Life of Jesus
Study of Jesus Using the Book of John
John 20: 30-31
"Jesus did many miracles that his followers saw. Those miracles are not written in this book; but these things are written so that you can believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; then, by believing, you can have life through his name"
The book of John was specifically written to help us believe in Jesus. By reading the book of John, you should be able to learn who Jesus is, what He did, what He is like, what He taught, etc.
John 21:25
"There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of these things were written down, I think the whole world would not be big enough for all the books that were written."
John did not even attempt to record everything about Jesus. However, inspired by God, he was able to give us everything we need to get to know Jesus.
John 1:1-4
"Before the world began, the Word was there with God, the Word was God, He was there with God in the beginning. All things are made through him (the Word). Nothing was made without Him. In Him, there was life, that life was light (understanding, goodness) for the people of the world."
Who is the Word? The Greek word used here is "logos" meaning any kind of communication. It could also be translated "message." Here this means Christ - the way God told people about himself.
John 1:14
"The Word became a man and lived among us. We saw His glory - the glory that belongs to the only son of the Father. The Word was full of grace (kindness) and truth."
From this verse we know that "the Word" is Jesus. Therefore, you could re-read John 1:1-4 and John 1:14 substituting the word Jesus every place you see the Word. Jesus is God’s "logos" (communication, message) to us.
John 1:18
"No man has ever seen God; but the only son (Jesus) is God. He is very close to the Father (God) and the son has shown us what God is like."
Many times you can know a lot about a father through his son. In my own case, I have found that to be true! Even if you don’t know my physical father (Ray Morris), if you know me well and then later meet my father, there are many things that you would feel that you already know about my father! Jesus, in a much more perfect way shows us God.
Do you want to get to know God? God sent Jesus to communicate to us about himself. God inspired John to write the Gospel of John so that we could know Jesus. By studying the book of John, you can know and believe in Jesus. By knowing and believing in Jesus, you can know God! This directly clashes with the impression that many of us have of a distant, far away God.
John 2: 1-10 The Wedding at Cana - Jesus’ First Miracle
John 2:11
"This was the first miracle that Jesus did. Jesus did this miracle in the town of Cana in Galilee so Jesus showed His greatness and His followers believed in Him."
John 3:1-21 Jesus and Nicodemus
It is during this exchange that Jesus first explains the concept of being "born again." This passage also contains the following famous verses from John 3:16-17. "Yes, God loved the world so much that He gave His only son. God gave His son so that every person that believes in Him would not be lost; but have life forever. God sent His son into the world. God did not send His son to judge the world guilty. God sent His son so that the world could be saved through His son."
John 4:1-42 Jesus talks to a woman of Samaria What is true worship?
John 4:23-24
"The time is coming when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. That time is now here, and those are the kind of people that the Father wants to be his worshippers. God is spirit. So the people that worship God must worship in spirit and truth."
How do you worship God in Spirit? How do you worship God in Truth?
John 4:43-54 Jesus Heals an Official’s Son
John 4:54
"That was the second miracle that Jesus did after coming from Judea from Galilee."
Continue to read through the book of John to experience Jesus. Follow Jesus through his life as you discover
Jesus Heals a Man at a Pool (John 5:1-18)
Jesus Feeds More Than 5,000 People (John 6:1-15)
Jesus Walks on the Water (John 6:16-21)
Jesus, the Bread of Life (John 6:25-59)
Jesus Talks About the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39)
Jesus Defends the Woman Caught in Adultery (John 8:1-11)
"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind (John 9:1-41)
Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:7-21)
Jesus Washes His Followers Feet (John 13:1-20)
Jesus Prays for His Followers (John 17:1-26)
Jesus is Arrested (John 18:1-14)
Jesus is Brought Before Pilot (John 18-19:16)
Jesus is Killed on a Cross (John 19:17-27)
Jesus Dies and is Buried (John 19:28-42)
Jesus’ Tomb is Empty! (John 20:1-9)
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene, His Followers, and to Thomas (John 20:10-29)