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PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE

Introduction:

In studying the life of John we will meet a man who was truly conformed into the image of Christ. He allowed Christ to dominate his life and served faithfully.

After all of the disciples forsook Jesus and fled, it was John who came back and stayed with Jesus through the crucifixion.

It was John that Jesus entrusted the care of his mother Mary to.

It is John who is spoken of as the disciple whom Jesus loved.

It was John who gave us the gospel that establishes the deity of Jesus Christ so thoroughly.

It was John who wrote most frequently of love.

It was John who was given the glorious revelation of Jesus Christ in all his glory.

There is much to be learned from the story of John's life as it is uncovered in the New Testament.

I.         THE BACKGROUND OF JOHN.

            A.        The name John means, “Jehovah hath been gracious” or "one whom Jehovah loves."

From the gospel of John we know that John’s experience with Jesus corresponded with his name. He referred to himself over and over again as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

                        Being loved is one of the most powerful motivations in the world.

Our ability to love is often shaped by our experience of love. We usually love others as we have been loved.

            B.        John’s family background is the same as his brother James that we just looked at.

                        1.         His father was Zebedee. (Cf. Mark 1:19-20)

                        2.         His mother was Salome. (Cf Matthew 27:56; Mark 16:1)

                                    a.         She was actively involved in the ministry of Jesus and was ambitious for her sons. Matthew 20:20-21

                                    b.         It is possible that Salome and Mary, the mother, of Jesus were sisters. (Cf John 19:25; Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40)

                        3.         He was the younger brother of the Apostle James. (Mark 1:19-20)

                                    James being named first indicates that he was the eldest brother.

            C.        The influence of John's background.

                        1.         His fisherman background would make him tough.

                        2.         His being in partnership with his father, brother, and Simon Peter, with a fleet of fishing ships and hired servants would have put him in a position to give orders and expect them to be obeyed.

                        3.         James and John’s background probably had a lot to do with their being called the sons of thunder. Mark 3:17; Luke 9:51-56

II.       THE CALL OF JOHN. 

            A.        John's original call. John 1:35-51

Scholars generally believe that John was one of the two disciples of John the Baptist that are mentioned here. John 1:35-40

                        1.         One of the disciples is not named which would be consistent with John not using his name in the gospel.

                        2.         The other disciple was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

            B.        John's second call or permanent commissioning.

                        (Matthew 4:18-22; Luke 5:1-11)

                        1.         Here Andrew and Peter are called together and James and John are called together.

                        2.         It appears that Jesus called some of his disciples and then before he began his ministry with an all out thrust he sent them back or they left for a short time. (All Jesus' ministry is not recorded. Cp John 20:30)

III.      THE MINISTRY OF JOHN AS A DISCIPLE OF JESUS.

            A.        He appears to have been one of the first disciples called. John 1:40

            B.        He was with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. Matthew 17:1ff

            C.        He sought a place of prominence. Matthew 20:20ff

            D.        He was with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Matthew 26:37

            E.        He was with Jesus at the raising of Jairus' daughter. Luke 8:49ff

            F.        He would have called down fire on the Samaritans. Luke 9:54

            G.        He leaned on Jesus' bosom at the Last Supper. John 13:23-26

            H.        He went to the High Priest's palace for Jesus' trial. John 18:15ff

            I.         He had Mary, the Mother of Jesus, placed in his care. John 19:25-27

IV.      THE MINISTRY OF JOHN AS AN APOSTLE OF THE CHURCH.

            A.        He served longer than any other apostle.

                        1.         He lived approximately seventy years after the ascension.

                        2.         He outlived Peter and Paul by some thirty years.

            B.        He was present on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:1

            C.        He ministered with Peter for a time. Acts 3:1-11; 4:13-22

            D.        He was prominent in the church at Jerusalem. Galatians 2:9

V.        THE MINISTRY OF JOHN AS A WRITER.

            A.        He was the human author of the gospel of John.

                        1.         In the gospel he never used his own name and never listed the apostles.

                        2.         The purpose of his gospel is stated in 20:31.

                                    a.         It was to lead to a personal belief in the historical Jesus as the Christ and as the Son of God.

                                    b.         It was to lead men to know how to possess eternal life by believing in Jesus' name.

                        3.         He gave emphasis to love.

Some of the greatest statements about God’s loving nature were written by this man who experienced God’s love in a unique way.

Although Jesus’ love is clearly communicated in all the Gospels, in John’s Gospel it is a central theme.

Because his own experience of Jesus’ love was so strong and personal, John was sensitive to those words and actions of Jesus that illustrated how they one who is love, loved others.

                                    a.         The love of Jesus for John was spoken of often.

                                                (John 13:23; 19:26; 21:7,20-23; 20:2.)

John expressed his relationship to the Son of God by calling himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

                                                Jesus knew John fully and loved him fully.

                                    b.         He wrote of the love of God. (John 5:42; 15:10)

                                    c.         He wrote of the love of God for the Son.

                                                (John 10:17; 15:9; 17:23,24,26)

                                    d.         He wrote of the love of God for the disciples. (John 16:27; 17:23)

                                    e.         He wrote of the love of God for all. (John 3:16)

                                    f.         He wrote of the love of the Son for the Father. (John 14:31)

                                    g.         He wrote of the love of the Son for the disciples.

                                                (John 13:1-34; 14:21; 15:9-10)

                                    h.         He wrote of Jesus' love for individuals. (John 11:5,36; 13:23)

                                    i.         He wrote of the love that the Father and Son expected from mankind. (John 8:42; 14:23)

                                    j.         He wrote of the love Believers are to have for one another.

                                                (John 13:34-35; 15:12-13)

                        4.         There were many words that he used often. (i.e. Witness, record, testify or testimony, light, life, truth, believe, world, and sign.)

            B.        He wrote the first epistle of John.

                        1.         He dealt with the human and divine natures of Christ.

                        2.         He gave much emphasis to the atonement.

            C.        Second and Third John were short letters directed to particular persons.

            D.        The "Revelation Of Jesus Christ" is the crowning work of prophecy.

According to Fox’s Book of Martyrs, John was boiled in oil and exiled to the island of Patmos where he wrote the Book of the Revelation.

In John’s Gospel and letters, we see the the great God of love, while God’s justice thunders from the pages of Revelation.

                        1.         John's name is used some five times. 1:1,4,9; 21:2; 22:8

                        2.         He speaks of the Lamb twenty five times.

                        3.         The Revelation consists of four basic visions.

                                    a.         The vision of the Lord Jesus Christ in his majesty. 1:1-20

                                    b.         The vision of the church in reality. 2:1-3:22

                                    c.         The vision of the lost world in its hostility. 4:1 - 20:15

                                    d.         The vision of eternity in glory. 21:1 - 22:21

Conclusion

So we can summarize the life of John as follows:

He lived in close fellowship with Jesus and was the apostle of love.

He believed that Jesus was a friend, and light, and love. He dwelt in Christ and sought to be conformed into his image.

Jesus confronts each of us as he confronted John. We cannot know the depth of his love unless we are willing to face the fact that he knows us completely.

Otherwise we are fooled into believing he must love the people we pretend to be, not the sinners we actually are.

Being aware of God’s love is a great motivator for change. His love is not given in exchange for our efforts; His love frees us to really live.

He had a long and fruitful ministry.

Early writers say that John was eventually brought back from his exile on the Isle of Patmos and died peacefully at Ephesus.

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!