asked His disciples, “Who do YOU say that I am?” And this is a question every human being must answer for themselves…there are only three choices really

Jesus is one of three things…liar, lunatic or Lord

John records enough information so you might decide for yourself. Eyewitness accounts are right here, written in black and white before you. Decide for yourself…who do you say Jesus is?

Is he a Liar? Lunatic? Or will you believe He is the Christ, Savior of the world and make Him your Lord?

T.H. Huxley, a well-known agnostic, was with a group of men at a weekend house party. On Sunday morning, while most of them were preparing to go to church, he approached a man known for his Christian character and said, "Suppose you stay at home and tell my why you are a Christian." The man, knowing he couldn't match wits with Huxley, hesitated. But the agnostic said gently, "I don't want to argue with you. I just want you to tell me simply what this Christ means to you." The man did, and when he finished, there were tears in Huxley's eyes as he said, "I would give my right hand if only I could believe that!"

We are witnesses ourselves just as much as the Apostle John is…We have met Jesus…we know Him and the abundant life He promises. We are a witness and the evidence of our life should be more than enough to demand a verdict…liar, lunatic or Lord?

There is enough evidence…you CAN believe and receive abundant, eternal life in Christ.

Are you a living witness of the Lord?

Our goal to see two people come to Christ each month in the church

Present the Gospel