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THE GOSPEL OF JOHN – AN

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

Pastor RM Cullen - 2017

Some while ago I started to read the Gospel of John in my daily
reading asking the Lord for fresh eyes as I read.
I wanted “the eyes of my heart to be enlightened” as Paul prays for
the Ephesians. Over the next little while the Gospel came alive for
me – so much so that I started writing a study under the title “John’s
Gospel Comes Alive”.
This presentation came out of those beginnings, triggered by a
request from Lifestreams Sth Perth to present an “Introduction and
Overview to the Gospel of John”.

I won’t spend too long on a classic Introduction (Leon

Morris
64pgs but literally hundreds of books and
academic articles). I think it’s better to give resources for
those interested in the fine detail. However, some comment is
necessary as a background to reading the Gospel. (4 Qs –
Who/When/Where/Why)

1. WHO WAS THE AUTHOR?

As in the other three gospels, no author is named. Jn 21:24 says
simply that the author was “the disciple whom Jesus loved”.
From the time of Irenaeus (late 2nd century) until the 19th Century it
was almost universally held that John the Apostle was the author.
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Since then numerous theories of authorship have been put forward

with little, if any, agreement between different claims.
Since each of these scholars disagrees with a majority of their
fellows it is quite clear that there is no agreed alternative to John.
Other suggestions have been, “John the Elder”, “John of Jerusalem”
(did either of these exist?), John Mark, and Lazarus.
No unanimity. Nonetheless many liberal scholars hold that
authorship by the Apostle John is unlikely. Most of these opinions
arise because scholars are trying to explain other issues that a study
of John raises (and there are many issues for the modern mind!).
Given all that, the vast majority of Evangelical scholars still hold to
the Apostle John as author, and according to Expositor’s Bible
Commentary (1981) the tide seems to be slowly turning back to this
view.
Dr Leon Morris, who was a notable Australian NT scholar, is author
of the 1971 NICNT “The Gospel according to John”, and holds
firmly to this view. (Principal of Ridley College 1964-79;
died 2006)
The practical relevance of that for us is that we have confidence that
we have a valid, historical, eyewitness account of Jesus’ ministry
recorded in these chapters by someone very close to the Lord.
And I think that does affect the way we read and understand this
gospel.

2. WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN ???

Not signed, not dated! Dates from 45AD to 150AD have been
suggested although 20th Century papyri discoveries have proven the
later dates not possible.
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50 yrs ago a date around 90 AD was popular, but more recently

numerous scholars, including Morris, have concluded that an early
date, probably before 70AD is most likely.
Again, this is important since those who were contemporaries of
Jesus, or at the maximum only one generation removed, would still
be alive and able to verify or contest the validity of what John had
written.

3. WHERE WAS IT WRITTEN?

According to Irenaeus (2nd Cent) it was written in
Ephesus. Some other modern suggestions exist but
in the absence of any evidence to support them there
seems every reason to accept the tradition.

4. WHY WAS IT WRITTEN?

Despite the fact that John clearly declares his purpose, many liberal
scholars suggest a more hidden agenda:

 To supplement the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark,

Luke)
 To supersede the synoptic gospels (probably not
written)
 To combat Gnosticism (an early heresy) (2nd century –
although Docetism [the phantom Jesus] flourished earlier)
 To attack unbelieving Jews
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 To oppose the continuing followers of John Baptist,

etc.
To hold these opinions is to totally reject the declared purpose of the
author and to be blind to the incredible intentionality and focus with
which he pursues that purpose.
Which brings us to the exciting part of our study today.

5. JOHN’S DECLARED PURPOSE

(John 20:30-31 NIV) Jesus did many other
miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples,
which are not recorded in this book. {31} 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.
This is John’s declared purpose and almost every sentence in the
gospel supports this purpose. For me the intentionality, the
consistency, the integrity (as in unity, cohesion) – all these aspects of
this gospel are amazing.
Before I share a few thoughts with you about how John pursues his
purpose, let’s make the effort to understand his purpose.
John states his ultimate purpose as that his reader might “have life in
Jesus’ name”. When John speaks about life like this he makes it
clear that he is speaking about eternal life. In fact, he uses this
phrase 16 times.

But notice what else he says: “But these are

written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
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the Son of God, and that by believing you may

have life in his name.”
John is persuaded that we receive eternal life by the simple act of
believing!
But is it really that simple? Sometimes we need to question the text
more closely. Let’s do that by examining the most famously
misquoted saying of Jesus
In John 8 we read that Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the
truth will set you free”.
[Tabor =>think] I know... But it’s not true! You and I know from
experience that it’s not true. There are many people who know the
truth and yet are not freed by it.
Why would John quote Jesus as saying something that is clearly
untrue? Think about it! (and while you’re thinking about it I’ll tell
you a story)
I picked up the newspaper many years ago and very prominently top
right of page 3 was the bold headline, “Billy Graham happy to
employ homosexuals”
Of course I was very interested so I read the article closely
(something that 95% of readers would not do), and discovered that
his statement went on to say 'providing that they had been born again
and set free from their homosexual lifestyle.'
So when is the truth not the truth? Sometimes when it’s half the
truth! It appeared to me that the goal of that journalist was to
misrepresent the truth.
Here’s one of my favourite maxims: Truth out of the context of all
truth is untruth.
I usually apply that to a broader understanding of God’s word, (e.g.
Extreme discipleship!) but it is nevertheless relevant here.
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But applying it in this situation, if we want the truth of what Jesus

was saying we need to question the text more fully and when we do
we find that what John records in Ch 8 is this:

(John 8:30-32) Even as he spoke, many believed in

him. {31} To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus
said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really
my disciples. {32} Then you will know the truth, and
the truth will set you free."
So, to come back to where we started, is it as simple as just
believing? Yes! But the kind of believing that sets men free, that
leads to eternal life, is the kind that grasps hold of and obeys Jesus’
teaching, the believing that stamps us as true disciples of a
master.
In surrendering our freedom to the Lordship of Jesus Christ we are
truly set free!

