INTRODUCTION TO JOHN'S GOSPEL

It is a daunting task to write a series of expositions on John's Gospel. I have often preached from a passage in John but never worked sequentially through the book. I am aiming to revise and refresh material that I have prepared through the years and to study neglected sections for the first time. John's Gospel is unique in containing a lot of dialogue between Jesus and others. I believe that John was a very keen student and recorded from day to day what Jesus said and did. There is no reason why he could not have kept a sort of diary. Any meaningful interpretation of John's record needs to take into account how men and women behave. It must be true to human nature. So when, for example, the two disciples of John pursued Jesus and he asked them what they wanted it is not sensible to suppose that they replied, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" That is not what those earnest young men wanted to know. They had a burning desire to discover something quite different. See John1v35to39. My only useful contribution to the huge amount written on John's Gospel will derive from my knowledge of human nature.

I have made use of the following commentaries:
(1) 'The Gospel of John' by William Hendriksen.
(2) William Barclay's, 'The Gospel of John.'
(3) 'Be Alive' by Warren W. Wiersbee.
(4) 'The Message of John' by Bruce Milne.
(5) 'The Gospel of St John' in the 'The Pulpit Commentary' series.

John had a single uncomplicated purpose for writing his gospel: That you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John20v31. In this he has been supremely successful.

ANY COMMENTS FOR JOHN REED: E-mail jfmreed@rmplc.co.uk

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