Today in our New Testament
Challenge reading, we’re starting what I anticipate to be an incredible journey
through the Gospel of John over the next week or so in the schedule. The Gospel of John is different than the first
three gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke known as the “synoptic” gospels. This comes from the Greek word syn (name) and
optic (relating to sight or view). Most
of the material in the John’s Gospel is unique, and persuasively argues that
Jesus is the Son of God. Every chapter
presents evidence – both signs and statements – for Christ divine authority.
The external and internal
evidence show that this is the ‘Gospel according to John,” John, the apostle,
that is, as in John the son of Zebedee.
This is “the disciple Jesus loved.”
(i.e. the author of the Gospel; compare John 21:24 with 21:20–23) who is
consistently paired with the apostle Peter (see John 13:23–24; 18:15–16;
20:2–9; 21:1–8, 15–23). This clearly points to the apostle John, as it is this
disciple who is consistently paired with Peter elsewhere in the New Testament
(cf. Luke 5:8–10; 22:8; Acts 1:13; 3–4; 8:14–25; Gal. 2:9). Also, note that
John the Baptist, who in the other Gospels is called “John the Baptist” or “the
Baptist” or “Baptizer,” is called simply “John” in this Gospel—which is
possible because the apostle John remains unnamed.
John was the only one of the 12
remaining disciples to die a natural death. Scripture records the suicide of
Judas, history tells us the other 10 were all martyrs. He was also the
last one to die, leaving this life near the end of the 1st century at a very
ripe age of nearly 100.
He is the second most prolific
author of the New Testament, writing five NT books: this Gospel, 1st, 2nd, and
3rd John, and the book of Revelation. The theme of all five of these
books is the Lord Jesus Christ himself. The Gospel is a look back to the
past, when John himself followed Jesus and witnessed his amazing life,
ministry, death, and resurrection. The three letters of John are the apostle
dealing with current issues in church life. The fifth book he wrote,
Revelation is at Jesus in the future.
Scholars believe that John wrote
his Gospel while living in Ephesus, prior to his banishment by the Romans to
the isle of Patmos. Here is why: An early church father named Iranaeus (c.125-c.205) was a student of another church
father named Polycarp (c.69-c.155). It is widely held that Polycarp was
personally mentored by the apostle John.
This makes Iranaeus a pretty trustworthy authority on the subject
of John’s Gospel. It is Iranaeus who said that John wrote the fourth Gospel
while he was living in Ephesus.
This fourth Gospel is unique from
the other three, sharing only a small percentage of the words and works of
Jesus in common. Being written decades after the other three Gospels,
it’s as if John, being familiar with Matthew, Mark, and Luke, wanted to share
some of his memories of Jesus that didn’t make it into the other Gospels. We believe,
of course, that God wanted these words and stories written down for those who
would live on after John was gone.
As you begin reading this Gospel,
let me give you some distinctions between this Gospel and Matthew, Mark, and
Luke, again which are known as the Synoptics:
Synoptics – Focus on Christ’s ministry in the region of
Galilee
John – Focus on Christ’s ministry in the region of Judea
Synoptics- Jesus’ sayings are generally short (e.g. the
parables)
John - Long discourses of Jesus (e.g. John 13-17)
Synoptics- only mention one Passover
John - mentions 3 Passovers, providing for us an
estimated time lapse of Christ’s public ministry (about 3 to 3 and a half
years)
Synoptics- much emphasis on the “kingdom”
John - much emphasis on eternal life
This Gospel is also unique in
that it is heavy in theological reflection. The first three Gospels tend
to focus on the facts of Christ’s ministry. John delves into the meaning
and application of Christ’s ministry. John is also purposefully
evangelistic. He states clearly that his goal in writing the book is that
by seeing the Jesus of this Gospel, his readers might believe and therefore
have life in his name (John 20.30-31).
Yet as theologically profound as
John’s Gospel is, he uses the simplest Greek vocabulary of the four
Gospels. Someone said that John’s gospel is “shallow enough for babies to
wade in, but deep enough for elephants to drown in.”
John himself had come to believe
in Christ and experience life in his name. A short biography of John
reveals a powerful testimony of transforming grace of
Jesus. John and his brother, James, were popularly known as the
“sons of thunder,” due to their aggressive zeal for God’s honor. They
were the ones who wanted Jesus to call fire down from heaven on their perceived
enemies. But this young, zealous, idealist young follower of Christ was
transformed into the mature, patient, respected apostle of God’s love.
More than any other Biblical writer, John emphasized the love of God.
It was a love that transformed him personally and a love that can
transform us as well as we encounter Christ in the Gospel of John.
May you be richly blessed in your
reading.
Robert Prater
