THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

THE LORD MEETS HIS FIRST DISCIPLES–JOHN 1:35-51–LESSON 4

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
THE LORD MEETS HIS FIRST DISCIPLES–JOHN 1:35-51–LESSON 4
Introduction:
In the previous lesson John the Baptist introduced Jesus as the Christ to the religious crowd that had come to investigate who John was. John declared that he was not the Christ, but was sent ahead of the Him in order to prepare a people ready to meet the Lord.
Now in this lesson John the Baptist introduces Jesus as the Christ to his disciples, the people that he had prepare for the Lord.
I. THE NEXT DAY.
A. John was there (gr. “stood” there) while Jesus passed by, vs. 35-36.
1. John introduces two of his disciples to Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God!” v. 36b.
2. John’s ministry was being fulfilled as he introduced the disciples to Jesus as the Christ, John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
B. The two disciples follow Jesus, vs. 37-38.
1. Jesus’ first words heard by the disciples were “What seek ye?” What do you want? v. 38.
2. Jesus seems to imply more with His question. Perhaps Jesus was also asking, “What are you seeking in life?”
C. The titles by which Jesus was called.
1. Messiah (Gr. Messias). The term appears on twice in Scripture, both times in the book of Daniel, chapter 9:25-26. It means, “anointed.” “The idea of “the anointed One” comes from the Old Testament practice of anointing priests and kings with oil. This was symbolic of the Spirit and pointed to the future One who would come (cf. Isa. 61:1). The title “Messiah” came to be used of the future Davidic King (cf. Matt. 1:1; John 6:15). (The Bible Knowledge Commentary).
2. Christ. This is the Greek translation of the word “Messiah or Anointed One.”
3. “Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,).” The title is that of a teacher.
a. By calling Jesus “Rabbi” they imply that they are coming to Him to be taught by Him.
b. The title means “a great man,” that is, one who has much in him. “Never was there such a rabbi as our Lord Jesus, such a great one, in whom were hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. These came to Christ to be his scholars, so must all those that apply themselves to him.” (Matthew Henry)
D. The disciples question: “Where dwellest thou?” v. 38
1. Jesus invites them to “Come and see.” Literally, Come and you will see.
a. One must come to Jesus by faith first.
b. Then God opens his eyes to see more of the truth of His Word.
2. The disciples stayed the whole day with the Lord beginning at the tenth hour. The Jews counted the day from midnight and from noon. It seems logical that they were with Jesus from 10:00 AM on through the day.
II. THE FIRST DISCIPLES OF JESUS.
A. Andrew was first to follow Jesus, vs. 40-41.
1. Andrew finds his brother, Simon Peter, v. 40.
2. Andrew declares that Jesus is the “Messias,” v. 41.
3. Andrew appeared two more times in John 6:4-9; 12:20-22. Both times he was bringing someone to Jesus.
B. Jesus and Simon Peter, v. 47.
1. Jesus called him “Cephas” which is Aramaic. Peter is the Greek translation meaning, “rock.”
2. He would be a rock-like man in the church at Jerusalem during its early years (cf. Matt. 16:18; Luke 22:31-32; John 21:15-19; Acts 2-5; 10-12).
C. Jesus meets Philip, vs. 43-46.
1. Philip, “Follow me.” v. 43.
2. Philip finds Nathanael, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” v. 45.
3. Nathanael’s statement: “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” v. 46.
4. Philips reply: “Come and see.”
D. Jesus meets Nathanael, vs. 47-49.
1. The Lord’s statement about Nathanael: “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” (no deceit – he was a modest man).
2. Nathanael was puzzled that the Lord knew him, v. 48.
a. Jesus explains: “Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.” Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. v. 48. This expression often meant to have safety and leisure (cf. 1 Kings 4:25; Micah 4:4; Zech. 3:10). Perhaps here the fig tree was a place for meditation. See Psalm 139.
b. Jesus supernatural knowledge of Nathanael moves Nathanael to declare:
1. That Jesus is the Son of God, v. 49.
2. That Jesus is the King of Israel, v. 49.
E. Jesus’ final statement, vs. 50-51.
1. First statement: “Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.” Jesus promised Nathanael a greater basis for belief, probably referring to the miracles in chapters 2-13.
2. Second statement: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” From 1:48, 51 it can be inferred that Nathanael was meditating on Jacob’s life, particularly on the incident recorded in Genesis 28:12. Jacob saw the angels going up and down a ladder. But Nathanael would see . . . the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
LESSON 5 TO FOLLOW:

