Matthew introduces his gospel as “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ” indicating that He had become a man and as such was the Christ, the Messiah, the promised anointed one.
Mark introduces him as “the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” indicating that it was about the good news of God’s having become flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.
Luke wrote the gospel that bears his name to Theophilus “that thou mightiest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed”, “those things which are most surely believed among us” and proceeds to detail the birth of Jesus.
John introduces Jesus as “the Word” which was in the beginning and was God, but who “was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
In the gospels what we have is God dwelling among men in the person Jesus Christ demonstrating His grace and truth. As the Tabernacle was a symbol of God’s dwelling among men providing the only means by which men might approach Him, so in Christ was God seen reconciling the world to himself.
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
The apostle John was moved by the Holy Spirit to write this gospel and three epistles plus the Revelation of Jesus Christ some 15 to 20 years after all other New Testament writers had completed their inspired writings. Why so much by one writer so late? Was there something missing in the earlier writings, or was there something that they had written that needed to be emphasized? Had something changed that required further word from God?
Is there a common denominator in these five books by John that might provide the answer to our questions about why? I believe there is. In his gospel he stated his purpose by saying that “these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name.” (20:31) His purpose statement in His first epistle says, “these things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (5:13) In second John he identifies Jesus as Lord, the Christ, the Son of the Father and having come in the flesh. He identifies the doctrine of Christ as essential to Christianity. He also associates Him with truth and love. In his third epistle he does not write directly of Jesus, but refers to truth no less than six times. In his gospel John quotes Jesus as saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (14:6) The last book to be written by John is entitled the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
The common denominator of John’s writings, I believe, and the answer to the question, “What did God have in mind when He directed John to write these five books so long after the others had stopped writing?” is that, in the light of the false teaching that was so prevalent and that would continue until the Lord’s return, as well as our tendency to respond to the bulk of information provided in the epistles by making our mission administration rather than evangelism, He wanted to place a huge exclamation point upon the truth that Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life”. Truth is absolute and absolutely vested in Jesus Christ the Lord, the Christ, the Son of the Father and having come in the flesh.
As I write this, we are experiencing a worldwide pandemic with its related governmentally imposed isolation experiences of wearing a mask, quarantining, and social distancing. Consequently our attention has been focused on how to meet together maintaining the healthy practices required of us. Once again we are in danger of making administration the central focus of our activities rather than evangelism. Jesus Christ is to be our message and sharing the message our mission.
John did not begin by presenting Jesus as a fetus, a baby, or even as a young man. He went all the way back to “the beginning” and begins with His deity and mission. In doing so, he makes clear that Jesus’ involvement in human history was not simply God’s late arriving solution to a problem, but that He was involved in creating the situation which would cost Him His birth, life, death and resurrection. He is God and John began his gospel account by presenting Him in all His glory then proceeds in the following manner:
1:1-18 The glory of Jesus, the Son of God
1:19-4:54 The presentation of Jesus to man
5:1-12:50 The rejection of Jesus by man
13:1-17:26 The preparation by Jesus of His disciples
18:1-19:37 The crucifixion of Jesus by and for man
19:38-21:23 The resurrection of Jesus by God
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Blog posts re: introducing Jesus
10/25/2020
The gospel of John is one of the most relevant books of the Bible for today. At the end of the Old Testament Israel was in turmoil much as we are today. At that time God sent Jesus as the solution to their problems. God sent Jesus to be the solution to today’s problems as well.
One of the major questions of today is, “What is happening to life as we have known it?” “Will we ever return to normal?” To answer these questions correctly we must understand life itself.
At the time John wrote his gospel, philosophers, religious leaders and others wanting to be heard on the questions of life were claiming to have “the word” on the matter. It is not insignificant that John introduced Jesus as “the word”. He was and is the answer to all man’s most basic questions. Jesus is what life is all about.
In 20:31 John explained his Purpose for writing by saying, “many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
I have highlighted the words believe, Jesus, and life because they represent themes that John develops in presenting Jesus. Even though we think of the gospels as historical books about the life of Jesus, John presents him through a selected group of “signs” that Jesus did.
While I’m sure other people proposing their ideas as “the word” would have wanted to be believed, John is asking his readers to believe Jesus’ words rather than his own. Why should we believe Jesus’ words? John answers that by the way he, John the Baptist, and Jesus Himself introduce Him. The tell Who He is, where He came from and why He came.
Lord willing, next post we will begin looking at how John introduced Him.
