Gospel of John
• Contrasts sharply with the synoptic gospels of
Matthew, Mark, Luke
• Long, well-developed theological discourses
or monologues delivered by Jesus
 Jesus reveals the Father, teaches profound truths about
himself, reveals that the key to being his follower is to
have faith in him and his word, love others as he has
loved us, and trust the Holy Spirit whom he and His
Father will have sent
Background on the Gospel of John
• Written for Jewish Christians (expelled
from synagogues after the Roman Revolt)
• Many Christians had fled the city and did not
fight alongside of their Jewish relatives
emigrated to Ephesus
 Diverse Community: Samaritan converts to
Christianity + Gentile Christians in this community
• Written to strengthen faith and win converts
• Interested in Theology
stresses Jesus’
identity as the revealer of God (Word), the
unique Son of the Father, Savior of the World
 To combat false ideas about Jesus’ full humanity or even
his identity
 To oppose the followers of John the
Baptist (who wrongly believed that
he was the Messiah)
 Jesus is superior to John the Baptist
who is reported as saying there is one
coming “whose sandal strap I am not
worthy to untie.” (1:27)
• Date: 90-100 AD
• Sources: Possible contact with synoptics
 Independent traditions preserved in the churches from
which it was created
Gospel of John Differs From the Synoptics:
• New Characters: Nicodemus, Lazarus, a man
born blind, a Samaritan woman
• Jesus attends 3 Passover festivals (not one) –
Makes several trips to Jerusalem for various
festivals
• No mention of diabolic possessions
• Teaching in the form of long discourses
• Focuses on himself as God’s revelation (one
who shows us the way to the Father) – does not
stress the Kingdom of God
• Very poetic
a more solemn and holy Jesus
• Literary Techniques: irony (when opponents
often say things about Jesus that have deeper
meanings than they realize), a play on words,
metaphors (implied comparisons), figurative
language to help clarify the many
misunderstandings people have of him
• 2 Major Sources: Collection of miracles (a
“signs source”); 7; unique to John (Changing of
water into wine at Cana; Cure of a man born
blind; Raising of Lazarus); Version of the
Passion and Resurrection Narratives (in
circulation for years before any of the gospels
were written)
Identity of the Gospel Writer
• In 180 AD Irenaeus (a Church Father) identified
the “beloved disciple” as the author
 One of the apostles
 Brother of James; Son of Zebedee
 Wrote toward the end of his life
• Modern Research: confused John the Apostle
with a Church Elder
 Written in several stages and edited by different people
 Foundation of the Gospel: preaching and witness of the
apostle, John
 John in Ephesus (Turkey): gathered around him a
community of followers
 Took John’s testimony, meditated on his words,
produced a gospel in stages that addressed the
concerns of their own local church
 Testimony of the author rests on eyewitness testimony
 “It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has
written them, and we know that his testimony is true.”
(21:24)
 We: disciples of the “beloved disciple” who edited the
final edition
Outline of the Gospel of John
• Prologue: “Word Made Flesh” (1:1-18)
• Part 1: Book of Signs (1:19-12:50) – 7 miracles
with speeches
• Part 2: Book of Glory (13:1-20:31) – theology
discourses
• Epilogue: Appearances in Galilee (21)
Prologue: The Word of God
Originally an early Christian hymn
• Theme 1: Christology From Above
• Christology: the study of Jesus Christ (trying to
understand who he is)
• Stresses very strongly Jesus’ heavenly origins, his
identity as the Son of God, his preexistence as the
Word of God
• Christology From Above or “Descending
Christology”
• Synoptic gospels with Christology From Below or
“Ascending Christology” (Emphasizes the concrete
memories of Jesus of Nazareth and his impact on
people); Human Jesus ascends to his heavenly glory
through his passion, death, and resurrection
• John’s Gospel: divinity of Jesus
• “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God.” (1:1)
• “Word of God”: appealed to Jewish and Gentile
Christians
 Old Testament: “Word of God” (Logos in Greek) means
creation, the Law, God’s close presence among his
people, God’s wisdom
 Gentiles: Logos (soul) held the world together
(knowledge)
 Prologue: “And the Word became flesh, and made his
dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of
the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.” (1:14)
 Incarnation: Jesus as the Son of God took on human
flesh
• Theme 2: Major Conflicts
• Light of Christ vs. Darkness of the world
• Life giving faith in Jesus that makes us children
of God vs. Unbelief
• Truth vs. Untruth
• Theme 3: Who is Jesus?
