Bible Studies: The Gospel of John

In John 21:1–25, John closes his Gospel with a humbling reality: Jesus entrusts his flock to faltering shepherds. (Exposition of John 21:1–25)

Jesus is risen from the dead, but he will soon ascend to the Father. How, then, will the world come to believe in him? (Exposition of John 20:19–31)

After dying on the cross to finish his estate of humiliation, Jesus rises from the dead to begin his estate of exaltation. (Exposition of John 20:1–18)

At his death, Jesus finishes his work in order to become the firstfruits of a new creation—he ends his estate of humiliation in order to begin his estate of exaltation. (Exposition of John 19:28–42)

To gain his heavenly kingdom, Jesus must give up every worldly good: worldly purity, worldly possessions, and worldly parent. (Exposition of John 19:16b–27)

Jesus’ royal power is not of this world. The kingdoms of this world rage against Jesus, but they cannot harm his kingship. (Exposition of John 19:1–16a)

The world’s curse does not diminish Jesus. Jesus can take the curse of the world because his kingship is not of the world. (Exposition of John 18:28–40)

We have learned much about Jesus from his signs and his teaching, but Jesus most fully reveals his true identity at the cross. (Exposition of John 18:1–27)

As Jesus goes to the cross, he prays for true unity in his church: Jesus intercedes for the unity of his church in the gospel. (Exposition of John 17:20–26)

After praying for his own glorification, Jesus prays for his disciples. Here, Jesus intercedes for the sanctity of his people. (Exposition of John 17:6–19)

In the High Priestly Prayer, Jesus intercedes for the full acceptance of his sacrifice. In v. 1–5, Jesus prays for himself. (Exposition of John 17:1–5)

Jesus promises us that neither his sorrow nor our sorrow will be in vain. At the sorrow of the cross, Jesus brings forth joy. (Exposition of John 16:16–33)

The Holy Spirit is the Treasurer of Jesus: he exposes the bankruptcy of the world and enriches us from Christ’s treasury. (Exposition of John 16:4b–15.)

Because Jesus’ disciples will resemble Jesus, we must prepare for the enemies that we will face in the world. (Exposition of John 15:18–16:4a.)

Despite the failure of fruitfulness in Adam and in Israel, God still demands fruit. Jesus bears fruit through his people. (Exposition of John 15:1–17.)

After his departure, Jesus is completing his mission—through new agents, by new activities, and from new accomplishments. (Exposition of John 14:15–31.)

Jesus is much more than the prophets, priests, and kings of old. More than that, Jesus manifests the Father. (Exposition of John 14:1–14)

Although contrary to our ideas of gaining glory through strength, Jesus glorifies himself through self-sacrificial love. (Exposition of John 13:21–38)

The suffering servanthood of Jesus connects to our own suffering: Jesus takes the form of a servant to save and to send. (Exposition of John 13:1–20)

What should detract from Jesus’ glory only glorifies him further. Jesus reveals his glory through the disgrace of the cross. (Exposition of John 12:27–50)

Jesus’ spiritual kingdom is invisible, hidden, and secret, confounding the world. Jesus is building a misunderstood kingdom. (Exposition of John 12:12–26)

Both theologians of glory and theologians of the cross pursue the cross of Jesus, but for very different reasons. (Exposition of John 11:45–12:11)

By raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus demonstrates that he will shepherd us out of death and into his resurrection life. (Exposition of John 11:1–44)

The works of Jesus corroborate, validate, and authenticate the word of Jesus. We need both his word and his works. (Exposition of John 10:22–42)

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who feeds us by his word and appoints undershepherds to restore us to communion with God. (Exposition of John 10:1–21)

Neither the firsthand knowledge of sight nor the secondhand knowledge of education can solve ignorance of the heart. (Exposition of John 9:1–41)

Jesus gives a new argument to support his claims as the Messiah and to undercut his enemies: we are slaves to whomever we are sons. (Exposition of John 8:30–59)

Jesus bears witness concerning his identity and mission, but ultimately, God’s light gives life and indicts darkness most clearly at the cross. (Exposition of John 7:53–8:29)

As Jesus approaches the cross, his mission comes into clearer focus: the Father has sent the Son to give the Spirit to believers. (Exposition of John 7:25–52)

In a world that urges, “Get yours!” Jesus reminds us that human glory-seeking is wicked and willful, but ultimately weak. (Exposition of John 7:1–24)

Jesus preserves his people through a variety of applications of his word: promises, assurances, and warnings. (Exposition of John 6:60–71)

Rather than living by feeding on bread, hungry sinners may feed on life by faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus. (Exposition John 6:22–59)

Although the world likes to divide winners from losers along the lines of pleasure and suffering, Jesus unfolds a different criteria for success in life. (Exposition of John 6:1–21)

Jesus heals on the Sabbath not to pick a fight, nor to develop a theology of the Sabbath, but to reveal the greater works that his Father has sent him to do. (Exposition of John 5:19–47)

Jesus keeps the Sabbath by restoring restful work to those carrying the burden of inactivity and fruitlessness. (Exposition of John 5:1–18)

When a royal official asks Jesus to heal his sick child, Jesus challenges the inadequacy of this father’s faith—and ours. (Exposition John 4:43–54)

True worship of God in spirit and truth flows out into the true work of sowing and reaping a harvest of sinners reconciled to God through Christ. (Exposition of John 4:27–42)

In the story of the woman at the well, Jesus reveals the full extent of God’s gift of grace to the world. (Exposition of John 4:1–26)

In John 3:22–26, we find one of the clearest descriptions in the whole Bible on the activity, the motivation, and the message of true Christian ministry. (Exposition of John 3:22–36)

In the first place where Jesus engages in extended teaching in the Gospel of John, he explains the new birth of the Spirit. (Exposition of John 3:1–21)

How does the zeal of Jesus in cleansing the temple relate to his miracle of turning water into wine? (Exposition of John 2:13–25)

By turning water into wine, Jesus does more than to perform a miracle—he illustrates the overflowing abundance of his entire ministry. (Exposition of John 2:1–12)

After John the Baptist’s proclamation (John 1:29), Jesus’ first priority is to gather a core group of disciples. (Exposition of John 1:35–51)

The subservient, ministerial mission of John the Baptist heralds the coming of the one who baptizes with the Spirit (John 1:33). (Exposition of John 1:19–34)

The Prologue of the Gospel of John reveals the identity of Jesus as the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Mediator. (Exposition of John 1:1–18)