NIV Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 16
page 1792
John
Vital Statistics
PURPOSE:
To prove conclusively that Jesus
is the Son of God and that all who
believe in him will have eternal life
AUTHOR:
John the apostle, son of Zebedee
and brother of James, who was
called a “Son of Thunder”
ORIGINAL AUDIENCE:
New Christians and searching
nonChristians
DAT E W R I T T E N :
Probably between AD 85 and 90
SETTING:
Written after the destruction of
Jerusalem in AD 70 and before
John’s exile to the island of Patmos
KEY VERSES:
“Jesus performed many other signs
in the presence of his disciples,
which are not recorded in this book.
But these are written that you may
believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the
Son of God, and that by believing
you may have life in his name.”
(20:30-31)
KEY PEOPLE:
Jesus, John the Baptist, the
disciples, Mary, Martha, Lazarus,
Jesus’ mother, Pilate, Mary
Magdalene
KEY PLACES:
Judean countryside, Samaria,
Galilee, Bethany, Jerusalem
S P EC I A L F E AT U R E S :
Of the eight miracles recorded,
six are unique among the Gospels
to John, as is the “Upper Room
Discourse” (John 14–17). In fact,
over 90 percent of John is unique
to this Gospel—John does not
contain a genealogy or any record of
Jesus’ birth, childhood, temptation,
transfiguration, or appointment of
the disciples, nor any account of
Jesus’ parables, ascension, or great
commission.
HE SP OKE , and galaxies started to whirl, stars burned
in the heavens, and planets began orbiting their stars—
words of awesome, unlimited, unleashed power. He
spoke again, and the waters and lands were filled
with plants and creatures, running, swimming, growing, and multiplying—words of animating, breathing,
pulsing life. Again he spoke, and man and woman were
formed, thinking, speaking, and loving—words of personal
and creative glory. Eternal, infinite, unlimited—he was, is, and always will
be the Maker and Lord of all that exists.
And then he came in the flesh to a speck in the universe called planet
Earth. The mighty Creator became a part of the creation, limited by time
and space and susceptible to aging, sickness, and death. But love propelled him, so he came to rescue and save those who were lost and to
give them the gift of eternal life. He is the Word; he is Jesus, the Messiah—the Christ.
It is this truth that the apostle John brings to us in this book. John’s
Gospel is more than a historical account of the life of Jesus; it is a
powerful argument for the Incarnation, a conclusive demonstration that
Jesus was—and is—the very heaven-sent Son of God and the only source
of eternal life.
John discloses Jesus’ identity with his very first words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning” (1:1-2). The rest of the book continues the theme. John, an eyewitness, chose eight of Jesus’ miracles
(or signs, as he calls them) to reveal Jesus’ divine and human natures
and life-giving m
ission. These signs are (1) turning water to wine (2:111);
(2) healing the official’s son (4:46-54); (3) healing the invalid at the pool
of Bethesda (5:19); (4) feeding the 5,000 with just a few loaves and fish
(6:114); (5) walking on the water (6:15-21); (6) restoring sight to the
blind man (9:1-41); (7) raising Lazarus from the dead (11:1-44); and, after
the Resurrection, (8) giving the disciples an overwhelming catch of fish
(21:114).
In every chapter Jesus’ deity is revealed. And Jesus’ true identity is
underscored through the titles he is given—the Word, the “one and only
son,” the Lamb of God, the Son of God, “the true bread,” “the resurrection and the life,” the Vine. And the formula is I am. When Jesus uses this
phrase, he affirms his preexistence and eternal deity. Jesus says, “I am
the bread of life” (6:35); “I am the light of the world” (8:12; 9:5); “I am the
gate” (10:7); “I am the good shepherd” (10:11, 14); “I am the resurrection
and the life” (11:25); “I am the way and the truth and the life” (14:6); and
“I am the true vine” (15:1).
The greatest sign, of course, is the Resurrection, and John provides a
stirring eyewitness account of finding the empty tomb. Then he records
various post-Resurrection appearances by Jesus.
John, a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, has given us a personal and
powerful look at his beloved master, the eternal Son of God. As you read
his story, commit yourself to believe in and follow him.
Timeline
Herod
the Great
begins
to rule
37 BC
Jesus
is born
6/5 BC
Escape
to Egypt
5/4 BC
Herod
the Great
dies
4 BC
Return
to
Nazareth
4/3 BC