From Bible4Today.com
John Part 1
By
Apr 25, 2004
John's Gospel
This was the last of the four Gospels to be written. Consequently, the other three were already in circulation when John began his 'Life of Jesus'. It is so vastly different from the other three that we should first ponder, in what ways, and why.
It contains long discourses not recorded elsewhere.It reads as if the story is told more through Jesus' eyes than those of eyewitnesses. John introduces new and deeper meanings to many words, e.g., such words as 'Witness', 'Light', 'Life', 'Belief', 'Truth', and 'The disciple Jesus loved' (didn't he love them all?) and the massive 'I am' sayings.
It does not follow the main outline of events of the others. Can you begin to think of examples of this and share them? For example, it begins with creation. It tells of the wedding at Cana and the temple cleansing early in Jesus' ministry, and of Lazarus.
Output
Why John Wrote His Gospel
He himself explains:
John Chapter 20 versus 30 to 31. Note he has selected his material (he has not tried to say everything (John Chapter 21 verse 25). You may wish to spend more time listing some of the things he left out and the things he alone included. Note, too, his reason for writing was that something happens in the lives of the readers. (Remember, the word 'Belief' in John means more than asserting to something, it means putting one's faith in Jesus-Messiah). The quality of life change he seeks is described as "Life in His Name".
Question - Can you together put John's reason for writing in your own words?
The New Genesis
John Chapter 1 verses 1 to 18. Remember that 'The Word' carries with it the expression of creative intelligence, the very mind of God.
In the early chapters of John, he compares the Old News of God and the New News! Pick out any one of the following for special study and look out for the contrast between Old and New:
The New Prophet-Chapter 1 verses 19 to 51
Old water and the new wine-Chapter 2 verses 1 to 11
The Old Temple and the new -Chapter 2 verses 12 to 22
The new kind of man-Chapter 3
The New worship-Chapter 4 verses 1 to 42, etc.
Question - Do you think that John was re-casting the impact of Jesus to reach all cultures and people?
Pray about the need for the Christian message to be presented relevantly today.
Optional Reading for Next Session read John's Gospel Chapters 12 to 21.
© Copyright 2004 by Frank Cooke