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Summer Focus - The Gospel of John
This summer our parish is reading through the Gospel of John. Even the casual reader recognizes the difference between the Gospel of John and the other gospels in the New Testament.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called synoptic gospels. The word synoptic means "seen from a common perspective." The Gospel of John provides a unique perspective. Where the synoptic gospels begin firmly grounded in time, the Gospel of John begins with an eternal perspective.
Think of it this way. Matthew, Mark and Luke are asking the question: what does it mean for a man to be God? They are gospels of discovery. The disciples are discovering the fullness of who Jesus really is.
John is asking a different question. John asks, what does it mean for God to be a man? John is a gospel of disclosure. Jesus is disclosing or revealing who he is to everyone he meets.
He tells Nathaniel he saw him sitting under a fig tree. At the wedding at Cana in Galilee, who else can turn water into wine? Jesus tells Nicodemas, the leader of the Sanhedrin, that he knows heavenly things because he has descended from heaven. When the Samaritan woman speaks of the messiah at the well, Jesus says to her, "I who speak to you am he."
Originally the word "gospels" didn't exist. Some people think of four gospels of which the Gospel of John is one. In reality there is only one Gospel, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, of which there are four versions, or expressions.
The Gospel of Jesus includes five elements:
- It declares that a man born in history, Jesus of Nazereth is the resurrected Lord of the cosmos.
- It acknowledges the reality of the cross upon which Jesus died as a necessary part of what Jesus came to do and be.
- It claims that Jesus demonstrates once and for all that God extends life giving grace to people from every tribe and nation.
- It demonstrates how the Holy Spirit makes good on God's promise of blessing that is fulfilled in Jesus.
- It leads people into a transformed life of self-giving love in an empowered covenant community.
The Gospel of John, like Mathew, Mark, and Luke draws the reader into conversation with these truths.
One reads the gospel of John best when one assumes a position of surrender, in an attitude of prayer. The posture is, "Jesus teach me who you are." The believer will find an inexhaustible well of depth and refreshment. The cynic will find much with which to argue.
Come read the Gospel of John with us this summer. Come, believe and be transformed.
Monthly Focus Archive
2006:
Easter Focus: New Covenant
Lenten Focus: A Covenantal Response to Poverty
February Focus: Moving Forward
2005:
December Focus: Longing
November Focus: The Gift of Years
October Focus: Stewardship
September Focus: Foundations
Summer Focus: The Book of Acts
Easter Focus: Tapestry
Lenten Focus: Rule of Life
January Focus: The Next Wave
2004:
December Focus: Surprising Grace
November Focus: Free Indeed
October Focus: Money Madness
September Focus: The Outrageous Promise
Summer Focus: Into the Fullness
June Focus: Thick Faith
Easter Focus: All Things New
Lent Focus: A Hungry World
February Focus: Commitment
January Focus: Unity
2003:
December Focus: Hope
November Focus: Worship
October Focus: Stewardship
September Focus: Seasons of Faith
Summer Focus: The Gospel of John
May Focus: Faith
April Focus: Resurrection
March Focus: Truth
February Focus: Covenant Groups
January Focus: Sabbath
2002:
December Focus: Shut Up and Sing
November Focus: Spiritual Gifts
October Focus: Stewardship
September Focus: Intentional Faith
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