An overview of the book of John

JOHN

Jesus- The Son of God

 

AUTHOR:      JOHN

The youngest of the twelve apostles.  Brother of James.  Disciple of John the Baptist.

THEME:         THE DEITY OF CHRIST – “Son of God”

KEY WORD:    BELIEVE – Found 90x

PURPOSE:    To reveal Jesus as The Christ, The Messiah of Israel, that men might believe and be saved by trusting Christ as their personal Saviour.

DATE:            90 A.D.   Written from Ephesus before the exile to Patmos.

DIVISION:

1. Ministry to the Multitudes –  1 – 12
2. Ministry to the Disciples –  13 – 21

John is unique of the Four Gospels

Unique to itself      Similar to the others

MATTHEW                           42%                            58%

MARK                                    7%                              93%

LUKE                                      59%                            41%

JOHN                                     92%                            8%

Only 3 Events Are Found In All Four Gospels

1. Feeding of the 5,000
2. Christ’s triumphal entry
3. The crucifixion and resurrection.

Possible Titles for each chapter

1. BEGINNING               6. BREAD                   11. LAZARUS                        16. SPIRIT
2. MARRIAGE                 7. FEAST                     12. GREEK                             17. PRAYER
3. NICODEMUS              8. LIGHT                    13. PASSOVER                     18. GETHSAMANE
4. NOBLEMAN              9. SIGHT                    14. PEACE                             19. CROSS
5. IMPOTENT MAN     10. SHEPHERD        15. VINE                                20. RESURRECTION
6. DINING WITH JESUS                                                                                  21. FEED MY SHEEP

SEVEN FAMOUS MIRACLES IN JOHN

1. Water To Wine ch. 2 Power over QUALITY
2. Nobleman’s Son Healed ch. 4 Power over DISTANCE
3. Impotent Man Healed ch. 5 Power over TIME
4. Feeding Of The 5,000 ch. 6 Power over QUANTITY
5. Walking On Water ch. 6 Power over NATURAL LAW
6. Blind Man Healed ch. 9 Power over HELPLESSNESS
7. Lazarus Raised ch. 11 Power over DEATH

SEVEN “I AM’S” IN THE BOOK OF JOHN

1. I Am the “BREAD” 6:35
2. I Am the “LIGHT” 8:12
3. I Am the “DOOR” 10:9
4. I Am the “SHEPHERD” 10:11
5. I Am the “RESURRECTION” 11:26
6. I Am the “WAY” 14:6
7. I Am the “VINE” 15:1

INTRODUCTION:    The book of John was written by the Apostle John, who penned five books of the Bible–the Gospel of John, I John, II John, III John and Revelation, totaling fifty chapters in the New Testament. He was one of the three in the inner circle of our Lord. He, along with Peter and James, was present at the transfiguration. He was called “the disciple that Jesus loved.”

The book of John is the beginning point for a lost man to seek God because the purpose of the book was to reveal that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Saviour who is the Christ of God (Acts 4:26; Rev. 11:15). False Christs cannot predict the details of their death, rise from the dead, trace their lineage to Adam, and prove a sinless life.

Christians sing about the Lord Jesus and no other religious founder has that special recognition. Heathens use the name of Jesus Christ is a cuss word and the names of false Christs are not used because they have no power. The unique qualities of the Lord Jesus can only be fulfilled by God.

 

The Lord used John to pen five books of the Bible. The word believe and its derivatives occur over 90 times in the book and the one sin that sends a person the hell is refusal to believe in the Lord Jesus (16:7-11). Belief is connected with the new birth (1 John 5:1-4). Personal belief in the Lord Jesus as Savior warrants eternal life in heaven (John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47; 10:10; 14:6; 20:31; Acts 16:31).

John also reveals the closeness of the living word of flash and the written word. The word Word is capitalized seven times in the Scriptures (John 1:1, 14; 1 John 1:1; 5:7; Rev. 19:13). The Lord Jesus and the written word of God are inseparable (14:23).

Both give life and light (Ps. 119:105; John 6:63; 9:5; 10:10).

Both are involved in the new birth (1 Peter 1:23).

Both have two natures; the humanity and deity of Jesus Christ and the words of men are divinely inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

Love for God is demonstrated by one’s love for His book (John 14:23).

Both can be destroyed (death), yet both live forever.

Both are counterfeited, but both are preserved flawless for eternity.

Both have authority and power (Eccl. 8:4; Heb. 4:12).

