G2: The Gospel

1. Bible Study for Pr-Servants G2: The Gospel According to St. John “the disciple whom Jesus loved” January 15, 2011

2. The Synoptic Gospels • Begin with John the Baptist or birth and childhood stories • Jesus is baptized by John • Jesus speaks in parables and aphorisms • God’s reign is the theme of Jesus’ own gospel (good news) • Jesus has little to say about himself • Jesus espouses the causes of the poor and oppressed • Jesus eats a last supper with his disciples The Gospel of John • Begins with creation; no birth or childhood stories. • Baptism of Jesus is not mentioned • Jesus speaks in long involved discourses • Jesus himself is the theme of his own teaching • Jesus reflects extensively on his own mission and person • Jesus has little or nothing to say about the poor and the oppressed • Foot washing replaces the last supper

3. Outline of John

4. Brief outline of the gospel of John: • Prologue (1:1-18) • The Incarnation of the Son • Jesus’ public ministry (1:19—12:50) • The Presentation of the Son of God (1:19-4:54) • The Opposition to the Son of God (5:1-12:50) • Jesus’ private ministry (13:1—17:26) • The Preparation of the Disciples by the Son of God (13:1-17:26) • The Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Son of God (18:1-21:25) • Jesus’ suffering (18:1—20:31) • Postscript: the final appeal (21:1-25)

5. Personal interviews with Jesus: • Nicodemus (3) • Samaritan woman (4) • The blind man (9) • Mary and Martha (11) • Pharisees (8) • Disciples (13) • Pilate (18)

6. Seven Signs We are meant to see these signs through the eyes of the disciples. They are said to be growing in their belief as they see the signs and we are meant to grow with them.

7. Ascending Emphasis of the Signs • Resurrection in plain sight after 3 days • Man blind from birth • Master over natural world (chaos) • Food as a miracle • Invalid for 38 years • Healing from a distance • Water to wine at a wedding

8. The Purpose of the Signs But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31)

9. The “I Am’s:” • Bread of life (6:36) • Light of the world (8:12) • The door (10:7) • The good shepherd (10:11-14) • The resurrection and the life (11:25) • The way, the truth, and the life (14:6) • The true vine(15:1)

10. Theology in the Gospel according to St. John • The Divinity of Christ the Incarnate God The Incarnation of the Son • The Fatherhood of God • Salvation

11. (John 1:1-4) {1} In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. {2} He was with God in the beginning. {3} Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. {4} In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.

12. Purpose of the Incarnation {9} The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. {10} He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. {11} He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. {12} Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God-- {13} children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

13. The Word Became Flesh {14} The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. • John skips the genealogy, birth story, and reference of Jesus childhood. • His story focuses on the glory of the glory of the One and Only Son.

14. John the Baptist’s Testimony {15} John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.'"

15. The Results of Jesus Coming {16} From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. {17} For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. {18} No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made Him known.

16. Theology in the Gospel according to St. John • The Divinity of Christ the Incarnate God The Incarnation of the Son • The Fatherhood of God • Salvation • Faith in Christ

17. GOD, THE “WORD” (beforethe flesh) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:1-3) GOD, THE “WORD” (duringthe flesh) “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.” (John 1:14) GOD, THE “WORD” (afterthe flesh) “And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called the Word of God.” (Revelation 19:13) Conclusion: Jesus was God, the Word: BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER the Flesh!

18. What the SCRIPTURES say on the DIVINITY of CHRIST: “But Jesus answered them, My Father has been working until now, and I have been working. Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.” John 5:17-18 “And He said to them. You are from beneath: I am from above: you are of this world: I am not of the world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins: for if you do not believe that I AM He, you will die in your sins.” John 8:23-24 “This is He of whom I said, After me comes a Man who is preferred before me: for He was before me.” John 1:30 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” “I and My Father are One.” John 8:58; 10:30 “And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me” John 12:45 “Jesus said to him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, show us the Father.” John14:9 “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” John 20:28

19. HOW MUCH DID JESUS KNOW? At the age of 12, Jesus knew of His special and unique relationship with the Father(John 5:17) Jesus knew Nathanael’s character before meeting him(John 1:47-48) Jesus "knew all men" and "knew what was in man" (John 2:24-25) Jesus "knew from the beginning, who would believe on Him and who would betray Him"(John 6:64) Jesus had personal and direct knowledge of Heaven(John 3:31-32; 8:38;-25; 14:2) Jesus knew "where He came from, and where he was going"(John 8:14) Jesus knew that the Father had "given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God, and was going back to God“(John 13:3) Jesus "knew all things that would come upon Him" from His arrest and forward (John 18:4) Jesus "knew all things"(John 16:30; 21:17)

20. Theology in the Gospel according to St. John • The Divinity of Christ the Incarnate God The Incarnation of the Son • The Fatherhood of God • Salvation • Faith in Christ

21. Emphasized the Fatherhood of God: • Over 100 times in his gospel! • “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” John 4:23 • “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will” John 5:21 • “Jesus answered them and said, ‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me” John 7:16 • “My Father, who gave them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” John 10:29 • John 14:10 • John 14:23 • John 17:5,11

22. Theology in the Gospel according to St. John • The Divinity of Christ the Incarnate God The Incarnation of the Son • The Fatherhood of God • Salvation • Faith in Christ

23. Emphasized salvation (eternal life) as the objective of faith • “That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world……that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:15-16 • “ He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son will not see life…” John 3:36 • “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life….” John 5:24 • John 5:28,29 • John 5:39,40 • John 6:54

24. Theology in the Gospel according to St. John • The Divinity of Christ the Incarnate God The Incarnation of the Son • The Fatherhood of God • Salvation • Faith in Christ

25. A Faith Journey in the Gospel according t St. John • “We have found the Messiah” (1:41). • “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote” (1:43). • His disciples believed in Him (2:11). • Jesus said therefore to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. And we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:67-69). • “Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God” (John 16:33). • So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb entered then also, and he saw and believed (John 20:8). • Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:27-28).

26. (A Witness) John the Baptist {5} The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. {6} There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. {7} He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. {8} He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.