John

 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.