The Gospel of John - Introduction

The Gospel of John - Intro

When reading the beginning opening statements and comments of John’s Gospel one might be struck by the details that he lists here in the beginning. It is enough to wonder about the magnitude of the claims that he makes about Jesus being God and Who He is and what He did. But, for John to begin his Gospel making such fantastic claims concerning a person that he walked with is far more amazing!

Making such claims right out of the gate can only mean that he has a lot to tell us. He is saying, ‘Here is the Big Picture. Now let me give you the details…’ To begin his Gospel listing these claims concerning someone that he walked next to must only mean that what he experienced cannot be easily conveyed to another on paper. He will make this statement to us in the very last verse of this book in Jn. 21:25 (READ)(also Jn. 20:30) where he makes the statement that what he will shared with us is only a partial record of what happened declaring to us that there is no way to tell the complete story of his experience, and that his underlying purpose in sharing his experience with the world was not to give a historical record of what happened, recorded for intellectual stimulation and entertainment, but to convince those who will listen and are looking for The Answer to life that this is IT.

This Jesus really is the One that you are looking for. He is the end of the line for your search for truth, the Destination you are aiming for in life and that through this Door life begins and opens to a broad horizon, a journey that could last a lifetime…even eternity.

It is only what we would call ‘natural’ for man to be afraid of God and to not want to get close, to stand at a distance instead of encountering an actual experience with the One True God. But, John will tell us ‘Not to be afraid’.

In the Old Testament we see man’s reaction to God when God told Moses to prepare the people for Him encouraging Israel to prepare to come close to God. But, God is a Consuming Fire, and the people were afraid. I might say that I can identify with their response. When reading how God appeared to them on the mount with lighting, smoke and the mount trembling I would have to say that I might initially respond much as they did. But, how would you expect God to come?

But Moses didn’t react the way the rest of Israel did. Moses knew God. And, although Moses knew how to approach God and that he needed to approach God in a certain way, he looked forward to his encounters with Him, as did other O. T. patriarchs such as Abraham. Moses and Abraham would both tell us, ‘Come near…Don’t be afraid.’ But, in the same breath they would tell us…’remember as you come near remember that He is God’. John will do the same.

John is not going to just challenge us to believe some historical facts meant for intellectual stimulation, attempting to prove that he was right concerning Who this person Christ was/is. But, in writing this account he is going to be asking us to go farther than just intellectual assent as to some historic fasts.  He is going to ask us to not be afraid and to come close to God, giving up all our inhabitations, letting go of everything that holds us back and to run and jump into the Fathers arms!

He will not only tell us the theory of his beliefs about God, but he will show us how to relate to God. John was a good man and is a good practical example for us to follow in our own relationship with the Lord. He had a special relationship with the Lord. You will find John being invited and being present at some of the most intimate experiences with our Lord, like the transfiguration and Christ’s agony at Gethsemane.  

He was one of the three closest of the disciples to our Lord sometimes referred to by some as the inner circle and in a number of passages referred to as the ‘disciple whom Jesus loved’. He was also the disciple who the Lord commended His mother to while on the cross. Jn. 19:26

It is good to remember that John at the time of this writing was older in the faith, the date of his writing of this book given at approximately 90-5 A.D. All of the other N.T. writings other than John’s writings were written much earlier than this. John at the time of his writings was well seasoned in the faith.

When reading John’s Gospel you will also notice something somewhat unique to John and his writings. There is a personal and personable component found in his writings.  When reading John’s writings you will see John, …leading the way, …looking over his shoulder as it were, …with a smile on his face and a trusting look in his eye, …saying Come. It IS safe. I have tested the water. I speak from experience. Watch I will put my head on His breast. I can come close to God and embrace Him, and …you know what? He hugged me back. This is John’s Gospel.

We read this in one of John’s later letters in I John chapter one in verses 1-4 (READ) where he tells us just how close he got to God. In the KJV he uses the word ‘handled’ where he says that he/they ‘handled the ‘Word of life’, going on to say that such an encounter ends in belonging or what he called ‘fellowship’. In chapter 15 of John he reveals to us what level of relationship that is possible with God where He calls us friends(v. 15-17). Both references make it clear that when we have this ‘fellowship’ with God we have fellowship with each other, belonging to the ‘family’ of God.

But, John goes on sharing his account being honest with us saying that there is more to this picture. At the same time as he encourages us to come close to God he reminds us that there are and have been obstacles to this relationship between us and God, and, that these obstacles cannot be ignored if we are to have ‘fellowship’ with each other and with God on the level that John is suggesting(I Jn. 1:5-10 READ).

He will not mince words or beat around the bush being vague concerning the barriers/obstacles to this fellowship. John will encourage us to ‘let it go’ and ‘come’ leaving behind those things that get in the way of our communion with God and each other. He will tell us that in doing so we will have found what we have been looking for. Finding God and coming close is our destination and purpose in life we find home and family. We belong. In coming home life isn’t over…it is just beginning.

As we begin this study I would encourage you to think in pictures. These events really did happen, and they are meant for us as examples that we are to consider applying to our life. As we watch a movie scene we often process what we are seeing as to how it applies to us, often applying those parts that we identify with to our own life. These are real people caught in life in real life situations, and not just fictitious stories and made up scenarios like you might see in a Hollywood movie that in reality don’t quite fit real life.

You will find John’s account to be real. The details and facts are included, and even the names are not changed to protect the innocent. Parts aren’t changed or altered to make better sales at the box office. He tells us that this is what really happened. The facts and details are true.

John is going to make some fantastic claims here…and then back up these claims with experience, telling us his story or experience. One of the best ways to share our faith with others is to share with others our experience with God. This is what John in essence will do with us.

It is true that in reading John’s account we will see ‘John’s account’ and will see John’s personality in his writings which will have a different perspective than maybe Mathew, Mark or Luke might have.  John’s perspective in writing was to declare to the world that ‘This is the Messiah’ and in doing so to call the world to make a decision as to what they believe.

Mathew, on the other hand, will mainly write to his people the Jews showing them that this was the One that they have been waiting for. The One the prophecies said would come. Because of John’s perspective you will see John record some details not found in the other Gospels. Remember, John at the end of his Gospel gives us the reason for the variations in the Gospels in Jn. 21:25 (Read) saying that there is no way to record everything that they saw, but also reminds us in the preceding verse, v. 24, that the facts that they recorded are true.

John led by the Holy Spirit penned his Gospel with a different audience in mind from the other Gospel writers. In reality, it could be said that in actuality God the Holy Spirit penned His message to us and the world through the Gospel writers using their personalities to better convey His message to a lost world.

The Gospel writers did not intend to record every detail of all the events they experienced, but what they did record they would witness and say that it was enough to believe their message as to who this Person Jesus was and to prompt a response to Him. John and the other Gospel writers believe that no more need to be said than this to convince one who is truly looking for God and the Truth to life.

He begins his argument by making a declaration. He will tell us right up front what he is about and what he is asking us to believe. But, even though he makes it clear in the beginning as to what he is asking us to believe he would also say to us ‘Not so fast’. Be sure you have the details before you make such a decision either way. Listen to my experience before you make up your mind. John is not going to trick us into believing. He will make an argument for the truth and then will leave the decision to believe or not up to the hearer. Also, for those that have already believed the Biblical account he will attempt to strengthen our resolve and challenge us to go deeper. Next week we will begin John’s Gospel which he starts in a Big way!