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Who is Jesus that we should think He has all the answers?
10/26/ 2020
John 1:1-5 Speaking emphatically, John begins his presentation of Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of God” through whom one who believes might have life, with a very relevant and powerful statement. He identified Jesus as “the word”, a statement that was being used by philosophers and others wanting people to believe that they had the answers to life’s most serious questions. They had the word on the subject.
Jesus, according to John, not only has the word but is Himself the word and explains why it is appropriate for him to use that expression of Jesus. He was already in existence when everything else was created, in fact, it was He who did the creating and He did it not only as a companion of God but as God.
That’s right, John is saying that Jesus is the answer to life’s most serious questions because He is life’s creator. He is not dependent on any outside source for life for Himself or for us. This fact accounts for His authority on all man’s questions. Light exposes things that exist in darkness for what they really are. I use my nighttime walking around the house without a light on as an illustration of this. If you’ve ever kicked a table leg while walking in darkness you will remember very vividly how it felt. Had we turned a light on it would have exposed that table leg as something to be avoided and with that knowledge we could have avoided significant pain.
Spiritually, Jesus exposes painful things so that we can avoid them and their consequences. There is nothing darkness can do to prevent this because of who He is—God the creator of everything.
1:6-8 John makes a short introduction of John the Baptist explaining that while he too was sent from God and was a light of sorts, he was not Jesus.
1:9-14 This Jesus who is the answer to everyone’s questions was coming into the world, in fact He was already in the world but even though made by Him, it failed to recognize Him. Even the Jewish of whom He was born into the flesh did not receive Him as who He is.
This failure to receive Him by the Jewish people, those people with whom God had made a covenant about 1400 years earlier, did not result in the failure of His mission. All who did receive Him, through believing in Him, as who He really is were given the power/authority to become the sons of God. These people did not do this all on their own but came to this situation by the will of God.
I don’t like to leave this passage of scripture at this point because there is so much here. When we consider the events of the garden of Eden and all that had transpired from then until the time of Jesus’ coming it is somewhat overwhelming to think God would do this for the likes of us and then when we add our own sinfulness to this, it is overwhelming.
Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-10 that it is by grace that we are saved through faith and even that is not of ourselves but a gift from God. As we get to know Jesus through the gospel of John, the grace of God just grows and grows in our spiritual understanding.
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“Full of grace and truth”
10/27/2020
John was not talking about any of this year’s American political candidates when he wrote that He was “full of grace and truth”, he was talking about Jesus. We could sure use some of that around here about now couldn’t we. That’s why I think we need to focus more on Jesus then, perhaps, we who take His name would take on more of His character.
1:15-34 It is interesting to note that John began his gospel by introducing Jesus himself, then telling us of John the Baptist’s introduction of Him, then devotes the rest of the book to Jesus’ introduction of Himself.
John introduced Jesus as “the word, with God in the beginning, God, creator of everything, the embodiment of life and light, in the world but unknown by them, rejected by the Jewish people, made flesh, dwelt among us, and full of grace and truth”.
John the Baptist introduced Him as: “preferred before me, was before me, cometh after me, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world, and the Son of God”. John the Baptist focused more on what Jesus did than who He was. He said that Grace and truth came by Jesus the Christ, using the title Christ for the first time in this gospel thus indicating that His coming was fulfillment of God’s promise of an anointed one. He takes away the sin of the world and baptizes with the Holy Ghost thereby preparing His disciples for carrying on His mission after His descent to the right hand of the Father.
The gospel writer’s introduction was more theological whereas the evangelist’s introduction was primarily practical. At 1:29 the record begins shifting to Jesus activities and arguments. I would like to look first at His arguments, that is, what He had to say that indicated how He saw Himself, then Lord willing we may take a look at how His activities helped identify Him.
Over the years I have learned and/or been exposed to several ways of presenting the gospel to the unsaved and invariably they begin with the bad news, man’s sin. I find it very significant that John begins with the solution rather than the problem. I have come to believe that in our evangelistic enthusiasm, we have been doing a less than adequate job of presenting Jesus. Where should we begin in fulfilling our commission to “preach the gospel to every creature”? The obvious answer is to begin with “the gospel” that is, “the good news”. Let’s start focusing our lives and speech more on Jesus, especially in these troublesome days. The world needs some grace and truth.
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Believe, life, and light are prominent words used by Jesus in introducing Himself.
