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John
Overview of Old Testament or New Testament Links to observations drawn from other other books of the Bible |
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John shows Jesus in His cosmic perspective and significance.
Practical and Pastoral Observations on the Gospel of John (please read each chapter slowly and meditatively before reading observations below):
Introduction: The Gospel of John is about the identity of Jesus. John tells fewer stories than the synoptic gospels (Matthew Mark and Luke) but in greater detail. John is by contrast also more philosophic than the synoptics, placing Jesus into the larger context of the the Logos (v. 1) of the cosmos. Jesus' identity is highlighted in His statements regarding Himself:
- "I am the bread of life" - John 6:35
- "I am the light of the world" - John 8:12
- "I am the door" (to eternal life) - John 10:9
- "I am the good shepherd"- John 10:11
- "I am the resurrection and the life - John 11:25
- "I am the way, the truth and the life" - John 14:6
- "I am the true vine" (source of life) - John 15:1,5
John 1
God alone is Source, Creator and Savior of all: God has taken the initiative to bring us light and life in Christ (v.3); glory, grace and truth (v.14). It is not we who sought God, it is God who sought us out in Christ. The Gospel is a "love and rescue" story.
The Identity of Jesus: The key question is to know Him who is God made flesh (v. 14); the Lamb of God (v.29); the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit (v.33); the Son of God (v.34) and Son of Man (v. 51) - and to know ourselves mortal, sinful and in desperate need of His grace and truth. Only God could provide adequate substitute for the sins of all the world, only God-made-flesh could fully identify with those for whom He died.
As in Genesis 22, God provides the Lamb as substitute for us to carry away on the cross the sins of the world. I am am in need of the Lamb to substitute for me and I am called simply but radically to follow Him (v.43).
As we are forgiven and baptized in water, Christ will also baptize us with His Holy Spirit, v.33: "He upon whom you see the Spirit…remaining...baptizes in the Holy Spirit." We need Jesus as Lamb for us and His baptism in water and the Spirit.
The Significance of Jesus: cannot be overstated. God's grace in Christ is the basis of our salvation, justification, election, faith and spiritual gifts. He is what God intends humanity to be. Therefore we must aim high, as high as He is. Don’t settle for mediocrity; only a little glory, grace and truth when God wants to give to you Himself in abundance. If the Gospel is true - and it is - then it is so radical as to impact everything in you and in the world and our future.
Jesus, the Word (Logos) of God: is the revelation of God Himself (v.1, 14). Jesus is all that God is and the full and accurate expression of Him, His heart, purpose and character. Cf. v.14: "The Logos became human (in Christ); we beheld His glory; full of grace and truth." Jesus, as the Word of God, is true always, to be heard, understood and obeyed.
The titles introducing Jesus are many in this chapter, inviting us to follow and worship: Word (Logos) (v. 1), God (v. 1), Creator (v. 3), Light (v. 7), only begotten God (v.18), Lamb of God (v.29, 36), Son of God (v. 34,49), Messiah (v.41), King of Israel (v. 49), Son of Man (v.51).
My Prayer: "Father, draw me always to Your light, even when it reveals my sin. I praise You for providing Jesus as Lamb of God for me
John 2
God wants to be known and knows we need help seeing through the distorted field of vision produced by sin. God graciously provides signs that we would recognize His hand and know Him. Turning water to wine is a sign of God's gracious heart and intention towards us (vs. 1-11); Jesus' cleansing of the Temple is a sign of God's desire for purity of heart and worship (vs.14-17).
"Signs" reveal who Jesus is and the Father He has come to Reveal. John prefers the term 'signs' to 'miracles' because the One to whom the signs point is more important than the signs themselves. The signs reveal Christ's mission and both the sign and Jesus Himself reveal the heart of the Father. It is the heart of the Father and the mission of Jesus which is the reason and focus of our day to day activity and life's work.
