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THE GOSPEL OF JOHN – INTRODUCTION

I. AUTHOR OF THE BOOK

A. John the Apostle of Christ – the son of Zebedee (Mk. 1:19-20)

1. Mother was Salome (Matt. 27:56, Mk. 15:40,  Jn 19:25 cf. Matt. 20:20-24)

a. Requests that her two sons would sit on right and left hands of Jesus in His kingdom.

b. May have been the sister to Mary, the mother of Jesus

2. The brother of James, also an apostle of Christ – “sons of thunder – fiery spirit (Mk. 3:17, Lk. 9:51-56)

3. Fisherman by trade

4. Refers to self as “disciple whom Jesus loved” (13:23, 19:26, 20:2; 21:7, 21:20, 21:24- true witness of life of Jesus)

5. Close to the Lord – many times in Lord’s private audience:

a. Raising Jairus’ daughter (Mk. 5:22, 35-43)

b. Lord’s transfiguration (Matt. 17:1, Mk. 9:2)

c. Private discourse concerning destruction of Jerusalem (Matt. 24:3, Mk. 13:3, 4)

d. Lord’s sufferings in Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36-45)

e. One of seven disciples at Sea of Tiberias after resurrection of Christ (Jn. 21:2)

6. Close associate with Peter in early days of the church (Acts 3:1, 4:13, 8:14-15).

7. Exiled to Island of Patmos (Rev. 1:9, - A.D. 96-100)

8. Besides writing this Gospel, John wrote 3 epistles that bear his name, and Revelation.  

II. THE TIMES THE BOOK WAS WRITTEN (A. D. 80-98)

 A. Many years after Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written.

B. The doctrine known as Gnosticism was budding which falsely attacked the absolute deity of Christ.

III. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BOOK

A. Theme: Jesus is the only begotten Son of God – deity of Jesus (Jn. 20:30-31)

1. Carefully selected miracles (9:32, 20:30, 21:25)

a. Of the 35 miracles given in Gospels, John records 8. Six only found in John.

b. 2:1-11 (abundant water turned to wine); 4:46-54(Nobleman’s son healed); 5:1-9 (man crippled for 38 years healed); 6:1-14 (Excess of 5,000 fed) 6:15-21 (Jesus walks on water); 9:1-41 (Healed man born blind); 11:1-44 (Raising Lazarus from the dead); 21:1-14 (catching of fish)

2. Jesus’ Deity is emphasized by the self-existent and eternal designation of  “I Am” (8:58)

a. 6:35 (bread of life); 8:12, 12:46 (Light of the world); 10:9 (the door); 10:11 (Good Shepherd); 14:6 (the true and living way); 11:25 (resurrection and life); 15:5 (the vine)

b. Jesus does not just tell others where to find spiritual sustenance – He is the way (cf. Jn. 1:17).

3. Only Gospel account to give the early Judean ministry of Christ (1:19-4:54) – a 3-6 month period of time.

a. Between Matthew 4:11-12, the first 4 chapters of John occur.  

4. John’s Passover accounts helps in knowing length of Christ’s ministry (2:13, 5:1??, 6:4, 11:55) 2 ½ - 3 ½ years

5. John gives only one parable of the Lord – the good shepherd (10:6)

OUTLINE OF THE BOOK

I. Gospel of John

A. Prologue (1:1-18)

B. Jesus’ public ministry (Early Judean, Great Galilean, Later Judean and Perean 1:19-12:50)

C. Jesus’ private ministry with apostles (13-17)

D. Jesus’ suffering and victory (18-20)

E. Epilogue (21)