10/28/22
I am the bread of life (John 6:35)
John the apostle introduced Jesus in theological terms while John the Baptist introduced Him in practical terms, now we will observe Jesus’ introduction of Himself in personal terms. Seven times John records Jesus as using the expression “I am” metaphorically and each time he follows it with a statement of how it personally benefits someone other than Himself.
This life that Jesus is, is eternal life and eternal life is what life as we now experience it is all about. In John 6:35 Jesus said to the crowd who had been fed with the little boy’s lunch, “I am the bread of life” but He didn’t stop having made the statement, He went on to explain the significance of this by saying, “he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” He went on to explain that this was His mission and that it would be completed all the way to the resurrection of the believer into eternity. (6:27, 37-40)
Jesus has a lot to say about salvation in this chapter. Salvation comes about as the Father draws one to Himself (v. 44, 65) and whom He draws shall never be cast out (v. 37) but will be raised up at the last day (v. 44). Jesus is the only source of eternal life (v. 47, 53) and he who “eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day” (v. 54) and “dwelleth in me, and I in him.” (v. 56)
One cannot help but notice the closeness and permanence of the relationship which is formed through belief in Him. Throughout this conversation with the unbelieving crowd, (v. 36) Jesus seems to be holding a sense of despair at their unbelief and a strong desire to overcome it as He repeats Himself often and focuses on the certainty of salvation for those who believe and seems to be feeling a sense of loss on His and the Father’s part.
As I study this chapter I can only sense the deep desire Jesus and the father have for eternal fellowship with righteous people, people who are hopelessly loss in heir own right, but may come unchangeably into fellowship with the Father and Son by Grace.
Jonathan Edwards sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” certainly described God’s attitude toward sin, but not at all towards the sinner. John 3:16 begins, “For God so loved the world” and ends with a statement of how it personally benefits all who believe. This is the message of Jesus, He came for our eternal benefit desiring strongly that we receive it. This is where evangelism effectively begins.
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I am the light of the world (John 8:12)
We live in a dark world—all around us search frantically for truth but lack the facility to find it being in spiritual blindness. This is not a new issue. Paul wrote nearly 2000 years ago, “when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Romans 1:21)
Jesus Christ as “the Light [that] shines in the darkness” (1:5); “the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man”. (1:9) However, “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light . . .” (3:19)
John introduced Jesus as “the Word” (1:1) later explaining that, “In Him was life and the life was the light of the world” (1:4). Jesus himself said, “I am the light of the world.” “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.” (8:12)
The world sells products based on their benefit. Jesus said, “Be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8) Christianity is to be “sold” based on the benefactor. Jesus is the light of the world. He doesn’t provide the answer, He is the answer!
The truth about salvation is personal and permanent, not just theological.
10/30/2020
I am the door of the sheep (John 10:7)
I am the good shepherd (John 10:11)
Jesus used the analogy of a sheepfold to teach two truths about who He is in terms of personal benefit to “whosoever believeth on Him.” The first is that He is the door by which, “if any man enter in, he shall be saved”. In the garden of Eden, Adam forfeited our spiritual safety but God’s immediate response was to announce His plan to provide redemption back into it through “her seed”. Jesus is that seed and the only means of entry back into the safety of a family relationship with God.
Today man is spiritually hungry and Jesus is the bread of life. He is in darkness and Jesus is the light of the world. He is outside God’s fold and Jesus is the door by which “any man” (v. 9) enter in he shall be saved from spiritual hunger, moral darkness, and endless otherwise unanswered questions.
But, it is not just a theological proposition, Jesus is also, “the good shepherd.” (10:11) the shepherd is a living, breathing, caring, acting being. “The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep”. He knows his sheep and is known by them.
Salvation is not just a change of status with God but entrance into an active, caring, permanent relationship. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
10/31/2020
I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)
In a conversation with Martha about her brother’s death, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25-26) He then went on to demonstrate the reality of this be raising Lazarus.
Again, we see that Jesus is not simply interested in establishing who He is theologically, but wants people to know that who he is benefits them by bringing them into eternal life with He and the Father. Jesus did not just simply exist as a theological entity but exists as God in the flesh, come to be our substitute in death that we might have eternal life. His mission was not just to teach this truth but to make it real to all who will believe.
He said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” He was not simply empowered by God to give us eternal life, but He is both the cause and reality of that life and guarantees it through resurrection. This one with whom we enter into relationship at salvation is not just a very close friend, or even just a family member, but He is the life that we have and will see us through death, resurrection and into the Father’s presence for eternity.