Both prophesy in detail (John 13:19; Gal. 3:8).

Since Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16), the 1611 Authorized King James Bible is the mind of God manifest in the book.

THEME:         “Jesus Is the Son of God.”  (Teacher, review with the class the purposes of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John–Matthew showing Him as King, Mark showing Him as a servant, Luke showing Him as a man, and John showing Him as God. Explain once again that each believed the other three. In other words, Matthew believed that He was more than the King, that He was also servant, man and God.  Mark believed He was more than a servant, that He was also King, man and God. Luke believed He was more than a man, that He was also a servant, King and God. John believed that He was God, but that He was also King, servant, and man.)

(Teacher, review the genealogies. Matthew, in an effort to prove that He is the King of the Jews, goes back to Abraham, the father of the Jews. Mark, in an effort to prove that He is a servant, has no genealogy at all, for who cares about the genealogy of a servant? Luke, in an effort to prove that He is man, goes back to Adam, the first man.  John, in an effort to prove that Jesus is God, goes back to the beginning.  See John 1:1.  It is important that the class understand the complete picture of the four Gospels.  All four agree with each other, but Matthew, who was a public servant, shows mainly that Jesus is the King. Mark, who was a servant, shows Jesus as a servant.  Luke, who was a physician, is more interested in His physical nature and shows Him as a man. John, who was the closest to Jesus, shows Him as God. Each man was peculiarly fitted for the writing of his own particular book.)

1. THE SIMPLICITY OF DEPTH. There is no doubt about it – the deepest of the four books is the Gospel of John, and yet, it is so interesting how simple the words are.  For example, take the first four verses of the Gospel of John and read them carefully.  Notice that this, the most theological book of the four Gospels, in the first four verses has 51 one-syllable words, 1 two-syllable word, and 2 three-syllable words.  In other words, of the first 54 words in this book, 51 have only one syllable.  Pick up any book in the world and read the first 54 words and nothing can compare with the simplicity of this, the deepest of them all.

 

31. THE KEY VERSE IS JOHN 20:31. In this verse we find the purpose of the writing of the Gospel— “that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” However, he does not stop there. Notice, “…and that believing ye might have life through His name.” This should be the purpose of every church, of every Christian, of every preacher, of every school, of every endeavor for the Lord, that we might prove and teach that Jesus is the Son of God and that life is through believing in His name.

The purpose of this book is to give clear evidence of the Lord Jesus Christ and His power to save the lost souls of men, women, and children. The Lord Jesus is not just a Christ; He is the Christ of God (Luke 2:26; Acts 4:26; Rev. 11:15). Jesus Christ is not just a Lord; He is the Lord of glory (1 Cor. 2:8; 12:3; James 2:1; Rev. 19:16). The Lord Jesus lived a sinless life and died in the place of sinners (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18). His mutilated body was buried in the tomb, but he miraculously a rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-10). This sacrificial atonement is offered to anyone who is willing to admit his or her sinfulness and except the Lord Jesus as his or her personal Saviour by faith (Rom. 1:16-17; 10:9-13; Eph. 2:8-9). The gift of eternal life is given up on reception of the Lord Jesus Christ by faith (John 3:16). Anyone who rejects this free offer earns the everlasting lake a fire (John 3:36; 16:9; Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:15).

 

(Teacher, here is a good place to stress the plan of salvation.  Read John 3:14-16.  Tell the story of the serpents in the wilder­ness which were biting the people unto death.  Explain that God told Jesus to lift up a pole on which he was to put a brazen serpent and tell the people that if they would look to that serpent, they would live.  Then remind the class that Jesus likened Calvary to this pole, for if we look to Jesus and believe on Him as our Substitute and Saviour, we can be saved.  This is the purpose of the entire Gospel of John. Stress the plan of salvation here.)

III.       THE SUMMARY VERSE OF THE BOOK IS JOHN 1:14.

John 1:14    And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Some believe this is the greatest verse in all the Bible, for here we have the entire story of the incarnation.  Notice in verse 14 the word, “Word.” This refers to Jesus, of course, as it is capitalized. The words, “was made,” mean, “became.” In other words, God “became” flesh.  He was not flesh; He “became” flesh.

Now notice the word “dwelt.”  This word means “tabernacled.”  In other words, God took upon Himself a body. It was like a tent or a tabernacle. It was a temporary dwelling place. Here He “tabernacled” or “tented” among us for 33 years.

