Introduction

LESSONS FROM JOHN

The Gospel of John

While sitting on the throne of His glory, the plans of God have been unfolding throughout eternity and will continue forever. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for them that love Him." God spoke, and things were made by the word of His power. With a word, the earth, galaxies by the hundreds, with planets whirling and spinning, were put into orbits and moved to their intended places in the universe. Each of them is unique, even though He named billions of individual stars. Then, for His own sovereign reasons, God focused His attention on one small speck we called Earth and began a wonderful week of transforming a place that "was without form and void" into a beautiful, fruitful planet.

In the design of the great "I AM," He chose this place to put human beings. He created them with a mind so they could choose to know Him, a will so they could choose to obey and serve Him, and emotions so they could choose to love Him and receive His love. This way, there could be a joyful fellowship that the Supreme Being of the universe could share intimately with intelligent beings. Because mankind was made in God's image, this was made possible. So, humans, with a body that makes them aware of where they are, a soul that makes them aware of who they are, and a spirit that makes them aware of who God is, were placed on this beautiful earth to "love God and enjoy Him forever." But man failed, and his mind became dark; he was separated from God in his soul by sin, and spiritual death separated him from the One who loved him supremely.

God, who is Love, did not abandon His plans in frustration because, in His omniscience, He knew what was going to happen. Even before creating all of creation, He had a way prepared for His purposes to be justly fulfilled and, ultimately, for His great heart of love to be satisfied. There would be a way back to God opened for the lost souls who were justly condemned by their own sins. This way could not be obscured or partial. To be righteous and fair, it had to be open to "whosoever" and made on the easiest possible terms. Although God is eternal in His existence, infinite in His wisdom, understanding, love, grace, mercy, and all other character traits, He is unlimited in His power and authority. Still, He chose to "be found in fashion as a man,"

This was part of the divine plan. In this way, He could come to us and reveal to us who God really is. He entered this world in the flesh to fully identify Himself with us. He never compromised any part of His divine nature, nor did He limit His authority and power. However, He chose to veil His glory, submit to His own laws, and reveal Himself as "God manifest in the flesh." He has always been God, is God today, and will always be God. "From everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God." He came into this world not just to provide information or to demonstrate divine power over all creation and death itself, but to "put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." To accomplish this, He had to "suffer for sin, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." Through this, He showed "His love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,"

The Gospel of John was written by a man who was with the Lord Jesus Christ during His public ministry while He was here as Emmanuel. The first eighteen verses of this book open our understanding to the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ: who He is - God from heaven come to earth. Two hundred forty-seven times, the apostle John calls Him "Jesus." The book of John describes the deity of Christ through incidents in His life and a selection of eight of the miracles He performed. But also, John links the humanity of Jesus with His eternal Sonship as the only begotten Son of God. This marvelous book puts into divine light the glories of the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ so that we "might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name."

What Jesus taught and what He did are inseparably connected to who He is. John presents Jesus as fully human and fully God. Although Jesus took upon Himself complete humanity and lived as a man, He never stopped being the eternal God who has always existed; the Creator and Sustainer of all things and the Source of eternal life. This is the truth about Jesus and the foundation of all truth. If we cannot or do not believe this basic truth, we will lack enough faith to trust our eternal destiny to Him. John wrote this to build faith and confidence in Jesus Christ, so we may believe He is truly God.

John 20:31 states the main purpose of writing the Gospel of John: "That ye might believe." For example, in chapter 11, as Jesus' life and ministry were nearing their end, He reminds us that He possesses living, resurrection power. "These things 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.” In chapter 12, shortly after His entry into Jerusalem, when His name was on everyone's lips but lacked belief in their hearts, He openly declares His purpose and His equality with the Father, expecting people to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name. In chapter 13, after exemplifying service in God's kingdom, He clearly affirms that He is our Supreme Lord and Master, stating, "that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name." In chapter 14, in clear and unmistakable terms—"The Way, The Truth, The Life"—He not only declares that no one comes to the Father except through Him but also that seeing Christ means we have seen the Father. These Persons, along with the Holy Spirit, are all equal and one, so that "ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name." In chapter 15, He presents Himself as the True Vine, nurtured and cared for by the Father, the Husbandman, producing lasting divine fruit to delight the Holy Husbandman. Now, with the Holy Three plus a large group involved, the display of the fruit of God's character and Person continues, with the purpose that "ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.”

The first three Gospels focus on facts; John addresses both issues and facts. The first three present the Lord Jesus outwardly, while John offers an inward interpretation. The first three highlight His human aspects; John reveals His divine nature. The first three correspond to the lion, ox, and man in Ezekiel’s vision, while John parallels the eagle. The first three mainly cover Jesus’ public discourses, His private conversations, verbal conflicts with Jewish leaders, and secluded discussions. They emphasize His Galilean ministry; John’s focus is almost entirely on His Judean ministry. The first three are factual accounts, whereas John also emphasizes doctrine. They begin with human genealogy and fulfill Jewish prophecy; John starts with a divine revelation of what is eternal. In John 1:11-12, we read, “He came unto His own and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons of God; even to them that believe on His name.” John emphasizes the individuals and small groups who receive Him: [1] Peter, Nathaniel (1:35-51): “...the power to become sons” [2] Nicodemus (3:1-21): inner spiritual birth [3] Samaritan woman (4:6-26): inner life [4] Blind man (9:35-41): inner sight [5] Martha and Mary (11): inner faith [6] The eleven (13-16): inner power [7] Mary Magdalene (20:1-18): inner joy [8] Peter (21:15-23): inner change.