THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN–AN INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPELS

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
AN  INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPELS

Introduction:

There are four accounts of the Gospel, which tell the history of the birth, life and death of Jesus. Not one of them gives a complete picture, nor do they give an exhaustive biography, John 21:25. All of them are necessary in order to give a complete record. Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the synoptic gospels because they have more in common. The record of John is different from the others, yet not one contradicts the others; rather, they complement one another. Each of them represents a distinct view of Christ:
A. Matthew writes to the Jews and shows Christ as the King of Israel. His is the gospel of the kingdom. He pictures Christ as the Son of David.
B. Mark writes to the Romans, and shows Jesus as the “Servant of Jehovah,” and proves Him to be the Son of God by His works. The gospel of Mark is vivid and precise in details. Without doubt Peter furnished the details for this gospel, and at times this gospel is called the “Gospel according to Peter.”
C. Luke writes to all men, and shows the relationship of Christ to man; consequently, he traces the genealogy of Christ to Adam. He shows Christ as the Son of Man – the True Man. Luke was, possibly, the only Gentile writer in the New Testament, and also the only medical doctor, Colossians 4:14; thus, many medical terms appear in his gospel.
D. John writes his gospel to the believer, chap. 20:31, and this explains, in part, why it is the favorite of all the Gospels. He writes to prove that Jesus is the Son of God, and therefore, he returns to “the beginning,” chap. 1:1. He presents Christ as the Celestial One, and his theme is the Divinity of the Savior; consequently, his point of view is more elevated than the other three, who see Christ more in His human relationships. John omits much that the synoptic gospels record, but he also records many things the others omit. By this gospel only, do we know that the ministry of Jesus lasted three years.
The Author: John, the son of Zebedee, and the younger brother of James, (Mark 14:51 –found to be John; and he is generally mentioned after James when they are mentioned together). This family was, evidently, above the average in possessions and social position, for:
A. The fishing business of the family was large enough to have servants, Mark 1:20.
B. His mother, Salome, was distinguished for ministering to Jesus of their material substance, Luke 8:2-3; Mark 15:40; 16:1.
C. He was known personally by the High Priest, John 18:15-16.
D. John had his own home in which Jesus committed the care of His mother after His death, John 19:26-27.
a. John was the closest to Jesus in affection. On five occasions he is called “the one, who Jesus loved,” John 13:23; 19:23, 26; 20:2; 21:7, 20. It was he who was the human instrument that God used to write this gospel.
b. Like his brother James, he was called Boanerges – sons of thunder, which might mean that they were of a tempestuous nature; however, John soon came to be known as the apostle of love. “Love” is one of the words that characterize his writings. John was originally a disciple of John the Baptist as were all of the twelve apostles, Acts 1:21-22.
CONCLUSION

JESUS IS THE GOD OF HEAVEN–JOHN 1:1-14–LESSON 1

Art Davison THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 0 Comment
JESUS IS THE GOD OF HEAVEN–JOHN 1:1-14–LESSON 1
Introduction:

Few people think of Christ as the God of Heaven and being 100% ma`n 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 SOURCE 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 experientially.

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.”