{"id":26199,"date":"2020-11-06T13:23:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-06T13:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/2020\/11\/30\/preaching-on-john\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T17:04:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T17:04:53","slug":"preaching-on-john","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/preaching-on-john\/","title":{"rendered":"Preaching on John"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It has been said about the Gospel of John, that it is shallow enough for a baby to swim in, yet deep enough for an elephant to dive in. Although a baby will likely not be reading John, and elephants do not read (!), the saying captures most people\u2019s experience when working through John. On first reading\u2014\u201cI get it \u2026 I get Who the Jesus of John is.\u201d Then on second, third, tenth reading\u2014\u201cOh mercy \u2026 there is so much more to get!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John is accessible to just about any audience\u2014to those who have never read the Bible and to those have read the Bible all their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historical Background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is very good reason to believe that the author of John is, in fact, John, the son of Zebedee, one of the first persons Jesus called into the venture of discipleship (Matt. 4:21). The author is the \u201cbeloved disciple\u201d (21:20), the one who, as a number of commentators put it, \u201chas his head on Jesus\u2019 heart,\u201d who enjoyed the most intimate of relationships with Jesus during his earthly ministry (13:23).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although we do not know with certainty, John likely wrote his Gospel from the city of Ephesus, and did so sometime before AD 70, when the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. For as he says in 5:2, \u201cthere is <\/em>in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool \u2026.\u201d The implication being the Temple is still standing when he writes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John is writing to those who want to know who Jesus of Nazareth is\u2014\u201cSir, we wish to see Jesus\u201d (12:21). The Greeks on Palm Sunday are expressing the longings of those to whom John writes. They likely had some knowledge of him, but are wanting more. So, John gives them, and us, more! Understatement, if there ever was one! Although as John says, he has not written everything he could have: if everything were written, \u201cI suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books which were written\u201d (21:25).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The book, therefore, is all about Jesus. Or, more accurately, all about Jesus revealing who he is. Revealing who he is for the world, and for every person in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The big discovery we make is that Jesus wants the world, us, to have life and have it \u201cabundantly\u201d (10:10). Is that not the quest of everyone in the world today? John writes his Gospel because he is convinced that \u201cabundant life\u201d is found only in Jesus. John states the reason for writing at the end: \u201cThese things have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God; and that in believing you may have life in his name\u201d(20:31).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Greek word John uses which we render \u201clife,\u201d is zoe. <\/em>Not the expected word bios. <\/em>Although a very good life, bios, <\/em>the life we get from our parents, runs down, decays, dies (tell me about it). Zoe, <\/em>however, does not run down, decay, die. For zoe <\/em>cannot. Zoe <\/em>is the life God has and is. Eternal Life. And that is what Jesus comes to give us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Structure of John<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

John begins with what is traditionally called \u201cThe Prologue,\u201d 1:1-18; literally, \u201cthe word before the word.\u201d Likely written as a poem, John lets us know right from the beginning who the rest of the story is all about. \u201cAnd the Word \u2026 Who was God\u201d (1:1), \u201cbecame flesh and dwelt among us\u201d (1:14). Jesus of Nazareth is the Living God himself, come into our world as one of us! In the rest of the story we are encountered by God in our flesh and blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John then further sets the stage, (1:19-51) by telling us about Jesus\u2019 \u201cforerunner,\u201d John the Baptist. And then about Jesus calling the first disciples, telling them what they are getting themselves into by following him\u2014\u201cyou will see heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man\u201d (1:51).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The whole book is built around the word \u201cglory.\u201d 1:14: \u201cAnd the Word became flesh \u2026 and we beheld his glory.\u201d \u201cGlory\u201d is a way of revealing the \u201cessential nature and character of God.\u201d In chapters 2-21, we are \u201cbeholding glory.\u201d And as a result, we are being changed (2 Cor. 3:18).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are two halves to the book: chapters 2-11 and chapters 12-21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapters 2-11 are bracketed by the word \u201cglory.\u201d After turning water into wine at Cana of Galilee, John says, \u201cand his disciples beheld his glory\u201d (2:11). Then, just before raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus says to the man\u2019s grieving sisters, \u201cDid I not tell you that if you believe you would see the glory of God?\u201d (11:40). The implication being that everything Jesus does and says between these two events reveals the essential nature and character of Jesus, which is the essential nature and character of God. Especially in Jesus\u2019 deeds and words in the context of the various Jewish Feasts, most dramatically in the Feast of Tabernacles, when he declares, \u201cBefore Abraham was, I AM\u201d (8:58).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chapters 12-21 begin with the word \u201cglory.\u201d On Palm Sunday, after entering the city of Jerusalem, Jesus says, \u201cNow is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him\u201d (12:31). \u201cNow\u201d\u2014in the events of Holy Week, leading up to his crucifixion and resurrection. \u201cNow\u201d glory is fully manifested for all the world to see. Which is why John Calvin called the second half of John, \u201cthe theater of glory.\u201d Glory is breaking through on the cross. Glory is breaking through in the empty tomb. The revelation of the God who overcomes the power of death by dying. The revelation of the God who brings us into being a whole new order of life by rising from the grave. \u201cAnd we beheld his glory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chart: Preaching Through John<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We know the weekly grind of sermon prep is hard, whether you are in the midst of series or planning a new series. Trying to find key verses you need to highlight in your sermon, finding the historical background to the book, discovering the flow\/structure of book, and even figuring out what is the theme of each section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why we created this chart! This chart is designed to\u00a0save you time<\/strong>\u00a0as you prepare to preach a new sermon series from the Book of John.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will find a quick visual overview of the movement of the Book of John. It will help orient you and your hearers as you preach through the entire book or sections of the book. It provides, at a glance, one way to divide the book into pericopes. The chart includes key verses in the book, an overarching title for the book, the overall message of the book, and some historical background. It is color-coded to highlight certain defining aspects of the book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This chart could be used as a slide in your church service. It could serve as an introduction to a new series or a weekly check-in before you begin preaching. It could even be printed out and given to the members of your church, as a resource to help them grasp the message of the book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/a><\/span>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Preaching Pericopes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1:1-18 \u2013 Prologue \u2013 \u201cBefore You Read The Rest of the Story\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1:19-34 \u2013 The Witness of John the Baptist \u2013 \u201cLook!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1:35-51 \u2013 Calling of the first disciples \u2013 \u201cWhat Are We Getting Ourselves Into?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:1-12 \u2013 Wedding at Cana \u2013 \u201cAll Things Made New\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2:13-25 \u2013 Cleansing of the Temple \u2013 \u201cClearing the Way into God\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3:1-21 \u2013 Mid-night visit with Nicodemus \u2013 \u201cBorn From Above\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3:22-36 \u2013 John the Baptist \u2013 \u201cFriend of the Bridegroom\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:1-38 \u2013 The woman at the well \u2013 \u201cThe Father Is Seeking Worshippers\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:39-45 \u2013 A city is won to Jesus \u2013 \u201cWe Have Heard for Ourselves\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4:46-54 \u2013 Healing at Cana \u2013 \u201cYour Son Lives\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5:1-47 \u2013 Jesus on the Sabbath \u2013 \u201cI Myself Am Working\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6:1-15 \u2013 Feeding of the 5,000 \u2013 \u201cKingdom Math\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6:16-21 \u2013 Walking on the water \u2013 \u201cDo Not Be Afraid\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6:22-71 \u2013 Bread of Life sermon \u2013 \u201cEat and Have Eternal Life\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7:1-8:58 \u2013 Feast of Tabernacles<\/p>\n\n\n\n