John

Far from being mere repetition, the subject matter of this, the final Gospel, is as distinct as that of the first three. In the Gospel of John the Lord Jesus is presented as the Son of God (John 1:3434And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. (John 1:34)). It is God revealed as light and love. John sets forth the divine glory of His person, because of who He is—the “I am” (John 8:5858Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (John 8:58)).
There are many marks that distinguish the Gospel of John. While the previous three Gospels are synoptic—giving an outline of the Lord’s life—we do not find this in John. Rather, “In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:44In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4)). In this Gospel we have no genealogy, and no record of His birth, finding instead what He was in the beginning, before creation—the Eternal Son. He was God before He became Man.
As Son of God, we do not read of the agony in the garden; rather, we see His divine majesty overawing His enemies (John 18:66As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. (John 18:6)). There are no parables, and only one miracle in common with the other Gospels (John 6:5-145When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. (John 6:5‑14)). There are a number of words peculiar to John’s Gospel, not that they don’t occur elsewhere, but nowhere with such regularity. Four of them—“love”, “world”, “believe” and “life”—are to be found together in John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). On twenty-five occasions the Lord introduces His words with “verily, verily” (or truly, truly), such is their importance.
Christ’s rejection by Israel is assumed from the outset: “He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:1111He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (John 1:11)). That which pertains to Judaism is always “of the Jews” (such as ch. 2:6, 2:13 and 5:1)—a phrase that occurs infrequently in the other Gospels, but many times in John. John the Baptist identifies the Lord, not as the Messiah, but as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:2929The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)). Beautifully, it is not his public testimony, but the expression of his heart—“Behold the Lamb of God!” (John 1:3636And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! (John 1:36))—that turns his disciples to follow Him. John gathers to the Lord; Jesus gathers to Himself—“Follow me” (John 1:4343The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. (John 1:43)). When Nathaniel owns the Lord as the Son of God, the King of Israel—a picture to us of the Jewish remnant—the Lord immediately introduces the “Son of Man”, a title that takes us beyond Israel to His universal headship (John 1:5151And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. (John 1:51)).
In chapter 3 we find that the only way into the kingdom of God is through new birth (John 3:33Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)). The flesh, no matter how religious, cannot enter the kingdom; it must be judged, and the One who is life must die. There is nothing in man pleasing to God: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:66That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6)). God cannot trust man (John 2:2424But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, (John 2:24)); instead, man must place His trust in God (John 3: 36). The first three chapters are introductory to the entire book.
Going before them, they follow Him (John 10:44And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (John 10:4)). He is our all: “I am the bread of life” (ch. 6); “I am the light of the world” (ch. 8); “I am the door” (ch. 10); “I am the good shepherd” (ch. 10); “I am the resurrection, and the life” (ch. 11); “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (ch. 14:6); “I am the true vine” (ch. 15).
If the Lord gathers, He also divides because of His person (John 7:4343So there was a division among the people because of him. (John 7:43)), because of His works (John 9:1616Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. (John 9:16)) and because of His words (John 10:1919There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. (John 10:19)). In chapter 9, the Lord Jesus and those that believe on Him are rejected and cast out (John 9:3434They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. (John 9:34)). In chapter 10, He calls His own by name and leads them out of the fold (Judaism), that there might be one flock (the church) and one Shepherd (John 10:3, 163To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. (John 10:3)
16And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:16) JND). In chapter 11 we have the prophecy that He would die, not just for Israel, “but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad” (John 11:5252And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. (John 11:52)).
In the chapter 12, Jesus answers the people, “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:3232And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John 12:32)). As He is heavenly, so will His people be. He is not leading us to a promised land here in this earthly scene, the scene of His rejection, but to His Father’s house: “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2, 32In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2‑3)). Neither are we left comfortless, for the Holy Spirit is promised upon His leaving (John 14:16; 16:716And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16)
7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7)). Finally, in chapter 17 we hear the Lord in communion with the Father, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:2121That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (John 17:21)).
In chapters 18 through 21, we have the Lord’s trial, death and resurrection. “It is finished” (John 19:3030When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)); thus the work of the Son is complete. Appearing unto Mary, He can tell her “go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God” (John 20:1717Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)). The Lord’s concluding exhortation to Peter is, “Follow thou me” (John 21:2222Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. (John 21:22)).