John: Life to the Full

GOD REVEALED

The GospelsActs of the ApostlesLettersRevelation

A Walkthru’ of the New TestamentLesson 4: John’s Gospel: Life to the Full

Matthew: God’s Kingdom on Earth

Mark: Christ, Chief Cornerstone

Luke: Son of Man Seeks and Saves

John: Life to the Full

NT Walkthru’: The Gospels

IntroductionSeven SignsSeven I amsBelief Criteria, LifeSummaryDiscussion

John’s Gospel – Life to the FullPresentation Overview

New Testament Timeline

John’s emphasis on “believing”, or faith is in order to attain “life”, abundant life.

31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.. John 20:31 (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

Introduction

John’s Gospel: “Believe” 98 times, “Life” 36 times. [1]

Christ portrayed as the Son of God

Other keywords: “love” and “unity”

[1]biblehub.com

Introduction

Only 7 miracles called signs used to endorse key themes.

Memorable events[2] only in John: ◦ wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1-11)◦ woman at the well (4:1-42)◦ raising of Lazarus (11:1-12:11)

John’s interpretation of Jesus is deeper than synoptic gospels

[2] lifeofchrist.com

Introduction

The seven miracles recorded in John are: Turning water into wine at Cana (ch 2) Healing nobleman's son at the point of

death (ch 4) Healing man at sheep-gate pool (ch 5) Walking on water (ch 4) Feeding five thousand (ch 6) Healing man born blind (ch 8) Raising Lazarus (ch 11)

Seven Signs

Bread of life - ch 4 Light of the world – ch 8 Good shepherd – ch 10 Gate – ch 10 Resurrection and the life – ch 11 Way the truth and the life - ch14 Vine – ch 15

Seven I ams

The stories and signs with the “I ams” project various aspects of key themes: Believe LifeWhat is required to truly experience “life” to the full?

Belief Criteria, Life Impact

Context: feeding of the 5000 (ch 6), talking of “Living Bread”.

“Living Water” (ch 4) to Samaritan Woman

Faith that multiplies – in both cases Ever satisfying life - “Those who eat/ drink will never hunger/ thirst”

Belief Criteria, Life Impact I am The Bread of Life

Christ gives sight to blind man (ch 8), warns of worse illness – spiritual blindness.

“light of life” - spiritual light, our spiritual life

Faith should result in freedom from sin. Christ exhorts both the blind man and adulteress (same chapter) to “sin no more”.

Belief Criteria, Life Impact I am The Light of the World

Dr. Ron Charles highlights that this adulteress, Lybia who was forgiven, obeyed Jesus’ command to “sin no more”.

Her father, Phinehas Copernicus a high ranking Roman Government General was transferred to Syria.

Lybia started “The Church of the Forgiving Saviour”

Was responsible to internationalize Damascus This enabled Thomas to have safe passage to

India via this route when all other routes were blocked.

Belief Criteria, Life ImpactI am The Light of the World (Cont’d.)

Good Shepherd (ch 10): Sacrificial life and death, to be emulated by disciples

The sheep must have a faith that obeys by hearing the shepherd’s voice.

Belief Criteria, Life ImpactI am The Good Shepherd

In Chapter 5, Jesus heals a paralytic near the sheep gate - gate where sheep enter for sacrifice never to return.

Same gate where the ill are cast off from society, most of whom never return.

Same gate where Christ gave the paralytic new life.

The Sheepgate

Promise of “abundant life” or “life to the full” to those who believe in Christ alone as “gate”. (ch 10)

He invites all to believe only in Him and receive abundant life

Belief Criteria, Life ImpactI am The Gate

Jesus asks Martha and bystanders to believe, to “see God’s glory” (ch 11) - Faith in death and distress.

He emphasizes the criticality of the Spiritual life which never dies.

In ch 3 he talks to Nicodemus of being “born again” into this spiritual life.

Belief Criteria, Life ImpactI am The Resurrection and The Life

Faith should result in Christlike love. (ch 13) – greatest commandment.

Christ says (ch 14) that those who believe in His absolute divinity can do greater works than Him in His name. They have an empowered life.

Walking on water (ch 6) also illustrates this power.

Belief Criteria, Life ImpactI am The Way, The Truth and The Life

“Apart from Christ, we can do nothing” (Ch 15) - Dependent Faith.

Fruitful life, obtained by being connected to vine.

Christ’s first miracle in Cana (ch 2) also shows that he can turn ordinary water into luscious wine.

Belief Criteria, Life ImpactI am The Vine

I am Miracles/ Incidents

Belief / Faith Criteria

Life Impact Refs.

Bread of Life

Feeding 5000, Woman at well

Faith that multiplies

Ever satisfying life

Ch 4,6

Light of the world

Blind man, adulteress

Faith resulting in freedom from Sin

Light of life Ch 8

Good Shepherd

Calvary Faith that obeys

Sacrificial Life Ch 10,20

Gate Healing paralytic Faith in Christ alone

Life to the Full/ abundant life

Ch 5,10

Resurrection and Life

Raising Lazarus, healing nobleman’s son from death, Nicodemus

Faith in distress and death

Spiritual Life which never dies

Ch 3,4,11

Way, Truth, Life

Walking on water Faith in Christ as God

Empowered Life

Ch 6,14

Vine Water into wine Dependent Faith

Fruitful Life Ch 2,15

Summary

In the table above the life impact is often offered without truly explaining the faith criteria. What aspects of belief criteria are often overlooked?

Share what aspects of belief criteria you personally want to improve.

What steps will you take to achieve that belief criteria?

In Jn 17 Jesus prays that all his disciples have unity, which will alone impact the world. Where does the church stand with respect to this? How specifically can we stand in the gap?

Discussion