JOHN IDENTIFIES THE CHRIST—JOHN 1:15-34–LESSON 3

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
JOHN IDENTIFIES THE CHRIST—JOHN 1:15-34–LESSON 3
Introduction:
In this lesson John identifies the Messiah to the religious Jews and to his own disciples as well. John says who he really is and who Jesus really is as well. He makes it very plain that he (John) is not the Christ using a double negative in the Greek text.
He identifies Jesus as the Christ. He is the One who has the power, not to baptize with mere water, but with the Holy Spirit of God. Thus, he points his disciple to their Messiah.
I. JOHN THE BAPTIST IDENTIFIES HIMSELF
A. “I am not the Christ,” John 1:20, “And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.”
B. “Who art thou?” “I am a voice,” v. 23, “He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.”
C. Why do you baptize? v. 25, “And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?”
1. I baptize with water, v. 26, “John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;”
2. They were told that the Messiah was among them at that time.
a. He will baptize with the Holy Spirit, Matthew 3:11, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”
b. The Jews, v. 24, “And they which were sent were of the Pharisees,” did not know the Messiah (they were not believers). John said as much, “whom ye know not.”
II. JOHN IDENTIFIES THE CHRIST
A. “Behold the Lamb of God,” John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
1. The religious crowd standing around John as he identified the Christ.
a. They understood John’s expression.
1) The lamb referred to the Passover lamb.
2) That lamb spoke of redemption.
b. They looked to see who it was of whom he spoke.
2. Jesus was coming toward the crowd, v. 30, “This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.”
a. I did not know Him, v. 31,
b. The Lord revealed who He was, vs. 32-34
B. “That taketh away the sin of the world.”
1. “Taketh away” – Greek, = to bear away what has been raised, carry off; to remove, Psalm 103:12, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
2. “The sin of the world,” Greek = to miss the mark; to err; to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong. Romans 3:10-12, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11-There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12-They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
III. JOHN POINTS HIS DISCIPLES TO JESUS
John 1:35-36, “Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36-And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!”
A. John identifies Jesus as the Christ this time to his disciples.
1. The Lamb of God. That expression identified the Messiah to the disciples. Where is the lamb for the burnt offering, Genesis 22:7, “And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
a. The Passover lamb, Exodus 12:3, “Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:”
b. The sacrificial lamb points to Christ, Isaiah 53:3-5, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4-Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5-But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
2. John’s ministry was to preach the coming of the Messiah, Luke 1:17, “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
a. In the spirit and power of Elias (Elijah). Elijah was a very colorful prophet in the Old Testament who spoke with all the authority that God gave him.
b. John was to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. He preached and won those folks to faith in Jesus Christ as we do today.
B. Now he has introduced the disciples to Jesus their Messiah.
CONCLUSION:
John identifies Jesus as the Messiah to the unbelieving religious Jews and to his own disciples as well. He points his disciples and instructs them to follow Jesus Christ as John’s ministry began to terminate.
LESSON 4 TO FOLLOW:

JOHN THE BAPTIST–JOHN 1:6-8, 15-34–LESSON 2

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
JOHN THE BAPTIST–JOHN 1:6-8, 15-34–LESSON 2
Introduction:
John the Baptist was born 6 months before Jesus and was Jesus’ cousin. John was a man sent by God on a very special mission. His father was a Jewish priest.
His birth and mission were a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
I. WHO WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST?
A. THE MAN, v. 6, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.”
1. John was born of godly parents
a. His father, Zacharias, was priest of Aaron’s lineage, Luke 1:5, “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.”
b. His mother was a cousin to Mary, the mother of Jesus, Luke 1:36, “And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.”
2. John’s birth was announced by an angel, Luke 1:11-13.
a. John’s parents were old.
b. The angel told Zacharias to call his son “John.”
B. THE MISSION OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.
1. The title “Baptist” means “baptizer.”
2. John’s youth was spent in the dessert between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, Luke 1:80, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.”
a. There he was educated.
b. He was full of the Holy Spirit from his birth, Luke 1:15, “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.”
3. His purpose, Luke 1:16-17.
a. To turn the people to God, v. 16, “And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.”
b. To go before the Christ, v. 17, “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
c. To identify Jesus as the Christ, John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
C. THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
1. The material prepared.

a. The men who were chosen to be Apostles, Luke 6:12-16.

b. Many of the members of the Church in Jerusalem were disciples of John the Baptist, Acts 1:21-22, “Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.”

2. John’s ministry terminated with his death.

a. From the beginning of the ministry of Jesus, John’s ministry began to diminish John 3:26-36.

1) John pointed his disciples to Jesus, vs. 28-30, “Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29-He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30-He must increase, but I must decrease.”

2) The Father has put all things into the hands of the Son, vs. 35-36, “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36-He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

b. John died at the hands of King Herod, Luke 3:19-20, “But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, 20-Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.” Matthew 14:3-12.

CONCLUSION:

John the Baptist was a great man who came in the spirit of Elias (Elijah), Matthew 11:14, “And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.”

He was not the Christ, but was sent before Him. He said of himself, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.” (John 3:23).

