Introduction to John

John 1‑21  •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 9
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The Gospel of John presents the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God. While noting various attributes of His deity, the theme of the Spirit of God throughout the Gospel notes a transition from the Dispensation of the Law to the Dispensation of the Grace of God. Thus, this Gospel presents the "buddings" of Christianity, before the new dispensation in Christianity actually began. In almost every chapter, there is an element of Christianity touched on, indicating that a dispensational change was coming in the ways of God.
John is the only New Testament writer who wrote after the literal setting aside of the nation of Israel, which happened in 70 A.D. He wrote around 90 A.D. when Christianity was fully established and the Jewish state had been dissolved. At that time Judaism was gone as far as its practise was concerned—the city of Jerusalem and the sanctuary had been destroyed (Dan. 9:2626And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. (Daniel 9:26); Matt. 22:77But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. (Matthew 22:7)). The Spirit of God led John to present the Lord's life and ministry from the unique perspective of looking back through the lens of Christianity. He views certain dispensational changes in the Lord's ministry that emphasize the fact that a transition from Judaism to Christianity was on the horizon.
As the chapters unfold, various elements of Christianity are noted and illustrated by the Holy Spirit. (These features depict normal Christianity, not what Christianity has deteriorated into in the hands of men.) At the same time, the things that marked Judaism are seen as set aside. For example, the feasts that the Lord attended at Jerusalem are called "the Jews' passover" and "a feast of the Jews" (John 2:12; 5:1; 6:4; 7:212After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. (John 2:12)
1After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (John 5:1)
4And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. (John 6:4)
2Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. (John 7:2), etc.); they are not viewed as the Feasts of Jehovah, as they once were. Also, in John 10:3434Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? (John 10:34) and 15:25, the Lord says, "Your law" and "their law." It was God's Law, but on account of its misuse in the hands of the Jews, it is not owned as such. Thus, John writes from the perspective of the old dispensation having been set aside and no longer owned of God. Paul does the same in Galatians 1:1313For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: (Galatians 1:13), calling the once venerated service of God—"the Jews' religion." Compare Matthew 21:13, 3813And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. (Matthew 21:13)
38But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. (Matthew 21:38) – the transition from "My house" to "your house."