“The Anatomy of John’s Gospel”
Pastor V. P. Oliver
John 20: 30, 31
“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But 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.”
The writer of this Gospel is the Apostle John, the son of Zebedee, the brother of the Apostle James. One of the original 12 disciples, John was one of the inner-circle disciples of Jesus, known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” This Gospel, which was written in the city of Ephesus around 90 AD, was addressed to the local churches of the Roman province of Asia, and to the sinners of the early church age. Therefore it still has great significance to those who read it today. John’s writes this book as a supplement to the three synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. John’s Gospel is also viewed by many to be a soul-winning or evangelistic Gospel. Our text, John 20: 30, 31 are the key verses of the entire book. Why? Because they capture the theme of John’s Gospel, which is Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God. His book deals with the signs or miracles Christ performed during His ministry, signs that prove His deity. These signs were seen by dependable witnesses, namely His disciples, but others as well. So what is John’s message? John’s message is that men ought to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and receive new life through His name. So for little while I want to talk about “The Anatomy of John’s Gospel.”
First I need to say a word about “signs.” In referring to miracles, John uses the word “sign.” But he does not use the Greek word “tera,” which means “wonders.” He does not use the Greek word “paradoxom” which means “a paradox” (contradiction). John uses the Greek word “sameion” which means “ a sign” or message of divine authority. He uses this word “sign” instead of the word “miracle” because a “sign” is a miracle that carries a message with it. And the message that accompanies the signs in John’s Gospel is that Jesus is the Christ, the divine Son of God.
I. JOHN’S GOSPEL DEALS WITH SIGNS
So the first observation is that John’s Gospel is miracle-centered – it is filled with SIGNS. Because “signs” deal with the deity of Christ and His work, they demand a decision on the part of the witness. Can I show you what I mean?
- When Jesus turned water into wine in John 2: 1-11 He didn’t do it just because His earthly mother requested it of Him. No, John 2: 11 tells us why, “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested (demonstrated) His glory; and His disciples believed on Him.”
- When Jesus healed the nobleman’s child in John 4: 46-54, after the man arrived home and realized that Jesus had really healed his son verse 53 says this of the nobleman: “And he himself believed, and his whole household.”
- In John 5: 1-9 when Jesus healed the impotent man verse 16 tells us that something else happened as a result of this, “And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath day.”
After each miracle or sign people had to make a decision. Verse 31 of John 20 says this, “But these are written, that ye might believe.” When Jesus performed these signs, those who witnessed them were compelled to respond with belief or non-belief. So John’s Gospel deals with SIGNS; miracles with a message.
II. JOHN’S GOSPEL IS SELECTIVE
Not only is John’s Gospel filled with SIGNS; secondly, John’s Gospel is SELECTIVE. Look at verse 30 of John 20. “And many other signs truly did Jesus.” Of the many other signs performed by Jesus in the other three Gospels, John records only eight. Why? Because these particular signs most clearly reveal the person and the work of Jesus Christ. John is SELECTIVE with his Gospel. Can I help you with this one?
- You will note that all of the other Gospels report the miracle of Jesus feeding 5000. (Mt. 14 13-21, Mk. 6: 30, Lk.9: 10-17) But John tells us something that the other writers fail to mention. In John 6:35, after Jesus feeds the 5000, John reports that Jesus delivered a sermon in which He declared, “I am the Bread of Life.”
- After He gave sight to the blind man Jesus later declared, “I am the Light of the World.”
- Then just before He brought His friend Lazarus back from the dead Jesus declared to Martha “I am the Resurrection and the Life.”
All of these titles, "Bread of Life," "Light of the World," "The Resurrection and the Life," speak of His deity. Jesus does not just want to feed you bread because you are hungry, but He declares to us “I am the Bread! Eat of Me and you will hunger no more.” When He gave sight to the blind man’s eyes, Jesus was not simply interested in that particular blind man seeing. No, He wanted all that continue to live in sin and darkness to know that He is the Light of the World! When He raised Lazarus from the grave, Jesus knew that eventually Lazarus would one day have to die again. But what He wanted us to know by His miracle was that even though one day, like Lazarus, we too will have to die, because He is the Resurrection and the Life, we shall live again.
So the Apostle John decided to be SELECTIVE in choosing those signs or miracles that would clearly demonstrate that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
III. JOHN’S GOSPEL WAS SEEN
In addition to being about SIGNS, and being SELECTIVE, Johns Gospel concerns itself with those things that were SEEN or witnessed. Verse 30 says, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples.” The signs that Jesus performed were not of a dubious or suspicious nature. Nor were they done in a corner before only a handful of witnesses. No, these miracles were performed on amountains-side filled with interested and curious spectators. They were performed on the crowded streets of Jerusalem, Bethany, Bethsaida and Caperneum. The disciples were eyewitness of these and all of the other signs that Jesus performed. And under the influence of the Holy Spirit they would later record all that they had seen and heard. So the signs that Jesus did were SEEN or witnessed by trustworthy observers.
