Lesson 3 Review: The Backstory: The Prologue

Introduction

Memory Text: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

Week one dealt with the end of the book of John, this week’s lesson is about the beginning. The beginning of the book of John give readers who already know Jesus an advantage that the characters in the book itself didn’t have. Through the history of Christ’s life as recorded in the gospel of John, you can find grand themes. This week’s lesson covers the prologue and summarize its major themes.

What depths of thoughts are contained in this amazing thought: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1)?

First, the evangelist alludes to the creation story in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning”. Jesus was already, before the beginning of the universe, hence John affirms Jesus’ eternal existence.

Next, “And the Word was with God.” This means that Jesus and the Father are intimately close.

And then, he says, “And the Word was God.” The Word was with God, as earlier stated points to the fact that Jesus and the Father are intimately close, the Word was God points to the fact that the Word has the characteristics of divinity. Jesus is God, the second Person of the Godhead.

How does John start his gospel?

John starts his gospel with “logos,” “Word.”

How does John use the term “logos” especially in contrast to the philosophies of his time?

The logos is a person; Jesus Christ, who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). The logos is the Word of God. More important, God communicated; that is, He revealed Himself to humanity in the most radical way: God became one of us.

What major theme is presented in the gospel of John?

A major theme presented in the gospel of John is how people accept or reject the truth. While many Jews reject Jesus, there are gentiles who accept Him.

What does John say concerning those who receive Jesus?

John says that all who do receive Jesus as their Savior will become the children of God. This happens by believing in Jesus’ name.

What is the connection between the prologue and the conclusion of John’s gospel?

The introduction and conclusion form a kind of unity. The apostle presents in them why he wrote—that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that by believing you may have life in His name. This theme encloses all that occurs between them and they point to the overarching goal of the gospel of John—that people will be saved by believing on Jesus Christ as their Savior.

What does being a believer mean?

The greek noun pistis (Greek for faith/belief) never appears in the gospel of John. However, the verb pisteuō (believe) appears 98 times compared to 241 times in total that it appears in the New Testament. The use of the verb instead of the noun may point to something we do. Being a believer is about what we do, that is expressed in how we live and not just in a set of beliefs.

What is the major difference in John between believers and unbelievers?

The major difference between believers and unbelievers is how they relate to Jesus. Believers, who come to Jesus have an openness towards Him, even when He confronts or rebukes them. By coming to Jesus, Jesus, their Light shines on them and by faith, by believing they become children of God. Unbelievers, on the other hand come to Jesus to fight with Him, they love darkness rather than light. They judge rather than letting the Light from God show them where they stand in judgment.

What does the concept of glorifying God link to according to John?

The concept of glorifying God is linked to the concept of His hour, that is, the time of His death. While on a human level, Jesus died in agony, a despised criminal in weakness as particularly presented in Matthew and Mark, the glorious side of the cross is especially presented in Luke and John where the cross is a place of salvation, of mercy, and where the Son of God gives Himself to the Father. How ironic: God’s greatest glory is revealed in His greatest shame—bearing the sins of the world in Himself.

In Conclusion,

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). May God help us to be believers in Jesus’ name.

Lesson 2 Review: Signs of Divinity

Introduction

Memory Text: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ ” (John 11:25, 26, NKJV).

Jesus showed His divinity at specific times in both Word and deed. This week’s lesson covers three greatest signs performed by Jesus that reveals His divinity but for these signs people turned away from Jesus, deepened in blindness, plotted against Jesus or believe that Jesus was the Messiah.

What timing was the event of the feeding of the 5,000?

The timing of the feeding of the 5,000 was near the Passover.

What parallels between Jesus and Moses can be found in the feeding of the 5,000 that should have proved to the Jewish people that Jesus indeed was divine?

The time of the Passover points to the great deliverance from Egypt. Jesus’ going up to the mountain parallels with Moses’ going up on Sinai. Jesus’s test to Philip parallels with the testing of the Israelites in the wilderness. The multiplication of the loaves parallels with the manna. The gathering of the leftover food harks back to the Israelite’s gathering of the manna. The twelves baskets picked up parallels with the twelve tribes of Israel. And the people comment that Jesus is the prophet coming into the world, in accordance with the “prophet like Moses” predicted in Deuteronomy 18:15. They all pointed to Jesus as the new Moses – come to deliver His people.

What did John try to show through these parallels between Jesus and Moses in the feeding of the 5,000?

John was trying to show that Jesus was not only doing signs and wonders but doing signs and wonders that, in their context, should have had special meaning for the Jewish people. Jesus was pointing them in essence to His divinity.

What was the expectation of the Jews?

The Jews were expecting an earthly messiah who would deliver them from the oppression of the Roman Empire.

What does the account of the feeding of the 5,000 illustrate?

The account of the feeding of the 5,000 provided the opportunity to illustrate that Jesus is the Bread of Life, that God Himself came down from heaven.

What are the predicate statements connected with “I am” in the book of John?

“bread of life,” John 6:35; “light of the world,” John 8:12; “door,” John 10:7, 9; “Good Shepherd,” John 10:11, 14; “resurrection and the life,” John 11:25; “the way, the truth, and the life,” John 14:6; “true vine,” John 15:1, 5.

What are some of the key points from the healing of the blind man in John 9:1-16?

There is a connection between sin and suffering but this is not always the reason as can be seen in Job. Jesus did not deny the connection between sin and suffering but, in this case, points to a higher purpose that God would be glorified by the healing. Jesus was counted by the religious leaders as One breaking the Sabbath by healing the blind man. The healing on the Sabbath, according to tradition and not Scripture, violated the Sabbath. They concluded that Jesus was not from God because “He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others found it troubling that a sinner could do such signs. While the blind man is becoming more clear about who Jesus is, the religious leaders are becoming more confused or blinded to Jesus’ real identity.

What are the intersections between the themes in John 9 and several other themes in the gospel?

John reaffirms that Jesus is the Light of the world (John 9:5; compare with John 8:12), the story deals with Jesus’ mysterious origin, Who He is, where He is from, and His Mission (John 9:12, 29; compare with John 1:14), Moses is also referenced (John 9:28, 29; compare with John 5:45, 46 and John 6:32) and there is the theme of the response of the crowd – while some love darkness rather than light, others respond in faith (John 9:16-18, 35-41; compare with John 1:9-16, John 3:16-21, and John 6:60-71).

What is so scary in the healing of the blind man in John 9?

A once-blind beggar can declare, “ ‘Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing’ ” (John 9:32, 33, NKJV), however the religious leaders, the ones who should have been the first to recognize Jesus and guide people were so blinded to the physical powerful evidence that Jesus is the Son of God, or they don’t really want to see it. This is a powerful warning of how our hearts can deceive us!

What does the resurrection of Lazarus demonstrate?

Just as Jesus showed He is the light of the world by giving the blind man sight, so He raises Lazarus from the dead, demonstrating that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.

In Conclusion,

The feeding of the 5,000, the healing of the blind man, and the resurrection of Lazarus were all signs of Christ’s divinity. May we never be blinded to these signs, but respond in faith to these signs in Jesus’ name.