An Admittedly Heady Look at John's Gospel - John 21

1. A Prayer for the People of God
Creator of the universe,
you made the world in beauty,
and restore all things in glory
through the victory of Jesus Christ.
We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured
by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war and greed,
the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice,
love, and peace, to the glory of your name.
Amen.

2. The Church Calendar
May 8

3. John 21
an ADMITTEDLY heady
LOOK at JOHN’S Gospel…

4. • History Authoritative 1st Century record
• Catechism To instruct new converts
o Kerygma Essential preaching
o Catechesis Teaching/tradition
• Liturgy Need for worship resources
• Exhortation Encouragement/assurance
• Theology Settle internal disputes
• Apologetics Address external attacks
• Evangelism Call people to faith
WHY THE GOSPELS
WERE WRITTEN

5. SYNOPTIC GOSPELS: Oxford Hypothesis
MARK
MATTHEW LUKE
Q
L
M
Only in
Matthew
Copied from
Mark
Mark is
used
Only in
Luke
Parallels in Mt/Lk,
but not in Mark

6. • Travel: Judea-to-Jerusalem
• Mentions three Passovers
• No parables or exorcisms
• 90% unique material
• Much different writing style
• Focus: theological significance
• Focus: pre-existent/divine
Son of God who reveals
God the Father
JOHN’S UNIQUE
PERSPECTIVE

7. JUDAISM
God’s word as the dynamic
force of God’s will
GREEK PHILOSOPHY
Divine reason that brought
unity/order to the Cosmos
LOGOS IN JUDAISM/GREEK PHILOSOPHY

8. In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word
was God. He was in the
beginning with God…
And the Word became flesh
and lived among us,
JOHN 1:1-2, 14

9. Against Christological heresies like:
- Docetism Clark Kent Jesus
Jesus as Superman, not really human
- Adoptionism Over-achiever Jesus
Jesus as chosen/divinized by God
- Eutychianism Blended/Alloy Jesus
Jesus as “other,” not human/divine
- Apollinarianism Download Jesus
Hybrid: human body, divine mind/soul
The Nicene Creed

10. Against Christological heresies like:
- Arianism In Between Jesus
not human or divine; first creature;
had a beginning…
The Nicene Creed

11. JOHN’S USE OF SEVENS…
- Lamb of God (1:29)
- Son of God (1:34)
- Rabbi/teacher (1:38)
- Messiah/Anointed One (1:41)
- Son of Joseph, from Nazareth (1:45)
- King of Israel (1:49)
- Son of Man (1:51)
- 7 “I AM” statements
- 7 divine “I AM” statements
- 7 “signs” in John 1-11

12. John 21
an ADMITTEDLY heady
LOOK at JOHN’S Gospel…

13. After these things Jesus showed himself
again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias;
and he showed himself in this way. Gathered
there together were Simon Peter 1, Thomas
called the Twin 2, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee 3,
the sons of Zebedee 4-5, and two others 6-7
of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them,
“I am going fishing.” They said to him,
“We will go with you.” They went out and got
into the boat, but that night they caught
nothing.
JOHN 21:1-3 (NRSV)

14. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood
on the beach; but the disciples did
not know it was Jesus. Jesus said
to them, “Children, you have no fish,
have you?” They answered him,
“No.” He said to them, “Cast the net
to the right side of the boat, and you
will find some.” So they cast it, and now
they were not able to haul it in because
there were so many fish.
JOHN 21:4-6 (NRSV)

15. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to
Peter,
“It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard
it was the Lord, he put on some clothes,
for he was naked, and jumped into the
sea.
But the other disciples came in the boat,
dragging the net full of fish, for they were
not far from the land, only about a
hundred yards off. When they had gone
JOHN 21:7-9 (NRSV)

16. The woman said to Peter,
“You are not also one of
this man’s disciples, are you?”
He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves
and the police had made a charcoal fire
because it was cold, and they were
standing around it and warming
themselves. Peter also was standing
with them and warming himself.
JOHN 18:15-18 (NRSV)

17. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the
fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter
went aboard and hauled the net ashore,
full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three
of them; and though there were so many,
the net was not torn. Jesus said to them,
“Come and have breakfast.” Now none
of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who
are you?” because they knew it was the
Lord.
JOHN 21:10-12 (NRSV)

18. Jesus came and took the bread and gave
it to them, and did the same with the
fish. This was now the third time Jesus
appeared to the disciples after he was
raised from the dead. When they had
finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon
Peter,
“Simon son of John, do you love me
more than these?” He said to him,
“Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”
JOHN 21:13-15 (NRSV)

19. A second time he said to him, “Simon son
of John, do you love me?” He said to him,
“Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He
said to him the third time, “Simon son of
John,
do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because
he said to him the third time, “Do you love
me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know
everything; you know that I love you.”
JOHN 21:16-17 (NRSV)

20. Very truly, I tell you, when you were
younger, you used to fasten your own belt
and to go wherever you wished. But when
you grow old, you will stretch out your
hands, and someone else will fasten a belt
around
you and take you where you do not wish
to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind
of death by which he would glorify God.)
After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
JOHN 21:18-19 (NRSV)

21. • Is still the Incarnate Christ,
God AND man in (new) bodily form
THE RESURRECTED JESUS
IN JOHN’S GOSPEL:

22. • Is still the Incarnate Christ,
God AND man in (new) bodily form
• Is still gracious, generous
and forgiving to his friends
THE RESURRECTED JESUS
IN JOHN’S GOSPEL:

23. • Is still the Incarnate Christ,
God AND man in (new) bodily form
• Is still gracious, generous
and forgiving to his friends
• Is still a brilliant teacher who
seeks transformation/restoration
for his students
THE RESURRECTED JESUS
IN JOHN’S GOSPEL:

24. • Is still the Incarnate Christ,
God AND man in (new) bodily form
• Is still gracious, generous
and forgiving to his friends
• Is still a brilliant teacher who
seeks transformation/restoration
for his students
• Is still honest about the reality
of death and resurrection for all
THE RESURRECTED JESUS
IN JOHN’S GOSPEL:

25. Prayer
God of comfort and compassion,
through Jesus, your Son,
you lead us to the water of life
and table of your provision.
May we who have received
the tender love of our Good Shepherd
be strengthened by your grace
to care for your flock.
Amen.