IV. JOHN’S GOSPEL MAKES A BOLD STATEMENT
Then we see that John’s Gospel pronounces a bold STATEMENT. Verse 31 (a) says, “But these things were written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” John declares that the human Jesus, Mary’s baby, is also the divine Christ. The intent of His miracles is that we might believe that Jesus is one person with two natures, human and divine; man and God; servant but master; humble but holy. John says to us that Jesus is not “a son of God,” but that He is “THE Son of God.” And because He is the Son of God, that makes Him a person Who is equal with God. John’s Gospel makes a bold STATEMENT to the world.
V. JOHN’S GOSPEL PROMOTES SALVATION
So I have told you that John’s Gospel has SIGNS, it is SELECTIVE, it was SEEN, and it proclaims a bold STATEMENT. But finally, I need to tell you that John’s Gospel promotes SALVATION. Verse 31 (b) says, “And that believing ye might have life through His name.” John’s Gospel is salvivic. It has a twofold purpose:
1. “That you might believe.” This is a major goal of John’s Gospel, “that you might believe.”
2. “That you might have life.” This is the ultimate goal of John’s Gospel.
John says to the sinner and the unbeliever, “A lot of things happened in the life and the ministry of Jesus Christ. He healed a lot of people, gave sight to the blind, made the lame to walk, and the dumb to talk. He taught many parables, and even controlled the forces of nature. John says to us today that Jesus did a lot of things in the short 33 years that He walked among men. And He did it all in the presence of His disciples. But I didn’t write about all of the miracles in this book. But these miracles are written, the eight signs and miracles in my book were written, not because they made for good reading, not because I didn’t have enough room or time to write about the other stuff that Matthew, Mark and Luke wrote about, but that you might believe! Believe what? Glad you asked... That you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name.
CONCLUSION
In my preacher’s mind I see a meeting going on. But this is my problem, I can’t tell you when this meeting took place. Perhaps somewhere on the other side of the purple curtains of eternity. Why? Because it took place before “when” ever was. I can’t tell you where this meeting was being held. Why? Because this meeting took place before “where” was given a place to be. This meeting took place before “when” was ever given time to keep, or before “where” was ever assigned an identifiable location from which to exist. I don’t know when the meeting took place, and I can’t even tell you where this meeting happened. Oh, but I do know Who was at the meeting. God was there. He was there in His tri-unity. What you talking about preacher? He was there in the person of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. God was having a meeting with Himself. If you don’t believe me you ought to turn your Bible to Genesis 1:26 where He said, “Let us make man I our image, after our likeness.”
In my preacher’s mind this is how I hear the meeting going. God the Father, Who is the supreme architect and creator of the universe says, “Let us make man.” God the Holy Spirit, Who knows all and sees all says, “If you make man, he’s gonna sin.” But Jesus, Who is the Savoir of us all, steps forward and says, “If man sins, I will go down and redeem man from his sins.”
And so it was agreed that as a part of bringing man into the world He would need to be redeemed and saved from his sins. As the Son prepared to go down through 40 and 2 generations in order to redeem sinful man the Holy Spirit told Him: "When you get there you better show man some signs if you expect him to believe on your wonderful and holy name." The Holy Spirit said: “When you get there you better perform some signs, so they can know just Who you are.
- When you TURN WATER INTO WINE, show them your mastery over QUALITY and that salvation is by your WORD.
- When you HEAL THE NOBLEMAN’S SON, show them your mastery over TIME and DISTANCE and that salvation is by GRACE.
- When you HEAL THE PARYLITC, show them your mastery over LONG-TERM INFIRMITY and that salvation is AVAILIABLE to all.
- When you FEED THE 5000, show them your mastery over QUANITITY and that salvation brings SATISFACTION.
- When you CALM THE RAGING STORM, show them your POWER OVER NATURE and that salvation brings PEACE.
- When you HEAL THE BLIND MAN, show them your power over DARKNESS and that salvation brings LIGHT.
- When you RAISE LAZURUS FROM THE GRAVE, show them your POWER OVER DEATH and that salvation brings LIFE.
Use all of these signs to reveal your DEITY, that you truly are the Son of God. Use these signs so that they might believe and have eternal life through your name.”
My brothers and my sisters, the Good News of John’s Gospel is that it has significance for us even today.
You don’t have talk about the miracles that Jesus performed 2000 years ago, tell unbelievers about the miracles that the Lord has performed in your life. Tell your story... Tell unbelievers how He....
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