• John the Baptist: one lesser than Jesus
“whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”
(1:27)
• Jesus’ true role: “Behold, the Lamb of God,
who takes away the sin of the world.” (1:29)
 Two disciples address Jesus as “rabbi” (teacher)
 Andrew says to Simon Peter, “We have found the
Messiah.” (1:41)
 Nathaniel: “You are the Son of God; you are the King of
Israel.” (1:49)
 Titles: Word of God, Son of God, Prophet, Lamb of God,
Teacher, King of Israel, Son of Man, I Am
Book of Signs (John 1:19-12:50)
• Contains 7 miracles
• Ergon (work) or semeion (sign) to describe
Jesus’ miracles
• Old Testament: “works of God” (Exodus) and
“signs of God” (performed through Moses)
• Miracles: reveal Jesus’ identity, the purpose of
the Incarnation, his relation to his Father
• Miracles demand faith
Sign 1: Changing water to Wine (John 2:1-12)
• A nature miracle
• Beginning of Jesus’ public ministry
 First public event to reveal his glory
• Wedding (weeklong): Jesus enjoyed ordinary life
 Weddings: festive occasions a symbols of new life
(Messianic Banquet in God’s Kingdom)
• Role of Mary: model of faith, intercessor,
compassionate concern; simple, compassionate,
persistent faith in her son to save the reputation
of the couple
• “My hour” – refers to Jesus’ passion, death,
resurrection, the climax of giving up his life or
humanity
• Water (baptism); Wine (Eucharist)
• Foreshadowed his ministry: being in touch with
people and helping them by acting with authority
Sign 2: Cure of the Official’s Son
(John 4: 46-54)
• Setting: Cana
• Power of Jesus’ word is enough to heal the son
of a court official from Capernaum (Gentile)
• Importance of Father’s faith; intercessory prayer
Sign 3: Cure of the Paralytic at the Pool
(John 5:1-47)
• Healing a man on the Sabbath who was lame for
38 years
• Jesus as the source of life
• Torah: forbid healing a non-life-threatening
illness on the Sabbath
 Jesus explains that God works on the Sabbath
 “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” (5:17)
 Jesus is claiming to be equal to God
• Use of “Jews” in a hostile way
 Antagonism between Jesus and Jews is so intense that
it appears anti-Semitic
 Result of Roman Revolt and those who stubbornly
refuse to accept an engage in lifeless religious practices
Signs 4 & 5: Feeding of 5,000 and the Walking
on Water (John 6:1-14; 16-24)
• Parallel the Exodus miracles of manna in the
desert and the parting of the Red Sea
• Setting: time of Passover feast
• Jesus feeds the hungry crowd – Has to escape
their attempt to make him king
 Long dialogue: “Bread of Life” (6: 25-70)
 Symbolism: Jesus has replaced the manna of the
Exodus
 Jesus as the new bread God has given to them, their
source of eternal life
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never
hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
(6:35)
 Jesus teaches the necessity of eating the flesh of his
body and drinking his blood (refers to he Eucharist)
• Jesus walking on the water: “It is I, do not be
afraid.” (6:21) reveal his identity
 “It is I” (ego eimi in Greek): similar to the name God
revealed to Moses (Yahweh) which means “I am”
 God is with us and will never leave us
Sign 6: Cure of the Blind Man (John 9:1-41)
• Man born blind: washed at the Pool of Siloam;
received his sight
 He gradually began to see who Jesus really was
 “Man called Jesus”- prophet- Man from God – Son of
God
 Cured man: challenged by authorities, thrown out of the
synagogue
 Remain faithful to Jesus and your faith will also deepen
 Spiritually blind (Pharisees) refuse to see who Jesus
really was; worse than physical blindness (9:41)
Sign 7: The Raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-44)
• The most important miracle in John’s gospel