LESSON 3 TO FOLLOW:

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN–JOHN 1:1-14–LESSON 1

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN–JOHN 1:1-14–LESSON 1

Introduction:

Few people think of Christ as the God of Heaven and being 100% man at the same time. However, He is thought of as the Savior of mankind by many, however many today think of Him as a “good teacher” and nothing more. Today let’s consider Jesus as the God of Heaven and the Savior of mankind as the Bible teaches.
I. JESUS IS THE GOD OF HEAVEN.
A. Jesus is the WORD, v. 1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
B. Jesus is God, vs. 1-3.
1. God is a Triune being, that is, the Godhead is made up of three persons.
a. God the Father, v. 1c, “and the Word was God.”
b. God the Son, Mark 1:1, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;” John 1:34, “And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”
c. God the Holy Spirit, v. 3, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Genesis 1:26, “And God said, Let US make man in OUR image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
2. Jesus was with the Father since the beginning, vs. 1-2, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God.”
3. Jesus is God, John 10:30, “I and my Father are one.”
C. He is the WORD, v. 1.
1. The WORD was involved in creation, v. 3, “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
2. At least two persons of the God-head were involved in creation, Genesis 1:26, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
3. Jesus declares that He was the Creator, v. 3.
D. The WORD in flesh, v. 14, “And the Word was made 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.”
1. The WORD became man, v. 14.
a. “The Word was made flesh,” Romans 1:3, “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;”
b. “The only begotten of the Father.” John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” I John 4:9, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”
II. JESUS IS THE SAVIOR
A. Jesus is THE LIFE, vs. 4-5.
1. “In him was life;”
a. The SOURSE of spiritual life, John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
b. The GIVER of life, John 11:25, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” Psalm 36:9, “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.”
2. “And the life was the light of men.”
a. The “LIGHT of the world,” John 9:5, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 8:12, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
b. The PURPOSE of the Light, John 12:46, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”
B. Jesus is the Door of Heaven, John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
1. FAITH opens the door, vs. 11-13.
a. He came unto HIS OWN, but they REJECTED HIM, v. 11, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”
b. But to those WHO RECEIVED HIM He gave them POWER T0 BECOME SONS of God, v. 12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
c. This is NOT by human strength or works, v. 13, “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
2. How does Faith come? Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
CONCLUSION:
Jesus is 100% the Son of God and He is 100% man also and at the same time.
Jesus is the Savior of mankind. He became flesh and lived among us and experienced our life. Therefore, He knows what we know about life experiencially.
Jesus never sinned and therefore, qualifies to be our Savior, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
FOLLOWED BY LESSON 2

THE AUTHOR OF THE RESURRECTION–JOHN 11:25-26

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
THE AUTHOR OF THE RESURRECTION
JOHN 11:25-26
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26- And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
Introduction:
Lazarus was dead and buried when Jesus arrive in Bethany. He had purposely delayed His coming that He might demonstrate the POWER and GLORY OF GOD that rested upon Him.
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead that day with only His word. Jesus prayed to the Father and then he spoke, “Lazarus, come forth.” In verses 44-45 we read, “And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. 45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.”
I. THE SON OF GOD HAS THE POWER OF LIFE
A. Jesus Christ IS LIFE, John 1:4, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”
1. The Apostle John called Him “the Word of Life,” 1 John 1:1, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;”
2. John did see a man alive, rather he saw LIFE ITSELF, 1 John 1:2, “(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)”
B. Jesus is THE WAY TO LIFE, John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
1. He is the HIGHWAY to life, Isaiah 35:8, “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.”
2. He as the incarnate Son of God, is the ONLY WAY to the Father, John 1:1, 14, 18, ¶ “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 And the Word was made 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. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
C. Jesus is THE POWER OF LIFE, John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
1. By faith in Christ is the sinner made alive spiritually, Ephesians 2:1, 5, And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”
2. The Son of God raises from the dead whom He will, John 5:21, “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.”
D. Jesus Christ calls mankind forth out of the darkness of unbelief, Psalms 107:14, “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.”
1. He calls those out who sit in the shadow of death which is darkness with danger, Psalms 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
2. He calls us into His marvelous light, 1 Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
II. THE HOUR OF THE RESURRECTION
A. The hour is coming, John 5:25,28-29, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
B. Jesus Christ will recover the bodies of the dead believers and make them live, Isaiah 38:16, “O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.”
1. Job had that hope, Job 19:26, “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:”
2. Isaiah prophesied it, Isaiah 26:19, “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.”
3. The Apostle Paul preached it:
a. He preached our resurrection because Jesus was resurrected by the Father, Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
b. Paul used baptism as a symbol of the resurrection of the believer, Romans 6:4, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
4. Even Moses preached the resurrection, Luke 20:37, “Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
CONCLUSION:
God is not the God of the dead but of the living, Matthew 22:32, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Therefore those that come unto the Lord in faith He makes alive. However, some will not come, John 5:40, “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”