As we carefully meditate upon the sayings of the Lord Jesus in the Gospel of John we too say, “never man spake like this man.”
He said, “Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.” John 17:5.
“He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” John 14:9.
“I and My Father are One.” John 10:30.
“Before Abraham was I AM.” John 8:58.
“I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish.” John 10:28.
“No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” John 14:6.
We could quote statement after statement in John’s Gospel in which Christ claims unity and equality with God, One with the Father in the eternal Godhead.
Christ refers to Himself in the first person pronoun more than 650 times in John’s Gospel. Note again John 1:1:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Then note John 20:28; Thomas worships Christ as God
“And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”
Now in the middle of John’s Gospel:
“The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.” John 10:33.
In these verses we have the wonderful story of the One Whom God calls in Isaiah 9:6: “Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
He is God in the beginning of John’s Gospel. He is God at the end. In the middle of the Book He is being stoned because He is a Man making Himself God.
And note John 5:18:
“Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.”
NEVER MAN SPAKE LIKE ‘THIS MAN’
Several times in the Scriptures the Lord Jesus Christ is referred to as “this Man.”
Luke 23:41: “THIS MAN hath done nothing amiss.”
John 7:31: “And many of the people believed on Him, and said, When Christ cometh, will He do more miracles than these which THIS MAN hath done?”
Hebrews 10:12: “But THIS MAN after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” Acts 13:38: “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through THIS MAN is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.”
Luke 15:2: “THIS MAN receiveth sinners and eateth with them.”
It seems that sometimes Christ was called “THIS MAN” in derision. At other times it seems that it was because of perplexity. Note this question in John, “Who is this Son of man?” John 12:34.
This man was sinless, He did nothing amiss. Can one perform greater miracles than those this man performed? He has more than 350 titles in the Bible. Blessed is the individual who can correctly answer the question, “Who is this Son of man?”
“Never man spake like this Man.” This Man on the cross offered one sacrifice for sins and then sat down in heaven. “Through this Man is preached the forgiveness of sin.” “This Man receiveth sinners.”
In John’s Gospel Christ is called “the Son of man” nine times. Note the verses: John 3:13 and 14; John 6:27, 53 and 62; John 8:28; John 12:23 and 34; John 13:31.When you have read them you will have learned that it is no less difficult to understand the personality of the Divine human Christ than in the verses calling Him the Son of God.
Note why this message was written: “But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through His name.” John 20:31.
In John’s Gospel Christ is called the Son of God eleven times.
The word “believe” is found 100 times in John’s Gospel. “Life” or “eternal life” is found 44 times in John’s Gospel.Christ is the life. John 14:6. Christ gives unto His Sheep eternal life. John 10:28. The word “world” is found about 77 times in John’s Gospel. The word “Jew” (“Jews”) is found 66 times in John’s Gospel.
It is noteworthy that although we find in John 3:16 this statement, “for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” we find no reference in John’s Gospel to Christ’s dealing with the Greek Gentile woman of Matthew 15 and Mark 7, and His dealing with the Roman Gentile man of Matthew 8 and Luke 7.
We read in John 12:20 to 23 that certain Greeks said to the Lord’s disciples, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” But so far as we have any record, Christ did not see these Greeks and talk to them. He dealt with the woman of Samaria in John 4. But there is no record in John’s Gospel that Christ dealt with Gentiles.
THE FOUR “MUSTS” OF JOHN’S GOSPEL
John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30.
“And no man hath ascended up unto heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man Which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” John 3:13 and 14.
“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” John 3:7.
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24
CHRIST THE BREAD OF LIFE
John 6:32 to 35, 41, 48, 50, 51, 58
“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true Bread from heaven.” John 6:32. “For the Bread of God is He That cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” “Then said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give us this Bread.” “And Jesus said unto them, I am the Bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth. on Me shall never thirst”
“The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, I am the Bread Which came down from heaven.”
“I am that Bread of life.”
“This is the Bread Which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die.” “I am the living Bread Which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this Bread, he shall live for ever: and the Bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
“This is the Bread Which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this Bread shall live for ever.”
THE MANNA FROM HEAVEN
“And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna; and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.” Exodus 16:31.
“Manna” means “what is it.” It came from heaven. It was white. Thus we see that this manna in its purity, origin and as a heavenly food spoke of Christ as the Bread of life which came down from heaven. The Israelites who ate the manna died. But Christ said, “Eat of Me and live forever.” We too should say, “Evermore give us this Bread.”
As the Israelites were startled by the Lord’s feeding them from heaven and said “what is it?” so the Israelites were bewildered as to the true personality of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who claimed pre-existence with His Father. He claimed unity and equality with God. That He was the sinless Christ Who came down from heaven. They could not understand how He could be both God and man. When Peter gave the correct answer, the Lord Jesus said, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father Which is in heaven.” Matthew 16:17. And let us remember I Corinthians 12:3: “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.”
