The Gospel According to John

• Purpose: John 20:30–31

  • “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not

written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe [101x] that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

• Prologue Themes:

  • “In the beginning was the Word...” (Creation/New Creation) (Wisdom)

  • Jesus = God

• John assumes his audience was familiar with the Synoptics (Intertextuality)

• Witnesses to Jesus
  (A.E. Harvey called John a prophetic “lawsuit” where the reader is called upon to render a verdict).

  • John the Baptist

  • Woman in Samaria

  • Miracles/Signs

  • The Father

  • Scriptures

  • Moses

  • Holy Spirit

  • John (The Beloved)

• Contrasting Encounters with Jesus

  • Nicodemus & Samaritan Woman (ch. 3-4)

  • Blind man & Pharisees (ch. 9)

  • Judas & Mary of Bethany (ch. 12)

• Dualisms & Dual meanings

  • Light/darkness, life/death, above/below, spirit/flesh, truth/false, etc.

  • Water, bread, birth, temple

• Jesus is Fulfillment of Jewish Festivals (Thematic Unit in 5-8):

  • Sabbath (ch. 5)

  • Passover (I am the Bread - ch. 6)

  • Tabernacles (Living water / I am the Ligh - ch 7-8)

  • Dedication (Hanukkah - ch. 10)

  • 3 Passovers (2:13; 6:4; 12:1

    • Jesus = Passover Bread (ch. 6)

    • Jesus = Passover Lamb (ch. 1; 19:36)

• Seven major discourses closely related to 7 signs.

  • The New Birth (ch. 3)

  • The Water of Life (ch. 4)

  • The Divine Son (ch. 5)

  • The Bread of Life (ch. 6)

  • The Life-Giving Spirit (ch. 7)

  • The Light of the World (ch. 8)

  • The Good Shepherd (ch. 10)

• Seven signs (σημεῖον):

  • Water to wine (ch. 2)

  • Nobleman’s son (ch. 4)

  • Lame man at Bethesda pool (ch. 5)

  • Feeding 5,000 (ch. 6)

  • Walking on Water (ch. 6)

  • Man born blind at pool of Siloam(ch. 9)

  • Lazarus (ch. 11)

  • Resurrection (ch. 20)

  • Great Catch of Fish (ch. 21)

• Seven “I am” statements

  • Bread of Life (6:35)

  • Light of the World (8:12)

  • The Gate (10:7)

  • The Good Shepherd (10:11)

  • The Resurrection & The Life (11:25)

  • The Way, the Truth and the Life (14:6)

  • The Vine - (15:5)

• Other significant “I Am” sayings (echoing Ex. 3:14):

  • “I am, do not be afraid.” (6:20)

  • “…before Abraham was, I am.” (8:58)

  • “…that you may believe I am he… (13:19)

  • “I am…they fell backward…” (18:5-6)

• Jesus’ divine & human attributes

  • Creator (1:1)

  • Sovereignty (“my hour” [ὥρα] 2:4; 7:6 [καιρὸς]; 7:30; 8:20

  • Knowledge (2:24-25; 18:4)

    • Notice what theologians call Jesus’ ontological equality but functional

subordination during his earthy ministry (e.g., 5:19; 8:28; 12:49)

• Tired from travel (e.g., 4:6)

  • Note: This same word speaks to the hour/time still coming for the disciples.

The implication being that Jesus is still sovereign in their hour/time (4:23; 5:25; 16:2-32).