Well, good morning. It's good to see you all. Please take your copy of God's Word and join me in the Gospel according to John.
Let's see.
I am not perfect, and I cannot plead my perfection before God, but must plead the perfection of Christ.
What a good reminder this morning as we sang a song called, It Was Finished Upon That Cross.
Today we're going to have an introduction to the Gospel according to John.
It's been some time since I have preached, and I'm very grateful to be back at it today.
So this marks the beginning of a verse-by-verse exposition of this Gospel.
So the verse-by-verse part of that will begin next week.
And I just want to say a brief word about verse-by-verse exposition.
Well, the idea of an exposition or to exposit a text means that you bring out the completion of it.
You're not neglecting any part of that text.
And we find as a general habit that verse-by-verse exposition is an important task to take up.
That's not to say that it's more holy than any other kind of preaching, but it's just a good habit.
Sometimes the word exposition and the word exegesis is used interchangeably, and this just shouldn't be the case.
I was speaking to a pastor earlier this week who kept saying he was going to exegete something,
and I think what he meant was exposit it.
But if you're expositing it, you're also exegeting it to be clear.
So exegesis, that word comes from the Greek, and it simply means to come from the source, to come out of the source.
And it's put in opposition to eisegesis, which means to read things into the source.
And so any good preaching, faithful preaching, God-exalting preaching is going to be exegesis.
It's going to come out of the text.
But not all preaching can be exposition because not all preaching can lay out the entirety of a given matter.
So like when we preach topically, it's very difficult.
I think it can be done, but it's very difficult to exposit a topic because that's to say you'd have to say everything there is to say about that topic.
That's difficult to do.
Sometimes topical preaching is the most difficult because you have to figure out what not to say versus what should be said.
So for those reasons, we like verse by verse.
It's a wonderful thing to have a text just laid before you and to say,
okay, this is what God intends for his people to hear on this day.
That said, an introduction really can't be an exposition.
I can't give you an entirety of John's gospel this morning.
We're going to do that across some time, but it should be exegetical.
It should still derive from the source the information.
So we're not going to rush our study of this gospel.
It's looking like, as I'm working through an outline, it's going to be something like 70 or so sermons.
So we'll spend the next year, year and a half in this text.
It surely shouldn't be the only Bible that you're getting.
You need to be reading the Bible more broadly, but I really, really hope that us drilling down, expositing this text will serve you.
And because we're about to set ourselves on this journey, we need to do some introductory work.
It's helpful for us to kind of prerequisite the study of John's gospel.
So today we're going to consider the book's authorship, its context, its purpose, and its major themes.
And my hope for today is that you get excited about the time our church will spend together in this portion of God's word.
So first, let's talk about the authorship.
Now you have already heard me say that this book is titled The Gospel According to John.
Your Bible likely has that exact title or some variation of it.
However, the book never names John as its author.
That said, and while there is some minor disagreement about its authorship,
the widely accepted understanding is that the apostle John wrote it.
I don't really think we need to have any arguments about it,
but I do want to give you some evidences that John did in fact write this gospel account.
The testimony of the early church bears witness to what I just don't mind stating as a fact.
John wrote this gospel.
Irenaeus was the first person to name John as its author in his work against heresies written in the 2nd century.
Irenaeus was a disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of John.
So just a generation of discipleship removed.
Also, Theophilus of Antioch, who lived at the same time, wrote,
quote, quote,
The holy writings teach us, and all the inspired men,
one of whom, John, says,
in the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, end quote.
I could go on.
There's lots of early church evidence that they consider John its author,
but I will spare you more historical names that I likely can't pronounce and further quotations.
The point is, the early church understood this book to be authored by John,
so we have them as a strong external testimony.
We also have some internal testimony, though not definitive,
that gives strong evidence of John's authorship.
So let me show you four.
I told you to take out your Bibles to John.
You may appreciate flipping around to some of these and seeing them.
