JOHN 1:1-4

FEBRUARY 5, 2017

AN INTRODUCTION TO JOHN’S GOSPEL

INTRODUCTION:

1. The Book of John was, we believe, the last of the four Gospels to be written.

a) Mark is generally taken as the first.
b) Matthew was the second.
c) Luke was written third.

2. H. C. Thiessen, in his Introduction to the New Testament, explains that John is placed last in order in our New Testament not simply because it was the last to be written, but because, as he writes, “Most writers hold that in John we have the result of reflections of the Church on the facts contained in the Synoptics at the beginning of the second century.” He also notes that in early versions John appears in each of the four possible positions.

I. THE AUTHOR OF THE FOURTH GOSPEL IS GENERALLY BELIEVED TO BE JOHN THE APOSTLE.

1. Even though John does not name himself as the author, considering the internal evidence coupled with almost unanimous attestation of the early writers, many of whom were either contemporaries of John, or were acquainted with men who were, one might wonder how there could exist a serious opposing view. Yet some critics are greatly impressed with the “discovery” of Eusebius that there were two Johns at Ephesus at the time, one, John the Apostle, and the other, John the Presbyter. The fallacy of Eusebius’ reasoning is evident. He ignores the fact that John, along with other apostles, is called both a presbyter and a disciple of the Lord. Can we doubt that the Apostle John, who wrote I John, also wrote II John and III John in which he refers to himself as “the elder?” (II John 1; III John 1) Can we then doubt that the author of I John is the same as he to whom Peter referred as “the disciple whom Jesus loved, who also leaned back on his breast at supper” (John 21:20); the same disciple that Jesus identified as “the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things?” (John 21:24)
2. The Gospel of John was written from the eye-witness perception of one who was with Jesus throughout the entirety of His earthly ministry. Not only was John with the Lord from the very beginning, but his relationship was more intimate than that of any of the other disciples. The closeness which Peter referred to in John 21:20; John himself repeatedly acknowledged in this Gospel. (Ch. 13:23; 19:26) John’s devotion to his Lord continued unbroken to the very end. (Ch. 19:26, 27)

a) Matthew, the writer of the first Gospel in our New Testament, was also an eye-witness, but he did not join Christ until Chapter 9 of his Gospel; plus, he did not accompany his Lord into the judgment hall like John did. He was scattered with the others, and did not see Christ again until the day of the resurrection.
b) Mark and Luke both received their information from other sources.

(1) Mark from Peter.
(2) Luke from Paul.

c) John, however, was there to witness everything that he recorded pertaining to the earthly life and ministry of his Lord.

3. John never referred to himself by name. It was no doubt out of modesty and humility that he withheld his name, always referring to himself in the third person. He used phrases like “the disciple that Jesus loved,” or “that other disciple,” etc.
4. John had long thought upon the things that he had seen and known. He did not write until near the end of the first century.

a) Having had the care of Mary placed in his trust (Ch. 19:26, 27), John was kept from much of the earlier Gospel work. However, because of that arrangement, he, no doubt, became even better acquainted with Jesus’ life at Nazareth, from birth until age 30, of which precious little was written.
b) After the death of Mary and the destruction of Jerusalem, John migrated to Ephesus as the last surviving apostle. From there he labored, strengthening the churches which Paul had established.
c) It was from Ephesus that John wrote his Gospel.

5. Some believe that John was urged to write by those about him, who heard him speak of these things, so many of which are unique to his gospel.

II. THERE IS A WONDERFUL UNIQUENESS TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN.

1. This is not to deny that each of the other gospels bear a certain quality of uniqueness.

a) Matthew, for example, is called the Gospel of the Kingdom, because he presents Jesus Christ as the King of Israel. He, therefore, traces His lineage back through the royal line all the way to father Abraham. (Matt. 1:1-16)
b) Mark sets Jesus forth as the Servant of Jehovah, the one of whom the prophets, especially Isaiah, had spoken. Mark gives no account of His genealogy, or of His birth and early life. He introduces Christ as He is entering public life and service, after taking the torch from His forerunner, John the Baptist. (Mark 1:1ff)
c) Luke presents Christ as the Son of Man, and traces his lineage back, not to Abraham merely, but all the way back to Adam, the first man. (Luke 3:23-38)

2. John, however, gives no genealogy, for he sets forth Christ as the Son of God, and one with the Father, Who is without generation. (Ch. 1:1-4)
3. The Gospel of John is different from the other three Gospels, though there is certainly no disagreement between John and the others. John simply writes from a different perspective.

a) The aim of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which are called Synoptics, is to recount the events of Jesus’ life and ministry, though not necessarily in the same order. As we have already noted, the particular purpose was not the same in each case. Matthew, writing to Jews, proclaims Jesus as their King Messiah. Mark presents Him not as the King Royal, but as the lowly and humble Servant. Luke, a Gentile, presents Christ as the Son of Man and Savior not only of the Jews, but of the whole world.
b) The purpose of the Synoptic Gospels is to connect Christ to the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants as the hereditary heir of the throne of David. (Matt. 1:1) They demonstrate that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophesies as the rightful Messiah, and present Him as the true Hope of Israel.
c) John, however, does not focus on those things per se. Though he also writes of the life of Jesus, his interest is not so much historical but rather theological.

(1) Though John undoubtedly had all of the intimate details of Jesus’ birth and early life (being the custodian of Mary), he leaves all of that to the other evangelists, and begins with the Person of the Word in eternity. (Ch. 1:1)
(2) He begins higher because he would reach further, even to the spiritual Kingdom of God, in which all believers, regardless of nationality, are sons and heirs of God.
(3) John intends to demonstrate that Jesus, as the eternal Word, is the fulfillment of the original Creation of God. He presents Him to the eye of faith as the true hope of all mankind.
(4) The True Light has come into the world; how will the world receive Him? How will men be either attracted to Him, or repelled by Him, and so reveal themselves in their true character? (Ch. 1:4, 5; 3:18-21)

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