 

Then notice the words, “the only begotten of the Father.”  Here is the virgin birth.

Now notice the words, “full of grace and truth.” There is His perfect, sinless life. Each of us has some grace and some truth, but no one is full of grace and truth. Our Lord was God Incarnate, the Perfect Son of God, full of grace and truth.

This verse more adequately summarizes the entire Gospel of John than any other.  Some have described it as a little, miniature Gospel of John in one verse.

1. THE KEY WORDS ARE “BELIEVE” AND “LIFE.” The word “believe” means “to roll upon.” “to cast oneself upon,” “to rely upon.” It means “to trust completely,” like one sits on a chair, gets into an airplane, or gets into a car. He trusts it completely; he commits his life to it.  For one to believe with his head that Jesus is the Christ is not what the word “believe” means.  It means to believe to the extent that one completely trusts himself to the keeping of another.  It is like depositing money in a bank or trusting a pilot to take us to a destination.  It does not imply that we have to work to get to Heaven; it implies that we must trust completely to get to Heaven.

CONCLUSION:        There are several things the Lord stressed as He used John to pen this Gospel.  One was to show that Jesus is the Son of God. Another was to show how a person could be saved.  (Teacher, we must be very careful to explain the deity of Christ and the way of salvation to our class members, or we have failed to relay God’s message properly to the people.)

 

LESSONS FROM JOHN

John 3:7-8    Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

God, Satan, and the individual are the only ones that KNOW for certain that the individual is born again. The individual may be uncertain also if he or she does not believe the promises of his or her salvation (2 Timothy 2:11-13). The new birth is completely by faith (Romans 4:5; 5:1).

John 3:15-17    That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

The new birth is available because the entire price of redemption was complete at Calvary. The born-again believer is given eternal and everlasting life. Eternal life has no beginning or ending, but everlasting has a beginning with no ending. The eternal aspect is a result of being placed into Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; Eph. 2:4-7; Co. 1:27) but the everlasting aspect reveals the beginning of each individual as a baby. The marvelous truth that God beget a Son is denied in Surah 112:1-4 of the unholy Koran (1 John 2:22; 5:1).

 

John 6:25-27    And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Carnal people seek the Lord Jesus for personal conveniences (Gen. 28:20-21; Prov. 30:8).

Religious Pharisees seek the Lord to justify their religious system (Prov. 18:1-2; Mark 12:13).

Honest students seek the Lord Jesus because they love truth (Matt 11:28-30; Luke 10:39-42).

 

John 6:53-58    Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

 

This section is the sandy foundation for the mass-acre, cannibalism, and vampirism of the Roman church. If the fermented liquor is really transubstantiated in the blood, it is a complete violation of the Scriptures.

Blood is for bitten drink throughout the Bible. The drunken popes and priests failed to read this simple words as and so inverse 57. The Lord Jesus interprets these words as a similitude (Hosea 12:10). Believers live of Jesus Christ AS He lived of the Father by spiritual sustenance. The Lord Jesus verifies this interpretation in verse 63.

The words are spiritual, not literal. This passage is never to be used to illustrate the Lord’s Supper. Jesus teaches this passage 1 ½ years before He observes the Passover with His disciples. No one takes the passages of the communion literally because no one drinks the CUP.  They drink what is in the cup.

John 6:65-66    And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

The only 6:66 in the New Testament records disciples forsaking the Lord Jesus (Rev. 13:18).

John 7:1-6    After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

2 Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.

3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.

5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.

6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.

The members of one’s immediate family have difficulty viewing the spiritual call or role of another family member (Gen. 37:2-11; Num. 12:1-14; 1 Sam. 17:28-29; Jer. 11:18-25). The half-brothers of Jesus were implying that Jesus was just seeking personal attention. They did not discern that Jesus was the Christ, but fortunately they did believe in the true messiah after His resurrection (Acts 1:14; 1 Cor. 15:7).

 

John 12:30-32    Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

There are seven judgments in the Scriptures.

The judgment upon sin was executed on the day of the crucifixion (2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13).

The judgment upon the devil is executed in five stages (Isaiah 14:9-15; Ezek. 28:11-19).

The children of Israel will be judged during the tribulation (Jer. 30:7).

The judgment of the nations will occur after the tribulation (Joel 3:2; Matt. 25:31-46).

Every believer is disciplined as a child of God during his physical lifetime (1 Cor. 11:30-32).

