5.  It Is a Gospel of Symbolism.  John was a mystic and delighted in mystic symbols.  The whole book speaks in the language of symbols.  The mystic numbers three and seven prevail throughout the book not only in the things and sayings recorded but in the arrangement of topics.  Each of the Eight Miracles is used for a “sign” or symbol, as the feeding of the five thousand in which Jesus appears as the bread or support of life.  The great allegories of the Good-Shepherd, the sheep-fold and the vine; the names used to designate Jesus as the Word, Light, the Way, the Truth, the Life, etc., all show how the whole gospel is penetrated with a spirit of symbolic representation.

6.  It Is the Gospel of the Incarnation.  “Matthew explains his messianic function; Mark his active works and Luke his character as Savior.”  John magnifies his person and everywhere makes us see “the word made flesh.”  God is at no great distance form us.  He has become flesh.  The word has come as the Incarnate Man.  Jesus, this Incarnate Man, is God and as such fills the whole book, but he, nevertheless, hungers and thirsts and knows human experience.  God has come down to man to enable him to rise up to God.

Subject:  Jesus, the Christ, God’s Son.

Analysis.

Introduction or prologue, 1:1-18.

(1) The divine nature of the word. 1-5.

(2) The manifestation of the word as the world’s Savior, 6-18.

  I. The Testimony of His Great Public Ministry, 1:19-12 end.

   1.  He is revealed, 1:19-2:12.

   2.  He is recognized, 2:13-3 end.

   3.  He is antagonized, Chs. 5-11.

   4.  He is honored, Ch. 12.

II.  The Testimony of His Private Ministry with His Disciples, Chs. 13-17.

   1.  He teaches and comforts his disciples, Chs. 13-16.

   2.  He prays for his disciples, Ch. 17.

III.  The Testimony of His Passion.  Chs. 18-19.

   1.  His betrayal, 18:1-11.

   2.  The Jewish or ecclesiastical trial, 18:12-27.

   3.  The Roman or civil trial, 18:28-19:16.

   4.  His death and burial, 19:17 end.

IV.  The Testimony of His Resurrection and Manifestation, Chs. 20-21.

   1.  His resurrection and manifestation to his disciples, Ch. 20.

2.  Further manifestations and instructions to his disciples, Ch. 21.

For Study and Discussion. (1) The events and discourses connected with each feast mentioned above. (2) The seven lines of testimony mentioned above.  List examples of each. (3) The following miracles as “signs,” pointing out what they symbolize about Jesus:  (a) The Cana miracle, 2:1-11; (b) The nobleman’s son, 4:48-54; (c) The impotent man, 5:1-16; (d) Feeding five thousand, 6:3-14; (e) Walking on the sea, 6:16-20; (f) Healing the blind man, 9:1-16; read all the chapter; (g) Raising Lazarus, Ch. 11; (h) The draft of fishes,