The Gospel Quartet: The Basso Profundo The Gospel according to John

Remembering Gospel of Mark: Portrait of Jesus— The Son of God who arrives with great authority to overcome all other powers that demean, demoralize, demonize, dehumanize, diminish

Remembering Gospel of Matthew: Portrait of Jesus—The Messiah King who fulfills Old Testament prophecy, relives the life of Israel, teaches the life of discipleship, and rises to rule over all nations

Remembering Gospel of Luke: Portrait of Jesus—The wise Teacher and Healer who cares for the sick and marginalized, and brings the world to worship through the witness of the church

What Do We Know about the Author? Early Church Testimony: Author is John, the Beloved Disciple (Irenaeus) Author is John, the Beloved Disciple (Irenaeus) Author is an “apostle” (Tertullian) Author is an “apostle” (Tertullian) Written in Ephesus (Origen, Clement) Written in Ephesus (Origen, Clement) Last Gospel to be written (Irenaeus, Eusebius) Last Gospel to be written (Irenaeus, Eusebius) Written under urging from others (Clement) Written under urging from others (Clement)

What Do We Know about the Author? Biblical Scholars on Fourth Gospel Author: Written by a Jew: Written by a Jew: Knowledge of Jewish customs Choice of words and phrases Written by a Jew of Palestine: Written by a Jew of Palestine: Knowledge of Palestinian geography Knowledge of festival practices in Jerusalem Written by an eyewitness: Written by an eyewitness: Knew specific topography & incident details Written by a disciple of Jesus: Written by a disciple of Jesus: Knew intimate & minor details of travels & events Written by John the Apostle, the Beloved Disciple Written by John the Apostle, the Beloved Disciple Internal testimony

Possible Chronology of John’s Life Raised in a moderately wealthy fish merchant home in Capernaum (5-25 A.D.) Called by Jesus to itinerant ministry (25-28 A.D.) Cared for Mary, Jesus’ mother, in Jerusalem for 11 years (29-40 A.D.) Stayed on in Jerusalem sharing Church leadership (40-68 A.D.) Left for Ephesus when the Jerusalem Church spread (68 A.D.); possibly wrote the Gospel there in the 70’s Arrested by Domitian, tried in Rome & exiled to Patmos (82 A.D.), where he penned the book of Revelation Released from Patmos at Domitian’s death (96 A.D.), returned to Ephesus & wrote the Epistles; possibly wrote the Gospel in the late 90’s Died sometime near 100 A.D. in Ephesus in his 90’s

How Is the Gospel Shaped? Prologue: Re-Creation (1:1-18) The “Book of Signs” (1:19-12:50) Sign #1 – Water into Wine Sign #1 – Water into Wine Sign #2 – Nobleman’s Son Raised Sign #2 – Nobleman’s Son Raised Sign #3 – Man at Pool Healed Sign #3 – Man at Pool Healed Sign #4 – Crowds Fed Sign #4 – Crowds Fed Sign #5 – Waters Tamed Sign #5 – Waters Tamed Sign #6 – Blind Man’s Eyes Opened Sign #6 – Blind Man’s Eyes Opened Sign #7 – Lazarus Raised Sign #7 – Lazarus Raised The “Book of Glory” (13-20) Farewell Discourse Farewell Discourse Death & Resurrection Death & Resurrection Epilogue (21)

What Does the Prologue Tell Us? Jesus is Divine (the “Logos”) “Light” and “Darkness” explain everything Salvation is Re-Creation (“in the beginning”) Jesus is known by way of Old Testament images and metaphors: The Word “tabernacled” among us The Word “tabernacled” among us We beheld his “glory” We beheld his “glory”

Sign & Reference EventNotes O. T. Parallel Intervening Parallels #12:1-11 Water into Wine Creation Days Paralleled Genesis 3 Lives from Genesis #24:43-54 Nobleman’s Son Raised No Ethnic Identity Given Genesis 4 #35:1-15 Man at Pool Healed “38 years” Deuteronomy 2:14 Lives from Exodus #46:1-15 Crowds Fed “in wilderness” Exodus 16 #56:16-21 Waters Tamed Water Threat Exodus Joshua 3-4 Lives from Numbers #69:1-41 Blind Man’s Eyes Opened Ejected from Synagogues Isaiah 61 Teaching of Prophets #711:1-44 Lazarus Raised “Good Shepherd” Ezekiel 37:1- 14 Then come the Greeks!

John’s Unique Insight: Entry into Jerusalem (12): For Mark—Jesus has no place, curses fig tree For Mark—Jesus has no place, curses fig tree For Matthew—Jesus is the glory of God returning to the Temple For Matthew—Jesus is the glory of God returning to the Temple For Luke—Jesus is the humble King who enters his capital city after the successful northern campaigns For Luke—Jesus is the humble King who enters his capital city after the successful northern campaigns For John—Jesus is the Sacrificial Lamb who enters the Passover For John—Jesus is the Sacrificial Lamb who enters the Passover Jesus’ silence (Isaiah 53) Clear connection with the Passover No “Lord’s Supper” Institution Timing of Last Meal & Passover Events

What Do Learn from the “Book of Glory”? The Farewell Discourse (13-17) Gathering Scene (unity with Jesus expressed in mutual love) Prediction of disciple’s denial Jesus’ departure tempered by Father’s power Promise of the “Paraclete” Troubling encounter with the World Troubling encounter with the World “Abide in Me!” (Vine & Branches teaching) Troubling encounter with the World Troubling encounter with the World Promise of the “Paraclete” Jesus’ departure tempered by Father’s power Prediction of disciple’s denial Departing Prayer (unity with Jesus expressed in mutual love) The Passion & Resurrection (18-20)

What Do We Learn from the People in John’s Gospel? Nicodemus (3) & Judas (13): Doppelgangers Nicodemus comes by Night, leaves in Light Nicodemus comes by Night, leaves in Light Judas comes with the Light, leaves and it is Night Judas comes with the Light, leaves and it is Night Samaritan Woman (4) Peter & John and the Empty Tomb (20) Mary Magdalene & Jesus in the Garden (20)

What Do We Learn from the Epilogue? The Disciples & Uncertainty Jesus and the Catch of Fish (153) Jesus and Peter The Fate of the Beloved Disciple

Recap: The Song of Jesus Matthew: Jesus is the Hebrew Messiah King who rises from death to rule over all nations Jesus is the Hebrew Messiah King who rises from death to rule over all nationsMark: Jesus is the powerful Son of God who battles all lesser powers that seek to enslave us Jesus is the powerful Son of God who battles all lesser powers that seek to enslave usLuke: Jesus is the great Teacher & Healer who bring hope to the marginalized through compassion care Jesus is the great Teacher & Healer who bring hope to the marginalized through compassion careJohn: Jesus is God, re-creating earth; Lord, re-playing the history of Israel; and Savior, re-placing the Passover Lamb Jesus is God, re-creating earth; Lord, re-playing the history of Israel; and Savior, re-placing the Passover Lamb