Every believer will be judged as a servant at the judgment seat of Christ (Rom. 14:10-12; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10-11).

All unbelievers will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment (Dan. 7:9-11; Rev. 20:11-15).

 

John 19:1-3    Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.

2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,

3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.

The Lord Jesus did not wear a robe; in fact, He warned against the wearing of long robes (Luke 20:46). Roman soldiers mockingly place to Roman robe on Jesus. The Roman church claims to have this robe. Romanism promotes the veneration of relics. This pagan superstition is forbidden in the Scriptures (Jud. 8:27; 2 Kings 18:4). Some of the many relics are the nails of the cross, the crib of the baby Jesus, the cup of the last supper, pieces of the cross, Pilate’s basin, the sponge, the bones of the Apostles, and the house of Mary. This house was alleged to have been moved by angels from Nazareth to Loreto, Italy. The veneration of dead bodies of martyrs was ordered by the Council of Trent. These holy relics and bones consecrate the ground and buildings. Martin Luther nailed his famous Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church at Wittenberg, which had 19,000 saintly relics. Devils are infatuated with the dead or in animate objects, idols, relics, and death (Mark 5:1-19; 1 Tim. 4:1-6; Rev. 18:2).

John 19:15-16    But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priest answered, We have no king but Caesar.

16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

The worst decision for any person or nation is to reject the Lord Jesus and except the dictator of Rome. The crown ruler of Rome is the pope and the Holy See is a political and religious state (Rev. 17:1-5). Roman dictators breed corruption, extortion, fraud, murder, and national poverty. Jesus Christ saves, but the Pope enslaves.

Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany and Benito Mussolini of Fascist Italy signed a concordant with Pope Pius XII. This authorized the Jesuit priests to control the Gestapo. The founder of the concentration camps was Hermann Goering, the head of Nazi propaganda was Josef Goebels, and the head of the Gestapo was Heinrich Himmler. All three were Roman Catholics.

Hitler said, “As for the Jews, I am just carrying on with the same policy which the Catholic Church has adopted for 1400 years.” The press of the Catholic dictator of Spain, Francisco Franco, reported on 3 May 1945, the day of Hitler’s death, “Adolf Hitler, son of the Catholic Church, died while defending Christianity.” The chief priests instigated the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. Chief priests and religious elders desire to destroy the written word of God and its profits today (John 16:2).

 

OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF JOHN

 

INTRODUCTION:

The gospel of John was written with a specific purpose in mind which was first and foremost – to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Jesus Christ was not only the King as described by Matthew, nor was He simply a Servant as portrayed by Mark, nor was He the ideal, perfect man as pictured by Luke the physician, but He was and is God Himself.

The author of this gospel was the apostle John who is referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” John was probably around 25 years of age when he first met the Lord. Prior to becoming a follower of Christ, he was a disciple of John the Baptist.

In his gospel, John will very clearly and definitely prove that Jesus Christ is beyond a shadow of doubt the Son of God. How?

1. Through the testimony of 7 witnesses:

(1)       John the Baptist. (Jn. 1:34) – “This is the Son of God.”

(2)       Nathanael. (Jn. 1:49) – “Thou art the Son of God.”

(3)       Peter. (Jn. 6:69) – “Thou art that Christ.”

(4)       Martha. (Jn. 11:27) – “Thou art the Christ, the Son of God.”

(5)       Thomas. (Jn. 20:28) – “My Lord and my God.”

(6)       John. (Jn. 20:31) – “Jesus is the Christ.”

(7)       Jesus. (Jn. 10:36) – “I am the Son of God.”

 

1. Through the recording of 7 miracles.

(1)       Christ turned water into wine. (Jn. 2:1-11)

(2)       He healed a government official’s son. (Jn. 4:46-54)

(3)       He healed the man at Bethsaida. (Jn. 5:1-47)

(4)       He fed the 5,000. (Jn. 6:1-14)

(5)       He walked on the water. (Jn. 6:15-21)

(6)       He healed the blind man (Jn. 9:1-41)

(7)       He raised Lazarus from the dead. (Jn. 11:1-57)

John makes several statements of fact in (Jn. 1:1 – 18) about Jesus Christ – and then uses the rest of the gospel proving these claims. In this passage, we find 2 qualities that accurately describe the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

 

1. CHRIST CAME TO REVEAL LIGHT.

In order to understand the purpose of Christ’s coming to earth, John points out a few important facts in Jn. 1.

