THE L.I.F.E. PLAN JOHN BLOCK 3 THEME 5 - THE GOSPELS LESSON 4 (92 of 216)
BLOCK 3 THEME 5: THE GOSPELS LESSON 4 (92 OF 216): JOHN LESSON AIM: Survey the book of John. SCRIPTURE: (John 20:30-31) And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 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. When we come to the fourth gospel, the gospel of John, we immediately notice a contrast with the previous three. In the synoptic gospels, we learn that Jesus was no ordinary man. In fact, he was God and man at the same time. John s gospel emphasizes the God part of who Jesus is. We could say that what is presented about Jesus in the synoptic gospels is interpreted in the gospel of John in the light of the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some easily noticeable contrasts between John and the other gospels are these. First, John deviates from the general outline followed by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. As we have seen, they each tell of the Galilean ministry and the Judean ministry. John follows a different order, as we shall see. Also, there are a number of events that John left out of his gospel. John did not include any details concerning the birth of Christ, his baptism, his temptation in the wilderness, his transformation, or his ascension. John mentions only eight miracles while the other gospel writers mention a combined total of 56. Similarly, the synoptic writers present a combined total of 41 parables while John might have only one. Finally, Matthew and Luke trace the genealogy of the Christ through David and Abraham and back to Adam. John traces him all the way back to the Godhead. These contrasts are among several others which stand out as we come to the gospel of John. As we study the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus, John affords us at least two very important helps in his gospel. In the first place, John gives us considerable detail about the early ministry of Jesus before the Galilean campaign highlighted in the synoptic gospels. This work covered a period of some four or five months. During this time, Jesus started to work alone. He began his preaching ministry and performed miraculous signs which began to spread the word about him into surrounding areas. Some began to follow him from place to place and from these he would later select his group of disciples. This pre-galilean ministry took place over several months and is covered in the first five chapters of John. Second, John s gospel gives us considerable help with the timeline of the Lord s earthly ministry. From his details, we can connect the dots of his work and determine a length of time for the Lord s ministry on earth. It is generally considered that the Lord s ministry covered three to three and a half years. John s gospel helps us see that it was closer to only two years and three months. The mention of the feasts of the Jews is the clue to this determination. John s gospel has a markedly different outline from that of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. After his introduction, connecting Jesus with the throne of God himself, John grouped his thoughts into three categories of information. He first told of the Lord s ministry among the Jews. Jesus presented himself to the Jews as the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, and the Door to the Sheepfold. Unfortunately for the Jews, his
offer of himself and his kingdom was categorically rejected. Thus we have the truth of John s statement, He came unto his own, and his own received him not. John also gave considerable attention to the ministry of the Lord among his disciples. During their private times away from the crowds, Jesus told them emphatically of his coming departure. He tried to prepare them for this so that it would not be a complete surprise when it happened, and also that they might be ready to carry on the work in his physical absence. He told them he would send the Holy Spirit to come along side of them and work with them after he went back from which he came. He left them also with his step by step instructions for building reproducing disciples in his famous prayer in John chapter 17. Closing the book of John are the redemption week accounts of his arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection. The book closes with a brief period of his post-resurrection ministry among his disciples, particularly with the restoration of Peter after his denial of Christ. While John included many new details in his gospel, he admitted that if everything were written that could be written about this brief period of the Lord s ministry, the world itself would not have room to contain the books that could be written. The Holy Spirit guided those compilers of the Scriptures to place the gospel of John after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The previous three present the facts about the Christ. John makes it clear that the facts demand a verdict. Presented with the facts about Jesus, every person must