JESUS CHRIST:
GOD’S REVELATION TO
THE WORLD
CHAPTER 9
JESUS IN
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
Organization of John’s Gospel

Prologue
– Highlights the theme of the Gospel

The Book of Signs
– Miracles and their teachings

The Book of Glory
– Explanation of Jesus’ Passion, Death and
Resurrection

Epilogue: Resurrection Appearances
– Differences between Jesus’ newly resurrected
body and his former one
Background of the
Gospel of John

Date: likely between 90 and 100 AD
– Earliest fragment of New Testament writing is
from John’s Gospel: John Rylands Greek papyrus

Author: John, the “Beloved Disciple”
– Possibly written in several stages and edited by
different people who were inspired by John

Audience: diverse group that included
Samaritan converts, Gentile Christians and
Jewish Christians who were expelled from
synagogues
Themes of the
Gospel of John
Strengthen the faith of
the believers
Win new converts
Fight false ideas about
Jesus’ full humanity or
even his divinity
Challenge followers of
John the Baptist who
wrongly believed he
was the Messiah
The Uniqueness of
John’s Gospel
More mystical than
the synoptics
 Emphasizes that
Jesus Christ is true
God and true man
 New characters
appear
 Jewish feasts are
highlighted over
Jesus’ three-year
ministry

Center of Jesus’
ministry is
Jerusalem
 Long, extended
discourses rather
than short sayings or
parables
 Jesus is the focus of
God’s Revelation—
”I AM”
 Very poetic

The Incarnation
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God . . . And the word became flesh.”
The Incarnation
sarks (Greek), carne (Latin)
FLESH
WE CANNOT BE HUMAN BEINGS
WITHOUT BODIES!
Docetism: an early heresy that was associated with the
Gnostics that claimed that Jesus had no human body and only
appeared to die on the Cross
The Importance of
the Incarnation
If Jesus Christ only
seemed to be human,
then he didn’t really die
and rise.
If Jesus Christ only
seemed to be human,
then our human nature
is not healed.
If Jesus Christ only
seemed to be human,
then we have never
perceived the Glory of
God.
Mary, the Mother of God
By responding “yes” to God’s invitation to the Incarnation
at the Annunciation, Mary was already collaborating with
the whole work her Son was to accomplish.
Christology
The study of Jesus
Christ—trying to
understand who he is
John focuses on the
heavenly origins of
Christ and his
fundamental identity
as God’s only Son.
The synoptics provide
a narrative of Jesus of
Nazareth and develop
his story as an ascent
to glory through the
Paschal Mystery.
The Signs in John’s Gospel
Sign 1: The Wedding at Cana
Jesus changed the
water into wine; we
believe that he can
change us.
Water symbolizes
baptism; wine
symbolizes the
Eucharist.
Mary’s concern for
others moved her to
intercede.
The Signs in John’s Gospel
Sign 2: Cure of the Official’s
Son
Power of Jesus’ word
was enough to heal the
son of a court official
Jesus can rescue us from
spiritual death.
Shows the power of
intercessory prayer
(prayer for others)
Sign 3: Cure on a Sabbath
Jesus is the source of
life.
“My Father is at work
until now, so I am at
work.”
Both the Son and the
Father work on the
Sabbath.
The Signs in John’s Gospel
Sign 4 and 5: Multiplication of
Loaves and Walking on Water
Recall Moses’
miracles in Exodus
after the first
Passover
Manna in the desert
Walking through the
Red Sea
Jesus is the New
Moses and the true
Passover.
Bread of Life
Discourse
After these signs,
Jesus tells his disciples
that he replaces the
manna of the Exodus.
He is the source of
eternal life—the
Eucharist.
The Eucharist brings
about an intimate
relationship between
Christ and the Church.
Peter: Master, to
whom shall we go?
The Signs in John’s Gospel
Sign 6: Cure of a Man Born
Blind
Contrasts a blind man who
was given sight with those
who had physical sight yet
were spiritually blind.
Remain faithful to Jesus
and your faith will deepen.
The Lord teaches that
spiritual blindness is worse
than physical blindness.
Sign 7: Raising of Lazarus
This most important sign
prefigures Jesus’ own
Death and Resurrection.
Sums up all the signs
 Jesus is the way of life
 Jesus is the Resurrection
 Jesus is God (“I Am”).
Faith is essential for us to
gain eternal life.
The Last Supper
John reports the Last Supper
occurred on the day the Jews
killed the lambs for Passover.
Every Eucharist re-presents in
an unbloody manner the one
Sacrifice of Christ.
Jesus washes the feet of his
disciples.
He promises to send the
Paraclete, the Holy Spirit
The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus
The Lord greatly desires to live in us, people
united to him.
Passion Narrative
Jesus is in control of the
events of his Passion.
John highlights the Old
Testament prophecies
concerning the
crucifixion.
Jesus entrusted his
Mother to the Beloved
Disciple, and
symbolically, to the
whole Church.
Resurrection of Jesus
The central event of our Salvation!
John shows how a personal encounter
with Jesus, not an empty tomb, brings
about faith.
Jesus appears to the Apostles and
commissions them to continue his work,
to be missionaries
Comparing the
Resurrection Narratives
All four Gospels agree on the
following essentials:
The Resurrection took place
early in the morning on the first
day of the week.
 Women were present at the
tomb, definitely including Mary
Magdalene.
 The stone had been rolled away
and the tomb was empty.
 A messenger or messengers
who spoke to the women were
at the tomb; the women were to
tell the disciples what took
place.
