2. Approximate Date Written Location Where Written
Gospel
The Evangelist
Approximate Date Written
Location Where Written
Audience
Image of Jesus &
Examples
Genealogy
(if any)
Matthew
Unknown…
the apostle/tax collector
2nd generation Jewish Christian of Palestinian origin
AD 70-AD 85
(appears 1st in the NT b/c originally believed to be written 1st)
Antioch
(Syria)
(Fun Fact: 1st place where followers of JC are called Christians)
Jewish Christians
Teaching Savior
Traced back to Abraham
Mark
John Mark (a friend of Paul)
a Gentile Christian (might be a disciple of Peter)
AD 65-AD 70
30 yrs after Jesus’ Resurrection & Ascension into Heaven
b4 & during the fall of Jerusalem & the Temple
Roman Emperor: Nero = lots of Christian persecution & martyrdom
probably Rome
Gentile Christians-references the OT since the audience didn’t know about the Scriptures
un-recognized, suffering, serving Messiah
none-
Jesus is a servant & servants didn’t have this time
Luke
a companion of Paul who was a physician & artist
probably wrote Acts of the Apostles
Greece
Gentiles
faced w/ struggles from w/in their pagan community that kept them from being true to the faith
Compassionate Savior
a savior of those who need him
(outcasts/ poor/ sinners/ persecuted/ sick/ etc)
teaches complete generosity
Traced back to Adam
John

3. Approximate Date Written Location Where Written
Gospel
The Evangelist
Approximate Date Written
Location Where Written
Audience
Image of Jesus &
Examples
Genealogy
(if any)
John
Unknown…
the beloved disciple, John, the son of Zebedee
a disciple of John
probably wrote the 3 Letters of John & Revelations
AD 90-
AD 100
last Gospel to be written
written from a different perspective (not just the summary of JC’s life)
Ephesus
(maybe Syria)
All Christians
Jewish Christians being expelled from synagogues after the Roman Revolt
strengthen new Christians
win converts
life-giving divine savior
Traced back to God

4. A Different Perspective
The Synoptic Gospels
The Gospel of John
chiefly concerned w/ JC’s ministry in the north
emphasis on the kingdom
JC as Son of David, Son of Man
anticipation of the Church & references to the infant Church
JC’s short sayings (parables)
little commentary by the authors
mentions only 1 Passover
gives more coverage to JC’s ministry
emphasis on JC
JC as the Son of God (the divinity of JC)
Gospel of the maturing Church
many long discourses of JC (allegories)
much commentary by John
mention 3, possibly 4, Passovers

5. ANY QUESTIONS?

6. The Structure of John’s Gospel
Genesis
The Prologue
“God saw how good the light was. God then separated the light from the darkness.” (1:4)
“the light”=goodness
God breathed life in Adam
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (1:5)
“the light”=JC
JC gives us eternal life
JC continues to “breathe” God’s life-giving presence into creation!
“no one has ever seen God”: God is a mystery where as JC (God made flesh) reveals to us God the Father and God the Holy Spirit
(the complete Trinity)

7. The Structure of John’s Gospel (continued)
Pt I: The Book of Signs
PT II: The Book of Glory
the deeds & work of JC
divided in 7 sections
JC’s Passion, Death, & Resurrection
The Point:
JC is both human & divine.
His mission was to reveal God.

8. The Book of Signs
“But there are so many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (21:25)
purpose:
reveals the mission & divinity of JC based on the Incarnation
the challenge:
faith

9. The Book of Signs Presentation
The 7 Signs of Jesus
In your group…
The Cana (2:1-11)
The Cure of the Royal Official’s Son (4:46-54)
The Cure of the Paralytic (5:1-18)
The Multiplication of Loaves (6:1-15)
The Walking on Water (6:16-21)
The Healing of the Man Born Blind (9:1-41)
The Raising of Lazarus (11:1-44)
read the Scriptural text of your group’s assigned sign
develop a presentation
include…
an explanation of the miracle itself
the context for the miracle (HINT: reading before/after the miracle occurs will help determine the context)
the significance of the miracle
who has faith in Jesus’ powers
who accepted &/or rejected faith in JC
everyone MUST participate in the presentation
length: minimum 5 minutes; maximum 8 minutes
completed together

10. ANY QUESTIONS?

11. described in 2-parts: ACCEPT Love COMMIT to Love
to the point of offering their lives for each other

12. Reflection: Witnessing Love
The Gospel According to John focuses on two parts of love: believers are to first accept love; then they are to commit to loving one another to the point of offering their lives for each other. Describe a loving relationship you have witnessed that has followed this pattern of acceptance and commitment.

13. ANY QUESTIONS?

14. “I AM” “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14) Jesus is divine…the SON OF GOD!!!
4 forms:
JC identifies with something known by his listeners
ex. “I am the bread”
JC emphasizes the relationship b/w JC & his followers
ex. “I am the gate”
JC declares himself the life-giver
ex. “I am the way, the truth, & the life”
JC identifies himself
ex. “I am he”

15. Reflection: I AM…to you?
Which “I AM” statement do you most identify Christ as in YOUR life? Explain. (HINT: Check out page 226 of your textbook for the complete list of “I AM” statements.)

16. ANY QUESTIONS?

17. Nicodemus a Pharisee & member of the Sanhedrin
struggled w/ accepting JC as the Son of God
met w/ JC hoping to find a solution to his dilemma
assisted Joseph of Arimathea in claiming & burying JC’s body
gave JC a royal burial (spices)
eventually accepted the gift of faith
Nicodemus’ story reflects our story: a B..E…A…UTIFUL work in progress
the choices we make ( or )
the trust we have in God

18. Reflection: So MANY Questions!
If you could ask Jesus anything, what would you ask him? Explain why.

19. Don’t Judge Others (‘cause you’re not perfect either!)
The 1st Evangelist:
A Samaritan Woman
The Woman Caught
& Saved
the culture:
Jews don’t talk to Samaritans
Men don’t speak to women they don’t know
JC was a rebel!
broke these boundaries by talking to the Samaritan woman
she is the 1st to know JC’s identity & she doesn’t keep it a secret
the culture:
the penalty for adultery was death (&) by stoning
the set-up:
if JC protected the girl, he would have been in direct violation of Mosaic Law
JC was SMART
“Let anyone around you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (8:7)
no takers? weird how that worked out!
JC’s response: forgiveness

20. ANY QUESTIONS?

21. The Last Supper JC sets the example:
The Washing of the Disciples’ Feet (13:1-20)
The New Commandment:
“…love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” (13:34)
loving one another means serving one another w/o the expectation of receiving anything in return
JC will never abandon the disciples (including us)
“I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name-he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you.” (14:25-26)
foreshadows Pentecost
JC prays for God’s protection of the disciples…AND US!
“I pray not only for them [the Apostles], but also for those who will believe in me [YOU!!!] through their [the Apostles] word…” (17:20)

22. The Book of Glory…continues…
JC on Trial: He has top authority (19:10-11)
Pilate: “Do you not speak to me? Do you know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?”
JC: “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above.”
JC approaches death: some differences in John
JC carries the cross alone
JC is in control of his death
the soldiers cast lots for JC’s tunic
the tunic is not torn-the Church is unified through JC
Mary (his mom), his mom’s sister, Mary Magdalene, & John are at the foot of the cross
JC: “It is finished”
the soldiers pierce his side
he gave his life (blood-the Eucharist) so we can have new life (water-Baptism)

23. The Resurrection & Appearances of JC
each aspect of our faith is interconnected
the Resurrection is connected to our Baptism
frees us from sin & gives us new life
light v. darkness
believe or don’t