Overview of the Book of John (4 things)…

• 1^st – Outline of john…
  • 21 Chapters / 879 verses – in the Book of John – presenting Jesus as God Almighty!
    • John 1:1-14 – Introduction to the Word…
    • John 1:15-51 – John the Baptist – beginning of Jesus ministry
    • John 2:1-12:50 – The public ministry of Jesus – the 7 miracles of Jesus
    • John 13:1-17:26 – The last supper
    • John 18:1-21:25 – The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus
  • The Book of John is unique among all 4 of the Gospels…
    • Matthew / Mark / and Luke are called the synoptic (very similar) Gospels…
    • The Gospel of John is different – 90 percent of the events in the Gospel are only in John!
    • Where the first three Gospels record the events of Jesus life and ministry…
    • John goes further and gives us the meaning – the purpose behind the events!
    • The last supper is recorded in all 4 of the Gospels – but John devotes 5 chapters to it!
    • Revealing the meaning behind the last supper – giving us greater understanding…
    • In the same way the feeding of the 5000 is recorded in all 4 of the Gospels…
    • But in John – we are giving Jesus’ teaching that went with the feeding – ‘The Bread of Life’!
      
• 2^nd – Who wrote the Book of John…
  • John the disciple of Jesus (not John the Baptist) wrote the Gospel of John…
  • John also wrote I, II, and III John as well as the book of Revelation…
  • John the Apostle is mysteriously absent from the book – never mentioned once…
  • But four times – he refers to himself as – ‘the disciple Jesus loved’…
  • Including the cross – John 19:26 – where we know John was the only disciple still there…
  • It is possible John in humility chose not to mention himself by name – the book is about Jesus!
    
• 3^rd – When was the book written…

• It would seem this Gospel was written around 85-90 A.D.  – Last of the Gospels written…
• It is thought after John was exiled for his faith to the prison Island of Patmos (Revelation)…
• That he was released and lived out his years as the leader of the church in Ephesus…
• He was the only one of the one the 11 Apostles – that was not martyred for his faith…

• 4^th – Why is the Gospel of John important…
  • 1^st – John wrote the book of John – so that we would believe Jesus is God!
    • * John 20:30-31 – “Truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
    • 10 different times in the Book of John – Jesus calls Himself the ‘Son of God’…
    • The title Son of God is often misunderstood – it has nothing to do with the virgin birth…
    • From before the beginning Jesus carried the title – the Son of God – John 10:30
    • It describes His relationship to the Father – the 2^nd person in the Trinity…
  • 2^nd – The Book of John is a simple book – perhaps the easiest to read and understand…
    • But even though it is simple – it is the deepest and most profound of the Gospels!
    • Making it the best book for an unbeliever to read – because it is easy to understand…
    • But it is also the best book for mature believers – because it is so deep and profound!

It is all about the Word… (3 things)

