A brief introduction to John’s Gospel
As with all the gospels, John’s Gospel is to be read not as a history book on the life of Jesus, which is our modern tendency, but as a narrative with a profound theological agenda. This agenda is stated quite clearly towards the end of the book: “that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (20:31).
John’s Gospel is written from the perspective of “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” This phrase is mentioned 5 times from chapter 13 onwards. From this phrase we can see clearly that the story is not told from the cold, objective standpoint of an historian (which is a modern concept anyway) but rather from an intimate experience of Jesus, and from a contemplative, reflective life lived in relationship with Him: as enigmatic teacher, crucified Messiah and Resurrected One. Love is indeed the over-arching theme of this entire Gospel. In referring to himself as “the beloved disciple”, John speaks of himself only in relationship to Jesus, “as if his real value and identity flow from this relationship.”1
The onus is on us, then, as the readers of this Gospel, to respond to John’s invitation, which is ultimately Jesus’ invitation. Will we truly believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God? Are we willing to discover our true identity in relationship with Jesus? Are we willing to step in to the love shared between Father and Son, into which Jesus invites us at every step along the journey in John’s Gospel? As we travel through this mysteriously wonderful Gospel, I pray that we can respond afresh to the call of the crucified and resurrected Messiah on our lives.
The Prologue of John’s Gospel
In the Prologue, we have access to one of the most profound and succinct passages of prose ever written. In less than 350 words, John is able to encapsulate the broad themes that run throughout his gospel: knowing God, light and darkness, truth and falsity, the world and the Word (logos), life and glory, truth and grace, and the love shared between Father and Son, into which the reader is invited to participate in. John sets the scene for the narrative that will follow, intentionally giving away from the outset what it is at the heart of this narrative – the revelation of truth given to us through the person of Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the story that now unfolds is about God, as Jesus makes God known. As Roester puts it, “The prologue prepares readers to see the whole story of Jesus as God’s act of communication through His embodied word”. 2
For devotions this week, please read the prologue to John’s Gospel (1:1-14) each day. Then, after a period of silence, ask each other the following questions:
- What word or phrase stands out to you?
- What does this word or phrase tell us about God? What does it tell us about humanity?
Then spend some time praying for each other, your community, and the world.
John 1: 1-18 (NIV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Further Reading
For further reading on John, I recommend the following books:
- For a more academic study Francis Moloney’s book “Love in the Gospel of John”, (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013) is excellent.
- For devotional material, Jean Vanier’s “Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John,” (Mulgrave: John Garratt Publishing, 2004) is highly contemplative and prayerful.
- For a fascinating account of what John the Beloved’s life possibly looked like, chapter 2 of Richard Foster’s “Streams of Living Water” (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1998) is well worth a read.
1 Jean Vanier, “Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John,” Mulgrave: John Garratt Publishing, 2004, p.11.
2 Quoted in Francis J Moloney, “Love in the Gospel of John”, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013, loc. 440 (kindle edition).