I'm going to move fairly quickly through these,
because this is not the ultimate point of this morning.
Firstly, though, the author was a Jew,
and we get this evidence because he was familiar with Jewish traditions
and opinions about a number of matters,
including the Messiah.
We see this in chapter 1, verse 21,
chapter 6, verse 14 through 15,
chapter 7, verse 26 through 27, etc.
The importance of religious training,
the relationship of suffering to personal sin,
avoiding ceremonial defilement,
wedding and burial customs,
the need to be purified before celebrating Passover,
and more.
There's a lot of evidence that he was very familiar with Jewish traditions
and opinions about a bunch of different matters.
Secondly, we can derive from the text that the author was a Palestinian Jew.
His knowledge of local places could only be known
by someone who had lived in Palestine.
He gives specific distances from one place to another as an example.
They didn't have maps to reference or some device to look it up on.
He would have had to travel those distances.
A simple example is he distinguished between
the Bethany beyond the Jordan,
in chapter 1, verse 28,
and the Bethany on the outskirts of Jerusalem,
chapter 11, and verse 1.
So his familiarity with the geography
speaks to the fact that he was a Palestinian Jew,
lived in that region.
Thirdly, the author was an eyewitness.
He includes specific details
that aren't essential to the stories that he tells,
which are not found in the other three gospel accounts.
So he's not pulling these details from someplace else.
He must have himself witnessed these things.
Details like the name of Judas Iscariot's father,
you can see in chapter 6 and verse 71,
as well as other details.
And then fourthly, the author is not mentioned.
Let me explain.
The other three gospel accounts mention the apostle John.
John was one of the three apostles
who were closest to Jesus,
often called his inner circle.
It was John, his brother James, and Peter
that were, for example,
invited to witness Jesus' transfiguration.
The other three gospels mention him by name.
This one does not.
The gospel before us does mention
the apostle whom Jesus loved.
Chapter 13, verse 23.
Chapter 19, verse 26.
Chapter 21, and verse 20.
Which strongly implies that John is referring to himself.
And what a wonderful way to refer to yourself.
So John was a Jewish, a Palestinian Jew,
an eyewitness,
and he's not mentioned in the text.
All of this evidence, taken together,
gives us plenty to be confident in this book's authorship.
But I encourage you to shut down anybody
who wants to argue with you otherwise.
It is the gospel according to John.
Second, and very briefly,
John's context.
This book was written in the last part of the first century,
most likely between 80 and 90 A.D.
Once again, there's some controversy about this dating.
Typically meant to erode confidence in this gospel,
and I would be really glad to speak with you further
about the dating if you'd like to hear it.
I think most people don't,
so I'm not going to at this moment.
But there's some really good reason to believe
that it was written between 80 and 90 A.D.
Church tradition holds that John was in Ephesus
at the time of its writing.
Text doesn't give us any clue to that,
but the church tradition says
that that's where he was located
in the later years of his life.
Third, what was the purpose
for the writing of John's gospel account?
Now, we, of course, believe
that the scripture is inspired.
So John is being led to write this
by the Spirit of God who dwelt within him,
but he's got something in mind
as he sits down to write this particular gospel account.
John is unique among the gospels.
The other three are often called the synoptics
or the synoptic gospels.
This word comes from a Greek word
which means to see together,
and often we just think of that word
as meaning similar.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke
all have distinct emphases and themes,
but they follow the same general outline of events
and have similar content,
structure, and perspective.
So in that way, they kind of sit together,
and John sits a little oddly, uniquely,
off to itself.
More than 90% of John's gospel
is not found in the synoptics.
John speaks of Christ's preexistence
and creative power,
chapter 1, verse 1 through 3.
Jesus' early ministry in Judea and Samaria,
chapters 2 and 3.
His dialogue with Nicodemus,
chapter 3, verse 1 through 21.
His bread of life teaching,
chapter 6, verse 22 through 71.
His discourse about being the good shepherd,
chapter 10, verse 1 through 39.
