Comprehensive Study Guide for the Gospel of John: Introduction and Chapter One

Introduction to the Gospel of John

• Presentation of Jesus: The Gospel identifies Jesus as the eternal Word of God who "became a human being and lived among us."

• Purpose of the Gospel: According to the text (specifically reference $20.31$), the book was authored so that readers might:

  • Believe that Jesus is the promised Saviour and the Son of God.

  • Obtain life through faith in him.

• Structural Overview:

  • Introduction: Identifies the eternal Word of God with Jesus.

  • First Part: Focuses on miracles that demonstrate Jesus is the promised Saviour and the Son of God. These are followed by discourses (extended teachings) that explain the revelations of the miracles.

  • Reactions to Jesus: The narrative documents two responses: some people believed and became followers, while others opposed him and refused to believe.

  • The Farewell/Preparation (Chapters $13-17$): Focuses on the close fellowship between Jesus and his disciples on the night of his arrest, providing words of preparation and encouragement before the crucifixion.

  • Closing Chapters: Details the arrest, trial, crucifixion, resurrection, and subsequent appearances to his disciples.

• Noteworthy Manuscript Detail (The Woman Caught in Adultery - $8.1-11$): This passage is typically placed in brackets because many manuscripts and early translations either omit it or place it in different locations.

Theological Themes and Symbols

• Eternal Life: John emphasizes the gift of eternal life through Christ, noting that this gift begins in the present for those who respond to Jesus as "the way, the truth, and the life."

• Symbolic Use of Common Elements: The Gospel uses everyday items to represent spiritual realities:

  • Water

  • Bread

  • Light

  • The shepherd and his sheep

  • The grapevine and its fruit

Outline of Contents

• Prologue: $1.1-18$

• John the Baptist and the first disciples of Jesus: $1.19-51$

• Jesus' public ministry: $2.1-12.50$

• The last days in and near Jerusalem: $13.1-19.42$

• The resurrection and appearances of the Lord: $20.1-31$

• Epilogue: another appearance in Galilee: $21.1-25$

The Prologue: The Word of Life ($1.1-18$)

• The Pre-existence of the Word:

  • Before the world was created, the Word already existed.

  • The Word was with God and was the same as God.

  • The Word was with God from the very beginning.

• The Role in Creation:

  • Through the Word, God made all things.

  • Not a single thing in all creation was made without him.

• The Source of Life and Light:

  • The Word was the source of life (alternatively translated as: "What was made had life in union with the Word").

  • This life brought light to mankind.

  • The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never extinguished it.

• The Witness of John:

  • God sent a messenger named John to tell people about the light so that all might hear and believe.

  • John himself was not the light; he was the messenger regarding the light.

• The Reaction of the World:

  • The real light was coming into the world to shine on all mankind.

  • Though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

  • He came to his own country, but his own people did not receive him.

• The Right to Become Children of God:

  • For those who did receive him and believed in him, he gave the right to become God's children.

  • This status is not achieved by natural means (human birth/parents) but through God himself (God is their Father).

• The Incarnation:

  • The Word became a human being and lived among us.

  • He was full of grace and truth.

  • The Author/Community saw his glory—the glory received as the Father's only Son.

• Testimony and Fulfillment:

  • John the Baptist testified: "He comes after me, but he is greater than I am, because he existed before I was born."

  • From the fullness of his grace, he has provided continuous blessings ("one blessing after another").

  • Comparison of Law and Grace: The Law was given through Moses, whereas grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

  • Revelation of God: No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is at the Father's side and is the same as God, has made God known.

John the Baptist's Message ($1.19-28$)

• The Inquiry from Jerusalem: Jewish authorities sent priests and Levites to John to ask his identity.

• John's Negative Assertions:

  • He explicitly stated: "I am not the Messiah."

  • He denied being Elijah.

  • He denied being "The Prophet" (referring to the anticipated figure predicted in Deuteronomy $18.15$ and $18.18$ who would announce the Messiah's coming).

• John's Identity:

  • Quoting the prophet Isaiah ($40.3$), he identified himself as "the voice of someone shouting in the desert: 'Make a straight path for the Lord to travel!'"

• The Pharisaic Question on Baptism: The messengers (sent by Pharisees) questioned why John baptized if he was not the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet.

• The Coming One:

  • John answered that he baptizes with water.

  • He stated that among the people stands one they do not know.

  • This person is coming after him, and John is not worthy enough to untie his sandals.

• Location Note: These events took place in Bethany on the east side of the River Jordan.

The Lamb of God ($1.29-34$)

• The Declaration of Jesus' Identity: John saw Jesus coming and said: "There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

• Superiority and Pre-existence: John repeated that Jesus is greater because he "existed before I was born."

• The Divine Sign:

  • John did not initially know who he would be.

  • He was sent to baptize with water to make him known to Israel.

  • Testimony: John saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and stay on Jesus.

  • Commission: God told John that the one upon whom the Spirit descends and stays is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

  • Conclusion: John saw this and told people: "He is the Son of God."

The First Disciples and Early Recruitment ($1.35-47$)

• Initial Conversion:

  • The next day, John was with $2$ of his disciples.

  • Seeing Jesus walk by, John reiterated: "There is the Lamb of God!"

  • The $2$ disciples followed Jesus.

• The Interaction with Jesus:

  • Jesus asked: "What are you looking for?"

  • They addressed him as Rabbi (meaning "Teacher") and asked where he lived.

  • Jesus responded: "Come and see."

  • The time was about $4$ o'clock in the afternoon. They spent the rest of the day with him.

• Andrew and Simon Peter:

  • One of the two was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

  • Andrew found Simon and said: "We have found the Messiah" (meaning "Christ").

  • Jesus looked at Simon and renamed him: "Your name is Simon son of John, but you will be called Cephas" (meaning Peter, or "a rock").

• Philip and Nathanael:

  • The following day, Jesus decided to go to Galilee and found Philip.

  • Jesus told Philip: "Come with me!"

  • Background: Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter.

  • Philip then found Nathanael and identified Jesus as the one written about by Moses in the book of the Law and by the prophets.

  • Description: Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.

  • Nathanael's Skepticism: "Can anything good come from Nazareth?"

  • Philip's Invitation: "Come and see."

  • Jesus' Assessment of Nathanael: Upon seeing him, Jesus remarked: "Here is a real Israelite; there is nothing false in him!"