Quizzing the New Testament: John

Answer: The Word of God

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." (John 1 v. 1-2)

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1 v. 14)

The Greek word "logos", here translated as word, is meant to convey something of the creative impulse bursting forth and being made real, just as words articulate the thoughts that come from within.

Right from the beginning, John roots his gospel in two statements about Jesus:
1. This was no mere holy man. His self-identification with God, vindicated by the things the disciples had witnessed, could only mean that he was God himself;
2. Jesus was properly human and not just a spirit.

Scholars have speculated about John's audience. At what is believed to be the original ending to the gospel, he states that he is writing that "you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20 v. 31). Whilst John may have meant the gospel to be used for evangelistic purposes, it is considered more likely that his intention was to bolster the faith of an existing church community, possibly one that had recently been expelled from their local synagogue.

Answer: Part 1: Jesus' teaching is addressed to the world at large; Part 2 : It is addressed just to his disciples.

The other gospel writers include many accounts of Jesus' miracles that flow naturally from who he is and his interaction with other people. John records fewer miracles but reports them in such a way as to suggest they were given as signs for the world. These begin with turning water into wine (John 2 v. 1-11) and finish with the raising of Lazarus (John 11 v. 1-44). Additionally, in this first section, John includes a number of "I am" statements which Jesus uses to describe his true nature. This is in contrast to the other gospels where Jesus rarely points towards himself, preferring instead to speak about the kingdom of God.

The second section (chapters 13-21) covers a much shorter time period, as it begins with the last supper and finishes with the post-resurrection appearances. Much of this (chapters 13-17) consists of an extended "teaching session" involving Jesus and his closest disciples.

Answer: I am the devil's worst nightmare.

For the record, the full list is given below. There are also several instances where Jesus simply uses the phrase, "I am", without anything following. This would appear to be an attempt to identify with the reply that God gives when Moses asks his name - "God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: "I AM has sent me to you"" (Exodus 3 v. 14).

"Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.'" (John 6 v. 35)

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" (John 8 v. 12)

"Therefore Jesus said again, 'I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.'" (John 10 v. 7)

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10 v. 11)

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies ...'" (John 11 v. 25)

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'." (John 14 v. 6)

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener." (John 15 v. 1)

Answer: The cleansing of the temple in Jerusalem

The picture of Jesus revealed in the other gospels is one that unfolds gradually and in Galilee. There is a sense that his true identity and purpose is hidden. This initial period ends with Peter's acknowledgment of Jesus as the messiah (or christ). From that point, the action moves onward towards Jerusalem and the celebration of the Passover feast that will mark the end of Jesus' life.

John's portrayal is altogether different. He does not include Peter's acknowledgment and, by the time of his death, Jesus has already visited Jerusalem for three separate Passovers. He is also a thorn in the side of the Jerusalem authorities right from the start, with many people seeing his miraculous signs and openly speculating that he is the messiah.

Answer: Nicodemus

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, 'Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.'" (John 3 v. 1-2)

Nicodemus appears on two further occasions in the gospel. These are in chapter 7, where, in conversation with his fellow Pharisees, he speaks up for Jesus, and after Jesus' death when he assists Joseph of Arimathea in burying the body (John 19 v. 39).

Answer: All these statements are true.

The woman has traditionally been seen as having a shady past. Jesus describes her as having had five husbands and presently being with a man that is not her husband (John 4 v. 18). Furthermore, she is described as drawing water at the hottest part of the day and, from this, it is deduced that she is avoiding the other local women, who would normally draw water at much cooler times. On the other hand, neither of these is a conclusive proof of immorality and she may just have led an unlucky life!

There is a lovely touch in the story. As she rushes off to tell others that she has found the messiah, the one that can offer spiritually thirst-quenching, living water, she leaves behind her water jar (John 4 v. 28-29).

Answer: Andrew

In the other gospels, and in Acts, Andrew is only ever referred to as the brother of Peter or collectively with the other disciples. From John we learn that he was a follower of John the Baptist (John 1 v. 40); the first to privately acknowledge Jesus as messiah (John 1 v. 41); the person who brought the loaves and fishes to Jesus' attention in the miracle story known as the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6 v. 8-9); and the intermediary through whom some Greek pilgrims were introduced to Jesus (John 12 v. 20-22).

