John
Introduction
The book of John is written by the apostle John in the 90s AD. He writes as an eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry, and does so with the other synaptic gospels in view.
John’s gospel is similar to the other 3 gospels, in that it reveals the person of Christ and His earthly ministry, but John does so with a specific purpose, “that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ” (20:31).
The purpose of John’s writing is that the reader would believe that Jesus is God (1:1), the Christ, and the Son of God (20:30).
The theme of this book is, “that ye might believe”, as seen in both the introduction of the book and the end of the book.
John 1:7
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.John 20:30–31
[30] And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
[31] But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John uses and repeats a lot of important phrases that help us identify his focus. Many of these important doctrinal phrases are used more times here in John’s gospel than in any other book of the Bible!
Greatest use of important words and phrases:
• “believe” (x81) – most in the bible
• “might believe” (x5) – most in the bible
• “Son of God” (x10) – most in the bible
• “the Christ” (v9) – most in the bible
JOHN 1
John 1 introduces Jesus as “the word” (v1), “the true Light” (v9), “the lamb of God” (v29, 36), “the Messias” (v41), “the Son of God” (v49), “the King of Israel” (v49), and the “son of man” (v51). As the apostle John writes, he makes quite the introduction to Jesus! He puts all his cards on the table from the very first verse.
There is a great reminder in verse 14 that Jesus is “full of grace and truth. It can be difficult to strike this balance! Most of us usually fall on one side or the other, but we am called to be like Jesus. The only way we can accomplish this is to walk in the Spirit to use both truth and grace appropriately
John the Baptist’s ministry shows up here as well, saying, “Make straight the way of the Lord” (23). His ministry is much like ours - we are to have expectant faith that Christ is coming and that His kingdom is not about us, but Him.
JOHN 2
John 2 begins Jesus’ miracle ministry, starting by turning water to wine at a wedding in Cana (v1-11). John’s gospel begins to build on Christ’s ministry at rapid pace, already speaking of the resurrection being valid (22). John is bold and to the point, although not chronological.
Verse 10 shows that Jesus ‘saves the best for last’, so to speak. Upon turning water into wine the people remark, “thou hast kept the good wine until now” (v10). Not only does Jesus makes SOMETHING out of NOTHING, but He doesn’t waste the time in-between. It is immediately born in maturity. Although we may have to wait for God’s timing and provision, He is able to give us greater things that we could imagine – He does not operate like “every man” (v10). He also doesn’t need to witness of men. After John [and the Father’s presence at His baptism], it says that Jesus “needed not that any should testify” (v25). His word and works and miracles were enough for Him to testify of Himself.
JOHN 3
Jesus begins to now disclose His motive for building the “kingdom of God” (v3, 5). His kingdom is “of the Spirit” (v8) and entry must be given by a new means – ‘birth’. Regeneration/conversion must take place to enter into His kingdom.
I love John’s response in verse 27. When the Jews asked John about losing his disciples to Jesus’ ministry, he is quick to relinquish control of his own ministry, “a man can receive nothing, except it be give him from heaven” (v27), and to point towards Jesus, “He must increase” (v30). What a great and humble heart. It is likely that we complete with Jesus for attention in our ministries all the time! Lord let it not be so. Keep us in a place of humility that you would be exalted and that we would have a ‘loose grip’ on what you give us.
JOHN 4
Verses 34-38 stick out prominently in this chapter. Jesus says that it is more important for Him to do God’s will than to eat or anything else. We can easily get this way on a mission trip or a camp, but we can also become complacent in our daily routine. Lord give us an urgency with the gospel!
In verse 35 Jesus says, “look on the fields”. We have need every day to get our eyes off of ourselves and onto the harvest – that is God’s will, that all would be saved. He also says, “they are white already to harvest”, meaning that there are people out there every-single-day that are ready to accept Christ if we would be lead of the Spirit to them and obedient to preach the gospel.
