by Samuel E. Ward September 25, 2011 Introduction Ivor Powell has written the following in the introduction to his commentary, John's Wonderful Gospel. Had someone suggested to the youthful fisherman John that he was destined to become one of the world's most famous authors, the son of Zebedee would probably have roared with laughter. Had someone suggested to his colleagues that he would become an apostle of love, they might even have fallen out of the boat! It was most unlikely that the hands made rough by hauling nets would become those of an inspired author. It was even more inconceivable that the quick-tempered, vindictive "Son of Thunder" would become the most loving of all the early Christians. Yet such was the miracle of grace: the fisherman became the father of the churches; the arrogant became the anointed. It is believed by most biblical scholars that John wrote his gospel near the end of his life (c. 95 A.D.) about sixty years after the death of Christ. The purpose he gives for writing is recorded in John 20. (John 20:30-31 NIV) Jesus did many . . . miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. {31} But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. Also, the fact that he could have written even more is noted by him in John 21. (John 21:25 NIV) Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. It is little wonder that the Holy Spirit inspired John to write a gospel because he certainly was qualified to do so. Consider these facts: I. John Was an Eyewitness to the Events He Recorded. A. John's Personal Testimony 1. John has seen the glory of Jesus. (John 1:14 NIV) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (1 John 1:1-5 NIV) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. {2} The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. {3} We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. {4} We write this to make our joy complete. {5} This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. B. John's Intimate Knowledge of Jesus' Emotions During Certain Events (John 11:32-33 NIV) When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." {33} When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. C. John's Intimate Knowledge of Why Jesus Did Things During Certain Events. 1. Why Jesus did not fully open up to some people (John 2:23-25 NIV) Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. {24} But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. {25} He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man. 2. Why Jesus would suddenly remove Himself from public access (John 6:14-15 NIV) After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." {15} Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. 3. Why Jesus shared a last supper with His disciples. (John 13:1, 3 NIV) It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. . .{ 3} Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God. II. John Was a Member of the Inner Circle of Jesus' Disciples A. Only Peter, James, and John Witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus. (Mat 17:1-2 NIV) After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. {2} There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. B. Only Peter, James, and John Witnessed the Raising of Jairus' Daughter. (Mark 5:35-37 NIV) While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher any more?" {36} Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." {37} He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. C. Only Peter, James, and John Were Asked to Be Near Jesus During His Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Mark 14:32-34 NIV) They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." {33} He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. {34} "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch." D. Peter, James, and John Were Recognized by Paul As Pillars of the Early Church. (Gal 2:9-10 NIV) James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. {10} All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. III. John Was Present During the Most Crucial Events of Jesus' Life. A. At The Trial of Jesus Before the High Priest John, 18:15-16 (John 18:15-16 NIV) Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, {16} but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in. B. At the Crucifixion, John 19:26-27 (John 19:26-27 NIV) When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," {27} and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. C. At the Tomb, John 20:2-8 (John 20:2-8 NIV) So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" {3} So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. {4} Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. {5} He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. {6} Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, {7} as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. {8} Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. D. When Jesus Appeared at the Sea of Galilee, John 21 (John 21:4, 7, 20, 24 NIV) Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus . . . {7} Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. . . {20} Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") . . . {24} This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. Conclusion For these reasons we explore the truths of John's gospel: I. John Was an Eyewitness to the Events He Recorded. II. John Was a Member of the Inner Circle of Jesus' Disciples. III. John Was Present During the Most Crucial Events of Jesus Life. Ivor Powell summarizes well why John is an excellent and authoritative source for the pertinent facts concerning the life and ministry of Jesus Christ as they relate to man's greatest need, God's limitless love, Christ's supreme sacrifice, and man's only hope of eternal salvation . Yes, he had been there when these things happened. He knew what he was talking about! Furthermore, the elapse of some thirty, forty, or even fifty years had not dimmed his sight nor impaired his memory. Even after many years, the events seemed as if they had taken place only yesterday. Throughout the record, John supplies many intimate descriptive details which bear the marks of an eye-witness. He not only remembered the things which took place; he still recalled the order in which they happened. Beginning with Friday of the most memorable week-end of his life, John outlined the various events of the following days until, on the Tuesday of the next week, "there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee." The fact that he could remember so well after nearly half a century suggests that the early impact made upon his soul by the youthful Carpenter from Nazareth was likely to remain eternally. During his long life, John had met innumerable men, but none could compare with Jesus. He had listened to many discourses on many themes, but none remained word for word in his mind as did the sermons preached by the Master. Yes, he had indeed been there! He was sure of his facts, and with the conviction deepening in his soul that the story should be preserved for posterity, he lifted his pen and addressed himself to his task. |
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Tuesday, September 27, 2011
A Fisherman's Story
