THE BOOK OF JOHN -- Sermon 4
Introduction: In the last lesson we studied Mark and Luke. We looked at how Jesus was presented as the Servant and as the Son of Man. In this Lesson we will complete a survey of the Gospel of John. John represents Jesus as the incarnate God. Jesus came to earth as God. He was God in the Flesh!
JOHN
I. SURVEY
A. Writer: John, the Apostle. He is one of the best known disciples and is called the “beloved disciple.” He is
the favorite of many.
1. He is mentioned more in the Word of God than any of the other three gospels writers. Matthew and Mark are
mentioned 5 times each. Luke is mention 3 times, and John is mentioneed 35 times in the New Testament.
2. He is called the beloved but he was also fiery.
a. In fact Jesus called him one of the sons of thunder in Mark 3:17.
b. He revealed this characteristic when he wished to destroy the Samaritans with fire in Luke 9:54 and he got
angry about a man casting out devils that was not follwing Jesus in Mark 9:38
3. He is the son of Zebedee and Salome.
a. Salome was the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
b. If Salome and Mary were sister’s then this means that Jesus and John the Beloved were first cousins and he
also related to John the Baptist.
4. He was a fisherman, in partnership with his Father and Simon Peter according to Matthew 4:21-22
5. He was a disciple of John the Baptist (1:35-40). He became one of Jesus’ first disciples and remained with him until his ascension. John was one of the
privileged three that were at the Transfiguration.
6. He acquainted with the high priset in Jerusalem (18:15-16). This is probably how he was granted admission
into Christ’s trial before and Annas and Caiaphas.
7. He was in attendance at he Council of Jerusalem in A.D. 49-50 (Acts 15:4), and later went to Asia Minor,
where he was a Pastor of the seven churches, residing mostlt at Ephesus.
8. He was banished to the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the book of The Revelation. He returned to Ephesus
and died in A.D. 100, as the only Apostle who did not suffer martyrdom.
9. Next to Paul, he was the leading writer of the New Testament, having written 5 books.
B. Date: 90-100 A.D.
C. Key Word: Believe is found in this gospel over one hundred times
D. Purpose: “......that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have
life through his name.”
II. OUTLINE
A. GOD’S MANIFESTATION IN THE FLESH - John 1
1. Pre-existed as the “Logos” -- John 1:1-5
a. There are two books in the Bible that begin, “In the beginning.”
1. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
2. John begins with, “In the beginning was the Word.”
3. The difference between these two accounts is that Genesis begins with Creation and looks forward and
John’s account begins with the Creation and looks back into eternity.
b. The Word here is the greek word “logos”
c. John’s gospel tells us that the Word had no beginning. He has always existed.
d. Some have interpreted this word to mean only thought.
1. The definition of “Word” is “thought or reason”
1. Philosopher’s have used this word to state that behind all things there is a thought. That is true.
a. When we see a table, we know that there was a thought behind building it.
b. When we see a building, we know that there was a thought about how to build it.
2. The Grecian Philosopher’s reasoned that behind this world there must have been a great thought; therefore God is thought. This is the extent of Grecian philosophy.
3. The “Word” does mean thought but it’s much more than that.
a. I accept that behind every object there is a thought, but I also believe that behind every thought there must be a THINKER TO THINK THE THOUGHT!!!
b. GOD IS THE THINKER!!!
c. God is the thinker, a person, and Jesus Christ is that person manifested in the Flesh -- GOD
2. Proposed as the Light - John 1:6-18
a. Chosen Prophet - vs. 6-8
1. John the Baptist was not a “happen so”; he was not a self appointed reformer; he was a man sent from God, who was propfesied and prepared beforehand.
2. God knew and John knew than he was only a witness of the coming one.
3. He was called in his mother’s womb and the Bible says he had a shouting spell when he heard that Jesus was going to be born.
b. Calloused People - vs. 9-11
1. These scriptures verify verse 3, that Jesus is the Creator of all that exists.
2. He came into a world that was created by him, but the world knew him not.
3. “He came unto his own and his own received him not.” The two words “own” are interesting
a. The first “own” means “possessions”
1. He came unto his things.
2. In other words the world was not strange to him, because he had made it;
3. He came into the world like an artist would come into his Art Gallery.
He came into the world like a Carpenter would walk into a house he had built.
