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. - John 20:30–31 (ESV)
John is the last Gospel to be written and is traditionally considered to be one of the last books of the New Testament to be written. John seems to write with the assumption that many know the content of the other Gospels and, therefore, writes with particular emphases for his intended readers. John tells the story of Jesus's life and death, showing that Jesus is the Messiah but that many did not believe in him. It says that Jesus did many signs to show His identity as having come from the Father, and those who believe in Him may have life in his name. John is concerned to show the necessity of belief in Christ and also the fact that only those to whom it is given can believe. John is also concerned to show the undeniability of Christ's identity as the Messiah. We need to recognize and believe the same things about Jesus as the ones for whom this Gospel was written.
The Big Idea of John
I have taught the big idea of John as the following: Believe in Christ for Life. This is made clear by John’s summary statement at the end of his gospel. All that he wrote, he wrote so that those who read might know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we might have life in His name. John’s agenda is eternal life in Christ for his readers, which makes it a particularly excellent book for evangelism.
An Outline of John
1-4: Jesus’s identity established
Jesus establishes His identity in the first four chapters. John opens with a clear declaration of the divinity of Christ and His rejection by the world. Jesus proves himself to Nathaniel, and then the people who poured the water that became wine before declaring Himself to be the temple that will be destroyed and raised again in three days. He also proves himself to Nicodemus and the woman at the well, along with the rest of her town. The section ends with Jesus healing an official’s son without being there.
5-12: Jesus’s Identity Rejected
Jesus’ identity is generally rejected in John 5-13, despite Jesus’ continued clear demonstrations of His origin and power. He clearly claims to have power from the Father and predicts the coming resurrection (John 5:25-29). He feeds the five thousand, walks on water, and claims to be the bread of life in chapter six. Yet the Jews grumble and doubt
His identity (John 6:41). People wonder if Jesus is the Christ in chapter seven (John 7:25-31), yet there is continual division among the people; they are torn (John 7:40-44). In all of this, Jesus continues to make His claims known, especially His claim to divinity in saying that “before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). This prompts the Jews to attempt to stone Him, albeit unsuccessfully. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead in John eleven, and yet the Jews’ response is to plan to put Lazarus to death again in addition to Jesus (John 12:9-11). Jesus makes His triumphal entry in John 12, yet the people still do not believe (John 12:37).
13-22: Jesus’s Identity Confirmed
Jesus’ identity is confirmed in the final nine chapters of the Gospel. Of course, Jesus had already done plenty to confirm His identity, but in these chapters, he fulfills his mission and makes multiple appearances to His followers after His resurrection. It is in these final chapters that Jesus washes the disciples’ feet and teaches them about the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus also prays the famous “High Priestly Prayer” in John 17, which chiefly revolves around the idea of the disciples knowing the Father through the work of Jesus (John 17:3, 6, 26). Jesus is betrayed, arrested, and crucified in chapters 18-19. The final three chapters focus on Jesus’ appearances post-resurrection to Mary Magdalene and the disciples.
Benefits of John
John’s Gospel, distinct as it is from the other Gospels, presents a wealth of benefits for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness for God’s people. Not only that, but it presents Christ in a way that is intended to penetrate the hardest hearts and thickest sin.
John is relentless in pushing the evidence for the identity of Jesus. The whole Gospel is structured that way, from the introduction’s focus on Jesus as the light who comes into the world only to be rejected, to the many signs following his resurrection. All along the way, John ensures that the reader understands that any rejection of Jesus is not due to lack of evidence but prejudice against Jesus. The problem is not that Jesus failed to make His identity clear. The problem is that men love the darkness rather than the light (John 3:19).
On the other hand, for those who are already in Christ, and for those whom the Father is drawing to Christ, there are few books of the Bible so uplifting, comforting, and reassuring as the Gospel According to John (John 6:44). We can read this Gospel and say, “Yes, that is my Savior and Lord; that is who He is, that is how He loves us.” Our hearts can be set on fire with love and adoration for the God-Man who loved us and gave Himself for us as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for his sheep (John 10:11). Everything about Jesus recommends Him to us, even as those who reject Him find themselves indifferent or even repulsed by Him.
The Gospel of John can move us to yearn for everyone who reads it to yield to Jesus’ words to Thomas: “Do not disbelieve, but believe” (John 20:27). Would that everyone who reads would respond as Thomas did to those words, looking to Jesus and answering from the heart, “My Lord and my God!”