Understanding the Bible: Head and Heart

John Prose Summary One: In the Beginning Introduction In studying the gospels, it is both interesting and profitable to note the different emphasis in each. For example, in Matthew we note an emphasis on Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy, the fulfillment of Scripture (Old Testament to Christians); in Mark we note an emphasis on action, on the succinct relating of the acts of Jesus from the baptism to the crucifixion and resurrection; in Luke we note an emphasis on historical context, on placing Jesus in a defined historical context; and in John, we note an emphasis on the divinity of Jesus. The different emphasis serves to enrich our understanding. Think of the gospels without anyone of the four. Think of the gospels without Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount! Think of the gospels without the succinct, but action packed narrative of Mark! Think of the gospels without the Christmas story of Luke! Think of the gospels without the mighty metaphor linking Jesus’ divinity and humanity: John’s the “Word made flesh”! No, let’s think of the four gospels just as they are and thank God for divine inspiration. Different Beginnings As would be expected with different emphasis, the four gospels have different beginnings. Matthew begins with a genealogy tracing the human line of Jesus to David and on to Abraham, for this would be important in addressing a Jewish audience familiar with the covenant with Abraham and the prophecy of the Messiah coming through the line of David. Luke begins with the annunciations, the annunciations of John and Jesus, but after the birth does add a genealogy that traces the human line of Jesus not only to David and Abraham, but all the way to Adam. Luke is writing to a Gentile audience and sees fit to go beyond the Jewish beginning with Abraham all the way to the beginning of mankind with Adam. Mark skips genealogy all together and simply begins with John’s baptism of Jesus which suits his purpose of succinctly relating the ministry of Jesus. John begins with a succinct genealogy that emphasizes both the divinity and humanity of Jesus: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (1:1, 1-14). John’s dramatic rhetoric links the divine and the human in Jesus and does so in a way that emphasizes His divinity without denying His dual nature. Addressing the “Why” It may be said that the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, emphasize the “what”; whereas, John’s gospel emphasizes the “why.” John is more likely to seize on something Jesus does or says and then address the why; whereas, Mark (who supplies the basic portion of the synoptic gospels) primarily reports the narrative of events: what Jesus said and did. John, rather than closely following Mark as did Matthew and Luke, supplies his own narrative and adds to it the why. John’s gospel coming later may very well account for the emphasis on the “why.” It is generally believed that Mark’s gospel was the earliest of the four and probably written in the 50’s followed by the gospels of Matthew and Luke in the 60’s, but that John’s gospel was not written until the 80’s or 90’s. By this late date, John may well have been the last living apostle and he, as well as his associates, may have felt it important, because of lingering theological controversy, that one of apostolic authority should further address, in writing, the meaning of, the why of, Jesus’ life and ministry. There is little doubt, for example, that John indirectly addresses the Gnostics who were, at the time, casting doubt on the divinity of Jesus. He begins his gospel addressing the divinity of Jesus, declaring divinity from the beginning. In the Beginning The beginning of John’s gospel echoes the beginning of Genesis which suits his purpose of establishing Jesus at the beginning as the Word and through whom all things were made as the Word was spoken: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He [Jesus] was in the beginning with God [and] all things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of man” (1:1-3). It is this light that man must see lest he remain in darkness. Thus, to bring this light to the dark world of man, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (1:14). So begins John’s gospel, and so begins John’s emphasis on why, why Jesus as Word became flesh and lived in the world. John the Baptist Bears Witness John the gospel writer tells us that “there was a man sent by God, whose name was John” to bear witness to Jesus. “He was not that Light but was sent to bear witness to that Light” (1:6-8). Clearly, John is not that Light, but is one sent by God to bear witness to that Light. Jesus, figuratively called Word and Light, came to the world as the true Light to give light to all men who come into the world, yet the world did not know Him though John the Baptist bore witness that Jesus was the true Light. But as many as did, He “gave the right to become children of God” meaning that they were born again “not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God” (1:12-13). John the Gospel Writer Effectively Explaining The first few lines of the gospel of John reveal its author to be a master rhetorician. Note the effective use of repetition, parallelism, antithesis, and metaphor in lines such as “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” and “He [John the Baptist] was not the Light but was sent to bear witness to that Light.” The author repeats the key words—“God,” “Word,” “Light”—for emphasis; parallels the clauses, three in the first line and two in the second, for emphasis and coherence; contrasts the two clauses (uses antithesis) in the second line for memorable emphasis; and utilizes metaphor in both lines for dramatic effect (Word = Jesus in the first line and Light = Jesus in the second line). No wonder Jesus called John son of Boanerges (son of Thunder; see Mark 3:17). In his old age, John is still thundering as evidenced by the booming rhetoric beginning his gospel. Moses and Jesus John says “the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” And then adds that “no one has seen God. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (1:1-18). Moses is the great law giver, but grace and truth came through Jesus. We may recall Matthew quoting Jesus as saying that He came to fulfill the Law not to destroy it (Matt 5:17). John the Baptist’s Testimony John the gospel writer makes it abundantly clear that there is no mistaking John the Baptist with Jesus Christ, for John the Baptist himself goes to great lengths to clarify that he is the forerunner, but not the Christ. When priests and Levites from Jerusalem are sent asking who he is, he tells them emphatically that he is not the Christ, neither is he Elijah (Mal 4:5), nor is he the Prophet (Deut 18:15). Quoting Isaiah (40:3), he says, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord” (1:23). Asked then why he baptizes, he replies, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me” (1:26-27). In further testimony, John says in reference to his baptizing Jesus, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaini