Gospel of John
Title: Gospel of John. John is disciple of
Jesus (1:6-8; 21:20, 24-25). He is raised in Priestly tradition (John 18:15;
20:4-5).
Date of
writing: Before 70
AD.
Structure: The Gospel of John can be
structured around the three Passovers:
Introduction and gathering of the disciples: 1:1 –
2:12
The first
Passover: 2:13-25
Narrative of Nicodemus and Samaritan Woman: ch. 3 – 4
The second
Passover and the Bread of Life: ch. 5 – 6
Narrative that leads to rejection: ch. 7 – 11
The third
Passover: ch. 12 – 20
Conclusion
and commissioning of the disciples: ch. 21
Alternative structure is adopted (and “improved”) from James
B. Jordan “Through New Eyes”, p. 267-68. John 1:14 establishes the connection
between the story of Jesus and the Tabernacle:
Gospel of John |
Tabernacle |
Lamb of God – 1:29, 36 |
Altar |
Stories with Water, Ch. 2 – 5 2: 13:1-20 |
Laver of cleansing |
Bread of Life, Ch. 6 – 7 2: 13:21-30 |
Table of Showbread |
Light of the world, Ch. 8 – 10 2: 14 – 16 |
Lampstand |
Prayers of Jesus, Ch. 11 – 12 2: 17 |
Altar of Incense |
Darkness and tomb, Ch. 18 – 20 |
Holy of Holies |
Going outside the court, Ch. 21 |
Beyond the Tabernacle |
Main
themes:
Believing
that Jesus is the Christ – 20:30-31, cp. Mt. 23:34-36.
Jesus is the
embodiment of the sacred presence of the Temple, cp. Structure
Jesus as the
Word/New Torah, the New Way of Life, Deut. 30:15-16 vs. Jh. 14:6
Main
Characters: Jesus,
John the Baptizer, Andrew and Peter, Philip and Nathanael, the Disciple whom
Jesus loved, Nicodemus, Samaritan Woman, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, the High
Priests, Pilate, Mary Magdalene.
Reflection
in other parts of the Bible:
12:27-28 is
a background for the Gethsemane account (Mt. 26:36-56; Mk. 14:32-50; Lk.
22:39-54a, cp. Jn 18:1-12 [no Prayer about the Cup]).
Exodus 25 –
31 is important to understand the structure of the Gospel.
Lev. 23
provides the calendar which help to understand what feasts Jesus goes to.
Jesus as the
Temple in John helps understand the symbolism of 1 Cor. 3:10-17.
Lutheran
teaching:
Lutheran
Confession draw heavily on 1:14; 3:35 etc. What interesting is that ch. 6 is
one of the main scriptural foundations in discussion of election – FC, SD XI:
28, 67, 68, 76.
Also 15:5 (I
am the vine…) is used at least 11 times, from AC XX:31, 39 to FC, Epitome II:6.
Lutheran
hymnody:
20:30-31 is
a basis for the liturgical canticle preceding the reading of the Holy Gospel.
LSB 849 –
many points of the Gospel are picked up in the hymn – turning blindness into
sight (9:1-12), well of living water (4:1-26; 7:37-39), the Word incarnate
(1:14), the One who makes us one (17:20-23).
LSB 855:10 –
the Woman at the Well.
Relevancy
of the Book:
This
beautiful Gospel tells us that the great I AM (used independently 7 times
throughout the narrative) is powerful to forgive, accept, and commission His
followers into the world, yet sparing them from mingling with the world. The
sacred union of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is the ultimate union
His disciples are invited to join by the new birth through the waters of
baptism.
Memory
verses:
5:24 – Truly,
truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has
eternal life. He does not come into judgement, but has passed from death to
life.
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