INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

John's Gospel was written by 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' (Jn 21:7,20,24). He was an eye-witness to Jesus' life, death and resurrection (19:26; Acts 1:21,22). His purpose in writing this gospel is stated in John 20:31: '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's Gospel is deductive. John announces in the prologue that Jesus is the eternal Word--God who was in the beginning, the Word through whom all things were made. He is God who became flesh and made his dwelling among us. There are 7 miracles or signs, and 7 'I Am's' that point to his divine Messiahship (Ch 2,4,5,6 (2),9,11; 6:35; 8:12; 10:7,11; 11:25; 14:6;15:5).

Belief/unbelief is a major theme. In chapters 1-4 he shows what belief is; in chapters 5-12, he shows why people don't believe. Other themes are: darkness/light, life/death, witness or testimony, love, glory.

John's Gospel may be divided as follows:

1:1-18 - Prologue, The Eternal Word

1:19-4:54 - The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world

5:1-12:50 - The Word of Life accepted/rejected

13:1-17:26 - He loved his own to the end

18:1-20:31 - Jesus' death and resurrection

21:1-25 - Epilogue--Feed my sheep; follow me

1. In the beginning was the Word (1-5)

The eternal Word is Jesus Christ. He is God. He is the One through whom all things were made. Life belongs to him (4). His life is the light that gives us direction and meaning. Man, cut off from God by sin, must live in darkness, a prisoner of fate, without hope in the world. God shined his light into the world by sending his one and only Son Jesus; the darkness of sin and death cannot overcome the light of Jesus.

2. The witness and the true light (6-9)

John the Baptist was sent to testify to Jesus so that people might believe and have life. John was the first witness; God still works through witnesses.

3. To those who receive him (10-13)

The world he created, and even his own people, did not receive Jesus. But God works in all who receive Jesus. He gives them new birth into his family; he makes them children of God. This is God's miracle.

Application: Lord, my life belongs to you. You made me, and you redeemed me. Use me according to your will.
One Word: In him was life