Gospel of John Intro
Author: John the Apostle; this Gospel claims to be an actual eyewitness account; although scholars are unsure.
Audience: The World, but mainly the Church
Year Written: Between 90 AD and 110 AD, somewhere in Ephesus.
Language: Ancient Greek and Aramaic
While the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—emphasize Jesus's humanity, John's Gospel centers on his divinity. By the time John wrote his Gospel, the others were already in circulation among church communities. His purpose in writing was to combat a group known as the Gnostics, who believed that Jesus didn't possess a physical body, but was instead an illusion. This and other false teachings led John to form his own organized eyewitness account about the life of Jesus. John presents Jesus as the eternal Son of God, the incarnate Word, and the full expression of both Creator and Creation. This is accomplished through three key elements:
1. Jesus's Origins Outside of Time
John opens his Gospel with a profound statement about Jesus's eternal existence:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)
This introduction is known as the "Christ Hymn," an early Christian declaration of belief about the nature and character of Christ. By starting with this hymn, John places Jesus's origins outside of time, identifying him with the eternal Word (Logos), who was with God and was God from the beginning. This establishes Jesus as more than a historical figure; he is the divine Word through whom all things were created.
John is also disputing the Gnostics in his opening here. In verse 14, John says that the abstract "Word" was made "flesh". The Greek word for "flesh" here means "to tabernacle" or "set up a tent." John is conveying the idea that God chose to appear in the physical form of Jesus.
2. The Seven Signs Jesus Performed
John's Gospel is structured around seven miraculous signs that Jesus performed, each increasing in scale and significance:
Turning Water into Wine at the Wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11)
Healing an Official's Son (John 4:46-54)
Healing a Paralytic at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-15)
Feeding the 5,000 (John 6:1-14)
Walking on Water (John 6:16-21)
Healing a Man Born Blind (John 9:1-12)
Raising Lazarus from the Dead (John 11:1-44)
John isolates these events as signs and not just miracles. "Signs" refers to symbolic acts that demonstrate Jesus' divine authority over all things and reveal a deeper truth about Jesus' identity and mission. Where the Synoptic Gospels provide numerous accounts of miracles, John selects seven specific ones, with only two also appearing in other books.
3. The Seven "I Am" Statements
In John's Gospel, Jesus makes seven "I Am" statements, each one revealing a different aspect of his divine identity:
"I Am the Bread of Life" (John 6:35)
"I Am the Light of the World" (John 8:12)
"I Am the Door" (John 10:9)
"I Am the Good Shepherd" (John 10:11)
"I Am the Resurrection and the Life" (John 11:25)
"I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6)
"I Am the True Vine" (John 15:1)
These declarations align Jesus with the God of Israel (Yahweh), who revealed himself to Moses as "I Am" (Exodus 3:14). By using this phrase, Jesus asserts his divine nature and oneness with God the Father. These bold claims were considered blasphemous by many of the religious leaders and fellow Jews throughout the book.
When Jesus makes "I Am" statements, he is not merely speaking about his physical presence. Instead, he expresses a more profound spiritual truth about his relationship with God and his role in the world. For example, when Jesus says, "I am the Way," He is not claiming that His physical body is the only path to heaven. Instead, He invites us to follow His example, to live in a way that reflects God's light and love.
God With Us: The Incarnate Word
John's Gospel presents Jesus as God incarnate, the Word made flesh, who dwelt among us (John 1:14). His concept can be challenging to grasp, as it suggests that Jesus fully embodies both God and humanity. When the New Testament books were being canonized and decided on, there was some debate about including John's Gospel due to its bold claims about Jesus. John's portrayal of Jesus emphasizes that just as spoken words cannot exist apart from the thoughts that give rise to them, Jesus cannot be separated from the Father. This Gospel claims that Jesus's life and actions are the ultimate revelation of God.
Key Themes in John
The "Jews"
Unfortunately, John's Gospel has been used to justify Anti-Semitic and hateful arguments through the ages. Much of this stems from the opposition of Jesus's teachings being called "the Jews" throughout the book. John was writing in a time of Jewish Diaspora, long after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. During this period, Christians had to decide whether to remain connected as a sect of the Jewish faith or branch out into their own movement. Since many new converts to Christianity were largely Gentiles, shorthand for the religious power structure that opposed Jesus (the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Sanhedrin) was adopted as simply "the Jews". Additionally, John may be commenting on how the promised Jewish Messiah wasn't being recognized by the people who had been watching for his arrival. Jesus and his Disciples were Jewish, so any interpretation of the New Testament rooted in Anti-Semitism is incorrect, unbiblical, and simply evil.
Signs and Symbols
John's Gospel is rich with symbolism, numbers, and references to Jewish holidays and traditions. It's a theologically rich portrait of Jesus Christ as the eternal Word, the incarnate God, and the source of life and light. Each detail in the narrative is intentional, designed to highlight the moment's significance and reveal the depth of God's purpose. Simple stories in John often contain multiple layers of meaning, inviting readers to explore the connections between Jesus's actions and the broader context of God's plan.
