HIGHLIGHTS OF JOHN

 
  The apostle John’s account of the life of Jesus, highlighting the theme that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, by means of whom eternal life is possible
 
  Written about 98 C.E., more than 30 years after the last of the other three Gospels and 65 years after the death of Jesus
 
The Word becomes flesh and is identified as the Lamb of God, God’s Son, and the Christ (1:1-51)
 
  The Word, who was in the beginning with God, resides among men but is rejected by his people; those who accept him are given authority to become God’s children
 
  John the Baptizer testifies that Jesus is God’s Son and the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world
  Andrew and then others become convinced that Jesus is the Christ
 
Jesus’ miracles and preaching demonstrate that he is the Christ, through whom eternal life is attainable (2:1–6:71)
 
  Jesus turns water into wine in Cana
 
  He tells Nicodemus that God sent His only-begotten Son so that faithful ones may have everlasting life
 
  He speaks to a Samaritan woman about the spiritual water that imparts everlasting life, and he identifies himself as the Christ
 
  Jesus performs healing miracles; the Jews object when a healing takes place on the Sabbath, and they want to kill him
 
  Proclaiming that those who believe him have everlasting life, Jesus foretells the resurrection of all in the memorial tombs
 
  He miraculously feeds about 5,000 men; when the crowd wants to make him king, he withdraws; when the people keep following him, he identifies himself as the bread that came down from heaven and tells them they will have to eat his flesh and drink his blood if they want everlasting life
 
Hostility to the Son of God intensifies (7:1–12:50)
 
  Jesus boldly preaches in temple area although the chief priests and the Pharisees are seeking to seize him
 
  Jesus announces that he is the light of the world and that the truth can make his listeners free, but they try to stone him
 
  On the Sabbath, Jesus heals a man who was born blind; the Pharisees are furious
 
  Jesus identifies himself as the fine shepherd, explaining that his sheep listen to his voice; the Jews again try to stone him
 
  The resurrection of Lazarus fills the Jewish religious leaders with fear; they determine that both Jesus and Lazarus must die
 
  Jesus rides into Jerusalem and is hailed as King by the crowd but not by the Pharisees
At the final Passover, Jesus gives parting counsel to his followers (13:1–17:26)
 
  He washes their feet to teach humility and gives “a new commandment,” that they should love one another as he loved them
 
  He identifies himself as the way, the truth, and the life; he promises to send the holy spirit to his disciples after his departure
 
  To bear fruit, his followers must remain at one with him, the true vine; but they will be persecuted
  Jesus prays for his followers and reports to his Father that he has finished the work assigned to him, making His name manifest
 
Jesus is arrested, rejected by Jewish nation, and impaled (18:1–19:42)
 
  In Gethsemane, Jesus is arrested; he is led before Annas, Caiaphas, and then Pilate
 
  He tells Pilate that His kingdom is no part of this world
 
  When Pilate’s efforts to release him are frustrated, Jesus is impaled and dies
 
  Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus care for his burial
 
Evidence of resurrection of Jesus concludes John’s proof that this one really is the Christ (20:1–21:25)
 
  Jesus is seen by Mary Magdalene, then by the rest of the disciples, including Thomas
 
  In Galilee, he performs one final miracle, providing a miraculous catch of fish, and then he gives the commission: “Feed my little sheep”