Our lives are to be and contain signs pointing to Jesus and the heart of the Father also. Some of these pointers will be miraculous as in v. 1-11, some will be acts of courage and truth as in vs. 14-17, and all will point to the ultimate sign and reality of the resurrection of Christ (v. 21) as first fruit of the renewal of all things.
Humanity needs redemption and cannot ultimately live or thrive without it. Jesus knew the nature of humanity (v. 24) and what was in the heart of man (v. 25). We too should have no illusion about the essential goodness of man or his trustworthiness (though the image of God in which we were created, distorted but recognizable, remains).
My Prayer: "Father, how wonderful, deep and wide is Your grace and manifold Your pointers and invitations to enter Your Kingdom. Thank you for the joy of being called to be an inviter!"
John 3
Jesus is from Heaven: Jesus descended to earth from heaven (v.13) and speaks of what He has seen in heaven (v.12) though not everyone understands or accepts what He speaks. The theme of Jesus' testimony (v. 11) is ongoing in John 3:31-36; 5:31-47; 8:12-20. Because Jesus is from heaven, He is Lord above all (v. 31) and has been given all things (v.35). Jesus knows the way to Heaven (John 14:6). We are in a posture of need: seeking, receiving, being filled.
For this reason I will seek out and listen to the Lord's testimony of what He has seen and heard in heaven (v.31-32). I will seek of the Lord from heaven "the Spirit without measure" (v.34). v. 34: "He (Jesus) whom God sent speaks the words of God (is the Word of God) and gives the Spirit without measure."
Heaven is the Source of Grace: All that is good; all that saves comes from God and is grace. v.27: "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven." As Israel was saved when Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness (v.14) so Jesus is to be lifted up on the cross so that those who have confidence in Him have eternal life (v.15, 36).
Redemption and Judgment: Jesus doesn't judge the world (v.17), rather people judge themselves, i.e. those who reject their rescuer choose not to be rescued (v.19: "reject the light"); e.g. those on a sinking ship, are not judged by their rescuer, rather simply continue on the course they are already on. Their course is not altered. They are not not rescued. Why then do people reject Christ? v.19-20 because their deeds are evil, will be exposed, and require change (cf. Huxley's explanation). The theme of redemption and judgement (for those who reject redemption) is ongoing in John 5:22; 8:15; 9:39; 12:47.
My Prayer: Father give I pray a heart to hear and understand what Jesus teaches of heaven. Fill me Lord, heart and mind, with your Word, and with Your Spirit without measure. In Jesus' name.
John 4
True Worship: God is Spirit - and to be worshiped in spirit and in truth (v.24). May we worship rightly! The English word "worship" was originally spelled "worthship" denoting the worth and value of the One worshipped. While the Samaritans had built a temple on Mt. Gerizim to rival the temple built in Jerusalem, God is greater than location (v.21), so Jesus crossed social barriers of ethnicity, gender, and politics (v.7) to offer the woman living water/newness of life without any prerequisite change in her life (v. 10). This, so that she might be a worshiper - in spirit and truth - neither at Gerizim or Jerusalem (v.21) but in heaven.
The Harvest: Jesus gave himself entirely to the harvest (v.34), recognizing the fields to be ripe with those not yet gathered to the Father.
Initiative: When Jesus healed, He responded to the initiatives of those would appealed for help (e.g. v. 47), in contrast to evangelism, as with the woman at the well, where He took the initiative (v. 7). God is not limited by distance in acting powerfully in response to faith (v.52-52.)
Salvation is from the Jews (v.22). Jesus was a Jew and the Jews were the first messengers of the Good News (Acts 1-10).
Application: I will be proactive, bold and direct as Jesus in inviting people to be seekers and worshipers. I too am a harvester committed to the joy of gathering fruit for eternal life (v.36). Like Jesus, (v.34) "my food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to accomplish/finish/complete His work." I too seek to be so close to the Father that I know His intentions and am able to speak them (v. 50).
My Prayer: Lord, fill me with living water, the gift of God, welling up to eternal life. Through this gift grant me boldness, power and grace to offer it freely to others continually. Father, gather souls from the harvest for eternity, as I pray for the lost and seek to multiply disciple-making communities. Lord, in all things, empower me to grow in faith and knowledge of the intentions of Your heart, and the power to act that You might do the miraculous.