Thinking about verse 38, Jesus says that some of us will labour ‘on another man’s foundation (so to speak), “I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed”. A devotional application would be that some folks in the harvest have already been exposed to the gospel and we only need harvest. Another devotional application is that it is possible we may not frontier or plant a new ministry, but work after someone else who has labour in a field for a long time and reap the benefits of their work.
JOHN 5
In John 5 Jesus heals the “impotent man” (v1-9), and then puts the Jews on FULL BLAST when He is questioned about breaking the Sabbath. They seek to kill Him even more so because of His claim to oneness with the Father (v18). Verses 19-47 are an all out assault on the Jews. Jesus calls them out, yet survives this verbal beatdown He put on them because it was not His time to die.
Today I’m processing verses 19 and 30. They both have to do with Jesus’ surrender to God’s will and lack of self motivation. He says, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do” (v19), and “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge… because I seek not mine on will, but the will of the Father” (v30). These verses rest heavy on me, calling to analyze my motives and prayerfully grow in dependence upon God for everything in my day.
JOHN 6
Chapter 6 is famous doctrinally for Calvinists and for Catholics. It would be too exhausting to truly delve into that in this context, other than the obvious interpretation (v63) of Jesus’ harsh words about eating His flesh and drinking His blood (57). Verse 63 helps us understand that Jesus’ words are Spirit and not physical. Also for Calvinists, contrast John 6:37 and 65 with John 12:32, “draw ALL men unto me”.
On a devotional note, verse 12. Jesus says, “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost”, speaking of the ‘extra’ bread from His miracle. Jesus doesn’t waste anything. Even if we have excess in our life, He expects us to be responsible for it. When the Lord blesses, don’t lose sight of the excess.
JOHN 7
Jesus begins to go through a series of discourses with the Jews over His origin (v27), breaking the Sabbath (v23), and other things. The Jews sought to kill Him but, “his hour was not yet come” (v30).
When asked about how He knew the law, Jesus replied that His doctrine wasn’t His own, but He received it from the Father (v16). He then goes on to say that it was possible for the crowds around Him to discern whether His doctrine was good or not (v17). There is an interesting connection here between obedience, “Of any man will do his will”, and the ability to know, “whether it be of God” (v17). God is more concerned with man’s obedience than knowledge. A humble and worshipful heart will be able to discern in the Spirit of God when someone’s teaching is NOT from God.
JOHN 8
This chapter continues the discourse Jesus has with the Jews about many things and ends with Jesus’ claim to deity by saying, “I am” (v58), which leads to an attempted stoning (v59). Verse 9 brings up the “conscience”. Many reformed would say that man ‘cannot’ receive enlightenment or conviction until they are regenerated, but they miss the entire concept of the conscience in their position. Here we clearly see men “convicted by their own conscience” (v9). We have enough in ourselves, by design, to know right and wrong and recognize God. The conscience alone, however, is not enough for salvation – we do still require the word of God and the conviction and enlightenment of the Holy Spirit (John 16:78, 1 Peter 1:23). Nevertheless, we cannot discount the conscience. It is a mechanism that the Holy Spirit use in drawing men to Christ, instead of usurping man’s free agency altogether.
JOHN 9
There is irony in this chapter… that a man born blind could see and those that could see are blinded. This chapter is 1 large story of healing the man born blind, to which the Pharisee’s reject an open miracle. The man is blind from birth (v20), and the Pharisees were ABLE to see (v39). This fulfills Jesus’ words in verse 39. Verse 39 is also helpful in a larger standpoint of soteriology. Reformed theology would use the Jews blindness and hardness as total depravity (man’s inability to receive God without divine usurping of the will). Here though, verse 39 CLEARLY states that the Jews could see, “they which see might be made blind”. So this rejection is made out of total enlightenment to who Jesus was. They were not blinded until after they rejected. That may not be helpful to many, but it is a fine point in the defense of a biblical doctrine of depravity – all can receive the light (John 1:9).
