Teaching

John

Unlocking the Gospel of John for the Bible Teacher

Dick Lucas & William Philip

Series Editors: David Jackman & Robin Sydserff

Ptmedia

Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Publishers, A member of the Hodder Headline Group. All rights reserved. niv is a registered trademark of International Bible Society. UK trademark number 1448790.

Copyright © Proclamation Trust Media 2008

ISBN 978-1-85792-790-0

Published in 2002

Reprinted 2008

by

Christian Focus Publications Ltd.,

Geanies House, Fearn, Ross-shire,

IV20 1TW, Scotland, Great Britain

with

Proclamation Trust Media,

Willcox House, 140–148 Borough High Street,

London, SE1 1LB, England, Great Britain.

www.proctrust.org.uk

www.christianfocus.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher or a license permitting restricted copying. In the U.K. such licences are issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London, EC1 8TS www.cla.co.uk.

Contents

Series Preface

Introduction

1. The Key: Evidence, Faith and Life

2. The Key to the Resurrection Story

3. Jesus and a Devout Jewish Clergyman

4. Jesus and a Tainted Woman

5. The Voice That Divides

6. The Lord of Life

7. The Key in the Rest of the Gospel

8. Passing On John’s Preaching

9. Further Resources on John

Series Preface

The Teach the Bible series is for preachers and Bible teachers. Few commentaries are written specifically with the preacher or Bible teacher in mind, and with the sermon or Bible study as the point of reference. The preacher or teacher, the sermon or talk, and the listener are the key ‘drivers’ in this series. The books are purposefully practical, seeking to offer real help for those involved in teaching the Bible to others. Teaching John was the first book published in the series and we are encouraged by the publication of a number of additional titles.

Our thanks, as ever, to the team at Christian Focus for their committed partnership in this project.

David Jackman and Robin Sydserff

Series Editors, London, March 2008

Introduction

For any Bible students, and for preachers in particular, John’s Gospel is an inexhaustible treasure house. Throughout years of ministry, preachers will find themselves returning to it time and time again in order to proclaim its wonderful truths. So this book is designed to help and encourage Bible teachers of all kinds, but principally preachers who are preparing expository sermon series on books of the Bible, in rediscovering the spiritual riches that are in John’s wonderful writing.

Teaching John is no more than a primer; it aims to open up the text for the Bible student and whet the appetite of the preacher. It is not an exhaustive ...