John 5
Jesus' absolutely unique relationship to the Father as Son of God was clear to the Jewish leaders of His day (v.18) and to us in Jesus description of this relationship in vs. 19-47.
Jesus sees and does what His Father is doing (v.19), Jesus raises from the dead (v.21) and has life in Himself as the Father has life in Himself (v.26), has been given the honor of judging the world (v.22-23, 27), though He will do so as His Father directs (v.30), and will call forth all the dead in resurrection to stand before Him in judgment (v. 28-29). No human is His peer.
Witnesses: The astounding claims of Jesus in this chapter require authentication (v.31). The witnesses Jesus offers are His Father (v.32, 37) [at His baptism and transfiguration], John the Baptist (v.33), his miracles (vs. 1-18, v.36), the OT Scriptures (v. 39) and Moses (v.46).
v.23: "…all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him." v.24: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death to life. (These italicized words where chosen by my earthly father, John Moerman, to be inscribed on his gravestone.)
The mission of Jesus flows out of His relationship with His Father (v.17). Jesus declares His mission to be to do the will of the Father (v.30), seeing and doing what the Father desires to do, even to redeeming those utterly lost, on the cross.
Application: I want to more clearly see the Father working and what the Father desires so that I might follow closely, acting as He acts. This is the essence of authentic ministry. I must point beyond God's call to justice and compassion in this life to readiness in Christ for judgement in the resurrection life to come (v.28-29).
My Prayer: Father, show me how to see what You see and are doing as Jesus saw. Show me how to walk as Jesus walked. Give me courage to point both to You in this life and in the life to come. Lord, thank you that I will not come into judgment but have passed from death to eternal life, which has already begun, from which to praise You forever.
John 6: 1-40
God-in-Christ is the giver of Signs (healing v.2, feeding the crowd v. 14, walking on water v. 19, instant transport v. 21) which draw, those willing to see (v.14), to Himself. Jesus is the True Bread, the Bread of God which comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world (v.33). Humanity will always be hungry and thirsty with out Him.
God desires to feed His people the True Bread (v.32) which gives them eternal life (v.27). Therefore Jesus came to do the will of His Father, which is to give eternal life (v. 40), lose none who the Father has entrusted to Him (v. 39), and raise us up on the last day (v. 39-40). Jesus will never reject the one who comes to Him (v.37)
v.40 "This is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes into (aligns himself with) Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."
Personal Application:
I will believe in Christ sent by the Father (v.29).
I will not be afraid (v.20).
I will come to Him (v.35), behold Him in awe and believe (v.40).
I will work for the food which endures to eternal life (v.27), (i.e. believe in Christ the giver v. 29) and encourage others to do the same. This encouragement of others includes evangelism, biblical teaching, discipling and pastoral care.
My Prayer: Lord, give me eyes to see the signs of Your presence and purpose, drawing me always to the True Bread from Heaven (v.34) which is Yourself. You are the Way, Truth and Life. Enable me to align myself with You continually, turning as needed to stay aligned, enter fully into and continue in the Way which is Yourself. Thank you for coming into the world to do the will of the Father to forgive, reconcile, give and raise us up into life eternal.
John 6: 41-71
The Gift of Life from Heaven: God the Father is and has "life in Himself" (John 5:26) and has given it to His Son who lives because of His Father (v.57). We have no everlasting life in ourselves (v.53) but Jesus comes down from heaven (v. 41, 51) and gives this life by the sacrifice of His body (v. 51) on the cross. The Father draws us to Christ to receive His gift (v.44-45) and keeps us secure in Christ (John 5:37,39) through eternity. We are invited to believe (v.29) it to be the work of the Father (v.44-45, 65), and the Spirit then quickens (or vivifies) eternal life in us on the basis of the truth of His word (v.63).