• 1^st – In the beginning was the Word… vs. 1-5
  • The Word (logos) John is talking about is Jesus Christ…
    • In verse 14 he tells us that the Word became a man and lived among us…
    • John begins by giving us 4 characteristics of the Word – the character of Jesus…
  • 1^st – Jesus Christ is eternal…
    • Matthew and Luke both began their Gospels with genealogies…
    • John also begins with a Genealogy – Jesus is God and was always there!
    • Jesus is eternal – meaning He has no beginning or end – Revelation 1:8
    • Before Genesis 1:1 – before the world was created – Jesus was there!
    • Colossians 1:17 – “Jesus existed before everything else began…”
  • 2^nd – Jesus Christ is equal to God – because Jesus is God…
    • The Word was with God in the beginning – meaning they were co-laboring together…
    • But not just equals – Jesus is none other than God almighty!
    • Notice it does not say that the Word was a separate god (as some religions claim)…
    • It actually says that God is THE Word – God is Jesus!
    • The world is full of false faiths – posing to be from God – but denying the TRUE Jesus…
    • They talk about a Jesus – but they are cults – their Jesus is not THE Jesus of the Bible…
    • They say Jesus is ‘a god’, or ‘an angel’, or ‘just a man’…
    • Titus 2:13 – “Looking for the… appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…”
    • Do not be fooled by the counterfeits – the false religions – and the cults… 
    • Jesus is God – and only by faith in Him – can we be saved!
  • 3^rd – Jesus created all things…
    • Jesus is the one who created everything – earth / heaven / man / angels…
    • * Colossians 1:16 – “In Him all things consist. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”
    • In fact nothing exists that Jesus did not create – and He holds it all together…
    • If it were not for Jesus – the whole universe would just fall apart!
    • In fact one day – after the 2^nd coming of Jesus Christ / Millennial reign – it will…
    • * II Peter 3:12-13 – “On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and melt away in the flames.  But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.”
    • So often in life we strive to get things – that in the end will just end up burning away…
    • What we should be striving for – is growing closer to Jesus – that lasts forever!
  • 4^th – Jesus is the light the shines into the darkness…
    • God uses the picture of light and darkness to contrast the battle between ‘Good’ to ‘Evil’…
      • Jesus created the world in the beginning to be very good / light – Genesis 1:31…
      • But evil / darkness came in and tried to destroy what God had created – Genesis 3…
      • And men were lost in darkness /sin – destined to spend eternity separated from God…
      • In fact the Bible describes the Lake of Fire as ‘outer darkness’ – Matthew 25:30
    • But evil / darkness could do to extinguish Jesus’ light!
      • From the very beginning God had a plan – He would save His creation…
      • Jesus came into a dark world to light the way for men to get to heaven…
        
• 2^nd – The Word came to bring light… vs. 6-13
  • John the Baptist was sent from God…
    • John was not the light – he came to tell others about the light…
    • People would much rather look to someone they can touch and see…
    • Therefore they are much more inclined to trust in a man than God…
    • The problem is we are limited – and cannot save those who look to us…
    • It is only when we point others to Jesus we really give them the answer…
    • Our opportunity – responsibility – it to be a sign that says – ‘this way to Jesus’!
  • Jesus is the true light that is given to EVERY man who comes into the world…
    • Not that everyone is going to be saved – but everyone knows…
    • God has written the knowledge of Himself on our conscience…
    • No one has to tell us lying / murder / stealing is wrong – we just know it…
    • And God has revealed himself through His creation – animals / trees / sun / stars…
    • The incredible design of the world around us – required a powerful creator!
    • Psalms 19:1 – “The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies his marvelous work.”
    • When you look up at the stars at night – when you see a picturesque sunset…
    • In your heart you know – it is not an accident – there is a God who created this…
    • Bottom line – men know God is there – no one can claim they are ignorant…
    • No one will be able to stand before God and have the excuse they never knew…
  • There are two reactions to the light…
    • Though Jesus had made the world – the world did not recognize Him…
      • Even His own people – the Jews – rejected Jesus and did not believe…
      • Some people love darkness – cause they can do what they want and not be convicted…
      • And if you try and turn on a light – tell them about Jesus – it expose their sin…
      • Which is why so many people reject Jesus – they would rather have their sin!
    • But as many as receive – they become children of God…
      • Those who believe – receive the light – also receive new life…
      • Not because of your nationality (blood) / or because you tried hard (flesh)…
      • Not because of religion (will of man) – but because you are born of God!
      • There is only one way to be saved – only one way to heaven – faith in Jesus…
      • When we see the light – and believe in Jesus – we are ‘Born again’ into God’s family!
        
• 3^rd – The Word became a man… vs. 14
  • The truth is Jesus came as a man – ‘in the flesh’ as it were – to live a perfect sinless life…
    • Jesus did what no one else could– He fulfilled the righteous requirement of God’s Law…
    • Then Jesus – the only perfect man – paid the price for our sin – Death – Romans 6:23
    • In that moment Jesus condemned sin – defeated the darkness once and for all!
  • Then came one of the great mysteries of the ages – God gave us Jesus’ righteousness!
    • II Corinthians 5:21 – “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
    • Not because we earned it – but it was given to us as a free gift – full of Grace!
    • In Jesus – we have lived a perfect life – we have fulfilled the requirement of the Law…
    • Now when God looks down on us – He does not see our sinful mistakes/flaws…

He instead sees the perfect life of His Son Jesus – He sees us as perfect/flawless!