make a decision about the Christ for themselves. From the introduction of John which takes us back into pretime eternity, Jesus is revealed as the Son of God and second person of the godhead. His deity is underscored throughout this gospel. Beginning with the Lord s presentation of the doctrine of the new birth to Nicodemus, various accounts are given of individual confrontations with the gospel of Christ, and of the decisions made based upon these facts. Even today, presented with the facts of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, every individual must make a decision either for him or against him. A decision for him means a regenerated spirit and eternal life. A decision against him leaves the decider yet under the condemnation of God and in danger of the penalty of eternal, torturous separation from God. As we leave the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, presented from four unique perspectives, one last note is in order. This last note concerns the manner in which each gospel ends. Matthew closes with the great commission, commanding every follower of Christ to share this gospel with all nations and turn them into reproducing followers of Christ as well. Mark ends with the ascension of the Lord Jesus back to heaven from which he came. Luke finalizes his account with the promise of the Holy Spirit who would come to empower the followers of Christ to do his will. John leaves us with the mention of the Lord s return for the church. This is a logical sequence of events: commission while Christ is gone, Christ leaving the earth, empowerment while Christ is away, and the promise of the return of Christ directly from his own lips. These four-fold gospel closings are further evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit in superintending the collection and placement of God s holy Word in the book we call the Bible. The gospel, the good news of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ, has been presented to you. You have seen how Jesus came from God to fulfill God s promise to destroy the works of the devil by declaring the heavenly Father unto man and his rescue by salvation through Jesus Christ. What is your decision about Jesus? Your answer is eternally important.
LESSON OUTLINE BLOCK 3 THEME 5: THE GOSPELS LESSON 4 (92 OF 216): LUKE I CONTRAST JOHN AND THE SYNOPTICS A. What John leaves out B. What John puts in II TWO BENEFITS OF JOHN A. The pre-galilean ministry B. The timeline of the Lord s public ministry III A BRIEF SURVEY OF JOHN A. Introduction (1:1-18) B. Public ministry to the Jews (1:19-12) C. Private ministry to the disciples (13-17) D. Redemption week and beyond (18-21) IV A CALL TO MAKE A DECISION A. Jesus identity B. The new birth C. These things were written that you might believe SCRIPTURES TO BROADEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING 1. Gospel closings Matthew 28:18-20 Mark 16:14-20 Luke 24:46-49 John 21:22 2. Jesus is God John 1:1-18 3. The new birth John 3:1-21 4. Jesus disciple-making strategy John 17
LINES OF THEOLOGICAL CONNECTION 1. THE DOCTRINE OF GOD The Trinity 2. CHRISTOLOGY The deity of Jesus The mission of Jesus to declare the Father 3. SOTERIOLOGY The new birth 4. DISCIPLE-MAKING Jesus personal strategy for disciple-making Jesus personal time with the disciples QUESTIONS ANSWER KEY 1. List some of the contrasts between John and the synoptic gospels. See paragraph 2 2. What two important benefits do we get from John s gospel? Details of the pre-galilean ministry; timeline details of the Lord s ministry 3. What is the length of time of the Lord s public ministry on earth? 2 years, 3 months 4. In what two areas of the ministry of Christ does John present his gospel? His ministry among the Jews; His ministry among the disciples 5. What is so important about the seventeenth chapter of John? It gives us the step by step disciple-making strategy of the Lord Jesus 6. What is John s reason for writing his gospel from a practical stand-point? That those who read the facts about Jesus might believe upon him and be saved 7. What is significant about how the gospel of John ends? It ends with the Lord s promise of his return 8. Having heard the facts of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, have you believed on him in your heart unto salvation? Student response
BLOCK 3 THEME 5: THE GOSPELS LESSON 4 (92 OF 216): LUKE QUESTIONS TO INSPIRE THOUGHT 1. List some of the contrasts between John and the synoptic gospels. 2. What two important benefits do we get from John s gospel? 3. What is the length of time of the Lord s public ministry on earth? 4. In what two areas of the ministry of Christ does John present his gospel? 5. What is so important about the seventeenth chapter of John? 6. What is John s reason for writing his gospel from a practical stand-point? 7. What is significant about how the gospel of John ends? 8. Having heard the facts of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, have you believed on him in your heart unto salvation?