Please read Chapters 1-11 of John's gospel, concentrating on the first four chapters. Cite one thing John includes that *isn't* in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Suggest a reason that this material may have been more important to John than to the synoptic writers. What is John's purpose in including the "extra" material?Thursday, February 5, 2009
The Gospel of John--Discussion I
Please read Chapters 1-11 of John's gospel, concentrating on the first four chapters. Cite one thing John includes that *isn't* in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Suggest a reason that this material may have been more important to John than to the synoptic writers. What is John's purpose in including the "extra" material?
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24 comments:
Holly Jones
I like John 3:1-21 The story about Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
This story has great details: his name - Nicodemus, his role - Pharisee, his title - member of the Jewish ruling council. He comes to Jesus at night, he shows respect and ask questions. He also gives us the verse John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son.... We also find that Nicodemus also must be a believer because he stands up for Jesus and risks everything about him.
In John the reader is not given facts about Jesus it is sssumed that we already know. John wants us to know who Jesus is by the messages of Faith and Salvation.
John is clearly a book on details that Jesus was and is the very heaven-sent Son of God and the only source of eternal life.
I believe John wants us to know the Jesus he did and with that knowledge we will believe in him.
I like John 1:46-50, when Nathaniel comes to Jesus.
The previous gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke include many examples of duplicity among the Pharisees and Sadducces, they who would approach with hidden intent in their questions and regularly try to draw out any error of technicality to condemn the message of Christ.
I think John on the other hand wants to show if one approaches the question of belief in Christ with open curiousity, like Nathaniel, if they are a person "in whom is no guile," they are spotted like him from afar and welcomed when they arrive.
Brett Newton
John 5:1-10
This story is not in any of the other gospels. This is a very different kind of story because the person being healed did not even know that it was Jesus who had healed him. In many of the other stories and books it is normal and almost always given that the healed would have faith in Christ, but in the story and case they were not aware it was Jesus who had healed him.
Another part that separates John from the other Gospels is the detail given in the account. In this story towns names are given, great detail about the town pool, how old the person was that was being healed by Christ. All of these things show the pin point nature of the gospel and readiness to show the small things that he would only have detailed knowledge of.
Sam Merkel
St. John 4:13-15
This story is when Jesus comes across a women who is about to drink from a well, and he tells her that whoever drinks from this well will thirst again. He convinces her that if she drinks the water that he gives then no man will go thirsty again and have ever lasting life. I like this story because it shows that if believing in what Jesus has to say and follow his words, that he will give you the gift of the fountain of youth. Jesus is telling the people that do be tricked by faulty gods and trust in him and in return they will recieve ultimate youth.
The entire eleventh chapter of John deals with Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. This is an inspirational story about God's ultimate power over death or eternal life. Belief in Jesus as the Son of God and acceptance of this is the path to eternal life. So why isn't this in the other Gospels? Some of the bloggers have pointed out that there is great detail in John's writings about Jesus. It may be that while Matthew, Luke, and Mark wrote down what was told to them from other discipiles; John was an actual eye-witness to these events and that is why many of the events he writes about in the first eleven chapters are not in the other Gospels.
The story that seemed to stand out to me was John 2:1-11. This is where Jesus turns the water to win at a wedding that is going on in Cana.
I think that this may have been important to John more because it was the first miracle he performed of many and since it was the first as stated in the passage, then that makes it worth talking about because a lot of people like to remember the first time they saw something amazing or the first time they went somewhere.
Eric Bengs
2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
John takes on a complete different tone from the other gospels. He is really driving home the point that Jesus was divine. I think that this was to counter act Jewish leaders who wanted to make Jesus only a prophet and not thee prophet. John also tries to show a battle on earth between the Devil and human and how we as humans have to choose God because he is righteous. He is clearly drawing the lines of what it means to be part of his religion. The guidelines are kind of simple. You must believe that Jesus was the son of God and also is divine and that he is the only way to reach heaven.
Brian Johnson
John 3: 1-21
These verses recount the story of Jesus teaching to Nicodemus.
In the passage Jesus tells Nicodemus that he is the Son of God, and that only through him can people by saved and have eternal life.
John mentions this because his writings are designed to inform readers that Jesus is the Messiah, and that he was the Son of God.
I chose the well known story of Jesus' being mad about the selling of goods in the temple at Passover. (John 2:13-23)
I believe that it might have been included with John because he was showing a side of Jesus that wasn't usually expected, an angry side. We see this less in the synoptic gospels. I believe also it was an appeal to different audiences also, maybe a middle and lower type class of the Jews, not necessarily the Pharisees and Sadducees. People who believe but aren't at the top either.
Jenna Doblar
Zach Anderson
John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."
This idea is throughout John and there are similar things in the other gospels. This exact story does not appear in the synoptic gospels. This story sums up Johns message that Jesus is here for everyone, and all you have to do is except him.
I believe John is righting a universal gospel he does not focus on any one group he mentions many different ones. Also, John makes the statement that everyone can embrass Jesus as their personal savior.
I think that a difference between John and the other gospels can be made right in John 1:1-14. The other gospels basically start talking about Jesus in the context of his birth. John talks about the incarnate Christ. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John dealt more with Jesus as God and the Messiahship of God. John is much more deep than the other Gospels. The other Gospel writers basically only get exposed to Jesus in this way at the Mt. of Transfiguration. John is the Gospel writer that puts forth the aspect of being "born again". John seems to have been the closest to Jesus. In Revelations, John talks about "special" revelations that he has been shown. Jesus sent angels to John and even touched him with his own hand in chap.1 of Revelations. John seems to be more exposed to the divinity of Christ.