The Gospel: Jesus makes clear our essential helplessness (we have no life in ourselves, v.53), and the sovereign grace of the Father (v.44-45, 63) through His self-sacrifice for us (v.51). This is the Gospel. We do not form or shape the Gospel, nor do we have liberty to alter it. If we did, the altered result we offered would cease to be the gift of God. We are called however to share God's gift as it is, never to compromise or dilute it with anything or anyone else (which would be idolatry).
v.51: "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
My role: I will hold to the core, draw on Christ alone, defend the Gospel to those who would alter it, and praise God eternally for His gift to me, a helpless sinner.
My Prayer: Praise you Lord, for your grace beyond expression! How magnificent, how marvellous! How beyond the ability of man, with the efforts of his philosophies, to find out. Thank you for the gift of heaven, the Living Bread, to give life to all who will receive. Empower me to proclaim Your Gospel and goodness to my last breath!
John 7
The Gift of the Father: God the Father is true (v.28), wants to be known (v.29) and reveals Himself in sending the person of Jesus (v.29) and through Jesus' teaching which point back to Him (v.16-17). Jesus is the source of abundant 'living water' (v.38), alive as is everything in heaven, and life-giving to those who receive Him.
Welcome and Rejection: The mission of Jesus brings division between those who welcome and reject His offer of grace and revelation (7:43; 9:16; 10:19). We must therefore have courage to speak the truth (v.28) and if need be hated (v.7), yet doing God's will (v.17) and confirming Jesus teaching. Our strength and refreshment in life and opposition comes from "living water" from heaven flowing from Jesus (v.38).
Living Water: The first 7 days of the Feast of Booths water from the Pool of Siloam was carried and poured into a silver basin by the altar. The 8th day this was not done making Christ's claim and offering all the more startling: v.38: "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture says, "From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.""
My Prayer: Lord, give me such love for You that I'm never tempted to reconsider when inevitable divisions arise. Give me of Your Holy Spirit in such measure that I would have strength always in the face of opposition and danger.
John 7:53 - 8:11 is a event from Jesus' ministry inserted at this point for reasons not entirely known. Perhaps it is interted here as an example of the kind of interaction with the Pharisees which, in the context of Jesus' claims of intimate relationship with His Father, infuriated them further, leading to Christ's crucifixion. (The flow of the Pharisee's debate with Jesus should also be followed from the Pharisee's challenge in 7:52 directly to Jesus' claim to be the light of the world in 8:12.)
God is both gracious and righteous (v.11). As such Jesus humbled the arrogant and forgave the humbled. v.11: "Neither do I condemn you. Go and from now on sin no more."
Jesus is the fulfilment of the Law: Jesus did not reject the death penalty for adultery because it had ceased to be sin but because he was the fulfilment the law (Matt. 5:17). Our mission of grace is based on His fulfilment of all things on the cross.
Living the Gospel: I will not be drawn into a false dichotomy, choosing between grace and righteousness. I will flee self-righteousness, judgment of others and the inner view that I am better than others. At the same time and with equal purposefulness I will seek to live righteously and invite others to follow Christ with me in all righteousness and grace.
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, pride runs so deep, even in the heart that has known your forgiveness. Forgive me for comparing myself favourably with others. Forgive me for putting righteousness ahead of grace or of being drawn into false dichotomies at the expense of people's need or your righteousness. Help me learn and live this vital lesson moment by moment, day by day.
John 8: 12-30
Setting: When Jesus taught in the Temple he often did so near the Treasury, where offerings were collected, in the front Court of the Women (see below) so that both men and women could hear him (Mark 12:41).
During the Feast of Booths, sixteen gold bowls filled with oil and lighted. Jesus used that image and moment to declare he was the light of salvation not only to Israel but to the world.
Light of the World: Jesus is the light of the world (v.12). This light is not from this world but from above (v.23) [we too must be born from above by the Holy Spirit (John 3:3,5]. Jesus has been sent from the Father (v.26) and speaks what the Father has given Him to reveal (v.16,26-29). Jesus therefore knows where He came from and the destination to which He will return (v.14); therefore He is the true, living way to the Father (John 14:6). If we know and follow Jesus, we know the way to the Father and know Him (v.19). If we refuse this grace, we cannot go where Jesus is going and will die in our sins (v.21,24).
