Introduction
Why did John write his gospel? Discover his stated purpose in John 20:30 to 31, the seven organizing themes that run through the book, and a simple outline for reading John as Signs of Glory and Suffering and Glory.
Start Lesson
Venue
Classroom
About
The vision of Ozark Christian College is to glorify God by evangelizing the lost and edifying Christians worldwide. The mission of Ozark Christian College is to train men and women for Christian service as a degree-granting institution of biblical higher education.
Classroom Instructions
Lesson
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 that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Organizing Themes:
Believe [101x] – Framing purpose, 1:12 & 20:30-31 – John’s moment of believing without seeing, 11:44; 20:8; 20:29
Truth [55x] – John the Baptist witnesses, 1:8; 5:33 – God is Truth, 1:14; 3:33 – Worship in Truth, 4:23-24 – Truth will set you free, 8:32 – Jesus is the Truth, 1:9, 14; 14:6 – The Spirit of Truth, 14:17; 15:26; 16:13 – The Word is Truth, 17:17 – Pilate – “What is Truth?”, 18:38 – John testifies to the truth, 19:35; 21:24
Witnesses – John the Baptist, 1:7-34; 5:35 – Woman in Samaria, 4:39 – Miracles/Signs, 5:36; 10:25 – The Father, 5:37; 8:18 – Scriptures, 5:39 – Moses, 5:45 – Holy Spirit, 15:26 – John (The Beloved), 19:35; 21:24
Trials (Testimony & Rendering of a Verdict) – Jesus is on trial – Individuals are on trial – Jewish leaders are on trial – Humanity is on trial
Signs – Water to wine, 2 – Nobleman’s son, 4 – Lame man at Bethesda pool, 5 – Feeding 5,000, 6 – Walking on Water, 6 – Man born blind at pool of Siloam, 9 – Lazarus, 11 – Resurrection, 20 – Great Catch of Fish, 21
“I am” Statements – The Bread of Life, 6:35 – The 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 “I am” Phrases – “I am not the Christ”, 1:19 – “I am, do not be afraid.”, 6:20 – “I am not of this world.”, 8:23; 17:14, 16 – “…before Abraham was, I am.”, 8:58 – “…that you may believe I am he…, 13:19 – “I am…they fell backward…”, 18:5-6
Feasts – Passover (Temple cleansing), 2 – Unnamed Feast (Passover?), 5 – Passover (I am the Bread), 6 – Tabernacles (Living water / I am the Light), 7-8 – Dedication (Hanukkah), 10 – Passover, 13
Outline of John’s Gospel Many scholars use a similar two-part outline. See Köstenberger, Bauckham, Porter, etc.
Signs of Glory (John 1-12) – Prologue, 1:1-18 – First Witnesses, First Week, & First Sign, 1:19-2:25 – Four Encounters, 3-4 – Four Feasts, 5-10
– Seventh Sign, 11-12:11
Suffering & Glory (John 13-21) – The Coming King, 12:12-50 – The Suffering Servant, 13 – Farewell Address, 14-17 – Passion, 18-19 – Resurrection, 20 – Epilogue, 21
Introduction Instructions
Lesson
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 that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Organizing Themes:
Believe [101x] – Framing purpose, 1:12 & 20:30-31 – John’s moment of believing without seeing, 11:44; 20:8; 20:29
Truth [55x] – John the Baptist witnesses, 1:8; 5:33 – God is Truth, 1:14; 3:33 – Worship in Truth, 4:23-24 – Truth will set you free, 8:32 – Jesus is the Truth, 1:9, 14; 14:6 – The Spirit of Truth, 14:17; 15:26; 16:13 – The Word is Truth, 17:17 – Pilate – “What is Truth?”, 18:38 – John testifies to the truth, 19:35; 21:24
Witnesses – John the Baptist, 1:7-34; 5:35 – Woman in Samaria, 4:39 – Miracles/Signs, 5:36; 10:25 – The Father, 5:37; 8:18 – Scriptures, 5:39 – Moses, 5:45 – Holy Spirit, 15:26 – John (The Beloved), 19:35; 21:24
Trials (Testimony & Rendering of a Verdict) – Jesus is on trial – Individuals are on trial – Jewish leaders are on trial – Humanity is on trial
Signs – Water to wine, 2 – Nobleman’s son, 4 – Lame man at Bethesda pool, 5 – Feeding 5,000, 6 – Walking on Water, 6 – Man born blind at pool of Siloam, 9 – Lazarus, 11 – Resurrection, 20 – Great Catch of Fish, 21
“I am” Statements – The Bread of Life, 6:35 – The 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 “I am” Phrases – “I am not the Christ”, 1:19 – “I am, do not be afraid.”, 6:20 – “I am not of this world.”, 8:23; 17:14, 16 – “…before Abraham was, I am.”, 8:58 – “…that you may believe I am he…, 13:19 – “I am…they fell backward…”, 18:5-6
Feasts – Passover (Temple cleansing), 2 – Unnamed Feast (Passover?), 5 – Passover (I am the Bread), 6 – Tabernacles (Living water / I am the Light), 7-8 – Dedication (Hanukkah), 10 – Passover, 13
Outline of John’s Gospel Many scholars use a similar two-part outline. See Köstenberger, Bauckham, Porter, etc.
Signs of Glory (John 1-12) – Prologue, 1:1-18 – First Witnesses, First Week, & First Sign, 1:19-2:25 – Four Encounters, 3-4 – Four Feasts, 5-10
– Seventh Sign, 11-12:11
Suffering & Glory (John 13-21) – The Coming King, 12:12-50 – The Suffering Servant, 13 – Farewell Address, 14-17 – Passion, 18-19 – Resurrection, 20 – Epilogue, 21