The Gospel of John

 
Overview
In this section, you will learn some of the identifying features of the Gospel of John – a gospel with a significantly different feel than Mark, Matthew and Luke, which are referred to as “Synoptic Gospels” due to their common point of view.  You will also get a feel for John’s particular style of writing.  
Objectives for this section

As you go through the resources for this section, you will gain a better understanding of the following aspects of the Gospel of John:

Origins of the Gospel:  where and when written, original language, etc. 
Who was John writing for; what was his purpose. 
John’s writing style so that you will begin to recognize a few differences/similarities between John and the other gospels.
How John portrays Jesus of Nazareth

Steps for achieving the objectives
Complete the following steps in the order listed and by the due dates listed below.   
Hint:  If you complete all of the reading by the end of Week 11, you will be well prepared for completing the assignments due in Week 12.  Remember:  Procrastination = STRESS!!!   :-/

Read Frontline: Gospel of John: The “Spiritual Gospel” 
Read Frontline:  Gospel of John (Marilyn Mellows essay)
The Gospel of John (including Introduction) in Complete Gospels (pages 205 – 254)
Watch Jesus of Nazareth: Jesus brought before Pilate (John 18)

 
Writing prompt:
The Gospel of John has a very different feel than the three “synoptic” gospels (Mark, Matthew and Luke).  It is often said that The Gospel of John has a “High Christology” – which means it focuses more on Jesus’ divinity than on his humanity.  As our textbook points out, “The words of the Johannine Jesus are often ambiguous, even deliberately confusing his listeners (e.g., 3:3), conveying two levels of meaning at once.” (206)  (Note:  “Johannine” is the word used to refer to things as they appear in the Gospel of John.)
We are going to focus on John 14 – 17, which is often referred to as the “Farewell Discourse” because these chapters contain Jesus’ farewell instructions to his followers.   He says a number of confusing – even contradictory – things in these chapters regarding his relationship with God.   Please read Chapter 14 very carefully, and then write on the following questions:
1.   What are some of the things Jesus tells his followers about their connection with him and, at the same time, their connection with God?
2.  What do you think that Jesus means when he says that “anyone who believes in me will perform the works I perform and will be able to perform even greater feats”? (14:12)  This is a fairly astounding thing to say, so don’t pass it over without giving it careful thought.  
As always, you must include chapter and verse references if you wish to get a higher grade on this Discussion Forum post.  🙂    And please let me know if you are have questions or concerns about this assignment!  

Follow up post\
First:  
Jesus seems to speak to people about him and God being of one accord and one mind. In verse 2 of chapter 14 he reiterates that God has enough room for them in heaven and that he confirms this by him saying prior that he will prepare a place for them. When Thomas asks him ” how can we know the way?” Jesus responds “I am the way the truth and the life, no one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. I believe Jesus is making himself equal with the Father by saying this. He is saying he only speaks and lives what the Father speaks or lives. He also is saying that you know God if you know Jesus. The last sentence tells me that he is saying he is God in the flesh. Confirming in other words that he is the true Son of God. In verse 10 he says “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me”. The way I understand this is that Jesus is saying God is him and he is in God, that he only does what God has planned and set out for him to do based upon his will.
2. I believe by Jesus saying anyone who believes in him will do greater works means that he is referring to the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and that people who believe in him shall do the same works as Christ and greater because it will keep happening and happening throughout the years until he says he will come back. Christ’s teachings were very very short and his ministry only lasted a few years on earth. I understand it as him referring to us who believe in him will continue to heal, cast out demons, speak in tongues, prophecy, etc…. for all the years to come after him. He said right after that in verse 13 that you can ask for anything in his name and it will be done because he is with the Father. He is signifying that he will be alive when he ascends and will grant us our prayers by faith in the Son of God.
In closing I think his teachings, especially in chapter 14 are to get us to understand he is making himself equal with the Father, yet saying he is the Son at the same time. It is hard to understand a bit, but I believe he is saying he only does God’s will and that what he speaks is what God speaks and not on his own accord.

Second:
 
These book is different than the other three gospels in its content and writing. John started and focused on Jesus in his divine state. He showed that how the kingdom works and what Jesus asked his disciples and followers.
Jesus was teaching his disciples in many ways but specially in chapter 14 he showed them how the relationship he has with God in a way that shows he is God. He told them that whomever knows and sees him,he sees God the father. He said on 14:9 “Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”. And also he mentioned how to be with him. He answered that he’s the way,the truth and life. In the whole conversation they had in chapter 14,Jesus explained the connection between his followers and him, between God the father and his followers, specially on chapter 14:19-21 “Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” He stated that whomever believes in him and take as his savior, he also receive his father automatically.
I think On chapter 14:12, when Jesus said anyone who believes in him will perform the works in a greater feats, he meant after he lives, holy sprit will come and be with us and help us do all the works so that the prophecy has to be fulfilled which is bring all soul to his kingdom until for the second come of Jesus.