An expository lecture class verse by verse led by Pastor Robert Read

The Gospel of John is the fourth book of the New Testament and one of the most distinctive and theologically rich accounts of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We will begin with an introduction and just start to look at the first two verses. Join us for this study of John online or in person.

John Lesson 1 Study Questions

1.    Unlike the three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), which share a similar outline, many of the same stories, and a more chronological, action-oriented style, John is reflective, symbolic, and deeply theological.

2.    The Gospel is both evangelistic and pastoral—aimed at leading readers to faith and deepening the faith of those who already believe.

3.    Christology: Jesus is the preexistent Son, equal with the Father, the “I am” (echoing God’s name in Exodus), the true light, bread of life, good shepherd, resurrection and life, way/truth/life, and true vine.

4.    Dualism: Light vs. darkness, truth vs. falsehood, above vs. below, the world that does not know God vs. those who receive the Son.

5.    The book of Hosea in the Old Testament shows us that judgement and mercy belong together through Hosea’s relationship with Gomer his unfaithful wife, and this story reflects God’s love for us and the ultimate demonstration of that is Jesus on the cross, and here on the cross we find Judgement and mercy – God’s judgement on Jesus provides His ultimate mercy on us.

6.    The Gospel of John was probably the last of the four written, and written in view of what the previous three had already said. This is one reason why John’s account of the life of Jesus is in many ways different from Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

7.    John shows us who Jesus is by giving us Jesus’ own words about Himself, expressed in seven dramatic I AM statements. These seven I AM statements were not included in the first three gospels.

8.    The Gospel of John has even helped scholarly skeptics to believe. The oldest surviving fragment of the New Testament is a portion of John 18, found in Egypt and dating well before A.D. 150 indicating wide circulation by that early date.

9.    John makes it clear that the Word is not just the beginning, but it is the beginning of the beginning. He was there in the beginning, before anything was.

10.    Therefore in this opening John said to both Jews and Greeks: “For centuries you’ve been talking, thinking, and writing about the Word (the logos). Now I will tell you who He is.” John met both Jews and Greeks where they were at, and explained Jesus in terms they already understood.

11.    And the Word was God: “Everything that can be said about God the Father can be said about God the Son. In Jesus dwells all the wisdom, glory, power, love, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth of the Father. In Him, God the Father is known.” (Boice)