WEEK 1: John 1-10
THE DIETY OF JESUS | Axioms 1 – 3
One of the major teachings in the NT is that Jesus is God. In the first week of our reading we are confronted with this truth. From the opening words of John to Jesus’ tense words with a hostile crowd, we learn that Jesus is unlike anyone who has come before or since. He is God.
WEEK 2: John 11-21
THE CROSS | Axiom 3
The cross is central to the Christian message. It represents suffering and death. But ultimately it represents the forgiveness and new life we have in Jesus. Read “101” again and thank God for the power of the cross.
Questions for Discussion
1. What do we learn about Jesus the Word in John 1:1-18?
2. Read John 8:24. According to Jesus, what do we have to do be saved? How did the crowd respond to Jesus’ words?
3. Discuss the moment you first put your faith in Jesus.
COMMENTARY
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. The opening five verses of John’s Gospel give us some very important information about Jesus. John starts his book with the words, “In the beginning.” This phrase takes us back to the first words of the Bible when God creates the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). John tells us that in the beginning was the Word. “The Word” is John’s name for Jesus before he came to earth. We are told that this Word (Jesus) was with God in the beginning. The word “with” points out that at the time of creation Jesus already was in relationship with God. Then, John takes it one step further and says that “the Word was God.” John doesn’t want us to be confused. It’s not just that Jesus was hanging around God at the creation of the world. Jesus is God. The fullness of God dwells in Jesus just like it dwells in God the Father. And in verse 3 John shows the eternal nature of Jesus. All created things were made through Jesus. This means that Jesus was involved in the creation of all things, and it means that Jesus is uncreated. He is God.
John 2:11
This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. Jesus’ first miracle involves turning water into wine. This might seem like an odd first miracle for Jesus to perform, but it gives us insight into his mission on earth. Wine was a symbol of joy and gladness. Jesus’ miracle not only confirms his identity as the Messiah, but it also shows that he has come to bring joy, not a sullen religion. As his followers, we too should be marked by joy.
John 3:5
“Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” Here Jesus is introducing the concept of being “born again.” In the following verses He describes how a person must experience spiritual rebirth if they are to be saved from their sin. This rebirth is from God and happens when we put our faith in Jesus as our Savior. In vs. 5, the requirement of being “born of water” likely refers to a persons physical birth before they experience spiritual rebirth. It could also be synonomous with spiritual rebirth because the Greek language could also be translated “born of water, that is, the Spirit.” In the Old Testament, the cleansing Spirit of God is sometimes referred to as water. It does not refer to a requirement of water baptism in order to be saved as some have claimed. More at gotquestions.org
John 4
Notice in this chapter how passionate and determined Jesus is as he shares the good news of salvation through faith. Speaking to a woman was taboo, much less a non-Jew! Yet he breaks social barriers to share the good news with the Samaritan woman. Then notice his response to his disciples – his “food” is to do the will of the Father. And many Samaritans believed in him. How can we apply this example to our lives?
John’s baptism
Like many other ancient peoples, Jewish people practiced ceremonial washings. Their only once-for-all ceremonial washing, however, was the immersion that non-Jews had to go through when they converted to Judaism. Non-Jews who were converting to Judaism would immerse themselves in water, probably under the supervision of a religious expert. John’s baptizing activity fits this model.
Jewish people also practiced “repentance” when they did something wrong, asking God’s forgiveness and determining to change. (The Old Testament prophets often used this Hebrew idea of “turning” from sin; it involves more than just a “change of mind,” which is the literal sense of the Greek term used here.) But the ultimate example of repenting, or turning from a wrong way of living to a right way of living, was when a non-Jew decided to obey the teachings of Israel’s God.
To tell Jewish people that they had to be baptized or repent the same way non-Jews did would have been offensive, because it challenged the prevalent Jewish belief about salvation. Most Jewish people thought that if they were born into a Jewish family and did not reject God’s law, they would be saved; John told them instead that they had to come to God the same way that non-Jews did. The point of John’s baptism is that everyone has to come to God on the same terms. Keener, C. S., & InterVarsity Press. 1993. The IVP Bible background commentary : New Testament . InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, Ill.
John 5:24
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” These words of Christ are the heart of the message of the Bible. How can we get eternal life? It comes by believing, not by trying to do good things. Look for this theme throughout the New Testament.
John 6:15
“Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” Remember that Jesus was ministering to the Jews, who were under Roman rule at this time. Many of them hoped for a warrior to lead them to independence. Christ’s goal was not to set up an earthly kingdom at that time; first he would establish a spiritual kingdom.