• Prefigures Jesus’ own death and resurrection
• Wanted to go to Lazarus so his Father could
glorify him through a dramatic sign
• Caiaphas (high Priest): “It is better for you that
one man should die instead of the people, so
that the whole nation may not perish.” (11:50)
 Ironical statement
• Sums up all the other signs
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Jesus is the way of life
He is the resurrection
He is God (“I am”)
Faith: essential to gain eternal life
• John 12: Mary anoints Jesus at Bethany
(conclusion to the Book of Signs)
The Book of Glory (John 13:1-20:31)
• Last Supper Discourse (John 13-17): prepares
apostles for hour of glory; passion; promises the
Holy Spirit; instructions on how to live after the
Resurrection
• Jesus’ Death and Resurrection (John 18-20):
reveal God’s love for us and Jesus’ triumph over
death
• Epilogue: Chapter 21
The Last Supper Discourses (John 13-17)
• Last Supper occurs 1 day earlier than in the
Synoptics
 Sacrifice of lambs for the Passover (Israel in slavery with
Egypt)
 Jesus as the Lamb of God whose sacrifice on the cross
has freed all people from the slavery of sin
 Every Eucharist re-presents the sacrifice of the cross
• Meal: act of humility (washing of the feet)
 Objection of Peter; example of humble service
• Only gospel to record this incident
 Judas left the meal to go into the night (symbol for the
darkness of Satan)
 “As I have loved you, so you also should love one
another.” (13:35)
 Jesus proved his love by dying and rising for us – wants
us to die to our selfishness and give life to others by
attending to their needs
• Chapters 14-17: the heart of Jesus’ last
discourse
 A farewell speech; recalls past; urges the listeners to
great deeds; gives words of encouragement; promises
prayers
 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through me. . . Whoever has seen
me has seen the Father.” (14:6,9)
 Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit (Paraclete)
• Chapter 15: one of the most important chapters
in the entire New Testament
 He is the vine, we are the branches who get our life from
him
 What does the pruning process represent? What
happens if the branches remain attached to the vine?
What does the fruit represent?
 Jesus also calls us his friends (15:13-17)
 Keep his commandments and love one another (Heart of
the Good News)
• Jesus assumes a priestly role by interceding for
us, by praying to his Father on our behalf (17:126)
 Priest: a mediator between God and people
 Jesus prays for unity, a oneness in community with the
Father, Son, and Spirit
The Resurrection of Jesus (John 20-21)
• A major revelation of the Father
• Emphasizes Jesus’ commissioning of the
leaders to continue his work and reconciliation
• First appearance to Mary Magdalene (Rabbouni)
 Faith and love: keys to discipleship, not work, wealth,
position, prestige, gender or power
• John allows Peter to enter the empty tomb
(Leadership role of Peter)
• Thomas: “My Lord and my God”, the highest
proclamation of faith in Jesus
• Gospel originally ended with Chapter 20
• Chapter 21: appearances in Galilee
 Symbolism of fishing, preparation of a breakfast
 Recommissions Peter (denied Jesus 3X)
3 fold
promise of love
The Resurrection Narratives Compared
• Resurrection: early morning on the first day of
the week
• Women present at the tomb (Mary Magdalene)
• Messengers at the tomb
• Jesus appears to his disciples
• Jesus’ body shone with the glory of God’s life
Meaning of the Resurrection
• Proves Jesus’ claim to be God’s Son; confirms
Jesus’ works and teachings; fulfills Old
Testament promises; proves Jesus’ divinity
• Justifies us in God’s grace; adopts us into the
divine family