JOHN 10
Upon Jesus’ rejection by the Jews in John 10, he points to His miracles to validate His claimed credentials as “the Son of God” (v36). Jesus says, “believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him” (v38). The token or sign of His title as God’s son and His unity with the Father (v30) are noted in miracles that nobody had every seen, such as healing the man born blind in the previous chapter. If you compare Jesus’ miracles to Muhammad’s, you’ll notice a significant difference – depending upon Muslim’s interpretation of Muhammad’s life. Though their holy book says in Surah 29:50 that Muhammad, by his own words, “The signs are only with Allah, and I am only a clear warner". Muhammad does NOT claim to be a miracle worker – something a valid prophet is able to do. Jesus proves His deity through medical healings, resurrections, exorcisms, and power over nature. He is a legitimate prophet and very God.
JOHN 11
Two things stick out in John 11. First, Jesus says, “if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light” (v10), which devotionally applies to our walk with God in His word. Psalm 119:105 tells us that the word is a “lamp to our feet”, in that it enlightens each step. Every step we take in the darkness of night (church age) without God’s word is a misstep. Second, upon arriving, Mary is told that Jesus “calleth for thee” (v28). Mary immediately responds, “then she arose quickly, and came” (v29). This is super convicting. Jesus previously said, “my sheep hear my voice” (John 10:27). When we hear Jesus calling/moving/directing us, we ought to immediately obey and join Him in fellowship. Lord give us a heart like Mary!
JOHN 12
Lazarus is hanging with Jesus after his resurrection (v1-2), and many people are coming to see him (v9). It is interesting that although Jesus is the prominent figure of His day, the people wanted to see Lazarus, the man raised from the grave. We cannot discount our personal testimony! It should not get in the way of Jesus, but point to Him. Verse 26, “where I am, there shall also my servant be”. Let that be our prayer today Lord! I will go where you want and do what you want so long as you meet me there! I do not want to do it without you.
JOHN 13
Jesus is beginning the passover meal with His disciples (v1-2). John’s gospel doesn’t include the blood and the bread, but focuses more on Jesus preparing His disciples to sit at the table with Him. Jesus, knowing His identity (v3), is able to ‘lay aside’ (v4) who He truly is as King of Kings, and ‘put on’ the “form of a servant” (Phil 2:7) to wash His disciples feet. How humbling that the Lord of glory would wash us clean, instead of having us clean up on our own for Him. We could never do enough of our own cleansing! We need Jesus and His word to ‘wash our feet’ (v10) every day.
JOHN 14
In John 14 Jesus is seemingly teaching His disciples things concerning His departure. This begins several chapters of Jesus talking. Chapter 14 includes the promise of heaven prepared (v1-3), the coming of the Holy Spirit (v16-17, 23-26), and an inkling of the great commission, “greater works” (v12). I love the promise of verse 23, that God will “make our abode with him”, those that will love Him and obey His word. It can seem at times like we could ‘miss’ an opportunity with God, but these verses, along with the connectedness of the indwelling Holy Spirit (v26), encourage me that the Lord is always with me, I just need to be attentive to Him.
“The “greater works [things]” would apply initially to the Apostles who were given the power to perform special miracles as the credentials of their office (Rom. 15:18–19; Heb. 2:3–4). These miracles were not greater in quality, for “the servant is not greater than his lord” (John 13:16), but rather in scope and quantity. Peter preached one sermon and 3,000 sinners were converted in one day! The fact that ordinary people performed these signs made them even more wonderful and brought great glory to God (Acts 5:13–16).”
- Wiersbe
JOHN 15
Jesus continues to explain final details to His disciples before being arrested in chapter 18. You can see the amount of ‘red letters’.
Jesus lets us know that His disciples will “bear much fruit” (v8), which may happen under great difficulty or duress. Like a loving husbandman, He prunes His people so that we could be MORE fruitful (v2). When doors open and close, or God refines a character quality in us, it is so that we would be more fruitful – not less! This is the sanctification process, to make us “meet for the master’s use” (2 Tim 2:21).
It is also encouraging to be called the Lord’s friend (v14-15). Many of us may have an unbiblical perspective of God as an ‘angry father’, but the bible says that we are “sons of God” (1 John 3:1) and friends of Jesus.