John 6:28-29
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” There it is again! Salvation is God’s work, not ours. Our eternity hinges on our response (genuine faith) to the person and work of Jesus Christ. (See sermon link above.)
John 8:58-59
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. The crowd tried to stone Jesus because in their judgment he had committed blasphemy. He had claimed to be God. When Jesus said, “I am,” he took the personal name of God “I AM” or “Yahweh” (see Exouds 3:13-15) and applied it to himself. By doing this he was claiming that he was Yahweh, the God of Israel. Blasphemy was also the charge that the Jewish leaders brought against Jesus at his trial (Matthew 23:63-66).
John 9:2-3
“His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” Some people in Jesus day, as well as in ours, mistakenly believe that all problems and struggles in life are directly the result of sin. Jesus shows us here that this is not always the case. Yes, there are sometimes physical consequences from sin, but sometimes problems are allowed in order for God’s grace to be put on display.
John 9:32-33
“Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” One of the reasons that Jesus did miracles was to reveal that he was the Messiah who had come from God. It had been predicted in the Old Testament that the Messiah would heal the blind, make the lame walk, cure diseases, raise the dead, and preach good news to the poor (Luke 4:17-21 and 7:22; see also Isaiah 35:1-6; Isaiah 61:1-2). When Jesus did these things it should have been a sign to Israel that their Messiah who would save them and the whole world had come. While some believed, like this man born blind, many others (particularly the religious leaders) refused to acknowledge that Jesus had come from God.
John 10:30-31
“I and the Father are one.” Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him,” The Jews here picked up stones to kill Jesus because they understood that He was claiming equality with God, to in fact be the same as God. This was considered blasphemy and was punishable by death without requirement of a trial. This is an example of how Jesus taught that He was fully God.
John 11:25
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” Jews believed that at the end of the world God would bring about the resurrection of those who had died. Jesus states that he is the resurrection and the life. It is through the resurrection of Jesus that every believer will be resurrected from the dead and enjoy eternal life with him in the New Heavens and the New Earth (Revelation 21:1). Even though we die physically we will ultimately live with God forever and ever. And those who believe in Christ will never face eternal death, that is, eternal separation from God.
John 12:32-33
“But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. Several times in the Gospels Jesus predicts his own death. Here Jesus points out precisely how he will die, on a cross. Jesus includes in his prediction what the effect of the cross will be. By dying on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world, Jesus will draw all people to himself to find salvation. They only thing that prevents salvation is not the unwillingness of Jesus, but a person’s refusal to put their faith in him.
John 13:34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” After washing the Disciples feet, a task reserved for the lowliest servant, Jesus tells them that His primary command for their lives is to love – in fact, it is by this love that people will know the reality of their identity as Christ-followers. They type of love He was calling them to was the servant love that He had just displayed.
John 14:6
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” In this statement, Jesus claims exclusivity as a Savior. There are not many ways to be in relationship with God, there is only one way – through Jesus Christ.
John 16:25
“Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.” Many people get confused when Jesus talks about the Father. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is God, yet Jesus often refers to another person called the Father (and also the Spirit, who is God). Here’s the most concise way to state the truth of the Trinity: God is one being in three persons. Keep this in mind as you read the NT, and look for this truth throughout its pages. Some passages emphasize the oneness of God, and so refer to His being or essence. Other passages (like this one) emphasize the three-ness of God, and so refer to the persons: Father, Son, or Spirit. Read more at gotquestions.org
John 17:12
While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. Jesus is talking about his disciple Judas, who betrayed him.
John 18:36
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” The Jews had thought that the Messiah would come to set up a kingdom on earth. They expected him to kick out the Romans and free Israel to control her land. But this is not what God had in mind when Jesus came to earth. He did not come to set up an earthly kingdom. If he had, he would never have been crucified. But, Jesus came to die on the cross for the sins of the world.
John 19:30
“Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” In this powerful statement, Jesus declares in victory that the work of salvation was complete. Tetelestai, the word translated “It is finished” was a merchants term to affirm that a debt was paid in full. Jesus paid the debt for our sin in full, there is no more work to be done. Our role in salvation is to accept by faith what Jesus did on our behalf.
John 20:23
“If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Jesus was not saying that humans have the power to forgive or not forgive sin; this would contradict other biblical teaching. He says this after commissioning them to go and proclaim the Gospel, so He is saying that as His agents of proclamation, they have they power to bring the message of forgiveness to people or withhold it if they do not share the Gospel.
