Theme of John Part 1
The reason the book of John was written, (its purpose) is clearly stated in John 20:30-31
Joh 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Three reasons are given.
The book is written so that those who read it might believe that Jesus is the Christ. The Saviour that was promised over and over in the Old Testament.
And John was written so that those who read it might believe that Jesus is the Son of God; a declaration of His Deity. God manifested in the flesh. Emanuel – God with us. Because Jesus is God, He has both the right and the power to forgive sins.
And the third reason is that believing ye might have life through his name. Speaking of eternal life.
This is the purpose of the book of John. To highlight Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. Why? Sso that those reading it might get saved.
This is why John is picked as the gospel to hand out. John and Romans are given out all over the world. Not Matthew and Romans, but John and Romans.
The book of John was written about 90 A.D. by John. Not John the Baptist, he was beheaded while Jesus still walked the earth.
The book of John was written by John the brother of James. They think he was the youngest of the 12 Disciples. John was in the fishing business with James, Andres and Peter before Jesus called him to be a fisher of men.
John wrote this book before His exile to Patmos Island. John wrote a total of 5 books of the Bible. The gospel of John, the letters 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John, and Revelation.
We have seen that the other 3 gospels were written by men who were well fitted for it. For example the man who wrote the gospel highlighting the humanity of Jesus was a doctor. He was well acquainted with humanity.
John was to pen the Gospel that focused on Jesus being God. This would best be penned by someone who was very close to Jesus. John was in what many call the inner circle.
John was in the sailboat, John was on the mount of transfiguration and got to see the glory of Jesus. And John was called to go further with Jesus into the Garden of Gethsemane.
You see the closeness of John at the Last Supper.
Joh 13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
Joh 13:22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
John is also described differently than the others. When describing John it says whom Jesus loved. There was a closeness with John that the others did not have.
Joh 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
Joh 13:24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
Peter asked John to ask Jesus this sensitive question.
Joh 13:25 He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
Joh 13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
Then John asked and Jesus gave an answer.
After the resurrection John is still called the other disciple, whom Jesus loved.
Joh 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
Joh 20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
Joh 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
John was one of the first to see the empty tomb. Along with Peter and Mary.
After Jesus rose again, it took the disciples some time to take the journey and get fully on board. After Jesus met with them in the upper room, some of the disciples went fishing.
Fishing as back into the fishing business.
Jesus deals with this in Chapter 21
Joh 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
Joh 21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
Joh 21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
Notice none of them recognized Jesus yet.
Joh 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
Joh 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
Notice who recognized the Lord first. It was that disciple whom Jesus loved. It was John.
The first three gospels viewed Christ in human connections. Matthew as the Son of David, Mark as the perfect Servant of God, Luke as the Son of Man.
In John’s Gospel it is the Deity of Jesus that is in view. It was best that this Gospel be penned by the disciple that was the closest to Jesus.
What is different about the book of John?
There is no genealogy in John for God always existed.
It is in John that we see Him dwelling with God before time began 1:1,2
In John Jesus is called the only begotten of the Father 1:14 3:16
There is no temptation of Jesus by Satan in John, because you cannot tempt God.
In John Jesus is the creator. Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In John we read how he manifested forth His glory 2:11
In John Jesus said Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up 2:19
In John Jesus said Before Abraham was, I am 8:58
In John Jesus declared, I and [my] Father are one. John 10:30
And in John 14:9 he that hath seen me hath seen the Father
It is in the book of John that Jesus showed his omniscience by declaring to the woman at the well Thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband John 4:18
In John Jesus declares Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
No mere man could make that statement.
And only the book of John has the raising of Lazarus who had been in the grave for four days. His body by this time was decaying and stinking. And to raise him all Jesus had to do was to speak.
In John Jesus gives instructions to pray in His name.
Only in John do we read of how when they came to arrest Him, Jesus pronounced the sacred “I am,” and they went backward and fell to the ground 18:16.
Only in John is the saviour’s triumphant cry “It is finished” 19:30.
And lastly In John Thomas said unto Him, “My Lord and my God” 20:28 and Jesus did not deny it. Jesus accepted being called God because Jesus is God.
See more lessons from the Gospels