Intoduction to John - Part 1
John begins his gospel with an eighteen verse introduction known as the PROLOGUE — It contains a summary of John’s most profound convictions about our Lord. It focuses on the central fact of the Christian faith: Christianity is not a philosophy; it is about a Person, and that Person is central to the Christian faith. To take Jesus out of Christianity would be like taking numbers out of mathematics, like taking doctors out of medicine, or like trying to think of daylight without the sun. Jesus is absolutely central to Christian faith. All the other great religions of earth center upon the teaching, the ideas, the philosophies that are represented in them, but not Christianity. Christianity centers upon the most beautiful, remarkable, astonishing Person, Jesus! Jesus was easily the most shattering, the most radical and truly revolutionary character that ever has appeared in human history. We know about Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, but we don’t mark time by them. Instead human history is dated as either happening before the birth of Jesus (B.C.) or as happening after the birth Jesus (A.D. – Anno Domini). Have you ever wondered why? Why is it that human beings have never been able to forget Jesus of Nazareth? Why doesn’t Jesus fade into the dim past as others have? Why is that? Why is he the most powerful personality ever to appear on this planet?
That is what John is answering for us in this prologue to his gospel. John wrote his account of the life of Jesus before the end of the first century A.D., while living in Ephesus. By the time of John’s writing, Christianity was no longer predominantly Jewish; in fact, it was overwhelmingly Gentile. The vast majority of new believers were coming from a Hellenistic background. (Barclay, William. The New Daily Bible Study: The Gospel of John, Vol. 1. Revised ed. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1975. Print.) Simply, there was a CLASH OF CULTURES. In that new context Christianity had to be restated. It was not that the TRUTH of Christianity had to be changed, but the terms and categories in which it was expressed had to be changed. For example, the Greeks had never heard of a Messiah. While the preaching of the Gospel in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria began with that very category, it meant nothing to Greeks outside of Judaism. John sought to remain loyal to the Old Testament Scriptures, priests and prophets, and above all to Jesus, while still seeking to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the larger world scene, which was dominated by Greek philosophy and language. HOW was this task going to be accomplished?
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This is actually part of a sermon by Richard Cimino.
Lant - Good subject Lant :-) Christ is what Christianity should be about...and whether we "follow him"...Too many people think it is about Christianity...perhaps they are those who "hear" but do not do the works of Christ...the works of Jesus. They seem to be more interested in the works of Paul, without ever having known Jesus, or be known by him...
-Pax Vobiscum
My wife and I just started a full review/study of John last week. Great so far!
lantbarney -
But isn't it true that we can't be saved without the Prophet Joseph Smith?
skeptic - No, it is not true, for many reasons.
Skeptic - While, as hard as I try, I just can't get behind Joseph Smith, I have known some wonderful Mormon people, filled with the Spirit, good works...the wierd thing is that I don't see any dark-skinned Mormons. There isn't a one in this community I live in (owned and run by Mormons)??? Even their Jesus is...well...pretty fair skinned ???
Yosemite - For the most part, I love the Gospel of John. :-) I am curious what translation you are studying from
lantbarney - But isn't that an article of your Mormon faith?
Lant - Are you Mormon?
Lant, Do you go to Metro Calvary?
Lant - I promise I won't bite if you tell me what doctrine you follow. It's ok...aren't we supposed to be as crystal?
As usual, skeptic is wrong. :) I am not Mormon and I do go to Metro.
Y_S, is the church you attend studying the Book of John, or are you and your wife studying it independently?
Right, I would like to know, too. Metro Calvary doesn't sound Mormon to me.
Lant - Thanks for the Metro info. I did go to the website just so I could see what the mission statement is. That helps to know where you are coming from. I was actually surprised by a few of the statements. It looks like your church tries very hard to follow the Bible, as they see it. It is a structured systm with accountability and that is always noble, even with the inherant dangers in it. I don't think any church doesn't meet these things without difficulty. Thank for sharing :-)
While I heartily oppose some of the beliefs of the Mormon Church, I think they get a bad rap, far too often. I have known, very well, some fantastic Mormons who could easily be close to sainthood. I live among many Mormons and they are some of the warmest, most kind, generous, character-rich people I have ever known. I believe we should leave judgment as to their salvation, up to God Himself and think of them as our neighbors, if not our brothers and sisters.
Hey dad! I am getting ready to listen to Richard's first sermon on John right now, and am really enjoying your blogs so far. I can't wait to read more :o).