gospel of john bible study for youth pdf

Internal evidence that the author is “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” who also leaned on His breast at supper (John 21:20, cf. His goal wasn’t the mere growth of knowledge he wanted a decision of faith to accept Jesus as the Son of God, Savior of the world.Īuthor. These signs were meant to invoke faith in the people that witnessed them and John wanted them to do the same for his audience. In addition he places a high emphasis on a number of signs that Jesus performed. He includes the testimony of many people who had faith in Jesus. This shows that John viewed believing as an active demonstration of faith and not merely an intellectual assertion.įrom beginning to end John focuses on the issue of faith. In the book of John he uses the verb “believe” about one hundred times and never uses the noun. While the common person can read and understand the Gospel of John, a scholar can study it for years and never fully master all the implications and nuances. He tends to record more of Jesus’ private than public teaching and attempts to make it more clear who Jesus is as a person. John also seems to be the most theological and profound thinker of the disciples. Matthew wanted to show that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament predictions regarding the Messiah. Luke wanted to give an orderly account (much like a biography) to Theophillus. John 21:25, “ And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if they were written one by one, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written.” Again, John’s purpose was not exactly the same as the other writers. However, even John said that the volume of information to select from was so great that if he wrote down all of it the world couldn’t hold all of the books.

Over 90% of the material found in the book of John is unique! Some have used this fact to try to discredit John. The other three gospel are called the “synoptic” gospel because they are written in similar structure and record most of the same information. It is to show the world that He is the Messiah so that the ones reading his book would believe. Therefore John’s purpose is not to write a biography of the life of Christ.

Other statements include the Way, the Truth and the Life, the Vine, the Good Shepherd, and the Door of the sheep. For example that Jesus is the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, and the Resurrection and the Life.

He also includes statements of Jesus attached specifically to many of these miracles. John chose to include them specifically in order that people would believe Jesus is the Christ. These miracles are also meant to show that Jesus is the Messiah, not merely to heal or acts of mercy. John chose seven specific miracles to record (turning water to wine 2:1-11, healing the royal official’s son 4:46-54, healing the invalid at Bethesda 5:1-9, the feeding of the 5,000 6:1-14, walking on the sea 6:15-21, sight restored 9:1-41, raising of Lazarus 11:1-44), six of which are unique to the book of John. These are the central themes of the book. Secondly, it was written that our life would be changed through Christ. Firstly, it was written that we would believe.

In the above verses we see that the purpose of John is two-fold. John’s purpose in writing the gospel is made clear in John 20:30-31, “ Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing you may have life in His name.”

Gospel of john bible study for youth pdf