5.10 Jesus as revealed in the Gospel of John
Jesus is typified by the face of the Eagle in the Gospel of John. The eagle is a majestic bird that soars high in the heavens. The eagle represents divinity. While Jesus was fully man as revealed in Luke, He is also fully God. John reveals Jesus as the Son of God.
Matthew traces the King’s lineage to Abraham and David. Mark does not give the lineage of the Suffering Servant. Luke traces the Perfect Man’s lineage to Adam, the father of mankind. The Gospel of John says that Jesus was there from the beginning as the Son of God (John 1:1-3). He has no genealogy as the Son of God because all things were made through Him. He is the source of life.
(John 1:1-4, NKJV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The book of John is the most spiritual and profound among all the four Gospels. The fourth gospel writer penetrates the mystery of the incarnation (Jesus as God in human form; John 1:14), who brings life to the world through trust in Him.
In the first three Gospels (synoptics), Jesus teaches mainly about the kingdom of God, whereas in John He teaches about Himself. Jesus declares who He is – “I am the bread of life” (6:35). “I am the light of the world” (8:12). “I am the door” to salvation (10:9). “I am the good Shepherd” (10:11). “I am the Son of God” (10:36). “I am the way, the truth and the life” (14:6). “I am the vine, you are the branches” (15:5).
These facts are sufficient to indicate that the synoptics present basically one perspective on the life of Jesus and that the Gospel of John presents another perspective, achieved most probably by profound meditation on the meaning of Jesus Christ.
Today, when we read the Gospel of John, we must know that Jesus is God. He is the subject/object of our worship. If we don’t cry out, even the stones will cry out (Luke 19:40). Not only can He identify with us because He came as a man, He is also able to bring us salvation us because He is God. Not only does He represent man to God as the Son of Man, He also represents God to us as the Son of God. We can worship Him as the Son of God, and as our God.
Matthew traces the King’s lineage to Abraham and David. Mark does not give the lineage of the Suffering Servant. Luke traces the Perfect Man’s lineage to Adam, the father of mankind. The Gospel of John says that Jesus was there from the beginning as the Son of God (John 1:1-3). He has no genealogy as the Son of God because all things were made through Him. He is the source of life.
(John 1:1-4, NKJV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The book of John is the most spiritual and profound among all the four Gospels. The fourth gospel writer penetrates the mystery of the incarnation (Jesus as God in human form; John 1:14), who brings life to the world through trust in Him.
In the first three Gospels (synoptics), Jesus teaches mainly about the kingdom of God, whereas in John He teaches about Himself. Jesus declares who He is – “I am the bread of life” (6:35). “I am the light of the world” (8:12). “I am the door” to salvation (10:9). “I am the good Shepherd” (10:11). “I am the Son of God” (10:36). “I am the way, the truth and the life” (14:6). “I am the vine, you are the branches” (15:5).
These facts are sufficient to indicate that the synoptics present basically one perspective on the life of Jesus and that the Gospel of John presents another perspective, achieved most probably by profound meditation on the meaning of Jesus Christ.
Today, when we read the Gospel of John, we must know that Jesus is God. He is the subject/object of our worship. If we don’t cry out, even the stones will cry out (Luke 19:40). Not only can He identify with us because He came as a man, He is also able to bring us salvation us because He is God. Not only does He represent man to God as the Son of Man, He also represents God to us as the Son of God. We can worship Him as the Son of God, and as our God.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 1:57 AM
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