He came into the world like a singer would sing a song he had written.
He came into the world like an author that would read a book he had written
4. THE WORLD WAS HIS!!! This verse shows his deity!!!
b. The second “own” means “people”
c. He came unto His own “creation”, yes; but His own “people” received him not.
c. Capital Provision - vs. 12-18
1. A man, whether Jew or Gentile, receives the “power” or the right to become a son (child) of God by receving him.
2. To receive him simply means, “believe on his name.”
3. “The Word became flesh”
a. God became flesh and dwelt or tabernacled among us.
b. Just as God’s glory was manifested in the Tabernacle in the wilderness, God’s glory was manidfested in the embodiment of the Lord Jesus Christ.
c. All the Fulness of the Godhead was manifested bodily in the Jesus.
1. The Good part is that we can receive that fulness.
2. We don’t have to remain Hell bound sinners. We can receive Jesus into our lives.
d. The old Covenant of the law has been set aside and the new covenant has been established by the Lord Jesus Christ. All that a sinner has to do is go into covenant with God and they can be saved.
4. God in his true essence as spirit, has never been seen; but now he is unveiled to us by the Lord Jesus Christ.
5. Do you want to know what God is like? Turn to Jesus and see!!!
6. Our words conceal our invisible thoughts, but God’s Word (Jesus) reveals the invisible God!!!
3. Presented as the Lamb - 1:19-51
a. John the Baptist had all of Palestine stirred up about the hope of a coming messiah. He claimed to be nothing but a voice crying in the wilderness. He was just a finger to point “behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
b. One interesting scripture before we move on is vs. 45-51
1. “When I thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.”
2. The Fig tree in the East is considered a sacred tree. It’s a symbol of prosperity. IT shadow was beautiful and restful. When the mothers would be working in the fields they would take their babies and place them under the fig tree while they worked for shade and also that their baby would prosper.
3. It was not unusual to see many babies playing and sleeping under the fig trees.
4. When Jesus said that had seen Nathanael under a fig tree he meant that he had known him since he was a little boy. It’s no wonder Nathanael exclaimed “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God.” Only God could have seen him under the fig tree.
B. GOD’S MINISTRY IN THE FLESH - John 2:1-5:47
1. The First Sign (Miracle) - John 2:1-12
a. Supported by his Mother
b. Substantiated by the Miracle
2. The First Sermon - John 3
a. The Cowardice of Nicodemus - 3:2 “came to Jesus by night”
b. The Compliment of Nicodemus - 3:2
1. Nicodemus realized that here before him was a man superior in intelligence, wisdom and magnetism.
2. He considered the missions of Christ the same as that of John the Baptist.
3. But the Lord does not accept the compliments of Sinners. Ye must be born again!
c. The Complaint of Nicodemus - 3:3
1. The Lord did not answer the question in his mind.
2. He answered the need of his heart.
d. The Confession of Nicodemus - 3:4-9
1. At first he was emphasizing his own knowledge by saying “we know”
2. Now he is admitting that he does not have all the answers. He said “How?”
3. The First Samaritans
a. He Revealed her Sin - 4:1-25
b. She Revealed her Saviour - 4:26-45 There was evidence that this woman got saved
1. Her Testimony was proof in vs. 26-39. She brought many with her to see the Lord in whome she ahd placed her trust.
2. Her Sight was proof in vs. 40-45. Others believe in the Lord, not because of her testimony, but because of what they heard and saw.
4. The First Sickness Healed - 4:46-54
a. Christ’s Authority was Recognized - vs. 46-47a
1. A certain nobleman was in desperate need.
2. He recognized Jesus as the Song of God because he knew he was the only one who could dispel his son’s illness.
b. Christ’s Authority was Requested - vs. 47-49
1. This is another step in the way of faith
2. The Lord always as an ear for the cry of those who desire Him
c. Christ’s Authority was Revered - vs. 50-54
1. In the faith of the statesmen.
2. He didn’t ask any questions; he relied wholly upon the word of Christ.
C. GOD’S MAGNIFICENCE IN THE FLESH - John 6: 1-14:6
1. One of the greatest titles of God in the Old Testament is “I AM.” Exodus 3:13-14
2. When Jesus came to earth he came as the great “I AM.” He even refered to himself as “I AM”
a. I am the Bread - John 6
1. The Division of the Bread - vs. 1-21 - There is a twofold lesson in this great occasion.
a. First of all, He took, blessed, and broke the Bread. It’s saying that the Lord can only use those that are taken by Him, blessed by Him, and broken by Him.
b. Secondly, Only the Bread of Life can satisfy the hunger of the lost soul.