It isn't known, though, why John shows such interest in Andrew.

Answer: Jesus says that it will be for God's glory.

"When he heard this, Jesus said, 'This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it.' Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days." (John 11 v. 4-6)

The actions of Jesus in delaying are slightly discordant with the caring picture painted elsewhere but do tally with John's portrayal of a man whose divine side gives him foreknowledge of events.

The raising of Lazarus is the last of the miraculous signs that John sees as evidence for Jesus' contemporaries that he is the messiah, and also intended as proof for John's readers. His desired response is summed up in the words of Lazarus' sister Martha which immediately precede the miracle:
"'Yes, Lord,' she told him, 'I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world'" (John 11 v. 27).

Answer: He describes Judas negatively throughout the gospel.

The gospel includes Jesus describing Judas as a devil (John 6 v. 70-71); Judas complaining at the expense involved as Jesus' feet were anointed with perfume (John 12 v. 4-5); and a claim that Judas stole from the disciples' money bag (John 12 v. 6).

Answer: Jesus washes the disciples' feet

"It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love." (John 13 v. 1)

The duty of washing feet was that of a slave. According to John, Jesus used the opportunity to teach his disciples that they should love one another with the same level of humility and that this love would characterise the future community of Christians (John 13 v. 34-35).

There are some problems in trying to match up John's account with those of the other gospel writers. They describe the Passover meal whilst he locates his meal just before the Passover. Both, however, agree that Jesus was arrested shortly afterwards and it, therefore, seems extraordinarily unlikely that they are talking about different meals.

Answer: The Holy Spirit

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- the Spirit of truth." (John 14 v. 16-17)

Jesus promises that, when he leaves them, they will be sent the Holy Spirit, so that the work he has begun may be continued. The gospel even gives an alternative account of the giving of the Holy Spirit to that found in Acts. John records this as happening during one of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances:
"Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' And with that he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit'" (John 20 v. 21-22).
Scholars believe that chapter 20 was, originally, the final chapter, in which case this act would have served as the climax to the gospel.

Answer: He was in the company of someone who knew the high priest.

"Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in." (John 18 v. 15-16)

It is impossible to identify Peter's companion but the assumption is that it must have been somebody fairly high up in the Jewish hierarchy. Both Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea have been suggested but largely because they are named elsewhere in the gospel.

Answer: It is finished.

"Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty.' A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." (John 19 v. 28-29)

Again, John gives the impression of an all-knowing Jesus "signing off" on the mission that he came to earth to complete. It is a long way from the sense of pain and abandonment found in Mark's account.

Answer: He cooks breakfast for the disciples.

The disciples had been fishing all night without success. Not only do they find the risen Jesus waiting for them on the shore with a cooked breakfast, but he also directs them to where they can find a bumper catch of fish (John 21 v. 1-9). In the previous chapter, the physical nature of the body had been highlighted when Thomas was invited to feel the holes in Jesus' hands and side (John 20 v. 26-27).

There are many similarities in style between John's gospel and the three letters that bear his name, and commentators have suggested that they originate from the same church community. One heresy addressed in the epistles is that of Docetism - the belief that Jesus only existed in spirit form - and it is probable that the physical details are emphasised here as part of that controversy.

Answer: He is never directly mentioned in the gospel.

Many people have speculated as to the gospel's author. Several times, the writer refers to the "beloved disciple" or the "disciple whom Jesus loved", as in:
"Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. ... This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true" (John 21 v. 20 and 24).

It was the second century theologian Irenaeus who particularly championed the claims of John and the attribution stuck. It also secured the gospel a place in the New Testament, after its inclusion had been questioned due to its popularity in Gnostic circles. Other names to have been proposed include those of Nicodemus and Lazarus.

The other question that arises is whether the "beloved disciple" actually wrote the gospel or merely provided the testimony from which the book is written. Most scholars agree that the gospel was probably written for a church community that was founded by this disciple. That would explain why his name does not need to be mentioned as all of the original readers would have known who he was. It is doubtful whether he did the writing and more likely that this was done by a second person, possibly after the founder had died. It is considered unlikely that the writer was also the author of I, II and III John, but these letters probably do arise from the same community.