John: Believe and live

Where John sits

In the story

Act V, Christ

In the Bible

New Testament · Gospels · book 43 of 66

Before it in the story

Luke

After it in the story

Acts

The fourth Gospel, written last: the eyewitness account of the Word made flesh, from the Baptist's witness to the risen Lord, filling out the other three and leading into the church's witness in Acts.

John summary

John's Gospel tells who Jesus is so that its readers may believe and live (20:31). A prologue names Him before His story begins: the eternal Word, who was with God and was God, made all things and became flesh (1:1–18). In the book of signs (1:19–12:50) John the Baptist points to the Lamb of God, and Jesus shows His glory in signs, from water made wine at Cana to Lazarus raised at Bethany, and in sayings at Israel's feasts: He is the bread of life, the light of the world, the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life, and before Abraham was born, He is. Some believe, but His own people as a whole do not receive Him (12:37–41). In the book of glory (13:1–20:31) His hour has come: He washes His disciples' feet, promises the Spirit, prays for those the Father gave Him, is lifted up on the cross as the Passover Lamb and King of the Jews, and rises on the first day of the week; Thomas confesses Him “My Lord and my God.” An epilogue by the Sea of Tiberias restores Peter to feed Christ's sheep and affirms that the beloved disciple's witness is true (21).

John in context

Written by

The apostle John, son of Zebedee, the disciple whom Jesus loved: an eyewitness who leaned on Jesus at the supper, stood at the cross and saw the empty tomb (13:23; 19:26, 35; 20:2–8; 21:20, 24), as the early church testified; the closing attestation (21:24–25) may come from those who knew him

Written to

Believers and inquirers, Jews and Gentiles, probably in the churches of Asia around Ephesus; Aramaic words and Jewish customs are explained for them (1:38, 41; 4:9; 19:40)

Setting

Jesus' ministry from John's baptizing beyond Jordan to the risen Lord by the Sea of Tiberias, centered on Jerusalem and its feasts, with stays in Galilee and Samaria (1:28; 2:13; 4:4; 5:1; 7:10; 10:22; 12:12; 21:1)

When

Written late in the first century, probably c. AD 85–95, traditionally at Ephesus; some argue for the 60s from the present tense of 5:2. The ministry it records spans at least three Passovers (2:13; 6:4; 11:55), about AD 27–30, though some date the cross to AD 33.

Why

That readers might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and believing have life through His name (20:31): John selects signs and sayings that show His glory, calls unbelievers to faith, and strengthens those who already believe.

Themes of John

• The Word became flesh
• Signs that reveal His glory
• I am
• Believe and live
• Given to the Son
• The hour of glory
• Another Advocate
• Witness and truth
• The true temple and the feasts
• Light and darkness
• Love one another

Key verses in John

• John 1:1

  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

• John 1:14

  The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

• John 1:29

  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

• John 3:16

  For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

• John 6:37

  Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away.

• John 10:11

  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

• John 11:25–26

  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

• John 14:6

  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

• John 20:31

  But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

John chapter by chapter

Part 1 · Prologue: the Word made flesh 1:1–18

1. 1
   John 1: The Word became flesh

   The eternal Word, who is God, became flesh; John points to Him as the Lamb of God, and the first disciples follow.

Part 2 · The book of signs 1:19–12:50

1. 2
   John 2: The first sign and the Father's house

   At Cana Jesus turns water into wine, revealing His glory; at Passover He cleanses the temple and speaks of His body.

2. 3
   John 3: You must be born again

   Jesus tells Nicodemus he must be born of the Spirit; God gave His Son so that whoever believes has eternal life.

3. 4
   John 4: Living water and the Savior of the world

   Jesus offers living water to a Samaritan woman, many Samaritans believe, and His word heals a royal official's son.

4. 5
   John 5: The Son who gives life

   Jesus heals a lame man on the Sabbath and claims the Father's works: to give life, to judge, and to be honored.

5. 6
   John 6: The bread of life

   Jesus feeds five thousand and declares Himself the true bread from heaven; many leave, but the Twelve stay.

6. 7
   John 7: If anyone is thirsty

   At Tabernacles Jesus teaches in the temple amid division and promises the Spirit as streams of living water.

7. 8
   John 8: Before Abraham was born, I am

   Jesus declares Himself the light of the world and, before Abraham was born, the I AM; His hearers pick up stones.

8. 9
   John 9: I was blind, but now I see

   Jesus gives sight to a man born blind, who comes to faith, while the Pharisees who claim sight stay blind.

9. 10
   John 10: The good shepherd

   Jesus is the door and the good shepherd who gives His life for the sheep and keeps them; He and the Father are one.

10. 11
    John 11: I am the resurrection and the life

    Jesus raises Lazarus four days dead, showing He is the resurrection and the life; the council plots His death.

11. 12
    John 12: The hour has come

    Anointed for burial and hailed as King, Jesus says His hour has come: like a grain of wheat He must die and bear fruit.

Part 3 · The book of glory: the hour 13:1–20:31

1. 13
   John 13: He loved them to the end

   Jesus washes His disciples' feet, sends out the betrayer, and gives the new commandment to love one another.

2. 14
   John 14: I am the way and the truth and the life

   Jesus comforts His disciples: He is the way to the Father, goes to prepare a place, and will send the Advocate.

3. 15
   John 15: I am the true vine

   Jesus is the true vine: abide in Him and bear fruit, love one another, and bear witness though the world hates you.

4. 16
   John 16: It is for your benefit that I am going away

   Jesus warns of persecution and promises the Spirit, who will guide them into all truth; He has overcome the world.

5. 17
   John 17: Father, the hour has come

   Jesus prays for His glory, for the disciples given Him to be kept and sanctified, and for all who will believe.

6. 18
   John 18: My kingdom is not of this world

   Jesus gives Himself up, Peter denies Him, and before Pilate He says His kingdom is not of this world.

7. 19
   John 19: It is finished

   Pilate hands over the King of the Jews; Jesus is crucified, finishes His work, and is buried in a new tomb.

8. 20
   John 20: My Lord and my God

   On the first day Jesus rises, sends His disciples with the Spirit, and Thomas confesses Him Lord and God.

Part 4 · Epilogue: by the sea 21:1–25

1. 21
   John 21: Do you love Me? Feed my sheep

   By the sea the risen Jesus gives a great catch, restores Peter to feed His sheep, and John's witness is affirmed.

See the outline of John