One-sentence summary:
John reveals Jesus as the eternal Son of God who became flesh to bring light, life, and salvation, calling people to believe and have eternal life in His name.
Key themes & takeaways:
- Jesus’ Divinity — Opens with “In the beginning was the Word… and the Word was God,” making His deity unmistakable.
- Signs That Lead to Faith — Seven miraculous signs are recorded to reveal His glory and inspire belief.
- I Am Statements — Jesus claims divine identity with statements like “I am the bread of life” and “I am the resurrection and the life.”
- Eternal Life Through Belief — John’s purpose is clear: belief in Jesus brings eternal life.
- Love and Unity — The Upper Room discourse stresses love, obedience, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Historical/cultural context:
Structured to show Jesus as both fully God and fully man, the only way to the Father.
Written by the apostle John, likely between AD 85–95, decades after the other Gospels.
More theological and reflective than the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke).
Contains unique events and discourses, such as the raising of Lazarus and the washing of the disciples’ feet.