2. The Discussions over the Bread - vs. 22-59
a. Jesus told them that they followed him because their bellies were filled not because they really believed in the son of God.
b. I’ve seen a lot of people like that in Church. They are fine as long as God is pouring out the blessings, but as soon as he tries to help them grow they quit.
3. The Departure of from the Bread - vs. 60-71 “....many of his disciples went back and walked no more with Him.”
b. I am the Light - John 7:1-9:41
1. He Displayed the Essence of God
2. He Displaced the Darkness from Men
c. I am the Door - John 10:1-10
1. The Door for the People - vs. 1-3
a. God’s people are called the sheep of his Pasture.
b. Those who believe in him are in his fold.
c. There is only one door to this fold, and no one can get into the fold but by the door.
d. John the Baptist is the porter who open the way to Israel.
2. The Door for the Pasture - vs. 4-9
a. The only place where the hungry soul can find food is in God’s pasture of Salvation
b. The world has nothing to offer. The World will leave a person hungry and thirsty but I’m Glad that Jesus will feed you and take of you
3. The Door for the Protection - vs. 10
a. The door guards the sheep while they are in the fold.
b. No enemy can come in to kill and destroy because the door holds them out.
d. I am the Good Shepherd - John 10:11-42
1. We see the great contrast between the old covenant and the new covenant. We see the difference between law and grace.
2. In the Old Testament the sheep gave their life for the Shepherd, but in the New Testament, the Shepherd give his life for the sheep.
3. In the Old Testament the shedding of the sheep’s blood takes care of the Shepherd’s sin for one year. In the New Testament the shedding of the Shepherd’s blood washes the sheep’s sins away for eternity.
e. I am the Resurrection - John 11:1-12:11
f. I am the Way - John 14:6
1. He’s not only the One that shows us the way, He is the Way!!!
2. He’s not just the trailblazer, nor One to lead us out of the path of Darkness, He is the Way!
g. I am the Truth - John 14:6
1. There is no falsehood in Christ.
2. He is the personification of truth. HE IS THE TRUTH
h. I am the Life - John 14:6
1. He’s the Source of our Life
2. He Sacrificed for our Life
3. He’s the Secret to our Life
j. I am the True Vine - John 15:1
D. GOD’S MYSTERY IN THE FLESH - John 14:7-16:33 - A Mystery in the Word of God means a truth that
has been revealed for the first time. The Word of God is the only source which tell us of the thr truth for the
first time that God Almighty, was made manifest in the person the Lord Jesus Christ; for in Him dwells all the
fullness of the Godhead bodily, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
1. His Union with the Father is revealed in the Word of God
2. His Union with the Spirit is revealed in the Word of God
3. His Union with Believers is revealed in the Word of God
E. GOD’S MEDIATION IN THE FLESH - John 17
1. The High Priest Prays for Himself - vs. 1-5
a. The intercessory prayer of the Lord Jesus can only be found in John’s gospel.
b. The Deity of Jesus comes to the forefront of this great prayer
c. He speaks of many things that have already happened. This is God, the Son, knowing the end from the beginning. In these 5 verses He petitions the Father for the glory that was His before he became incarnate.
2. The High Priest Prays for his Disciples - vs. 6-19
a. This passage portrays the Lord as the Great high Priest speaking in behalf of his believers.
b. He prays for their protection, for their joy, and for their endurance in spite of future persecution.
3. The High Priest Prays for us - vs. 20-26
a. The Word of God reveals that Jesus looked down through the centuries of time and prayed that God would save a little five year old boy named Jeremy Simpson on June 2, 1980.
b. AREN’T YOU GLAD THAT SALVATION IS PERSONAL!!!
F. GOD’S MISSION IN THE FLESH - John 18 & 20 The main purpose for Bethlehem is Calvary. Jesus was
sent from heaven’s glory for one purpose and that was to become the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the
world. His Mission was the Death, Burial, and Resurrection.
1. His Mission Commenced with his Death.
2. His Mission Continued with his Burial.
3. His Mission Concluded with his Resurrection.