Note again:
“All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.” Matthew 11:27. The natural man, by the wisdom of this world, might call Jesus Christ the greatest man who ever trod the globe or the fairest flower of humanity or the greatest of all religious reformers, but only by the Holy Spirit can one say that Jesus Christ is the Lord from heaven.
BELIEVE—HAVE ETERNAL LIFE AND KNOW IT
Note I John 5:13: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son. of God.”
As John’s Gospel was written that we might believe and receive eternal life John’s First Epistle was written that we who believe might know that we have eternal life. Any person who will read and believe John’s Gospel will believe that Jesus was, the Son of God and also that He was God the Son.
Note John 14:9 and John 17:5:
“Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father: and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”
“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”
God, the Father, wants the believer to know that he is saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
THE FATHER LOVETH THE SON
So many times we quote John 3:16 about God’s great love for the world. When we try to realize God’s great love for His Son, then we can better appreciate God’s great love in giving His Son on the cross for ungodly enemies.
Note these statements of Christ:
John 5:20: “For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth Him all things that Himself doeth: and He will shew Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.”
John 17:24: “Father, I will that they also Whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou non east given Me: for Thou lovest Me before the foundation of the world.”
John 10:17: “Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.”
The Father loved the Son before the foundation of the world. Then the Father loved the Son because the Son laid down His life as the expression of the Father’s love for lost sinners, that by His Son’s act of obedience unto death God might be just and the Justifier of all who believe on Christ.
Note Christ’s words in John 18:11: “Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?”
Now note John 8:29: And He That sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.”
From these words we can understand the meaning of Romans 15:3: “For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell on Me.”
The Son came from heaven to earth to do the Father’s will. That meant Gethsemane’s cup and Calvary’s cup. The Son always pleased the Father. “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see his Seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.” Isaiah 53:10.
Is it any wonder that God declares “without faith it is impossible to please Him?” “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.
AND I WORK
John 5:17: “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”
The Psalmist said, “It is time for Thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void Thy law.” Psalms 119:126.
In other words, if a work of righteousness is to be done, it is not to be done by man and God’s holy law, but by Jesus Christ the Righteous. He was made sin on the cross at Calvary that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. II Corinthians 5:21.
THE FATHER’S WORK IN JOHN
“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” John 6:28 and 29. “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” John 4:34. “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” John 5:17. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” John 17:3 and 4. “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” John 19:30.
Thus in John’s Gospel we find that the work of redemption is being accomplished by the Christ who is called in Colossians 1:13 “the Son of God’s love.”
“The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:17. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8 to 10. “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20 and 21.
The sinner’s first work in John’s Gospel of Grace is John 6:29 and in John 6:40:
“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
The sinner must first be God’s workmanship, saved without works and then be God’s workman, remembering the truth of Titus 2:14:
“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
Any attempt to add religion or anything of merit to the finished work of God to make salvation more effective or efficacious will prove futile.
Note Galatians 2:20 and Galatians 5:1:
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
The redeemed sinner belongs to the Lord, with his time, his gifts, his substance and his life. And note what Christ declares in John 12:26: “If any man serve Me Him will My Father honor.”
CHRIST’S HOUR IN JOHN’S GOSPEL
John 2:4. “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine HOUR is not yet come.”
John 5:25. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The HOUR is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.”
John 5:28. “Marvel not at this: for the HOUR is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice.”
John 7:30. “Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his HOUR was not yet come.”
John 8:20. “These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple and no man laid hands on him; for his HOUR was not yet come.”
John 12:23. “And Jesus answered them, saying, The HOUR is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.”
John 12:27. “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this HOUR: but for this cause came I unto this HOUR.”
John 13:1. “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his HOUR was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”
John 16:32. “Behold, the HOUR cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.”John 17:1. “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father the HOUR is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.”
Here we learn that Christ’s hour meant the time of His death on the cross. Note again John 12:27:
“ . . . Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.”
Christ’s death was neither premature nor accidental. His death did not take place either one hour before or one hour after the time God had set. Christ was not a martyr. He was God’s foreordained sin-bearer. I Peter 1:18 to 20. Christ was not the helpless victim of circumstances in the hour of His death.
Note Acts 4:26 to 28:
“The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.”
Let us note again Christ’s words to Mary in John 2:4:
“ . . . Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.”
Mary had to be saved by Christ’s blood.
THE FATHER IN JOHN’S GOSPEL
After we have studied the Son’s work in the Gospel of John, we can better understand Christ’s words in: John 15:23: “He that hateth Me hateth My Father also.”
John 5:23: “That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father Which hath sent Him.”
John 12:26: “If any man serve Me, let Him follow Me; and where I am there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me him will My Father honour.”
From these plain statements, how foolish for any one to claim to love and serve God the Father while they refuse to love and serve Christ as One with the Father. Note Christ’s words in John 10:30: “I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE.”
