The four gospels deal with the earthly life of the Saviour. Each one presents Him in an entirely different character.
Matthew the son of David - heir of the throne of Israel - King of the Jews
Mark - equal servant of Jehovah, perfect workman of God - Christ Jesus as a servant - prophet
Luke - the humanity of the Saviour - perfect man - contrasting him from the sinful Son of men
John - the heavenly one came down to earth - the eternal Son of the Father made flesh - the truth that dwelleth among men
Sometimes the Book of John is known as the "Salvation Gospel". It is a great Book for those who would be soul winners. The Book of John is presented as Christ the eternal Word, incarnated, the very God in the flesh. The Book of John is a Book of details ...examples.
1. Nathanael under the fig tree (John 1:43-51)
2. Six water pots at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11)
3. The lad with five loaves and two fishes (John 6:5-14)
4. Mary & Martha - when Martha went forth to meet Him after the death of Lazarus (John 11:19-46)
5. Gives details of Jesus washing the disciples feet (John 13:1-16)
6. Gives record of Nicodemus with Joseph of Arimathaea going to bury Jesus - He even tells the weight and names of the spices brought for preparing Christ's body. (John 19:38,39)
7. There is no question that John wrote this Book - because only an eye witness would have known these facts.
THE THEME OF THE BOOK
The divine person (John 1:1)
The key to the gospel of John sets forth three things about Christ
1) He is deity: He is the Son of God
2) His humanity: He is Jesus Saviour
3) His Messiah-ship: He is Christ Jesus become man Saviour born of a virgin.
The purpose of the book of John is found in verse 7. "That all men through him might believe."
A. It is paramount to understand the subject of this gospel. Christ's
relationship with the Father. John presents him in the following ways:
1. Christ was in the beginning with the Father. (John 1:1)
2. He was manifested in the flesh. (John 1:14)
3. Christ was manifested as the Son of God, revealed in the Word, in deeds, and in public testimony. (John 1:15-12:50)
4. Christ was privately manifested to his disciples as the Son of God. (John 13:1- John 17)
5. Christ was manifested as the Son of God in His betrayal by Judas, His mock trial and in His death. (John 18:1-19:42)
6. Christ was vindicated as the Son of God in His resurrection and in His revealing Himself to the disciples after His resurrection, proving that He was the Christ. (John 20:1 - 21:25)
B. It is a joy because of the Book of John, that we can realize that our
Saviour was God in the flesh, and we can understand His Words which
are "Spirit and life." (John 6:63b)
1. The Word made flesh helps us to appreciate His deeds and miracles.
2. Christ made possible the fulfillment of the Scriptures ordained of God. (Galatians 4:4,5) (I Peter 1:20)
3. Our writer wrapped himself in the love of His Saviour. He had a walk of love, joy, happiness, and peace in his journey through this world.
4. We know little about John's regular life because he wanted to devote and exalt Christ.
5. Peter loved the Lord but lost some of his devotion because of himself. (Luke 22:31-33) (Matt. 26:33-35)
6. The disciples realized that He was the Godhead Christ, the Word.
(Titus 2:13) (John 1:14) Grace saved us and truth set us free.7. It is John the beloved who gives us the words from Jesus Christ's lips. Isn't it amazing that there are seven?
a. I am the bread of life. (John 6:48)
b. I am the light of the world. (John 8:12)
c. I am the door. (John 10:9)
d. I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
e. I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)
f. I am the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)
g. I am the true vine (John 15:1)
h. The I AM'S - look back to the days of Moses and the Pharaoh. (Exodus 3:13,14)
i. Jesus angered the scribes, Pharisees and elders. (Read John 8:58) ("Before Abraham was, I Am")
8. As we read John 1:11-13, we read about the adoption of the Gentile races and now we see "whosoever will".
a. Only in the Gospel of John is the new birth brought to us. The
other three gospels do not reveal the terms of the new birth to
bring the lost into the family of God.b. We do not find in the Books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, "I Am the Good Shepherd."
c. In John 10:16 He talks about the "OTHER SHEEP", The gentile race.
d. None of the other Gospels give words like John 14:1-3.
e. John reveals the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the believers. The other Gospels speak of the Spirit, but it is John that says we are born of the Spirit, and that He is our Comforter. (John 3:5) (John 14:16)
f. There is no other chapter in the Bible like John 17. (The prayer of intercession)