1. He describes the spiritual condition of the world.

(Jn. 1:5) – “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

God was trying to communicate Himself to the world through prophets like Moses, through tile Law and through His inspired writings of Scripture. Yet all of these attempts were not revealing Himself properly. The light was blazing into the darkened souls of mankind, but they could not understand it.

 

2. John next describes the willingness of the Father to penetrate the veil of darkness by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to declare or to reveal a tender, loving Father to a sin-sickened world.

(Jn. 1:18) – “No man hath seen God at any time; only the begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

No human being had ever seen or could see the fullness of the infinite, eternal God just as no man has seen the sun. Men can see the light from the sun, but that light is too bright for us to penetrate and see the sun itself

 

1. John is not saying that Christ came to tell about that divine Light of His Father; He came to reveal that Light.

For this reason, John tells us that Christ was with the Father before anything was created and that He is equal to His Father – they are one. (Jn. 1:1-3) – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”

 

2. But how could Christ reveal that dazzling, blinding Light which could not be comprehended? He had to enclose it in a vessel – human body.

(Jn. 1:14) – “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Why was it necessary for Christ to become human? So that He could have the eternal, infinite God enclosed in a vessel of flesh so the world could then both see and comprehend God.

 

3. The coming of Christ is best understood with a lantern in mind. The light represents God the Father – the lantern represents Jesus Christ who contains the Light – and the oil pictures the Holy Spirit. The lantern was supplied for its task by the oil of the lamp and was a container which housed the infinite Light.

Why did Jesus Christ come to earth, according to John? He came to reveal a misunderstood Father to a darkened world. He came to reveal Light.

 

1. HE CAME TO REVEAL LOVE.

Just as the fullness of God was beyond human comprehension, so was His love. But how could God’s infinite, eternal Love be understood? By placing it in a human vessel, a container of flesh.

(Jn. 3:16) – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Here we find that because God loved – God gave. His love for an unlovely world prompted Him to bottle His love in the person of His Son. Then He sent that Love into the world. Why? So the vessel could be broken on Calvary – and the Love revealed. Christ took upon Himself a human body – so it could be broken!

 

1. Specifically how did Christ reveal the Father’s love?

 

1. By His service.

(Jn. 13:3-5) – “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.”

 

1. Christ is not revealing an ordinance for the church but rather a demonstration of His love. He was picturing the Father’s love being so great that God Himself was willing to dress like a servant in order to cleanse – to wash the sins of the world.

 

2. By His sympathy.

(Jn. 14:1-6) – “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Christ has told them He is almost ready to return to His Father. He can see their broken-hearts and offers comfort in one of the most tender passages in all the Bible. Why? Because He loved them and hurt with them.

 

3. By His sending.

(Jn. 16:7) – Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for ifI go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

Christ demonstrated still further the abiding love of the Father by promising to send the Holy Spirit to not only be with them -but also to be in them. This new ministry of the Holy Spirit is what was in view when God said in (Heb. 13:5) – “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”

III.       HE CAME TO REVEAL LIFE.

1. The life of Christ brought division wherever He went.
2. Among His friends.
3. Judas. (Jn. 18:1-2) – Judas was the direct fiilfillment of (Ps. 41:9) – “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.”
4. Peter. (Jn. 18:15-16) – Peter followed Jesus, but from a distance. Eventually, he denied 3 times even knowing Christ.
5. John. (Jn. 18:5-6) – John, out of all the disciples, was the only one who remained with Him during His mock trials and beatings.
6. Among His foes.
7. The high priest allowed Christ to be subjected to false accusations and slapped for His remarks. He felt no compassion or concern for Christ. (Jn. 18:19-24)
8. Pontius Pilate is a man who had a spark of remorse for the man, but he had not tile courage to do as his heart desired. He tried to let him go, but then caved in to peer pressure. (Jn.

18:28-38)

1. The life of Christ brings a decision.

1.If Jesus Christ had not risen from the grave, all of His words and promises would have been meaningless and empty. BUT, when He rose bodily and literally from the grave, He gave the final proof that He is the Son of God and therefore brings all mankind to a time of decision. (Jn. 20:26-27)

Three decisions are possible.

Yes, become a Born-again Christian and enjoy the abundant life, the life where Christ lives through you

Yes, become a Born-again believer but refuse to allow Christ 100% access to your life.

No – reject Jesus Christ as your Savior and accept total payment for the wages of your sin (which is eternal separation from God in Hell.)

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