Bible Study Notes from The Gospel of John 2:1-25

The Ministry Begins 2:1-25

Jesus, who was at the start of his ministry, changed water into wine at a wedding feast in Galilee. Jesus revealed through this first sign who He is. He is loving, compassionate, a provider for the needs of those about to face disgrace and serious offense by running out of wine at this feast. He also illustrates through new wine coming last, the opposite order of what had been the custom, that Jesus is the new way of life. He shows himself to be the Son of God, doing the work of God.

Jesus continued to reveal who he is when he dispayed his anger and righteousness at His Father’s house being turned into a market by men selling animals and exchanging money in the outer courts of the temple. Jesus drove them all out. Jesus illustrated that all of the temple is sacred, even where Gentiles worshiped which was those outer courts. The temple was not just for Jews but for Gentiles too. Jesus acknowledged his authority given to him by God as the true temple here to replace the man-made one.

References:

Life Change Series, JOHN, The Navigators, NavPress,1987,Lesson 4.
Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV), Zondervan Corporation, 2002,Scripture & Footnotes.

How can the Word be with God and be God? John 1:1

How can the Word both be with God and be God? John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 (NIV)

John is referencing us back the Genesis 1:1, In the beginning….(NIV),

John wants us to know that Jesus has always been with God from the very beginning. If we see this verse as John states it… In the Beginning was Jesus and Jesus was with God and Jesus is God…

As you study John, you will understand why his gospel starts at the beginning… unlike the other gospel Mark, Matthew and Luke. They start with the birth of Jesus or the Baptism of Jesus.

References: NIV Bible, Life Change series: John page 21.

Bible Study Notes from The Gosple of John – Lesson One

Overview Summary of Lesson One

Life Changes Series by NAVPRESS (1)

Who is John?

John describes himself only as “ the disciple whom Jesus loved.” (John 13:23 plus ft.nt., 19:26, 20:2; 21:7, 20; see also 21:24).

John was the son of Zebedee, a Fisherman (Mark 1:19-20); his mother was Salome (Mark 15: 40, Matt. 27:56). He was the brother of James (Matt. 4: 21-22).

He was prominent in the early church but is not mentioned by name in this Gospel—which would be natural if he wrote it, but hard to explain otherwise. (NIV pg. 2177)

The book for this study is outlined simply, to give us a tour of the book of John. The author gives the students the time to slowly get use to the author and how he (John) writes and teaches us about the gift of eternal life Jesus offers to all who believe in Him.

The study guide has work book exercises. Some important workbook exercises for this lesson were:

Outlining JOHN – One of the important guides in understanding the Bible is to identify the author’s intent in writing the book. In this study, on page 11, the author asks the student to, as you initially read the book, make a broad outline of the book by giving a title to each chapter or themes within a chapter. Pages 11 and 12 provide assistance with a chapter/verse guide of important sections.

Question 5 on page 12 – “What do you learn about John’s intent and purpose for writing John from 20:30-31? “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Four Gospels (page 14) – The group was given enough information to compare and contrast the gospel of John with the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke by reading “Four Gospels” on pages 14-15.

Life Change Series, JOHN, The Navigators, NavPress,1987
Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV), Zondervan Corporation, 2002