The washing of the disciples' feet,
chapter 13, verse 1 through 15.
The upper room discourse
and the high priestly prayer,
chapters 13 through 17, and more.
We find all of this in John
and not in the synoptic gospels.
It explores the tragedy
of the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.
And then John, with great clarity,
lets us know exactly why he wrote it.
And I just love that he does this for our sake.
John, chapter 20, verse 30 and 31.
He writes this,
Now Jesus did many other signs
in the presence of the disciples
which are not written in this book.
But these are written
so that you may believe
that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God,
and that by believing,
you may have life in his name.
So there it is.
The purpose of the writing
of this gospel account.
Now it could be argued, of course,
that this is the purpose of the writing
of the entirety of the Bible.
But John doesn't leave us guessing at all
why he is penning this letter.
John's focus is on proclamation,
not on instruction.
He desires for his readers
to behold Christ,
to see Christ,
to understand his person
and his work,
that by believing in him,
we might have life.
Calvin said this gospel
is the key to understanding
the person and work
of Jesus Christ.
Christ.
Now we are going to return
to chapter 20, verse 31,
time and time again
as we study this book.
Written so that you may believe
that Jesus is the Christ,
the one, the Messiah,
the one who has come
to redeem his people,
to deliver them from sin and death
and to give him life.
The Son of God,
that by believing you may have
life in his name.
The purpose is abundantly clear.
But we shouldn't,
and won't,
neglect the major themes
that serve the purpose
of John's gospel account.
You may hear that
and you may think,
well, I've already believed
in the person and work
of Jesus Christ, right?
I've already been granted
this life that John speaks about.
Do I have any need
to read this
and to hear it preached
over so much time?
I will say to you,
yes, yes,
you most certainly do.
There are undergirding themes
that are going to be
of great help to us
in thinking about our salvation.
So, fourth,
let's consider five major themes
of the book of John.
First major theme
is the deity of Christ.
The opening words
in the beginning
was the word.
John chapter 1 and verse 1.
Echoes Genesis chapter 1
and verse 1,
declaring Christ
as the eternal God.
Next week,
we're going to celebrate Easter,
and we're not going to stop
just to talk about the resurrection.
We're going to get right
into the very beginning
of John chapter 1, right?
The resurrection affirms
everything that Jesus said
about himself,
namely,
most importantly,
his deity.
In the beginning
was the word,
and the word was
with God,
and the word
was God.
Jesus is explicitly
called God
in the Gospel of John.
He calls himself this.
John chapter 10,
verse 30,
is an example.
I and the Father
are one.
We see it in chapter 8,
verse 58,
and chapter 20,
verse 28.
Jesus makes
seven I am statements
that reveal
his divine nature.
Jesus calls himself
the bread of life.
I am the bread of life.
Chapter 6,
verse 35,
and verse 48,
and verse 51.
Jesus says,
I am the light
of the world.
Chapter 8,
and verse 12.
He says,
I am the door.
Chapter 10,
verse 7,
and verse 9.
He says,
I am the good shepherd.
Chapter 10,
verse 11,
and verse 14.
He says,
I am the resurrection
and the life.
Chapter 11,
verse 25.
He says,
I am the way,
the truth,
and the life.
Chapter 14,
verse 6.
And he says,
I am the vine.
Chapter 15,
verse 1 through 5.
He's got a lot to say,
right?
And this is why
this is not exposition
because I want to develop
all of those thoughts
and we will
when we get to those
verses.
So it sets out for us
a major theme
of the deity
of Christ.
Second major theme,
the sovereign work
of God
in salvation.
The sovereign work
of God
in salvation.
We cannot
save
ourselves.
It must be known
that your sin
makes you
utterly incapable
of saving
yourself.
Right?
You have
nothing to plead
before God
except for
the saving work
of God
on your
behalf.
So John makes
a case for
monergistic
salvation.
God coming
and saving
a people.
Let me show you
a couple examples.