Following the Light of Christ: I will follow the light of Christ and point always to Him so others may see and follow also. In so doing am not to condemn sinners v.15 ("throw stones" v.7), but give thanks to God for His grace in Christ, leave all judgement to the Father and point to Jesus who forgives (v.24). I will listen to Jesus speak the Father's heart and do what is pleasing to Him (v.26-29) though I will be resisted as Jesus was.
Deity of Christ: Jesus declared "...unless you believe that I AM He, you will die in your sins" (v. 24). This I AM is again reminiscent of and an identification with the Father's declaration in Exodus 3:14.
My Prayer: Father, thank you for the Light and grace of Christ leading to You. I praise You for making the way in Christ that I may follow to where He is, above with You (v.21-23). Keep me from the agitation of trying to decide between many things which need doing; rather to hear You, follow in peace and do those things pleasing to you.
John 8: 31-59
Jesus and the Father: Jesus knows the Father (v.55) and is sent by Him (v. 42). As such Jesus keeps His Father's word (v.55) and is glorified by Him (v.54). Before Abraham, Jesus was one with the Father and uses His divine personal name: I AM = Yahweh (v.58; Exodus 3:20).
Decisive Influence of Our Father: As we live in the truth of Jesus' Word we come to know the Father (v.47) and will not walk the path leading to eternal death (v.51,52). Jesus makes us free from sin (v.34-36) as we abide in His Word (v.31-32). Jesus refers to a basic observation of life: we are greatly influenced by our Father and tend to do as he does; Jesus does as His Father directs (v.42), the Jews who resisted Jesus did as their father the devil does (v.44); in all things our father is revealed by our actions.
Word of the Father: I will listen for the word of my Father (v.43, 47) because I am of [belong to] Him (v.47). As I abide in His Word (v.31) I am freed (v.32) by the Son (v.36) from sin (v.34) and death (v.51,52).
v.31b-32: "If you abide in my Word, then you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free (from sin)."
My Prayer: Father, thank you that as I walk in the word and way of Jesus I am becoming like you. All you have given - life, forgiveness, paradise - are gifts from you. All glory is therefore to you! High King of Heaven may all my life point to You my Father. In Jesus name, Amen.
John 9
Jesus Identity: The core issue of the chapter is Jesus' identity. Jesus receives worship (v.38), is judge (v.39), healer (v.7) and light of the world (v.5). Because Jesus is denied His identity and roles by some, He brings division (v.16) among those who must decide.
All suffering is due to the Fall, but not all suffering is caused by personal sin: The distinction between one worthy of compassion and one whose trouble is due to weakness of character (sin) does not stand; God loves and wants to heal both the external trouble and the inner character. Jesus directly challenges and overcomes in healing the false assumption that all sickness and suffering is the consequence of one's own sin in this life (v.3). Implicitly Jesus rejects also the notion that suffering is the consequence of sin in a previous life, i.e. reincarnation. (Cf. also Hebrews 9:27). The Pharisees however return to the notion of suffering as consequence of sin (v.34), denying the implications of the blind man's healing.
True Enlightenment in Christ: We should not jump to the conclusion that a person's trouble is due to their own errors and shortcomings, (though sometimes it is, in our own lives and those of others). We must therefore watch for dangerous blind spots; the blind man who was assumed to be in spiritual darkness could see God’s light, whereas the Pharisees, who could see physically and thought themselves enlightened, were shown to be spiritually blind (v.30-34, 40-41).
Application: Rather than judge superficially, I will pray for and serve the needy and do the works of Him who sent Jesus while I am able (v.4), recognizing opposition may follow my confession of Christ: v. 25 "one thing I know: though I was blind, now I see."
My Prayer: Father, give me eyes to see the works You want to do, and compassion and courage to do them.