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Well we need to note one more thing John says: “These are written
(recorded) that you may believe”. John’s approach throughout the
gospel is to present a witness to Jesus so that people might believe
and have life.

Adam Miller says that this is the pattern of the book;

Testimony;

Response (faith or unbelief);

Result (life or death)

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So John’s purpose is faithfully pursued in his gospel?

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.
OK now let’s look at a few of the ways in which John pursues his
purpose. I want to do that by looking at

6. A FEW KEY WORDS

6.1 Sign x17
As we have seen, John says, “Jesus did many other
miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples,
which are not recorded in this book. {31} But these
are written...”
And we find five particular miracles that John specifically notes as
signs:

1) Turning the water into wine (Jn2).

2) Healing the Royal official’s son (Jn4)
3) Feeding the multitude (Jn6)
4) Healing the blind man (Jn9)
5) Raising Lazarus from death (Jn11)
1) (John 2:11 NRSV) Jesus did this, the first of
his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed
his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
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2) (John 4:53b-54) So he and all his

household believed. Now this was the
second sign that Jesus did after coming from
Judea to Galilee.
Between these two are other mentions of signs. E.g.

(John 2:23 NIV) Now while he was in Jerusalem at

the Passover Feast, many people saw the
miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his
name.

6.2 Witness x21 (NRSV = testi/fy/mony)

In Chap.1 John says of Jesus, “(Jn 1:4) In him was life, and that life was
the light of men. Then in v7.
(John Baptist) came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that
through him all men might believe.”
In chap 20 Thomas believes and confesses him as Lord.
In between, we find the confession of 13 other people or groups to
his status as messiah, or some equivalent term.
These confessions witness to their believing in him.

1/41 Andrew “We have found the Messiah”

1/45 Philip “We have found the one Moses and the
prophets wrote about.”
1/49 Nathanael “You are the Son of God/King of Israel”
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Time and again we find this pattern of witness/response/result.

Though the result is not always spelled out it’s a clear theme of the
gospel:

(John 3:36 NRSV) Whoever believes in the Son

has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not
see life, but must endure God's wrath.
It is most powerfully clear, in the story of doubting Thomas.

(John 20:27-31 NIV) Then he said to Thomas, "Put

your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your
hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and
believe." {28} Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my
God!" {29} Then Jesus told him, "Because you have
seen me, you have believed; Blessed are those who
have not seen and yet have believed."
{30} Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the
presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in
this book. {31} But these are written that YOU (who
have not seen) may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, and that by believing you may have
life in his name.
This is the witness of this gospel.

6.3 Believe (x96 = resulting in life)

“I have written that you may believe!”
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The challenge to believe comes through in almost every page. The

challenge is not to choose between responding or not responding –
we all respond.
It is to choose to believe or to not believe the truth that Jesus is the
Messiah, the Son of God. To receive life or to remain in death.
All through the gospel we see people making this choice – many
believe, but many do not believe.
John focuses on belief 96 times in 82 verses in just 21 chapters. And
his intention is to bring his reader to the place of choice – to believe
or to reject.

Example: Chap 11 – Lazarus

(John 11:15 NIV) and for your sake I am glad I was

not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to
him."
(John 11:25 NIV) Jesus said to her, "I am the
resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will
live, even though he dies;
(John 11:26 NIV) and whoever lives and believes in
me will never die. Do you believe this?"
(John 11:27 NIV) "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I
believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who
was to come into the world."
(John 11:40 NIV) Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell
you that if you believed, you would see the glory of
God?"
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(John 11:42 NIV) I knew that you always hear me,

but I said this for the benefit of the people standing
here, that they may believe that you sent me."
(John 11:45) Therefore many of the Jews who had
come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did,
believed in him.
(John 11:48 NIV) If we let him go on like this,
everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans
will come and take away both our place and our
nation."

6.4 LIFE (meaning eternal life x31) (cf. Mt 7x;

Mk 4x; Lk 4x =15)

“and that by believing you may have life in his

name”.
John opens his Gospel introducing us to Jesus - and within a few
words he is proclaiming “In him was life!”
He presents Jesus claims to be the bread of life; the way, the truth
and the life; the resurrection and the life. He gives (his sheep)
eternal life.
He is the one who gives the water of life. Life is to know Him.
He is the one who “gives life to whom he wishes”. Peter declares,
“You have the words of eternal life”.
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This theme of life being found in Jesus appears 31 distinct times

compared with 7 distinct times in all 3 other gospels put together.
(e.g. Mt 20:28;26:28 Mk 14:24; 10:45; Lk 22:20)
Here we meet John’s ultimate purpose – it is to bring us to eternal
life.
As you will discover if you study John’s gospel carefully there is
much more to it than this, but this gospel continually confronts us
with a decision! That decision leads to life or death.
OTHER KEY WORDS:
Light x13; bread x9; Father x110; Son x41

7. CONCLUSION

7.1 Jesus was either what he claimed to be –

God the Son, or he was a madman.
It’s ultimate folly to say he was just a great teacher – for anyone who
lives under an illusion that he is God is surely not a great teacher.

C.S. Lewis >  Quote

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really

foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m
ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I
don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing
we must not say. A man who was merely a man and
said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great
moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the
level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or
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else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make

your choice. 

7.2 We all make a choice as to what we will

believe

I love John’s gospel.

My prayer is that as you study this Gospel the reality of who Jesus is
will penetrate deeper and deeper into your souls and that you will
regularly find yourself standing in awe like Thomas, saying My
Lord and my God!

AMEN