It’s not just that He is able to do this, but that this is at the very essence of who He is. He is the life which we live as believers. They should be lived unselfishly and unreservedly for His pleasure. Remember, He is repeatedly identifying Himself the same way God did to Moses at the burning bush—I Am! He is the eternally self-existent one. He owes nothing to anyone except to His own character. He must be true to Himself and He will be as He always has been. By God’s grace He is my resurrection and my life!
It’s not what you know but who you know that counts.
11/2/2020
I am the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6)
After describing His Father’s house and the preparations He is making for His disciples there, Jesus went on to explain how to get there. Belief in God and Himself will result in His return for us and transport to that eternal residence.
In John 14:6 He explained that, “I am the way, the truth and the life” indicating His involvement in our salvation from beginning to end. He is completely and exclusively involved, but that does not in any way exclude the Father. He said, “I am in the Father, and the Father in me” . . . “the Father that dwelleth in me, He it is that doeth the works.”
While it is still not within human understanding how the Father and the Son can be separate yet one, the best explanation I can think of is that they are separate and identifiable persons but are one being. He repeatedly uses the same identity as God used at the burning bush to identify Himself to His followers. He is Jehovah as is the Father.
One thing we need to understand about salvation is that one does not have to know and understand everything about God but must be willing to accept what we don’t know by faith. Jesus said, “I am the truth”. God said, “whosoever believeth in Him should . . . have everlasting life.”
“Believe” in this case means to “rely completely upon”. There is no plan B for salvation. Jesus said, “I am the way” and not only am I the way, I am also “the truth”, (that is the reality) and I am actually “the life.” He neither adds, nor allows for the addition of a0nything else. HE IS OUR SALVATION! We must rely completely on Him for life and in life.
Jesus introduced himself in terms of who He is and how that enables us in our lives.
11/03/2020
I am the true vine (John 15:1)
Jesus’ final metaphorical use of the “I Am” statement in John’s gospel identifies Him as the “True Vine” and connects that with His Father being the Husbandman—the vine dresser. He has repeatedly identified God as the one who determines who becomes Jesus’ followers. Particularly in 6:37, 39, 40, 44, 45, 57, 65. This does not, however, exclude anyone who will believe on Him.
God created man with the ability to make choices, both good and bad. Having given us that ability, He does not override it. Notice in Genesis 22:12 God said to Abraham just as he reached for the knife to slay Isaac, “now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son.” In reality, God knew from the very beginning what Abraham would do, but He did not disallow him the opportunity to choose whether to be obedient or disobedient.
God has determined that “whosoever believeth in Him shall have everlasting life” and He knows who will believe, but He still awaits our decision, including all who do and excluding all who don’t, even though it is His desire that all be saved. (1 Timothy 2:3-4)
“As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself . . . no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” (v. 4) Once again Jesus follows His I Am statement with a statement of how this benefits us and here He kind of pulls it all together. “I am the true vine, and my father is the husbandman, ye are the branches.” (v. 1, 5) In verse 16 He says, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.” His parting words in Acts 1:8 were, “ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” What He has been saying about Himself with these “I Am” statements is that who He is will be the essence of our relationship with Him and our resource for pursuing what our relationship with Him is all about during our time here on earth.
Salvation brings us into a relationship with Jesus and God which is an integral part of God’s eternal purpose. That purpose is seen in its fulfilment in John’s views of heaven in Revelation 4, 5, 21-22. There we see vast numbers of people and angels serving/worshiping God. He has desired to dwell among righteous people since creation, but due to the entrance of sin, has had to purchase them through the blood of His only begotten Son. It is our responsibility to make this known throughout the world and among all people groups. That is a huge job but He was able to ascend to heaven leaving it to a small group of uneducated men because of their relationship with Him and what that relationship involves.
Jesus repeatedly identified Himself in terms of who He is, not what He did or will do although those are significant elements of our relationship with Him. Who Jesus is governs our relationship with Him in every aspect and provides everything we need in order to glorify the Father.
Who Jesus is not only provides us direct resources, it also provides us access to the Father for “whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name.” (15:16) Notice that this information falls within the chapter that deals with the concept of vine/branches and fruit bearing. Prayer is not just a provision for making our lives better it is for enabling us to fulfill our mission. Lord willing prayer will be the focus of our next set of blogs beginning in a few days.
Last edited 11/03/2020
Walkin the Walk 