John chapter 1
and verse 13.
John says that
men,
people who believe
in Christ
are born not of blood
nor of the will
of the flesh
nor of the will
of man
but of God.
People who belong
to God
are born
of God.
John chapter 6
verse 37.
No one can come
to me
unless the Father
who sent me
draws him.
Draws him.
And this
word draws
is used
in extra-biblical
language
to talk about
the drawing
of water
out of the well.
Water is brought
forcefully
up out of a well.
Chapter 10
verse 26
through 29
says,
But you do not believe
because you are not
among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice
and I know them
and they follow me.
I give them
eternal life
and they will never perish
and no one will snatch
them out of my hand.
My Father who has given
them to me
is greater than all
and no one is able
to snatch them
out of the Father's.
hand.
Praise God
that God saves
because we would not
save ourselves.
We find ourselves
this morning
in Christ
because of God's
sovereign work
on our behalf.
John chapter 15
and verse 16.
There Jesus says,
You did not
choose me
but I chose you
and appointed you
that you should go
and bear fruit
and that your fruit
should abide.
We sing a
song called
My Lord.
And so I get
one of my
and every time
we sing it
I just expect
somebody to come up
to me upset
about that song
and so I get
one of my
ribbon markers
and I put it
in John chapter 15
verse 16
and to date
nobody's been upset
at me about that
song.
I think that's
a wonderful thing.
It's a profession
of what Jesus
says is true
in John chapter 15
and verse 16
and all of this
is taught
so that God's
people will be
comforted.
God is the one
who saves.
I'm so grateful
this morning
that it is not
my supposed
perfection
that I plead
before God
because my
supposed perfection
is not
perfection.
I've shown myself
to be imperfect
as my eyes
opened this morning.
I need to plead
a true perfection.
A righteousness
that doesn't come
from me.
An alien righteousness
as Luther called it.
The righteousness
that belongs
to Christ.
He also
under this theme
of the sovereign
work of God
and salvation
argues for the
necessity
of regeneration.
That we need
to be changed
not in degree
but in kind.
We need to be
changed from one
type to another
type.
We see the record
of a conversation
between Jesus
and a man
named Nicodemus
in John chapter 3.
There we read
this man came
to Jesus by night
and said to him
Rabbi we know
that you are a
teacher come from
God for no one
can do these
signs that you do
unless God
is with him.
Jesus answered him
truly truly I say
to you unless
one is born again
he cannot see
the kingdom
of God.
Nicodemus said
to him
how can a man
be born when
he is old?
Can he enter
a second time
into his mother's
womb and be
born?
He is basically
saying what
are you talking
about to be
born again?
Jesus answered
truly truly I say
to you unless
one is born
of water
and the spirit
he cannot enter
the kingdom of
God.
That which is
born of the
flesh is flesh
and that which
is born of the
spirit is spirit.
So we are born
once that natural
way that biological
way and we must
be born again
that supernatural
way of the
spirit to be
accepted into
the kingdom of
God.
So that first
major theme again
is the deity of
Christ, the
second the
sovereign work
of God in
salvation.
Thirdly the
glory of Christ
revealed in
signs or you
could replace
that word with
miracles.
John's gospel
records seven
miracles that
demonstrate Christ's
divine power.
John chapter
two Jesus
turns water
into wine.
In John
chapter four in
a declaration of
Christ's authority
over life he
heals the
official's son.
In John
chapter five in
declaring a
sovereignty over
the Sabbath he
heals the
lame man.
John chapter six
Jesus feeds the
five thousand.
John chapter six
also the walking
on water.
John chapter nine
he heals a
blind man and
he declares his
power over death
in chapter 11 by
raising Lazarus
from the dead.
So we see the
glory of Christ
and these miracles
recorded for us.
fourthly the
major theme that's
developed is the
cross and the
lamb of God.
John alone
records John the
Baptist's
declaration
quote behold
the lamb of God
who takes away
the sin of the
world.