And in John 17:21: “That they all may be one: as Thou Father art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.”
In I John 2:23 we read:
“Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.”
In II John 9, we read:
“Whosoever transgresseth and bideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.”
And let us even remember II John 7 to 11, in which the Holy Spirit plainly teaches that any one who gives support to any so-called Christian preacher who denies the eternal deity of Jesus Christ is a partaker of his evil deeds. And an evil deed it is. Christ must always be the center of the Christian’s worship and the object of his faith. “For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” I Timothy 2:5.
I AND MY FATHER
It is interesting to note that in John’s Gospel the Lord Jesus Christ thirty times calls God, “My Father.” All through the Book the obedient Son is doing the Father’s will. God is called “Father” 114 times in John. The word “Father” is found a greater number of times in John’s Gospel than in Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, and all of Paul’s Epistles combined.
Note Christ’s words in John 6:45: “It is written in the Prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me.”
John 6:27: “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed.” And John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto Him, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.”
Then finally we note these words in John 13:1: “Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of the world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.”
For a short while the Son came back to His apostles after His death and resurrection and He said, “. . . Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.” John 20:21.
So we leave you with John 5:23:
“That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father Which hath sent Him.”
I John 2:23:
“Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.”
And John 12:26:
“If any man serve Me let Him follow Me; and where I am there shall also my servant be: if any man serve Me, him will My Father honour.”
CHRIST THE I AM
In Exodus 3:14 God revealed Himself as “I AM THAT I AM.” Now note Christ as the “I AM” in John.
John 6:35. “And Jesus said unto them, I AM the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
John 6:41. “The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I AM the bread which came down from heaven.”
John 6:48. “I AM that bread of life.”
John 6:51. “I AM the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
John 4:26. “Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”
John 7:29. “But I know him; for I AM from him, and he hath sent me.”
John 8:12. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying. I AM the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
John 8:18. “I AM one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.”
John 8:23. “And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I AM from above: ye are of this world; I AM not of this world.”
John 8:24. “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I AM he, ye shall die in your sins.”
John 8:28. “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I AM he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.”
John 8.58. “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.”
John 9:5 “As long as I AM in the world. I AM the light of the world.”.
John 9:9. “Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I AM he.”
John 10:7. “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you. I AM the door of the sheep.”
John 10:9. “I AM the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
John 10:11. “I AM the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
John 10:14. “I AM the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”
John 10:36. “Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I AM the Son of God?”
John 11:25. “Jesus said unto her, I AM the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”
John 13:19. “Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I AM he.”
John 14:6. “Jesus saith unto him, I AM the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 16:1. “I AM the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.”
John 15:5. “I AM the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.”
John 18:5. “They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I AM he. And Judas also, which betrayed him. stood with them.”
John 19:21. “Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I AM King of the Jews.”
QUESTIONS-LESSON THIRTY-TWO
1. In John 7:46, what did the Jews say concerning the sayings of the Lord Jesus?
2. Name several verses and the doctrines in which Christ is referred to as, “this Man.”
3. How many times in John’s Gospel does Christ mention Himself in the first person pronoun?
4. Why were the Jews attempting to stone Christ to death, according to John 10:33 and John 5:18?
5. In John 20:28, what did Thomas call the Lord Jesus Christ?
6. What would you say is the difference between the titles of the Lord Jesus as the Son of man and the Son of God?
7. Again state why John’s Gospel was written according to John 20:31. Why was I John written according to I John 5:13?
8. What does Christ call Himself in John 14:6? How many times in John’s Gospel is found the word, “life?”
9. Mention the “musts” of John’s Gospel? Why must He be lifted up according to John 3:14 and 15? Why must He go through Samaria?
10. Mention several verses in the sixth chapter of John in which Christ calls Himself “Bread”. Explain how the manna of Exodus typified Christ, the “Bread from heaven.”
11. In what verses in John does Christ mention the Father’s love for the Son? Why did the Father love the Son according to John 10:17?
12. What else did Christ say when He told His disciple to put up his sword?
13. Quote several statements that Christ made concerning the Father’s work in John’s Gospel.
14. In what verse did Christ say, “I have finished the work?” Where was He when He cried, “It is finished” or “Finished?”
15. What is the sinner’s first work in John’s Gospel? What must the sinner be according to Ephesians 2:10 before God will accept his work?
16. What would you say concerning Christ’s hour in John? Quote and explain John 12:27.
17. How many times in John’s Gospel does Christ call Himself “I AM?” Quote John 8:24. What is the penalty for not believing that Christ is the I AM?
18. How many times is the word “Father,” referring to God, found in John’s Gospel? What did Christ say in John 10:30; 14:9; and John 5:23?
19. In what verse did Christ declare that He had glory with the Father before the world was? That the Father loved Him before the world was?
20. Now quote John 13:1. Tell of Christ’s love for His disciples.