“One of the greatest privileges we have as His friends is that of learning to know God better and “getting in on” God’s secrets.”
- Wiersbe
JOHN 16
Jesus again continues His discourse on Spiritual things, including the Holy Spirit (v7-14) and His return (v16). This discourse is broken up a bit by the disciples, who are afraid to ask Jesus of His departure (v17-18). Jesus then, “knew that they were desirous to ask him” (v19) and acknowledge what everyone was thinking. While the disciples probably made it obvious with their grumbling, the Lord already knows our heart and our thoughts. Why not take them to Him anyways? We can’t hide them from Him! This chapter ends with the beautiful verse (v33): “be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”. Praise the Lord!
JOHN 17
Jesus concludes this final dissertation with the ‘high priestly prayer’ in chapter 17. He prays for many things, but mainly for the disciples (v9) who were trusted to His care while on earth. He then entrusts them back to the Father (v10), and prays for their work of evangelism, and even for those that will respond in faith (v20).
This chapters is a great reminder to pray for our current and upcoming leaders. Jesus says, “I pray for them”, and so should we. Jesus says in verse 19 that He sanctifies Himself for the sake of others. Part of our sanctification is to be prepared to work for and minister to God. Here we learn that intercession should be part of our prayer life. We ought to have regular and meaningful time in prayer to engage with the Father over the issues in the lives of our leaders and disciples.
JOHN 18
This chapter contains Jesus’ prayer in the garden (v1) up to standing before Caiaphas (v28) and Pilate in trial (v29). Jesus says in verse 36, “My kingdom is not of this world”, which is a great reminder for me today. He allowed Himself to be arrested (v12), beaten (v22-23), and interrogated by evil men. No doubt His temperance and self control was because He had something greater in mind – the kingdom of God. As Hebrews 12:2 says, He despised the cross by looked forward to “the throne of God”. We also ought to have a kingdom perspective. Life and ministry is not about ‘things’ and buildings – it is about the kingdom within that “cometh not with observation” (Luke 17:20). It is the only way to survive the hardships that come with persecution.
JOHN 19
In this chapter we see Pilate and Israel’s conclusion, that Jesus is worthy of death or extinction, posing a threat to the Jews and to Rome (v12). Israel gives up all political power and concedes to Caesar (v15). Jesus is crucified and all the world is able to know via He is the Messiah because a the sovereign sign posted over His head on the cross in all major languages (v20).
In verse 17, Jesus, “And he bearing his cross went forth”. What a statement. Jesus gladly took upon Himself the instrument of death, just as we are asked. Surely he did not ‘feel good’ after being beaten, mocked, and staying up all night, yet He did not give into the flesh and submitted to a gruesome death. Each of us is given a ‘cross’, if we choose to bear it (Luke 9:23). Today I am reminded and will pray for the strength to bear it as Jesus did.
JOHN 20
This chapter is the resurrection appearance of Christ. Mary of Magdalene is the first to the tomb (v1). She returns and tells Peter and John, who visit also (v2). Eventually Jesus reveals Himself to all of the disciples in the upper room (v19), and another time to include Thomas (v26-29). I relate to Thomas – always needing proof to see things. It encourages me that Jesus began His discourse with Thomas in peace, “Peace be unto you” (v26). I often feel like God hates me for my failures or my skepticism. Although I require faith to please God (Heb 11:6), He is patient and gentle with me, and I should be with others as well.
JOHN 21
I love the end of John’s gospel. He finally pulls back the curtain that he was ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’, by saying, “This is the disciple which testifieth of these things” (v24). Then in verse 25 he changes his language to first person by saying, “I suppose that” (v25). It is interesting that he gets so personal at the end. Jesus addresses Peter’s failure in verse 17. I’m sure Peter was grieved by the moment but the Lord loved Him too much not to address it. God will NOT let us get away with sin. He has a plan for us and He deals with each of His children accordingly (Heb 12:7).