John chapter one
and verse
twenty nine.
John makes it
clear that the
cross is not a
plan gone wrong
but the preordained
mission of
Christ.
Jesus says in
John 10 and
verse 18
no one takes my
life from me
but I lay it
down of my own
accord.
I have authority
to lay it down
and I have
authority to take
it up again.
This charge I have
received from my
father.
See also John
chapter 12 and
verse 27.
Further John's
gospel emphasizes
the Passover
connection.
That Passover
meal just before
God's people were
delivered from
Egypt.
The Exodus
account that
they huddled in
their homes at
night and they
killed a lamb
and they spread
its blood over
their doorposts
so that the
angel of death
would pass over
their homes.
Jesus is the
fulfillment of
that type.
He's the true
Passover lamb.
His blood
takes away
the death
that is owed
us.
John chapter 19
and verse 36.
So we see this
developing major
theme of the
cross and the
lamb of God.
And the fifth
major theme that
we see is the
triune God
at work.
John's gospel
gives profound
insight into the
trinity.
We see the
father sending
the son.
John chapter 3
and verse 16.
For God so
loved the world
that he gave
his only son.
The Lord
believes in him
should not perish
but have eternal
life.
We see the
son accomplishing
the work of
three quarters of
that song and
Alex led us in
the rest of it.
There in John
chapter 19
verse 30
Jesus says
it is
finished
and he bowed
his head
and he gave
up his spirit.
He accomplished
the redemptive
work on behalf
of the people
that the father
sent him
for.
And we see
the spirit
applying that
salvation.
John chapter
14
verse 16
and 17
Jesus says
and I will
ask the father
and he will
give you another
helper to be
with you forever
even the spirit
of truth
whom the world
cannot receive
because it
neither sees him
nor knows him.
You know him
for he dwells
with you
and will be
in you.
The father
the son
and the spirit
doing this
great work
on behalf
of his people.
Additionally
the high priestly
prayer
John chapter 17
shows
trinitarian unity
in the
work
of redemption.
So those are
the five major
themes that are
serving that
great purpose
that we believe
that Jesus
is the Christ
the son of God
that we would
believe in him
have the salvation
of our souls
and life
forevermore
the deity
of Christ
the sovereign
work of God
and salvation
the glory
of Christ
revealed
in miracles
the cross
and the lamb
of God
and the
triune God
at work.
So
I think we've
hinted around
that it a bit
but why
is the study
of John
a timely
study
for our church?
People ask
that question
sometimes.
Are your elders
decided together
we're going to
preach through
the gospel
of John
at a bunch
of Bible
book names
on a board?
We stop
and we think
we consider
together
what might be
good for us
to spend time
studying together
and
there's
four reasons
that I want
to share
with you.
I hope
there are
more.
I hope
there are
other ways
that our
study of
this
is helpful
to you
but four
reasons
that I
could think
of
that this
would be
good for
us to
study
together
and then
we'll
close our
time
together.
Number
one
it is
always
good
to know
more
of Christ
and we
know him
by beholding
him in
the word.
You will
not ever
get bored
studying the
scripture.
Read it
and read it
by the power
of the spirit
he's going to
continue to
unfold for
you in
these pages
is our
Lord and
Savior
Jesus
Christ.
In an
age where
people
form Christ
they imagine
a Christ
to suit
their own
desires
we need
to be
laser
focused
on who
Jesus
really
is.
As he's
revealed in
the text
as he's
revealed
himself
we need
the actual
Jesus
clear in
our minds
to help
us discern
the false.