Joe Adam
John 2:1-11
These verses describe a part in the bible and specifically in the gospel of John where Jesus turns water into wine at a wedding. This happening was not specifically metioned in the other gospels and i think it is mentioned specifically in john because of the reason stated in
John 2-11
"This is the beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested his Glory. And his disciples believed in him."
What this verse is saying is that is specifically mentioned because it was Jesus first miracles preformed in these regions.
John Chapter 3
I chose the passage where Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus. I think this is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible, because it lays out our salvation. All we have to do is believe in Jesus and we will be saved. I think that John included this passage because it applies to everyone who reads it. It is not focused mainly to Jews or mainly to Gentiles, it is for anyone and everyone. I think John's gospel is more of a "universal" gospel, not really directed at one specific group. Instead he tells what Jesus taught straight out and puts it in a way that everyone will be able to recognize, and John chapter 3 is a good example of this type of writing.
John Rawerts
Amanda Imberi
John 3:1-21
The story of Jesus meeting with Nicodemus stuck out for me as well. It seems as if Jesus is outlining what it takes for salvation: to believe in Jesus as the one sent by God and to be born again through baptism and the Holy Spirit. It seems as if John includes this story to prove Jesus is in fact the Messiah and is here to bring new life to the world.
Ruth Wilson
John 4
This is different from Matthew because it isn't aimed @ Jews, different from Luke because it isn't aimed at well educated Greeks. I think it was aimed at the run of the mill blue colar worker. Thats cool because not many religous figures or religions do that. They are aimed at the rich or educated because that is the means of religous propagation. With out learning, the whole thing falls apart. With out money the whole thing falls apart. There is very little room for the poor, the down trodden, the sinful or the just plain normal.
On top of this passage, I really thought Jesus' line when Nathaniel first came to him is hilarious!! He said "Behold, an Isrealite indeed, in him is no guile!" This is funny because Nathaniel just said that nothing good can come from Nazareth. Lol!
The biggest difference between the gospels that we have read and John is the emphasis on the smaller miracles that Jesus performed. Like the turning of water into wine at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. The reason for this is because John is not writing for the Pharisees or the gentiles. John is writing for some other group of people.
Jon Adam
The story I picked was the Resurrection of Lazurus, starting at John 11:1. The story is Lazuras dies and Jesus goes to visit. Mary and Martha meet him, and they go to the tomb. Jesus asks Martha if she has faith, she does and he resurrects Lazarus.
The reason I think John added a lot of these stories is because he was stressing that one must have faith in Christ, because there is no chance for salvation otherwise. That might be the theme for the whole new testiment, but I fell that there was a lot more stress on this point in John's Gospel.
Jon Hepola
"And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem."
John 2:13
I don't see how the Gosepls of Matthew, Mark, and Luke could not mention this. They detail important aspects of Jesus' life, but John makes this detail about when Jesus made his first journey to Jerusalem, which would be the location of many turning points in the life of Jesus.
Also, John makes note in this passage of Jesus' Jewish heritage and customs. Jesus set an example for people to follow God, and before his death, the faith people would abide by God's law was of the Jewish faith.
Maybe John chose to write about such things to exhibit how Jesus was faithful to God and his earthly family and their customs. Maybe he wanted to tell about the honorable example Jesus set.
One story I noticed right away that wasn't in the synoptic gospels was the story of Nicodemus. This is an interesting story, particularly of its message. This passage contains the ever-famous football game verse "John 3:16", "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life."
It is difficult to completely understand why John would include a story like this, but it may be because of John's history of preaching. John wants to include individuals' stories, showing how they turned in their faith toward Jesus. Hopefully this alls become a little clearer with today's lecture!
Tim Baustian
John 3: 1-21
This passage begins with the story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus and asking him if he has came from God. Jesus answers him that no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. This is interesting because Nicodemus misunderstands this several times, and Jesus becomes frustrated with Nicodemus and says to him, You are the teacher of Israel and you to not understand this?
I think that this is very important because this is the way that several people feel about Jesus. They know that he is the one, but cannot understand the insight that he has to offer them.
The story I noticed and really liked was John 2: 1-12.
This is the story about the wedding where Jesus turns water in wine. I think John includes this passage to show the readers that Jesus does miracles. Although I don't know why it is not in Luke or Mark, I feel that it is not in Matthew because it doesn't really deal with the Jews at all. John might be including this material just to show his readers how wonderful Jesus really is.
John 2:12 "After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples; and there they stayed for a few days."
I found this verse very interesting because I never read very much about Mary being around other than the birth of Jesus. The part of this verse that I do not understand is the "brothers". Does this mean Jesus's real brothers? Or is it more of a generalization of his followers being men?
I think John included this verse about Mary and the brothers because the other synoptic writers did not ever talk about these people. John, in my opinion, links the past of the other synoptic gospels with the future. It seems to me that everybody talks about the birth of Jesus, and then they skip ahead to all of the miracles without ever mentioning what happened to Mary. This verse shows that John talks about what Mary was doing during all of Jesus's adventures.
I like 1:19-28. I didnt see it mentioned in as much detail in the other gospels and I just like it for how humble John is. He says how he is not the messiah or a prophet or Elijah, but rather how he just knows the Lord is coming and he wants to be ready. He says that the one is coming, the one who's sandle straps he is not worthy to untie. He wants to show him that he is trying to get ready. That even before he knows who will be his savior he is ready to accept him. He is ready to baptize Jesus since he himself had been baptized.
Jesse Peck
The passage i chose was 3:3 Very truly i tell you no one can see the kingdom of god without being born from above.
I think is is an interesting statement. This could be aimed at those who might have read plato. This seems to be to be very similar to the allegory of the cave. This could be an atempt to show that Jesus has the true way even if you can not understand it. This would be nessecary for trying to convert educated people because they would like to fully understand what they are buying into.
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