The Gospel of John Series Northwest London Christian Church

Background to John’s Gospel – Identity of Jesus

John’s Main ThemesGodWe might expect that God would be a major theme in John’s Gospel, but in fact he isn’t! At least – not directly. Thinking about it this makes sense because the Jews that John is writing his book for won’t have a problem believing in God, but they will have a problem believing in Jesus as Messiah and Son of God. So God is seen in two main ways: 1) the sending one (5.37) and, 2) the Father of the Son. In both roles God points towards Jesus who is the real focus of the Gospel. So what about Jesus?

Jesus ChristChristology is a fancy word for the theology of the Christ – or ‘who Jesus is’. It is fine to take Jesus at face value as God in flesh by faith. However, if we’re going to persuade our non-believing friends to surrender their lives to Jesus, we may have to find ways of explaining to them who Jesus was and ‘what’ he was. John’s Gospel is the one that tries hardest to give a full-colour picture of Jesus as God and man. John is trying to show that Jesus is the Son of God, the Christ (Messiah) – 20.30-31. He records seven ‘signs’ (in chapters 2-11) – we’ll hear more about these later. Jewish audiences would have found the ‘Father/Son’ metaphor easy to grasp. It was a common idea in that society that a father would send his son on an important errand (especially the firstborn son). Jesus as DeityThe image of Jesus as Son of God blends his deity and humanity. Some passages in the Gospel are more explicit about these two aspects of his identity. Here are a few that emphasise his deity:Jesus as pre-existent 1.1, 14, 8.58, 12.41, 17.5Jesus’ “signs” 2.11 etc. What other signs can you find?Jesus’ “I am sayings” alluding to OT name of God (Ex 3.14) Have a look for them ….Jesus’ possession of supernatural knowledge 1.48, 2.19, 11.14, 13.38, 21.18-19Thomas’ confession of Jesus as “Lord and God” 20.28

Jesus as HumanJohn presents Jesus as fully human as well as divine:

He has a human family 1.45, 2.12, 6.42, 7.3-8, 19.25-26He is worn out and thirsty 4.6-7, 19.28He weeps when he loses a friend 11.33, 35He is seen by others as being human 19.5He dies and is buried 19.30, 38-42

What have you learned so far about God and Jesus? Why not keep notes of what this Gospel is teaching you about Jesus? John’s Gospel is full of Jesus-treasure. Let’s go mining and pray to love him more deeply and become more like him in heart and action as the weeks go by.

Malcolm Cox

www.nwlcc.org