Christ
we will
never
fail
if we
hold up
to one
another
in
scripture
Christ
it's
always
good
to
know
more
of
Jesus
second
reason
I think
it's
helpful
for us
to study
John
to
nudge
at a
growth
in
reverence
the high
view of
Christ
in
John
should
lead
us
to a
high
view
of
gathered
worship
of
this
Christ
Sundays
beloved
are
serious
days
and I
don't
mean
that they
are
an
unjoyful
day
Sunday
should
be
full
of
joy
but I
do
mean
that
they
are
weighty
days
we
are
invited
to
come
together
as an
outpost
of
God's
people
to sing
praises
to his
name
to open
up his
word
and to
learn
from it
to speak
truth
to one
another
and I
think that if we
give serious
consideration to
who we
gather to
worship
we may
find ourselves
approaching
this day
more
importantly
now at
the fear of
indicting anybody
this morning
I'm not going to
give you
examples
but if you
want some
come ask me
I'll be
happy to
share with
you
some ways
I think
we could
grow
in our
reverence
as a
church
thirdly
I think
a study
of
John's
gospel
will be
good
it'll
serve
our
church
to
remind
us
of
God's
sovereignty
and
anchor
our
souls
for
difficult
days
once again
I think
this is a
thing we
need to be
reminded of
constantly
we need to
see God
held up
at the
center
of the
story
of the
Bible
and
therefore
at the
center
of ours
controlling
the
minutia
of every
single
moment
day
because
we're
going to
experience
difficult
days
and we
need to
remember
who is
ultimately
in control
of all
things
fourthly
good for us
to study
John's
gospel
account
to spur
on
bold
gospel
proclamation
God is
saving
a people
for his
praise
and he's
using
his
people
to
accomplish
that
work
we
gather
together
as a
church
in order
that we
might be
sent
in order
that we
might
go
and in
our
going
we're
meant
to go
gather
people
back
together
for the
praise
of
Christ
we're
going to
note
Jesus
saying
things
in this
gospel
account
like
in
John
chapter
12
verse
49
I
have
not
spoken
on
my
own
authority
but the
father
who sent
me
has
himself
given
me
a
commandment
what
to
say
and
what
to
speak
we
see
Jesus
just
going
in
his
going
about
right
he's
saying
the
things
that
the
father
tells
him
to
say
in
other
places
we'll
see
him
doing
the
things
that
the
father
tells
him
to
do
and
then
he
says
this
in
John
chapter
20
verse
21
peace
be
with
you
as
the
father
has
sent
me
even
so
I
am
sending
you
right
that
we
would
just
go
about
in
our
going
right
believing
in
the
sovereign
God
that
saves
his
people
and
we
would
make
bold
gospel
proclamation
as we
do
we'll
talk a lot
about
that
in this
coming
year
beloved
the
Lord
is
blessing
our
church
with
children
I
am
so
grateful
for
this
we
had
two
born
just
this
past
week
and
they
and
their
families
are
in
our
prayers
if
I'm
correct
I
think
I
am
we
still
have
nine
women
currently
pregnant
right
now
130
children
85
of those
children
are
four
and
under
and
all
of
those
numbers
are
plus
or
minus
but
I
think
I'm
pretty
accurate
they're
precious
!
souls
!
we
are
grateful
for
each
and
every
one
of
them
if
you
are
a
parent
the
evangelizing
and
discipling
of
your
children
is
front
line
work
and
we
do
that
together
like
we
partner
in
that
effort
together
with
these
kids
but
let
us
not
forget
our
broader
command
to
go
we
have
neighbors
and
co-workers
and
classmates
that
need
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
praise
God
for
our
biological
growth
don't
hear
me
for
a
minute
downplaying
biological
growth
we are
so
happy
for
it
but
let
us
also
not
lose
sight
of
the
wonderful
potential
of
conversion
growth
we want
to see
dead
people
come
to
life
and
be
part
of
our
church
I
hope
that
our
time
together
this
morning
this
brief
bit
of
moment
we've
had
has
given
you
some
bearing
for
our
intentions
and
pray
for
me
as
I
prepare
these
sermons
other
men
will
also
come
and
preach
from
this
book
as
well
pray
that
we
might
rightly
behold
Christ
and
grow
into
his
likeness
in
ever
increasing
ways
together
let's
pray
to
that
end